Hello Friends!

This was our first week back in session since the end of the district work period and as summer comes to a close, I’ve been hard at work across Virginia’s Second District and in Washington, fighting for our servicemembers, military families, and hardworking Virginians. From strengthening our shipbuilding and aerospace industries, to protecting access to affordable healthcare, to honoring those who serve in uniform, I remain focused on delivering results that keep America strong at home and abroad. I’m excited to share a few highlights with you from this past month.

The House also voted on and passed multiple bills. You can read more about some of those below in my weekly floor recap...!

Now, onto my Weekly Debrief!

Shipbuilding Investments that Strengthen Our Fleet and Workforce

During the August work period, I visited the Curtiss-Wright Service Center in Chesapeake where skilled workers support our Navy’s nuclear fleet. Their work is a reminder that America’s shipbuilding strength begins with the men and women of our industrial base. The Working Families Tax Cut invests more than $29 billion in shipbuilding and another $25 billion in advanced weapons and munitions. These funds will help sustain high-skilled jobs across Hampton Roads and guarantee our Navy remains the strongest in the world.

Watch my full remarks from the House Floor 👇

Strengthening America’s Edge in Space from Virginia’s Shore

I’ve seen firsthand the power of public-private partnerships at work. From Rocket Lab’s U.S. launch site to Northrop Grumman’s Antares missions, from NASA’s science payloads to classified Department of Defense launches, our region is delivering results. At a time of rising global competition in space, America cannot afford to take assets like Wallops and MARS for granted.

Read more from the Eastern Shore Post here.

Protecting Affordable Health Care for Working Families

As a nurse practitioner, military spouse, and Mom, I understand firsthand how critical affordable health care is for working families. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credit created during the pandemic was meant to be temporary, we should not let it expire without a plan for affordable healthcare in place. My legislation will protect hardworking Virginians from facing health insurance bills they can’t afford, thus losing much-needed access to care. COVID pandemic policies must come to an end, but this tax credit has a significant impact on American’s access to healthcare and must be phased out responsibly to ensure families retain coverage.

Read my full press release here.

Read more on the bill from Newsweek, Bloomberg, and Punchbowl News.

2025 Military Times Servicemembers of the Year Awards

I was honored to attend the 2025 Military Times Servicemembers of the Year Awards. Each honoree was chosen from among their peers as the very best in their branch, a true testament to their talent, leadership, and service. Their stories are a reminder of the strength and character of the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform. Congratulations to these outstanding servicemembers on this well-deserved honor. 🇺🇸

Apply for a U.S. Service Academy Nomination Through My Office

One of my greatest honors as your Representative is nominating qualified high school students from Virginia’s Second District to attend four of our nation’s five U.S. Service Academies:

• U.S. Military Academy (USMA) – West Point, NY
• U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) – Annapolis, MD
• U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) – Colorado Springs, CO
• U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) – Kings Point, NY

(The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.)

Attending a Service Academy is both a tremendous honor and a solemn commitment, as graduates are required to serve at least five years in the U.S. military.

For more information, click here.

 Applications are due by October 24, 2025.

Mobile Office Hours in Isle of Wight County...!!

Team Kiggans is hitting the road again! My staff will be hosting Mobile Office Hours on Friday, September 19th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Windsor Town Center (23361 Courthouse Highway, Windsor, VA 23487).

Mobile Office Hours are a convenient way for residents of Virginia’s Second District to get help with federal agencies, ask questions, and share concerns—right in their own community. Whether you need assistance with a passport, VA benefits, Social Security, or just want to learn more about how my office can support you, we’re here to help.

No appointment is necessary—just stop by! My team looks forward to serving you.

Sign-Up for the Congressional App Challenge...!!

Student registration is now open for the 2025 Congressional App Challenge!

Launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, this nationwide competition encourages middle and high school students to showcase their creativity and technical skills by designing software applications (“apps”) for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. Students can compete individually or in teams of up to four, as long as at least two members are eligible to compete in Virginia's Second Congressional District.

As the Co-Chair of the Women in STEM Caucus, I know how important STEM education is to the future of our economy, workforce, and national security. That’s why I’m encouraging all students in #VA02 to take part in this exciting opportunity.

