Press Releases
Kaine Discusses Plan To Stop Loan Rate Hike For 179,000 Virginia Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined administrators, students, and financial aid officers at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond today to discuss his efforts to avoid the doubling of interest rates on undergraduate subsidized Stafford loans on July 1, from 3.4% to 6.8%. Kaine is a cosponsor of the Student Loan Affordability Act of 2013 to keep student loan interest rates at their current 3.4% rate for the next two years. "We are trying to come up with a solution … Continue Reading
June 21, 2013
Kaine Op-Ed In Washington Post: Obama Should Block The Keystone Pipeline
Tim Kaine, a Democrat, represents Virginia in the Senate. President Obama is expected to make a decision in the next few months on the Keystone XL project. As the debate heats up, I worry that the shorthand used in talking about the issue obscures the real point. I'm a pro-pipeline senator. As a former mayor of Richmond, a city with a gas utility, I think it makes no sense to be anti-pipeline. But I oppose the Keystone XL project. Although the president's decision is technically over … Continue Reading
June 20, 2013
Kaine, Shinseki Meet To Discuss Veterans Claims Backlog & Troop Talent Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, today met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric Shinseki to discuss significant issues facing veterans today including the disability claims backlog, education, health care access, and unemployment. "Today I had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Shinseki on critical issues facing our veterans and the VA including the disability claims backlog and the tragic rate of veteran suicides. Veterans must … Continue Reading
June 17, 2013
Kaine Joins Efforts To Repeal Ban On Prescription Price Negotiation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today signed onto the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act - legislation that would end the ban on prescription drug price negotiations for the government's largest health care program. "Every corner pharmacy negotiates for prescription drug prices so it makes no sense that the federal government isn't allowed to do the same," said Kaine. "At a time when we continue to look at every line item of the budget for savings, this common sense … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Kaine Hails Wins For Virginia In Defense Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, today lauded important provisions he advocated for Virginia's defense community that were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2014. The bill was reported out of committee yesterday on a bipartisan vote of 23 to 3. Prior to the markup, Kaine sent a letter to Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) voicing support for these priorities and advocating for necessary resources. "As … Continue Reading
June 14, 2013
Sens. Warner, Kaine Announce Progress On Legislation To Expand Military Whistleblower Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today announced that the Senate Armed Services Committee has incorporated their proposals to strengthen military whistleblower protection laws to ensure that victims of sexual assault and other misconduct are protected from retaliation. Sen. Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, successfully worked to have the whistleblower protections included during the committee's markup of an annual defense authorization bill … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
In Letter to Egyptian President Morsi, Kaine, Rubio, 12 Other Senators Condemn June 4 Sentencing of NGO Workers As Broader Threat to Human Rights
Washington, D.C - In a letter sent to Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jon Tester (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jim Risch (R-ID), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) expressed grave concern about the June 4, 2013 decision by an Egyptian court to sentence 43 Egyptian and … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
In Armed Services Meeting, Kaine Votes For Proposal To Combat Military Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In an open session of the Armed Services Committee National Defense Authorization Act markup today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine voted in favor of Senator Carl Levin's amendment to require an independent review by the next higher level of the chain of command in cases where a commander decides not to prosecute a sexual assault allegation. The proposal also addresses the issue of retaliation by making acts of retribution a crime and establishing a process to hold commanders … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
Kaine's Remarks at Personnel Subcommittee Mark-Up of FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, delivered the following opening remarks today at the Subcommittee's markup of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014: "I want to commend the chair and the ranking for the work into the mark and especially clearing through so many amendments, these are important amendments. We'll have a vigorous debate tomorrow, I'm proud to support reporting it forward. I also, on … Continue Reading
June 11, 2013
In Spanish Floor Speech, Kaine Makes Case For Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today delivered remarks in Spanish on the Senate floor to voice his support for the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act and strongly urge his colleagues to come together to pass the commonsense proposal. "Let's show this country and the world that this is not a Republican bill and it is not a Democratic bill but it is a strong bipartisan bill. It is time that we pass comprehensive immigration reform," … Continue Reading
June 10, 2013
