Friends,

We just wrapped up a jam-packed week in Washington! On Tuesday, Congress hosted the President for his Joint Address to Congress, where he outlined his vision for the country. We also voted on several pieces of important legislation to continue overturning Biden-era environmental regulations, and I had the privilege of working on behalf of our district in several House Armed Services Committee Hearings. You can see more of what we voted on in the weekly floor recap below.

If you are or know a high schooler in Virginia's Second District who is an artist, I want to let you know about an awesome upcoming opportunity! Every spring, the House of Representatives hosts the Congressional Art Competition. This competition gives high school students in our district the opportunity to submit artwork for the chance to have it hung in our nation's Capitol. The deadline to submit artwork for our district is Friday, April 26, 2025. You can learn more about the rules to participate here!

Now, on to this week's newsletter!

Attending the President's Joint Address to Congress

Last week, President Trump came to the U.S. Capitol to deliver his first Joint Address to Congress during his second term. In his speech, he outlined his vision for our nation and set his Administration’s agenda for the upcoming year. The theme of his speech focused on renewing the American Dream and kickstarting the Golden Age of America.

Regardless of who is in the White House, any joint address by a sitting U.S. President is a BIG deal...! It was an honor to have been able to represent Virginia's Second District during the President's speech, and I look forward to continuing to deliver on my promise of returning common sense to Washington.

Below are just a few of the things the President outlined in his speech:

• A 25-year low in illegal border crossings
• Support to renew tax cuts for Virginia families
• The protection of women and girls' sports
• Over $1.7 trillion in economic investments
• Record military recruitment
• Investments in shipbuilding (including here in Hampton Roads!)
• Unleashing American energy

Regardless of your political beliefs, speeches like this are a great opportunity to bring our nation together. I was disappointed to see many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle use it as an opportunity to play political games by disrupting the speech and sitting during unifying moments. Many of my Democratic colleagues refused to applaud a 13-year-old fighting brain cancer, record-low illegal border crossings, the arrest of the terrorist responsible for the death of 13 U.S. Marines, record-breaking military recruitment, the honoring of victims of violent crime, and more.

The United States is the greatest nation in the history of the world. Rather than play political games to sow more division, Members of Congress should look to find common ground and move discourse in a positive direction. I'm hopeful that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle will change course so we can all improve the country, together.

Advocating For Our Veterans and National Security

Early last week, I sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth highlighting the critical need to prevent workforce reductions within the Department of Defense (DoD) from causing undue harm to veterans and America’s national security. 

My letter came after the DoD announced a plan outlining the potential reduction of the Department's civilian workforce by 5-8%. Such a reduction would undoubtedly impact some of the 330,000 veteran employees who work to preserve our national security every day.

Our community in Hampton Roads is deeply connected to the military, with many veterans who have served our country now serving in civilian jobs at DoD that directly support the defense of our great nation. As a former Navy helicopter pilot and a commonsense conservative, I believe we can responsibly rein in waste while ensuring DoD personnel with prior military service remain in positions where they can continue to contribute to our national security.

Additionally, last week it was reported that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) would begin implementing a plan to return staffing levels to 2019 levels. This could result in thousands of layoffs within the agency. As a healthcare provider and member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I’ve fought hard to improve access to quality care for our veterans.

Over the past several years, we've made significant progress in recruiting new healthcare providers to the VA. We must ensure that much-needed efforts to hold the VA accountable and make it more efficient do not undermine nurses and doctors... we must put patient outcomes first!

Again, I support the Administration's efforts to reduce waste in Washington, but that mission should never get in the way of the well-being of our veterans nor threaten our national security. Last week, I talked with our local media to share my thoughts on these proposed cuts and my work to care for Virginia's veterans. Take a look at the clip above!

Fighting to Ensure Our Servicemembers Don't Go Without Pay

As you may have seen, this week is gearing up to be a hectic one in Congress. As has happened several times in the past two years, Washington's dysfunction is setting us on a course for a potential government shutdown. If Congress fails to pass a temporary government funding package by Friday, March 14, 2025, our servicemembers (including the Coast Guard and civilian DoD employees) will go without pay.

That is unacceptable to me.

During the 118th Congress, I led the charge to introduce the Pay Our Troops Act, ensuring that our military families are not forced to go without paychecks in the event a government shutdown.

I'm proud to report that last week, I reintroduced the Pay Our Troops Act in the 119th Congress. As with the bills I've introduced previously, this bill will ensure that our servicemembers, including the Coast Guard and certain DoD contractors, continue receiving their paychecks if Congressional chaos causes a shutdown.

Promoting the Health of the Chesapeake Bay

Did you know that the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States? Its watershed is home to roughly 3,600 species of plants and animals, and it also provides countless economic and recreational opportunities, generating $33 billion each year. The Bay is truly fundamental to our way of life here in Coastal Virginia...!

On Wednesday, we celebrated Chesapeake Bay Day on Capitol Hill! Thank you to everyone who made the trip to D.C. to meet with members of Congress and advocate for the preservation of this integral natural resource in our backyard. The Chesapeake Bay is more than just a national treasure – it is a vital part of our economy, environment, and way of life.

