CAPE CHARLES, VA — Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) welcomed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) leadership to Virginia’s Eastern Shore for a tour of local aquaculture operations and a roundtable discussion with industry stakeholders. Congresswoman Kiggans was joined by FSA Administrator Bill Beam, USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins, Director of the Office of Seafood Mike Illenberg, and Assistant Secretary for Congressional Relations Yvette Herrell.
The visit began with a tour of Cherrystone Aqua-Farms, where officials received a firsthand look at the region’s shellfish aquaculture operations and their contributions to Coastal Virginia’s economy. Following the tour, Congresswoman Kiggans and USDA leadership met with local aquaculture producers and industry stakeholders in Cape Charles to discuss challenges facing the industry, recent oyster mortality events, and opportunities to improve access to federal resources.
Congresswoman Kiggans said, “Virginia’s Eastern Shore is home to some of the most hardworking aquaculture producers in the country. As the representative of a coastal district, I know how important it is to not only preserve our shorelines, but also ensure our producers have the resources they need to overcome the environmental challenges they face on a daily basis. I’m grateful to Administrator Beam, Under Secretary Hoskins, Director Illenberg, and Assistant Secretary Herrell for taking the time to visit Virginia’s Second District and hear directly from the men and women who make this industry so successful.”
In September 2026, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans joined Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) in writing a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins requesting that the Farm Service Agency coordinate with state agencies and researchers to assess widespread oyster mortality across Coastal Virginia and determine whether affected counties qualify for a Secretarial natural disaster designation. Read her press release here.
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