Friends,

Saturday, August 26, marked the two year anniversary of the Kabul Airport Bombing, which took the lives of 13 American servicemembers and 170 civilians.

Please join me in taking a moment to honor the memory of the 13 service members we lost that day. From left to right, these heroes are:

Ryan C. Knauss of Corryton, Tennessee

Johanny Rosario Pichardo of Lawrence, Massachusetts 

Jared M. Schmitz of St. Charles, Missouri

Nicole L. Gee of Sacramento, California 

Maxton W. Soviak of Berlin Heights, Ohio 

Humberto A. Sanchez of Logansport, Indiana 

Rylee J. McCollum of Jackson, Wyoming

Dylan R. Merola of Rancho Cucamonga, California

Darin T. Hoover of Salt Lake City, Utah 

Daegan W. Page of Omaha, Nebraska 

Kareem M. Nikoui of Norco, California 

Hunter Lopez of Indio, California 

David L. Espinoza of Rio Bravo, Texas

We will never forget their sacrifice, nor the sacrifices made by those who came before them in defense our freedoms.

Women Veteran Task Force Roundtable

On Wednesday, I hosted a Women Veteran Task Force roundtable at Oberndorf Central Library in Virginia Beach...! At more than two million and counting, women are the fastest growing veteran population in the United States; in fact, within the next 25 years, one out of every five veterans will be a woman! We were fortunate to have a great group of attendees featuring representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Virginia, and the Wounded Warrior Project - as well as some of our local veterans!

As a Navy veteran, wife, and mother, I've lived many of the experiences and faced many of the same challenges that our roundtable attendees have. We discussed difficulties women face when transitioning from military to civilian life, starting a family, and accessing care and benefits through TRICARE or the VA. Hearing directly from not only our veterans service organizations (VSOs) but also the VA and local veterans themselves - especially in a collaborative space - is essential to identifying shortcomings and working toward solutions.

I look forward to bringing lessons and insights from our discussion back to Washington, where - as the Co-Chair of the bipartisan Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus - I will continue to work with my colleagues on the House Armed Services and House Veterans' Affairs Committees to pass legislation that benefits those who served our great nation!

Celebrating the Nansemond Indian Nation!

On Sunday, I attended the 35th Annual Nansemond Indian Pow Wow in Western Tidewater!

It was a great afternoon as I got to partake in the Nansemond Indian Nation's storied culture and heritage with fellow Hampton Roads Representative Bobby Scott and many old and new friends. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this celebration on your ancestral land; it was a humbling honor!

Finding Solutions at the Pharmacy

I spent Wednesday morning at the Kroger in Suffolk where I had a productive conversation with their pharmacy department about the challenges patients face accessing affordable prescription medication, especially our military members, their families, and our older adults.

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I saw a lot of the same challenges on the primary care side, and know how difficult it is when patients can no longer use their local pharmacy due to their insurance. In particular, recent changes to TRICARE have made life difficult for many servicemembers, veterans, and their families across Southeast Virginia.

After our time at the pharmacy, I got a tour of the entire store, which is amazing; it was definitely the nicest Kroger I've ever been to! I was particularly honored to be told that I'm the first government official they've had visit. Thanks to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules to meet with me...!

Touring Tidewater Tech

We're very fortunate to have the exceptional Tidewater Tech in our backyard! On Tuesday, I headed to Norfolk to meet with the men and women enrolled in their numerous programs and tour their facilities.

Tidewater Tech offers their students training to become auto technicians, welders, HVAC technicians, or to work in the construction industry. During my tour, I was able to see many portions of the instruction their students undergo, as well as discuss the positive impact that both the school and their graduates have on our community!

Trade schools and apprenticeships are a pathway to great job opportunities and careers for all Americans, particularly those who decide that traditional four year universities are not for them. These students will make immediate positive impacts in Hampton Roads while being employed in good paying jobs!

In June, I cosponsored H.R. 329, the American Workforce Empowerment Act, introduced by my colleague Congressman Brad Finstad from Minnesota. This bill expands 529 college savings plans to allow them to fund more postsecondary certificate and apprenticeship programs. Removing barriers to college alternatives is a critical step to ensuring a strong workforce and domestic industrial base!

Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class Lewis Albanese (Medal of Honor Action Date: December 1, 1966).

Lewis Albanese immigrated to the United States from Italy and attended school in Seattle, Washington. On October 26th, 1965 he enlisted in the Army and was sent to Fort Carlson, Colorado for basic training. Upon completion, Private First Class Albanese was sent to Vietnam in August of 1966 as part of Company B, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division.

In December 1966, during a patrol in Binh Dinh Province of Vietnam, Private First Class Albanese's unit encountered heavy fire from hidden enemy positions. Tasked with securing the left flank while others engaged the enemy, Pfc. Albanese bravely entered the concealed ditch from which enemy fire emerged. His actions with a bayonet silenced the fire, allowing the platoon to continue toward the main enemy position.

In the following phases of the advance, Pfc. Albanese found himself in a fierce battle within the complex enemy defenses of the ditch. Displaying exceptional courage, he advanced along the trench for 100 meters, neutralizing six enemy soldiers armed with automatic weapons. Despite depleting his ammunition, he engaged and defeated two more enemy soldiers in intense hand-to-hand combat, sustaining fatal injuries in the process.

Pfc. Albanese's extraordinary actions shielded numerous members of his platoon from potential threats in the ditch. His fearless bravery also enabled the platoon to succeed against a numerically superior enemy force. Pfc. Albanese's unmatched heroism and unwavering loyalty to his comrades epitomized the highest military principles, serving as a perpetual honor to himself and his fellow unit members in the U.S. Army.

Private First Class Lewis Albanese actions showed the valiant fighting spirit by going above the call of duty at the risk of his own life. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by Secretary of the Army Stanley R. Resor on February 16th, 1968. He was born on April 27th, 1946 in Venice, Italy and is buried at Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle, Washington. His Medal of Honor was presented to his family and is accredited to Seattle, King County, Washington.

Five Fast Facts About the Month of August!

1. August is named after August Caesar, the first Roman Emperor and grandnephew of Julius Caesar.
2. Though August is the 8th month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, it was originally the sixth month of the year in Roman times.
3. August is the hottest month of the year for the vast majority of the Northern Hemisphere.
4. August has two zodiac signs: Leo and Virgo.
5. The Perseid Meteor Shower, which occurs every year from around July 23 to August 22, is one of the prolific annual showers. It peaks around August 11-13!

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