Friends,

Last week was a hot one! I was back in Washington for the second of three consecutive session weeks before Congress' annual August recess.

It was a busy legislative week as I voted to reauthorize funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), introduced bipartisan legislation to protect the Chesapeake Bay, and hosted the House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman in Virginia Beach for a Veterans Service Organization roundtable discussion. Here are the highlights from last week...!

Investing in Safer and More Efficient Air Travel

As you may have seen in the news, the House passed H.R. 3935, the bipartisan Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act of 2023!

The FAA oversees every aspect of air travel in our country, from rules and regulations to pilot training to managing how planes take off and land. Like many federal agencies, they require their funding to be reauthorized every five years. When Congress drafts legislation to provide that funding, it gives us an opportunity to institute needed administrative changes to ensure that the agency is operating as well as it can to serve the American people.

Air travel has boomed in the years following the pandemic; unfortunately, this rise has been accompanied by a new set of challenges. Recently, we've seen unprecedented problems within our airline industry, from long wait times to pilot shortages to rising prices. I'm proud to say that the 2023 FAA reauthorization takes concrete steps to address these issues and ensure that the United States remains the global gold standard for commercial air travel.

Not only does this bill improve the safety and efficiency of travel, it also supports millions of jobs, boosts our economy, broadens the aviation workforce pipeline, and removes bureaucratic red tape to solidify our status as the worldwide leader in aviation. With its passage, we've made sure that flying in our country becomes a safer, easier, and more enjoyable experience.

I'm very happy that both sides of the aisle were able to come together on this important legislation and pass it on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 351-69. It will now go to the Senate and then the President's desk. If you're interested in learning more about the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act of 2023, you can click here.

Protecting the Beach and the Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is invaluable to Coastal Virginia. Our beautiful coast and coastal waterways feed us, fuel our local economy, and provide us with unlimited beauty and outdoor recreation options. It is without a doubt one of the most valuable natural resources in our Commonwealth and on the East Coast.

Last week, I joined fellow Virginia Representatives Bobby Scott and Rob Wittman in reintroducing the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement (SEEE) Act!

This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Chesapeake Bay Office and provides it with the required resources to restore the Bay, manage fisheries and habitat restoration, and provide opportunities for Americans to learn about the Chesapeake's ecosystem and its importance to the entire East Coast.

I'm proud to share that Senator Warner will be introducing this legislation in the Senate. We are so blessed to have such a beautiful home; I'm glad that my colleagues and I could come together in a bipartisan fashion to ensure we continue to take care of the coastal waterways that take care of us! If you're interested in learning more about the SEEE Act, you can click here.

Fighting for Our Veterans & Their Caregivers

In Hampton Roads and across the country, the VA Caregiver Program plays a critical role in the lives of our veterans. As a geriatric nurse practitioner who had the privilege of caring for our Greatest Generation, I know how important it is to get information about the program to those who need it the most.

That's why I joined Congressman Don Davis from North Carolina and Congressman Juan Ciscomani from Arizona in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Veterans Caregiver Application and Appeals Reform (CARE) Act of 2023!

This legislation will take great steps to improve many lives by allowing Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to advocate on behalf of our disabled veterans, as well as requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to employ qualified medical professionals to process and evaluate caregiver applications.

It's our duty to make sure those who served and sacrificed for our country receive the best possible care. I'm hopeful this legislation will be a stepping stone on the path to ensuring that the VA is fully equipped to meet the needs of every one of our heroes. Thank you to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) for introducing the companion bill in the Senate! If you're interested in learning more about the CARE Act, you can click on the picture above.

Nothing helps me write legislation that will have positive impacts on our communities more than hearing directly from the people I'm privileged to represent. That's why I was honored to host House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost from Illinois in Virginia Beach on Friday for a roundtable discussion with Hampton Roads veterans and VSOs.

We are blessed to have an extremely large and diverse population of veterans in Southeast Virginia. As a veteran myself, and as the Chairwoman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, it is my duty to ensure that every dollar the VA spends directly benefits our former servicemembers. It was incredibly valuable to hear from our local heroes about challenges they face and how we can improve the VA system for them.

