Press Releases
Kilmer Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support and House Veterans
Tacoma, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) introduced the Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans Act of 2021, bipartisan legislation to create new housing for veterans experiencing homeless. The legislation would establish a new pilot program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program that can create more individualized transitional homes and provide more affordable housing options for veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and … Continue Reading
December 09, 2021
House Passes Kilmer-Led Legislation to Restore & Strengthen American Democracy, Protect Elections from Foreign Inference
Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Democracy Act - a sweeping package of reforms co-sponsored by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) that aims to strengthen America's democratic institutions against future presidents, regardless of political party, who seek to abuse the power of their office for corrupt purposes. The proposals included in the legislation - many of which have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past - aim to … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Kilmer Votes to Support Servicemembers, Military Families, and Federal Civilian Workforce
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support S. 1605 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA). The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. “If you serve this country, Congress should have your back and invest in you and your family. I’m proud that this bill includes a number of measures to support our troops and their families,” said Rep. Kilmer. “In our … Continue Reading
November 19, 2021
Kilmer’s Bipartisan Legislation to Spur Economic Growth & Create Jobs Included as Pilot Program in Build Back Better Act
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that a pilot version of the bipartisan Rebuilding Economies and Creating Opportunities for More People Everywhere to Excel Act (RECOMPETE Act) was included in the House-passed Build Back Better Act. The RECOMPETE Act, which Rep. Kilmer introduced with U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and the support of over 50 Members of Congress, would establish a new federal grant program at the Economic Development Administration … Continue Reading
November 19, 2021
Kilmer Votes to Invest in Middle Class Families, Reduce Costs, and Lower Taxes
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support the Build Back Better Act - comprehensive legislation to lower costs for families, reduce taxes for families, ensure people have economic opportunity, and combat the climate crisis. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives 220-213. "Middle class families deserve a break," said Rep. Kilmer. "I've heard from so many parents - particularly working moms - who have felt sidelined in our economy … Continue Reading
November 10, 2021
Kilmer to Hold Telephone Town Hall
Tacoma, WA - On Wednesday, November 17 at 6:30pm PT, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) will hold a telephone town hall to provide an update on the federal government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to answer questions from constituents. In addition, Rep. Kilmer will discuss the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which aims to create good-paying jobs, modernize the nation's infrastructure, and reduce carbon pollution - and the ongoing effort to pass the Build … Continue Reading
November 05, 2021
Kilmer Votes to Create Jobs & Support Historic Bipartisan Investment in American Infrastructure
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - the largest long-term investment in America's infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century. The bill includes $550 billion in new federal funding for infrastructure in communities across the country. This bill passed the Senate with a bipartisan vote of 69-30 on August 10, 2021 and passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 228-206 today. "This … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Kilmer Statement on Build Back Better Framework
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement in response to President Biden announcing the Build Back Better framework: "Today, President Biden announced the Build Back Better framework - a historic investment in middle class families, in creating jobs, and in combatting the climate crisis. The framework announced today is about recognizing that middle class families and folks struggling to make ends meet deserve a break. It's about … Continue Reading
October 21, 2021
House Passes Kilmer’s Bipartisan Legislation to Help Communities Address Ongoing Opioid Crisis
Washington, DC - On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Drug-Free Communities Pandemic Relief Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Dave Joyce (OH-14) to provide flexibility for community programs focused on the prevention of drug abuse and misuse. Specifically, the legislation helps Drug-Free Communities (DFC) coalitions during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure they can continue to serve local communities. The legislation … Continue Reading
October 21, 2021
Kilmer Calls for Robust Affordable Housing Investments
Washington, DC - On Monday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and over 120 colleagues in Congress to express support for keeping robust affordable housing investments in the Build Back Better Act. The letter, which was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, calls for any final legislation to include investments in affordable, accessible homes for America's lowest-income and most marginalized people. "Even before the … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Kilmer Urges Passage of Freedom to Vote Act
