Friends,

Welcome back to another weekly recap! I was in Washington, D.C. last week for another legislative session in Congress. We voted on several important pieces of legislation, including the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, a comprehensive veterans package focused on improving the lives of our veterans and their families. Additionally, we passed a bill to require ballots mailed within the U.S. be given unique barcodes to ensure authenticity, and a bill to prohibit the IRS from collecting taxes and charging fines to American citizens that are being held hostage overseas. I was proud to vote in favor of these bills...you can read more about them below.

I will be back in Hampton Roads this week and look forward to seeing people in the district. The holidays are in full swing, and I hope you are surrounded by friends and loved ones! Now, on to the updates from last week!

Announcing the USS Congress

Last week, I joined Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro in announcing the USS Congress, a new Constellation-class multi-mission guided-missile frigate! It is an extraordinary privilege to serve as a sponsor of the ship alongside my colleague, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), and our Senate partners, Senators Joni Ernst (IA) and Tammy Baldwin (WI).

The USS Congress is a living tribute to our Navy's history. Its name honors one of the original six frigates of the United States Navy, and is a symbol of our nation's unwavering pursuit of freedom. The first USS Congress was named by President George Washington himself and launched in August 1799 - a time when our young nation's strength was still being forged on the open seas. Now, as the second ship of the Constellation class, this new USS Congress will ensure our Navy's readiness for the challenges of tomorrow and reaffirm America's dominance on the seas.

As a former Navy helicopter pilot, wife of a retired F/A-18 pilot, and Mom to a Student Naval Aviator (SNA), the United States Navy is an important part of my family. I am proud to be a fierce advocate in Congress for our Sailors and all our nation's servicemembers. I am deeply honored to be a part of this historic moment, and I look forward to seeing this ship fulfill is mission!

You can read more about the announcement here.

Putting Our Veterans First

Veterans deserve a VA that works for them and allows them to fully live the lives they risked so bravely for our freedom. That's why I voted in favor of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act on the House Floor last week. This significant legislation package will improve the lives of veterans and their families across the country.

I am proud that two bills I introduced were included in the package: the VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023, which aims to increase veterans' safety and support police officers at VA Medical Centers amid an uptick in violent crime, and the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act.

The COPE Act takes an important step towards providing mental health resources to those who care for our nation's veterans. Specifically, my legislation would authorize the VA to provide grants to organizations that support family caregivers' mental health. Caregivers play a critical role in the lives of older Americans – especially our veterans – and as the only geriatric nurse practitioner in Congress, I know being a caregiver comes with immense emotional challenges. By ensuring veteran caregivers can properly take care of their mental health, the COPE Act will improve the lives of our nation’s heroes and solidify the support system they need to age with dignity.

As the granddaughter of a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, the wife of a veteran, the mother of future veterans, and a veteran myself, I am proud to advocate for those who have served. The passage of this bipartisan legislative package is an exciting advancement for veteran care and services. I am confident that with its passage, we as a country will move closer to fulfilling our promise to provide for America's veteran population and those who care for them.

You can read more about the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act here.

Recognizing National Family Caregivers Month

Every November, we recognize National Family Caregivers Month and bring awareness to the people who dedicate their time, money, and efforts to care for their loved ones. Last week, I spoke on the House Floor as the Co-Chair of the Assisting Caregivers Today (ACT) Caucus to recognize this month and the millions of family caregivers across the country.

There are roughly 48 million family caregivers in the United States who give around the clock care to their family members. On average, these caregivers provide nearly $600 billion in unpaid labor annually. In addition to providing these essential services unpaid, more than three in four family caregivers spend their own hard-earned money to take care of their loved ones.

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I have seen firsthand the challenges they face and realize their sacrifices often go unrecognized. This care can come with unexpected financial burdens, so earlier this year, I cosponsored the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, which would allow individuals to use their own Health Savings Account (HSA) for a parent or spouse that they provide care for. Additionally, I've supported legislation like the Credit for Caring Act, which would create a $5,000 nonrefundable tax credit for family caregivers.

I am proud to advocate for caregivers and policies that would make their already difficult situation easier to navigate. I was honored to speak on the House Floor in recognition of those who dedicate their lives to caring for their parents, children, spouses, and other loved ones. You can watch my full speech here or click on the video above.

Saluting Our Men and Women in Uniform

Last week, I joined Capital One to celebrate National Veteran and Military Families Month at their First Annual Capital One Military Ball! I was honored to speak with members of Capital One's Salute program, an organization within the company focused on bringing members of the military, veterans, and their families together through community engagement. Salute assists with active-duty transition, recruiting, reserve support, and more...!

