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Rep. Kiggans offers to work with Navy to reduce long-term parking costs for sailors
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican who represents Virginia’s 2nd District, sent a letter to the leadership of Naval Station Norfolk this week seeking to collaborate on a plan to lower the cost servicemembers pay to keep vehicles parked on the base during deployments.
The letter — addressed to Rear Adm. Stephen D. Barnett, the commander of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic — includes signatures from fellow Republican U.S. Reps. John McGuire III and Rob Wittman of Virginia, along with Nick LaLota of New York. They expressed concern about the “undue financial burden” resulting from an $80 monthly fee for long-term parking on the base.
It’s unclear which parking lot charges $80 and whether this cost is consistent across other long-term parking lots on the base. A Navy spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by deadline.
“This concern is particularly acute for junior enlisted Sailors whose base pay may leave little margin to absorb recurring fees during a deployment,” the letter reads. “Unlike more senior personnel, these servicemembers often lack financial flexibility to make alternative arrangements on short notice.”
The lawmakers added that a recurring charge for parking on base adds to the sacrifices servicemembers are already making during deployment “in a way that seems at odds with the Navy’s strong commitment to quality of life.”
Two potential solutions were offered: waiving or reducing the fee for junior enlisted sailors, or finding a way to offset vehicle storage costs for the most junior sailors without requiring a legislative solution.
The letter cites “public reports” of the cost of parking on the base as what prompted the effort to address the fee. Asked via email what reports she’s referring to, Kiggans said she had heard “concerns from servicemembers.”
A June 11 post on X by popular user @sentdefender, which has 2.3 million followers and describes itself as an “open source intelligence monitor”, includes a picture of a sign with a Navy Exchange logo showing an $80 monthly fee for long-term parking. A spokesperson for Kiggans did not respond when asked whether this post is what prompted the letter.
Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, [email protected]