Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) has quickly established herself as one of Congress’s most effective lawmakers, with her support for clean energy initiatives bringing substantial economic benefits to Virginia and beyond.
Recently recognized among the top five most effective freshman members in the 118th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, Kiggans has demonstrated her commitment to results-driven legislation that creates jobs while supporting energy independence.
According to the report, “Every member on this list had at least one of their sponsored bills become law, or at least had the language from one of their sponsored bills substantially incorporated into another measure that ultimately became law. Given that ten of these 12 Representatives were reelected to the 119th Congress, and that research suggests that performance in a legislator’s freshman term is highly correlated with subsequent lawmaking effectiveness, as well as with their overall career trajectory, we might expect to see these Representatives continuing to be effective lawmakers and setting the agendas of the Democratic and Republican parties in the future.”
Rep. Kiggans introduced 32 pieces of legislation and cosponsored 350. “From day one, Rep. Jen Kiggans has worked hard to deliver bipartisan, commonsense solutions for Virginians,” said Maureen O’Toole, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “Being named one of the most effective lawmakers in the House highlights Kiggans’ commitment to her constituents and is why they’ll send her back to Congress next fall.”
Notably, Rep. Kiggans contributed to:
- The Building Chips in America Act, which sought to spur domestic microchip manufacturing, became law in October 2024.
- The Bolstering Ecosystems Against Coastal Harm (BEACH) Act, which sought to preserve Virginia’s coastlines, became law in November 2024.
- The Military and Veterans in Parks (MVP) Act, which sought to increase access to national parks and other public lands for disabled veterans, was included in the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences (EXPLORE) Act that became law in January 2025.
More recently, Rep. Kiggans has also advocated for the preservation of clean energy tax credits. In March, she joined twenty other Republican House members in a letter to U.S. Representative Jason Smith (MO-8), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, highlighting “the importance of prioritizing energy affordability for American families and keeping on our current path to energy dominance.” She also testified on the topic before the House Ways and Means Committee, pointing out that the state has attracted $445 million in private investments supported by those tax credits. By 2035, she noted, renewable energy investments are estimated to add $37 billion to the state’s economy.
Her support for renewables aligns with the best interests of her district, according to an op-ed published in The Virginian-Pilot. Heather Reams, president of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, wrote, “Kiggans’ district, situated along the Virginia coast, is uniquely equipped to reap the benefits of clean energy investments, with offshore wind projects expected to power 660,000 homes and support the modernization of the power grid at Naval Air Station Oceana, the home of the U.S. Navy’s East Coast fighter jet squadrons. This Virginia Beach base serves as a critical launch point for America’s naval air power, enabling a rapid response to global threats and safeguarding our national security.”
As a former Navy helicopter pilot, Rep. Kiggans understands the national security implications of energy independence. Her support for an all-of-the-above energy approach balances immediate needs with long-term infrastructure development. “I am proud to support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that will restore our energy independence, lower energy costs for Virginians, and ensure the United States can continue to be the global leader in reducing emissions,” she wrote in a recent energy update on her website.
As she continues her second term in Congress, Rep. Kiggans remains focused on what she describes as “meaningful legislation, civility, and competence” – qualities that have helped position Virginia at the forefront of America’s clean energy economy.
This article was created on April 9, 2025 with the assistance of the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool Claude 3.7 Sonnet, using the linked company websites, press releases, reports, or external media coverage as inputted source material. It was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by one or more team members to ensure factual accuracy and consistency with editorial standards before publication.
While we strive for precision, reliability, and quality, readers should be aware that AI-generated content may have limitations in contextual awareness and nuance and may not be completely unbiased, consistent, error-free, or up-to-date. We recommend using this content only for informational purposes, as well as independently verifying it or conducting further research to supplement it. If you notice any inaccuracies or have concerns about this content, please contact our research manager at greg@consensus-digital.com.
