Jennifer Kiggans

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a co-chair of the Assisting Caregivers Today, or ACT, Caucus, to recognize National Family Caregivers Month. Every November, we bring awareness to the people who dedicate their time, money, and efforts to care for their loved ones. There are roughly 48 million family caregivers in the United States who give around-the-clock care for their family members. On average, caregivers across the country provide nearly $600 billion in unpaid labor annually. In addition to providing these essential services unpaid, more than three in four family caregivers spend their own hard-earned money to take care of their loved ones. These sacrifices often go unrecognized, so it is important that we, as Members of Congress, do what we can to recognize their commitment and ensure they have the resources they need. As the only geriatric nurse-practitioner in Congress, I have seen firsthand the challenges they face and the vital services they provide. I am proud to advocate for caregivers and policies that would make their already difficult situation easier to navigate. Today and every day, we thank those who dedicate their lives to caring for their parents, children, spouses, and other loved ones.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation contains consequential reforms that will significantly improve the lives of veterans and their families across the country. I'm very proud that my bill, the Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement Act, is included in this package. Known as the COPE Act, my bill would authorize the VA to award grants to organizations that provide mental health resources to those who care for our nation's veterans. Caregivers play a critical role in the lives of older Americans-- especially our veterans--and as the only geriatric nurse practitioner in Congress, I know being a caregiver comes with immense emotional challenges. By ensuring veteran caregivers can properly take care of their mental health, the COPE Act will improve the lives of our nation's heroes and solidify the support system they need to age with dignity. In addition to the COPE Act, this package also includes the VA Medical Center Security Report Act of 2023, which I introduced to increase veterans' safety and support police officers at VA Medical Centers amid an uptick in violent crime. Madam Speaker, I am the granddaughter of a veteran, the daughter of a veteran, the wife of a veteran, the mother of future veterans, and I served 10 years in the U.S. Navy myself. I'm blessed to represent one of the largest veteran populations in the U.S. in Hampton Roads. Improving the lives of our nation's heroes is, and always will be, one of my top priorities in Congress . . . and the legislation before us on the House Floor today helps Congress do just that. I'd like to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle-- Representatives Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Pappas--who joined me in originally introducing the COPE Act. I'd also like to thank Chairman Bost for his commitment to our veterans and for spearheading the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. I'm confident with the passage of this impactful legislation, we will move closer to fulfilling our promise to provide for America's veteran population and those who care for them. I urge all my colleagues on both sides to support the Elizabeth Dole Act.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a poem submitted at the request of a Virginia Beach constituent, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman of Temple Lev Tikvah, and is a reflection of his views: october 7 October 7 First anniversary for an old-new pogrom With Holocaust dimensions In a land deserving Shalom's program While pursued by ghastly ghosts It seeks to overcome Under the blazing sun that rarely forgives But dares not forget, Watching over challenged tender Saplings of renewed faith restored To a promising ancient home, Fledglings of hope sans the Threatening clouds raining Death for too long, To remove fences obstructing The view of hands touching hands, Hearts joining hearts, Buried dreams in the Sands of time and trouble, To yet resurface to quench The thirst of the conflicted Children of Yitzchak and Yishmael Who will learn to drink from The same to- be- recovered well That once brought life to Now a deserted tent. Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman is the founder of Temple Lev Tikvah in Virginia Beach. Kazakhstan's only born rabbi, he is the son of Polish Holocaust Survivors and spent his early childhood in transit and DP Camps in Austria and Germany. He grew up in Haifa, Israel.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of my bill, the Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm Act, nicknamed the BEACH Act, after the important role it will play in protecting our Nation's shorelines. The BEACH Act would allow us to carry on the mission of the Coastal Barrier Resources Act. Signed into law by President Reagan in 1982, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act bans most Federal tax dollars for development on storm- prone, ecologically sensitive coastal areas, helps conserve wildlife habitat, and maintains natural buffers against storms and flooding for coastal communities. Importantly, this commonsense law does not prohibit or regulate development by State and local governments or by private landowners. It simply removes the Federal taxpayer from funding coastal development in