Friends,

I hope you enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday weekend filled with friends, family, food, and the spirit of gratitude. We have so much to be thankful for living in the greatest country in the world...!

It was great to be back in Southeast Virginia for the first full week since August. After 10 weeks straight in Washington, it was a breath of fresh air to visit local businesses and touch base with people here at home in our community. Below are some of the highlights...!

Investing in Virginia Beach!

Heading into the week of Thanksgiving, I was proud to join Governor Youngkin and other local officials to announce DOMA Technologies' $3.7 million investment in their Virginia Beach Headquarters...!

Founded in 2000 by Pat Feliciano, DOMA Technologies has quickly grown into a powerhouse technology and software solutions firm with many clients in both the public and private sectors, including the U.S. Navy and the VA. In fact, their VA Private Medical Records program, which reduces the time to complete a medical claim from 24 days to under 12, has served over 3.5 million former servicemembers! As the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee, long wait times at the VA are something I hear about nearly every day. I'm glad DOMA's work is actively contributing to fixing this critical issue.

Their $3.7 million will bring 307 new jobs to our community, providing steady and well paying employment for Hampton Roads. Under Governor Youngkin’s leadership, our Commonwealth will continue to be a great place to live, work, and raise a family!

Looking Out for Our First Responders

On Tuesday, I visited Virginia Beach Fire Department's Harry E. Diezel Training Center where our local, Commonwealth, and federal first responders train for urban emergencies.

This large and comprehensive facility has the capability to train our brave first responders to contend with a broad range of emergencies they could one day be faced with. I was able to view exercises including searching for a trapped victim, incident command simulations, engine operations, and an EMT class. I also had a chance to meet with some of the recruits and instructors working and training at the facility.

The coordinated training between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 2 and the Virginia Beach Fire Department - as well as other regional partners - allows our first responders to be ready for any and all situations that come their way. Thank you to VBFD Fire Chief Ken Pravetz and all of the men and women of the Virginia Beach Fire Department for putting their lives on the line every day to keep our community safe!

Raising Awareness about Premature Births

Did you know that in 2021, one in ten babies in the U.S. was born prematurely? In recent years, critical advancements into understanding, preventing, and caring for premature births have been made; however, there is still much work to be done, which is why I recently joined fellow Virginia Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and Congresswoman Robin Kelly on a bipartisan resolution to recognize November as Prematurity Awareness Month.

Earlier this year, I joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of Representatives and Senators to introduce The Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act of 2023. This legislation ensures that critical research authorized by the original PREEMIE Act - which passed in 2006 - will continue.

This summer, the PREEMIE Reauthorization Act passed out of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, meaning that it is now awaiting a vote on the House floor. I'm confident that we'll be able to pass the bill soon; while we wait, we will continue to bring awareness to this important issue!

Supporting Local Small Businesses

Last week, I stopped by and visited several local businesses.

First, I attended the opening of Chico's Pizza in Virginia Beach's Town Center! I was honored to be a part of the ribbon cutting team and it was exciting to see another business opening in our city. Besides, we can never have enough pizza in VB…..!

I also visited the DroneUp team at their Lynnhaven Walmart Hub! For those who might not know, DroneUp is an autonomous drone delivery provider headquartered in Virginia Beach that partnered with Walmart to develop a scalable last-mile delivery solution.

In the last few months alone, they have had hundreds of successful deliveries, including medications and food items, which can be a huge help to parents, older adults, and those who are sick. It was fascinating to learn about DroneUp's cutting-edge delivery services and how they are making a positive impact for both businesses and consumers....next time, I want to fly the drone!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, we honor Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Alan Louis Eggers of the U.S. Army (Medal of Honor action date: September 29th, 1918). 

Alan L. Eggers grew up in upstate New York in November 1895. He attended Cornell University before entering the military in Summit, New Jersey. He was later awarded the degree of “War Alumnus” by Cornell in 1921.

Upon entering into the Army, he was assigned to the Machine Gun Company, 107th Infantry, 27th Division, and was sent to France during the first World War. 

During battle near Le Catelet, France, Eggers and three others became separated from their platoon due to a barrage of smoke. They took cover in a shell hole behind enemy lines, and upon hearing a call for help from an American tank, the men selflessly left their cover to defend the tank. In their charge toward the tank, one of the four was mortally wounded, but the other three continued on and rescued three wounded officers from the tank.

Sergeant Eggers, along with fellow Sergeant Latham returned to the tank to recover a Hotchkiss Gun, and used it to defend the position of the rescued soldiers. The men continued suppressing the advancing enemy soldiers for the remainder of the day before eventually returning behind Allied Lines with the remaining wounded soldiers and the Hotchkiss Gun.  

In addition to being awarded the Medal of Honor, Eggers was awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Conduct Medal (Great Britain), and the Medaille Militaire (France) among others. This defining moment in the Eggers' life required immense courage and - in the face of losing a friend - he was able to keep on and save his fellow soldiers. 

Sergeant Eggers was presented the Medal of Honor by General John. J Pershing on February 4th, 1919, near Chaumont, France. Alan Louis Eggers was born November 2nd, 1895 in Saranac Lake, New York, and died at age 72 on October 3rd, 1968. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. 

Five Fast Facts About Virginia!

1. The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, spanning 17.6 miles span (shore to shore), is the world’s largest bridge-tunnel complex. Its official name is Lucius J. Kellam, Jr. Bridge-Tunnel. 
2. On average, Virginia is affected by seven tornadoes per year.
3. Virginia is home to the oldest all male college in the country, Hampden-Sydney College, founded in 1776.
4. Virginia is considered the oyster capital of the east coast, producing over 40 million oysters per year.
5. In addition to the eight presidents born in Virginia, the wives of six US presidents have also been born in Virginia: Edith Wilson, Martha Jefferson, Letitia Tyler, Ellen Arthur, Martha Washington, and Rachel Jackson.

After a wonderful week at home, I'll be back in Washington starting this evening as we continue to work to pass our remaining funding bills and tackle the pressing issues impacting everyday Americans.

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!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District