Press Releases
Currently showing results in 2013 in the 113th Congress where the type is oped
SBDC Averts Closure, Kilmer Persuades WSU
With some of the highest unemployment in the state, it would seem that Grays Harbor needs all the help it can get with growing new businesses. And yet, the Small Business Development Center, which assists entrepreneurs and existing businesses on the Harbor at no expense, was recently almost closed for good. Congressman Derek Kilmer said he was dismayed to receive surprise notice from Washington State University that the Small Business Development Center located at Grays Harbor College — … Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Eliminating Barriers for Those Who Have Served
If you've fought for our country, then you shouldn't have to fight discrimination. That's the argument first-year U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer is making in congress. Spurred by stories of soldiers being denied housing or refused jobs because of their military background, Kilmer, a democrat from Gig Harbor,introduced a bill last week that would protect the military from such discrimination. "If you've served, then your veteran status shouldn't be used against you when you seek employment or … Continue Reading
July 17, 2013
DOD Furloughs Workers Not Paid Through Budget Funds
It just doesn’t make sense. Not to thousands of Department of Defense (DOD) workers. Not to Democrats. Not to Republicans. Almost no one likes the budget cuts known as the sequester, but everyone understands those cuts have led to the furlough of many federal employees. But why must employees who are not paid from federal budget appropriations be hit with unpaid leave days, too? That’s the situation for staffers paid through the Defense Department’s working capital funds. They work … Continue Reading
July 12, 2013
Bill Would Outlaw Job, Housing Discrimination for Troops, Vets
A bill protecting current and former service members from discrimination in housing and employment was introduced Thursday in the House and Senate. The Veterans and Servicemembers Employment Rights and Housing Act of 2013 would build on legal and financial protections already in law. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., chief sponsor of the House version of the bill, HR 2654, said it is a response to complaints he has received from service members and veterans about being denied housing and turned … Continue Reading
July 12, 2013
Kilmer Not Giving Up on Keyport Workers
KEYPORT - Derek Kilmer and other congressmen aren’t satisfied with the Department of Defense’s response last week regarding thefurloughing of Naval Undersea Warfare Center-Keyport workers and others like them. The employees are paid by working capital funds and say their projects have already been funded. The Navy wouldn’t save any money by forcing them to take one day off a week through September, like most civilian defense workers are doing. Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, wrote to Secretary of … Continue Reading
June 25, 2013
Congressmen Seek Answers About Keyport Furloughs
KEYPORT — With furloughs two weeks away, Naval Undersea Warfare Center employees have gotten help in trying to avoid the forced days off. U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, wrote a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel asking the Department of Defense how it justifies furloughing workers paid with Defense Working Capital funds, like most Keyport employees. The letter was signed by 30 other congressmen, including House Armed Services Committee ranking member Adam Smith, D-Tacoma. Hagel … Continue Reading
May 31, 2013
Kilmer Makes Good on Pledge for Town Hall Meetings
U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer resurrected the congressional town hall meeting Friday, allowing anyone with a few spare minutes on Friday afternoon to voice their concerns and talk to their congressman. It may sound like common sense for a congressman to meet his constituency, but Grays Harbor College instructor Gary Murrell pointed out to Kilmer and the crowd that in his 20 years of living on the Harbor, a congressional town hall meeting has simply not happened. Murrell’s comment drew … Continue Reading
May 01, 2013
Derek at the State of Grays Harbor
Gov. Jay Inslee says Grays Harbor needs to take a page from the playbook of the Montesano Bulldogs football team. “When the stadium burned down, they didn’t pack up,” Inslee said. “Montesano went and won a state championship. And I think that’s a symbol of what this community is about. It just does not give up. And I’m not going to give up this year on financing the education of our kids on the Harbor. I’m not going to give up this year in finding out how to finance our transportation … Continue Reading
March 27, 2013
Sequester Victims Hear Words of Support
Defense workers received varied support Tuesday, with a rally at a shipyard gate in the afternoon and town hall meeting in the evening. A credit union-led event at Presidents Hall helped ease fears of some of the 13,700 local civilian defense employees faced with losing 20 percent of their pay because Congress can’t agree on a deficit-reduction plan. Furloughs were planned to begin April 26, but required 30-day notices were delayed two weeks to assess implications after Congress passed a … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Kilmer Letter Calls on Boehner to Replace Across-the-Board Cuts