It was a great event and a wonderful opportunity to recognize not only those who stepped up to serve, but their spouses, friends, and loved ones as well. When our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for our country, their families serve alongside them.

We can – and must – do everything in our power to ensure our active-duty military members have a quality of life they deserve, and our veterans have the resources they need to lead successful, healthy lives when they come home. As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Navy spouse, and now Navy Mom, it was an honor to thank our servicemembers and those who ensure they, their families, and veterans can thrive!

Reducing PFAS at DoD Facilities

Did you know research has consistently linked PFAS exposure to various cancers, reduced immune function, reproductive challenges, birth defects, and other human health impacts? These threats pose serious concerns for our servicemembers and their families, who often come into contact with these “forever chemicals” through drinking water pollution at Department of Defense facilities.

That's why I recently led a letter with my colleague, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) to urge leadership of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to include provisions to protect servicemembers from toxic PFAS chemicals in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

Preventing PFAS contamination from leaving DoD facilities in the first place would go a long way towards protecting firefighters, servicemembers, and the drinking water sources for military families. Importantly, including these provisions would also significantly improve the cost-efficiency of PFAS remediation funding already authorized for DoD by reducing how much PFAS needs to be cleaned up in the future.

I spoke recently with 13NewsNow about the importance of this issue, which you can watch here. I will always advocate for our men and women in uniform and work to move legislation that improves their quality of life. You can read the full letter here.

Weekly Poll

With roughly 1,100 responses this week, over 60% of you said that you don't believe we do enough to ensure that our veterans have the benefits they deserve. Over the past two years in Congress, I have been proud to fight to ensure our veterans receive the healthcare and benefits they earned in service to our nation. I agree with you, that's why I was so proud to support and see the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act pass with such wide bipartisan support on the House floor last week!

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

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

his week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient Captain (Capt) David McCampbell United States Navy (Medal of Honor Action Date: June 19 - October 25, 1944).

Capt. David McCampbell was born in Bessemer, Alabama on January 16, 1910 and moved with his family to West Palm Beach, Florida at the age of 12. He attended the Staunton Military Academy in Virginia, before being appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in 1929. McCampbell graduated in 1933 but was not given a commission due to the limited number given out due to the Great Depression and was placed in the Navy Reserve. He spent his first year after graduation working in construction and manufacturing. 

On June 14, 1934 McCampbell was placed on active duty and commissioned as an Ensign. He spent three years assigned to the heavy cruiser USS Portland and in June, 1937, he underwent flight training and earned his wings on April 21, 1938.

Following the U.S. entry into World War II, Capt. McCampbell was assigned to the USS Wasp where he served as a Landing Signal Officer (LSO). He was aboard when the Wasp was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine and successfully evacuated from the ship. After the sinking, he was reassigned to Naval Air Station Melbourne, Florida as an LSO instructor with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In September 1943, McCampbell formed and led Fighter Squadron 15 (VF-15) until he was promoted to the rank of Commander and placed in command of Carrier Air Group 15 in February 1944 which was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Essex. 

Capt. McCampbell first saw combat on May 14, 1944 but did not score his first kill until June 19, 1944. On that day, he led his force of fighters against a force of Japanese aircraft which were targeting the bulk of the U.S. aircraft carrier fleet. Capt. McCampbell became an “ace in a day” by shooting down five Japanese “Judy” dive bombers. He subsequently shot down two additional Japanese planes for a total of seven kills. Capt. McCampbell’s engagements that day were part of the Battle of the Philippine Sea which earned the nickname “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot” due to the massive number of Japanese planes that were shot down for minimal U.S. losses. On October 24, 1944 during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Capt. McCampbell was flying with a single wingman when they discovered a force of 60 Japanese aircraft. Capt. McCampbell attacked the force and personally shot down nine fighters which set a single day record for most aircraft shot down.  

Capt. McCampbell was awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on January 10, 2024. In total, Capt. McCampbell shot down a total of 34 Japanese aircraft in his career, which were obtained in a span of just over five months. After World War II, he served in a variety of roles including executive officer of carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, Captain of the replenishment oiler USS Severn and then the carrier USS Bonhomme Richard. His final tour was on the staff of Continental Air Defense Command before he retired on July 1, 1964.

Captain David McCampbell died on June 30, 1996 at the age of 86 in West Palm Beach, Florida and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS McCampbell (DDG-85) was named in his honor and was commissioned in 2002. It is still in service today. 

Constituent Corner!

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government... Recently, my office was able to assist Eduardo from Smithfield when he had trouble dealing with the Department of Defense. My office was able to help him remedy the issue quickly and ensure he is eligible he received the benefits he earned in service to our nation...!

If you need assistance with your military 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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