WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House has established a select committee to recommend modernization of the legislative branch and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has named Rep. Derek Kilmer its chairman.
Kilmer, a Gig Harbor Democrat and native of Port Angeles, represents the 6th Congressional District, which includes the North Olympic Peninsula. He is now in his fourth term.
“It has been clear for a long time that the House is a fixer-upper,” Kilmer said after Friday’s 418-12 bipartisan vote and announcement of his chairmanship.
“Every time bills are written behind closed doors or passed without debate, every time Americans feel like they don’t have a say and too little is getting done, people lose faith. Congress needs to do better.
“This committee represents an important step forward in renovating the House,” Kilmer continued.
“Americans deserve a Congress where they have a say and things get done. They deserve a Congress that uses cutting-edge technology and that is as diverse as our nation. Americans deserve a Congress that approaches its work in innovative new ways.
“I’m honored to have been chosen to lead the committee tasked with coming up with the ways to modernize Congress and get it working for the people again.”
The Select Committee was created in a package of House rules changes that was spearheaded by Rep. Jim McGovern. Kilmer and members of the New Democrat Coalition, a group Kilmer chairs, worked closely with McGovern to give input on the final House rules package that created the Select Committee, Kilmer’s office said in a news release.
“Congressman Kilmer is an innovator and a pioneer, who has worked relentlessly to make the House more transparent and more responsive to the voices of members and the American people,” Pelosi said.
“His commitment to bipartisanship in the Congress will be vital to this committee’s work to modernize our institution.”