To submit your app click here.

• Deadline: October 30, 2025: Submit your app by this date.

• Eligibility: Middle or high school students who either live or attend school in VA-02.

• Prizes: Winning apps will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol, featured on the House of Representatives’ website, and winners will be invited to the #HouseofCode Capitol Hill Reception in Washington, D.C.

I look forward to seeing the creativity and innovation from students right here in Hampton Roads!

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 if you think Virginia should keep investing in STEM to prepare the next generation of engineers. With over 1,200 responses, the results were clear: 87.8% of you said YES, 3.7% said NO, and 8.4% were unsure.

I couldn’t agree more with the overwhelming majority of you who recognize just how important STEM is to our future. As Co-Chair of the Women in STEM Caucus, I’ve seen firsthand how critical these skills are for driving innovation, strengthening our economy, and ensuring America’s competitiveness on the world stage.

This year, I’ve had the privilege of celebrating major milestones in STEM right here in Virginia’s Second District—from joining Governor Youngkin for the ribbon cutting of the Aerospace Academy of the Eastern Shore, which will inspire and mentor the next generation of aerospace leaders, to returning to NASA Wallops Flight Facility for the ribbon cutting of Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 3, reinforcing America’s leadership in the commercial space industry.

I’ll continue working in Congress to ensure Virginia students have access to the opportunities, mentorship, and education they need to succeed in these fast-growing fields.

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 Captain Maurice Lee “Footsie” Britt of the United States Army (Medal of Honor action date: November 10, 1943).

Maurice Lee “Footsie” Britt was born on June 29, 1919 in Carlisle, Arkansas. Britt attended college at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and entered into service in the Army reserve. Britt was drafted into the NFL by the Detroit Lions and played for them in 1941 before the start of World War II.

In December of 1941, Britt entered into active duty as a second lieutenant at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock. He initially joined the 3rd Division and was a part of the coastal defense of the West Coast of the United States. Second Lieutenant Britt along with the 30th infantry and the 3rd Division embarked for the North Africa Campaign on October 23, 1942. In North Africa Second Lieutenant Britt served under General George S. Patton. He started at the beaches of Casablanca and ended serving as a part of a personal guard duty to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Prime Minister Winston Churchill at the end of the North African Campaign. Second Lieutenant Britt and the 3rd Division then began training for the Invasion of Sicily.

During his time as a part of the Italian Campaign, now First Lieutenant Britt continued to serve as a platoon leader. He was a part of the invasion of Sicily, the capture of Palermo, and the landing at Salerno. At one point in the campaign, First Lieutenant Britt led his platoon on one of the longest foot marches in modern military history. His platoon marched 54 miles in only 33 hours, traveling from near Gela northward towards Palermo.

On the morning of November 10, 1943, First Lieutenant Britt went beyond the call of duty during a battle north of Mignano, Italy. He led a handful of his men in repelling a bitter counterattack by approximately 100 Germans against his company's positions. During the intense firefight, First Lieutenant Britt's canteen and field glasses were shattered; a bullet pierced his side; his chest, face, and hands were covered with grenade wounds. Despite his wounds, he personally killed five and wounded an unknown number of Germans, wiped out one enemy machine-gun crew, fired five clips of carbine and an undetermined amount of M-1 rifle ammunition, and threw 32 fragmentation grenades. His actions while facing superior enemy numbers, resulted in the capture of four Germans, two of them wounded, and enabled several captured Americans to escape. First Lieutenant Britt's undaunted courage and prowess in arms were largely responsible for repulsing a German counterattack which, if successful, would have isolated his battalion and destroyed his company.

On June 6, 1944, Lieutenant Maurice Lee “Footsie” Britt was awarded the Medal of Honor by Lieutenant General Mark W. Clark, the commander of the 5th Army. Britt would retire as a Captain and go on to become Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas and serve in the Nixon Administration.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. My office assisted Damian from Virginia Beach in resolving an issue with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). After he reached out to my office, we were able to lend a helping hand through the casework process. Thanks for reaching out, Damian...!

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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