Friends,

I hope everyone has been enjoying the warmer weather! Last week was a shorter week in Washington, but there is still a lot to share...including visits from a few days in the district with all of you!

Tomorrow, I head back to Washington where Congress will be working to pass the final government funding bills for this Fiscal Year. I am hopeful we can get these funding bills across the finish line so we can move on to other important legislation....there is much to be done!

Addressing National Security Challenges in North and South America

Last week, the House Armed Services Committee heard from both the United States North and South Commands, which cover the entire western hemisphere above and below the United States… Over the past decade, we have seen a growing number of aggressive actions from our adversaries as they work to build a strategic footprint right in our backyard.

During the hearing, I was able to question the Commanders of the U.S. Northern and Southern Commands and raise my concerns about our lack of strength on the world stage as authoritarian regimes such as China grow more powerful. You can watch my full remarks here.

Our combatant commands must have the adequate tools and resources they need to deter threats to our national security, like countering the rise of China in North and South America. I am proud to fight for our military servicemembers here in Congress to ensure they can accomplish their mission and achieve peace through strength...!

Advocating for Primary Care Professionals

As the only nurse practitioner in Congress, I was proud to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues last week to relaunch the Congressional Primary Care Caucus! Our Caucus not only recognizes the importance of primary care in saving overall healthcare costs, but also works to bring awareness to the challenges faced by our healthcare workforce and the patients they serve. We must do more to make primary care more accessible and available to all Americans, especially to our underserved populations...!

Thank you to Representatives Blunt Rochester, Rouzer, and Courtney for teaming up with me to support our primary care providers. It’s an honor to advocate for America’s healthcare professionals and the patients who depend on them…!

Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Adversaries

I'm pleased to report that last week, the House passed the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. If enacted, this bill will force the sale of TikTok and other apps controlled by bad actors such as China, Russia, and Iran.

While I understand that many Americans use TikTok on a daily basis, the concerns over Americans' privacy and the impacts to our national security are too great for Congress not to act. However, I made sure to ask residents of Virginia's Second District what they thought about the bill before the vote. More than 65% of responses were in favor of forcing the sale of TikTok...! I am proud to have listened to the people in my district and voted for this bill.

Gearing Up for Tax Season

It was great to see people last Friday at the Tax Information Workshop my office hosted at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library! Attendees received tips and important information on this year's tax season and had the opportunity to ask questions. Thank you to the IRS, Taxpayer Advocate Service, AARP, and other participants for offering guidance to the residents of Virginia's Second District...!

With Tax Day now less than a month away, it's important to make sure you have everything you need when you file your taxes. If you weren't able to attend the workshop but still have questions about your taxes or the IRS, please don't hesitate to contact my Virginia Beach office here or call (757) 364-7650.

Cox High School Seniors Visit Our Nation's Capital

My Washington, D.C. team had the honor of hosting students from Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach last week...! These students are all seniors studying government this semester, and our office was proud to give them a tour of THEIR Capitol Building.

There are so many sites to see in Washington, especially for students studying government or history. During their visit, Cox High School students visited Arlington National Cemetery, saw the Supreme Court, and sat in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives!

Thank you so much for making the trip to see us! We always love when people from back home stop by for a visit. Hope to see you back in the district soon!

Weekly Poll

With over 500 votes last week, over 75% of you said that Congress should get rid of the annual time change and remain in Daylight Savings Time.

And now on to this week's poll question! Please click one of the buttons below to share your opinion.

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Medal of Honor recipient Major George Andrew Davis Jr. of the United States Air Force. (Medal of Honor action date, February 10, 1952)

George Andrew Davis Jr. was born on December 1st, 1920 in Dublin, Texas. Davis was the seventh of nine children and grew up in Texas. After receiving a college degree from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas, Davis returned home to Texas. Davis briefly farmed with his family before ultimately deciding to join the military. Davis married Doris Lynn Forgason and had three children together; Mary, George, and Charles.

Davis enlisted in the Army on March 21, 1942 and was chosen as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps. He then went to 3 separate locations, all in Texas, to complete his flight training. After completing his flight training on February 16, 1943, Davis was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army Reserve. Almost immediately Davis was sent into Active Duty with the Army Air Force. 

During World War II, Davis deployed to the Pacific theater. He saw combat action in both New Guinea and the Philippines. In New Guinea, Davis flew more than 100 missions and was promoted to first lieutenant and then to captain. In the Philippines, Davis shot down more than five enemy aircrafts. This achievement earned him the status of a flying ace. Overall in World War II, Davis flew 266 missions, 705 combat hours, and destroyed seven Japanese aircraft.

Post World War II Davis served in several administrative positions and was actually “demoted” back to a first lieutenant to allow him to stay in the military due to the demobilization and downsizing. After the United States Air Force was established in 1947, Davis was promoted to captain serving in the 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1st Fighter Group.

Major Davis’ actions during the Korean War resulted in his Medal of Honor citation. While leading a combat aerial patrol mission of four F-86 fighters near the Manchurian border. A member of Davis’ patrol was forced to leave the mission, leaving only Davis and his wingman on the mission. Davis spotted 12 MIG-15 enemy aircrafts heading towards friendly fighter-bombers. Despite the severe numerical advantage of the enemy, Davis dove at the MIG formation and destroyed two of the MIG fighters. Major Davis was then shot down by an enemy MIG, but not before completely disrupting the enemy formation and allowing the friendly fighter-bombers to complete their mission. 

Major George Andrew Davis Jr., was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously on February 10th, 1952 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Over his career Davis was credited with 31 confirmed victories. This makes him one of only 30 pilots to gain more than 20 confirmed victories over their careers. At the time of his death Davis was the Ace of Aces, meaning he was the top ace in the military during a time of war. He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant colonel and his empty tomb was placed in Lubbock, Texas. Davis’ wife and family were given his medal of honor at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas.

Fun Fact of the Week!

Did you know that Virginia Beach was home to the largest hog farm east of the Mississippi! In 1923, Will Malbon started the Malbon Bros. Hog Farm in what is today the Ocean Lakes area of the city. Each year the farm would produce and send 100,000 pigs to market to feed Americans.

After the family farm was sold in 1983 Thomas Malbon, grandson of the Farm’s founder Will Malbon, decided to open “Malbon's BBQ & Catering”. This allowed the Malbon’s to share their famous family recipes with the public and instantly became a must visit destination for BBQ fans in the tidewater area. The business proved to be successful and is still a popular participant in Hampton Roads events such as the Neptune Festival, Harbor Fest, and the Chesapeake Jubilee...!

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!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District