If you're having trouble with the VA - or any other federal agency - my office is here to help. Please visit this link or call my Virginia Beach Office at (757) 364-7650 and my team will be happy to help...!!

President Herzog's Address

On Wednesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a Joint Session of Congress! It was an honor to listen to him speak about the deep and historical friendship and strategic partnership between our two nations. To use his words, "the United States is irreplaceable to Israel, and Israel is irreplaceable to the United States". In his address, President Herzog also detailed how important it is for our international community to prevent Iran from developing nuclear capabilities, something that he and I are in total agreement about.

The world becomes more dangerous by the day. Israel is our strongest ally in the Middle East - as well as the only democracy. Having deployed twice to the Persian Gulf, I have firsthand knowledge of just how important the country of Israel - and its people - are to the stability of the region.

His address came just one day after the House voted overwhelmingly to condemn the shameful comments made by another Member of Congress last week. I'm proud to be continuing the great work that Governor Youngkin and the Commission to Combat Antisemitism have done in our Commonwealth. Hatred and divisiveness have no place in our country and certainly not in Congress. I will always be a loud advocate for VA-02's Jewish community and the State of Israel in Congress...!

Telephone Town Hall Recap!

On Tuesday night, I hosted a "Telephone Town Hall"! Thank you so much to the over 3,000 Southeast Virginians who took the time to call in and ask questions or listen to the conversation...! We discussed everything from lowering drug costs to securing the border to improving our shipbuilding and ship repair industries.

If you couldn't join me, don't worry! You can listen to the entire thing by clicking on my picture above. I'm already looking forward to the next one (these calls are always announced in my newsletter and on social media); I hope to chat with you then...!

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant Major Thomas "Patrick" Payne (Medal of Honor action date: October 22nd, 2015). 

Thomas Payne enlisted in the U.S. Army on July 25th 2002. From 2002 to 2003 Payne completed his One Station Unit Training, the Basic Airborne Course, and the Ranger Indoctrination Program. He began his service as a rifleman in the 75th Ranger Regiment and went on to become a sniper and sniper team leader until 2007. He completed a specialized selection course for the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment and has served within USASOC ever since. 

Sergeant Major Thomas Payne has been deployed 17 times since his enlistment in 2002, and is still on active duty to this day. In his deployment on Operation Inherent Resolve, a nighttime hostage rescue in Iraq, Sergeant Payne led a team to clear one of the two hostage buildings. The team successfully cleared 38 hostages from their assigned building. Payne was in a secure and safe position when he heard his fellow comrades needed aid with the second building to be cleared. He exposed himself to the enemy gunfire as he made his way to the other building, while his comrades were entrenched in the engagement of enemy forces. 

Payne climbed a ladder covered in flames to reach a higher elevation in an effort to surprise the enemy. He engaged them with grenades and small arms fire. He then moved back down the engulfed ladder to reach the west side of the building in order to reach the hostages trapped inside. Heavy enemy fire greeted him at the main entrance and he successfully entered while enduring the smoke, heat, and flames. He made his way to the hostages and managed to find bolt cutters to free the people trapped inside. His bravery and determination freed 37 hostages that were left to burn inside the building by the enemy. In total he helped save 75 hostages that day while putting himself through automatic gunfire and extreme conditions from the fire. 

Payne’s gallantry under fire and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the United States Special Operations Command, and the United States Army. 

Sergeant Major Thomas "Patrick" Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Donald J. Trump on September 11th, 2020 at the White house. He was born on April 2nd, 1984 in South Carolina. He is the first living Delta Force member to receive the Medal of Honor, the third Delta force recipient, and the only recipient thus far for Operation Inherent Resolve.

Five Fast Facts from the Floor!

1. Only six presidents have been sworn in to office outside of Washington, DC.
2. The White House has six floors, 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, three elevators, and eight staircases, and it requires 570 gallons of paint to cover the exterior surface.
3. Washington, DC, residents couldn't vote for president until 1961.
4. There Are Marble Bathtubs in the Capitol Building!
5. Washington, DC, has more residents than two states: Vermont and Wyoming!

This week is my last in Washington before I'm able to spend a month back home in Virginia's Second District. It is the honor of a lifetime to fight for Hampton Roads in Congress!

As always, 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