Friends,

We just wrapped up a busy week in Congress! On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to pass the government funding bill to keep the government open and working for the American people. Then on Friday, the Senate passed it as well and sent the bill to the President's desk! We also voted on several pieces of important legislation and I had the privilege of advocating for our district's shipbuilding industry in a House Armed Services Committee Hearing. You can see more of what we voted on in the weekly floor recap below.

Now, on to this week's newsletter!

Voting to Keep the Federal Government Open

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted to pass H.R.1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025, to fund the federal government through September 30, 2025. Then, despite political pressure from the left, the Senate also passed it!

I voted to avoid a costly, chaotic shutdown and ensure the government can continue working for the people of Virginia’s Second District. While a continuing resolution is never ideal, the reality is that this legislation is far less harmful to our national security than a government shutdown – which is unfortunately what 213 of my colleagues voted for.

I am proud that this legislation increases the federal investment in our national defense and fully funds the largest junior enlisted pay raise in over 40 years – the most significant increase since President Ronald Reagan!

It also prevents harmful disruptions to our industrial base, including in Hampton Roads, and includes provisions that allow for new starts and continue critical procurement efforts. Importantly, this legislation also preserves critical healthcare services and supports programs for our veterans, seniors, and low-income families. The bottom line is that this funding bill is yet another step towards restoring responsible governance in Washington that will allow Congress to continue working to fulfill the promises we made to the American people.

Welcoming one of our Four-Legged Heroes!

This week, I had the pleasure of welcoming Isle of Wight locals James Overton and Cody from the American K-9 Interdiction (AK9I) at the Capitol...! We even ran into fellow Virginia Representative John McGuire (VA-05) and made sure to snap a photo!

Cody was a police dog who specialized in bomb detection and worked at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. Thank you for your amazing service, Cody!

AK9I was founded in 2001 with the focus to produce expertly trained canines to protect and save lives. As a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business, they ensure that their canines along with their handlers and trainers have meaningful experience working in a variety of diverse and challenging environments.

The role these dogs play in military and police work is truly unmatched. As Chair of the Congressional Working Dog Caucus, I will always support the brave service dogs who stand by our veterans and make a real impact in their lives!

Introducing New Shipbuilding Legislation

This week, I joined a bipartisan group of veterans in Congress to introduce a brand new bill aimed at revitalizing our nation's shipbuilding! Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), Congressman Don Davis (D-NC), and I were proud to work together to introduce the Save Our Shipyards Act of 2025.

This bill would establish the National Commission on the Maritime Industrial Base to investigate the condition of the U.S. maritime industry and impediments to its growth. With a laser focus on the needs of the American military, the Commission will develop actionable policy recommendations to revitalize our maritime industrial base. 

Shipbuilding is the backbone of our economy in Coastal Virginia and vital to both our national security and local workforce! The highly skilled men and women in my district who build and maintain our ships ensure our Navy can remain the most powerful in the world. However, due to workforce and supply chain issues, our maritime industrial base is struggling to keep pace with growing global threats. This bill is a critical step toward identifying the challenges facing our shipyards and strengthening our ability to build and sustain a world-class fleet.

Supporting our shipbuilding industry also means strengthening our ship repair capabilities. From 2014 to 2024, the Navy's surface fleet in Hampton Roads decreased from 48 to 28 vessels, creating major challenges for our ship repair industry. Virginia ship repair has the capacity, but the Navy must improve repair planning, scheduling, and funding. I will continue fighting to increase ship repair here in Hampton Roads to support our community and its economy...!

As a Navy veteran, I am proud to join my colleagues in this bipartisan effort to ensure America’s shipbuilding industry remains strong for generations to come!

Joining the Local News to Discuss Aviation Safety

On Thursday, I spoke with Brendan Ponton from WTKR3 about my new bill, the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act. I teamed up with Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07), a former Army helicopter pilot, in introducing this important legislation last week.

Ensuring our military pilots have lifesaving technology will help prevent terrible tragedies like the mid-air collision we saw at Reagan National Airport in January. As a former Navy pilot, I will always fight for stronger aviation safety. Watch my local news hit below...!

The Military Helicopter Training Safety Act would direct the Department of Defense (DoD) to evaluate the feasibility of equipping all U.S. military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems to improve safety measures for military rotary-wing aircraft operating near civilian airspace.

