Press Releases
House Passes Defense Authorization with Kilmer-backed Policies
WASHINGTON, DC-- Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (NDAA). The legislation includes measures Kilmer championed that extend the authorization for overtime payments to shipyard workers in Japan through 2019 and eliminate a policy enacted by the Department of Defense (DOD) that passed the burden of covering travel costs while on assignment to individual employees rather than the department or service. "If you … Continue Reading
05.22.18
Kilmer Encourages Local Students to Apply for Military Service Academy Nominations, Hosting Academy Nights May 24th and 31st
TACOMA, Wash.-Today, Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06) encouraged local students to apply for nomination to the nation's military service academies and announced informational sessions across Washington's 6th Congressional District. "It's an honor to consider students for service academy nominations," Kilmer said. "Every year there are a lot of great applications. Reading through them makes pretty clear to me that our region's future is in good hands." As a member of Congress, Kilmer can nominate stud… Continue Reading
05.22.18
Kilmer’s Cyber National Guard Bill Introduced in Senate
WASHINGTON, DC.- Late last night, Rep. Derek Kilmer's bill, the Major General Tim Lowenberg Cyber Defenders Act was introduced in the Senate by Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The bill's introduction adds another pathway for success in Kilmer's yearlong push to protect the nation's critical state and local infrastructure like voting machines and public utilities from cyberattacks. "From voting machines to our power grids, states control some of the nation's most critical … Continue Reading
05.14.18
Senators Murray, Cantwell and Representative Kilmer Announce Major Federal Investment in Tacoma Link Light Rail Expansion
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) announced a new $75 million grant from the Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to Sound Transit to expand the Tacoma Link light rail line in downtown Tacoma. This grant is made possible by FTA's Capital Investment Grant (CIG) program, a program championed by all three Members of Congress. The Tacoma Link light rail expansion will more tha… Continue Reading
05.03.18
Kilmer Hosting Teletownhall
BREMERTON, WA- In order to hear directly from his constituents, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) will hold a telephone town hall on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 6:00pm. Participants will have the opportunity to ask Representative Kilmer a question or leave a message with their comments. "You're the boss, and I want to hear directly from you," Rep. Derek Kilmer said. "Your input Monday night will help me represent our region in the important debates coming up in Congress." Participants will receiv… Continue Reading
05.02.18
Kilmer, Shea-Porter, Taylor Urge Approval of Thresher Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery
BREMERTON, WA-Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), and Congressman Scott Taylor (VA-02) today sent a letter to the Army National Military Cemeteries Executive Director urging approval of a memorial to recognize the victims of the USS Thresher at Arlington National Cemetery. "The USS Thresher disaster is the largest loss of life in the history of the submarine service," said Congressman Kilmer. "The crew's deaths were not in vain. The disaster resulted in th… Continue Reading
04.27.18
Kilmer Amends FAA Bill to Protect Rural Airports like Fairchild International Airport from Funding Cuts
WASHINGTON, DC-Today, the House of Representatives passed a bill that reauthorizes the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill includes an amendment offered by Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) to require the FAA to consider community emergency response needs when determining the amount of funding that airport will receive under the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). Kilmer authored the amendment to protect regional airports in communities like Port Angeles, where the Fairchild International … Continue Reading
04.13.18
Kilmer to Host Transparency Teletownhall with Special Guest Nick Penniman, CEO of Issue One--WEDNESDAY
On the heels of congressional testimony from Facebook's founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, US Representative Derek Kilmer will host a teletownhall focused on steps Congress can take to safeguard America's elections, and shine a light on the murky world of political advertising. The event is Wednesday, April 18 at 6:00 pm PST. "Mark Zuckerberg's testimony made for interesting television, but it doesn't get Congress closer to voting on legislation to protect our elections from the influence of deep… Continue Reading
04.12.18
Kilmer Statement on $5 Per Car National Park Entry Fee Increase
Today, the Department of the Interior announced it would raise entry fees at most National Parks by $5 per car. This is a major reversal of the Administration's initial plan, which proposed tripling entry fees at the 17 most popular National Parks, including Olympic National Park. Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA), the original sponsor of the National Park Service Legacy Act made the following statement: "It is good news that park visitors and local economies are going to be spared from outrageous fee h… Continue Reading
04.11.18
Kilmer Questions Zinke on Drilling, Park Fees, Elwha Water Facility
Today, Representative Derek Kilmer asked Secretary Ryan Zinke about the Trump Administration's plan to open nearly all of America's coastal waters to offshore drilling, and the plan to raise visitor fees at some of the nation's most popular national parks, including Olympic National Park. Kilmer also raised a local issue concerning the Elwha Water Facility. Video of the hearing is available here. Kilmer opposes offshore drilling. In his questioning, he noted that drilling off the state's coast… Continue Reading