sensitive areas, which is a conservative, market-based approach to conservation. For 40 years, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act has not only protected millions of acres of beaches and wetlands along the East and Gulf Coasts, but it has also prevented billions of dollars in property damage from natural disasters like hurricanes and undoubtedly saved lives. Virginia is home to over 7,000 miles of shoreline, a large majority of which falls within the Second District, which I am proud to represent here in Congress. These coastal areas play a crucial role in the Commonwealth's cultural identity and economic success. In April 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identified nearly 100,000 new acres in Virginia to include in the Coastal Barrier Resources System. Keeping the maps in this system up to date is essential to reflect changes in barrier configurations, such as the ones off the coast of the Eastern Shore of Virginia; to identify new sensitive areas for inclusion; and to ensure the most effective conservation of our shoreline. I introduced the BEACH Act to approve these updated maps so we can make our coastal communities more resilient while maintaining fiscal responsibility and critical environmental protections. We owe it to ourselves and to future generations to take care of the world we live in. Responsible conservation policies like the BEACH Act are an important step in the right direction to accomplishing that goal. Mr. Speaker, I hope those on both sides of the aisle recognize the need for the BEACH Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8108, the Medicaid State Plan Requirement for Determining Residency of Military Families, that I introduced earlier this year to ensure servicemembers can maintain critical healthcare coverage and medical services for their children no matter where their service takes them. Americans with disabilities often need long-term care services to help them with everyday activities, such as eating, walking, medical equipment management, and more. TRICARE does not cover long-term care services, leaving military families with children in need of those services to apply for Medicaid. However, Medicaid is operated State by State, which puts individuals and their families at risk of losing services when they leave their State. This particularly impacts our military families, who frequently transfer locations as part of their commitment to serving our country. As a Navy spouse, mom of four, and a veteran who served for nearly 10 years myself, I know how hard these relocations can be for military families. Those who serve our country shouldn't have to worry about whether their children will be able to access critical healthcare services when they get to their next duty station. That is why I introduced the Medicaid State Plan Requirement for Determining Residency of Military Families. My bipartisan bill would guarantee dependents of Active-Duty servicemembers can continue to receive long-term care services through a State-administered Medicaid plan should their family be stationed in another State. Our men and women in uniform already sacrifice so much for our country. Their children should never have to forego critical care because of their selfless decision to serve. I thank Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for joining me in this important effort, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support our bipartisan legislation.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2228, the Building Chips in America Act, the Senate version of bipartisan legislation I introduced last year to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the United States. Last year, 120 Members of Congress signed a letter to House and Senate leadership urging its inclusion in the National Defense Authorization Act. Semiconductors go in everything from cell phones to innovative technologies that support American energy, powerful new AI tools, key weapons systems keeping Americans safe at home and abroad, and the list goes on. Despite this, the U.S. is home to only 10 percent of global semiconductor production. Thankfully, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act authorized nearly $40 billion in grant funding to reshore this critical manufacturing capability for which we have historically relied almost entirely on China. This monumental investment in our domestic industry has spurred companies up and down the semiconductor supply chain to start bringing new manufacturing projects to our shores. However, existing requirements by the National Environmental Policy Act, NEPA, threaten to delay semiconductor projects already underway and discourage future investment in domestic semiconductor manufacturing. A recent study from Georgetown University found the United States builds semiconductor fabs at a slower rate than the rest of the world. To put it simply, we cannot allow Federal bureaucracy to hold up critical CHIPS Act projects while the Chinese Communist Party spends billions of dollars to become the world's leading producer of advanced semiconductors. One of the greatest national security threats we face today is China's choke hold on our defense industrial base. We must be able to produce these components critical to our economy and national security here on American soil. Last week, I had the privilege of visiting Silicon Valley with the House Armed Services Committee. We did a field hearing there, and we heard time and time again the importance of expediting the process for