Friends,

November is in full swing! The U.S. House of Representatives was back in session, so I spent the past week in Washington, D.C. advocating on behalf of Hampton Roads in Congress. We spent a large portion of last week meeting as a House Republican Conference to elect the conference's leadership, including re-electing Speaker Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House. But the House still had legislative business to attend to and held several different votes, ranging from Social Security to the federal permitting process and federal student aid. You can learn more about these votes below...!

I will be back in Washington, D.C. this week to continue voting on legislation to improve the lives of Virginians and all Americans. Now, let's get to the recap!

Extending VIP Treatment to America's MVPs

As a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and primary care provider, advocating for our servicemembers, veterans and their families has been one of my top priorities since I came to Congress. Yesterday, I penned an op-ed in the Virginian Pilot on the need to do more to ensure our servicemembers and veterans can enjoy outdoor recreation.

I have seen firsthand the correlation between outdoor recreation and improved mental health outcomes. Unfortunately, for many Americans, access to those types of opportunities can be limited. Thankfully, Congress currently has the chance to increase the accessibility of outdoor spaces for those who need them most. Back in April, I was proud to support the House passage of the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act. This bipartisan bill ensures our public lands can be enjoyed by all Americans by removing accessibility obstacles in our national parks and at other outdoor recreation sites. However, the bill has been sitting in the Senate for over 6 months without any action...

Research consistently demonstrates that spending time in nature can reduce stress, alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and enhance overall psychological well-being. With almost two-thirds of all post-9/11 veterans experiencing mental health issues and 27% of all veterans living with a service-related disability, we should be going above and beyond to give these heroes every opportunity to lead healthy, happy lives.

The Senate needs to get this vital legislation across the finish line and signed into law...! You can read my full op-ed in the Virginian Pilot here.

Boosting Social Security Benefits for Public Servants

In today's Social Security system, many public servants unfairly have their Social Security benefits reduced despite paying into the system throughout their careers. That is wrong. Our police officers, firefighters, and teachers deserve to receive the support they've earned! That's why I was proud to vote in favor of H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week by a vote of 327-75-1.

The Social Security Fairness Act, would eliminate Social Security's Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) provisions, allowing public service employees to collect their full Social Security benefits. The WEP currently impacts approximately two million Social Security beneficiaries, and the GPO impacts nearly 800,000 retirees and their widows.

It is important we continue to advocate for our public servants, and H.R. 82 will allow them to finally receive their full Social Security benefits. I will always do everything in my power to be a voice for the men and women who have dedicated their careers in service to their communities.

You can read more about H.R. 82 here.

Launching the Virginia Veterans Network

Last week, I joined Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Secretary of Veterans & Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw in recognizing Virginia's veterans at the Hampton Roads Council of Veterans Organizations' (HRCVO) annual Veterans Day Luncheon in Virginia Beach! The Veterans Day Luncheon offered us the chance to recognize the thousands of veterans in Virginia who have risked their lives for our freedom.

During the lunch, we had the pleasure of announcing the new Virginia Veterans Network (VVN), and celebrating its launch with many local veterans. The VVN will serve as an online, one-stop information resource for the Commonwealth's veterans and their families. Users will be able to access tools with the Department of Veterans Services and well as links to assistance from hundreds of organizations. This incredible new state-run dashboard will ensure Virginia’s veterans have access to the resources they need at their fingertips!

Farewell Japanese Minister Ishigaki

Last week, I had the honor of celebrating Minister Tomoaki Ishigaki, the Minister of Congressional Affairs at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. at his farewell celebration! Minister Ishigaki has represented Japan in our Nation's Capital for the past several years, and I have enjoyed working with him to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Thank you to Minister Ishigaki for your dedication to Japan and to Ambassador Shigeo Yamada for ensuring Minister Ishigaki was recognized for all his hard work before he departed for his next posting. I look forward to working with his successor in the next Congress...!

Increasing Transparency at the VA

Every day, the police officers employed by the VA put their lives on the line to protect those who bravely served our country in uniform. To ensure the safety of our veterans, we must provide these officers with fair compensation, which can only happen if there is transparency from the VA. That's why I partnered with Congressman Frank Mrvan (IN-01), my colleague on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, to introduce H.R. 10105, the Veterans' Security and Pay Transparency Act.

