Friends,

Welcome back to another weekly debrief! The House returned last week from our district work period, so I spent the week in Washington, D.C. voting on important legislation for our country and the Hampton Roads community. We voted on nearly 30 bills to address one of the greatest threats to America’s national security: the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Last week, we voted on several significant bills to counter the CCP, including legislation to protect Americans' DNA and medical data, restrict our adversaries from purchasing new land on American soil, and prevent the Department of Homeland Security from providing funds to schools who still have ties to a Confucius Institute. I was proud to vote in favor of these bills, which you can read more about below.

As a Navy Veteran, I understand the threat China poses, not just to our homeland but also to our economy and to world peace. In Congress, I am committed to tackling this threat, protecting our intellectual property, and strengthening our national security.

I will be in Washington again this week to continue advocating for you! Now, on to this week's recap!

Honoring Our Nation's Heroes

The Congressional Gold Medal is the nation's oldest and highest civilian honor, awarded to individuals through legislative action by Congress. Last week, Congress presented the Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to the 13 United States servicemembers who lost their lives at Abbey Gate during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal.

It was an honor to have their families with us to remember their service and their sacrifice. These 13 men and women dedicated their lives to our nation's freedom and in doing so paid the ultimate price for their country. We will not let them die in vain. We must remember their bravery and commitment to the United States and strive to protect our country just as they did.

May we never forget the names of these 13 heroes:

- Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20,

- Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23,

- Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31,

- Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23,

- Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22,

- Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20,

- Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20,

- Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20,

- Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23,

- Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25,

- Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22,

- Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20,

- Navy Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22.

Keeping the VA Accountable

As a veteran and geriatric nurse practitioner, I am aware of the health challenges many of our servicemembers face during and after their time in the military. Last week, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a hearing to examine VA leadership under the Biden-Harris Administration. During the hearing, I pressed VA leadership on access to chiropractic care at the Hampton VA.

Patients at the Hampton VA continue to reach out to my office to express their frustrations about how their lives have been negatively impacted following a discontinuation of chiropractic care.

Click here or on the video above to watch my remarks from the hearing and listen to what the VA had to say about veterans in Hampton Roads who have struggled to get the approvals necessary to receive chiropractic care for their pain management.

The highest priority for the VA should be the delivery of safe and quality healthcare for our nation's veterans. I believe we should provide access to the care our veterans respond to the best. I will continue to advocate for all those who have served and ensure they receive the care they deserve.

Increasing Access to Childcare for American Families

As a mom of four who utilized daycare services, I am well aware of the challenges faced by families balancing work and family responsibilities. Today, there remains shortages in the number of childcare providers – which is contributing the increasing costs of childcare. The unfortunate reality is that two out of every five parents struggle to find affordable childcare, often forcing them to leave the workforce, tap into their savings, or take on debt. That's why I was proud to recently join a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing H.R.7355, the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act.

If enacted, this legislation would establish grants to establish, expand, or support career and technical education and career pathway programs in early childhood education. I was proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in investing in the next generation of childcare providers so that parents don’t have to make difficult trade-offs between their careers, financial stability, and family life. Increasing access to childcare isn't a partisan issue... I will work with anyone to support Virginia families access the childcare they need to achieve the American dream!

Promoting Our Military

It was an honor to administer the oath of office to Captain Connie Braybrook (Navy Nurse Practitioner) during her promotion ceremony from Commander to Captain last week… and the Capitol balcony was the perfect setting! Thank you Captain Braybrook for you and your family’s service to the U.S. Navy and our great nation.

Captain Braybrook began her Naval career in 1996 at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes Illinois, followed by completion of the Operations Specialist "A" School. In 1999, she was selected and completed the Broadened Opportunity for Officer Selection and Training (BOOST) program in Newport, RI, and was awarded the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship to become a Nurse Corps officer. Captain Braybrook is currently the Interim Program Director for the Daniel Inouye Graduate School of Nursing, at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, and is a specialty leader in her field of practice as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing/Nurse Practitioner.

Taking Care of Kids in Hampton Roads

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting ForKids for a tour of their Chesapeake facility, including the shelter, kitchen, rooftop garden, and education spaces. Their team and I discussed the important work they do for families in Hampton Roads and how Congress can help ensure our young children are taken care of.

ForKids serves 14 localities in Southeast Virginia, providing housing, education, and health services to children in need and their families. I am so thankful for the wonderful people at ForKids who take care of families and children by offering a helping hand.

