Derek Kilmer

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my relief that the House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan compromise that keeps our government open, secures our border, and upholds our values. Now, this is not an agreement that either party would have written on its own, but rather than funding for an ineffective border wall, this bill, instead, prioritizes border security funding for methods and technologies that have proven effective. This bill also rejects irresponsible budget cuts and, instead, invests additional dollars in important priorities like funding for economic development assistance programs, environmental protection, and transportation infrastructure. I want to thank all of the conferees for working together to forge a bipartisan consensus to fund government, invest in our priorities, and keep our country safe. It is about time that Congress gets to work on more legislative priorities that will strengthen our families, strengthen our communities, and strengthen our economy. That is what the American people elected us to do, and I hope my colleagues will join me in these efforts going forward.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Liz Dunbar for her many years of transformative public service on behalf of folks in my region. As executive director of Tacoma Community House, Liz has been an unyielding advocate for social justice. Liz has lived a life of service. She spent 25 years at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, where she worked in several capacities, including State refugee coordinator, diversity director, assistant secretary for economic services, and, ultimately, as the deputy secretary of the department for 6 years. But 10 years ago, Liz stepped into her role at Tacoma Community House, an extraordinary 100-year-old organization dedicated to empowering immigrants and ensuring that all people in the greater Puget Sound region can live with dignity and achieve their personal and professional goals. Each year, Tacoma Community House serves approximately 3,500 clients from more than 100 different countries through its four core programs of employment, education, immigration, and advocacy. Madam Speaker, Liz Dunbar has made a difference. She has helped thousands of people get the chance to realize the American Dream. So I rise today on behalf of our community to thank Liz and to recognize her for a career well spent in public service.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, which will restore funding for the Department of the Interior, for the Forest Service, and for the Environmental Protection Agency, because it is simply wrong for Federal workers to be held hostage. It is wrong for people who depend on these agencies to be held hostage as a negotiating tactic on a completely unrelated policy issue. The region I represent has more than 600,000 acres of Federal forests. It is the home to Olympic National Park, one of the crown jewels of the National Park System. And it overlooks the iconic Puget Sound. So I am speaking today on behalf of the hundreds of Federal workers who protect and manage these natural resources, from park rangers to timber sale specialists to water quality monitors, who have gone unpaid for almost 3 weeks. But this isn't just about those Federal workers who have lost their pay. I am also here to speak on behalf of the communities that depend on these Federal resources, gateway communities like my hometown where I grew up, Port Angeles, Washington, where the economy depends on park visitors who come in and eat at local restaurants, stay in local hotels, and gas up their cars; remote towns like Forks that count on the Forest Service to maintain roads; Tribal communities like Taholah that rely on resources from the Indian Health Service to support their local health clinic; and cities like Tacoma that trust the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the quality of their air and their water. Congress should end this shutdown now so that Federal workers can receive the pay that they have earned for serving us and so that our communities can again count on the government to provide taxpayers with the services that they fund, services that belong to everyone in this country. This bill is a responsible way forward. It has already passed the Senate with the support of 92 Senators, including Majority Leader McConnell. Congress should not wait another day to pass this bill and reopen these agencies, so I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, yesterday, I met with a group of Federal workers in Tacoma to discuss the impacts of the government shutdown. One of the folks there was a prison guard. She told me that, without her paycheck, she didn't know if she could pay for childcare or for the prescriptions she needs after successfully fighting cancer just last year. Because of this shutdown, that is the conversation that is unfolding across 800,000 kitchen tables as Federal workers try to figure out how to scrape together mortgage payments and rent payments, trying to make due without a paycheck. This crisis doesn't just impact Federal workers. It hurts entire communities. It hurts the economy around Olympic National Park, such as hotel owners and restaurateurs, when people cancel their visit to the park because of the shutdown. It affects college students, prospective home buyers, and small business owners who won't have access to Federal loans because of this shutdown. Madam Speaker, while we can have a legitimate discussion about immigration reform, America doesn't need a wall. It doesn't need a 5th century answer to a 21st century challenge. America needs an open government. The Senate and the President can and should make this happen right now.