Press Releases
Kaine Urges State Department To Expedite Processing Of Visas For Afghan Interpreters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine urged the Department of State to expedite the processing of Special Immigrant Visa program for Afghan nationals who served as interpreters for U.S. troops during the past 12 years of war. The program was created through the 2009 Afghan Allies Protection Act, but bureaucratic processing delays have left interpreters and their families waiting in dangerous situations for months or even years. "Because they … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Kaine Discusses Jobs & Economy With Latino Business Leaders From Northern Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined members of the Senate Democratic Caucus and Latino business leaders from around the country to discuss economic issues impacting the community, as well as job creation, education and workforce development. During the roundtable, Kaine discussed the significant economic contributions Latinos have made in Virginia, highlighting two successful Virginians in attendance, Carlos Del Toro, President and CEO of Alexandria-based SBG Technology … Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Kaine Statement On Hobby Lobby, Conestoga Wood Cases Before Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today as oral arguments began at the Supreme Court in the cases of Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Store, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius: "The issue before the Supreme Court today is whether requiring for-profit companies to provide access to contraception coverage for employees is unconstitutional. I do not believe it is, and I hope the Supreme Court rules in favor of a woman's right to make her own … Continue Reading
March 18, 2014
Kaine Calls On President Obama For Executive Order Protecting LGBT Workers From Workplace Discrimination
WASHINGTON, DC -U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined more than 175 Senators and Representatives to write a letter to President Barack Obama calling on him to issue an executive order banning contractors from receiving federal government contracts unless they have a policy prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "[We] urge you to fulfill the promise in your State of the Union address to make this a "year of action" and build upon the momentum of 2013 by signing an … Continue Reading
March 16, 2014
Kaine Statement On Russian Recognition Of Crimea Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on Russia's recognition of today's referendum in Crimea: "Today, Russia has again isolated itself in the international community over Ukraine by recognizing an illegitimate referendum in Crimea that did not include all of the Ukrainian people. Yesterday, Russia was the sole 'no' vote on a United Nations Security Council resolution that was supportive of the territorial sovereignty and self-determination of the people … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Kaine Statement On Passage Of Flood Insurance Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after the Senate sent the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act to the President to be signed into law: "I'm pleased we sent the President legislation that protects coastal homeowners, including many in Hampton Roads, who would have seen their flood insurance premiums skyrocket this year due to mandated rate increases under the National Flood Insurance Program. We're not talking about millionaire vacation … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Kaine Announces Support For Drug Sentencing Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today announced his support for the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013, bipartisan legislation that would modernize our drug sentencing polices by giving federal judges more discretion in sentencing those convicted of non-violent offenses. Making these incremental and targeted changes could save taxpayers billions in the first years of enactment. In testimony before the U.S. Sentencing Commission today, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder endorsed a proposed … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Kaine Statement On Passage Of Bipartisan Childcare Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on passage of the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014: "Today, we put partisanship aside to pass legislation that will improve the daily lives of Virginians by ensuring families have access to quality, affordable childcare. This bill reauthorizes the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which aids more than 21,000 children in Virginia each month, and makes improvements that help ease the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Kaine, Rubio Lead Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Introduce Resolution Calling For New Humanitarian Strategy In Syria
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the heels of three devastating reports released this week that highlight how more than 5.5 million Syrian children have been affected by the three-year-long Syrian crisis (UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision), U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on President Obama to develop and submit to Congress a more robust U.S. strategy for addressing the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Kaine Cosponsors Resolution Condemning Violence In Venezuela
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, praised committee approval of Senate Resolution 365, "deploring the violent repression of peaceful demonstrators in Venezuela, calling for full accountability for human rights violations taking place in Venezuela, and supporting the right of the Venezuelan people to the free and peaceful exercise of representative democracy." Senator Kaine, a cosponsor of the resolution, released the following … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Kaine: Solution To Climate Change Is American Innovation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined more than 25 members of the Senate Climate Action Task Force for a rare all-night session to call attention to the effects of climate change. In his remarks, Kaine discussed the urgent need for Congress to act on curbing emissions and investing in innovative and clean energy solutions. "The solution to climate change is American innovation," Kaine said. "We have to get beyond the idea that we need to choose between a clean … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Kaine, Warner Hail Passage Of Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Bipartisan legislation championed by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to support federal funding for pediatric medical research passed the Senate today and will now go to the President for his signature. The Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act honors the memory of Gabriella Miller, a young girl from Leesburg who was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor the size of a walnut at age 9. The legislation, passed by the House of Representatives in December, had … Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Kaine Statement On Passage Of The Victims Protection Act Of 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on passage of the Victims Protection Act of 2014: "Today the Senate came together across party lines to address the serious and longstanding crime of sexual assault in the military. The Victims Protection Act of 2014 strengthens the historic reforms we passed in NDAA by banning the 'good Soldier' defense for servicemembers accused of assault and allowing survivors to give formal input in whether their case is … Continue Reading
March 10, 2014
Kaine Talks Stem, Career & Technical Education At NOVA In Alexandria
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine visited Northern Virginia Community College's (NOVA) Alexandria campus today to discuss the importance of career and technical education (CTE) and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs like SySTEMic Solutions, a program at NOVA that strives to equip students with the skills needed in today's workforce. "This is a good thing for students because they are acquiring skills that are in high demand among Northern Virginia … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Warner, Kaine Join Bipartisan Group Of Senators To Introduce Resolution Condemning Russian Aggression In Ukraine
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, joined a bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), to introduce a resolution condemning the Russian military siege of Crimea, calling for a withdrawal of those troops, and a negotiated settlement to any concerns regarding the Crimea. It also urges the … Continue Reading
March 05, 2014
Kaine Presses Hagel For Commitment To 11-Carrier Fleet
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2015 defense budget today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the committee, pressed for, and received, additional commitment from Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and other Department officials that the administration supports maintaining an 11-carrier fleet if Congress can provide additional sequester relief for Fiscal Year 2016 and beyond. "Before I get into some particulars about [aircraft carriers]," … Continue Reading
March 04, 2014
Warner, Kaine React To President Obama’s Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both members of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statements on President Obama's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2015: Senator Warner said: "The President's FY2015 budget lays out his priorities for the coming years, including the repeal of at least a portion of future sequester cuts and some elements of tax reform. In many ways, this builds on the progress we've seen in recent weeks, where we have begun to see … Continue Reading
March 03, 2014
Kaine Statement On Passing of Dr. Benjamin Lambert III
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the passing of former state Senator Dr. Benjamin Lambert III: "I first met Senator Lambert through my father-in-law Lin Holton. I so enjoyed working with him over the years and our community will miss him deeply. My thoughts are with his beloved and accomplished … Continue Reading
March 03, 2014
Warner, Kaine Express Concerns Over Recent Changes To TRICARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined 19 Senators and 30 Representatives to send the following letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel regarding a change to TRICARE's reimbursement policy that excludes more than 100 different Molecular Pathology Laboratory (MoPath) tests and other Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) with no notice to beneficiaries or to health care providers. Despite such a large change in policy, which took place January 1, 2013, no notices were … Continue Reading
February 27, 2014
Warner, Kaine Press Chinese Drywall Manufacturer To Take Care Of Virginia Consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a group of five Senators to write a letter urging a Chinese drywall manufacturer to pay for the damage caused by its product in the United States, including in many Virginia homes. The letter presses Taishan Gypsum, one of the major Chinese drywall companies, to settle with builders and homeowners in the wake of a recent federal appeals court ruling affirming U.S. jurisdiction in the matter. Taishan Gypsum has already been … Continue Reading
