Friends,

It was a whirlwind week in Washington before heading back home for our two week District work period. We had high-profile committee hearings, hosted our first "telephone town hall", and passed our biggest piece of legislation of the 118th Congress so far.

I came to Congress to restore strength - in our military, in our economy, and in our country. Having reliable, homegrown, affordable energy is so important. That's why this week, we continued to honor our Commitment to America by passing legislation that ensures all Americans benefit from our robust domestic energy supply...

Lowering Energy Costs

Skyrocketing energy prices have caused countless hardships for the families of Virginia’s Second District over the past two years. That's why I was proud to vote for H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. This bill will provide Americans with some much-needed relief at the pump and on their energy bills by removing unnecessarily complicated permitting regulations and modernizing outdated laws surrounding our domestic energy production. 

H.R. 1 will put us back on the path to energy independence and – eventually – energy dominance...! Energy security is national security, a point I made when I spoke in favor of this important bill on the House floor. You can watch my remarks below!

Coastal Virginians know how to be good stewards of the environment without sacrificing jobs or the economy – I’m glad to see Congress finally start to follow their lead...! I hope this bill will make its way to the President’s desk and that he signs it into law so that all Americans can benefit from it.

Questioning Secretary Austin and Chairman Milley

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley testified before me and my colleagues on the House Armed Services Committee.

Before I began my questioning, I took a moment to speak on behalf of all military moms and dads out there. I looked both of these men in the eye and reminded them that many of us in Southeast Virginia trust them with our most precious possession – our children. It is absolutely critical that those at the top ensure that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to defend our great nation.

If you're interested in my full line of questioning, which focused on quality-of-life issues for service members, the current state of the military’s industrial base - specifically, the troubling closure of four dry dock facilities at shipyards on the West Coast - and the growing strategic relationship between China and Russia, you can watch them below.

A Successful First Telephone Town Hall!

On Thursday, I hosted my first telephone town hall as a Member of Congress! I was happy to have over 3,000 constituents participate and ask questions...! We discussed military readiness, the debt ceiling, rising crime, the importance of preserving Social Security, the crisis at our southern border, and more.

Thank you to everyone who joined - if you missed it, you can listen to the recording here. These calls are a great opportunity to provide you with updates about what’s happening in Congress, but they also let me hear directly from you. I'm already looking forward to the next one...!

Addressing the Border Crisis

One of the main issues I heard from constituents about on the call Thursday night was the crisis at our southern border. What’s happening at our southern border is a self-inflicted humanitarian and national security crisis. Last month, I visited the border in Arizona, and saw the chaos firsthand. During the call, I asked those listening in what their greatest concern about the border crisis was - you can see the results below!

Securing our country’s borders is a basic responsibility of the federal government. Yet, over the past two years, this Administration’s failed immigration policies have put our nation, our communities, and those wishing to come here for a better life, at risk. Border security should not be a partisan issue; I stand ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver solutions. 

Earlier in the week, I joined Morning in America to discuss the Department of Homeland Security's testimony about the border crisis before Congress. You can watch my full interview below...!

Advocating for Our Nation's Nursing Workforce

As a nurse practitioner, I know it is critical that communities across the country have access to equitable, evidence-based, high-quality, and timely care. That's why I led the bipartisan effort alongside Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici to ensure the Nursing Workforce Development Programs receive critical funding. These programs advance all aspects of the nursing workforce demand, including education, practice, recruitment, and retention.

Bold investments in the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs will translate into a strong investment in the nursing workforce, patient well-being, and the long-term sustainability of our nation’s health care system. 

You can read our bipartisan letter below...!

Holding the VA Accountable

It is absolutely critical that every dollar spent by the VA directly benefits our veterans! I was shocked to learn that the VA spends roughly $3 billion a year on consulting services...It is the Department’s responsibility to make sure these firms are providing value to veterans...that means they should not have any conflicts of interest which might cause them to prioritize profits over the health and wellbeing of the patient population they serve.

I have heard an increasing number of complaints that the VA is frequently hiring consultants without thorough vetting. This creates an environment where the contracts don’t produce any value and the taxpayers’ dollars are wasted; that is unacceptable. That's why on Monday, I sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting information about the VA’s use of professional and management consultants who may have conflicts of interest. 

Be sure to stay tuned to future debriefs for updates on when I receive an answer from the VA!

Thursday's Indictment

Despite the news cycle's focus on the former President's indictment, we had a very productive week in Washington. I do, however, have some thoughts on the matter...

In recent years, Americans have grown increasingly distrustful of the government and skeptical of the political weaponization of our judicial system. This nation was founded on the commitment to liberty and justice for all. My concern is that Thursday’s indictment, especially as it still remains sealed, will further erode the public’s trust in our ability to deliver on that sacred promise. 

The Manhattan DA is fueling these sentiments by politicizing the justice system and doing so at the expense of fighting crime in his own city. Political gamesmanship must stop and elected leaders must return to focusing on the issues impacting American families and our great nation.

Regardless of what's happening outside of Congress, I remain laser focused on my work to deliver real results for the people of Virginia's Second District...!

New District Office Openings!

You're invited!! This upcoming week I am opening two additional district offices back home in VA-02. If you're able, please join my team and I at either our Eastern Shore office opening or our Suffolk office opening. I look forward to seeing you there...!

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class Oscar Palmer Austin. (Medal of Honor action date: February 23, 1969).

Marine Corps Pfc. Oscar Austin was serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner at an observation post west of Da Nang, Vietnam when his company came under attack by a large enemy force. Amidst the barrage of small-arms fire, hand-grenades, and satchel charges, Pfc. Austin noticed that one of his fellow Marines - who had been wounded - had fallen unconscious in an extremely exposed position.

Without hesitating, Pfc. Austin leapt out of his fighting hole and ran through heavy enemy fire to help the Marine to a position with more cover. As he neared his companion, an enemy hand-grenade landed nearby. Pfc. Austin immediately leapt on the grenade, protecting the other man from further injuries while sustaining heavy wounds himself.

Ignoring his injuries, Pfc. Austin continued over to help, when he noticed an enemy soldier aiming his weapon at the man. Pfc. Austin threw himself in front of the other Marine to protect him and was mortally wounded.

Private First Class Oscar P. Austin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by Vice President Spiro T. Agnew on April 20, 1970 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an Assistant Machine Gunner with Company E, Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marines Division".

He was born on January 15, 1948 in Nacogdoches, Texas and is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in Phoenix, Arizona. His Medal of Honor was presented to his family at the White House, and is accredited to Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. The USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), an Arleigh Burke-class Navy destroyer, is named for him.

Five Fast Facts from the Floor!

1. The origins of Washington, DC’s famous Cherry Blossom Festival date back to 1912, when the Mayor of Japan gifted about 3,000 cherry trees to the US to symbolize the friendship between the Japanese and American people. 
2. Two former presidents, Herbert Hoover and John Quincy Adams, had pet alligators in the White House. 
3. The youngest person to ever be elected to the House of Representatives was Rep. William Charles Cole Claiborne of Tennessee. He was elected to the 5th Congress in 1796 at the age of 22!
4. The fist former Representative to have served as President was James Madison of Virginia. 
5. Before construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed in 1889, the Washington Monument was the tallest structure in the world. 

I’ll be back in Washington next week to conduct legislative business before a two week district work period. I’ll continue to work toward an accountable and transparent government that empowers our nation to succeed…! 

Please don't hesitate to contact my D.C. Office at (202) 225-4215 or my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 with questions, concerns, or if you require assistance with a federal agency. And 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!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District