building semiconductor chips here domestically. This was an ask from that defense industry in the Silicon Valley. The Building Chips in America Act would address this issue by clarifying how NEPA applies to projects that receive funding from the CHIPS Act. This bipartisan bill would ensure these projects can move forward in a timely fashion while still obtaining all necessary permits and requiring projects to undergo necessary environmental reviews at the State and local level. This approach streamlines our domestic semiconductor manufacturing without changing the environmental requirements and standards these projects need to meet. Mr. Speaker, I represent coastal southeast Virginia, which is one of the heaviest military congressional districts in the country. We know how to be good stewards of the environment without sacrificing our economy or our national security. If we want to ensure American economic and national security in today's dangerous world, we must reduce our dangerous reliance on Chinese supply chains and increase our domestic production of these critical technologies. Our military men and women need secure, reliable electronics to carry out their missions safely. Relying on adversarial nations that directly seek to undermine our national security is not an option. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation and allow our country to restore chip manufacturing on American soil, which we can do while maintaining our basic environmental laws. We cannot afford to lose this race with China.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record remarks submitted at the request of a Virginia Beach constituent, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman of Temple Lev Tikvah, and are a reflection of his views: On The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Palestinian award-winning author and lawyer, Raja Shehadeh is co-founder in 1979 of Al-Haq, the Palestinian human rights organization. The Observer loaded him, ``Palestine's greatest prose writer'' and the New York Times Book Review heaps praises as well, ``in his moral clarity and bearing of the heart is self-questioning and assistance on focusing on the experience of the individual within the storms of nationalist myth and hubris, Shehadeh recalls writers such as Ghassan Kanafani and Primo Levi.'' In his latest book with a challenging title, What Does Israel Fear From Palestine? New York: Other Press. 2024, Shehadeh, clearly a Palestinian patriot who was born in 1951 in the West Bank town of Ramallah, offers us a concise packed yet imbalanced perspective on the long and agonizing Palestinian-Israeli conflict that the October 7, 2023, Hamas's vile attack with terrifying Holocaust dimensions, has brought into sharp view with months of fighting and much suffering to both sides. The detail-oriented writer and activist is anchored in the Palestinian saga of loss and grievances going back to the pivotal 1948 victorious Israeli War of Independence which the Palestinians painfully regard as their Nakba (Catastrophe). Touching are the author's reminiscences of growing up in Ramallah with his grandma who was a refugee from Jaffa, ever missing her old home and inculcating in her young grandson an attachment to the family's past. ``For a long time, I was hostage to the memories, perceptions and attitudes of others that I could not abandon. My sense of place was not my own.'' However, following the 1967 War when he was able to visit Jaffa, his family's roots gained a realistic sense of belonging. The close physical proximity was a primary factor. Shehadeh blames the British for the turn of events culminating in the 1948 Arab defeat and the Palestinian debacle, pointing at the 1917 Balfour Declaration as the root cause, stating that the 1922 to 1948 British Mandate was dedicated to fulfilling the earlier declared British commitment toward the Jewish people. I believe that historians would beg to differ, regarding a gradual British shift in the Arabs' favor and manifested in severe limits on Jewish refugees before and after WWII and the Holocaust. Intense Jewish military pressure was created as the British Empire was disintegrating. The author claims that ``what happened in Palestine was the utter dissolution of a nation,'' notwithstanding the acknowledged fact that no such ``nation'' historically existed yet the Israeli Jewish narrative supported by the Bible claims past millennial Jewish life and creativity which is cavalierly dismissed by the author, ``Israel treated the Bible as a historical document and used it to back up the claim that the land had belonged to the Jews from time immemorial, having been promised to them by the Almighty.'' He bemoans the fate of the Palestinian Arabs, about 160,000, who remained in Israel and were ``forced'' to celebrate Israel Independence Day. Admittedly, they were caught in a bind but there is no evidence that they were coerced to celebrate Israel's national festivals. After all they have enjoyed the benefits of becoming Israeli citizens and significant progress of integration was accomplished though challenges remain in a complex scenario with serious security issues. There is evidence of growing Palestinization of Arab Israelis while polls reflect no desire on their part to trade their Israeli citizenship for an Arab one. There is no mention by the author of the 750,000 Jewish refugees in 1948 from Arab lands who left under duress, subject to pogroms and losing their belongings following centuries of discrimination. It is hard for Shehadeh to come