Friends,

Before we get in to this week's updates, I hope that all those who celebrated in Virginia's Second Congressional District and across the Commonwealth had a very blessed Easter this weekend! As President Ronald Reagan once said, "This is a time of hope and peace, when our spirits are filled and lifted. It’s a time when we give thanks for our blessings—chief among them, freedom, peace, and the promise of eternal life."

Honoring Our Vietnam Veterans

We celebrated National Vietnam War Veteran Day last Friday by honoring a generation of truly great Americans. More than 2.5 million men and women served our nation in Vietnam - including my father, who was an Army Green Beret. My dad taught me about patriotism and that freedom wasn't free thanks to the sacrifices of those who served. He took my sibling and I to the Vietnam War memorial to instill respect of service and those who had gone before us. He taught me that "America is the greatest country in the world and it is our duty to serve her when call on to do so" which led me to serve 10 of the best years of my life in the U.S. Navy!

Supporting Southeast Virginia's Kids

Last Saturday, I attended the annual ForKids Art Auction in Chesapeake to support the incredible work they do to provide emergency resources and shelter for families and children in Coastal Virginia…! Established in 1988, ForKids has grown to be one of the largest providers of homeless services in our area, and their reach spans 14 cities and counties in southeast Virginia! I am so thankful for the wonderful people at ForKids who take care of families and children by offering a helping hand. 

Navy League Congressional Roundtable

Last week, I joined my Congressional colleagues at the Navy League of Hampton Roads’ annual luncheon to discuss how Congress works to support our great Navy. We spoke about the recent passage of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 which funds our highest national security priorities, including the largest increase (5.2%) in basic military pay in over 20 years...!

Our military is critical to the safety and security of our country, and the appropriations bill provides significant funding for our Navy, our defense industrial base, and our shipbuilding/ship repair communities. This funding is crucial for the Hampton Roads community, and includes advance procurement for future Virginia-class submarines!

As a former Navy pilot, Navy spouse, and now a Navy mom, it is my mission to ensure our Navy is ready to respond to any threat anywhere in the world! Additionally, serving on the House Armed Services Committee gives me the unique opportunity to fight for our military in Congress. Thank you to the Navy League of Hampton Roads for having me!

State of the City of Chesapeake

It was awesome to attend the annual State of the City Address in Chesapeake last week!

During his address, Mayor Rick West spoke about all of the incredible work Chesapeake is doing to truly be one of the best places to live, work & raise a family! He gave us a thorough report of the city and some of the exciting updates on new projects and business developments for Chesapeake, as well as plans for a new health center in the Western Branch area!

I will continue to work for Chesapeake and Hampton Roads in Congress, but I know the City of Chesapeake is in good hands with Mayor Rick West and the Chesapeake City Council…! Keep up the great work!

Working for Southeast Virginians

Did you know that my office is able to help you with problems you are having with the federal government? We recently helped Jeff from Virginia Beach, a retired naval officer, with an issue he was having with the Defense Financial and Accounting Service. Our team reached out and was able to resolve the issue and secure backpay for Jeff!

If you are having trouble with a federal agency, my office is here to help you...! You can call my Virginia Beach District Office at (757) 364-7650 if you have concerns or need help.

Weekly Poll

With nearly 800 votes last week, 66% of you said that Congress was right to avoid a government shutdown and pass a bill to fund the federal government through September 31, 2024.

And now on to this week's poll question! Please click one of the buttons below to share your opinion.

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I want to honor the only female Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, Dr. Mary E. Walker of the U.S. Army. (MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: 1861 - 1864)

Mary Edwards Walker was born on November 26, 1832 In Oswego, New York. Mary was the youngest of 7 children and grew up in a household which was very progressive for the time. The women in the Walker household contributed just as much as the men and everyone participated in work on the family farm regardless of their gender. 

Mary and two of her older sisters attended Falley Seminary School in Fulton, New York. Falley emphasized the need for modern social reform in gender roles, education, and hygiene. These ideologies cemented Mary's determination to defy traditional feminine standards on a principle of injustice. Walker briefly attended Bowen Collegiate Institute In 1860, until she was suspended for refusing to resign from the school's debating society, which until she joined had been all male.

Mary always dreamed of serving in the medical field but was repeatedly met with roadblocks in her pursuit of this desire. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Walker volunteered to be a surgeon for the U.S. Army but was rejected due to her being a woman. She then decided to volunteer to be a surgeon for The Union as a civilian where she worked as an unpaid field surgeon near the Union front lines, including at the Battle of Fredericksburg. In September 1863, she was employed as a "Contract Acting Assistant Surgeon (civilian)" by the Army, becoming the first female surgeon employed by the U.S. Army.

On April 10, 1864, she was captured by Confederate troops, and arrested just after she finished helping a Confederate doctor perform an amputation. She was sent to Castle Thunder in Richmond, Virginia, and remained there until August 12, 1864, when she was released as part of a prisoner exchange. While she was imprisoned, she refused to wear the clothes provided to her, said to be more "becoming of her sex". Walker was exchanged for a Confederate surgeon from Tennessee on August 12, 1864. 

After the war, Walker was awarded a disability pension for partial muscular atrophy suffered while she was imprisoned by the enemy. She became a writer and lecturer, supporting such issues as health care, temperance, women's rights, and dress reform for women. She was frequently arrested for wearing men's clothing, and insisted on her right to wear clothing that she thought appropriate.

Laws at the time restricted any commendation or medal to be awarded to someone that was not a commissioned officer in the military which meant that Dr. Mary Walker was unable to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. However, President Andrew Johnson recognized the merit of her career and unilaterally awarded Dr. Walker the congressional Medal of Honor on November 11, 1865. However, this award was rescinded following the 1916 review of Army Medal of Honor Awards due to the fact that she was a civilian. 

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker was restored to the Medal of Honor roll in 1977 under the Carter Administration. Although this medal was restored to her posthumously, it was still a very important and necessary action to show appreciation for all of the men and women who served our great nation during such a tragic time. 

Dr. Mary Edwards Walker died at the age of 86 in her birthplace of Oswego, New York. She was buried at the Rural Cemetery in Oswego, New York and after more than 100 years is still remembered as an important figure who did everything she could to fight for the equal treatment of women.

Fun Fact of the Week!

The first Cherry Blossom Festival was celebrated in 1935, almost 25 years after the first trees were successfully planted around the Tidal Basin. This tradition was started by the 27th First Lady of the United States Helen “Nellie” Taft after the First Lady received a letter from American travel writer Elizabeth Scidmore suggesting the planting of cherry blossom trees in Washington. Taft even made the suggestion of making an avenue of the cherry blossoms. She later accepted an offer from the Japanese consul from New York City to plant 2,000 more of the trees!

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