This legislation lays the foundation for a long-term safety initiative that would help prevent future accidents like the devastating crash at DCA, protecting both military aviators and civilian air travelers.

Standing Up for Shipbuilding at Committee Hearing

As a Navy veteran, Navy wife, and Navy mom, I am proud to serve on the House Armed Services Committee! On Tuesday, the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces held a Congressional hearing to examine the state of our nation's shipbuilding industry. With shipbuilding being so important to our national security and to VA-02's economy, this is an issue I take very seriously.

Watch my questions below...!

I was proud to use this opportunity to ask important questions and talk about the importance of our Military Sealift Command (I even brought my own poster...!) Our Military Sealift Command vessels do so much to supply our fleet. Without them, Our Navy can’t accomplish its mission.

Honoring Fallen VBPD Officers Girvin and Reese

On Saturday, I was honored to join the Patriot Guard Riders and the Virginia Beach community at Freedom Outdoors and sign a flag to honor fallen Virginia Beach Police Department officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese.

This special flag honoring their service and sacrifice will be presented to the families of these two heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty.

These brave young men were taken too soon and leave behind a grief stricken and forever grateful community. The City of Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the United States of America will forever be grateful to these officers and their families will always remain in our prayers. 

Weekly Poll

With over 1,300 responses last week, around 70% of you said you wanted to see Congress pass a bill to avoid a government shutdown. I agree with you, which is why I joined my colleagues in voting for a bill to keep our government open, maintain current government funding levels, and give our junior enlisted servicemembers a long-awaited pay raise. You can read more about my thoughts on avoiding this government shutdown 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 Major Kenneth D. Bailey of the U.S. Marine Corps (Medal of Honor action date: September 12-13th, 1942). 

Kenneth Dillon Bailey was born on October 21st, 1910 in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He was one of 5 children in his family, all of whom were raided in Danville Illinois. Bailey attended Danville high school where he would compete in both football and swimming. He graduated from high school and chose to continue his education at the University of Illinois. Bailey played varsity football for 2 years and graduated with a degree in agriculture in 1935.

Bailey was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 1st, 1935 and completed Basic School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was sent to join the 5th Marine Regiment in Quantico, Virginia. In June of 1938, Bailey joined the Marine detachment aboard the USS Pennsylvania. While serving aboard the Pennsylvania, he served as the Detachment and Battery Officer and was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1939. First Lieutenant Bailey spent time serving in different posts such as Parris Island, South Carolina and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba before being promoted to Captain in March of 1941.

In June of 1941, Captain Bailey joined the 5th Marine Regiment as a company commander before his unit was redesignated the 1st Marine Raider Battalion. His unit was ordered to San Diego, California in April 1942 and in that same month they reached Tutuila, American Samoa. The following month on May 8th, 1942 Bailey was promoted to the rank of Major. At the beginning of the Guadalcanal Campaign on August 7th, 1942, Major Bailey led a successful assault on a Japanese machine gun nest. Despite being seriously wounded, he directed the action of his company until his men forced him to evacuate. For these actions of conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity, he was awarded the Silver Star.

During the enemy Japanese attack on Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 12-13 September 1942. Major Bailey's company, within an hour after taking its assigned position as reserve battalion between the main line and the coveted airport, was threatened on the right flank by the penetration of the enemy into a gap in the main line. In addition to repulsing this threat, while steadily improving his own desperately held position, he used every weapon at his command to cover the forced withdrawal of the main line before a hammering assault by superior enemy forces.

He assisted the battalion commander in stemming the retreat, reorganizing the troops, and extending the reverse position to the left, Major Bailey, despite a severe head wound, repeatedly led his troops in fierce hand-to-hand combat for a period of 10 hours. His great personal valor while exposed to constant and merciless enemy fire and his indomitable fighting spirit inspired his troops to heights of heroic endeavor which enabled them to repulse the enemy and hold Henderson Field. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country. 

Major Kenneth D. Bailey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on 24 March 1943, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1945, the USS Kenneth D. Bailey (DE-552) was commissioned and named in his honor.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. Recently, my office assisted Arthur from Virginia Beach in resolving an issue he was having receiving his father's final Social Security payment for nearly a year. After he reached out to my office, we were able to help him secure the money he was owed by the Social Security Administration!

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!

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!

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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