WASHINGTON — A coalition of moderate Democrats has chosen U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, the North Olympic Peninsula’s representative, to help shape its platform on military matters.
The New Democrat Coalition has chosen him to be co-chairman of its national security task force.
Kilmer of Gig Harbor is a freshman member of the House Armed Services Committee.
His district includes Naval Base Kitsap, the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, and borders Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Kilmer joins Reps. Ron Barber of Arizona and Colleen Hanabusa of Hawaii, who now serve as leaders of the Coalition’s National Security Task Force.
“Through this role, I’ll continue fighting to ensure our nation has the best-trained, best-equipped and most capable fighting force in the world and that the United States takes a thoughtful approach to its national security challenges,” Kilmer said in a news release last week.
“I look forward to working with my New Dem colleagues and leaders on both sides of the aisle to ensure that we do.”
The New Democrat Coalition, founded in 1997, has 55 members and includes about a quarter of House Democrats.