to grips with Israel's success to establish a modern Jewish national identity, defined by him as ``Zionist colonization,'' with the revitalized Hebrew language bestowing Hebrew names on the rebuilt landscape that had carried Arab ones. He points at, a non-starter, proposal of his late father, Aziz Shehadeh, following the 1967 War, to use the 1947 Partition Resolution--then denied by the Arabs--for a Palestinian state. Abba Eban, Israel's legendary foreign minister, insightfully coined that the Palestinians ``never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.'' Indeed, the controversial Jewish State Law of July 19, 2018, caused understandable consternation among Israeli Arabs, exacerbated by the dropping of Arabic as an official language. Sadly, I share with the author, only 3% of Israeli Jews are literate in Arabic. That is part of an important discussion concerning Israel's better integration into the surrounding Arab Middle East while there are those Israelis who prefer a Western orientation. I suggest that both approaches ought be pursued tandem. The book's Part Two is dedicated to the Gaza War, 2023-4, triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas's massacres which the author thankfully condemns though seemingly impressed with the military aspects of catching Israel by surprise as Egypt did in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the breaking through the failed billion plus costly barrier, along with the heavy Israeli fatalities, casualties and captives. ``The brutality of Hamas's attack and the civilian death toll certainly cast a shadow on their military success. Whereas an occupied population has the right under the international law to resist, they have no right to commit war crimes. Still, this time the Palestinians did not fit into the role of victims. To the Israelis it seemed like aggressors who were challenging Israel's very existence.'' The astute Shehadeh is surely aware that Gaza was returned to the Palestinians in 2005 by then Prime Minister Sharon, followed by Hamas's forceful occupation and the cruel toppling of the Palestinian Authority there with no elections since the 2006 Hamas's ``victory''. He regards the Israeli response to the October 7 Nazi-like Hamas's massacres excessive, expecting public Israeli criticism as back in 1982 with the horrific Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon. The author though surely knows that the Christian Phalangists had a decisive hand at that time. Somehow, there is no reference also to Iran's leading role in directing its radical proxies, Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis and others, to prevent the near peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia with the successful foundation of the Abraham Accords. Also, the author's comparison of Israel to the once South African apartheid state is misleading. I wholeheartedly concur with Shehadeh's following assessment, ``Young Israelis felt secure enough that they planned a rave night on the border with Gaza. But when Hamas broke through Israel's vulnerability and insecurity were exposed. Israelis were traumatized because they realized they couldn't go on with their life in the same way, making the same assumptions about the reality of the state and its security. Unless, that is, they defeated the aggressor.'' I also share the author's own response to his book's title, ``The very high human and material cost of the war in Gaza proves that what Israel fears from Palestine is Palestine's very existence.'' Surely a Hamas controlled Palestinian state is not accepted by Israel for obvious reasons. I do appreciate Shehadeh's optimism concerning the future, ``And yet, looking back at the history of the region it is only after great upheavals that hopeful consequences follow.'' However, the central question and challenge remain, whether two separate and contradictory narratives can be reconciled for the future sake of both peoples. Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman is the founder of Temple Lev Tikvah in Virginia Beach. Kazakhstan's only born rabbi, he is the son of Polish Holocaust Survivors and spent his early childhood in transit and DP Camps in Austria and Germany. He grew up Haifa, Israel.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Smithfield High School Boys' Soccer team on winning the Class 4 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Smithfield, Virginia, the Smithfield High School Packers were able to bring the Class 4 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Smithfield Boys' Soccer team won the game two to zero and advanced to the state tournament. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young men to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Smithfield High School Boys' Soccer team on winning the Class 4 Region A Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record remarks submitted at the request of a Virginia Beach constituent, Rabbi Dr. Israel Zoberman of Temple Lev Tikvah, and are a reflection of his views: ``Prolific author, Salman Rushdie, with translations to more than forty languages and winner of multiple prestigious literary prizes, including the 2023 PEN Centenary Courage Award, rewards us with his latest publication, Knife (Meditations After An Attempted Murder). New York: Random House. 