WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) was joined by Reps. John McGuire (VA-05), Rob Wittman (VA-01), and Nick LaLota (NY-01) in sending a letter to Rear Admiral Stephen D. Barnett, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic regarding the storage of privately owned vehicles on base during servicemembers’ deployment.

At Naval Station Norfolk, Sailors are charged approximately $80 a month to keep their vehicles on base while they’re deployed in service to our nation. The Congresswoman has expressed concern that these fees may unintentionally place a significant financial burden on junior enlisted Sailors.

Read excerpts of the Members’ letter:

[We are] concerned that charging deployed Sailors a monthly storage fee places an undue financial burden on those who have no choice but to leave their vehicles behind. This concern is particularly acute for junior enlisted Sailors whose base pay may leave little margin to absorb recurring fees during a deployment. Unlike more senior personnel, these servicemembers often lack financial flexibility to make alternative arrangements on short notice. Deployment is already a period of significant sacrifice; a recurring monthly fee for secure, on-base vehicle storage compounds that sacrifice in a way that seems at odds with the Navy’s strong commitment to quality of life.

[We] recognize that providing and maintaining a secure vehicle storage facility involves real operational costs, and I do not raise this matter to be critical of the hard work your team does to support the fleet. Rather, [we] write in the hope that we can work together to identify a path forward that better serves our junior Sailors. To that end, [we] would respectfully ask that your office consider the following:

First, whether the current fee structure for deployed vehicle storage could be waived or significantly reduced for junior enlisted Sailors, consistent with the tiered pay scales that already reflect the different financial circumstances of service members at various stages of their careers.

Second, whether any existing authorities could be used to offset storage costs for the most junior members of the force without requiring a legislative solution.

Our office has always valued the open and productive relationship we share with Naval Station Norfolk, and I am grateful for the command’s continued commitment to excellence. That commitment reflects the professionalism and dedication of everyone at the installation, and we are proud to represent and support this community.

Read the full letter here.