Rep. Jen Kiggans a No-Show as Virginia Beach Residents Confront Cardboard Kiggans in Town Hall Over Rising Costs
Virginia Beach, VA — On Thursday evening, Affordable Virginia, Protect Our Care Virginia, and the SEIU Virginia State Council hosted a “Cardboard Jen Kiggans” town hall in Virginia Beach, giving residents an opportunity to speak out about rising costs impacting food, health care, and every day necessities. New reporting shows that under Congressional Republicans, the average family is paying $3,800 more for everyday goods and services.
Rep. Jen Kiggans was invited to attend but did not participate. In her place, constituents directed their questions to a life-size cardboard cutout of the Congresswoman, demanding that she take action to lower costs for Virginia families.
“Health care tax credits made quality health insurance possible for people like me,” said Becky, from Virginia Beach. “My premiums more than doubled after the tax credits expired, and I rely on health insurance to pay for my physical therapy every week. Rep. Kiggans had an opportunity to protect our health care, but she refused to extend these tax credits. I’m calling on her to listen to us and fight to make health care more affordable.”
An estimated 100,000 Virginians have already been priced out of their ACA plans following the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits. Many Virginians have seen their monthly premiums double or triple in 2026.
The town hall also highlighted the consequences of the Medicaid cuts Rep. Kiggans supported as part of the Republican Tax Law. An estimated 300,000 Virginians are at risk of losing Medicaid coverage, while 13 hospitals across the Commonwealth are now vulnerable to closure. That includes Southampton Memorial Hospital in Franklin, which serves residents in Rep. Kiggans’ district. New rules announced by the administration in June as part of the implementation of these cuts would, according to 48 patient organizations, also harm people with serious or complex health conditions and dramatically increase healthcare coverage losses.
“Medicaid is how real people receive the care they need to live healthy and independent lives. I am disabled and relied on Medicaid for so long to receive the care I need. Because I have epilepsy, if I don’t have access to health care, it’s a matter of life or death for me,” said Lynn, from Virginia Beach. “I’ve also learned that her vote will lead to cancer patients losing their coverage during treatment. This is just foolish. She’s putting lives at risk. The people she represents deserve to know why tax breaks for billionaires were more important than protecting our health care. I’m calling on her to reverse these dangerous cuts.”
Speakers also addressed cuts to SNAP. Since the passage of the Republican Tax Law, SNAP enrollment in Virginia has fallen by approximately 100,000 people, a 13% drop.
“We are already seeing increased demand for food assistance. Families who once needed emergency help occasionally are returning more frequently. New families are reaching out because groceries, housing, utilities, transportation, and health care are competing for the same limited household income,” said Sabrina, Chesapeake resident and owner of RESET. “When families lose food assistance, the grocery bill lands on food banks, churches, nonprofits, donors, volunteers, and families who are already stretched too thin.”
The speakers called on Rep. Kiggans to hold an open, in-person town hall with her constituents and answer for her votes to cut Medicaid and SNAP while refusing to protect the healthcare tax credits that helped Virginians afford coverage.
