Hello Friends,

Last week was a productive one both at home and in Washington! It was an honor to welcome England's King Charles III and Queen Camilla to the White House, followed by His Majesty’s historic address to a Joint Session of Congress—a meaningful moment highlighting the enduring partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom.

In Congress, we made important progress on key priorities. The House passed the 2026 Farm Bill, delivering critical support for our farmers, strengthening our food supply, and investing in rural communities here in VA-02. We also reauthorized FISA Section 702, preserving an important national security tool to help keep our country and its citizens safe while maintaining congressional oversight.

I was proud to join my House GOP colleagues in voting to end the 76-day partial government shutdown that left our Coast Guard, TSA, and FEMA personnel without the critical support they needed to do their jobs. The men and women that work every day to keep our homeland safe should never have to worry about getting their paychecks!

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

The House also 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.

Welcoming King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Washington!

It was an honor to attend the President's White House welcome for England's King Charles III and Queen Camilla last week! Moments like these reaffirm the enduring strength of our U.S.-UK alliance and our mutual commitment to freedom, security, and shared values...! 🇺🇸🇬🇧

We held a historic Joint Meeting of Congress as King Charles III addressed the U.S. House and Senate. He spoke about the close partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom and the importance of standing together to defend our shared values. And it was awesome to have Virginia House Delegate Anne Ferrell Tata from Virginia Beach with me as my special guest...! 🇺🇸🇬🇧

Investing in Coastal Virginia’s Farmers and Families

Feeding our families, strengthening our farms, and investing in Coastal Virginia 🇺🇸

I was proud to support the 2026 Farm Bill to deliver real results for Virginia farmers and our hardworking families across VA-02. This bill will lower costs, expand rural broadband, protect American agriculture, and provide stability for our farmers. Food security is national security...!!

Read my press release here.

Strengthening Our Military and Supporting Those Who Serve

I was grateful for the opportunity to Chair the House Armed Services Committee for part of our hearing with the U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth last week!

During the hearing, I questioned Secretary Hegseth and the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the future of naval aviation and how the Navy plans to invest in our East Coast Master Jet Base and maintain our mobile air superiority with the F-35s and F/A-XX. Our F-18s are over 30 years old— we must commit to modernizing our fleet, strengthening readiness, and ensuring our pilots have the cutting-edge capabilities they need to deter threats and win decisively...!

Watching my questioning 👇

After the hearing ended I was able to talk to the Secretary about the senseless plastic bag fee at commissaries across the country. This added cost undermines a benefit meant to support our servicemembers, retirees, and their families. We should be making life more affordable for those who serve, not adding unnecessary costs!

Urging Immediate Reforms at Suffolk Post Office 

In a recent report, USPS OIG identified serious operational issues at the Suffolk Post Office. These included delayed mail pieces, improperly scanned packages, and hazardous working conditions. This is unacceptable and not the level of service VA-02 residents should expect at their local post office. I sent a letter to Virginia District Manager Anthony Impronto to convey the seriousness of these issues and ensure they're addresses as soon as possible...!

Read my press release here and below 👇

Supporting the Path to Nursing Careers

Nurses are essential to our communities, and we should be making it easier, not harder, to enter the profession. It's incredibly disappointing that the Department of Education has excluded post-baccalaureate nursing programs from "professional degree" status in last week's final rule. This limits access to federal student loans and disenfranchises the men and women on the front lines of care every day. I'm grateful to be working with U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR) to introduce legislation that addresses this issue and ensures our nurses have the support they deserve...!

Read my press release here.

Bipartisan Delegation to United States Naval Academy

Last week I joined a bipartisan congressional delegation for a visit to the United States Naval Academy...! We met with Academy leadership, toured campus facilities, and took lots of notes on how Congress can work to make USNA even better. As a Navy veteran and USNA Mom, I'm especially grateful for the role the USNA plays in developing officers prepared to severed our nation. It was great to connect with midshipmen from VA-02 and to meet the next generation of military leaders in action...! GO NAVY!!

Meeting with Critical Partners on Capitol Hill

We recently welcomed leaders and advocates to Capitol Hill! I met with RDML Sangdeok Choi, Director of South Korea's Naval Shipbuilding Program Department, and Michelle Norman of Partners in PROMISE to discuss strengthening our shipbuilding capabilities and supporting military children in special education. Thank you all for coming by!

