Friends,

Before we dive into this week's update, my family and I hope that all those who celebrated in VA-02 and across the Commonwealth this weekend had a very blessed Easter! As President Ronald Reagan once said, "This is a time of hope and peace, when our spirits are filled and lifted. It’s a time when we give thanks for our blessings—chief among them, freedom, peace, and the promise of eternal life."

I also want to wish Virginia's Jewish community health, hope, and peace during Passover. Chag Sameach!

Supporting Local Small Businesses

I had a great week out and about in our district...! One of the highlights was joining the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce for their monthly Eggs 'N Issues breakfast. These breakfasts bring Chamber members together to discuss current topics and address issues pertinent to the business community.

It was great to get an update about the State Budget and hear from local business owners and employers about the challenges they face. I also had the opportunity to provide an overview of some of the work I've been doing on the Armed Services, Natural Resources, and Veterans' Affairs Committee and discussed some of the pieces of legislation that have come out of the House recently.

I sincerely appreciated the thoughtful questions that were asked. From workforce challenges, to inflation, to the need for energy independence, we had a very productive conversation...! Small businesses create jobs, drive innovation, support our economy and give back to their communities...which is exactly why I'm committed to supporting Virginia's small businesses and their employees in our new majority in the House.

Thank you for the hard work you all do for our district. I hope to see you all again soon!

Two New District Offices Are Open and Ready to Serve You!

On Thursday and Friday I had the honor of formally opening two new district offices in VA-02 - one in Suffolk and the other in Onley on the Eastern Shore. I want to give a big thank you to everyone who came out to join my team and I for these openings! It gave me the opportunity to discuss some of my committee assignments and recent work in Washington as well as inform constituents about all the ways my district team can assist them.

My staff and I can assist you with any challenges you may have with federal agencies like the VA, the Social Security Administration, or the IRS...if you can't get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, my office may be able to help resolve the problem or get you the information you need!

You can call (757) 364-7650 or go to my website here if you are facing an issue with the federal government and we will see if we can intervene on your behalf to answer questions, find solutions, or just cut through the red tape.

Touring Local Oyster Farms

Did you know that Virginia is the oyster capital of the East Coast? Virginia is home to eight different oyster regions that produce eight distinctive flavors. In fact, the Commonwealth's oyster farms sell more than 40 MILLION oysters each year combined! With the oyster industry being such a large part of our state's agricultural output, I made it a priority to tour a local oyster farm on the Eastern Shore.

I already knew how good Virginia oysters taste but my visit to Cherrystone Aqua Farms taught me so much about shellfish aquaculture and how great oysters are for our local natural resources!

A single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day...That's about as much water as you use in a 10-minute shower! Virginia’s environment benefits greatly from the improved water quality we get from our local oysters!

That's not to mention the positive economic impact these farms have. Virginia shellfish aquaculture directly employs over a thousand Virginians, but when combined with watermen, processors, and distributors, the number of Virginians employed skyrockets to over 7,000...providing over $169 million in income annually! And, in 2019, the total economic contributions of the Virginia seafood industry was $1.1 billion! According to a Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center (VSAREC) economic impact study, the industry generates over $26 million in tax revenue from local, state, and federal taxes. 24% ($6.3 million) of which was generated locally.

I look forward to being an advocate for this important industry and ensuring it can continue to contribute to the environmental and economic vitality of our local communities here in Southeast Virginia!

Leading the Bipartisan Nursing Caucus

As some of you know, after my ten years in the Navy and having children, I used my GI Bill benefits to go to Old Dominion University’s Nursing School and Vanderbilt University’s Nurse Practitioner program. Caring for our Greatest Generation as an Adult-Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner was one of the greatest honors of my life. I’m proud to continue my work to provide patients with access to quality, affordable healthcare by becoming the Vice Chair of the Bipartisan Nursing Caucus!

It’s a privilege to use my position in Congress to be an advocate for my fellow nurses…Supporting the more than four million Americans who make up our nation’s nursing workforce directly impacts the future health of our country. I’m excited to get to work!!

Addressing the White House's Remarks about the 2021 Afghanistan Withdrawal

I couldn't end this week's update without addressing the White House's recent report about the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

This week the Pentagon and State Department provided classified reviews of the decision-making process around the withdrawal to Congress - at the behest of a subpoena from the new majority. At the same time, the White House released its own 12-page outline that pinned the blame for the challenges around the withdrawal on the previous administration.

Almost worse than this misguided report is the fact that White House spokesman John Kirby said he, ‘didn’t see’ chaos in the Afghanistan withdrawal. Such comments are a slap in the face to the 13 Gold Star families who lost their loved ones that day as well as our Afghan allies who perished in the wake of our botched withdrawal. We all watched those horrific events unfold live on television. We all saw the same heartbreaking images...mothers handing their babies over barbed wire and people falling to their deaths after clinging desperately to C17s trying to escape the Taliban takeover.

To refuse to take accountability and dismiss all responsibility for any of the tragic events of the withdrawal is an insult to the entire military community and our allies, who watched years of hard work and sacrifice be thrown away over the course of days. It’s also an insult to every American who expects this Administration to be honest with them.

Our service members deserve better than this. I will always be an advocate for our military and their families.

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant John William Finn (Medal of Honor Action Date: December 7, 1941).

Then-Navy Aviation Chief Ordnance Man John Finn was stationed at the Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station when Japanese aircraft began their first attack. Responding quickly to the call of action, Lt. Finn ran to and secured a .50-caliber machine gun that was located on a completely exposed section of the parking ramp, where he began to return fire.

Despite sustaining multiple painful wounds, Lt. Finn remained at the gun, firing on the enemy during multiple strafing and bombing runs, only leaving after specific orders to do so. After receiving first-aid treatment, the still wounded Lt. Finn returned to his post and supervised the rearming of returning planes throughout the remainder of the attack.

Lieutenant John William Finn was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on board the U.S.S. Enterprise in Pearl Harbor, HI on September 15, 1942 by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz for "extraordinary heroism, distinguished service, and devotion above and beyond the call of duty".

He was born on July 24, 1909 in Los Angeles, CA and died on May 27, 2010 in Chula Vista, CA. His Medal of Honor is accredited to Belle Vernon Acres, Los Angeles County, California. He is buried at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in El Cajon, CA.

Five Fast Facts from Virginia's Second District!

1. St. Luke’s Church, located near Smithfield in Isle of Wight County, was built in 1682 and is the oldest church in Virginia! The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.
2. The Military Aviation Museum in the Pungo area of southern Virginia Beach has one of the largest collections of World War I and World War II aircraft in the world! In addition to American military aircraft, the collection includes aircraft from Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the UK.
3. 10 US presidents have stayed at the Cavalier Hotel, originally built at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront in 1927: Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy Carter. 
4. The Battle of Great Bridge occurred on December 9, 1775 in what is now the city of Chesapeake. The battle lasted for less than an hour and the victory of the local revolutionary forces resulted in the expulsion of Royal Governor Lord Dunmore from Virginia!
5. The famous Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction, during which “saltwater cowboys” herd ponies across the channel from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island, has been held each July since 1926 – that’s nearly 100 years!

Please don't hesitate to contact my D.C. 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