Friends,

As the consequences of Hamas' horrific violence continue to unfold in the Middle East, I want to make one thing clear: I stand with Israel. Last week, I took legislative action to support one of our strongest allies and hold Iran-backed Hamas terrorists accountable for the brutal and unprovoked attack on October 7. Specifically, I:



• Cosponsored H.Res. 768, which mourns the dead and wounded in Israel, condemns Iran’s support of terrorist groups, and urges swift and full enforcement of U.S. sanctions to prevent further funding from falling into terrorist hands;
• Cosponsored H.R. 5917, which holds Hamas accountable for its use of human shields;
• Called for additional funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which provides funding to nonprofit organizations to harden and protect against terror attacks, including houses of worship such as synagogues;
• Urged the Biden Administration to take action to prevent Iran from accessing funds and sponsoring terrorism throughout the Middle East;
• Strongly condemned a statement from a student group at the University of Virginia which wrongly blames Israel for the horrific Hamas attacks, and;
• Pushed Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to expedite defense aid to Israel.

On Thursday, I stood with a large group of bipartisan colleagues on the steps of the U.S. House of Representatives for a candlelight vigil in remembrance of the victims of Hamas' attacks.

Additionally, on Tuesday, members of my team attended a solidarity gathering in Virginia Beach. I'm honored to be an advocate for VA-02's proud Jewish community and to continue on the great work Governor Youngkin has done to combat antisemitism. Hate and bigotry have no place in our community, our Commonwealth, or our country.

I'm honored to be a advocate for VA-02's proud Jewish community and to continue on the great work Governor Youngkin has done to combat antisemitism. Hate and bigotry have no place in our community, our Commonwealth, or our country.

If you - or someone you know - is a VA-02 resident requiring assistance to return home from Israel, please do not hesitate to contact me on my website or by calling (757) 364-7650. Additionally, the State Department has provided the following resources:



• Americans looking to contact the U.S. Embassy in Israel can call 1-833-890-9595 or 1-606-641-0131 or fill out the form by clicking here.
• The State Department is continuing to assist Americans with travel out of the country. For the latest updates, please monitor the messages to U.S. citizens from the U.S. Embassy in Israel by clicking here.
• The State Department is asking all U.S. citizens in Israel to enroll their contact information in their Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) by clicking here.
• Additional updates to the travel advisory for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza can be found as they are issued by clicking here.
• The Department of State has also opened its call center to assist with public inquiries to the U.S. Embassy in Israel; that can be found by clicking here.

Please STAY SAFE!!

Washington's Ongoing Chaos

Over the past week and a half, it has become crystal clear that those who voted to remove Speaker McCarthy did not have a plan to replace him. As such, the House has been paralyzed, unable to pass any bills or conduct critical business on behalf of the American people.

The working families I represent deserve better than this chaos. They deserve lawmakers who are committed to fighting the failed policies that have pushed the American Dream out of reach for them and their children. That is exactly what I will continue to do.

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Speakership and where our Republican majority goes from here, but no matter who fills the position, I want to assure you that I remain laser focused on what the 750,000 Virginians in my district elected me to do: govern. We must refocus, unify, and get back to work advancing the common sense, conservative agenda to get our great nation back on the right track. 

Strengthening International Partnerships

Last week, I had the opportunity to go onboard the Royal Navy's HMS Prince of Wales, which is visiting Naval Station Norfolk! At 932 feet long with a weight of more than 71,000 tons and the capacity to carry 40 aircraft, the HMS Prince of Wales is the largest ship in the Royal Navy's fleet. We received a tour of the flight deck, where members of the Fleet Air Arm (their Navy aviators!) explained the ship's capabilities and the exercises they're currently participating in with our Navy.