2024. He made news around the world when attacked at the Chautauqua Institution, in upstate New York, on August 12, 2022, by a would-be assassin who acted upon the Fatwa of a death sentence issued by Ayatollah Khomeini 33\1/2\ years earlier. The Ayatollah responded to Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses, which he deemed blasphemous against Islam. Poignantly and ironically, Rushdie was to address that fateful day on creating safe spaces in America for foreign writers in a project, ``City of asylum Pittsburg,'' initiated by Henry Reese and his wife Diane Samuels. The author's attacker was 24 years old and described by Rushdie as ``the A.'', referring derogatorily by the author to the vile attack, thus revealing his profound disgust for the attacker's both act and personality. Interestingly the author had a premonition in the form of a dream of being attacked two nights before the shaking event. Rushdie's overwhelming hurting, physically and psychologically, of the 27 seconds brutal knifing is captured in his inimitable style, ``He had reached his target, after all; his blade was entering his target's body, over and over again, and he had every reason to think he had succeeded in his endeavor and was standing on the stage of history . . . But then he was dragged off me and pinned down. His twenty-seven seconds of fame were over. He was nobody again.'' Obviously, the author's anger at his attacker who had sought to serve his God at the cost of his victim's life, is tangible. He did suffer from PTSD manifested still in weekly nightmares, and credits writing this book to his literary agent, Andrew Wylie's urging, though reluctant and thinking that his time as an author was over, while expecting the publication of his twenty-first book, Victory City. We are all better off for Rushdie's positive decision at a trying crossword. Losing one eye and enduring six weeks in two hospitals, he however retained his biting humor, ``Don't worry I'm the champion of draining fluids.'' Celebrating his ``return to the world,'' he likened his joyful leaving the hospital to becoming a US citizen in New York in 2016, though this time surrounded by tight security. Ever pondering the meaning of the knife, the tool through which he was expected to die, the meticulous author offers profound reflections on his own artistic knife that is no less consequential without cutting into human flesh, ``language, too was a knife. It could cut open the world and reveal its meaning, its inner workings, Its secrets, its truths. It could cut through from one reality to another. It could call bullshit, open people's eyes, create beauty. Language was my knife.'' Indeed, the author's heroic speaking truth to power before and after the ghastly attack that almost cost his life dedicated to the best in humanity, posits him with our revered teachers and sages uplifting humanity by pointing at its shortcomings. Rushdie reminds me of my late great friend, Eli Wiesel, winner of the Noble Peace Prize. Surely Rushdie too has earned it and/or the Nobel Literature Prize, for his immense contribution toward a sane world. Speaking on May 13, 2022, in the United Nations on behalf of PEN America on the writers' potential contribution in a troubled world facing the Ukraine war, Rushdie did not mince words, harshly criticizing Putin while praising Zelenskyy. He also expressed grave concern on the role of white supremacy in turning America back and backwards, the deadly attack at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue, yet aiming sharp barbs at his own birthplace India for its religious Hindu-Muslim wars threatening democracy. Regarding himself as non-religious, his deep concern is with religion's proclivity for violence and its need to remain in the private sphere. Reflecting on the September 11 Twin Towers attack, ``An aircraft could be a knife, too.'' He gratefully recalls deceased Egyptian author and Nobel Literature Laureate, Naguib Mahfouz, who opposed the Fatwa against Rushdie, prompting an Islamist terrorist to attack him on October 14, 1994, but he survived. This remarkable book's contribution-- testimonial by a great author and humanitarian is both a warning and a celebration.''

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Kellam High School Softball Team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Kellam High School Knights were able to bring the Class 5 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Kellam High School Softball Team fought their way to victory, defeating their opponents in a close game ending in a three to two win, and defending their regional championship from last season, defeated their opponents in overtime, finishing the game eight to seven. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Kellam High School Softball Team on the Class 5 Region A Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the First Colonial Women's Tennis Team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the First Colonial Patriots were able to bring the Class 5 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The First Colonial Women's Tennis Team fought their way to victory after five hours of play. Coach Diane Deaton continued to encourage her team, even when the odds were not in their favor, and led the team to a five to four victory. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the First Colonial Women's Tennis Team on their Class 5 Region A Championship win.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Ocean Lakes Baseball Team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Ocean Lakes Dolphins were able to bring the Class 5 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. Ocean Lakes baseball coach, Pete Zell, led his students to an eight to six victory to take home the regional championship, concluding an amazing season. