Press Releases
Kaine Signs Amicus Brief Challenging DOMA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine signed an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Supreme Court today by 212 members of Congress challenging Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which created a federal definition of marriage for the first time. The brief concludes there is no legitimate federal interest in denying married same-sex couples the same legal security, rights and responsibilities that federal law provides to all other married couples, and that DOMA undermines the … Continue Reading
February 28, 2013
Kaine Statement on Sequester Votes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the sequester votes in the Senate today: "Today, the Senate acted on two bills related to the harmful sequestration cuts scheduled to take effect tomorrow. I voted to support consideration of a bill that offered a balanced, specific and accountable approach to replace these cuts entirely. And I voted against consideration of an all cuts approach that would shock Virginia's economy. "I supported the Murray/Mikulski … Continue Reading
February 27, 2013
Kaine Delivers Maiden Floor Speech on Sequester Threat to Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered his maiden speech on the Senate floor today, addressing the devastating impact Virginia stands to bear if sequestration takes effect on Friday, March 1. Advocating a path forward to avert these damaging cuts, Kaine cited the recent passage of a transportation bill in the Virginia General Assembly - one that includes revenue as part of a balanced package - as proof that good faith compromise is still possible, and something leaders of both … Continue Reading
February 26, 2013
Kaine Statement on President Obama, Reps. Rigell and Scott's Visit to Newport News
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today in response to the visit by President Barack Obama, U.S. Representative Scott Rigell (R-VA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) to Newport News Shipbuilding: "I'm pleased President Obama and Representatives Rigell and Scott visited Newport News Shipbuilding today in Virginia to help give voice to the thousands of workers who stand to be affected by sequester … Continue Reading
February 26, 2013
Virginia Lawmakers, Air Travel Organizations Call on Congress to Avoid Sequestration
Arlington, Va.- Congressman Jim Moran, Senator Tim Kaine, Congressman Gerry Connolly, and representatives from U.S. air travel associations and employee organizations today called on Congress to find a solution to address sequestration. The lawmakers joined air travel groups at a press conference warning travelers of the possible impact of drastic cuts to agencies that ensure safe and efficient air travel for nearly two million travelers every day. "Sequestration will not just impact federal … Continue Reading
February 25, 2013
Kaine Announces Additional Members of Senate Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today announced additional members of his Virginia and Washington, D.C.-based Senate staff. "I'm proud to announce such a talented and diverse set of individuals have joined my Senate team," Kaine said. "John Knapp and his team bring years of experience as well as a deep understanding of the Commonwealth to our operation that will serve Virginia well. And in Washington, this team of policy experts is already hard at work helping me navigate a wide … Continue Reading
February 23, 2013
Kaine Statement on VA General Assembly Transportation and Medicaid Proposals
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today released the following statement on the state of negotiations in the Virginia General Assembly over a comprehensive transportation proposal and expanding Medicaid: "I am heartened by the General Assembly's discussion about compromise solutions for Virginia's transportation and health care needs. The Governor wants to invest in Virginia's transportation system and legislators of both parties are working to come together. Many legislators, … Continue Reading
February 21, 2013
Kaine Continues Defense Tour in Staunton, Stafford & Quantico
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued his defense tour across Virginia today with stops in Staunton, Stafford, and Quantico to discuss the harmful impact budget uncertainty and sequestration are already having on military readiness and the future of our national defense. Kaine began the day in Staunton, meeting with members of the Virginia National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and touring their facilities. The 116th … Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
Kaine Introduces Sec. Kerry at UVA, Continues Defense Tour in Charlottesville & Salem
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced Secretary of State John Kerry today at his first major foreign policy speech. Addressing the crowd at the University of Virginia, Kaine praised Kerry's decades of service and foreign policy expertise, emphasizing his belief that Kerry will strike a critical balance between the diplomatic and military strength of the nation in his new role. A former Chairman and 28-year veteran of the … Continue Reading
February 20, 2013
Kaine Statement on 1600 Norfolk Shipyard Workers Receiving WARN Notices
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement following news that 1600 shipyard workers in Norfolk will be receiving WARN notices today: "I feel great sympathy for the 1600 shipyard workers and their families receiving WARN notices today. As I learned from my visit with workers in Newport News yesterday, delayed ship repairs over budget uncertainty will have a devastating ripple effect on the Hampton Roads economy … Continue Reading
February 19, 2013
