Friends,

Welcome back to another Weekly Debrief! I was in Washington last week to vote on several different bills, including a resolution to establish a bipartisan task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, legislation to fund the Department of Interior, legislation to modernize our maritime infrastructure, build resilience, and stimulate economic growth, and a resolution to condemn Vice President Kamala Harris' dereliction of duty as border czar (which saw 6 democrats voted "YES").

Last week, the VA also released a scathing report on the Hampton VA following my efforts to deliver accountability as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

I'll be back in Hampton Roads this week for the August district work period, and I look forward to seeing my fellow Virginians in the Second Congressional District! Now, on to this week's recap!

Delivering Accountability for Hampton Roads' Vets

Since coming to Congress last year, I have had so many veterans and providers come to me with complaints about patient safety, staff turnover, unsanitary exam rooms, and denials of care at the Hampton VA. I have worked hard to address those allegations and personally launched Congressional investigations into the surgical practices and management at the facility.

Recently, the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report that shines an even brighter light on these problems, demonstrating clear cut leadership failures at the highest levels of the hospital that have directly affected the quality of care available to our veterans. Specifically, the report centers around Hampton VA’s failures in the management of clinical care, deficiencies in professional practice evaluations, a lack of surgical service quality management processes, and insufficient institutional disclosure processes. 

I am proud that as a result of the investigations I've launched as the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, the VA is making the following personnel and policy changes at the Hampton VA:

• Replacement of the VAMC Director 
• Replacement of the Chief of Staff 
• Replacement of the Chief of Surgery
• Addressing the anesthesiologist shortage 
• Addressing staff moral and allegations of retaliation
• Increasing accountability regarding substandard care
• Ensuring medical facilities are properly cleaned and maintained

It is a priority of mine to ensure the VA is held accountable and keeps their promises to our veterans. As the granddaughter of a veteran, daughter of a veteran, wife of a veteran, mother of future veterans, and having served 10 years in the Navy myself, I look forward to engaging with new leadership at the hospital as they work to correct these deficiencies and rebuild trust with our veterans in Hampton Roads.

Bipartisan Task Force on Assassination Attempt

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to establish a bipartisan task force to investigate the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump. I was proud to vote in favor of this resolution, which passed by a unanimous vote of 416-0.

Like many Virginians, I was shocked and horrified by the assassination attempt of Donald Trump on July 13. The American people deserve answers about the inexcusable security failures that nearly took the life a former president and current presidential candidate, killed Corey Comperatore, and seriously injured least two other people.

The task force will be have six Democrats appointed by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and seven Republicans appointed by Speaker Mike Johnson. It will be tasked with examining all actions by any agency, department, officer, or employee of the federal government, as well as state and local law enforcement or any other state or local government or private entities or individuals related to the attempted assassination and will be required to issue a final report of its findings no later than December 13, 2024.

I’m proud that Republicans and Democrats came together to pass this resolution unanimously, proving that protecting our nation’s leaders is a responsibility that surpasses partisanship and party lines. With this bipartisan task force, Congress will work to uncover the facts, provide accountability, and ensure such failures never happen again.

Standing with Our Ally Israel

Last week, I sat in the U.S. House chamber for the Joint Address from Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. It was a privilege to be in the same room with IDF members, former hostages, and families of those who are still held captive by Hamas. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke of Israel's right to self defense and their strong alliance with the United States. I am thankful for his powerful message and continued advocacy for our mutual partnership.

Hezbollah’s recent rocket attack on innocent Israeli children at a soccer game in the Golan Heights is a horrific reminder of the threats Israel faces every day from Iran’s terrorist proxies. The devastation by both Hamas and Hezbollah is horrific and they must be defeated. We must support Israel in its time of need and restore peace through strength to put an end to this evil.

We must remain unified not only in our support of our greatest ally and only democracy in the Middle East, but also in our stand against anti-semitism across the globe. In Congress, I will continue to stand by Israel…we cannot allow our enemies to become further emboldened.

Future Working Dogs Visit D.C.!

Last week, I launched the bipartisan Congressional Working Dog Caucus to promote the positive impact working dogs provide our law enforcement, military and mental health spaces! The caucus, which is co-chaired by my good friend Congressman Don Davis (NC-01), will raise awareness about how working dogs improve public safety and make a real, positive impact in so many lives, especially for our veterans.

As part of the Caucus’ launch, we hosted six 12-week-old working dogs in training from American K-9 Interdiction as well as several service dogs from America’s VetDogs, including Sal, who works with U.S. Marine Corps veteran and retired police officer Paul Sullivan! K-9s, service dogs, and other working dogs can be used in schools and other venues to detect weapons, drugs, and other dangerous items, and I’ve seen firsthand how they help veterans struggling with physical and mental health challenges live with renewed independence. 

