Video: Rep. Elaine Luria Holds Press Conference on Jen Kiggans Voting Against Service Members and Military Families  

ICYMI: Congresswoman Luria Holds Press Conference on Jen Kiggans Voting Against Service Members and Military Families  

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – Today, former small business owner and 20-year Navy veteran Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) held a press conference with local leaders and veterans after it was revealed that Jen Kiggans took money from the predatory payday loan industry and then voted against a bipartisan bill that would crack down on exploitative industry practices that harm active-duty personnel and military families.

The press conference took place in front of the Republican National Committee’s “Community Center” for veterans in Virginia Beach, which was closed at the time. Click here for the livestream of the press conference. Additional video and pictures can be found here.

“Jen Kiggans took tens of thousands of dollars from a Republican PAC with substantial financial backing from the payday loan industry before voting against a bipartisan bill that would crack down on payday lenders that exploit our active duty personnel, veterans, and military families,” Congresswoman Luria said. “Whether it’s supporting a national abortion ban, refusing to say Joe Biden won a free and fair election, or taking money from a shady political organization and then voting against protecting our military families, Jen Kiggans has proven time and time again that she cannot be trusted. She will say and do anything to get elected, including voting against the men and women who put their lives on the line to serve our country.”

Kiggans voted against Senate Bill 421, the bipartisan Virginia Fairness in Lending Act, which caps exploitive interest on payday loans and expands access to credit.

After being asked by WAVY 10 about her vote, Kiggans abruptly ran out of the interview with the station’s microphone still attached. Campaign finance reports show Kiggans took $20,000 in contributions from a Republican PAC funded by the payday loan industry before she voted against the legislation as a state senator.

“There’s nothing that I enjoy more as a legislator than fighting for our veterans,” Virginia House Democratic Leader Don Scott said. “Jen Kiggans needs to explain why she took $20,000, our service members and their families, and then took off running when asked about it.”

Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia’s Second Congressional District, which includes all of Accomack and Northampton Counties, the cities of Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, as well as portions of Norfolk City, Hampton, and York and James City Counties. The new district lines will include all of Accomack, Isle of Wight, and Northampton Counties, the cities of Franklin, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach, as well as portions of Chesapeake and Southampton Counties. Congresswoman Luria serves as the Vice Chair on the House Armed Services Committee as well as on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and Readiness Subcommittee, the House Veterans Affairs Committee where she is the Chair of the Disability and Memorial Assistance Subcommittee, and the House Committee on Homeland Security. In July of 2021, Congresswoman Luria was appointed to serve on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. In 2020, Congresswoman Luria was elected to a second term. Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District has been added to the DCCC’s Frontline program for 2022.