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of title II of this resolution to establish a new Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress, and I start by thanking Chairman McGovern and the Speaker for their collaboration over the past several months as they formed this plan. Let me say something that the American people know to be true, and that is that this House is a fixer-upper. Every time the American people feel like they don't have a say and nothing gets done, or every time a bill is written behind closed doors and passed without debate, the American people lose their faith in the ideal that formed this body, the idea that they have the ability to shape the outcome of what happens here. It is time to rebuild this institution so it lives up to the motto that serves as this Nation's motto that hangs in this room: E pluribus unum, out of many, one. Now, every 20 years or so, there has been an effort to reform and modernize this House. There has been an acknowledgment that like any other functional organization, it is worth diagnosing what is working and what isn't, and determining how to have it perform better. This committee that is established with today's vote will empower Members to help Congress to work better and to be more responsive to the American people, a Congress that will lead to the advancement of shared goals between the parties, and a reform system that allows the 435 people lucky enough to work here to have meaningful outcomes to show for their work, to produce solutions. Look, we are on the cusp of a new era. We need to rise to the challenge by modernizing this legislative body so that we can fulfill the priorities of the Nation that elected each one of us to represent them. I truly believe that this select committee will help us chart a better course, one where consensus is not only sought but actually achieved, where we can finally make progress on our Nation's greatest challenges by developing proposals with broad bipartisan support and allowing them to move through regular order, looking at key issues like the use of technology, looking at how to cultivate leadership, and looking at operational changes to this body. I believe that modernizing this institution is the key to settling our diverse country's most pressing challenges and restoring the public's faith in Congress. Again, I commend Chairman McGovern and the Speaker for leading the way forward by establishing this committee. I also take a moment to thank some of the folks behind the scenes who have worked really hard to bring this plan to fruition, people like Don Sisson and the Rules Committee Democratic staff, and Jamie Fleet and the House Administration Committee Democratic staff, who spent countless hours working to bring us to today. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution so that this committee and Congress can finally get to work.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the shipyard workers and park rangers and VA nurses, Forest Service land managers, and all of our Federal workers. These are men and women who work every day to protect our Nation's security and offer vital services and grow our economy. These men and women dedicate their working lives to the betterment of our Nation, and, sadly, just a few days ago, the President froze the pay and locality adjustments for these Federal workers. The President has boasted that the economy is great. These workers have certainly seen their costs rise. Their housing costs are rising, and other expenses are rising. But do you know what won't rise? Their pay. And now the President is threatening a shutdown of the government again, raising the specter of furloughing these workers again. Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to reject the notion that the problem with government is the people who work in government, and I urge my colleagues to work together to fund the government, including the pay for these hardworking men and women who are our neighbors.