| A Virginia Beach veteran who served 21 years in the Navy is sounding off on Congresswoman Jen Kiggans for voting for devastating cuts that are hurting her own community.
Writing in the Virginian-Pilot, the local veteran says that “Kiggans has stripped her constituents of the hope that is the American dream.” They call out Kiggans for supporting deep cuts to the VA, pointing out that “Kiggans stands by as nearly 30,000 VA jobs have been eliminated this past year” and stressing that “cut after cut after cut has led to longer wait times at VA clinics.”
The veteran ends his column with a plea for Kiggans to stop hurting veterans, writing: “Rep. Kiggans, I’m asking you, veteran to veteran, stop cutting our health care, stop selling us out so that billionaires can have another tax break. Hoo Yah!”
Read the column for yourself:
The Virginian-Pilot: Column: Our veterans deserve more from Rep. Kiggans
By Ken Sutton, Virginia Beach Navy Veteran | 2/9/26
- I am a proud Navy veteran who served our country for more than 20 years, including overseas service during the Vietnam War. Enlisting in the Navy transformed my life, giving me purpose, stability and a deep belief in what this country could be. My service shaped who I am, and it’s why I’m proud to call Virginia Beach home, a community built by military and veteran families who understand sacrifice, duty and looking out for one another.
- This past year, Virginians have experienced an attack not just on our federal government, but on our entire way of life. These range from the DOGE cuts that stripped lifelong civil servants of their jobs, to Medicaid and SNAP cuts that have left families scrambling to access necessities of life, to cuts to Veterans Affairs — all to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.
- Today, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans has stripped her constituents of the hope that is the American dream. By voting in lockstep with this administration, she has thrown her constituents under the bus and hung her fellow veterans out to dry. Cut after cut after cut has led to longer wait times at VA clinics, terrified families as they seek Medicaid for their loved ones, and more. More than 47,000 Virginia veterans rely on Medicaid.
- Virginia has one of the highest veteran populations in the country and one of the highest populations of civilian federal employees, The federal government is the biggest employer of veterans leaving active duty. So when Kiggans dismisses the work of civil servants, she’s also dismissing the work of veterans. When she makes cuts to a vital program such as SNAP, she’s cutting benefits for a young seaman’s family.
- When I enlisted in the Navy, I was eager to serve my country. In those 21 years, I had the honor of serving with folks who have not fared as well as I have upon entering civilian life. Some have wounds you can see, while others suffer in silence, afraid to seek help, resulting in a staggering suicide rate among veterans at double the national average. For those who need routine care, lines are getting longer; Kiggans stands by as nearly 30,000 VA jobs have been eliminated this past year.
- The care for military and veteran families is not a zero-sum game. Kiggans cannot claim to support her fellow veterans, then vote to cut their care. When we took our oath, it was a contract with our homeland that we would be cared for beyond our call of duty.
- My last duty station was here in Virginia Beach, and when I retired, I stayed here because of the quality of life it provided for my family and other veterans. There is a shared camaraderie here, unlike anywhere else in the world. I think Kiggans knows what I’m referring to; it’s likely why her family stayed here, too. But she has repeatedly proven that her service stopped when she stepped out of uniform. Unfortunately, a shared history is not enough for her to remember the needs of her fellow veterans.
- I am not shocked by the cruelty of this administration, but I’m disappointed in Kiggans’ failure to remember her own humanity in dealing with her fellow citizens. As prices continue to rise, and health care falls by the wayside, it’s unclear to me what her priorities are.
- Our veterans deserve a representative who will serve our community with the dignity and respect we deserve. Rep. Kiggans, I’m asking you, veteran to veteran, stop cutting our health care, stop selling us out so that billionaires can have another tax break. Hoo Yah!
|