Specifically, our bill would require the Secretary of the VA to submit an annual report to Congress on salaries, recruitment bonuses, and other compensation of all VA Police Officers. Not only will this annual report allow Congress to conduct oversight to determine areas where the VA can improve, but it will also increase the recruitment and retention of VA Police Officers and help ensure VA facilities are as safe as possible for veterans...!

In Congress, I will always work to make sure our veterans and those who dedicate their careers to taking care of them are protected. You can read the full text of the Veterans' Security and Pay Transparency Act here.

Weekly Poll

With over 1,300 responses this week, over 60% of you said that you are optimistic about the direction out nation is headed in... I agree! The American people made it clear that they wanted change, and sent a new majority to Washington to get our country back on the right track. I am excited to get back to work representing Virginia's Second District during the 119th Congress and deliver on the results you sent me to accomplish.

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 General (Gen) James (Jimmy) Harold Doolittle United States Air Force (Medal of Honor Action Date: April 18, 1942).

General James Harold Doolittle was born on December 14, 1896 in Alameda, California to Frank and Rosa Doolittle. General Doolittle spent his childhood in Nome, Alaska and was known to be a boxer. General Doolittle saw his first airplane when he attended the 1910 Los Angeles International Air Meet. At the outbreak of World War I, he joined the U.S. Army Reserve and trained as a pilot. He did not see combat, remaining in the United States and training others on flight and gunnery. In the interwar years, General Doolittle conducted a series of trans continental flights, obtained his bachelor's degree from the University of California Berkeley, and most notably helped pioneer instrument flight. 

After the Attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, General Doolittle was assigned to Army Air Forces Headquarters as a lieutenant colonel and was tasked with planning the first retaliatory air raid on Japan. General Doolittle requested and received permission to lead the raid which would eventually be known simply as the “Doolittle Raid”. The plan involved 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers, which were designed for land, to be launched from an aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet. The bombers would bomb Japan, and then land in China. General Doolittle and USS Hornet Captain Marc Mitscher launched the attack 170 miles farther away from Japan than planned due to the task force being sighted by a Japanese patrol boat which successfully radioed an attack warning. 

All bombers successfully launched from the deck of USS Hornet and bombed Japan with the exception of one which jettisoned its bombs when it came under attack by Japanese fighters. 15 out of the 16 bombers were lost due to crash landings, the majority of which were in China while the 16th bomber landed in Russia and its crew was interned until 1943. Chinese locals assisted General Doolittle in making it to Chinese Nationalist controlled territory. The Japanese, upon learning of Chinese assistance in the crew’s escape, are estimated to have killed up to 250,000 Chinese in retribution. Only seven out of the 80 crew members of the Doolittle Raid died due to combat or in captivity. General Doolittle believed he would be court martialed for the loss of all of his aircraft. 

Instead of being punished, General Doolittle was awarded the Medal of Honor in a ceremony by President Franklin Roosevelt on May 19, 1942. He was promoted directly from lieutenant colonel to Brigadier General, skipping the rank of Colonel. General Doolittle was given command of the Twelfth Air Force which operated in North Africa and was eventually promoted to Major General in November 1942. Throughout the remainder of the war,Doolittle held various commands across Europe.

After World War II, he went on to serve on a number of military boards and commissions ranging from officer-enlisted relations to Space and even advising the CIA. He retired in 1959 after 42 years of service. Doolittle was promoted to the rank of General and had his rank pinned by President Ronald Reagan and Sen. Barry Goldwater. General Doolittle died of a stroke on September 27, 1993 at the age of 96 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The city of Doolittle, Missouri is named after him. Multiple buildings and streets have also been named after Doolittle such as Doolittle Hall at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

Constituent Corner!

I know how difficult it can be to navigate the federal government... Recently, my office was able to assist Elizabeth from Virginia Beach when she was having difficulty receiving a form after she retired from the Department of Defense, and my office was able to help her remedy the issue within a week!

If you need assistance with your military benefits 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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