I had the opportunity to highlight the work I continue to do to preserve this cherished and fragile ecosystem. I discussed my first bill signed into law, the BEACH (Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm) Act, which extended coastal protections to an additional 163,589 acres of Virginia shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coast. I also discussed the Oyster Reef Recovery Act, which would establish the "Oyster Reef Restoration and Conservation Program" to conduct important research into the conservation of oyster reefs up and down our shorelines.

Again, thank you to all the advocates from across the mid-Atlantic for making the trip to the Capitol to advocate for the Chesapeake Bay...! I look forward to continuing to partner with you all to protect our Bay and make our coastal communities more resilient for generations to come.

Working to Improve Aviation Safety

On Thursday, I joined my colleague and fellow military helicopter pilot, Congressman Tom Barrett (R-MI) in introducing the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act. This bill would direct the Department of Defense to evaluate the feasibility of equipping all U.S. military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems in an effort to improve safety measures for military rotary-wing aircraft operating near civilian airspace.

Every day, military aircraft routinely operate in and around civilian airspace without incident. However, small mistakes can lead to terrible disasters, as we saw recently with the tragedy at Reagan National Airport, which resulted in the death of 67 people. As a former Naval aviator and wife of a Naval aviator, ensuring our military pilots have the necessary technology to remain safe while in the air is personal to me.

I am proud to join my colleague and former Army helicopter pilot, Congressman Tom Barrett, in introducing this bill to enhance aviation safety and work to prevent future mishaps.

Returning to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners' Health Policy Conference

Last week, I attended the American Association of Nurse Practitioners' annual Health Policy Conference! Believe it or not, my unofficial start in politics came in 2019 when I attended this very same event and saw just how important it is to be a loud advocate for my patients.

This was the third time that I have attended this event since coming to Congress. I encouraged them to use their voice to advocate for themselves, their families, and their patients, whether that be in their communities or in Congress. Nurse practitioners are the backbone of our healthcare industry, and it is an honor to represent them in Washington...!

The previous two times I spoke at this conference, I attended as the only nurse practitioner in Congress, but this year, that changed... In January, we welcomed Congresswoman Sheri Biggs (SC-03), who is also a nurse practitioner, to the House of Representatives. It's always a good day when more nurses are in the conversation!

Weekly Poll

With over 1,500 responses last week, around 60% of you said you were going to tune into the President's Joint Address to Congress. It was truly an honor to be in the room on behalf of Virginia's Second District. You can read more about my thoughts on the President's address above.

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

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I would like to honor the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient First Sergeant Nick Daniel Bacon of the U.S. Army (Medal of Honor action date: August 26, 1968). 

First Sergeant Nick Bacon was born on November 25th, 1945 in Caraway, Arkansas. He was one of nine children in his family, who all worked as sharecroppers on a cotton farm. The family moved to Arizona when Bacon was 6 where he continued to work on a cotton farm with his family. When his father contracted polio, he dropped out of school to support his family by working full-time. 

In 1963, when Bacon was 17 years old, he forged his mother’s signature to enlist in the Arizona National Guard. The following year, Bacon joined the US Army and completed basic training at Fort Ord in California. Bacon later said of his military service, “I was never prouder, I was never in better shape, I was never more sure that I stood for something in my life than I was when I wore the uniform.” He served his first tour in Vietnam in 1966 where he would be wounded three separate times. 

Bacon later chose to volunteer for a second combat tour in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving with Company B, 4th Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 11th Infantry Brigade of the Americal Division.

On August 26, 1968, while serving as a squad leader with the 1st Platoon, Company B, during an operation west of Tam Ky, S/Sgt. Bacon and his company came under fire from an enemy bunker line to the front. S/Sgt. Bacon quickly organized his men and led them forward in an assault. He advanced on a hostile bunker and destroyed it with grenades. As he did so, several fellow soldiers, including the 1st Platoon leader, were struck by machine-gun fire and fell wounded in an exposed position forward of the rest of the platoon. Staff Sergeant Bacon immediately assumed command of the platoon and assaulted the hostile gun position, finally killing the enemy gun crew in a singlehanded effort. 

When the 3d Platoon moved to S/Sgt. Bacon's location, its leader was also wounded. Without hesitation, he took charge of the additional platoon and continued the fight. In the ensuing action, he personally killed four more enemy soldiers and silenced an antitank weapon. Continuing to ignore the intense hostile fire, he climbed up on the exposed deck of a tank and directed fire into the enemy position while several wounded men were evacuated. As a result of S/Sgt. Bacon's extraordinary efforts, his company was able to move forward, eliminate the enemy positions, and rescue the men trapped to the front. S/Sgt. Bacon's bravery at the risk of his life was in the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

On November 12, 2015, President Richard Nixon awarded S/Sgt. Bacon the Medal of Honor for his courageous acts. Bacon would retire as First Sergeant in June of 1984. First Sergeant Bacon continued his service after retirement, working at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Phoenix, Arizona. Later in his career, he would be appointed as the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs by the Governor of Arkansas. After a long life of service, First Sergeant Bacon passed away on July 17th, 2010, from cancer. His burial took place with full military honors at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. Recently, my office was able to assist Brian from Virginia Beach in resolving an issue he was having with the IRS. After he reached out to my office, we were able to help him secure the tax return he was owed!

If you need assistance with 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 (linked below) to stay up to date!

If you or your family are visiting Washington, DC in the coming months, please stop by to say hello!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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