Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services’ Subcommittee on Seapower and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (D-VA) and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues reintroduced a resolution urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS, which has been ratified by 170 parties, defines the rights and responsibilities of nations regarding the world’s oceans—including guidelines for...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and nine of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting answers on the impact of FAA workforce reductions on aviation safety, including among analytical staff who proactively identify safety risks. The senators also inquired about comments by FAA officials suggesting the agency is using artificial intellig...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), introduced the Improving Care in Rural America Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation to reauthorize programs to improve access to health care in rural communities. “Across Virginia and throughout the U.S., rural communities often face unique challenges that lead to reduced or even ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding the official score from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) that President Trump and Republicans’ megabill will add $3.4 trillion to the budget deficit through 2034, before accounting for added interest costs. Including additional interest, the bill will increase borrowing by $4.1 trillion: “The official CBO score on President Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Bi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, both D-VA, issued the following statements after the Trump Administration heeded their demands that it release funding it was illegally withholding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, including over $23 million for centers throughout Virginia, such as Boys and Girls clubs: “It’s about time that the Trump administration finally agreed to rel...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and national security programs, which had previously been appropriated by a bipartisan majority in Congress: “It’s outrageous that enough Republicans caved to President Trump and OMB Director Vought’s pressure to go back on appropriations deals that a bipartisan majority of Congress had previously agreed...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s illegal withholding of $140 million in federal funding passed by Congress to support fentanyl overdose response efforts: “I’m relieved that thanks to steps we took during the Biden Administration—including the passage of my Disrupt Fentanyl Trafficking Act—that fentanyl overdose deaths in Virginia hav...Continue Reading

BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF THE EXCHANGE IS AVAILABLE HERE. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), grilled Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Michael Rigas over the Trump Administration’s order to incinerate 500 metric tons of emergency food, which the U.S. had already purchased to feed starving children. Reuters reported in May that the food was being stored at a United States Agency for Internationa...Continue Reading

BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), spoke on the Senate floor slamming President Trump and congressional Republicans’ rescissions package, which includes massive cuts to funding for faith-based organizations that provide important services, such as implementing foreign assistance and national security programming overseas and supporting refugee resettlement in the Unite...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, slammed the Republican rescissions package that cancels $8.3 billion in federal funding previously appropriated by a bipartisan majority in Congress for national security programs: “If Republicans move forward with these massive cuts to the State Department, USAID, and other key agencies and programs, the world will become more unpredictable and unstable, which puts Americans...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in introducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to ensure families across America can find and afford the high-quality child care they need. The average cost of child care is now...Continue Reading

Rural communities often rely on public media as their only source of local news.  In FY24, Virginia received $99.4 million for public broadcasting, more than any other state in the nation. WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) slammed efforts by congressional Republicans to defund public media and revoke more than $1.07 billion in previously-appropriated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, including $100 million for Virginia. This move ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Ranking Member of the SASC Subcommittee on Seapower, applauded committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes key provisions Kaine secured to advance U.S. national security, support servicemembers and their families, boost Virginia’s defense industry, and strengthen relations with allies and partners: “I’m proud to have worked wi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON. D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $15,553,713 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at six airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Investing in our airports is a crucial component of strengthening Virginia’s economy and keeping travelers safe,” the senator...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement regarding reports that the Trump Administration will soon fire nearly 15 percent of the State Department’s domestic workforce: “President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio are once again making America less safe and less secure. A strong State Department—one that is not only fully staffed, but staffed by qualified experts free from political pressure—is essentia...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, released the following statement after President Donald Trump pledged a 50 percent tariff on goods from Brazil in response to steps the country is taking to hold its former president accountable for attempting a coup: “The last thing Americans want is another trade war that will raise prices and throw businesses into uncertainty—and for what? To punish Brazil f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after Virginia fell behind North Carolina, Texas, and Florida in the CNBC’s Top States for Business report for 2025:  “Virginia’s slip in CNBC’s Top States for Business ranking once again highlights that the chaos and uncertainty caused by President Trump’s tariffs, the slashing of federal funding, and the politicizing and hollowing out of the federal workforce are gut punches to Virginia’s economy. While I’m glad to...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works voted to approve updated authorizations for 18 Veterans Affairs (VA) major medical facility leases, including a proposed lease for an outpatient clinic in Hampton Roads: “We are very encouraged to see the Senate EPW Committee heed our request to quickly reauthorize 18 VA medical facility leases, including one for a new outpatie...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $21,254,275 in federal funding to support infrastructure improvements at ten airports across Virginia. This funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant program, made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law. “We are thrilled to announce this funding for Virginia’s airports,” the senators said. “This investment is a major wi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after he was appointed to the Board of Visitors for the United States Military Academy at West Point: “I am deeply honored to be appointed to the Board of Visitors for the United States Military Academy. Since 1802, the United States Military Academy has turned thousands of patriotic young people into some of the world’s finest military officers. I look forwa...Continue Reading