Friends, 

It was a big week in Washington as the U.S. House passed a bill to avoid defaulting on our nation's debt and to reduce federal spending. This spending reform package was a critical first step in the negotiation process that needs to take place in order for us to restore fiscal security in our nation's capital. This week I also introduced and co-sponsored two bipartisan, bicameral bills and heard from the Navy's leadership about their proposed fiscal year 2024 budget. Here are the highlights...

Delivering an Economy that's Strong

This week, the House passed H.R. 2811, the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023. 

Instead of debating the merits of this bill based on our different political views, there is much misinformation out there. Let me be clear, this bill does not touch veterans' benefits and defense spending or cut programs like Social Security and Medicare. This bill does none of those things!! It reduces top line spending and forces both parties to come to the table to discuss how to do this.

Frankly, I'm shocked by the dishonest reporting concerning this bill. VA-02 is blessed to be home to an extraordinarily large veteran population. I am a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, married to a veteran, and the mother to children who will one day be veterans. For anyone to claim that I would ever vote to cut benefits for our nation's heroes is personally offensive and I will not stand for it. That's why I went on News Nation's "Morning in America" with Adrienne Bankert to dispel these lies. You can watch that full clip by clicking the picture below.

One of the reasons I came to Congress is to restore strength in our economy. Years of wasteful government spending - increased to near-unthinkable amounts over the past two years - has been a disaster for Virginia families, with record high food and energy prices leaving less and less money in our pockets. If we don't change course, our children and grandchildren will be saddled with impossible levels of national debt (over $31 trillion).

The Limit, Save, Grow Act, which is the first step in what will likely be a long series of negotiations, would save taxpayers an estimated $4.5 trillion. H.R. 2811 would also:

• save approximately $50-60 billion by reclaiming unspent COVID-19 pandemic funds;
• return FY24 spending to FY22 levels and implement 1% federal spending growth cap per year for the next ten years (saving approximately $3.6 trillion);
• repeal approximately $71 billion for 87,000 new IRS Agents provided by the ill-named Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; and
• prevent executive overreach that attempts to unilaterally enact new federal spending outside of the Congressional appropriations process.



The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that H.R. 2811 would – over the next 10 years – reduce budget deficits by $4.8 trillion, increase revenue by $0.4 trillion, and decrease interest on the public debt by $500 billion. 

I'll be the first to tell you that this bill is not perfect. But it gets us to the negotiating table where we can help shape what the final version looks like before it's signed into law. Sadly, compromise has become a dirty word in Washington and the President continues to refuse any and all negotiations. Virginians deserve better. They deserve a good-faith effort from elected officials on both sides of the aisle - including the President - to drop the partisan bickering and come together to address the challenges facing our nation, like our debt and spending crisis. 

The House has done our job, now it's time for President Biden to do his.

Honoring Filipino Veterans' Service

Did you know that more than 260,000 Filipino service members fought alongside American soldiers in the Pacific Theater during World War II? Despite their heroic service, in 1946 Congress passed a bill that made Filipinos ineligible for benefits granted to other World War II veterans. While legislation passed in 1990 granted citizenship to around 26,000 Filipino veterans, it did not extend the same benefits to their children. Unfortunately, due to a visa backlog, some of the children of these brave heroes have to wait around twenty years before their applications are even considered...!

This problem needs to be fixed; these families deserve proper recognition. That's why I was proud to introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation with Senator Mazie Hirono, Senator Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Ed Case to do just that! Our bill, the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act, would allow the sons and daughters of these brave soldiers to become fully naturalized citizens without enduring the normal lengthy immigration process. I'm proud to join my colleagues and reward these families for their service and sacrifice to our country!

Advocating for Our Sailors

On Friday, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the "Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request". Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday, and Commandant of the Marine Corps General David Berger appeared before our full committee to discuss how the Navy will be funded during the next fiscal year.