Kaine Statement on Passage of the Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after final passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 (the Farm Bill) by a vote of 66 to 27. Last week, Kaine voiced his support for passage of a long-term farm bill during discussions with local farmers in Charlottesville and Gordonsville. "With Senate passage of a long-term farm bill, Virginia's agricultural community is one step closer to the certainty it deserves to plan for the future. … Continue Reading
June 07, 2013
Kaine Meets With Hagel, Mabus At Pentagon To Discuss Issues Facing Virginia's Defense Community Ahead of Authorization Bill Markup
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today met with top Pentagon officials to discuss issues facing Virginia's defense community. During meetings with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, Kaine addressed the ongoing impact of sequestration and continued furloughs for thousands of Virginians, his priorities for the Commonwealth in upcoming discussions of the National Defense Authorization Act, and the … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
In Armed Services Committee Hearing, Kaine Presses Top Military Officials On Damaging Effects Of Sexual Assault, Retaliation Fears
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, today pressed top military officials on the escalating crisis of sexual assault and unwanted sexual contact in the military. Kaine also outlined his concerns this morning in an op-ed in the Virginian-Pilot. During the first panel of the hearing, Kaine questioned Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey, Service Chiefs and Service Judge Advocates General and described the damaging impacts he … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
The Stakes Are Enormously High
I'm proud to represent the state that's more connected to the military than any other. Communities across the Commonwealth are defined by the servicemembers and their families, installations, shipyards, airfields and historical battlefields. So when we're faced with the issue of sexual assault in our Armed Forces, it shakes the military culture - and the surrounding communities - to the core. And while there are all sorts of effects we feel today as a result of these incidents, I worry as … Continue Reading
May 31, 2013
Kaine Discusses Farm Bill In Charlottesville and Gordonsville
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine participated in a roundtable with local farmers in Charlottesville today to discuss the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 (the Farm Bill), which was voted out of committee with bipartisan support, and how it will help Virginia farmers and local markets. Kaine expressed his support for a full five-year arm bill to provide farmers in Virginia and across the nation with the long-term certainty they deserve. "The uncertainty surrounding the … Continue Reading
May 30, 2013
Kaine Visits Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Discusses Defense Authorization Act And Budget Priorities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, toured the Norfolk Naval Shipyard today and led a discussion with shipyard employees as part of a statewide effort to gather feedback ahead of the committee's negotiations on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the coming weeks. The NDAA authorizes funding for military programs during the next fiscal year. "Today is an opportunity to meet the men and women who are so critical to our national … Continue Reading
May 29, 2013
Kaine Statement On Governor McDonnell's Announcement Regarding Restoration of Rights
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell's announcement regarding the restoration of voting rights to nonviolent felons who have completed their sentences. As governor, Kaine restored the rights of more than 4,400 Virginians and worked to increase the availability of applications and timeliness of his administration's responses to restoration requests: "I applaud Governor McDonnell for his work to expedite the … Continue Reading
May 29, 2013
Kaine Meets With Top Officials At United Nations Headquarters
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, participated in a series of meetings with top United Nations officials on Tuesday, May 28 at the organization's headquarters in New York City including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, United States Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice, UN Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, U.S. Representative to the UN for UN Management and Reform Joseph Torsella, and Deputy Executive Director … Continue Reading
May 27, 2013
Kaine Attends Memorial Day Events to Honor Fallen Heroes
RICHMOND, VA - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Virginians this weekend at Memorial Day events to pay tribute to the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in service to our country. In Richmond on Friday, Kaine joined veterans and community members at the annual Hunter Holmes McGuire Medical Center Memorial Day program and spoke to the sacrifices made by members of the military throughout our nation's history. "We will never … Continue Reading
May 23, 2013
Bipartisan Virginia Delegation Calls for Long Overdue Federal Recognition for Virginia Indian Tribes
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Tim Kaine joined Senator Mark R. Warner, Congressmen Rob Wittman (R-01), Bobby Scott (D-03), Gerry Connolly (D-11), Congressman Jim Moran (D-08) and members of Virginia tribes to announce legislation to grant federal recognition to six Virginia Native American tribes. The bill, the "Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Act" was introduced by Moran and Kaine in the House and Senate, respectively. The legislation would grant federal recognition to the … Continue Reading