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Puyallup Tribe and all participants in the 2018 Canoe Journey. This annual journey began in 1989 with Native Americans providing a vital voice in shaping the State of Washington's centennial. Now, all these years later, tribes from Alaska all the way to Willapa Bay have participated in this powerful cultural event. Over the last few weeks, thousands of people from dozens of tribes put their canoes in the water and connected with one another. They participated in a celebration of heritage; sharing songs, stories, dances, and gifts. But, beyond that, they celebrated the theme of Honoring Our Medicine. They gathered to honor the medicine of the Salish Sea and the waters that have been the lifeblood of past generations and that will be the lifeblood of our future as long as we rise to their challenge. Mr. Speaker, Congressman Heck and I have stood on this floor many times and spoken about the importance of Puget Sound, our nation's largest estuary. The Sound is an icon of our region. It supports treaty rights and recreation. It supports shellfish growing and fisheries. It's a place where families--including my own--make memories. It is a legacy passed from generation to generation. It is a central part of who we are as Washingtonians. But this body of water--and others like it--are at risk. They are threatened. The tribes that participated in the Paddle--and Native American leaders throughout our region--have shown more commitment, more leadership, more drive, more partnership, and more passion for recovering this vital body of water than any other. They have seen our waters as sacred--as givers of life. They have recognized that these waters are a lifeforce. That they are gifts from the creator. They have recognized that our passion for this medicine cannot simply be based in nostalgia and tradition but, rather, must be grounded in a hope for the future. It is not enough for us to say thank you. We must back up those words with deeds. We must commit ourselves to protecting these waters and to preserving the majesty of our natural resources. We must recognize that our federal government must simply do better--on every day in every way--to value these treasures. Mr. Speaker, there is a saying that change is inevitable, but progress is optional. Too often, we have seen change that has not meant progress. Too often we have moved backward and jeopardized our lifeblood. We must do better. Mr. Speaker, today I want to express my gratitude to the Puyallup Tribe for hosting this important event and for all that they have done to strengthen our region for so long. And here in the United States Congress, I want to honor--and in the traditional custom, I want to raise my hands to--every person who participated in the paddle.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill, which will allow our servicemembers to terminate their cable, satellite television, and internet contracts once they receive orders to relocate for more than 90 days. Listen, we ask a lot of our military personnel and their families. I know that because my district is home to so many veterans and Active- Duty servicemembers. I met with these amazing, talented men and women, and they are so impressive. They step up and they sacrifice. They are constantly being asked to uproot themselves and their families across this country and all over the world, often on very short notice; and when their country calls, the members of our Armed Forces drop everything. They have our backs, and we should have their backs, too. Deployed servicemembers and their families shouldn't have to worry about bills piling up at home when they are gone because they are locked into contracts for television and the internet. In the last few days at home with their kids and spouses, they shouldn't have to spend a second on hold or haggling with a customer service representative. I am very proud to have worked across the aisle on this bill with Representative Ryan Costello. Taking care of our military families is an issue that all Americans, regardless of party, can stand behind, and I want to express my gratitude to the chairman for his leadership on those issues and Ranking Member Takano and others on that committee. Listen, this bill will provide a small measure of relief to our military members and to their families. It is the least we can do. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, in 1961, in the face of a challenge from the Soviets, President Kennedy visited the University of Washington and said we are neither ``warmongers nor appeasers. Neither hard nor soft. We are Americans, determined to defend the frontiers of freedom.'' He pointed out the university's motto is: ``Let there be light,'' and asked: ``What more can be said today, regarding all the dark and tangled problems we face, than: Let there be light.'' It is the unanimous view of the United States intelligence community that Russia used social media to influence our elections in 2016. After yesterday, Americans from all viewpoints called on Congress to stand up for our interests to protect our elections from Russian influence. I offered the Honest Ads Act as an amendment to the bill we are voting on today. This bipartisan bill simply establishes the same disclosure requirements for online ads that currently apply to political ads on television and radio. So today, Congress had the chance to stand up to Russia and pass the Honest Ads Act, but like the President a day ago, this body failed to act. Mr. Speaker, Congress has a duty to defend the frontiers of freedom. So, let there be light. Let's pass the Honest Ads Act and shine a light on the darkest corners of our election systems so that Russia can never again use our news feeds to influence our elections.