Friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter with their friends and families...! The House of Representatives was in recess this past week, but we are still hard at work delivering results for hardworking Americans. This past week, I introduced a bill to ban drone videography of national defense sites, I joined 11 of my Republican colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership in defense of Medicaid, and so much more.

Read more about it in my Weekly Debrief...!

Introducing the Drone Espionage Act

We have been seeing increased suspicious unmanned aerial activity across the country, and our military bases here in Hampton Roads have had multiple drone sightings this past year. As a Navy veteran who represents of one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, I know how critical it is to safeguard our national defense infrastructure and protect sensitive national security information.

That's why I introduced the Drone Espionage Act this past Thursday - a bill that protects our national security by making it illegal to take drone video footage of national defense sites. Specifically, this bill would update the Espionage Act of 1917 to include videography of sensitive national defense sites as a crime. This bipartisan legislation, which I introduced alongside Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), would ensure those who take video, particularly using a drone, can be punished under the Espionage Act with a fine, 10 years of imprisonment, or both.

I am proud to introduce this legislation to hold bad actors accountable, impose serious repercussions for espionage, and protect our national security. As China and other adversaries ramp up threats and increase their drone usage, we must send a clear message that we will not tolerate unlawful surveillance on American soil.

You can read more about this important bill on my website here...!

Urging House Leadership to Protect and Reform Medicaid

On Wednesday, I joined 11 of my colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership advocating for thoughtful, targeted Medicaid reform. As a nurse practitioner, I know how critical accessible, affordable healthcare is — especially to our vulnerable populations. Over 132,000 people in Virginia's Second District are enrolled in Medicaid.

We must improve program integrity, reduce improper payments, and modernize delivery systems to assist those who the program was intended to help — children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women.

Improving Medicaid also means increasing transparency and cutting waste, fraud, and abuse from the program — that starts with returning work requirements. If you’re able-bodied, you should work. We must reform and protect the program to ensure it is strong and long-lasting for years to come!

Read our full letter here.

Remembering Pope Francis

On Easter Monday, Pope Francis sadly passed away and the world mourns his loss. For over 12 years he led our Catholic Church, and he leaves behind a lasting legacy of compassion and inspiration. Our Pope devoted his life to calling for peace, creating unity, and setting an example for people of all faiths.

Becoming the head of the Catholic Church in 2013, Pope Francis was the first pope from the Society of Jesus, the first Latin American, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside of Europe since the 8th-century Syrian pope Gregory III.

May he rest in peace, and may his life continue to inspire us all.

Honoring the Month of the Military Child

Did you know that April is the Month of the Military Child? This month is a time to honor the strength and sacrifice of the young members of our military families. As a military child myself and mom to 4 military kids, I know firsthand how much our children give every day and it’s nothing short of amazing!

Our Hampton Roads community is blessed to be home to so many military families. As your representative and co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, I will always fight to make Virginia's Second District a better place to work, live, and raise a family - especially for our military community!

No matter where their service takes them, we must ensure our military families are properly cared for and work to improve their quality of life. As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Navy spouse, and now a Navy mom, I have lived these sacrifices and will always fight to give our military families the resources they need...!

Weekly Poll

With over 1,400 responses last week, almost 70% of you said you think the border has become more secure in 2025. Well good news, it definitely has become more secure! Republicans' commonsense approach and solutions have pushed illegal border crossings to hit record lows. Illegal border crossings have dropped 94% from March 2024 to March 2025. Securing our border is a top priority of our Republican Conference this Congress, and we are already seeing amazing progress...!

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

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I would like to honor Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient, Corporal Michael Fleming Folland. Cpl. Folland distinguished himself while serving as an ammunition bearer with the weapons platoon of Company D, during a reconnaissance patrol mission on July 3, 1969 in the Vietnam War. As the patrol was moving through a dense jungle area, it was caught in an intense crossfire from heavily fortified and concealed enemy ambush positions. As the patrol reacted to neutralize the ambush, it became evident that the heavy weapons could not be used in the cramped fighting area. Cpl. Folland dropped his recoilless-rifle ammunition and ran forward to join his commander in an assault on the enemy bunkers.

The assaulting force moved forward until it was pinned down directly in front of the heavily fortified bunkers by machine-gun fire. Cpl. Folland stood up to draw enemy fire on himself and to place suppressive fire on the enemy positions while his commander attempted to destroy the machine-gun positions with grenades.

Before the officer could throw a grenade, an enemy grenade landed in the position. Cpl. Folland alerted his comrades and his commander hurled the grenade from the position. When a second enemy grenade landed in the position, Cpl. Folland again shouted a warning to his fellow soldiers. Seeing that no one could reach the grenade and realizing that it was about to explode, Cpl. Folland, with complete disregard for his safety, threw himself on the grenade.

By his dauntless courage, Cpl. Folland saved the lives of his comrades although he was mortally wounded by the explosion. Cpl. Folland's extraordinary heroism, at the cost of his life, was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. Recently, my office assisted Andrew from Virginia Beach in resolving an issue he was having in receiving a tax refund that was hindering him in closing out his father's estate. After he reached out to my office, we were able to help him solve his problem and get the refund he was owed. Thanks for reaching out, Andrew...!

If you need assistance with 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 (linked below) 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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