Hello Friends, 

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays and Christmas, I would like to wish each and every one of you many blessings as you gather with loved ones for this special time of year. Whether you are celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas Kwanza, or another holiday or combination of holidays, I hope you all enjoy the season and the many gifts of the joy that comes from spending time with family and friends. Merry Cristmas and Happy Holidays! Now on to how we spent last week in Washington....!



Last week marked a major milestone with the signing of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act—legislation I helped shape as a member of the House Armed Services Committee to strengthen our military, invest in shipbuilding and readiness, and improve quality of life for our servicemembers and their families.

From advancing bipartisan healthcare solutions and cutting red tape to supporting coastal resilience, STEM education, and constituent services across VA-02, I remain committed to working across the aisle to deliver commonsense solutions that put people first. Thank you for staying engaged, and as always, it’s an honor to serve you.

The House 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.

Delivering a Strong FY26 NDAA for Our Servicemembers

I was honored to attend the signing of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act at the White House last week. As a member of the House Committee on Armed Services, I was proud to help shape this bill and see many of my provisions included to strengthen our national security. Our servicemembers deserve the best—and this NDAA delivers.

Read my press release here.

This year’s National Defense Authorization Act calls for a 3.8% for the men and women that serve our country, essential modernizations at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, and investments in American shipbuilding. House Republicans are delivering results for VA-02 and our nation..!!

Watch my appearance on Wavy 👇

Cutting Red Tape to Power American Energy

New infrastructure shouldn’t be bogged down by needless bureaucracy and endless red tape. I’m proud to report that the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act that I co-sponsored passed the House this week! House Republicans are stimulating growth in domestic energy and lowering costs for Americans who are ready to build! 

Supporting Rural Health Care Access Across Virginia

Last week, I joined Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) Congressman John McGuire (VA-05), Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06), and Congressman Morgan Griffith (VA-09) in sending a letter in support of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program application. The Rural Health Transformation Program will strengthen providers, expand access, and deliver better outcomes for patients who too often face long drives and limited options for care—and I believe Virginia will benefit greatly from this program.

Read the letter here and👇

Women in STEM: Driving Defense Innovation

Last week, I had the pleasure of joining a Women in STEM discussion highlighting the critical role women play in advancing defense research and innovation. Strengthening recruitment, retention, and opportunity in STEM is essential to keeping our national defense ready for the future..! 

Protecting Barrier Islands Through Marsh Restoration

Earlier this year, I drafted a letter in support of the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences’ proposed Cedar Island marsh restoration project to strengthen barrier-island stability. I’m incredibly pleased to hear that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will financially support about 50% of this project, totaling nearly $5 million, on our Eastern Shore…! This a huge win for coastal resilience and VA-02…!

Read my full letter here and 👇

Delivering Results Through Bipartisan Leadership

I was honored to receive the Advancing Good Governance Award from Center Forward in recognition of my commitment to bipartisan leadership and delivering real results for the people of Virginia’s Second District. Good governance means working across the aisle, listening to different perspectives, and staying focused on solutions. Thank you to Center Forward for this meaningful recognition and for your continued work to strengthen our democratic institutions..!

Marking 25 Years of Women, Peace, and Security Leadership

I was proud to join my Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) co-chair Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) and Our Secure Future in recognizing the 25th anniversary of the UN’s commitment to women’s vital role in peace and conflict prevention! 

Working Across the Aisle on Health Care Affordability

I’ve been fighting night and day to temporarily extend the ACA premium tax credits while implementing necessary meaningful reforms. As a nurse practitioner, I care deeply about people having accessible and affordable healthcare! That is why I introduced my bipartisan CommonGround legislation and continue to work with my colleagues on a path forward to address this pressing issue.

Watch more from 13News Now here and 👇

Celebrating the 6th Anniversary of the U.S. Space Force!

Thank you to the United States Space Force for stopping by the office to celebrate your 6th birthday..! Your service in defense of our national security is deeply appreciated and we are thankful for your dedication to our country! (& thank you for your birthday cookies…!) 

Mobile Office Hours in Suffolk...!

