In The News
What can be done about Gorst? On day of gridlock, leaders met to discuss corridor's future
GORST - After almost two hours of sitting in stalled traffic on Highway 3 on Monday afternoon, Kimberly McCostlin and her family decided to give up on getting through Gorst, stopping in Bremerton for dinner. McCostlin, a Port Orchard resident in Silverdale for her son's doctor's appointment, was among thousands of stalled motorists who couldn't get through the confluence of highways 16 and 3 because of an overturned garbage truck. "It took us an hour and 45 minutes to get from Chico Way … Continue Reading
September 07, 2022
Congressman Kilmer hears from farmers during JeffCo visit
From getting food for the table, to a roof over their heads. Local farmers raised a troublesome crop of issues during a recent roundtable discussion with U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer. Kilmer, the 6th District Democrat, made a whole day swing through Jefferson County during a visit late last month, which included a tour of sewer projects in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock, a stop at the main campus of Jefferson Healthcare to chat with staff and talk about the hospital's new building project, and a … Continue Reading
August 31, 2022
Rep. Derek Kilmer weighs in on North Shore Levee’s progress
Congressman Derek Kilmer sounded enthusiastic when he talked about how the city of Aberdeen is close to securing $50 million for the North Shore Levee (NSL) project. "This is a big deal for Aberdeen and for Grays Harbor County," Kilmer said to The Daily World. "Getting this pivotal funding means the community can address flooding and avoid future property damage. It means the community can enable future investments in affordable housing and economic development by pulling some of these … Continue Reading
August 26, 2022
Congressman Kilmer tours Jefferson Healthcare campus
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer was told about staffing issues and expansion plans aimed at providing more services to local residents as he toured Jefferson Healthcare hospital this week. The Gig Harbor Democrat, who represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the Olympic Peninsula, also toured Port Townsend city and Jefferson County sewer projects, met with the Jefferson Land Trust, toured the Organic Seed Alliance's research farm and participated in a farmers' roundtable during his … Continue Reading
August 25, 2022
Kilmer tours infrastructure efforts in Jefferson County
U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer of the 6th Congressional District, which includes the Olympic Peninsula, toured two Jefferson County sewer projects for which his office is seeking federal funding on Wednesday. Officials in Port Townsend and Port Hadlock are seeking funds to install sewer projects in hopes of lowering the cost of constructing housing and thereby lowering the cost of housing. Kilmer is seeking federal funding for those projects. He said the sewer projects had been included in a … Continue Reading
August 21, 2022
The Suburban Times - Pierce Transit receives $3.87 million grant to purchase electric buses, related infrastructure, and training
The Federal Transit Administration has awarded Pierce Transit a $3.87 million Low or No Emission Vehicle ("Low-No") grant to purchase three battery electric, zero-emission buses, and related charging infrastructure, plus provide employee training. Pierce Transit applied for the competitive grant earlier this year, and the award was recommended by US Senator Maria Cantwell; Representatives Marilyn Strickland, Derek Kilmer and Adam Smith; Steilacoom Mayor Dick Muri; the Washington State … Continue Reading
August 19, 2022
Washington Rep. Derek Kilmer on entrepreneurship, maritime innovation, Inflation Reduction Act, more
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash) was the featured speaker at an event in Tacoma, Wash., this week sponsored by Maritime Blue, a Washington state public-private coalition promoting marine-related technologies that runs an incubator in Tacoma. Kilmer worked for a decade on the economic development board for Tacoma-Pierce County before running for office and has a staff member serving on the Tacoma Maritime Innovation Incubator steering committee. In 2019 he was appointed chair of the Select Committee … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Site-neutral ruling topic of discussion during tour
As U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer toured Olympic Medical Center, much of the conversation was about the potential reversal of the site-neutral ruling for rural hospitals in November. Site Neutral has been in effect since 2019, cutting Medicare reimbursements by 60 percent for hospitals and clinics more than 250 yards from the main hospital campus, a move that disproportionally affects rural hospitals like OMC, officials have said. This loss of funds resulted in OMC having to make cuts in its … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Secretary of Energy makes first trek to Sequim
For the first time in its history, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory-Sequim (PNNL-Sequim) hosted the U.S. Secretary of Energy at its campus. Jennifer Granholm, a former governor of Michigan, came to Sequim - home of the Department of Energy's only marine research facility - on Aug. 10 to see work related to tackling climate change, alternative energy sources and other innovations. She and Dr. Geri Richmond, Energy's undersecretary for Science and Innovation, went with PNNL staff in a … Continue Reading
August 17, 2022
Port Angeles Food Bank services well-used
It wasn't a surprise that the number of households using the Port Angeles Food Bank increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most food banks experienced that. The surprise was that, after a brief dip as people returned to work, the number rose again. Emily Dexter, executive director of the food bank, told U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer when he toured the expanded facility on Monday afternoon that an estimated 50 percent of Port Angeles households, and some 20 percent of households countywide, are … Continue Reading
