{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://kiggans.house.gov/2026/08/27/kiggans-welcomes-transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-to-norfolk-international-airport/", "Kiggans Welcomes Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to Norfolk International Airport", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Jennifer A. Kiggans", "K000399", "kiggans.house.gov", "kiggans", "https://kiggans.house.gov/feed/", "scraper", "NORFOLK, VA \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) was joined by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy for a visit to Norfolk International Airport to highlight the airport\u2019s critical role in Hampton Roads and discuss ongoing infrastructure and air traffic controller staffing needs.\n\nDuring the visit, Rep. Kiggans and Secretary Duffy met with Norfolk International Airport leadership to discuss the airport\u2019s ongoing projects, infrastructure priorities, and how the transportation hub serves the region\u2019s economic needs. They then toured Norfolk\u2019s Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT), where Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) personnel provided a briefing on air traffic operations, safety, staffing, and other priorities affecting the airport and the surrounding airspace.\n\nCongresswoman Kiggans said, \u201cAs a former Navy helicopter pilot, I know firsthand how vital skilled air traffic controllers and modern infrastructure are to safe, reliable air travel. I was proud to welcome Secretary Duffy to Norfolk International Airport to meet with the professionals who safely manage some of the most complex civilian and military airspace in the country. The $27.3 million investment made possible by the Working Families Tax Cut will help ensure they have the tools needed to carry out that mission. I look forward to continuing our work with Secretary Duffy and the FAA to strengthen aviation safety across Hampton Roads.\u201d\n\n\u201cVirginia\u2019s 2nd Congressional District has a true champion in Congress in Representative Kiggans. Her vote for the Working Families Tax Cut delivered the $12.5 billion down payment the Department needed to revitalize air traffic control, including $27.3 million for Norfolk International Airport. Together, we are delivering a safer and more efficient travel experience for Virginians and providing an economic boost to the Norfolk region\u201d, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.\n\nCongresswoman Kiggans previously toured the Norfolk ATCT in 2025 to meet directly with controllers about staffing, infrastructure, and working conditions. At the time, Norfolk had been on the FAA\u2019s critical facility list continuously since January 2023 and faced significant controller shortages. In 2024, controllers at the facility worked approximately 8,724 hours of overtime to help address staffing needs.\n\n\u201cThe men and women operating our air traffic control towers have gone above and beyond in keeping our skies safe despite persistent staffing shortages,\u201d Kiggans said. \u201cThey deserve the staffing, resources, and infrastructure they need to succeed and I\u2019m committed to ensuring they receive this vital support to keep Hampton Roads and our nation safe.\u201d\n\nRep. Kiggans\u2019 Advocacy for Norfolk Air Traffic Control Modernization:\n\nIn January 2026, Rep. Kiggans voted in favor of a funding package that consisted of the remaining FY26 Appropriations bills, including funds for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD). The package increased funding for the FAA by $1.588 billion, secured $4.577 billion for airport infrastructure improvements, and provided resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers. Read her press release here.\n\nIn March 2025, following the tragic crash over Reagan National Airport, Kiggans and Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced the Military Helicopter Training Safety Act of 2025, to direct the Department of Defense to evaluate the feasibility of equipping all U.S. military helicopters with modern collision avoidance systems in an effort to improve safety measures for military rotary-wing aircraft operating near civilian airspace. Certain provisions within the bill were included in the Airspace Location and Enhanced Risk Transparency (ALERT) Act of 2026 and passed the House in February 2026. Read more from WTKR-3 here.\n\nAs the representative for Virginia\u2019s Second District and a former Navy helicopter pilot married to a former F/A-18 pilot and current mother of a F/A-18 pilot, Rep. Kiggans remains committed to modernizing Hampton Roads\u2019 transportation infrastructure, addressing air traffic controller staffing shortages, and securing the federal investments necessary to keep passengers moving safely and efficiently.", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://kiggans.house.gov/2026/08/27/kiggans-welcomes-transportation-secretary-sean-duffy-to-norfolk-international-airport/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.649100100621581, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}