Friends,

As many of you know, the federal government is facing the possibility of a shutdown when Fiscal Year 2023 funding runs out on September 30th. I have severe concerns about the impact a government shutdown would have on Virginia’s Second District and all those who reside within it, particularly our military community. That’s why I’m committed to doing everything I can to pass funding bills in the U.S. House of Representatives and prevent a shutdown.

Unfortunately, out of the 12 spending bills required to fund the government, the House has only passed one and the Senate has passed none. That’s why I introduced the Pay Our Troops Act, which would ensure the men and women serving in the military, including the Coast Guard - as well as certain civilian employees and contractors of the Department of Defense - continue to receive paychecks on time in the event of a government shutdown. You can learn more about the Pay our Troops Act by clicking on the picture or the article below.

As of right now, if the government shuts down, not only will our servicemembers not be paid; only those who are deemed as "essential" will receive backpay once new federal funding is approved. Missing a paycheck would be devastating for our military members and their families, who are already struggling enough from inflation and interest rates. Sadly, nearly 287,000 - or roughly one out of every four - active duty servicemembers struggle with "low food security". I will not allow these men and women to suffer because of Washington's dysfunction.

While the goal is to prevent a shutdown from happening, we must protect those serving our country should Congress be unable to fund the government by September 30th. In the meantime, I am committed to furthering ongoing negotiations and will do everything in my power to ensure Congress completes the appropriations process and funds our government. 

Americans deserve a good-faith effort from elected officials on both sides of the aisle to drop the bickering and come together to address the challenges facing our nation. Lawmakers need to remember that it’s not about one side winning and the other side losing. It is about putting our country first, above all politics. Failing to come to an agreement and perpetuating the economic uncertainty surrounding a government shutdown is unacceptable. To put it plainly, I will not accept failure in these negotiations. 

I remain laser-focused on working toward a commonsense, fiscally responsible solution to fund our government that cuts wasteful spending, prioritizes our national security, and gets our economy back on the right track...!!

Protecting Taxpayers and Our Coastal Habitats

Recently, I was proud to introduce a bill that will help us save taxpayer dollars while supporting Virginia’s coastal communities, economy, and wildlife...!

Called the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act - or the BEACH Act - this bipartisan legislation approves new, expanded maps under the Coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA). Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1982, CBRA uses a free-market approach to coastal conservation: banning most federal tax dollars for development and rebuilding on storm prone, ecologically sensitive coastal areas, which helps conserve them as wildlife habitat and essential buffers against storms and flooding for coastal communities. 

For 40 years, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act has not only protected millions of acres of beaches and wetlands, but also prevented millions of dollars in property damage from natural disasters. Importantly, CBRA does not prohibit or regulate development by state and local governments, but simply removes the federal taxpayer from funding coastal development in the CBRA system—a conservative, market-based approach to conservation. A 2019 economic study reported the CBRA has saved U.S. taxpayers $9.5 billion and is projected to save another $11-108 billion over the next 50 years.

By expanding these maps, my bill will help make our coastal communities more resilient while maintaining fiscal responsibility and critical environmental protections...!

Preventing Addiction Among America's Youth

With more Americans dying from drug overdoses than ever before, we need to do everything we can to secure the border and reduce and prevent addiction among our nation’s children. That's why I support an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to tackling the addiction crisis...one that includes prevention and education efforts, promotes treatment, cracks down on illegal distribution, and enhances resources for first responders and law enforcement.

Earlier this year, I was proud to vote for our Republican Majority's H.R. 2, the Border Reinforcement Act, Last week, I joined forces across the aisle with Congresswoman Susie Lee from Nevada to introduce the Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training (TREAT) for Youth Act.

H.R. 2, which passed the House in May, would make great strides toward securing our southern border by resuming construction of the border wall using previously appropriated funds, hiring and training 22,000 new Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) field agents, modernizing and upgrading CBP technology, and providing increased support to local law enforcement through grant programs.

The TREAT Youth Act would protect and support young Americans struggling with substance abuse by reauthorizing the soon-to-expire Preventing Youth Overdose: Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training program under the Department of Health and Human Services through fiscal year 2028. Through this reauthorization, the strengthened program would provide grants to improve youth awareness of risks associated with fentanyl and opioids, increase access to medications for opioid use disorder, and train health care providers on best practices for supporting youth suffering from substance abuse. 

Fighting to Give Our Vets American Made Products

Did you know the VA spends nearly $35 billion a year on procurements? Unfortunately, a lot of that money goes to purchasing items made outside of the U.S., including places like China. On Wednesday, I grilled VA leadership on why we aren’t buying more American made products for our vets.

Our government should prioritize buying American so we can strengthen the American economy, boost national security, and support domestic manufacturing!! Click on the video above to hear my line of questioning...!

Service Academy Information Night Reminder

If you have a student interested in attending one of our nation's amazing service academies, please join my office for a service academy information night at Virginia Wesleyan University on October 3rd! This event is open to all high school students and their families.

As a Member of Congress, I have the honor of nominating qualified VA-02 high school students for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, does not require a Congressional nomination. The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

The information session will include an overview of academy life, instructions on how to work with my office throughout the nomination process, as well as an opportunity for students to meet with academy representatives and discuss requirements for admission. I hope to see you there!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant William Hart Pitsenbarger (Medal of Honor action date: April 11, 1966). 

William Pitsenbarger was raised in Piqua, Ohio, just outside of Dayton. When he was only a junior in high school, he attempted to enlist as a Green Beret in the US Army, but was denied permission from his parents. After high school, Pitsenbarger made the choice to join the Air Force, and did his basic training in San Antonio. In 1963 during basic training, William volunteered for Pararescue. He completed his training and was in one of the 1st group of airmen to qualify for Pararescue immediately out of basic training. He was assigned to the Rescue Squadron stationed at Hamilton AFB, CA.

In 1965, he received orders to report to Detachment 6, 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron at Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigon. He completed more than 250 missions, earning him the Airman’s Medal and the Republic of Vietnam’s Medal of Military Merit and Gallantry Cross with Bronze Palm. 

In early 1966, Joint Rescue center dispatched two Huskies from Pitsenbarger’s detachment to extract half a dozen or more casualties that had been pinned down in a battle near Cam My. He attended to the wounded before they were lifted by cable to the helicopter. On the chopper's second trip, they lowered their basket to Pitsenbarger, though was hit by a burst of enemy fire, and in an act of selflessness, Pits waved off the helicopter, which would not be able to return.

When the enemy launched a further assault, Pitsenbarger began to fight. He resisted the siege and braved intense gunfire. He would repeatedly expose himself to hostile fire as he cared for his men, pulling them out of the line of fire. He continued to fight even though wounded, and while simultaneously treating as many others as possible. He would be fatally wounded that day. 

That day, Staff Sergeant William H. Pitsenbarger showed once again who he was as a soldier. As someone who tried to become a Green Beret as only a junior in high school, he was always a strong willed champion of the United States. His bravery reflects the highest standards and traditions of the military. He was awarded the Medal of Honor April 11th, 1966. Pitsenbarger was born July 8th, 1944, and died on April 11th, 1966, at the age of 21, in South Vietnam.

Five Fast Facts About Virginia!

1. Arlington used to be a part of the district of Columbia. They were formally separated from one another in 1870.
2. The University of Virginia was Thomas Jefferson’s late in life project. The original grounds of the University are now considered a UNESCO world heritage site. 
3. The state of Virginia contains 544 miles of the Appalachian trail, more than any other state.
4. Virginia is home to the oldest representative democracy in the Americas, the General Assembly, which met for the first time in 1619.
5. Tennis legend Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia.

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