As a mom of four children, I care deeply about the kids in our community. I have them in mind when working in Congress, and I strive to implement legislation that protects and takes care of our kids. Thank you ForKids for having me and for all you do for our community!

Weekly Poll

With over 1,000 votes, nearly 60% of you said that your prescription drug costs have increased over the past four years. Recent reports estimate that prescription medications comprise nearly 20% of all personal health spending in the U.S. That is completely unsustainable…particularly for seniors and others who are on a fixed-income. I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, to fight for lower drug costs for all Americans.

And now on to this week's poll question...!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient Commander Ernest E. Evans United States Navy (Medal of Honor Action Date: October 25, 1944).

Commander Evans was born in Pawnee, Oklahoma of Cherokee and Creek ancestry on August 13 1908 and graduated from Muskogee Central High School. He initially attempted to join the Marine Corps but was unsuccessful, and instead opted to join the U.S. Navy. After a year of service, was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1927, Graduating in 1931. 

After the American entry to World War II in 1941, Commander Evans was assigned to the destroyer USS Alden, rising to be her commanding officer in 1942. He participated in naval operations around Australia, New Guinea and the Dutch East Indies. In 1943, Commander Evans assumed command of the newly completed USS Johnston, participating in its commissioning on October 27, 1943. He received a bronze star for actions resulting in the sinking of a Japanese submarine on May 16, 1944.

On October 24, 1944, the Johnston alongside a group of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort aircraft carriers called Taffy 3. The group encountered a Japanese Center force which was composed of four battleships, eight cruisers, and eleven destroyers. Commander Evans ordered his ship to be maneuvered to charge the vastly superior force and lay a smoke screen to help protect the escort carriers. Commander Evans maneuvered the USS Johnston under heavy fire to within five miles of the Japanese heavy cruiser Kumano. The Americans launched a barrage of torpedoes, one of which blew the bow off of the ship and forced the Kumano to retreat with another cruiser escorting her.  

Commander Evans, badly wounded by shrapnel from 18 inch shells from the Japanese battleship Yamato, continued to direct the crew and refused painkillers, directing medical aid to the crew. Despite his personal wounds and the major damage to the ship, he ordered the Johnston to support fellow destroyers making torpedo runs against the Japanese and provided gunfire support. The Johnston, under the command of Evans, sustained additional damage, eventually losing power and becoming dead in the water. His ship eventually sank due to overwhelming gunfire from Japanese destroyers. Commander Evans is believed to have boarded a life raft, but was never seen again. 

Commander Evans’ widow Margret accepted the Medal of Honor on his behalf on September 28, 1945 in a ceremony witnessed by his two sons. The destroyer escort USS Evans (DE-1023) was named in his honor and served from 1957 to 1968. The Surface Warfare Officers School virtual ship handling simulator in Newport, Rhode Island is named in his honor. In 2023, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced that Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer DDG-141 would be named USS Ernest E. Evans. 

Constituent Corner!

I know how difficult it can be to secure passports, especially when it comes down to the wire. I was glad we were able to help Ashley from Virginia Beach recently with her child's passport...!

"I don’t know where to start with the gratitude and appreciation I am feeling today. To summarize, I have been fighting tooth and nail to obtain a passport for my 5 year old daughter to go on the trip of a lifetime ... We drove 4 hours to Washington DC for the appointment, filed the application, paid all of the application/expedition fees again, and felt great when we were told we would have it same day. We left and shortly after received a call stating the notarized document would not suffice and she wouldn’t be issued her passport. Crushed, devastated, frustrated.. all the emotions were overwhelming. And we went searching for a Hail Mary. We reached out to Congresswoman Jen Kiggans’ office trying to remain optimistic but with little hope. Let me tell you Jonathan Gragnano listened to my entire story (it’s truly a long one), made sure he understood the chain of events, and did everything in his power to help us. Here we are, three days before our flight and I got to tell my daughter that she was going in this trip after all because one call to the proper authorities, and I was told her passport would be issued today. I cannot express enough gratitude to the entire office, but specifically Jonathan Gragnano for not brushing us aside and making a little girls dream come true. Thank you all, a million times thank you!"

If you need assistance with your passport or with another 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!

As always, please don't hesitate to contact my DC 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!

If you or your family are visiting Washington DC in the coming summer months, please stop by to say hello! If you are interested in a tour, please let us know!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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