U.S. Rep Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), told ADC Thursday that he hopes the Defense Community Infrastructure Program is included in President Joe Biden’s budget, “but if it’s not, I’m confident we’ll see broad support of Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate.”

Kilmer, a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has long been a champion of DCIP, which invests in off-base infrastructure projects that also impact mission readiness.

“As we start to shift into this next phase in trying to get our economy up off the ground, I think it makes a lot of sense to reinvest in our communities and get folks back to work,” Kilmer said on ADC Live. “And I think DCIP can be a really important part of that.”

Kilmer also said he feels President Biden took “a big step” in proposing the American Jobs Act, the first part of his infrastructure plan, and that he looks forward to Congress working on the bill.

“As those details get fleshed out, I certainly support the idea that defense communities and the infrastructure needs that they have should be part of that conversation,” Kilmer said.

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