Congressman Derek Kilmer is calling on House Speaker John Boehner to replace what he calls "mindless across the board cuts to military spending in Washington state. Kilmer talked technical terms with KBKW on Saturday "These across the board cuts are really stupid, that's a technical term. You know if you think about your family budget, if you were facing financial troubles you wouldn't cut your housing budget and your food budget by the same percentage as you'd cut your magazine … Continue Reading
March 07, 2013
Kilmer Greets Shipyard Workers Facing Furlough
Congressman Derek Kilmer stood outside the main gate of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility last Friday morning, offering up a simple greeting to hundreds of workers streaming past him: “Hey, I’m your representative. Let me know if I can help.” While Kilmer stood in Bremerton, President Obama and senior congressional leaders huddled at the White House. The government’s deadline for across-the-board spending cuts known as sequestration had passed, triggering $4 … Continue Reading
March 01, 2013
Sequester: Navy shipyard faces layoffs, furloughs
After serving seven weeks in Congress, an uncomfortable Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., stood at the gate of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton at 5:30 on Friday morning as the $85 billion federal budget sequester kicked in, and talked to employees likely to get kicked in the teeth. The freshman congressman was uncomfortable because House Speaker John Boehner has sent the House home — yet again — with the sequester taking effect and the federal government due to run out of money on … Continue Reading
February 27, 2013
MY TURN: We Must Act to Avoid Another Recession
Before joining Congress seven weeks ago, I spent a decade working in economic development, helping businesses to create jobs. I know that when government works well — making smart investments and fostering a friendly and predictable business climate — it can help companies invest in new equipment and hire new workers. What government does and doesn’t do can often have a direct impact on the ability of our economy to grow. Unfortunately, action — or, rather, inaction — in our nation’s … Continue Reading
February 21, 2013
As Budget Cuts Loom, Congressman Hears Shipyard Workers' Concerns
Shipyard workers not only face forfeiting one work day per week, they could lose benefits and even their security clearances, they told U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer on Tuesday. Kilmer, who’s been in Norm Dick’s former House seat for seven weeks, invited 18 labor leaders to his Norm Dicks Government Center office to share their concerns about impending federal budget problems. Across-the-board cuts, called sequestration, will take effect March 1 if Congress can’t reach a deficit-reduction … Continue Reading
February 21, 2013
Rep. Derek Kilmer Fighting Against Sequestration Cuts
In his first speech on the House floor, Congressman Derek Kilmer talked about how much his district would suffer if lawmakers allow across-the-board federal spending cuts to take effect March 1. Speaking last week in Washington D.C., the Democrat from Gig Harbor said allowing $85 billion in cuts would throw the fragile economy back into a recession. "By doing nothing," the freshman representative said, "we hurt the men and women who spend their days protecting our nation and providing … Continue Reading
January 22, 2013
Kilmer Visits with Business Leaders, Workers in Congressional District
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Wash., continued his monthlong listening tour with stops to meet with local business leaders and workers at SAFE Boats in Bremerton and Paladin Data Systems in Poulsbo. At the SAFE Boats manufacturing facility in the Port of Bremerton’s Olympic Industrial Park, the new congressman held his first “Kilmer at Your Company” event on Jan. 18. He had lunch with the company’s workers and was accessible to speak with employees. At Paladin, Kilmer held a jobs roundtable with … Continue Reading
January 22, 2013
Kilmer focuses on jobs, and on Congress not doing its job
BREMERTON — Signs in the Norm Dicks Government Center still direct visitors to the offices of the building's namesake. It's not Dicks' office anymore, but the signage is somewhat representative of the task ahead for his successor, Democrat Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor. Dicks left a mark in both Washingtons, but life and Congress move on. That much was clear this week when the Navy announced it was freezing hiring, putting on hold more than 500 jobs that were supposed to be offered at … Continue Reading
January 18, 2013
Welcome To Our New Member of Congress
Derek Kilmer is off to a good start as our new representative in Congress. Kilmer, who took office Jan. 3, was named to the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. Both committees are important to Kitsap County and the 6th District. He’s spending a month in the district, meeting and listening to constituents. Thursday, he hosted an open house at his Bremerton district office. Kilmer (http://kilmer.house.gov) works for you. Get to … Continue Reading
January 03, 2013
Freshmen Class Members of the 113th United States Congress
The 113th United States Congress will begin on January 3, 2013. There are at least 12 new senators (3R, 8D, 1I) and 67 new representatives (29R, … Continue Reading
January 03, 2013
113th United States Congress
The One Hundred Thirteenth United States Congress is the next meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It is scheduled to meet in Washington, D.C. from January 3, 2013 to January 3, … Continue Reading