Friends,

It was a long and hot week in Washington as we passed the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding for our entire military.

One of the main reasons I came to Congress was to ensure our military remains the best in the world. As our nation faces heightened threats from adversaries around the globe, this bill ensures that our Armed Forces will remain unrivaled. In particular, I'm proud that this legislation refocuses the Department of Defense's efforts on advancing military readiness and quality-0f-life, which ensures that our servicemembers are ready to "fight tonight". I'm very proud that as a result of this legislation, servicemember basic pay is going to increase by 5.2%, which is the largest raise in 20 years.

Following the passage of the bill on Friday, I joined Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer, Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, and fellow veterans Chief Deputy Whip Guy Reschenthaler and Congressman Nick LaLota to highlight what the passage of this bill means for our military. You can watch those remarks below:

In addition to the great overall wins for our military men and women, I'm proud to say that I was able to secure several provisions of my signature legislation, the Sailor Standard of Care Act, in the legislation that passed the House! These pieces will improve our Sailors' quality of life, explore expanding mental health resources available through TRICARE, and improve and expedite the Navy's procedures for processing out sailors on limited duty. If you're interesting in learning more about the Sailor Standard of Care Act, you can click here.

Here are some of the other great things our bill does:

• Rejects the Biden Administration’s efforts to reduce the size of our Navy;
• Prohibits the decommissioning of five battle force ships with years of service life remaining;
• Requires DoD to report to Congress on foreign control and influence over the supply chain for critical minerals, metals, supplies, services, and materials used for defense technologies;
• Establishes a DoD Parents Bill of rights to ensure parents with children in DoD schools have a say in their child's education;
• Accelerates the deployment of advanced radars to track high-altitude balloons and other CCP threats to our homeland;
• Authorizes over $240 million to reduce servicemember out-of-pocket housing expenses;
• Authorizes $27 million over the budget request for new family housing;
• Authorizes $177.8 million over the budget request to renovate and build new barracks;
• Authorizes $113 million over the budget request for the construction of new childcare centers.

Make no mistake, this bill is a good start; however, there is still much work to be done to ensure that our servicemembers have every tool needed to complete their mission and defend our nation. I will continue to be a fierce advocate for additional defense funding to ensure our military men and women are taken care of and our capabilities are sufficient to deter our adversaries like China and Russia.

Expanding Access to Contraception

Last week, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill. As a primary healthcare provider, I strongly support expanding access to contraception. This week, I joined my colleagues to introduce the Orally Taken Contraception Act of 2023. This bill will ensure that oral birth control is more readily available in stores around the country. Not only does birth control prevent unwanted pregnancies, it's also an important aspect of women's healthcare. As the Vice Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Nursing Caucus, I will continue to fight for expanded access to healthcare, particularly for women!

If you're interested in learning more about the FDA's ruling this week, you can click here.

Building Chips in America

China's chokehold on our defense industrial base - specifically the manufacturing of critical semiconductors - is one of the greatest national security threats facing our nation today.

In 2022, Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which birthed many domestic projects that will return production of this critical element of military - and industrial - success to the United States. Unfortunately, a number of these projects are being held up by federal bureaucracy.

It is critical that we do not sit idly by and allow our global competitors to beat us in this area. That's why last week, I introduced the Building Chips in America Act! This bill will ensure that burdensome and unnecessary red tape doesn't prevent the great projects started by the CHIPS & Science Act from moving forward as planned. Specifically, it makes sure that projects which are already under way are not delayed.

Thank you to my colleagues Congressman Scott Peters, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, Congressman Brandon Williams, and Congressman Colin Allred for joining me on this legislation. Additionally, thank you to Senators Mark Kelly, Todd Young, Bill Hagerty, and Sherrod Brown for introducing it in the Senate! I'm confident this legislation will positively impact our national security and grow America's job base.

To learn more about our bill, click on the picture below:

Telephone Town Hall on Tuesday!

On Tuesday, July 18, I'll be hosting another telephone town hall! As your Congresswoman in Washington, hearing directly from Southeast Virginians is critical for me to represent you the best I can. Telephone town halls are a great way for you to let me know about the issues you care about the most and any concerns you may have with what's going on in Congress.

You can dial in to (833) 998-1732 if you want to ask me a question or just listen to the conversation. I'll talk to you tomorrow night!

A Life-Changing Medical Breakthrough

As a geriatric nurse practitioner in the Virginia Beach area, I took care of many cognitively impaired patients in memory care facilities. I know the pain and difficulty that accompany diseases like Alzheimer's for both patients and family members. Thankfully, last week, the FDA issued approval of Lecanemab, which is a revolutionary, first-of-its-kind drug that changes the underlying course of early Alzheimer's!

On Tuesday, I spoke on the House floor about this breakthrough and urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to lift barriers to access to this medication so that more families around the country can benefit from it. It's an honor to advocate for my patient population in Congress!

You can watch my full remarks below:

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week in the House Natural Resources Committee, we were honored to have Medal of Honor recipients Navy veteran Master Chief Special Warfare Officer (SEAL) Britt Slabinski and Army veteran Lieutenant Colonel William Swenson testify in support of the National Medal of Honor Monument, which is going to be built on the National Mall! If you're interested in learning more about the monument, you can click here.

During my remarks, I told the story of the first recipient from Virginia Beach, Sergeant Miles James, who earned his Medal of Honor on September 30th, 1864.

Sgt. Miles James was born into slavery in what was then Princess Anne County in 1829. In 1863, he enlisted in the US army, and participated in the Battle of New Market Heights in modern-day Henrico County, Virginia. During the battle, Sergeant James was shot in the arm and had an emergency amputation. Despite this, he continued to lead his troops in battle, loading and discharging his weapon one-handed, urging his men forward and refusing to be taken from the field. He died in 1871 of complications from injuries sustained in combat. 

Miles James was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 6th, 1875. He was buried in Norfolk, Virginia.

You can watch my remarks below:

Five Fast Facts about the Congressional Softball Game!

On Wednesday night, I played in the Congressional Softball Game!

Here are a few facts about the game:

1. Proceeds from the Congressional Women’s Softball Game benefit Young Survival Coalition, the premier global organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young adults who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
2. The Congressional Women’s Softball Game began in 2009 with captains Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). 
3. The Congressional Women’s Softball Game has raised more than $3.1M for Young Survival Coalition (YSC) since the Game began in 2009 and has become a staple of Capitol Hill summer activities.
4. Members of Congress and the DC Press Corps are the teams battling it out on the softball field. 
5. Eight rookies joined the Congressional squad this year! 

Unfortunately, the press team - which is nicknamed the "Bad News Babes" - took the victory this year 15-9, but it was such a great experience and benefits a great cause!

I'll be back in Washington this week for the second of three straight weeks of legislative session. It's hard to believe that it's almost August already... I hope many of you are able to join us on Tuesday's telephone town hall!

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my D.C. Office at (202) 225-4215 or my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 with questions, concerns, or if you require assistance with a federal agency. And don't forget - if you’d like to stay up to date with what I’m working on, check out my website and follow my Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages (linked below) to stay up to date!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District