In 2022, there were roughly 5,600 federal working dogs serving the nation, over 50% of which served the Department of Homeland Security. Most federal working dogs contribute to explosives, narcotics, and human detection, helping prevent domestic terrorism, ensure safer military missions overseas, and catch drug and human traffickers.

That's not to mention that earlier this year, public schools in Newport News announced weapons detection and narcotics dogs would be used in both middle and high schools. Additionally, the U.S. Navy has piloted the deployment of service dogs on U.S. Navy ships. The Navy’s Expanded Operational Stress Control Canine pilot program began on the USS Gerald R. Ford last year, as well as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. The addition of service dogs on these aircraft carriers helps to address mental health challenges that are often present on long overseas deployments. 

It was an honor to host these four-legged heroes and their handlers here at the U.S. Capitol… and they provided a much-needed mental health boost for everyone!

Lowering Costs for Caregivers

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I have seen firsthand the ways in which financial burdens can impact caregiving and how our seniors age. I recently cosponsored H.R. 7222, the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act, which would allow family caregivers to use tax-free health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts on medical expenses for their loved ones.

Today it is estimated that nearly 53 million Americans serve in the essential role of caregiver for more than 20 million adults nationwide. These caregivers often spend significant portions of the their income to care for their loved ones.

It is our responsibility in Congress to do everything we can to support our seniors as they age and that can't be accomplished without supporting their caregivers. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation. Family caregivers serve an invaluable role in the lives of my patients and I am committed to doing everything in my power to make their role easier.

Weekly Poll

With nearly 1,200 votes last week, 70% of you said that Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle should resign in light of the security failures that led to the attempted assassination of former President Trump. As you may have seen, on Tuesday, July 23rd Director Cheatle resigned her position. I believe that she made the right decision, and look forward to working to provide the American people the transparency they deserve.

And now on to this week's poll question!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I want to honor Medal of Honor Recipient Specialist Five, Dwight W. Birdwell of the U.S. Army (Medal of Honor Action Date: January 31, 1968).

Dwight Birdwell was born in Amarillo, Texas on January 19, 1948. When he was young, his family moved to a small, mainly Cherokee Indian community of Bell, in Adair County, Oklahoma. After graduating from Stilwell High School in 1966, he joined the Army and went through training at the Armored School in Fort Knox, Kentucky. In 1968, Birdwell deployed to Vietnam. 

On January 31, 1968, Birdwell and Troop C were ordered to help repel an enemy attack on the Tan Son Nhut Airbase, near Saigon, in Southern Vietnam. Approaching the west side of the airbase, the company’s column of tanks and armored personnel carriers came under intense fire from three enemy battalions concealed in a building to their right. As the troop proceeded through the barrage, the lead tank was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, and the tank commander was severely wounded. Seeing this, Birdwell courageously ran to his leader, despite the heavy fire, and moved him to safety. He mounted the tank, took over the commander’s position, and began firing on the enemy until the tank’s guns were out of ammunition and overheated. Birdwell then continued firing with his own weapon.

Seeing a US helicopter crash nearby, he ran to the helicopter to retrieve its M-60 machine guns and returned to the tank to continue engaging the enemy. When the machine gun he was firing was hit, Birdwell sustained serious wounds to his arms, chest, face, neck. Disregarding his own well being, he selflessly refused to be removed from the fight and rallied his comrades toward the front of the column to set up a defensive position. As they continued to engage the enemy, Birdwell brought the wounded to safety and collected ammunition. His incredible leadership and bravery spurred his comrades to ultimately defeat the superior enemy army. 

Upon returning home, Birdwell completed his undergraduate and law degrees. He continued to serve his country as a justice and chief justice on the Judicial Appeals Tribunal (Supreme Court) of the Cherokee Nation. He currently practices law in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

For his unparalleled heroism and incredible service to his country, Specialist Five Birdwell has been awarded two Silver Stars and two Purple Hearts. He was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Biden on July 5, 2022, more than 50 years after his heroic actions. 

Fun Fact of the Week!

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is the 17.6 mile bridge-tunnel that crosses the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, right in the easternmost region of our congressional district! The landmark’s official name is the Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge Tunnel, the first Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel. The tunnel first opened in April, 1964, finally allowing people to travel across the mouth of the bay with ease. Prior to the bridge-tunnel’s construction, people traveled across the mouth of the bay on the Little Creek-Cape Charles Ferry, a ferry operated by the Virginia Ferry Corporation. Once the Bridge-Tunnel opened in the mid-20th century, much of the ferry equipment was sold and moved up the east coast to start the Cape May-Lewes Ferry in Delaware. Today, over 140 million vehicles have crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, and it stands as a monumental reminder of human ingenuity and innovation.

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