In 2022, the Prince of Wales had the distinguished honor of serving as NATO's flagship for the year, where it led their Maritime High Readiness Force. I'm proud that our allies take strength and deterrence as seriously as we do. After meeting these sailors and airmen, I'm confident they'll be able to succeed at any mission they're tasked with!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Countless lives have been touched by breast cancer; in fact, nearly 250,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year. Remember to check yourself at least once a month; if you notice anything unusual, don't hesitate to make an appointment. Early detection saves lives!

As a primary care healthcare provider and Vice Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, my colleagues and I will continue to work to encourage innovation, fund research, and search for a cure to one day eradicate this disease that affects so many people in our country.

Celebrating our Navy!

On Friday, October 13, the Navy turned 248 years old! In 1775, the Colony of Rhode Island sent delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia to request "a fleet of sufficient force for the protection of these colonies". On October 13, 1775, that request was approved, and advisory committee of John Langdon of New Hampshire, Silas Deane of Connecticut, and John Adams of Massachusetts, was formed, marking the birth of the United States Navy.

Since that time, our Navy has evolved into the world-class fighting force it is today.

I spent ten of the best of my life as a Naval aviator flying H-46 and H-3 helicopters all over the world. My grandfather served in the Navy during WWII, my husband spent 20 years flying F/A-18s, and my children currently serve.

It is the honor of a lifetime to represent such a large population of troops and veterans in Washington, many of whom proudly serve(d) at sea. Ensuring that our Navy - and other branches - have the tools and personnel they need to project strength and keep our nation safe is - and always will be - one of my top priorities as your Representative in Washington. Happy birthday Navy!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Dakota Louis Meyer (Medal of Honor action date: September 8th, 2009). 

Meyer was raised in Columbia, Kentucky, and graduated from Green County High School in 2006. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at a recruiting station in Louisville just after his graduation and completed boot camp at USMC Recruit Depot Parris Island. 

He deployed to Fallujah, Iraq in 2007 and served as a scout sniper with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. After being deployed for several months, Meyer found himself near the village of Ganjgal.

Corporal Meyer maintained security at a rally point while his team and others moved into Ganjgal for a meeting with the village elders. This patrol was ambushed by more than 50 enemy combatants using grenades, mortars, and machine guns. Upon hearing of the ambush, Meyer and another Marine drove a gun truck down the steep terrain to disrupt the enemy attack. 

He and his driver made three solo trips to the ambush area and evacuated two dozen soldiers on the first two trips. When a machine gun became inoperable, they switched to another truck for the third rescue trip. Despite a shrapnel wound, Meyer would go on recover additional wounded soldiers (along with his driver) and continue his search missing team members.

Meyers' bold spirit throughout this battle significantly disrupted the enemy attack and inspired his team to continue the fight. His courage and devotion to his US and Afghan comrades reflected immensely upon his personal character as a member of the USMC, and a citizen of the United States.

Corporal Meyer was awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on September 15th, 2011. It was presented by then President Obama at the White House. Meyer is the 2nd youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, and the third living recipient for either the Iraq War or War in Afghanistan. Meyer was born on June 26th, 1988, in Columbia, Kentucky. He is now 35 years old and remains a strong advocate for veterans.

Five Fast Facts About Virginia!

1. Virginia’s initial cash crop was supposed to be silk, but after a fungus wiped out the trees that the worms feed on, farmers switched to tobacco. 
2. Virginia gave birth to the states of West Virginia & Kentucky, both initially part of Virginia’s territory. 
3. Over half of the battles fought during the Civil War took place in Virginia.
4. Loudoun County, Virginia hosts data centers that cater to almost 3 quarters of the web’s traffic. The County has more than 10 million square feet of building space and more than 100 data centers. 
5. In 1983, scientists discovered a massive crater in the Chesapeake Bay. The 53 mile wide crater is estimated to be 35 million years old, and the inner rim of the crater is in the approximate area of the southern eastern shore of Virginia.

I am back in DC this week and will continue to do everything I can to get Congress back up and running so we can continue our work to fund the government and support our ally Israel.

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