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young men to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Ocean Lakes Baseball Team on their Class 5 Region A Championship win.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the First Colonial Women's Soccer Team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the First Colonial Patriots were able to bring the Class 5 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The First Colonial Women's Soccer Head Coach, Joe Tucia, led this talented team to a two to zero victory. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the First Colonial Women's Soccer Team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Grassfield High School Women's Track team on winning the Class 6 Women's State Track Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the Grassfield High School Grizzley Bears were able to bring the Class 6 Women's State Track Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Grassfield High School Women's Track team star runner, sophomore Sophie Ranbo, took home three top place positions in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and 400 meter dashes. Head coach, James Nixon, led this group of young women to victory and concluded a great season. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Grassfield High School Women's Track Team on winning the Class 6 Women's State Track Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Grassfield High School Softball team on winning the Class 6 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the Grassfield High School Grizzlies were able to bring the Class 6 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. They are a group of strong women who had a near-perfect record going into their state championship game. They have not won the regional championship game since 2018 and assistant coach, Larry Murphy, led these women to a four to one victory. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Grassfield High School Softball team on winning the Class 6 Region A Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Cape Henry Collegiate Girls Lacrosse team on winning the 2024 Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools (TCIS) Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, the Cape Henry Collegiate Dolphins were able to bring the TCIS Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Cape Henry Collegiate Girls Lacrosse Team defeated their opponents in overtime, finishing the game eight to seven. Coach Ashmore Standing received the TCIS co-coach of the year award, and her student, Madeleine Keogh, won TCIS's Player of the Year. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Cape Henry Collegiate Girls Lacrosse team on the 2024 TCIS Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Great Bridge High School Boys' Soccer team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the Great Bridge High School Wildcats were able to bring the Class 5 Region A Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Great Bridge Boys' Soccer team is undefeated this season, and goalie, Griffin Thomas, recorded a shutout in the net, and Carson Danner scored the game winning goal to secure their championship. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young men to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Great Bridge High School Boys' Soccer team on winning the Class 5 Region A Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Nansemond-Suffolk Softball team on winning the 2024 VISAA DII State Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Suffolk, Virginia, the Nansemond-Suffolk Saints were able to bring the VISAA DII State Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends through their hard work and dedication to their team. The Nansemond-Suffolk Softball Team is celebrating their fifth straight state championship title with their head coach, Brittany Thornburg, leading her team to victory. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young women to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Nansemond-Suffolk Softball Team on winning the 2024 VISAA DII State Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate the Greenbrier Christian Baseball team on winning the 2024 VISAA DII State Championship. As their Congresswoman, I am proud of these young athletes and their recent achievement. Located in Chesapeake, Virginia, the Greenbrier Christian Gators were able to bring the VISAA DII State Championship back home to their fellow students, faculty, families, and friends by their hard work and dedication to their team. The Greenbrier Christian Baseball Team has fifteen State Championship titles under their belt. In the beginning of the year this team was unranked and quickly became unstoppable averaging 8.9 runs per game. This reflects not only their athletic capabilities, but also their steadfast determination to excel. As a former athlete myself, I want each of these young men to know Virginia's 2nd District is extremely proud of their accomplishment and applauds them on their well-earned victory. Again, congratulations to the Greenbrier Christian Baseball Team on winning the 2024 VISAA DII State Championship.