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of John Robert Baker, who passed away on January 26 at the age of 93. John's life was adventurous and well lived. Born in the summer of 1924 in Seattle, his early childhood was marked by being pulled to safety by his pet dog from Green Lake. After his graduation from Lincoln High School, he served during World War II in the United States Navy. John was one of two remaining World War II submariners in the State of Washington. After graduating from high school, John joined the U.S. Navy and trained as a radioman before heading to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to train for submarine duty. Hesitant to apply for submarine duty due to his poor vision, he reportedly memorized the eye chart in advance to pass the exam. John served as a Radioman Third Class on the USS Atule (SS 403), where he is also recognized as a plank holder during its first commission in June of 1944. The Atule headed to Pearl Harbor and began the first of four war patrols in the South Pacific on October 9, 1944. The submarine was credited with sinking four warships and four merchant ships. The Atule was off the coast of Japan when it received word that Japan had surrendered. After the War, John studied pharmacy and earned his freshman numeral on the crew team at the University of Washington. His distinguished pharmacy career spanned across Washington State, where he owned a prominent business in Ephrata for 20 years, and continued his career as a pharmacist in Moses Lake, Quincy, Othello, and Walla Walla. John retired to Port Townsend in 1990, where he continued to be active in the community as a volunteer at the City Information Center and served as State Commander and Chaplain of the U.S. Submarine Veterans of World War II. John Baker's close friends and family will remember the precious time he spent fishing and boating with his sons and grandchildren. They will also remember the joy he found in racing-go-carts, hydroplanes, and even a Formula Vee car. They will remember his love for reading and puzzles, and-above all-his devotion to his family. We honor John Robert Baker--patriot, submariner, pharmacist, devoted husband and father, and dedicated volunteer. We will never forget his service to our country and community.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of H.R. 2083, which would provide targeted relief to endangered salmon and steelhead stocks in the Columbia River and its tributaries from the threat of predation by non- native sea lions. Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague Ms. Herrera Beutler for her work on this bill, and Mr. Schrader from Oregon, and take this opportunity to highlight the many weeks of bipartisan negotiations, which included revisions from the National Marine Fisheries Service, our State and Tribal wildlife comanagers, and other key stakeholders that resulted in this compromise bill text. It is because of that consensus that I am able to voice my support for this bill today. I am thankful for that because I care about salmon and protecting salmon. I care about fishing jobs, and I care about Tribal treaty rights. And I care about the other animals in our ecosystem that rely on a healthy salmon stock, like the endangered Southern Resident orca population, of which there are few in our oceans, fewer than the number of people who serve in this Chamber. We have heard from our State and Tribal wildlife managers that, if salmon predation at the Willamette Falls choke point is not addressed immediately, there is a 90 percent probability that at least one of the winter steelhead populations will go extinct. Enhanced management of the sea lion predators at this site would make a difference immediately. I also want to underscore that we already have years of data to show that nonlethal hazing and relocation measures currently employed by our wildlife managers have not been effective at controlling the predators. In fact, the problem has only gotten worse. A decade ago, these predators used to congregate only at distinct choke points created by the Bonneville Dam and Willamette Falls. Today, they are moving further inland into the narrow tributaries of the Columbia basin. But there is good news. Research from Oregon State University suggests that only a small portion of the sea lion population will ever exhibit this behavior and removing these animals before they acclimate to these areas prevents additional animals from learning this behavior. So, the sooner we act, the fewer animals that will ultimately be affected. To put this in perspective, of the 4,000 California sea lions in the Columbia River estuary, only about 200 ever swim upriver past the 112- mile mark. It is these animals that are having the greatest effect on the most vulnerable stocks in the watershed. I will tell you what is at stake: Jobs. It is the livelihood of our commercial, recreational, and Tribal fishermen who are counting on us to rebuild these stocks. It is the future of our Southern Resident orca population that depends on spring chinook as a key food source. It is the identity of the Pacific Northwest that, in many ways, is defined by these iconic fish. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan compromise so that our State and Tribal wildlife comanagers have the tools they need to address this threat in the most responsible and targeted way possible.