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our Mobile Office Hours in Suffolk, VA..!! Whether you had questions about a VA claim, needed help with a passport, or just wanted to share your thoughts—my team was glad to connect with you. This was our team’s last Mobile Office Hours of the year, but stay tuned for details on future Mobile Office Hours in 2026…!!

Honoring VA-02’s Congressional App Challenge Participants

While inclement weather forced us to postpone our in-person Congressional App Challenge event, I was grateful we could still come together virtually to hear directly from our talented students and see their impressive app demonstrations. Even over Zoom, their creativity, problem-solving skills, and passion for STEM were on full display.

This year, we received 14 app submissions from 24 outstanding students across Virginia’s Second District, and each project reflected a strong commitment to innovation and community impact. Congratulations to all who participated—and a special congratulations to this year’s winners:

🥉 3rd Place: Gatherly by Reagan Hartney

🥈 2nd Place: GroceryGenius by Kothari Smit

🥇 1st Place: NextMission by Victor Tang, Derek Heberley, Larry Lee, and Matthew Barnes

Strengthening the Future of the U.S. Navy

It was encouraging to hear an update from Secretary of the Navy John Phelan at our bipartisan “For Country Caucus” meeting last week. I’m glad the Secretary is focused on shipbuilding and increasing the size of our Navy fleet but we must also continue to include the future of naval aviation in these discussions. Fly Navy!!

Supporting Mothers and Military Families with Heidi Murkoff

Last week, I welcomed Heidi Murkoff, author of the New York Times best seller, “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” Heidi’s words of wisdom have helped expecting mothers around the world for decades. Heidi’s recent work has focused on improved military maternity care for our servicemembers, an honorable undertaking for an already meaningful career. Thank you for stopping by, Heidi..!

Calling Official Office Interns for Spring 2026...!

We are now accepting internship applications for Spring 2026! If you’re passionate about public service and want hands-on experience serving the people of Virginia’s Second District, we encourage you to apply. Interns play an important role in helping our team serve constituents, support legislative work, and stay connected to our community. 

Apply here.

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

It's 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* (Unfortunately, White House tour slots have filled up for the month of December).
• 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.

Weekly Poll

Last week, I asked whether this year’s NDAA delivers the investments our servicemembers need. With a majority of respondents saying they were unsure, I want to highlight what this bill actually delivers.

As a Navy veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, I helped advance an NDAA that makes real, tangible improvements for servicemembers and their families—starting with a 3.8% pay raise, over $1.5 billion for new and safer military housing, nearly $500 million for childcare centers, and more than $335 million to strengthen military hospitals and clinics.

The bill also invests $26 billion in shipbuilding, over $25 billion to rebuild munitions stockpiles, and $145 billion in advanced research and development, strengthening readiness, supporting our shipyards, and reinforcing America’s national security—especially here in Hampton Roads.

No bill is perfect, but this NDAA delivers meaningful improvements to quality of life and military readiness. I’ll always fight to make sure our servicemembers have the support they deserve.

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 Lieutenant, J.G. Weedon Edward Osborne of the United States Navy (Medal of Honor action date: June 6, 1918). 

Osborne was born November 13, 1892 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Northwestern University Dental School, graduating in 1915. Upon the United States’ entrance into World War I, Osborne was appointed a U.S. Navy Dental Surgeon and given the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. 

After being attached to the 6th Regiment of the U.S. Marines, Lt. (j.g.) Osborne was deployed to northern France. About a mile southeast of Belleau Wood, Lt. (j.g.) Osborne and his unit advanced toward the town of Bouresches. While aiding the wounded during the battle, Lt. (j.g.) was killed while carrying an injured officer to safety. 

For his extraordinary heroism, Lt. (j.g.) Osborne was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. The medal now resides in the Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC. Lieutenant, J.G. Weedon Edward Osborne lays in rest at the Aisne-Marne Cemetery in Belleau Aisne, France.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. My office assisted Johanna from Virginia Beach in resolving an issue with the U.S. Department of State. After reaching out to my office, we were able to lend a helping hand through the casework process. Thanks for reaching out, Johanna...!

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!

Happy Holidays!!

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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