Welcome back to another weekly debrief... I hope you are all enjoying the holiday season and staying warm in the process! I spent last week in Washington, D.C. working on legislation to improve the lives of our servicemembers, veterans, and communities.

Throughout the week, we passed legislation to authorize funding for our military and national defense, approve projects for waterway development, allow expedited security screening for disabled veterans, and to establish a working group to assess and report on efforts to counter threats posed by the CCP. I was proud to vote in favor of these bills, which you can learn more about below:

I will be back in Washington again this week to wrap up the legislative business of the 118th Congress, with a focus on passing legislation that keeps our federal government open.

Keep reading to learn more about what we accomplished for Hampton Roads over the past week!

Investing in Our Military and National Defense

I am excited to share that the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), for Fiscal Year 2025, passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week! The legislation, which passed by a vote of 281-140, authorizes $895.2 billion for national defense discretionary programs, an increase of $9 billion or 1% over the FY24 enacted level.

I was proud to serve on the House Armed Services Committee Quality of Life Panel where we worked to make long overdue quality-of-life improvements to military pay, housing, healthcare, childcare, and spousal support...most of which were included in this bill! In particular, I fought hard to secure a 14.5% pay increase for our junior enlisted servicemembers. These men and women in uniform sacrifice so much for our great country and deserve salaries that reflect their service.

I also secured authorizations in this year's NDAA for the design of military construction projects here in Hampton Roads, including authorizing $2.7 million for a childcare facility at Fort Story, $4 million for a childcare facility at NAS Oceana, and $16 million for unaccompanied housing at NAS Oceana. 

I am very pleased that members on both sides of the aisle recognize the importance of our national defense and came together to pass this critical legislation that refocuses the Department of Defense on our servicemembers, warfighting capabilities, and global deterrence initiatives. I look forward to continuing to prioritize developing technologies to foster new innovation, growing our Navy through shipbuilding, and recruiting and retaining servicemembers. As a third-generation veteran, I will always be the loudest voice for our military men and women in Congress!

Developing Pain Alternatives for Seniors

When discussing solutions to opioid use disorder, our seniors are often left out of the conversation... As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I understand that seniors are not immune to the opioid epidemic that our country continues to battle. That's why I recently cosponsored H.R. 7142, the Alternatives to Pain Act, which will provide seniors with better access to non-opioid pain management options.

The legislation, which was introduced earlier this year by my colleague Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), will ensure that Medicare Part D plans make non-opioid therapies just as accessible to patients as opioid-based pain approaches. This will give our seniors more options to choose the treatment that is best for them!

You can read the full text of the legislation here.

Fighting for Women, Peace, and Security

Last week, the Women, Peace and Security Caucus had its final meeting of 2024 to discuss our goal of preserving peace through strength with military representatives from Japan, Poland, Australia, and the United Kingdom. I have been honored to serve as the Co-Chair of the caucus alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-22) for the past two years.

Our meeting was an important opportunity to bring attention to the ways in which we can address the recruitment and retention problem that our militaries often face. Today, nations across the globe are experiencing an unprecedented crisis recruiting and retaining servicemembers. One of the first and best ways we can address this recruitment and retention problem is to look to women, who now make up nearly 20% of the total military force in the U.S.

It is up to us to do everything in our power to strengthen our national security so that we can help empower and protect future generations of women and girls. I will always be an advocate for women's role in our global democracy. When we collaborate as allies, we can better tackle the challenges and threats we encounter in today's world! 

Congratulations to Our App Challenge Winners!

We hosted an exciting event at Old Dominion University last week...the Congressional App Challenge Showcase for Virginia's Second District! This year we had nine teams of students submit applications that addressed a wide variety of real world issues. We are so fortunate to have incredibly talented young people who worked for months on these exciting projects!

I was happy to award first place to Aarav Chokshi and Andy Yang from Princess Anne High School for their app, VisuAI. This app utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance and assist visually impaired individuals by providing real-time descriptions of their surroundings. Second place was awarded to Saahas Parasa from Princess Anne High School for his app, ChessWise. This app utilizes AI to train users to play chess. Rather than learning in traditional methods, this application allows people to get real-time feedback to improve their skills.

The ingenuity was apparent in each submission, and I know all 19 participants from our district have bright futures ahead. Over the past several years, we have seen our wold transformed by the introduction of AI. It is awesome to see so many of our entries working with the technology of the future. I know our nation's continued technological innovating is in good hands with this generation!

