Press Releases
Kilmer Announces $1.35 Million for Clean Energy Research in Sequim
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced $1.35 million in new federal funding for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL-Sequim) to evaluate the feasibility of extracting Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) from macroalgae for use in energy applications. REEs are essential for manufacturing high-efficiency electric motors and generators. PGMs play a pivotal role in technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions, such as … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Kilmer Statement on House Passage of Partisan, Incomplete Security Supplemental Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after voting to reject Speaker of the House Mike Johnson’s partisan, incomplete security supplemental legislation: America stands firmly with Israel in its fight to defend its people, and the United States should provide resources toward that end. I support providing emergency security aid to Israel. However, I cannot and will not support the partisan and haphazard attempt by House Speaker … Continue Reading
October 31, 2023
Kilmer Champions $54 Million in New Federal Funding for Port of Tacoma Husky Terminal Expansion
TACOMA, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), announced $54 million in new federal funding for the Port of Tacoma Husky Terminal Expansion Part One. The terminal expansion project will reconfigure the terminal yard for better truck circulation, install 40 reefer racks and related power supplies, and relocate on-terminal structures. “This is a big deal - and it’s a testament to the steps we’re taking to grow the economy and build a sustainable future,” said Rep. Kilmer. “Here’s … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Kilmer Announces New Federal Funding to Lower Energy Costs for Families Living on Tribal Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Community Services within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $403,447 in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to eight Tribes in Washington’s Sixth Congressional District: $7,614 for the Hoh Indian Tribe $15,220 for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe $37,217 for the Lower Elwha Klallam … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Kilmer Supports Bipartisan Resolution to Reaffirm Support for Israel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), joined by 411 congressional colleagues, supported a bipartisan resolution standing with Israel as it defends itself against the war launched by Hamas and other terrorist organizations and condemning Hamas’ brutal war against Israel. “The unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel are stark reminders of the grave threats Israelis face every day,” said Rep. Kilmer. “The slaughter of those in Israel - the murder of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Kilmer Applauds Designation of Pacific Northwest Tech Hub to Drive Innovation in Mass Timber
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), applauded the Biden-Harris administration’s designation, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub (“PNW Tech Hub”) in Oregon and Washington as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in regions across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors. “The designation of the Pacific Northwest Mass Timber Tech Hub … Continue Reading
October 19, 2023
Kilmer, Bipartisan Group Reintroduce Bill to Help Shipyard Workers, Other Federal Employees Retire on Time
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Don Bacon (NE-02), and David Valadao (CA-22) reintroduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA), legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contributions. The FRFA will allow these workers to make catch-up contributions to ensure they can retire as planned. In the absence of this provision, many face an … Continue Reading
October 12, 2023
Kilmer, Bipartisan Group Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Tax Credit to Early Childhood Educators
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that he and U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and Tom Cole (OK-04) reintroduced the Supporting Early-Childhood Educators’ Deductions (SEED) Act. The bill would help early childhood educators cover the cost of supplies, books, and other classroom materials by allowing them to claim the above-the-line $300 tax deduction currently available only to K-12 teachers. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Kilmer Statement on House Resolution to Vacate the Office of the Speaker of the House
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after voting to vacate the Office of the Speaker of the House: I spent four years chairing a committee to strengthen the U.S. House as an institution because I care passionately about a Congress that can solve problems for the American people. Unfortunately, Speaker McCarthy has repeatedly chosen to weaken the institution by bending to extremists rather than collaborating across the aisle. He … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Kilmer Announces New Federal Broadband Investments for Lower Elwha Klallam, Skokomish Indian Tribes
TACOMA, WA - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced a significant investment by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). NTIA awarded a total of $1 million through the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), including $500,000 to the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and $500,000 to the Skokomish Indian Tribe, both for Broadband Infrastructure Deployment projects. “For far too long, Native American tribes in our region … Continue Reading
September 30, 2023
