An Update on Investing in Our Communities, Protecting Our Environment, and Ensuring Access to Health Care for Our Military
Hello Folks –
This week we’re certainly feeling the April showers... Here’s hoping that there are warmer days ahead (and more wins by our Mariners!).
Let's dive into what's been happening these past few weeks.
Investing in Community Safety
Folks in local law enforcement have tough jobs, and it’s important that they have the training and resources that they require to keep us safe.
As your representative, I've been working to support the important work they do by providing federal resources to improve public safety in our communities. As you may recall, last year I secured funding to support a new Emergency Operations Center in Clallam County. And this year, I’m pushing for federal funding for projects like the City of Elma's Emergency and Public Safety Operations Center.
I recently met with Elma officials to discuss the project's importance. Elma's police station, built in 1980, is outdated and lacks space for first responder programs and community engagement. The current facility also lacks secure parking and assembly areas for emergency vehicles and logistics and does not comply with today’s building codes, energy codes, or with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The city’s new Emergency Operations Center and Training Center will serve as an officer training center and a shared space for community events, allowing first responders to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently without being hampered by capacity or space issues.
As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I look forward to working to secure funding for this project in the upcoming federal budget.
Protecting Our Environment
Growing up in our region, I’m a big fan of crab. I like them in a salad. I like them with warm butter. I like them all sorts of ways. But I absolutely do not like invasive European Green Crabs that are threatening our environment and our natural resources.
European Green Crabs outcompete native shore crab species, predate juvenile Dungeness Crabs and other shellfish, and destroy nearshore estuary environments. Senator Murray and I recently joined local leaders to learn more about the efforts to deal with this growing threat.
Last year, we were able to secure additional federal funding to deal with this threat, and we’re pushing the Department of Interior to deploy those resources with a sense of urgency. There’s no time to waste.
I also joined the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and the team from Long Live the Kings to learn about a project to support salmon recovery at the Hood Canal Bridge. Unfortunately, the mortality rate for some salmon species is 50 percent at the Hood Canal Bridge. I've consistently fought for funding to support research, to invest in measures to recover our salmon, and to aid in the restoration of Puget Sound.
Last Congress, alongside Representative Marilyn Strickland from Tacoma I introduced the PUGET SOS Act, to enhance the federal government’s role and investment in Puget Sound, our country’s largest estuary by volume. The Sound is vitally important to our local economy. In December, I was proud to see President Biden sign our bill into law.
I’ll keep fighting to make sure the federal government meets its responsibilities to protect our environment. From eradicating the invasive European Green Crab to restoring salmon and steelhead to recovering Puget Sound, I’m committed to being a partner in the efforts to protect our environment.
Ensuring Access to Health Care
For years, I've fought against staff reductions at Naval Hospital Bremerton because sailors and their families in Kitsap County deserve reliable access to the care they need. Unfortunately, significant downsizing at Naval Hospital Bremerton has had a negative impact on service members’ lives.
During a recent Appropriations Committee hearing with Navy and Marine Corps leaders, part of which is highlighted in this Military.com article, I detailed the impacts of this downsizing and asked top officials how they plan to address the situation.
Civilians aren't expected to travel more than an hour to receive treatment – that we ask those in uniform to do so is wrong. Since the closure of the Naval Hospital’s emergency room and its labor and delivery department – which delivered a quarter of all babies in the community – our health care network has struggled to treat all patients in a timely and effective manner. I recently held a roundtable with sailors who shared heartbreaking stories ranging from the inability to access critical prenatal screenings to being unable to receive routine checkups before important patrols.
I’ve heard multiple instances where military personnel, in essence, got benched because they couldn't get a health review before they were intended to ship out. In another heartbreaking story, a service member spoke with anguish about the closure of the labor and delivery department at Naval Hospital Bremerton, explaining that she sought care from a local provider where she sat for eight hours in a waiting room and miscarried. This isn’t just unacceptable – it’s preventable.
Downsizing and the failure to address personnel shortages put at risk access to quality care – which is particularly concerning at a time when the Navy plans to expand its operations in our region. That’s why I’m fighting hard to ensure folks – both service members and civilians – in our region will be able to access the care they need when they need it.
Working for You
Supporting Our Youth
The Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center promotes the social, emotional, and academic development of young folks in Tacoma. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I'm working to secure federal funding for the new Cora Whitley Family Center to enhance its capacity and ability to make a difference in our community.
Investing in Our Ports
Last year, I helped secure $25.5 million in funding for improvements at the Port of Grays Harbor. I recently met with Gary Nelson, who walked me through the changes and how they'll help create jobs for folks in Grays Harbor County.
Revitalizing Our Transit
Our region continues to lead the way in reducing carbon emissions. Recently, I helped secure federal funding to help make Kitsap Transit buses greener, cleaner, and more cost-effective. That's great news for our region, planet, and economy.
Advancing Our Workforce
I checked in with Workforce Central to hear about their priorities for workforce development. Increasing access to services for job seekers, workers, and businesses is critical to cultivating economic prosperity in Pierce County. I’m excited to support their mission to grow our workforce!
Standing Up for Justice
Northwest Justice Project does terrific work in our region to help address structural and racial inequities for low-income individuals, families, and communities across Washington. It was great to check in with the team to learn more about how I can lend a hand at the federal level.
Connecting with Local Seniors
I recently held a town hall with seniors at Heron's Key in Gig Harbor. We discussed recent laws I helped pass to lower health care and prescription drug prices and my ongoing work to protect Social Security and Medicare. I enjoyed the terrific conversation!
OK – that’s it for now, folks. As always, I’m honored to represent you.
Sincerely,
Derek Kilmer