Virginia Beach's Newest Police Officers

Last week, I was honored to join the Virginia Beach Police Department for their 77th Academy Class Graduation to celebrate the brave men and women who have chosen to serve our communities. Last week's graduation was a momentous occasion for all of them, and I was thrilled to participate in the celemony.

Our police officers are the first line of defense when danger and tragedy strike in our neighborhoods. They play a vital role in our communities - putting their lives on the line every single day for us and our families. I was glad to commend these new graduates for their decision to enter public service as law enforcement officers.

As a Navy veteran, I understand and respect the hard work of our local law enforcement. I am honored to be a resilient voice in Congress for our men and women in uniform. Whether it's through legislation or simple actions, I am committed to restoring a sense of appreciation for the men and women in blue who put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities.

Thank you Chief Paul Neudigate, Mayor Bobby Dyer, City Manager Patrick Duhaney, and all of the men and women of the Virginia Beach Police Department for joining me to congratulate the academy's fantastic graduates. I am incredibly proud of each and every one of them for their drive and desire to serve...I wish them luck as they start their new roles!

Weekly Poll

With over 1,100 responses this week, nearly 70% of you said that you have a Real ID...! That's a good thing! To the other 30% of you who don't yet have one, if you plan on flying after May 7th you will either need to get a Real ID or use a valid passport or valid military ID to get through TSA check points.

You can apply for a Real ID at the Virginia DMV. For more information about Real ID in Virginia click here.

And now on to this week's poll question...!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient Colonel (Col) Lewis Lee Millett United States Army (Medal of Honor Action Date: February 7,1951).

Col Lewis Lee Millett was born on December 15, 1920 in Mechanic Falls, Maine. hespent his childhood in Massachusetts, and first enlisted in the Massachusetts National Guard in 1938 while still in high school. In 1941, he deserted due to his eagerness to fight and joined the Canadian Army where he served as a radar operator in London during The Blitz. 

In 1942, Millett transferred back to the U.S. Army after the United States entered World War II and was assigned to the 27th Field Artillery Regiment. He was awarded a silver star for his actions in North Africa by driving a burning ammunition truck away from friendly forces and jumping out just before it exploded. Millett next served during the Invasion of Italy and the Battle of Anzio. The U.S. Army discovered that he had been a deserter and was court martialed. His punishment was a fine of $52 and loss of leave. Weeks later, Millett was awarded a battlefield commission to 2nd Lieutenant. 

He spent the years between WWII and Korea attending school in Maine. After being called up for service in Korea, Millett was assigned as commander of Company E of the 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. On February 7, 1951, Col Millett led an assault on a position known as Hill 180. After one platoon was pinned down, Millett led an additional platoon, joined the pinned platoon and led a charge up the hill. He yelled for his men to push forward while throwing grenades and wielding a bayonet. Millett’s men engaged in fierce hand to hand combat and were credited with about 50 enemy killed with 20 of them identified having been killed by stab wounds. He was wounded in the shin but refused to be evacuated until his position was secure. 

Col Millett was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman in a ceremony at the White House on July 5, 1951. He attended Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia and later served as an intelligence officer with the 101st Airborne division. He led a school which trained non commissioned officers in small unit tactics and later the Army Security Agency Training Center in Fort Devens, Massachusetts. He retired from the U.S. Army in 1973 at the rank of Colonel. 

After retiring, Col Millett initially worked as a deputy sheriff in Tennessee before moving to California. Millett was known to be active with veterans groups and traveled around the country for major events. Col. Millet died at the age of 88 on November 14, 2009. He was buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. Several streets have been named after him and a lifesize diorama depicting his bayonet charge during the Korean War can be viewed at the U.S. Army Infantry Museum at Fort Moore, Georgia.

Constituent Corner!

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government... Recently, my office was able to assist Brett from Virginia Beach receive his tax return after the IRS did not get back to him. After my office reached out, he received the money he was owed in

If you need assistance with your veteran benefits or with another federal agency, my team is here to help. Contact my District Office at (757) 364-7650 or visit my website and my team will be in touch!

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!

If you or your family are visiting Washington, DC in the coming fall months, please stop by to say hello! If you are interested in a tour, please let us know!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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