Kaine Kicks Off Defense Swing Through Virginia with Stops in Hampton Roads
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, kicked off his three-day defense tour today with stops in Hampton Roads to discuss military readiness, shipbuilding, and the damaging effects of sequestration already being felt in Virginia. Kaine began the day in Newport News, touring the Huntington Ingalls shipyard that employs more than 22,000 people. "The construction and repairs done by workers at Newport News Shipyard is second to none and … Continue Reading
February 15, 2013
Kaine Meets with Educators in Alexandria to Discuss Sequester Impacts
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine held a roundtable discussion with members of the education community at the Campagna Center in Alexandria today to discuss the potential impacts of across-the-board sequestration cuts and budget uncertainty on education priorities. "There's been a great deal of attention paid to what sequestration would mean to defense, but the self-inflicted budgetary wounds we stand to incur on March 1 would also mean a significant retrenchment from critical … Continue Reading
February 15, 2013
Virginia Senators, House Members Speak Out Against Sequestration’s Effects on the Commonwealth
WASHINGTON, DC - Members of Virginia's Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to President Barack Obama, Speaker John Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressing their unity for immediate action to avert looming cuts set to hit March 1, stressing the disproportional impact to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bicameral, bipartisan group of members also stressed the enormous impacts on the country's national security and federal government, and the ripple effect on … Continue Reading
February 14, 2013
Kaine Statement on Democratic Sequester Replacement Proposal
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the American Family Economic Protection Act, the Democratic proposal to replace the first year of sequestration: "The balanced proposal announced today is a step in the right direction to avert the devastating cuts set to take effect on March 1 - cuts that could cost Virginia up to 200,000 jobs, threaten national security and slash essential priorities like education and health care services. Inaction at this point … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
Kaine Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address tonight: "I'm gratified that President Obama confronted the danger of self-inflicted economic wounds like sequestration head on tonight. The American people - and the state of our economy - deserve better than governing by crisis. They deserve better than across-the-board, indiscriminate cuts set to take effect on March 1 that threaten to reverse our economic recovery and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
Declaración del senador Kaine sobre el discurso del Estado de la Unión dado por el presidente Obama
Washington, DC - EE.UU. El senador Tim Kaine emitió la siguiente declaración sobre el discurso del Estado de la Unión dado por el presidente Obama esta noche: "Me complace que el presidente Obama confrontó el peligro de heridas económicas infligidas a través de los recortes presupuestales automáticosde tomar efecto. El pueblo estadounidense - y el estado de nuestra economía - merecen algo mejor que gobernar a través de crisis. … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
In Armed Services Committee, Kaine Votes to Advance Hagel Nomination
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a Senate Armed Services Committee meeting today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced his strong support of Senator Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense and voted to advance his nomination to the full Senate for consideration. "After meeting Senator Hagel in my office, listening to his testimony during his confirmation hearing, taking into account the opening statements from Senators Nunn and Warner, and examining Senator Hagel's past record, I intend to vote today in … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
Kaine Statement on Final Passage of the Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement followingfinal passage of the Violence Against Women Act: "I was proud to vote for and cosponsor the Violence Against Women Act, which provides essential protection for victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse. Reauthorization of this law that has made our communities safer for nearly twenty years was overdue. The Violence Against Women Act will reduce incidents of violence and update previous laws by expanding … Continue Reading
February 12, 2013
In Armed Services Hearing, Kaine Addresses Sequester Impact on Hampton Roads Naval Operations
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine continued to argue against letting sequester cuts hit today at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with members of the military. In his opening, Kaine cited a roundtable discussion he had with wounded warriors at Fort Belvoir on Monday whose concerns were not of medical care, but instead of the budget uncertainty and its effects on their future. "I expected I would do a lot of talking about medical care for active duty and veterans but they wanted … Continue Reading
February 11, 2013
Kaine, Forbes to Sit Together During State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and U.S. Congressman Randy Forbes announced today that they will cross the political aisle to sit together during the President's State of the Union Address tomorrow night. As fellow Virginians and members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees, Kaine and Forbes look forward to the opportunity to carry on this bipartisan … Continue Reading