Standing with Nurse Advocates on Capitol Hill

It was a pleasure to join the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) for their Hill Day kickoff! I spoke to CRNAs, RNs, and APRNs from across the country as they headed to Capitol Hill to advocate for their patients and the nursing profession. As one of only three nurses in Congress, I know how critical your frontline experiences are in shaping better policy and strengthening our healthcare system. Thank you for the work you do and for bringing your advocacy to Washington...!

Connecting with Our Next Generation of Leaders!

It was so fun to spend time with a great group of Girl Scouts! We talked about my journey into public service, what it's like to be a member of Congress, and other questions they had as they work on earning their civic leadership badges. As a former Girl Scout myself, it was awesome to catch up with them and hear about their troop!

Help Pick This Year’s Congressional Art Competition Fan Favorite! 

It's time for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition Fan Vote! 🎨🗳️

Visit my Facebook page and “like” your favorite submission to cast your vote. The piece with the most "likes" will be our Fan Favorite—show your support for these talented young artists by NOON TODAY, MAY 6th!!

You can go vote on your favorite submission here.

Join Us for Service Academy Information Night...!

Attention VA-02 students! My district staff is hosting our 2026 Service Academy Information Night on Wednesday, May 27th in the Landstown High School Auditorium in Virginia Beach...! If you are a student interested in applying for a service academy nomination through my office, joining the military officer corps, or pursuing education at a military college… we'd love to see you there...! 🇺🇸

Please fill out the RSVP form👉 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
• 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 believe the political “temperature” is too high and creating a culture of political violence today in US. An overwhelming 95% of respondents said YES, and I share that concern.

Like many of you, I was deeply disturbed by the recent incident at the White House Correspondents' Dinner— which was the third attempted attack targeting the President and senior officials. I’m grateful to the Secret Service and D.C. law enforcement for their swift and effective response in securing the venue and preventing harm.

Moments like this are a sobering reminder that political violence—no matter the target or motivation—is unacceptable. It undermines the principles of civility, respect, and democratic engagement that our country depends on. Each of us has a responsibility to help turn down the temperature of our politics—by speaking thoughtfully, engaging honestly, and refusing to amplify language that deepens division. Our democracy works best when it’s rooted in mutual respect and a commitment to resolving differences peacefully.

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 Sergeant William George Harrell of the United States Marine Corps (Medal of Honor action date: March 3, 1945).

Harrell was born June 26, 1922 in Rio Grande City, Texas. He initially went to Texas A&M University to study animal husbandry, but had to take time off from school after two years to earn more money to finish his studies. When Pearl Harbor was attacked a few months later, he chose to join the military instead. After boot camp, Harrell served in San Diego before leaving in February 1943 for Hawaii to serve as an armorer with Company A of the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division. After spending about two years there, the division was deployed to Saipan and Iwo Jima in the push by the Allies to reach the Japanese homeland. 

At Iwo Jima on March 3, 1945, Harrell was holding a defense perimeter around a company command post along with another marine. In the early hours of dawn, Japanese troops infiltrated the lines and he quickly opened fire with his carbine, killing two enemies as they emerged from a ravine. Harrell was struck by an exploding missile which tore off his left hand and fractured his thigh. Wounded again when a Japanese soldier rushed his foxhole wielding a saber, Harrell successfully drew his pistol and killed the attacker. After ordering his wounded companion to safety, two more Japanese charged his position and placed a grenade near Harrell’s head. Sgt. Harrell killed one with his pistol, then grabbed the live grenade with his good right hand and pushed it toward the other crouching Japanese soldier. The explosion that followed killed the enemy combatant and severed Harrell’s own hand. By dawn, the Japanese had withdrawn, leaving twelve dead Japanese around the foxhole, at least five of whom were personally destroyed by Harrell and his self-sacrificing defense of the command post.

For his exceptional bravery and determination in the face of danger in Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Sgt. Harrell was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Truman on October 5, 1945 and was promoted to Staff Sergeant upon his discharge from the Marine Corps in 1946. William G. Harrell died August 9, 1964 and is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas.

Constituent Corner

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

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.