Friends,

I want to start this week's Debrief by wishing the United States Navy a very Happy Birthday! Our U.S. Navy has proudly served our country since 1775 - before its founding - and currently has over 300,000 active-duty servicemembers! Our Navy is the strongest in the world, and I am honored to have served as a Navy helicopter pilot, Navy wife and now Navy mom...!

I celebrated early with the Navy League of the United States at their Hampton Roads Navy Ball! It was exciting to celebrate the 249th birthday of our Navy with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Fleet Forces Commander Admiral Daryl Caudle, and so many of our local sailors who call Hampton Roads home! The Navy League Hampton Roads supported more than 9,000 members of the Navy and their families last year...thank you, Navy League Hampton Roads, for hosting this great event and for all that you do to support our Navy community...!

Now, on to this week's recap! I spent the past week visiting with Southeast Virginians and organizations throughout Hampton Roads, learning how I can best advocate for them when I go back up to Washington. Check out more details below!

Recognizing the VA's Dedicated Nurses

Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking at the 44th Annual Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) Conference in Virginia Beach!

It is important that we take care of those who so bravely fight for us and our freedom, and I was glad to thank the men and women with NOVA who dedicate their careers to those who served our country in uniform. In Virginia and across the country, nurses and caregivers play critical roles in the lives of our veterans. The time and effort these nurses put in each and every day for our veterans does not go unnoticed. Supporting those who make up our nation's nursing workforce directly impacts the health of our country.

After serving in the Navy, I used my GI Bill to go back to school and become a geriatric nurse practitioner. I am proud of my work caring for our older adults and veterans, and my experiences as a nurse help guide my mission in Congress every single day. I have introduced and cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation aimed at prioritizing our veterans and those who care for them, including the Caregiving Outreach and Program Enhancement (COPE) Act, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act, and the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act.

Nurses are invaluable members of our communities who truly understand what it means to serve others...I'm proud to be a voice for them in Washington! Thank you, NOVA, for choosing Virginia Beach for your conference and for your commitment to our veterans and the men and women who care for them!

Honoring the Lives Lost on October 7th

Last week, I also attended the United Jewish Federation (UJF) of Tidewater's One Year Remembrance of the October 7th attacks on Israel. Together with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, local leaders, and members of the Hampton Roads Jewish community, we mourned the lives lost on October 7th and called for the return of the innocent civilians still being held hostage by Hamas.

Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and it is important we stand together as allies against our common enemies. The United States will always stand with the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Hampton Roads' State of the Region

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Hampton Roads' Annual State of the Region! I enjoyed meeting with business and community leaders to hear their thoughts on how to continue improving our region. It was exciting to hear about all of the ways our community has grown over the past year, and it is always a pleasure to see the people that make Hampton Roads one of the best places to live...!

In Congress, I am proud to advocate for bipartisan policies that will spur economic growth and support job creators of all sizes - and their workers - so they can continue to innovate and invest in our communities.

Reviewing Hampton Roads' Bridge Tunnel Expansion Project

Did you know that the largest highway project in Virginia history is being completed right here in Hampton Roads!? Once completed, the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Expansion will make it easier to travel across the water between the Peninsula and the rest of Hampton Roads...! Last week, members of my team had the opportunity to tour this modern marvel and review the impressive work that is being done right here in our backyard.

Over the next couple weeks, the project is expected to break ground on the second tunnel, with an estimated completion of early fall 2025! Once finished, these two new tunnels will significantly reduce traffic congestion in our region and make Hampton Roads an even better place to live, work, and raise our families. I am excited to see the progress continue on this incredible project and can't wait to travel through the new tunnels soon!

Weekly Poll

With nearly 1,200 votes last week, over 85% of you said that the federal government should do more to help the Southeast recover from Hurricane Helene. Like so many Americans, I am saddened by the images and stories that are coming out in the aftermath of that storm, as well as Hurricane Milton. Roadways, neighborhoods, and even entire towns have been destroyed…the recovery process will not be easy. 

