VERIFY: Kiggans ad highlights her career in and out of Congress

NORFOLK, Va. — A political ad by Congresswoman Jen Kiggans highlights her career outside Congress and the causes she championed in the House. 

Are the claims true? Let’s verify. 

The ad says: “She’s the only nurse practitioner in Congress.”

Kiggans is in fact a nurse practitioner. She became a geriatric nurse practitioner after she left the Navy. According to her official bio, she graduated from Old Dominion University’s Nursing School and Vanderbilt University’s Nurse Practitioner program. However, it is worth noting there are other nurses in Congress: Democratic Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Cori Bush are both registered nurses. 

We can Verify her claim that she is the only nurse practitioner in Congress is true.

The ad also says: “She fought to expand Medicare and protected our Social Security.” 

Is this claim true?

When it comes to Medicare, Kiggans did cosponsor a resolution known as “Maintaining Medicare” earlier this year in February. Resolutions are not bills or laws—they are ways for lawmakers to express certain sentiments in Congress. This resolution essentially reaffirmed lawmakers' commitment to Medicare as a “vital program.” 

Last year she also cosponsored the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023, a Bill which proposed expanding Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services. 

As for Social Security, Kiggans also cosponsored another February resolution affirming Social Security is – quote – “one of the primary pillars of retirement support for millions of older Americans.” Again, a resolution isn’t a bill or law, it’s a sentiment. This resolution said Social Security is a priority. 

So this claim is true. Kiggans is on record as being in support of Medicare and Social Security. 

It’s worth noting, Democrats have accused Republicans of trying to cut Social Security benefits and Medicare expansion. 

In August, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said, “Kiggans won’t stand up for Virginia’s seniors” and accused her of being “all in on House Republicans’ plans to cut Social Security.” 

A press release from the White House in April called out Congressional Republicans -- namely the Republican Study Committee -- for proposed budget cuts that would take “direct aim at Medicare and Social Security."

The White House criticized Congressional Republicans for calling for $1.5 trillion in cuts to Social Security, including increasing the retirement age. The White House also said the proposed plan from Republicans could also cut Medicare and raise costs for seniors.