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to H.R. 2083. This simple amendment would narrow the scope of this bill to clarify our intent that the lethal take authority should be limited to sea lions, rather than all pinnipeds. This small but important distinction will help to ensure this authority targets only those animals that pose an imminent threat to our native ESA-listed salmon and steelhead stocks. It will also help to align our bill with the Senate version that was recently introduced by Senators Cantwell and Risch, hopefully ensuring that this bill gets across the finish line as quickly as possible. That is absolutely critical, because some of our most vulnerable stocks face an imminent risk of extinction due to nonnative sea lion predation. So we must act now if we are going to save these runs. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chair, I have no further speakers on this amendment. Mr. Chair, I thank the majority for their support of this amendment and for moving this important legislation forward, and I urge my colleagues to adopt it. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today just to join my colleagues in urging the House to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund before it expires this September. I think former Senator ``Scoop'' Jackson said it best when he introduced the legislation to create this fund nearly a half century ago. He said Americans ``go to the open areas.'' The LWCF is what helps ensure we have open areas in our community where the next generation can gather. People in my neck of the woods have 600 more open areas to go to in Washington State thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund's $600 million investment in our region. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has helped build parks in places like Tacoma and has helped protect forestland in Kitsap and Mason Counties, without a cost to taxpayers. Folks come to our region to visit unique places supported by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and then they stick around to spend some money at our local shops and restaurants. So by investing in the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Congress supports jobs and small businesses. This is good for our economy. Congress gets a lot for their money when they invest in the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This money helps communities attract private dollars from multiple sources to accomplish big goals. It is the glue that holds these big projects together. I would like to highlight a couple of the projects that have had a big impact in my neck of the woods. The South Puget Sound Coastal Forest Legacy Project is a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Green Diamond Resources Company that will help protect nearly 10,000 acres of working forestlands along the Hood Canal. Keeping this land off-limits to development will help maintain working forest jobs and recreational access to Mason County trails. It will also protect, roughly, 1,400 acres of shellfish beds that serve more than 20 shellfish companies and 2,000 recreational and Tribal harvesters. The Salt Creek Recreation Area is another great example of what local communities can achieve thanks to support from the LWCF. I grew up just down the road from Salt Creek, so I can tell you firsthand what a difference this park has made for our region. In fact, I took my kiddos there for an amazing day last summer. From the tide pools and sandy beaches to the panoramic views, it is no wonder this park has become a key driver of our growing recreational economy. That project would not have become a reality without the relatively small--just $250,000--but vital investment from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. But the LWCF isn't just about creating opportunity in rural communities; it supports recreational opportunities in urban areas as well. Take the Kandle Park and Pool in Tacoma. Less than a decade ago, this park was just an empty field with a dilapidated playground; but thanks to support from the LWCF, this park hosts a modern aquatics facility and sports fields that provide a safe, fun, and screen-free place for kids to spend their time. So in my Washington, what I consider the better Washington, we have seen firsthand that the LWCF grows jobs, supports rural economies, and connects our urban communities to the outdoors. So that is what is on the line. At a time when we are starving for bipartisanship in this place, look no further than H.R. 502. Mr. Speaker, 229 Members, Democrats and Republicans, have cosponsored this. We have 100 days to get it done. I hope that we get this done.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marguerite Freeman of Bainbridge Island, Washington, who passed away on Monday, June 18, 2018. Marge--as she was known to her friends--lived an eventful life. As she said in her memoir, ``I've tasted the pioneers' hardships'' and ``moved into the 21st century and saw all the changes, a complex technological future . . .'' Born into a family of Swedish and Danish immigrants who homesteaded in Birka, North Dakota, she was the seventh of Arthur and Elda Leidholm's nine children. She recalled the Great Depression, the hope of the New Deal, including her older brothers enlisting in the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the perseverance of farmers. As she said, ``My parents' courage and determination was passed on to us and we were taught to never be afraid of failure but work hard at what we believed in, to be honest and true to ourselves.'' And while she often cited Ronald Reagan's adage that ``we were poor, but we