Hello Friends!

It’s been a busy and productive week serving you from Virginia’s Second District! I had the privilege of visiting one of our nation’s premier spaceports on Wallops Island, where I saw firsthand the incredible work being done to advance America’s leadership in aerospace and create high-paying jobs in our region. I also met with our veterans and community leaders to discuss the issues that matter most—from ensuring our servicemembers and their families get the care and benefits they’ve earned, to supporting our teachers and students through innovative legislation like my TUTOR Act.

Whether it’s fighting to protect critical tax credits that spur economic development, expanding STEM opportunities for young people, or working to improve the quality of life for our veterans, I remain committed to delivering results that strengthen our economy, keep our country secure, and ensure a brighter future for the next generation. 

Now, onto my Weekly Debrief!

Peace Through Strength: A Path Toward Ending the War in Ukraine

As a Navy veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have long believed that peace is forged through strength. When America stands resolute, we deter aggression and inspire those fighting for freedom. That principle is guiding President Trump’s renewed diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine.

That message was made unmistakably clear last week as a U.S. B-2 stealth bomber and four F-35 fighter jets flew over Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Alaska, right as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived for high-stakes talks with President Trump. It wasn’t just a show of airpower, it was a signal to the world that the United States will not be intimidated and will always defend peace from a position of strength.

Over the past week, President Trump met with Putin in Alaska before hosting President Zelenskyy and nine European leaders in Washington. Together, these back-to-back summits marked the most significant diplomatic effort to end the war since it began. By engaging both sides directly, while pressing Europe to take the lead and ensuring America’s military strength remains a powerful deterrent, President Trump is laying the foundation for meaningful negotiations and a potential path to peace.

The road ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: America once again has a Commander in Chief who understands that lasting peace comes only through resolve. President Trump’s leadership puts America’s interests first while opening the door to stability in Europe. As your representative, I will continue to support efforts that strengthen our allies, deter our adversaries, and keep America strong.

MARS on Wallops Island: A Pillar of Aerospace and Economic Growth



Last week, I spent the day at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on Wallops Island. From the MARSCOM Control Room and Payload Processing Facility to the launch pads and UAS airfield, the facilities here were impressive. 

As one of only four public spaceports in the country that launch satellites into orbit, this facility is incredibly important to the aerospace industry and our national security. Not only that, but it has a tremendous economic impact on the region, including providing many Virginians with high-paying jobs. 

I was also impressed to learn about the many educational opportunities from high school and college internships to shadow days and school visits. The best way to ensure we have enough people to dominate in aerospace is to get students interested in STEM from an early age!

Read Virginia Spaceport Authority's press release on the visit here.

Exciting Opportunities for Women in STEM...!!

During our exciting visit to MARS on Wallops Island, I had the opportunity to speak with Sidnee McGee, the Chief of Education and Intern Development for the Virginia Spaceport Authority, about the incredible career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)...! As the co-chair of the Women in STEM Caucus and a former geriatric nurse practitioner, I'm always excited to talk about the importance of these positions and the role they serve in driving innovation, strengthening our economy, and keeping the United States competitive on the world stage.

To hear more about the amazing opportunities for students, click here and watch the video 👇

Advocating for our Veterans: A Congressional Conversation in VA-02

Last week, I joined Concerned Veterans for America and Americans for Prosperity for a “Congressional Conversation” to discuss the issues that matter most to our veterans in #VA02…! As a Navy veteran and member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, one of my highest priorities is to support legislation that improves the quality of life for our veterans. In providing critical tax relief for small businesses and prioritizing the feasibility of programs like Medicaid, the One Big Beautiful Bill is pro-growth and pro-veteran and I am proud to support it!

With much progress already made in 2025—there’s still plenty of work to be done…! 

