Friends,

Before we being this week's Weekly Debrief, I wanted to take a moment and pay our respects to Virginia Beach Police Department Officers Cameron Girvin and Christopher Reese, who were killed in the line of duty in the early hours of Saturday, February 22nd. 

When America’s police officers put on their uniforms, they put their community over their own personal safety. Tragically, our community lost two of our local heroes when a cowardly criminal gunned down two of Virginia Beach’s finest during a routine traffic stop.

Officer Chris Reese (30) and Officer Cameron Girvin (25) will remembered for their passion for serving their fellow citizens and for their love of their friends and families. They each leave behind their wives – and Officer Girvin will be remembered through his unborn daughter, Paisley, who is due this summer.

The City of Virginia Beach, the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States of America will forever be grateful to these officers who made the ultimate sacrifice protecting our community. Their families will forever remain in our prayers. 

Fighting to Provide Clean Drinking Water to Chincoteague

Last week I introduced the Contaminated Wells Relocation Act alongside Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) and both Virginia Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. This bill would ensure that residents of Chincoteague, Virginia have access to safe drinking water free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination.

During the 1970s and 80s, the Navy conducted fire training activities on Navy-owned land on the north-central portion of Wallops Island (near existing Chincoteague Wells), using a common firefighting foam that contained PFAS compounds. Additionally this foam was used as recently as 1998, after NASA took control of the facility. This foam contaminated the drinking water wells for the town of Chincoteague, putting residents at risk of harmful exposure to carcinogenic chemicals in their water. As a result of the contamination, NASA has supplied the island with a temporary water supply and offered to reimburse the town for the cost to relocate the wells.

However, currently NASA does not have the authorization to provide Chincoteague with such a reimbursement. Our bill would simply grant NASA the authorization to provide funding to relocate these wells and keep Virginians healthy.

No Virginian should have to worry about the quality of their drinking water. Ensuring access to safe drinking water is not only good government, but it is common sense. I look forward to working with local leaders and federal agencies to ensure our communities get the necessary resources they deserve.

Honoring an American Hero: Moe Maurizio

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to speak on the House Floor to wish a very happy 100th birthday to a true American hero, Moe Maurizio, and help celebrate his incredible life! I've had the honor to meet Moe on numerous occasions at events across Hampton Roads and I can truly say that this World War II U.S. Navy veteran has lived through more our our nation's history than most people can even imagine.

After enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1943, Moe completed training in Hampton Roads in preparation for the invasion of Normandy. On June 6, 1944, he was a part of the first wave of troops to hit Normandy Beach on D-Day. Later in the war he went on to participate in the battles for Iwo Jima and Okinawa before being witness to the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay in September 1945.

After returning home from the war he met and married his late wife, Laura. Together they lived in Hampton Roads and raised a set of twins.

The above list is just a few of Moe's many accomplishments. If you have a few minutes, I encourage you watch the video above and hear more about this hero's truly incredible life.

Thank you for living a life of service and happy 100th birthday, Moe! Go Navy!

My Latest Op-Ed: It's Time to Address America's Nursing Shortage

On Wednesday, I published my first op-ed of the 119th Congress in Newsweek about my PRECEPT Nurses Act, which is designed to reduce America's nursing shortage....! My bipartisan and bicameral bill aims to establish a financial incentive for nurse preceptors, creating more opportunities for both existing nurses and nursing students and preventing burnout in our healthcare workforce.

You can read the op-ed by clicking here or on the image below.

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, I have experienced firsthand how our nursing shortages have resulted in negative outcomes for patients and caused burnout among countless nurses on our healthcare workforce.

While requirements to become a registered nurse vary by state, most states require several hundred hours of clinical training led by a certified nurse preceptor. Unfortunately, the financial and labor costs associated with serving as a preceptor result in nursing students unable to find the preceptors they need.

I am excited to keep working with my colleagues to pass this bill, address the nursing shortage, and ensure patients have access to high-quality healthcare.

Welcoming Virginia Beach Visitors to the Capitol

On Wednesday, my Washington, D.C. office hosted Men of Faith from Virginia Beach for a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building…! These young men are the next generation of leaders in our community and it was awesome to host them at our nation’s Capitol.

One of my favorite parts about being your Member of Congress is showing visitors from back home around their Capitol! If you are interested in coming up to visit Washington, you can request a tour from my office here. We can help arrange tours for the U.S. Capitol, White House, Library of Congress, Supreme Court and the FBI Headquarters. Hope to see you soon!

A Heartbreaking Week in Israel

I want to take a moment to mourn the tragic loss of life at the hands of savage Hamas terrorists. On Thursday, the world watched with tremendous grief and horror as the remains of four hostages were paraded through the streets of Gaza to cheers. After 500 days of horror, Hamas finally returned the remains of four innocent hostages including Ariel (4), Kfir (9 months), Oded Lifshitz (83), and another set of remains to Israel. 

Hamas initially indicated that the young boys' mother, Shiri, was among the bodies being returned, but again showing their depravity, forensic testing showed that Hamas had sent the remains of an unidentified body back instead of hers. Thankfully by Friday, February 21st, it was confirmed that Shiri's body was returned to Israel so she can be buried alongside her children as well as her parents who were killed on October 7, 2023.  

I am heartbroken by this senseless loss of life… It’s time to bring all remaining hostages home and put an end to the brutality of Hamas once and for all. The United States will always stand with our ally Israel. I pray that the families of those who were needlessly killed will find peace and that all those who remain in captivity are freed soon.

Weekly Poll

With over 1,100 responses last week, a plurality of you said that George Washington is your favorite Virginia President...! Perhaps to no surprise, Thomas Jefferson was a solid second place finisher. Regardless of who you picked, one thing is true, Virginia has had some awesome presidents who have called the Commonwealth home!

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

Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week

This week, I would like to honor the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Sergeant Michael Aloyisius Donaldson of the U.S. Army (Medal of Honor action date: October 14, 1918). 

Sergeant Donaldson was born on January 16th, 1884 in Haverstraw, New York. After the onset of World War I, he joined the U.S. army as a member of the Irish-American 165th Infantry Regiment. This regiment, originally nicknamed the “Fighting Irish,” can be traced back all the way to 1775. This regiment served in the Civil War, the Spanish-American War, the Mexican Border dispute of 1916, World War I, and World War II.

On October 14, 1918, while deployed in St. Georges, France, Donaldson’s advancing regiment came under heavy fire by a machine gun placed atop a hill. After coming under fire, Donaldson and the regiment took cover in a roadway ditch to regroup and reorganize. During the retreat, several Americans were left wounded on the hill close to enemy lines. 

Of his own volition, in broad daylight and under direct observation of the enemy and with utter disregard for his own safety, he advanced to the crest of the hill, rescued one of his wounded comrades, and returned under withering fire to his own lines. He returned to the hill five more times, successfully rescuing his six injured comrades. 

For his heroic actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor by Major General Robert Lee Bullard at Fort Jay in Governor’s Island, New York. Additionally Donaldson received decorations from France and Montenegro and participated in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne and Defensive Sector campaigns. He died on April 12, 1970 and is buried at St. Peter’s Cemetery in New York.

Constituent Corner

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government. Recently, my office was able to assist Jose from Virginia Beach resolve an issue he was having with the Social Security Administration. After he reached out to my office, we were able to help him get his birthdate updated so he could enroll in Medicare!

If you need assistance with 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, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn pages (linked below) to stay up to date!

If you or your family are visiting Washington, DC in the coming months, please stop by to say hello!

Take care,

Jen A. Kiggans

Congresswoman, Virginia's Second District

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