Friends,

Last week was another exciting week here in Hampton Roads! I have had the pleasure of visiting with many of you over the past couple weeks and am looking forward to continuing to visit with constituents across Virginia's Second Congressional District this week. It is an honor to represent you in Congress, and I enjoy meeting with Virginians in person to learn how I can best advocate for you in Washington!

Now, on to an eventful week in Hampton Roads...!

Water Treatment Upgrades for Suffolk

During the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding process, I advocated to secure federal dollars for some of Hampton Roads' biggest projects. Last week, I visited with City of Suffolk officials at the G. Robert House Jr. Water Treatment Plant to present $1 million in federal funding to upgrade the water treatment plant!

The city of Suffolk continues to grow and is the 10^th largest city in Virginia! A town of nearly 100,000 residents requires a sophisticated water system, and this funding will go towards ensuring Suffolk’s residents and visitors have access to safer, cleaner drinking water. Specifically, the upgrades will replace the Electrodialysis Reversal (EDR) Membranes. This replacement will ensure the Western Tidewater region’s groundwater supply can meet the Virginia Department of Health’s drinking water regulatory requirements.

One of my most important responsibilities in Congress is to direct federal dollars where they are most needed back home. Thank you to Mayor Duman, city officials, and the leadership of the G. Robert House Water Treatment Plant for your work to improve the lives of Suffolk residents. I’m proud to see these hard-earned tax dollars returned to our community and am pleased to know they will be used for critical advancements for our water treatment system here in Suffolk. I will always work for Suffolk and Hampton Roads in Congress!

Investing in Our Defense Industrial Base

On Wednesday, I attended the ribbon cutting for Advanced Integrated Technologies' (AIT) new Non-Destructive Testing Lab! AIT assists our U.S. Navy with ship and submarine maintenance and repair, which keeps our naval fleet strong! This incredible new facility will be a great asset for the Hampton Road’s defense industrial base and for our Navy.

It is so important to invest in our military, and I am always proud of our community's efforts to ensure our military is the strongest in the world. I will continue to be a vocal advocate for our military and industrial base in Congress! Thank you to AIT for the work you do to support our military and for inviting me to celebrate your great progress!

Upgrading Franklin-Southampton Radio Systems

Last Monday, I visited the Franklin-Southampton Emergency Services (EMS) Division to tour their facility and learn about the progress of radio system upgrades. During the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding process, I was able to secure $400,000 for the City of Franklin to upgrade their EMS division's radio system. Currently, the City of Franklin and County of Southampton rely on an analog radio system. The funding I secured will go towards the purchase of a digital radio system, leading to increased, reliable communication for emergency services.

I am incredibly thankful for our first responders and the work they do to protect and serve our communities. Reliable radio communication is critical for our Western Tidewater region and for the emergency services that ensure the safety of the residents here in Hampton Roads. These radio upgrades will benefit our entire region. I am proud to bring home these tax dollars for Franklin and the County of Southampton to ensure our first responders have the resources needed to keep our community safe! Bringing your tax dollars back to our district is one of my favorite parts of this job…..!

During my visit, I met with staff of the Franklin-Southampton EMS Division and staff of the City of Franklin to learn about how the radio upgrades will benefit EMS, fire, police, and school systems across the region. Thank you to City of Franklin Mayor Bobby Cutchin, City of Franklin Deputy Police Chief Robert Porti, Southampton County Sheriff Josh Wyche Sr., Franklin Fire & Rescue Chief of Emergency Services Vernie Francis III, and additional local officials for joining me on this visit!

Bringing Home Federal Funding for Isle of Wight

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting federal funding I secured to local Isle of Wight County officials to put towards the construction of a new water storage tank! As the county continues to grow, it is important to have the resources necessary to support the people who live there. I was proud to secure $1.25 million in federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding cycle for an elevated water storage tank

While there, I visited the new Riverside Smithfield hospital construction site and saw where the county's new water tank will go. This water tank will provide increased water pressure and will increase the county's resilience and positively impact the county's ability to provide safe drinking water in the future. Funding for projects like this allow for continued economic growth in the Second District!

Increasing Access to Trucking Apprenticeship Programs for Veterans

I recently introduced the Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act, with my colleague Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) to cut red tape for veterans looking to get jobs in the trucking industry. Our legislation would streamline the approval of certain apprenticeship programs that partner with the VA.

We owe it to our nation’s heroes to ensure they have the tools they need to make the often-difficult transition from service to civilian life. That is exactly what this commonsense legislation will do by cutting bureaucratic red tape and increasing access to trucking apprenticeships for our veterans. As a former Navy helicopter pilot and the representative for Coastal Virginia, which is home to so many who have served our country, it is an honor to advocate for bipartisan policies that help our veterans secure meaningful employment while also addressing the national trucking shortage and strengthening our supply chains.