Kilmer Statement on House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent a Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) released the following statement after House passage of bipartisan legislation to prevent a government shutdown: Today, folks across our region woke up facing the prospect of a government shutdown - one that would have had a significant impact on tens of thousands of servicemembers, civilian federal workers, and their families. A shutdown would’ve been damaging and dumb. That’s why I voted for a bill that - while imperfect - … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
Kilmer, Bacon Introduce Legislation to Improve Mental Health Care in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Don Bacon (NE-02) introduced the Mental Health Infrastructure Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to increase access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care in rural and under-resourced areas and address the emergency department boarding crisis. “From major cities to remote rural communities, the need for comprehensive mental health care is both urgent and undeniable,” said Rep. Kilmer. “The Mental … Continue Reading
September 21, 2023
Kilmer, Timmons Spearhead Bipartisan “Fix Congress Caucus”
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representatives and Co-Chairs of the Fix Congress Caucus Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and William Timmons (SC-04) launched the Fix Congress Caucus, a bipartisan group of lawmakers committed to making Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent for the American people. “The Modernization Committee was established with the sole mission of making Congress work better for the American people,” said Rep. Kilmer. “The same is true for the Fix Congress Caucus. By … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Kilmer, Connolly Urge Biden Administration to Ensure Federal Childcare Centers Remain Open in a Republican Shutdown
Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Gerry Connolly (VA-11) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young urging the Administration to take every possible measure to ensure the continued operation of federal childcare centers in the event of a Republican shutdown.“These dedicated [federal employees] are also parents who rely on federal childcare centers to care for their children while they perform their official duties,” wrote the Members. “A … Continue Reading
September 18, 2023
Kilmer Named Winner of Award for Innovation and Modernization in Congress
[VIDEO] WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) received the Democracy Award for Innovation and Modernization at the Congressional Management Foundation’s (CMF) annual awards ceremony. The Democracy Award is CMF’s award recognizing non-legislative achievement and performance in congressional offices. The Innovation and Modernization category honors offices for their outstanding achievements in innovation and modernization of their office services, practices, and … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Kilmer Delivers Update on Investing in America Agenda in Washington State
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06), a member of the Regional Leadership Council, delivered remarks on the House Floor highlighting the progress of the Investing in America agenda in Washington state. This transformational agenda, made possible by House Democrats and the Biden Administration last Congress, includes the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Safer … Continue Reading
September 05, 2023
Kilmer, Bipartisan Group Introduce BUDS Resolution to Promote Bipartisan Cooperation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that he and U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05), Young Kim (CA-40), William Timmons (SC-04), Dean Phillips (MN-03), and Mike Carey (OH-15) introduced the Building Unity through Dual Sponsors (BUDS) Resolution to promote bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Under current House rules, only one representative can sponsor a piece of legislation. The BUDS Resolution seeks to modify this, permitting two representatives … Continue Reading
August 31, 2023
Kilmer Announces White House Funding to Combat Youth Substance Abuse in Tacoma
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has approved a Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Grant of $125,000 to the Prevent! Tacoma Drug-Free Coalition. This grant is part of a national investment of approximately $20.5 million in youth substance use prevention announced by the Biden Administration today. “Communities across America shouldn’t be alone in the struggle to … Continue Reading
August 25, 2023
Kilmer Announces More Than $18 Million for Culvert Restoration in Grays Harbor, Kitsap, and Pierce Counties
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) announced over $18.3 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve fish passage across Washington’s Sixth Congressional District – including in Grays Harbor County, Bainbridge Island, Port Orchard, and Tacoma. The funding announced today was allocated from the FHWA’s Culvert Aquatic Organism Passage (AOP) Program, which was … Continue Reading
August 22, 2023
Kilmer, Strickland Announce Nearly $9.5 Million To Improve Fish Habitats in Puyallup River & Wapato Creek
TACOMA, WA – Today, U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (WA-06) and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Co-Chairs of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, announced that the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and the Port of Tacoma will receive grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to improve fish passage in the South Sound. The Puyallup Tribe of Indians will receive nearly $7.5 million to help the Tribe remove four fish passage barriers – all of … Continue Reading