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) urged the Senate to move forward with the Freedom to Vote Act. The legislation is a sweeping package of reform bills aimed at strengthening the voice of the American people in their democracy by making it easier to vote, ending the dominance of big money in the political process, and ending partisan gerrymandering. Coupled with the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, this historic legislation aims to ensure every American … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Kilmer Hosts Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chair and Ranking Member to Highlight Funding Needs in the Region
Bremerton, WA - On Thursday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) hosted members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, including Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ranking Member Ken Calvert (R-CA), and Cheri Bustos (D-IL), for a day-long tour in Kitsap County. The visit included a tour of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, a roundtable discussion with small businesses, and a tour of Naval Base Kitsap. "A critical part of my job is to champion the issues important to our region," … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Kilmer, Schatz Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Federal Workers and Their Families from Losing Their Homes, Falling Behind in Paying Bills During Government Shutdowns
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) reintroduced the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act to protect federal workers and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown. The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would enable government employees and contractors to postpone payment obligations during a shutdown and for 30 days afterward. "No family should be left trying to figure out how to … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Kilmer, Kitsap County Commissioners Announce $10 Million Federal Grant for Kitsap County Defense Infrastructure Project
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and the Kitsap County Board of Commissioners announced that they had successfully secured a $10 million federal grant for Kitsap County for the Bangor/Keyport Forcemain Replacement project - which will help fund the replacement of the sanitary sewer service force main break that supports Naval Base Kitsap (NBK)-Bangor. The grant, which Rep. Kilmer advocated for earlier this year in a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, was … Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Kilmer Helps Introduce the ‘Protecting Our Democracy Act’ to Restore, Strengthen, and Protect America’s Democracy
Washington, DC – On Tuesday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) helped introduce the Protecting Our Democracy Act — a sweeping package of reforms that aims to strengthen America’s democratic institutions against future presidents, regardless of political party, who seek to abuse the power of their office for corrupt purposes. The comprehensive proposals included in the legislation — many of which have been supported by both Democrats and Republicans in the past … Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Kilmer Votes to Support Servicemembers, Military Families, and Federal Civilian Workforce
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to support H.R. 4350, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (NDAA). The bipartisan bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and passed the House of Representatives 316-113. “If you serve this country, Congress should have your back and invest in you and your family. I’m proud that this bill includes a number of measures to support our troops and their families,” said Rep. Kilmer. “In our … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Kilmer Encourages Local Students to Apply for Military Service Academy Nominations
Washington, DC - Today U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) encouraged students in Washington's 6th Congressional District to apply for nomination to the nation's military service academies. "It's an honor to consider students for service academy nominations," said Rep. Kilmer. "Every year there are a lot of great applications and reading through them makes pretty clear to me that our future is in good hands." As a member of Congress, Rep. Kilmer can nominate students to the U.S. Naval … Continue Reading
August 16, 2021
Rep. Kilmer, Sen. Cantwell Tout Culvert Repair & Replacement Program in Senate-Passed Infrastructure Bill
SEATTLE, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and King County Executive Dow Constantine at an event at Carkeek Park in Seattle to tout the inclusion of $1 billion for the first-ever national grant program established to specifically address culvert impacts to anadromous fish in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed by the Senate. "Recently, people in the Pacific Northwest have faced horrific news regarding the … Continue Reading
August 09, 2021
Kilmer Joins U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Taholah to Discuss Coastal Resiliency and Relocation Efforts, Federal Funding Shortfalls to Tribal Communities
Taholah, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) joined U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Taholah, Washington, to tour the Quinault Indian Nation's Taholah Village Relocation project, an effort to move the Taholah Village to higher ground and relocate critical community facilities and housing. The Quinault Indian Nation, along with other coastal tribes in Washington, are facing increased threats from climate change, increased flooding, and the threat of tsunami - and are … Continue Reading
July 30, 2021
House Passes New Federal Funding for Tribal Relocation Efforts in Western Washington
Washington, DC - On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass new critical funding that has been championed by U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) to support tribal relocation efforts in Western Washington. H.R. 4502, a package of seven fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills that passed the House, included $1,479,355 in federal funding for the Quileute Tribe's Move to Higher Ground water system improvement project and $500,000 in federal funding to help the Quinault Indian … Continue Reading