I've spoken at length about the importance of quality of life for our soldiers, sailors, and airmen, as well as the necessity for a strong Naval industrial base. If you drive around any 4-year college or university and look at the housing, it's beautiful, and new construction is always ongoing. However, if you drive around a Naval base - like I did when I took my staff to Naval Air Station Oceana during my first week in Congress - the buildings tell a far different story.

The ships and aircraft that make up the world's finest fleet are nothing without the men and women behind them. We need to ensure that we are empowering them to succeed by giving them efficient, properly functioning ships and aircraft, but also by giving them facilities and infrastructure that they can be proud of. The fact that we charge them for WiFi is beyond ridiculous...!!

I pressed Secretary Del Toro and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gilday about how they'd meet our fleet's vast needs. You can watch our full exchange by clicking on the picture above.

Congressional Art Competition Gallery

Today, May 2, my office will be hosting a Congressional Art Competition Gallery at the Goode Fine Arts Center in Virginia Beach! This event will showcase the incredible artistic talent of our VA-02 high school students. We'll also announce the winners of the competition, whose artwork will be hung up in the Capitol and each of my offices! I look forward to seeing many of you there!

Raising Awareness for Parkinson's Disease

Every year, more than 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I cared for many of these patients. I'm well aware of how challenging these diagnoses can be...I'm also well aware of how resilient and strong these patients are.

Earlier this year, my colleague Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton from our Commonwealth's 10th District announced she was diagnosed with Parkinson's. This week, I was proud to join her - as well as Senator Debbie Stabenow from Michigan and Senator Rick Scott from Florida - to designate April as "Parkinson's Awareness Month". Many recent breakthroughs have allowed Americans diagnosed with this disease to live full, active lives. I'm proud to partner with my colleagues to ensure we continue to raise awareness and support research. I'm hopeful that one day we can find a cure!

Coffee with the Congresswoman

This Friday, May 5, I'll be hosting my second "Coffee with the Congresswoman" at the Chesapeake Central Library...! Hearing your concerns about what's going on in Washington is incredibly important to me and ensures that I can effectively represent you in Congress. I hope that you can make it...!

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis Junior Pierce (Medal of Honor action date: March 15-16, 1945). 

U.S. Navy Pharmacist’s Mate First Class (PhM1) Francis Pierce served with the 2D Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division during the Iwa Jima campaign from March 15-16, 1945, during which his party faced almost continuous enemy fire. Despite enduring heavy enemy fire, PhM1 Pierce volunteered for numerous missions, during which he was able to gain valuable knowledge of the terrain and enemy troops.

On March 15th, while carrying two wounded Marines to a forward aid station, PhM1 Pierce and his team came under heavy fire that injured some of the stretcher bearers. PhM1 Pierce took charge, carried the wounded men to safety, and provided first aid. He then stood in the open, drawing enemy fire so the litter bearers could reach cover. PhM1 Pierce risked his life to save one of his patients when a Japanese soldier fired from a nearby cave, and he ran across 200 feet of open terrain to rescue another wounded Marine.

The following day, Pierce led a patrol to a sniper nest, where he was seriously wounded while aiding a fellow Marine. He refused treatment for himself and directed the care of the casualty while maintaining protective fire for his comrades.

Pharmacist's Mate First Class Francis J Pierce was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman at the White House on June 25, 1948 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty". He was born on December 7, 1924 in Earlville, IA and died on December 21, 1968. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Grand Rapids, MI. His Medal of Honor is accredited to Iowa.

Five Fast Facts from the Floor!

1. President Carter holds the record for the most movies ever watched in the White House's movie theater at 480.
2. The Metro, D.C.'s subway system, is the second busiest system in the U.S. The first is New York City.
3. Woodrow Wilson is the only President to be buried in Washington; he's entombed at the Washington National Cathedral.
4. The House ratio of staff to members is roughly 20-to-1.
5. Either the President or Congress can declare someone an honorary citizen of the United States. It's only been done seven times...!

I'll be back in Virginia's Second District this week for a one week-long district work period. I hope to see you back home...!

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