Speaking with Axios to Protect Energy Tax Credits for Local Developers

During the drafting of the One Big Beautiful Bill, I fought for local developers and energy companies to have an expanded window to utilize these energy tax credits before they expire! The bill President Trump signed keeps these credits in place as long as these companies commence construction within a certain time frame. 

Read my interview in Axios on energy tax credits here.

Strengthening Defense and Innovation at Wallops

Wallops Flight Facility is a prized possession for the Commonwealth and the nation. The work they're doing in aerospace, both for national defense and private industry, is extremely important. I'm committed to ensuring that operations on Wallops continue to grow...!

Read the full article from Wavy here and watch the video 👇

Schedule a D.C. Tour Through My Office..!

Now is a great time to come up to D.C. for a tour of our nation's historic capital! We can assist in scheduling tours of some of Washington’s most iconic landmarks, including:

• The U.S. Capitol
• The White House* - (The White House has announced they have suspended tours for the months of September and October).
• The Library of Congress
• The Supreme Court
• The FBI

Many of these tours fill up weeks in advance, so I encourage you to reach out early. My team is here to help you and your family enjoy a memorable, meaningful experience in D.C.

👉 To request a tour click here

We’re proud to represent you—and even prouder to help you experience the history, beauty, and significance of Washington, D.C. firsthand!

Weekly Poll

Last week, I asked, “Do you believe teacher pay in Virginia is competitive enough to attract great educators?” With over 1,300 responses, the results were clear. 16.5% said YES, 63.8% said NO, and 19.7% were UNSURE.

I agree with the majority of you—Virginia’s teachers deserve better pay and stronger support. Too many of our teachers are working second jobs or spending their own money on classroom supplies. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan TUTOR Act, which would provide up to a $1,000 tax credit for teachers who offer after-hours tutoring in core subjects like math, reading, writing, and science.

This legislation rewards educators who go above and beyond, helps students get the extra academic support they need, and moves us closer to making Virginia a place where great teachers want to work and stay.

And now, onto this week's poll question...!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I would like to honor Medal of Honor Recipient Private First Class Harold Christ Agerholm of the United States Marine Corps (Medal of Honor action date: July 7, 1944).

Harold C. Agerholm was born on January 29, 1925 in Racine, Wisconsin. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 at the age of 17.

In January of 1943, Agerholm was promoted to private first class and was given the job of battery store room keeper. He participated in the fighting on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, in November of 1943. After the combat on Tarawa ceased, Pfc. Agerholm traveled with the 2nd Marine Division to the Hawaiian Islands, where the division trained for the upcoming invasion of Saipan.

Pfc. Agerholm landed with his division on Saipan on June 15, 1944, just nine days after the D-Day invasion at Normandy. When Japanese forces launched a counterattack against Pfc. Agerholm and his fellow soldiers, he immediately volunteered to assist in the efforts to check the hostile attack and evacuate the wounded. Pfc. Agerholm located an abandoned ambulance jeep and used it to make several trips under heavy enemy mortar and rifle fire. He single handedly loaded and evacuated approximately 45 casualties, working tirelessly and with utter disregard for his own safety during a grueling period of more than three hours. While under enemy fire, Pfc. Agerholm ran out to rescue two men who he believed to be his fellow Marines, before he was mortally wounded by a Japanese sniper. 

On June 25, 1945, Private First Class Harold C. Agerholm was posthumously and privately awarded the Medal of Honor by the Commandant of the Ninth Naval District. This honored the request of Pfc. Agerholm’s mother who did not want any public presentation. Pfc. Agerholm was also posthumously honored with the Purple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars and the World War II Victory Medal for his heroic and selfless actions during the war.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. Recently, my office assisted Sandra from Suffolk in resolving an issue with the Social Security Administration (SSA). After she reached out to my office, we were able to lend a helping hand through the casework process. Thanks for reaching out, Sandra...!

If you need assistance with a 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, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages to stay up to date!

If you or your family are visiting Washington, DC in the coming months, please stop by to say hello!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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