didn't know it,'' from her very first vote, in 1944, to her last, she was a proud FDR Democrat. World War II was a turning point in Marge's life. She followed her brothers west to Seattle. There she joined the war effort, earning 67 cents an hour as a ``Rosie the Riveter'' on the B-17 production line for Boeing. There, too, she met her future husband, Donald Freeman, on leave from the USS Indiana stationed in Bremerton. They were married on July 20, 1946 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Seattle. On that day, in a way, she also joined the Navy. They travelled the country and the world with a growing family of three boys. It was not until Don's retirement that they truly found a home, settling on Bainbridge Island. Marge became an integral part of our community, volunteering at her beloved Bethany Lutheran Church and the local Helpline House. Her deep faith and love permeated all she did. The story of Marguerite Freeman is a life of service; service to God; service to her country; service to her family; and service to her community. Her memory and her spirit live on in her friends and family. Today, our thoughts are with them: her sons Terry, Mark, and Don, her six grandchildren and her nine great-grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, today, we remember Marguerite Freeman.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, one of the best parts of this job is getting to develop relationships with outstanding people in my district, people who are difference makers in the best sense of the word. Kitsap County, Washington, is a better place because of one such person: Natalie Bryson. Our schools are providing more opportunities for young people because of all she has done for the local school district and her work with the Paul Linder Foundation. Our communities are more welcoming places because of Natalie's work with Kitsap Pride and her involvement with the HIV/AIDS Foundation. More doors are open for women because she has been such a trailblazer in our community, even becoming the first woman to join the Silverdale Rotary Club, where she was so kind to welcome me and let me have lunch with her. Whether she is participating in the Central Kitsap County Council or giving loving advice to her Member of Congress, Natalie has been such an impactful person, a fierce advocate, a voracious volunteer, and an amazing friend. Mr. Speaker, sometimes it is important for us to just express some gratitude, to say thank you, and that is something I want us to do today for someone who has done so much for so many. Thank you, Natalie. You are so appreciated.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the men and women who are serving in the United States Coast Guard on the Olympic Peninsula. In my travels across our region, I often have the privilege of crossing paths with these outstanding professionals. For example, I recently attended a ceremony recognizing Petty Officer Jacob Hylkema, who received the Coast Guard Medal for his actions during a storm last summer in which he risked his life to save a fisherman who had fallen overboard. His entire unit received a citation for their actions that day. Together, they rescued 9 people in a 20-hour period. Mr. Speaker, the good work isn't just limited to one unit. Recently, the crew of the Active based in my hometown, Port Angeles, Washington, seized more than $78 million in illegal drugs during a patrol near the coast of Central America. According to a report in The Peninsula Daily News, the crew seized more than three tons of illegal drugs and arrested multiple people suspected of smuggling drugs into the United States. This kind of work makes the news, but every day the Coast Guard in our region keeps us safe and keeps our economy moving. Just as importantly as coming to the rescue of folks in distress, the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor quietly protects the Navy vessels homeported in our region as they make the first and final stretches of their missions. I'm looking forward to welcoming members of the unit to Port Angeles when their new facilities are complete. Mr. Speaker, this weekend our grateful community will recognize the Active's crew and Maritime Force Protection Unit Bangor at the 2018 Port Angeles Maritime Festival. They deserve every bit of recognition. The men and women serving our region in the Coast Guard work selflessly around the clock to protect our fishermen, the environment and our region's security. Please join me in honoring them today.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, first, do no harm. That is rule number one for every doctor, and it should be rule number one for this President and this Congress as well. But because of the harmful, partisan healthcare politics in Washington, D.C., next year, a quarter million people in Washington State will have to spend 19 percent more per month on their health insurance. That adds up for a lot of folks. It will add up to the difference between being able to afford healthcare or not. Families in Washington State will have less money in their pockets because of the choices to do harm by this Congress and this administration. It is a choice to cut, as this administration did, the Federal payments that make healthcare cheaper for families. It is a choice to obsessively try to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, as this House and this administration have done, creating uncertainty and driving up costs. Listen, the Affordable Care Act was not perfect, but it meant cheaper healthcare and more people with insurance. Let's fix it rather than harm people. Rather than partisan attacks that do harm to the healthcare system and harm to family budgets, let's first do no harm, and then let's work together to actually help American families have healthcare.