There have been many rumors swirling around the Administration’s seemingly delayed response, as well as its opposition to volunteer efforts to support recovery in Southern Appalachia. Unfortunately, many of the places hardest hit by the storm are still not reconnected to the energy grid, roadways, or internet, and communications throughout the region remain severely limited. As a result, it is difficult to know the veracity of these claims at this time. 

However, Congress will certainly play a role in investigating these allegations and work to find out if there was wrongdoing on the part of FEMA and other government agencies. The House Oversight Committee, along with the Homeland Security Committee, will likely be tasked with conducting this oversight. I look forward to following their actions closely and will keep your thoughts in mind if any related legislation reaches the Floor. 

And now on to this week's poll question...!

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week I would like to honor Medal of Honor recipient Private First Class (PFC) Jacklyn (Jack) H Lucas United States Marine Corps Reserve (Medal of Honor Action Date February 20, 1945).

PFC Jacklyn Harold Lucas was born on February 14, 1928. After his father died when he was just ten years old, his mother enrolled him at the Edwards Military Institute in Salemburg. He excelled at school, being made a cadet captain and was named the captain of the football team. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1942 at the young age of 14 by forging his mother’s signature and lying about his age. Despite him being 14 years old, he stood at 5’ 8” and appeared older than he actually was.

PFC Lucas served from 1942-1944 being stationed with various units across the country including in Florida, North Carolina, and Hawaii. On January 10, 1945 PFC Lucas,wanting to serve in combat, walked out of his unit and stowed away aboard the transport ship USS Deuel. The ship was destined for Iwo Jima with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. PFC Lucas was subsequently declared Unauthorized Absence (UA). He turned himself in to Captain Robert Dunlap the day before he would have been declared a deserter. Lucas was formally assigned to C Company under Dunlap and reduced in rank to private. PFC Lucas turned 17 just five days before he was set to land on Iwo Jima. 

PFC Lucas landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. The next day, he was part of a four man fire team navigating a ravine which led to a Japanese airfield. His team encountered 11 Japanese soldiers and engaged them. The Japanese threw two grenades at Lucas’s team; after spotting the danger, Lucas leaped over one of his fellow Marines, jammed the grenade in as much of the volcanic ash as possible and covered it with his body while pulling the other one in towards him. The grenade buried in ash exploded, which threw Lucas onto his back and severely wounded him. The other Marines believed him dead and left his position. PFC Lucas was discovered by another Marine unit who called for a Navy corpsman to render first aid. He was then evacuated to the beach and embarked on a landing ship that had been converted to a hospital due to all of the hospital ships in the area being full. 

PFC Lucas would undergo a total of 21 surgeries and would live the rest of his life with around 200 pieces of metal in his body, some of which were the size of small caliber bullets and was known to frequently set off metal detectors. Lucas’ record was expunged of the attempted desertion that he was charged with for stowing away in order to see combat on Iwo Jima while he was recovering and restored to the rank of PFC. PFC Lucas was discharged from the Marine Corps Reserve on September 18, 1945 due to the severity of his wounds and the resulting disability. PFC Lucas was awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on October 5, 1945.

After the leaving the Marine Corps, Lucas earned a degree from High Point University in Business and joined the United States Army in 1961 as a paratrooper with the intent of conquering his fear of heights. He served with the 82nd airborne division and survived a training jump where both his primary and reserve parachute failed. Lucas volunteered to deploy to Vietnam but was denied. After the military, he got married and had mutiple children. In 1977, Maryland Police informed him that his wife and son-in-law intended to murder him. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy but were granted parole after PFC Lucas pleaded with the judge for mercy. PFC Lucas died on June 5, 2008 from leukemia and is buried at Highland Cemetery in Hattiesburg, MS. On October 7, 2023, the USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) was commissioned in his honor. 

Constituent Corner!

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government, especially when it comes to receiving disability payments from the Social Security Administration. My office was recently able to assist James from Virginia Beach, and helped him receive the disability payments he was owed quickly!

If you need assistance with your passport or with another federal agency, my team is here to help. Contact my District Office at (757) 364-7650 or visit my website and my team will be in touch!

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 fall 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

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