Friends,

Welcome back to another weekly debrief! I hope you had a safe and happy Fourth of July celebrating America's 248th Birthday...! I am proud to be an American and am forever grateful to those who have defended our freedoms so that we could live in the best country ever. I spent the last week in Hampton Roads with family and friends, but am in Washington this week to be a voice for Virginia's Second Congressional District!

Advocating for Men and Women in Uniform

Last week, I participated in a roundtable discussion at U.S. Fleet Forces command with a number of my colleagues about how we can coordinate local, state, and federal partnerships to improve quality of life for our service members in Hampton Roads! During this meeting, we discussed plans to continue to invest in our military operations and infrastructure in the region. One of the major topics was the announcement of a new parking garage that will be constructed near Huntington Ingalls in Newport News for use by our service members who are attached to the shipyard. This was an item specifically identified by sailors through a survey conducted by the Navy about issues of importance to them in the Newport News area.

We also discussed the important role that the City of Virginia Beach plays in our military landscape within the region and what improvements can be made to set the Navy up for future success! One way we accomplish this is to present a strategic vision for NAS Oceana's future mission and continue to advocate for stationing of future strike fighter platforms here! It was very productive to have everyone in one room discussing the pressing issues our military faces and how continued collaboration can lead to positive outcomes for sailors and their families.

Pictured above (left to right): Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones, Congressmen Bobby Scott (VA-03), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Adm. Daryl Caudle, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Meredith Berger, Virginia Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02), and Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer.

Southeast Virginia is the backbone of our Navy, and I am proud to advocate for our Navy and our other military branches in Congress as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. As a former Navy helicopter pilot, military spouse, and mother to children who serve, I will do everything in my power to support our men and women in uniform! Thank you to Adm. Daryl Caudle and U.S. Fleet Forces for hosting us and for prioritizing taking care of our military men and women and their families!

$5 Million Grant for Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail!

I was proud to announce last week that the City of Suffolk has been awarded a grant from the Department of Transportation (DoT) in the amount of $5,319,360...! I sent a letter of support for this project to the DoT on February 22, 2024. The grant will go towards enhancements and construction of the Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail, which serves as part of a larger trail system to include the Beaches to Bluegrass Trail, South Hampton Roads Trail, East Coast Greenway Trail, and the Birthplace of America Trail.

As a primary care provider, I know the outdoors can offer people a wealth of health benefits, especially when it comes to mental health. It’s only right for our hard-earned taxpayer dollars to get returned to our community, and I look forward to seeing this funding expand access to outdoor recreation opportunities for Suffolk residents...!

Specifically, this funding will be put towards the engineering design, right-of-way, and construction for the approximate 2.2-mile Suffolk Seaboard Coastline Trail Segment 3C (pictured above). This trail will go from the northern terminus of Segment 3B to Nansemond River High School, completing the gap between Segments 3A and 3B, consisting of an asphalt path with gravel shoulders and approximately 1,800-feet of the alignment will consist of a raised boardwalk to over wooded wetlands. 

Looking to the Future of NAS Oceana!

Last week, the Virginia Beach City Council passed a resolution to encourage the U.S. Navy to assign the next generation strike fighter to Naval Air Station Oceana. When a crisis arises in the world, our Navy from Hampton Roads is the first to respond. As a naval aviator who is married to a naval aviator, I believe that it's time to look to the future of NAS Oceana's strategic mission and work to bring the military's newest aircraft to Hampton Roads.

With new platforms and technology comes a new mission and additional resources to support it. This has fueled my advocacy efforts as NAS Oceana is in need of long overdue funding to support critical upgrades and revitalize the installation.

Virginia Beach is honored to be home to the U.S. Navy's East Coast Master Jet Base, and this resolution shows the Navy that Virginia Beach is invested in keeping Naval Aviation at the forefront of our community. I was pleased to speak in favor of this resolution at the City Council meeting last week. You can view my remarks here or above.

AARP Telephone Town Hall this Week!

This week, I will be participating in a Telephone Town Hall with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). We will be discussing the importance of family caregiving and the resources available to patients, their families, and healthcare professionals.

As a geriatric nurse practitioner who has had the privilege of caring for our Greatest Generation, I will always advocate for our seniors in Congress. I am excited to talk with you all this week about what I am doing in Washington to make seniors' and their families' lives easier. You can tune in here on Tuesday, July 9, at 6 PM. Hope to talk to you then!

More than $3.2 Million Recovered for VA-02!

We're officially over 75% of the way through the 118th Congress...! I am proud to be your voice in Congress and assist Virginians when they are having trouble with federal agencies. Since coming to Washington in January of 2021, my office has helped more than 2,800 Coastal Virginians navigate the federal government, returning more than $3.2 million back to individuals in Virginia's Second District.

From the working with the post office, to securing passports, to assisting with the Department of Defense, my office is here to help. If you require assistance, please contact my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 or visit our website at here. It's an honor to represent you!

Weekly Poll

With more than 900 votes last week, more than 60% of you said that the Fourth of July has gotten more expensive for you over the past several years…! I agree with you which is why I am committed to working on Congress to tackle inflation that is crippling the American people!

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 Private First Class, William (Bill) Kenzo Nakamura (Medal of Honor Action Date: July 4, 1944). 

William Kenzo Nakamura was born in Seattle Washington’s Japantown on January 21, 1922. Growing up he went by Bill at school and in the neighborhood, but at home was called Kenzo. After graduating from high school, William attended the University of Washington, living in the University Students Club, a fraternal association for Japanese-American students.

Following the onset of World War II, Nakamura’s family was interned in Minidoka in Idaho, after the signing of Executive Order 9066, by President Roosevelt. Despite this fact, Bill and his brother volunteered to join the Army in July of 1943. They joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, composed mainly of Japanese Americans. After basic training in Mississippi, they were deployed to Europe to combat the Nazis.

On July 4, 1944, during a crucial battle near Castellina, Italy, Nakamura’s bravery saved his platoon twice in a single day. Early in the battle, he fearlessly approached and disabled an enemy machine gun nest with grenades, enabling his unit to advance. Later that day, his platoon came under fire by another machine gun nest. With disregard for his own life, Nakamura attacked the enemy position, providing cover for his comrades’ retreat under heavy enemy fire. He was killed in action defending the lives of his platoon.

He was initially awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously after the end of the war. A 1990s review of service records for Asian Americans who received the Distinguished Service Cross during World War II led to Nakamura's award being upgraded to the Medal of Honor. In a ceremony at the White House on June 21, 2000, his surviving family was presented with his Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton. Twenty-one other Asian Americans also received the medal during the ceremony, all but seven of them posthumously.



Following his death at 22, Nakamura was laid to rest at Evergreen-Washelli Memorial Park in Seattle. In tribute to his heroism, the United States Courthouse in downtown Seattle is named in his honor. His memory is also honored at the University of Washington with a Medal of Honor memorial, standing as a tribute to his courage and sacrifice alongside other alumni who received the nation's highest military honor.

Fun Fact of the Week!

This past Thursday was Independence Day! On July 4, 1776 (248 years ago), the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. Later that summer, on August 2nd, a majority of the Congress’s delegates signed the document. The Fourth of July serves as a national celebration that reminds us to be thankful for the liberties and inalienable rights we enjoy every day. Despite this, July 4th was not an official federal holiday until almost 100 years after the adoption–in 1870! Today, the nation spends nearly $2.7 billion on fireworks each year. I hope you had a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July…! 

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