Currently, interstate trucking companies must get approval from every state they operate in for veterans to use their VA education benefits for their apprenticeship programs. The VA has reported that some companies are opting out of offering apprenticeships to veterans altogether due to the bureaucratic hurdles of having to gain approval from over 20 different states. This comes at a time when the trucking industry has a shortage of over 80,000 drivers. The Veterans’ Transition to Trucking Act would address this problem by allowing interstate commercial carriers to get one singular approval for all of their apprenticeship programs from the VA, making it easier for veterans to access trucking apprenticeship programs.

You can read more about the legislation here.

Weekly Poll

With nearly 1,200 votes last week, over 92% of you said that energy independence/dominance is vital to our national security, and I agree with you. In today’s world, it’s more important than ever to ensure America’s energy needs can be met by domestic production, not by a reliance on foreign countries such as China and Russia. That’s why I am proud to support an all-of-the-above energy strategy to restore our energy independence, lower energy costs for Virginians, and ensure the United States can continue to be the global leader in reducing emissions.

And now on to this week's poll question!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient General Raymond Gilbert Davis of the United States Marine Corp (Medal of Honor Action Date: December 1, 1950).

General Raymond Davis was born in Fitzgerald, Georgia on January 13, 1915. He graduated from Atlanta Technical High School in Atlanta, Georgia in 1933, and from Georgia School of Technology in 1938. During his time at Georgia School of Technology, Davis was a member of the Reserves Officer Training Corp (ROTC) unit. Upon his graduation, he was commissioned into the U.S. Army Infantry Reserves. Shortly after his commissioning, on June 27, 1938, he resigned and accepted an appointment as a Marine Second Lieutenant. 

Davis attended Marine Officers’ Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and completed his weapons and artillery instruction at Quantico, Virginia and Aberdeen, Maryland. Davis served in World War II, participating in the landing and capture of Guadalcanal, campaigns in Eastern New Guinea and Cape Gloucester, and Battle of Peleliu. For his valor in the Battle of Peleliu, he was awarded a Navy Cross and a Purple Heart. At the end of World War II, Davis had been promoted to Major. He also served in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, as the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion.

On December 1, 1950, having been commanded to defend a vital mountain pass, ensure that two marine regiments were not isolated, and relieve an exhausted rifle company, Davis led the 1st Battalion eight miles through Hagaru-ri, Korea, braving dangerously icy trails, bitter cold, and a numerically superior enemy force. Advancing uphill over difficult terrain, David spearheaded his battalion’s attack as they fought the enemy, driving the hostile force from their position. By the morning of December 2, the battalion had successfully overtaken three ridges and were within 1,500 yards of the rifle company. Despite being hit with shell fragments and two bullets piercing his clothing, Davis intrepidly led his men forward until they reached the beleaguered company. After assisting them, the Davis and the 1st Battalion secured the mountain pass, defeating the numerically superior enemy forces despite an unrelenting onslaught of hostile fire. His incredible leadership, bolstered his men to hold the pass until the morning of December 3 when the two Marine regiments were able to pass through, escaping possible destruction. Davis, ensuring that no men were left behind, led his battalion along with the wounded back to Hagaru-ri intact. 

For his unparalleled bravery, valor, and tactical ability, General Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Harry S. Truman at the White House on November 24, 1952. He continued to serve his country, undertaking several other commands in the United States and fighting also in the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, and three personal decorations from the Vietnamese Government. In 1971, he was promoted to four star general and retired a year later after serving more than 33 years with the U.S. Marine Corps. The building that houses the Marine Corp Combat Development Command that Davis once directed at Quantico, has been named the General Raymond G. Davis Center. General Ray Davis Middle School in Stockbridge, Georgia, was named in his honor.

Davis passed away on September 3, 2003. He is remembered for unwavering dedication to his country and his life of incredible service and sacrifice. Davis is buried at Forestlawn Memorial Gardens in College Park, Georgia. 

Fun Fact of the Week!

Did you know that on this day, 242 years ago in 1782, the last major battle of the Revolutionary War took place? Although Lord Cornwallis had already officially surrendered much of the British Force in Yorktown on October 19, 1781, the conflict still rang through the frontier. The Battle of Blue Licks, fought in Kentucky, was the last dramatic clash of the war between a group of Kentucky militiamen, including the legendary Daniel Boone, and a formidable alliance of British and Native American warriors. This bloody encounter, which resulted in a devastating defeat for the Kentuckians, is often overshadowed by the more celebrated Eastern battles. But it was a pivotal moment, showcasing the raw courage of the frontier settlers and the ongoing struggle for control of the West.

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!

If you or your family are visiting Washington DC in the coming summer months, please stop by to say hello! If you are interested in a tour, please let us know!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District