Hello Friends,

Last week, I was honored to serve as the Speaker Pro Tempore for a pro-forma session of the House of Representatives...! This occasion gave me the opportunity to represent Virginia's Second Congressional District with great pride while presiding over the House during official proceedings. Representing the men and women of Virginia's Second District in Washington is one of the greatest honors of my life, and I will continue working every day to ensure your voice is heard.

I also got the amazing opportunity to meet with some of the voices that represent the thousands of federal employees and retirees of Coastal Virginia.

As always, it is the honor of a lifetime to serve as your Representative in Washington.

Now, onto my Weekly Debrief.

Representing VA-02 as Speaker Pro Tempore

I'd like to thank Speaker Mike Johnson for the opportunity to preside over the House Floor for Pro-Forma last week! It is the privilege of a lifetime to represent Virginia’s Second District in the United States House of Representatives…! 🇺🇸

America’s Safety is Strengthened by Our Servicemembers Securing The Border

The FY27 NDAA makes the necessary steps to keep our border secure and our communities safe. From fully funding the deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops in support of Border Patrol activities to investing nearly $1 billion to fight drug trafficking, this legislation strengthens our national security and ensures our servicemembers have the resources they need to support our mission at the border…!

New Milestones for American Aeronautic Innovation

Team Kiggans was proud to attend the ribbon cutting for NASA Langley Research Center's new Flight Dynamics Research Facility. This state-of-the-art facility will strengthen America’s leadership in aeronautics and space exploration while driving the next generation of aerospace innovation. Congratulations to the entire NASA Langley team on this exciting milestone! 🇺🇸🚀

Meeting With Advocates For Our Federal Employees

I appreciated the opportunity to meet with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association and discuss the priorities of federal employees and retirees. Hearing directly from those who have dedicated their careers to public service is incredibly rewarding, and it informs the work I do in Washington. Thank you to NARFE for the thoughtful conversation and for your continued advocacy on behalf of America's federal workforce…!

Help Decorate the White House for Christmas 2026...!

🚨ATTN VA02🚨 The White House is now accepting applications for volunteers to help decorate the People’s House for Christmas 2026 and for performers interested in participating in this year’s holiday celebrations…! This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of a cherished White House tradition. Applications are due August 28th…!

For more information check here.

Celebrating Our DC Office Interns...!

This summer, our DC Office has been fortunate to welcome an outstanding group of interns who have been hard at work serving Virginia’s Second District! They assisted in constituent service operations, conducted research for legislative action, and briefed my team and I on bills to make our nation a better place. I am so grateful for their help and wish them all the best in their future endeavors. We will miss you guys…!

Calling Official Office Interns for Fall 2026...!

We are now accepting internship applications for Fall 2026 in our D.C. and District Offices! 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.

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 23, 2026, by 5:00 PM EST at the Virginia Beach District Office.

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
• 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

Thank you to everyone who participated in last week’s poll! I asked if you supported laws that ban Members of Congress from insider stock trading. Of the responses, 98% said YES, 1% said NO, and less than 1% were UNSURE.

Public service should never be a pathway to personal profit, and the desire for greater accountability and transparency in Congress is understandable. Americans rightly expect their elected officials to serve the public interest and avoid conflicts of interest. Ensuring Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children are held to the highest standards can help reinforce public trust in our institutions and promote confidence in the legislative process.

This is why I supported the Stop Insider Trading Act to prohibit lawmakers from purchasing individual stocks and require them to provide a week’s notice if they intend to sell individual stocks. I am committed to supporting efforts that increase transparency, strengthen accountability, and ensure the American people can have confidence that their government is working in their best interests.

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 First Lieutenant (rank at time of presentation: Captain) James Michael Sprayberry of the United States Army (Medal of Honor action date: April 25, 1968). 

James Sprayberry was born in 1947 in La Grange, Georgia. In 1966 he enlisted in the Army and one year later attended Armor Officer Candidate School. He arrived in Vietnam in October of that same year to serve as executive officer in Company D, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile). 

On April 25, 1968, many soldiers, including the company commander, were wounded and became trapped after being separated from the main force. All attempts to rescue them during the day failed because of heavy enemy fire from fortified positions. Sprayberry volunteered to lead a night rescue mission to reach and evacuate the isolated soldiers. Capt. Sprayberry's patrol soon came under heavy enemy machine-gun fire. After moving his men to cover, he crawled toward the enemy bunker and destroyed the machine gun with a grenade. Continuing to expose himself to intense enemy fire, he eliminated several more enemy positions, including charging at and destroying a bunker that had thrown grenades at his men. When an enemy soldier suddenly attacked from concealment, Capt. Sprayberry killed the soldier with his pistol before neutralizing another enemy position. He then established radio contact with the isolated soldiers, guided them to his position, and organized the evacuation of the wounded. As the rescue force withdrew, he destroyed another enemy machine-gun position, ensuring the successful evacuation of the trapped soldiers. The mission lasted approximately seven and a half hours, and his actions resulted in the destruction of multiple enemy positions, including killing twelve enemy soldiers, destroying two machine guns, and eliminating numerous enemy bunkers. 

On October 27, 1969, a little more than a year after his heroic actions, he was presented with the Medal of Honor at the White House. After returning from Vietnam, Sprayberry continued his distinguished career. He commanded two Advanced Infantry Training Companies at Fort Polk before completing Rotary Wing Flight School in 1970. In the final years of his military service, he played an important role in preparing for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following his retirement, Sprayberry devoted more than three decades to recovering Vietnam War service members listed as missing in action, remaining steadfast in the Army's commitment of “No Soldier Left Behind.” His legacy of service above and beyond the call of duty is reflected not only in his heroic actions during combat but also in his lifelong commitment to helping his fellow servicemembers. 

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. My office assisted John from Smithfield in resolving an issue with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). After reaching out to my office, we were able to lend a helping hand through the casework inquiry process. Thanks for reaching out, John...!

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!

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

If you are not currently subscribed to the Weekly Debrief, you can subscribe below.