Derek Kilmer - CICC Member Spotlight

I believe that education is the great equalizer. It gives young people a chance to succeed in life regardless of the circumstances of their birth. As the son of two retired public-school teachers, I’ve seen the transformational power of the important work done by our educators and by educational institutions. Attending a private, nonprofit college helped me get to where I am today. I want to continue to support these institutions, so I was excited by the opportunity to serve as
co-chair of the Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus.

Importantly, the colleges in my state are offering top-notch educational opportunities to their students, supporting my state’s effort to educate more people to higher levels. Beyond that, though, our region’s private, nonprofit colleges have an explicit and consistent dedication to community engagement and collaboration. For example, in the city of Tacoma, there is incredible work being done to discuss and advance the work of social justice and entrepreneurship for our region’s most vulnerable citizens. Often, these gatherings and public engagement events are hosted at and feature major contributions from the University of Puget Sound and from Pacific Lutheran University (which is just outside the boundary of my district). I am proud of the legacy of service of these amazing institutions.

Our region is blessed with colleges and universities that are not satisfied with resting on their laurels. Whether it be through the implementation of rich interdisciplinary curricula, the recruitment and retention of stellar faculty, or the maintenance of a vibrant and rich environment of student life, our region’s colleges and universities continue to lead the way forward for a better and brighter tomorrow.

I look at education as the door to opportunity. For a lot of families – including mine – financial aid can be the key to that door. I think Congress has a duty to ensure that key is available to everyone who needs it. I’ve been active in supporting federal investments in our student aid programs to ensure ALL students have the opportunity to pursue higher education. PELL grants, the Federal Work Study Program, and Perkins loans are critical resources that help low-income and underserved students get ahead. Two and a half centuries ago, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “an investment in knowledge pays the greatest interest.” As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have fought to uphold that ethic.

The trajectory of my life changed substantially because of my college experience. I grew up in a small timber town in Washington State.  At Princeton, I got to meet classmates from all over the world who have become friends for life. I got to learn from professors who were at the top of their field. Perhaps most importantly, my college experience helped instill the notion of service in my life and reinforced my desire to come back home to make a difference in the community in which I grew up. I was a public policy major, and my senior thesis focused on the economic challenges facing my hometown. I put my education into practice, first as a business consultant and then working in economic development for a decade. As a public servant, I’m now representing my hometown and other communities in my region – working to create more economic opportunity, for more people, in more places.