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome home the aircraft carrier, the USS Eisenhower, to her aircraft carrier battle group, and all of its sailors and marines home to Hampton Roads this weekend after an extended 9\1/2\ month deployment. The USS Eisenhower carrier battle group has been deployed in the Red Sea off the coast of Israel for more than 8 months in what was the greatest concentration of naval power deployed to the Mediterranean in a generation. The selfless service of the men and women aboard the USS Eisenhower led them far from home during dangerous times for a purpose greater than themselves. We owe them a debt that we can never repay. Earlier this year, I traveled with other Members of Congress to Israel where we met with different groups, from senior military officers to everyday Israeli citizens. I cannot count the number of times we were thanked for sending the USS Eisenhower to sit off the coast of Israel after October 7. The Israeli people truly believe that because of our U.S. naval presence in the region, countless lives were saved, and Hezbollah never invaded Israel from the north. Tomorrow, I will proudly watch four of the USS Eisenhower's squadrons fly into Naval Air Station Oceana with their families and look forward to thanking them on behalf of a grateful nation. It is truly an honor to represent these servicemembers in Congress and to fiercely defend their mission and to advocate for them and their families. As a former Navy helicopter pilot and a Navy spouse of an F-18 pilot, I know the uncertainty their families faced during this extended deployment, the milestones missed, and the challenges they endured. I cannot wait for them to be reunited with their loved ones. I thank all those serving aboard the USS Eisenhower and her battle group, and welcome them home.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recognize World Ocean Day, celebrated annually on June 8th. This day offers a valuable opportunity to celebrate our oceans, which are not only a source of immense beauty and wonder but also a vital component of our U.S. economy. As we commemorate this day, I want to emphasize the significance of fishing communities and the necessity of maintaining abundant ocean resources. They are integral to the economic health and sustainability of fishing communities and our Nation. The fishing and seafood industries plays a significant role in our economy at home in Virginia. In 2022, the Commonwealth of Virginia had 28,729 jobs in the U.S. Seafood Industry, according to the Fisheries Economics of the United States 2022 Report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These jobs resulted in $851,594 in income for Virginians and $3,519,973 in sales, inserting millions of dollars back into our communities. Fishing communities look different across the United States, but they all depend on healthy ocean ecosystems for their livelihoods. These communities form the backbone of coastal economies, and thriving fisheries help them provide jobs, protect food security, and secure cultural heritage and recreational opportunities for all Americans. The economic impact of the fishing industry is substantial, contributing billions of dollars to the national economy and supporting countless families and businesses. However, fishing communities face unprecedented challenges on many fronts. Pollution and other environmental challenges threaten the health of marine ecosystems and the sustainability of fish stocks, which in turn directly impacts fishing communities and jeopardizes their way of life and economic stability. At the same time, coastal development and the loss of working waterfronts are also making it more difficult for fishing communities to survive. To secure the future of our fishing communities and the economic vitality of our oceans, we must prioritize fishing communities and the sustainable fisheries that support them. This includes: Sustainable Fishing Practices: Implementing management efforts that prevent overfishing and promote the rebuilding of fish populations. Habitat Protection: Safeguarding critical marine habitats, such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, which support a diverse range of marine life, including fish. Pollution Reduction: Addressing sources of ocean pollution, including plastic waste and chemical runoff, to protect marine ecosystems and the species that inhabit them. Adaptability to change: Enhancing the resilience of fisheries and coastal communities through adaptive management strategies. Resilient fishing communities: Preserving working waterfronts and improving the ability for fisheries to avoid and recover from disasters. In recognition of this year's World Ocean Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding our oceans and the communities that depend on them. By working together to conserve marine ecosystems and achieve sustainable fisheries, we can secure a brighter future for our fishing communities and for generations to come.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I represent a district that over 90,000 Active-Duty military members and their families call home. As a former Navy helicopter pilot, military spouse, and now mom to children who serve, I am proud to be a voice for our military community here in Congress. One of the aspects I am most passionate about advocating for is improving their quality of life, particularly their living conditions. To put it plainly, housing for our single, unaccompanied servicemembers is abysmal, and it is completely unacceptable. In September 2023, the United States Government Accountability Office found a variety of living conditions were negatively affecting servicemembers' quality of life, such as sewage overflow, mold and mildew, broken windows and locks. I have seen it for myself and so has my staff. The week