Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 2nd District
On March 18, 2025, the Virginia Ship Repair Association was honored to welcome Congresswoman Jen Kiggans as the guest speaker for the General Membership Luncheon held at ODU’s Chartway Arena. A ten-year Navy veteran, nurse practitioner, and advocate for national defense, Congresswoman Kiggans brought thoughtful insight and candid urgency to her remarks on the state of the maritime industrial base, shipbuilding, and ship repair.
Opening her address with heartfelt gratitude, Congresswoman Kiggans emphasized the critical role ship repair professionals play in maintaining naval readiness. “You are the unsung heroes who keep our nation at sea,” she stated, referencing recent military operations in the Red Sea as tangible examples of the Navy’s global presence being made possible through the tireless efforts of the ship repair workforce.
She reflected on President Trump's recent Joint Address to Congress remarks about revitalizing American shipbuilding and acknowledged the announcement of a new Office of Shipbuilding at the White House. Calling it the most national attention the industry has received in 50 years, Kiggans stressed the opportunity to channel this momentum into lasting policy and investment.
Throughout her address, the Congresswoman repeatedly emphasized the need for more ships and stronger planning infrastructure. She cited concerns that the Navy’s fleet has stagnated since 2003 despite a decades-old shipbuilding roadmap. She also criticized the continued decommissioning of vessels without adequate replacements.
Kiggans outlined legislative actions she is spearheading to strengthen the industry. She recently co-introduced the Save Our Shipyards Act, a bipartisan bill that would establish a national commission to evaluate the health of the U.S. maritime industrial base. Additionally, she voiced strong support for lengthening availability durations and reducing burdensome government oversight in ship maintenance and planning, aligning with VSRA’s advocacy priorities.
Workforce development was a central theme of her message. She expressed frustration over recent federal workforce changes that impact skilled trades, especially early retirements and limitations on probationary workers. “That's the priority here, right? Workforce, Workforce, Workforce,” Kiggans stressed. She also encouraged VSRA members to contact her office for support on workforce or visa issues affecting their operations.
The Congresswoman closed by calling for a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to national defense and ship readiness. “It’s all about the people,” she said. “You have the people you need, and then the rest will fall into place.” Her visit concluded with a brief Q&A session, during which she addressed topics such as the potential reuse of recently decommissioned vessels and ongoing appropriations efforts.
VSRA extends our sincere thanks to Congresswoman Kiggans for her willingness to speak to our membership. We are grateful for her efforts to strengthening the maritime industrial base and supporting the men and women who keep our fleet mission-ready.
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