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 75th Anniversary of NAACP Bremerton Unit 1134. I was pleased to celebrate this anniversary officially on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Bremerton, Washington. Mr. Speaker, according to the chief oral historian for the Washington State Legacy Project, in 1940 about 100 people of color lived in Bremerton. By 1944, more than 5,000 people of color moved to the region as part of a massive influx of patriots who came here to help the war effort. The town's population grew from 15,000 in 1940 to 75,000 in 1944. That growth didn't come easily. And it only came because people like Lillian Walker and her husband James moved to the region from Illinois and helped form what became Unit 1134. In 2009, Mrs. Walker, at 95 years old, told a historian: ``I've always tried to treat people like I want to be treated. I don't care what color you are as long as you're a good person. I've never understood prejudice, and I've never put up with it. I always said, `Well, you're either with me or against me. And if you're against me, that means we're going to have to fight!' '' And she fought. Mr. Speaker, our nation still has work to do to achieve the dream that Dr. King spoke of not far from this Capitol. The fight for equality continues, and the NAACP--as it has done in Bremerton for 75 years--is leading the way. Anywhere in our country where there is inequality, the NAACP is there. The NAACP is leading the fight against discrimination at the polls. They are bridging the divide between people of color and our nation's police officers. They are pushing for better schools that give all our kids the skills they need to reach their dreams. They're working to end gun violence. And they're pushing for more opportunities for more people in more places. Mr. Speaker, Members of Congress, please join me in celebrating the 75th Anniversary of NAACP Bremerton Unit 1134.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, the farm bill is supposed to be about people, but this bill is not. It doesn't help the farmer I met in Chimacum, who said he knows there is a whole lot for big corporations in this bill but not enough for family farmers like him who want to plant something in their ground other than a for sale sign. This bill is a step backward for the families that I met a few weeks ago who stand in line at St. Leo emergency food pantry in Tacoma and sometimes wait for hours so that they can feed their kids and make ends meet while they look for jobs. This bill cuts the safety net that helps dairy farmers I met with in Grays Harbor when our changing climate floods their fields and turns acres of soil to dust. The majority claims they want to rebuild our rural economies, but this bill cuts rural development grants that help business owners in Forks and Sequim keep the lights on. You know, I haven't received one letter of support for what we are voting on today. The only people I have heard from are D.C. insiders who have misguided notions about real families struggling to make ends meet. This bill doesn't care enough about real farmers counting on this bill, and the families in St. Leo and the 1.5 million veterans and 22,000 servicemembers who feed their families with nutrition assistance. It is wrong, Mr. Speaker, and it is another example why so many people are losing their faith in government. Let's vote this down and put together a bipartisan farm bill that does more to help people.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to commemorate the life of my former constituent, Jeb Parr, who passed away on April 19. Jeb was a fervent advocate for our nation's public shipyards. His sudden passing is a huge loss to the submarine and ship maintenance community. Jeb dedicated his professional life to the U.S. Navy. He began his active service career in 1975. At that time, he enrolled in and completed the yearlong nuclear engineering training at the fast-paced and prestigious Naval Nuclear Power School, which was founded by the father of the America's Nuclear Navy, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. It was here where the motto ``Knowledge, Integrity, Excellence'' was forever ingrained in Jeb. He would carry this standard with him for the rest of his life. Following eight years of active military service, Jeb came to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF) to work as a nuclear engineer. Over his thirty years of dedicated service at the shipyard, Jeb nurtured a passion for teaching others and served an integral role in developing nuclear training and qualification programs at the shipyard. He possessed an innate ability to recognize and acknowledge the person behind the trainee or worker. He was often sent by managers to facilitate discussions between parties with opposing views, as he had a talent for finding common ground and identifying a solution to challenging problems. These abilities, coupled with his prior experience, brought him to work in the Industrial Operations Directorate at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. in 2016 to oversee training and personnel policy at all four public shipyards. Jeb leaves behind his loving husband of two-and-a-half years, Jose Isidoro Lemus. He will be remembered for his willingness to take time for others, his kindness, and his commitment to mission. On behalf of myself and the U.S. House of Representatives, we send our thoughts and prayers to Jose and the rest of Jeb's family during this challenging time