I was sworn into office, I took my entire team to Virginia Beach and drove them around Naval Air Station Oceana to show them the conditions we ask our unaccompanied sailors to live in. We visited condemned barracks and other barracks that were decades old and had very little maintenance and upkeep. We saw rusted bathrooms, moldy ceilings, and dirty carpets. To think of the conditions that we ask these often young, unaccompanied sailors to live in, I think of college dorms. I am also a mom to four children who are college aged, and we have done many college tours recently and visiting dormitories on campuses. Seeing the differences in where we are housing college-aged students and knowing what those kids do a lot of nights a week, and looking at where we are housing our unaccompanied servicemembers, knowing what we ask of those young people, it was a stark contrast and stark difference. Our young men and women in uniform put their lives on the line for our country. It is only right to provide them with the quality of life deserving of their service and sacrifice. It is infuriating to me that we have not provided better for them. Given the overall success of the military housing privatization initiative for military family housing and our current budgetary constraints, we need to think outside the box about housing solutions for our unaccompanied servicemembers. That is why I am offering this amendment to encourage the approval and development of privatized housing for unaccompanied servicemembers, like the ones we have right now in Hampton Roads and San Diego. We cannot allow bureaucratic delays and fragmented approaches by the different services to hamper our efforts to fix problems plaguing our barracks on bases across the country. We can and must work together to create better living conditions and housing options for those who serve. I want my children and their peers to be proud of their Navy just like I was when I served. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I represent a military-heavy district with five bases, and all of those installations have buildings that are in disrepair or condemned. I am shocked at some of the conditions I see on the military bases in my district. I drive around, and it is disheartening to see the buildings that are in disrepair, that are falling apart, and that are eyesores. I have driven in family housing where right across the street will be an empty, old BOQ building that will have the doors swinging open and the curtains blowing in the breeze from windows that are broken and refrigerators sitting with their doors ajar out in the hallways. These are buildings that are awaiting demolition that sit literally for years and are eyesores. We haven't prioritized demolition projects on these bases. When I think about recruitment and retention for our all-volunteer force, I worry about those impressions that we are leaving with other families, with our military families and Active-Duty servicemen and - women that are driving through bases. Not prioritizing military demolition projects has created safety issues directly affecting the quality of life and quality of service of our military personnel, their families, and surrounding communities. Poor conditions on military bases can hamper operational efficiency and readiness. Condemned buildings may restrict space for training, maintenance, and equipment storage. Lack of suitable facilities can delay operations, hinder training exercises, and impact the overall effectiveness of military units stationed on the base. My amendment would ensure the Department of Defense allocates additional funding specifically for the demolition of condemned buildings on military installations. If we recognize the importance of maintaining and improving our installation infrastructure, we can ensure that we don't deter potential recruits and impact retention rates. Servicemembers and their families may be reluctant to stay in such environments, affecting the overall strength and morale of the military community. My amendment would ensure the necessary resources are available to carry out the demolition projects efficiently and safely by reducing bureaucratic red tape and expediting the review and approval of demolition plans. It is crucial to address and improve these poor conditions to ensure the well-being of military personnel. I can't overstate that when we are so focused on recruitment, retention, and quality of life, when I get in my minivan and I drive around bases and see buildings that are falling apart, that are dilapidated, that have broken glass, broken doors, those are eyesores. I think of what kind of impression that leaves on a person who is a new recruit right out of boot camp who shows up on a base and drives through a series of these buildings that are due to be demolished, but we can't get that done. When we call, when we pick up the phone and ask base leadership, they say it is going to be several years from now. I have to look at that building or other members of the service and their families have to look at those buildings on their drive to and from work, on their drives to and from commissaries or to and from their jobs. We have to do better for our servicemen and -women. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to help make our military installations more appealing and safer for members of our armed services and to vote in favor of my amendment. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. KIGGANS of Virginia. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.