04.06.18
Kilmer Statement on Facebook’s Endorsement of the Honest Ads Act
Today, the Founder and CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, issued a statement calling for greater public disclosure of the entities that purchase political ads on the platform. Zuckerberg said: "Election interference is a problem that's bigger than any one platform, and that's why we support The Honest Ads Act. This will help raise the bar for all political advertising online." US Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) is the original sponsor of the House version of The Honest Ads Act. He said: "I'… Continue Reading
03.27.18
Kilmer, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Shipyard Workers, Other Federal Workers Retire On-Time
In 1989, the government changed its retirement system for federal workers. Today, as the first generation under that new system begins to retire, some workers are discovering a bad surprise. Workers who started as temporary employees and then converted to full-time employment are now finding that they may have to work years longer than their peers in order to receive the same retirement benefits. Some workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Fleet Readiness Center East (FRC-East) in Nor… Continue Reading
03.22.18
Kilmer Statement on Bipartisan Spending Plan
Today, the leaders of Congress unveiled a major plan to fund the government through September. US Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) issued the following statement: "No compromise is ever perfect, but I voted for this bipartisan spending plan because there are important investments for folks in our necks of the woods and because our country has to stop lurching from crisis to crisis," Rep. Derek Kilmer said. "There are families that have been ravaged by the scourge of opioids who will benefit f… Continue Reading
03.20.18
Kilmer’s National Park Legacy Act, Other Park Maintenance Plans Clear Important Hurdle
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources held a hearing on the National Park Service Legacy Act and other plans to reduce maintenance backlogs in the National Park System. "National parks across the country desperately need repairs. Fixing them creates jobs and boosts economies around the parks," Rep. Derek Kilmer said. "I support nature hikes, not entry fee hikes. The National Park Service Legacy Act will fix our national parks and put people to work without sticking visitors with the b… Continue Reading
03.19.18
As Tourism Season Approaches, Washington Lawmakers Request More Bomb-Sniffing Dogs for Sea-Tac
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representatives Rick Larsen (D-WA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Denny Heck (D-WA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske requesting five temporary passenger screening canine team… Continue Reading
03.16.18
U.S. Representatives Kilmer, Herrera Beutler Introduce Bill to Promote Economic Development, Jobs in Grays Harbor, Lewis and Thurston Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) introduced a bipartisan bill last night that would repeal a 19th century prohibition of distilleries on tribal land, allowing for increased economic development through strengthened tribal sovereignty. Herrera Beutler and Kilmer are joined by fellow U.S. Representatives Tom Cole (OK-04), Denny Heck (WA-10), and Don Young (AK) as bill cosigners. The Chehalis Tribe have begun the permitting process for … Continue Reading
03.15.18
Kilmer, Bonamici Expand Opportunities for Students to Gain Valuable Work Experience
Today, Congressman Derek Kilmer and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, introduced legislation to modernize the Federal Work Study Program. Their proposal, the Opportunities for Success Act, will make higher education more affordable for many students and create opportunities for more students to gain valuable work experience before graduation. The rising cost of higher education means fewer students, particularly from low-income families… Continue Reading
03.14.18
House Passes Bipartisan STOP School Violence Act
(Washington) Today, on the one-month anniversary of the school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the STOP School Violence Act (H.R. 4909), introduced by Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), John Rutherford (R-FL), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Hal Rogers (R-KY). "I'm deeply grateful to Sandy Hook Promise for their tireless support for this legislation," said Rep. Deutch. "When we first introduced this bill, I had no idea it would hi… Continue Reading
03.09.18
Kilmer, Bipartisan Federal and County Leaders: Protect Funding for Timber Country, Counties with Federal Lands
WASHINGTON, DC-This week, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and a bipartisan group of federal and county-level officials from across the country told Congress to protect funding for the Secure Rural Schools and Payment in Lieu of Taxes programs. These two federal programs help local governments in rural timber communities and areas with large federal land ownership offset tax revenue lost because of the presence of federal forests and other nontaxable federal lands. "Timber communities and co… Continue Reading
03.09.18
Cantwell, Murray, Heck, Kilmer Introduce Resolution to Honor Billy Frank Jr.
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA) introduced a resolution to honor Billy Frank Jr. and designate March 9, 2018, his birthday, as an official national day of remembrance of his life, legacy, and accomplishments. "Whereas Billy Frank, Jr., refused to be bitter in the face of jail, racism, and abuse, and his influence was felt not just in Washington State but around the world," th… Continue Reading