August 12, 2022
Opinion: Feds will pick 10 places for 10-year investment in economic development
The Atlanta Braves recently signed star third baseman Austin Riley to a 10-year contract. Good for Riley; he will make $212 million in what's said to be the most lucrative contract the team has ever signed. Good for the Braves; the team locks in a key player that it can build around. Of course, Atlanta is the defending World Series champion so this is really a case of the rich getting richer. We tend not to see last-place teams signing those long-term contracts, even though they're the ones … Continue Reading
August 09, 2022
Sen. Cantwell touts semiconductor bill signed by Biden, saying it will bring investments in WA
President Joe Biden has signed a landmark $280 billion measure subsidizing domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research - a measure U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell helped shepherd to a final vote, touting it as needed to make the nation more competitive with China. The bipartisan measure, called the CHIPS and Science Act, aims to boost the U.S. share of global semiconductor manufacturing, which has fallen to 12% from 37% in 1990. It provides $53 billion in subsidies for chipmakers … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
AI Could Help Congress Schedule and Find Unexpected Consensus, Expert Says
House lawmakers charged with improving the policymaking process held a hearing on Thursday to discuss some innovative proposals for modernizing Congress, including the potential benefits of using artificial intelligence and machine learning to streamline congressional schedules and committee calendars. Established at the start of the 116th Congress in 2019, the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress is tasked with identifying and recommending steps that can be taken to modernize … Continue Reading
July 27, 2022
Proposed CMS rule would reverse reimbursement cuts
Olympic Medical Center could see a significant boost in reimbursements from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services if a proposed CMS rule reversing a policy known as "site neutrality" for Rural Sole Community Hospitals goes into effect. The site neutrality rule, which has been in effect since 2019, significantly cut Medicare reimbursement rates for hospital clinics that are more than 250 yards away from a hospital's main campus. The ruling does not affect Jefferson Healthcare or Forks … Continue Reading
July 23, 2022
EPA gives $50M to help tribes’ fish, shellfish habitat efforts
BLYN - Tribes on the North Olympic Peninsula and other Western Washington tribes are slated to receive up to $50 million over five years for salmon and shellfish habitat restoration through the federal government. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made the announcement Tuesday in Blyn, following the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission's monthly meeting at the 7 Cedars Resort. EPA staff said the funds come from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the commission, which provides … Continue Reading
July 23, 2022
OMC gets good news from CMS
PORT ANGELES - Olympic Medical Center could see a significant boost in reimbursements from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services if a proposed CMS rule reversing a policy known as "site neutrality" for Rural Sole Community Hospitals goes into effect. The site neutrality rule, which has been in effect since 2019, significantly cut Medicare reimbursement rates for hospital clinics that are more than 250 yards away from a hospital's main campus. The ruling does not affect Jefferson … Continue Reading
July 21, 2022
House bill would give Tacoma $3M to expand homeless shelter
(The Center Square) - As part of a package of six fiscal year 2023 federal funding bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week, the City of Tacoma would receive $3 million to expand services for the homeless in the area if signed into law. U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer, D-Port Angeles, who represents Washington's 6th congressional district, pushed for the City of Tacoma to begin the necessary work to expand the Tacoma Rescue Mission Shelter. With $3 million in federal … Continue Reading
July 21, 2022
FEDERAL AGENCY REVERSES MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT POLICY AFFECTING OMC
Washington, DC - We've been reporting for 3 years about the site neutrality rule that took away a huge chunk of the Medicare reimbursement rates for rural hospitals, including Olympic Medical Center, starting in 2019. It was a crippling policy enacted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). On Thursday, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer here in the 6th District announced that the CMS has proposed a new rule that will help what he calls "essential safety-net hospitals" in rural … Continue Reading
July 20, 2022
WA tribes to get $50M to restore Puget Sound
Tribes in Western Washington will receive $50 million in federal funding from the infrastructure bill, effectively doubling support for restoration and protection of Puget Sound. The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday in Sequim that it will give the money over the next five years to the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, which supports 20 treaty tribes. Previously, the EPA provided the commission with $50 million over 10 years to support habitat restoration, infrastructure … Continue Reading
July 20, 2022
Over $1.6 million in federal funding planned for Suquamish tribe's housing project
The Suquamish Tribe's affordable housing project is on track to receive federal funding to build 20 townhomes on a parcel reacquired by the tribe in recent years after decades of leasing the land to non-tribal members. The House Appropriations Committee on June 30 advanced new funding of over $1.6 million in an appropriations bill, championed by Rep. Derek Kilmer, who represents Washington's Sixth District, to support the tribe's Enetai project on the Port Madison Indian Reservation. The … Continue Reading