Kilmer Votes to Fund Local Priorities, Lower Costs for Working Washingtonians, and Create Jobs

Office of Rep. Derek Kilmer announcement.

On Dec. 23, U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer (WA-06) voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, government funding legislation consisting of all 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2023. The government funding package includes funding for local priorities, aims to lower costs for working Washingtonians, create better-paying jobs, and keep our nation and communities safe.

“Today, I voted to fund critical priorities for our region that will create jobs, invest in affordable housing, help our environment, and so much more,” said Rep. Kilmer. “As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I fought hard to see new investments to lower costs for folks in our region, like securing funding for flood prevention in Grays Harbor County to lower flood insurance premiums. I pushed for vital investments in Puget Sound recovery and restoring salmon, affordable housing, and vital healthcare services.

He continued, “It’s also a big deal that this bill provides a pay raise for our military and makes investments in our region’s talented civilian defense workforce and facilities. In addition, I was proud to support federal funding to provide critical humanitarian, economic, and defense assistance to the Ukrainian people in their fight for democracy.”

The government funding package includes more than $35 million in Community Project Funding that Rep. Kilmer secured for 15 projects, directly benefitting communities across Washington’s Sixth Congressional District, including:

• $4.943 million for the Aberdeen-Hoquiam Flood Protection Project
• $1.5 million for the Asia Pacific Cultural Center Building Project
• $3 million for the Belfair Electrical Capacity Infrastructure Project
• $2.5 million for the City of Port Townsend for its Sewer Pump Station Project
• $3 million for Jefferson County for its Port Hadlock Sewer Project
• $1,911,875 for the Lower Elwha Tribal Community for facilities and equipment
• $4.853 million for the Makah Indian Tribe for facilities and equipment
• $1,080,764 for the Early Childhood and Family Support in Grays Harbor County Project for programs to reduce poverty, and improve outcomes for children and families
• $1 million for the State Route 166/Bay Street Reconstruction
• $1,619,500 for the Suquamish Shores Enetai Project
• $2.2 million for the T3ba’das Infrastructure Project
• $4 million for the Tacoma Rescue Mission Men’s Shelter Expansion
• $2,965,800 for the Clallam County and City of Port Angeles Joint Emergency Services and Public Safety Facility
• $750,000 for the Westport Marina Modernization Project
• $151,000 for the YWCA Pierce County for behavioral health and supportive services, including training

The government funding package includes additional funding provisions Rep. Kilmer secured, including:

• $200 million to fund a pilot program at the Economic Development Administration to invest in communities that have faced long-term economic challenges through innovative, flexible, and locally-led grants.
• $54 million in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Puget Sound Geographic Program, to fully support the efforts of the EPA, Puget Sound Tribes, and other partner organizations to protect and restore Puget Sound. This funding provides critical support to local economies and helps the federal government meet its obligation to protect tribal treaty rights.
• $65.25 million for the National Marine Fisheries Service’s (NMFS’s) Salmon Management Activities Program
• An increase of $6 million above the President’s Budget Request to support plating facility upgrades at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and other public shipyards.
• Nearly $2 billion for the National Forest System, including $15 million to support established forest collaboratives to expedite project development and approval of forest treatments developed by those collaboratives on federal forests that have failed to meet harvest targets in at least three of the past five years.
• $40 million to reassert the United States as the global leader in the research and development of blue marine technologies.
• $85 million to establish a Yes in My Backyard (YIMBY) grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development that will reward state, local, and regional jurisdictions that have made progress on inclusionary zoning and land use policies to support the development of affordable housing.
• $10 million for the Modernization Initiatives Account to implement recommendations from the Kilmer-led Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress to make Congress more effective, efficient, and transparent on behalf of the American people.

The government funding package includes report language provisions Rep. Kilmer championed, including:

• Report language to direct the National Park Service, in consultation with the Hoh Indian Tribe, to develop a plan to ensure that the Hoh Tribe has access to a functional tsunami evacuation route.
• Report language to support local digital equity initiatives while ensuring more people can gain experience to access jobs in the information technology (IT) sector.
• Report language directing the Corporation for National and Community Service to assist local civic and community organizations with ongoing efforts to address contentious issues and ultimately bridge divides.

A detailed summary of the Consolidated Appropriations Act is available HERE.