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today in support of my amendment, which would modify the Airport Improvement Program to require the FAA to explicitly consider the emergency preparedness needs of the communities served when reviewing an airport's master plan. Currently, the FAA relies primarily on a number of enplanements when making their funding determinations under the AIP. That disadvantages rural airports like William R. Fairchild International Airport in my district, which serves as a critical component of the State's and FEMA's emergency response plan for the region, but has relatively few enplanements. This commonsense improvement would help ensure that Fairchild and other airports like it will be able to secure the funding necessary to maintain their runway and other critical infrastructure so that the resources are available when disaster strikes. This matters to folks in my neck of the woods who live in the shadow of the Cascadia subduction zone. When the big one hits, the Fairchild Airport will be essential to deploying emergency supplies, as well as for evacuating people to safety. I would like to thank Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member DeFazio for their support of this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on it.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, at the end of this month, something rather extraordinary will happen: Bertel Van Eek will turn 108 years old. She has been the embodiment of the American Dream and, in some respects, of the importance of the things that happen here. In the midst of debates here about immigration, she reminds us that we are a nation of immigrants. She came to this country as an immigrant after World War II. She was welcomed by the Statue of Liberty and by a country where she built an amazing life. In the midst of debates about retirement security, she reminds us that it is important to have the backs of our seniors. Her husband died in 1981, and her ability to live with dignity for the last 37 years has been closely tied to two of the most successful public policies in the history of this country: Medicare and Social Security. She was born on March 31, 1910--1910. America has had 19 Presidents over that timeframe. As someone who lived in Holland during World War II, she saw the capability and bravery of our military and its members. Imagine all that she has seen over the years. She is going to watch this speech over the internet on a mobile phone. Imagine that. She was born 17 years before movies had sound. But beyond that, her life has been filled with people who love her: a loving daughter who married a guy who calls her ``Mom,'' four great- grandchildren who adore her and who are adorable, and three grandkids who consider her a hero. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be one of those grandsons, and I am proud to stand here on the floor of the U.S. House and wish my Oma a happy 108th birthday.

Mr. KILMER

Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of Steve Ekberg and his nearly four decades of service as a member of the Gig Harbor City Council in the great state of Washington. I wish to thank him for his dedication to public service. I am proud to consider Steve a friend and I offer him my sincerest congratulations on his retirement. Councilmember Ekberg has served under five mayors and alongside nearly 100 councilmembers. His passion for improving our community's access to recreational opportunities is a testament to his lifelong commitment to public service. When Councilmember Ekberg was first elected, the City of Gig Harbor had only one park. Today, the city features more than 20 parks and public piers. As a father to two little girls who play in those parks, I am appreciative of the tireless work of Councilmember Ekberg. Councilmember Ekberg's contributions to Gig Harbor have been extensive. His years as a business and non-profit leader as well as a member of City Council have revealed him to be a champion for our region's youth. As a community leader, he worked tirelessly to build the YMCA into a place where our children can learn and thrive. He spent years coaching youth sports teams and devoted countless hours to the local Historical Society. Councilmember Ekberg was a longtime business leader in the community. His insurance firm, the family owned Pilkey-Hopping & Ekberg, Incorporated, has been operating since 1896. When Steve retired from his firm, his son Reid Ekberg, was elected by the Board of Directors to become the fourth generation of family leaders for the company. Steve has embodied the American dream and has contributed greatly to our region's economy and to the civility of our small community. Whether we've been working to build a new hospital in Gig Harbor, grapple with Narrows Bridge tolls, transfer some federal property to the city, or other initiatives, Steve has been a terrific partner and has always focused on doing what's right for the people of Gig Harbor. Though Steve will be retiring from the Gig Harbor City Council, his service to his community will surely continue in other capacities. I also want to recognize Steve's wife Marion and their two sons, Adam and Reid, for the support they showed Steve and their own service to our community. It's clear that Steve has passed along his commitment to service. On behalf of all Gig Harbor residents and the people of the Sixth District of Washington, thank you Steve for your tireless work and commitment to building a better community. Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Councilman Steve Ekberg's nearly 40 years as a public servant on the City Council of the City of Gig Harbor.