Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Todd Young (R-IN) wrote a letter calling for investments in child care to be included in the forthcoming coronavirus (COVID-19) economic relief package. In the letter, Kaine and Young urged Senate leadership to increase funding, flexibility, and eligibility for the Child Care & Development Block Grant (CCDBG) to support child care providers and h...Continue Reading

To fill opening for U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division WASHINGTON, D.C.  – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to the White House recommending U.S. Magistrate Judge Roderick C. Young and U.S. Magistrate Judge Douglas E. Miller for the vacancy in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division.  “We are pleased to recommend U.S. Magistrate Judge Roderick C. Young and U.S. Ma...Continue Reading

Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill Builds off Rubio’s Plan Unveiled Last Month to Combat America’s Supply Chain Risk & Dependence on China for Pharmaceuticals Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Strengthening America’s Supply Chain and National Security Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that builds off the plan he released in February to combat America’s supply chain risk and dependence on China for pharmaceuticals. More than a year ag...Continue Reading

~ Urge increased public information on the services Americans can expect as federal government ramps up teleworking ~ WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senator Mark R. Warner and six of their Senate colleagues in a letter to the Acting Directors of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) calling on the agencies to post department and agency contingency plans amid the COVID-19 outbreak so that Americans kno...Continue Reading

 Video of Kaine’s speech: https://timkaine.app.box.com/s/kfbiksdlvhtp2kbmgzocaco5ysb9u6od WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, delivered a floor speech outlining the next steps Congress and the Trump Administration must take to combat the coronavirus pandemic and the economic dislocation resulting from it. “We need to overcome the shockingly poor start to testing Americans for...Continue Reading

Bill would reinforce federal support for national network of Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, which provide critical resources for small and medium manufacturers  WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.), Cory Gardner (R-Col.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.)  introduced the MEP Crisis Response Act of 2020, which would help Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers stay open duri...Continue Reading

The New Business Preservation Act would create a program at the Treasury Department to partner with states to make equity investments in promising new businesses alongside private investors      WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Angus King (I-ME) introduced legislation to strengthen young businesses across the country. The New Business Preservation Act would create a new program at the ...Continue Reading

~ In letter to State Corporation Commission, Senators ask for expansion of existing moratorium on service disconnections for electricity, gas and water ~ WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) urged the body that regulates public utilities including electricity, natural gas and water in Virginia to promptly issue an order suspending the charging of late fees through the duration of Virginia’s state of emergency due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbr...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate approved bipartisan coronavirus relief legislation, sending it to President Trump’s desk for signature. “This legislation is a critical step forward to support workers and families impacted by the coronavirus. We’re pleased the bill includes our priorities to guarantee free coronavirus testing and establish paid sick leave for some American workers. This is one ...Continue Reading

Senators Propose Bold Plan to Lift Up Families Hurt by Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the economic fallout of the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak escalates, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer outlining a bold new proposal to provide Americans with direct cash payments. “Over the course of just one week, most of America went from business-as-usual to a virtual shutdown. Wo...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined 27 of his Senate colleagues in urging President Trump to use his existing authority to help address widespread shortages of medical equipment as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a letter sent to President Trump, the Senators pushed the president to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), which authorizes the president to strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity and supply in extraordinary circumstances, and to direct t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senator Elizabeth Warren and 14 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, head of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and Assistant Secretary of Health Brett Giroir, coordinator for diagnostic testing efforts, requesting information on the Trump Administration’s failure to ensure that diagnostic tests are availab...Continue Reading

State officials announced a case of COVID-19 at a long-term care facility in Virginia today WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined more than 30 of their Democratic colleagues to press the Coronavirus Task Force on their preparedness and response plans for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Senators sent three letters to the Trump Administration regarding the safety of people living in nursing homes, the ability of seniors living in the community to...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Chris Van Hollen, along with 24 of their colleagues, in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the Administration has issued guidance recommending agencies expand their telework capabilities, too many federal employees are still required to come to work in-person when the...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) as well as Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) sent a letter to the financial regulators asking them to take action to mitigate the adverse impacts of the coronavirus on workers in the hospitality and tourism industry. The letter was sent to Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve; Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency; Jelena McWilliams, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporati...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation to provide federally-funded unemployment assistance to affected individuals. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act would create a temporary unemployment compensation program to provide benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of the coronavirus. “The spread of COVID-19 risks serious economic impacts on American workers and families, especially those who are f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing legislation to prohibit employers from firing, punishing, or otherwise discriminating against a worker who is quarantined or isolated—or who is caring for a family member in quarantine or isolation—amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Especially during this public health emergency, we need to ensure...Continue Reading

Bill Would Provide Free Diagnostic Testing And Related Health Care Services For Americans Receiving Tests To Confirm Coronavirus Infection WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their colleagues in introducing the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, legislation that would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for individ...Continue Reading

Senators Emphasize That Use Of $40+ Billion In Funds Could Alleviate Strain On Local Governments And Would Help Mitigate Disease Spread, Save Lives, And Protect Public Health And Safety   WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined his colleagues in a letter urging President Trump to immediately consider any disaster declaration requests so states can utilize the $42.6 billion currently available...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after the House passed his bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran without congressional authorization by a vote of 227-186: “For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made ...Continue Reading