Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced a Senate Resolution to express the importance of strengthening the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership to promote stability, democracy, and economic prosperity in the 21st century. The Senators call for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be invited to address the United States Congress at the earliest opportunity, and for the U.S. to develop a clear strategic plan for its r...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine met with White House Drug Policy Acting Director Michael Botticelli to discuss the opioid crisis in Virginia and next steps to combat the epidemic. Last month, Kaine praised Botticelli’s announcement in Roanoke that the Administration plans to direct $25.5 billion toward public health and criminal justice initiatives that will help tackle rapidly growing rates of prescription painkiller and heroin abuse across the country. “Drug ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the 49th anniversary of the signing of Medicare, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered remarks on the Senate floor to highlight the positive findings of the 2014 Medicare Trustees Report released earlier this week. According to the report, the life of the Trust Fund has been extended to 2030, up from its projection of 2017 in 2009, and Part B premiums are expected to stay the same rather than increase for the second year in a row. The report also indicates that refo...Continue Reading

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), and U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-1st), Scott Rigell (R-2nd) and Bobby Scott (D-3rd) today met with U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary Kathleen Ferguson, Deputy Chief Management Officer Mr. Bill Booth and Major General Theresa Carter for a briefing on proposed personnel reductions at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia.  Today’s meeting followed a July 15th letter sent to by the Virginia delegation to the ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) to introduce the Domestic Violence Gun Homicide Prevention Act of 2014, legislation that would encourage states to remove firearms from domestic abusers. The senators presented their bill at a press conference where they were joined by Merry Jackson, whose daughter Lori Jackson was shot and killed this year by her estranged husband, who was under a temporary restraining...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) joined U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and a Maryland business owner Tuesday in calling for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank – a key tool to helping small businesses sell their goods overseas and create jobs back home. Without Congressional action, the Bank’s charter will expire in 64 days. The Senators called for a long-term extensi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after the Senate voted to confirm Robert McDonald as Secretary of Veterans Affairs: “I’m proud to join my Senate colleagues in confirming Robert McDonald to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I believe Mr. McDonald - a decorated U.S. Army veteran with years of management experience in the private sector -  is the right kind of leader to implement the systemic changes we need at the VA...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in response to today’s Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to strike down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage in Bostic v. Rainey: “Today's decision is a victory for the Virginia value of equality. I campaigned against the ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in 2006 and was very disappointed when it passed. I am gratified that the 4th Circuit Court has recognized that ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the passing of former Congressman Caldwell Butler of Roanoke: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our close family friend, former Congressman Caldwell Butler. Anne and I send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones and the entire Roanoke community. I will always admire Congressman Butler’s courageous decision to do what he believed was right, regardless of politics. He will be remem...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the deal announced by House and Senate negotiators today to improve veterans’ access to health care and address serious problems facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): “I’m heartened that bipartisan negotiators were able to reach a deal that will help ensure veterans receive the timely, high-quality care they deserve from the VA,” said Kaine, who was an original co-sponsor of the ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the opening of the Silver Line: “Today is an exciting day. Working on Phase 1 of the Silver Line remains one of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on in my 20 years of public service. In Northern Virginia, it has been a long-held dream to extend the Metro to this corridor. The Silver Line will boost the regional economy, improve daily life for thousands of commuters, and ultimately enabl...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine called for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), highlighting how Ex-Im provides critical financing assistance to Virginia businesses that helps them increase their exports and create jobs across the Commonwealth – all at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Kaine shared stories of four Virginia companies who have benefited from Ex-Im’s assistance: Orbital Sciences Co...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, co-sponsored three bills to make post-secondary education and career-training programs more affordable. “The set of bills I am co-sponsoring today represent the type of comprehensive approach we need to make post-secondary education more affordable,” said Kaine. “In addition to increasing students’ access to Pell Grants and low-risk student loa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today: “I am heartbroken for the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives at the Cherrystone Campground today, as well as those who were injured in this storm. I stand ready to help the Eastern Shore community recover in whatever ways I can.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine applauded the measures announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) to improve the safety of crude oil rail shipments. Following the derailment of 17 tank cars carrying crude oil in downtown Lynchburg in April, Warner and Kaine urged Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to take action on areas of concern raised by the incident. DoT’s proposal includes several of the measures Warner and Kaine recommended...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, hosted a Senate briefing with Chief Representative of the Palestinian Delegation in Washington Maen Areikat to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank: “The deteriorating situation in Gaza is one of grave concern, especially the increasing death toll of Palestinian civilians, Israeli citizens, and Israeli soldiers...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the escalating conflict in Gaza: "The escalating conflict between Hamas and Israel is deeply tragic and inflicts serious damage on the people in Israel and Gaza. Based on a cynical political calculation, Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, appears to be intentionally disrupting any chance for progress on peace discussions between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Hamas's decision to escalate rocke...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17:  "Yesterday's shocking missile attack on a Malaysian Air flight over Ukraine rips away the last pretense regarding Vladimir Putin's intentions.  By encouraging and arming separatists in eastern Ukraine, Putin has shown a complete disregard for the sovereignty of that nation. If investigators confirm it to be true that the separatists engaged in this attack on...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Madam President, in the last year, I have been in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon to visit Syrian refugees and the organizations that work with them. I have seen the effect of refugees fleeing violence on these nations. Lebanon has four million people. They have to care for a million refugees from Syria. That is one in four members of their population. These countries, especially Jordan and Lebanon, are much smaller than the United States. They are much poorer than the United State...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with U.S. Congressman Jim Moran, applauded Department of Defense approval of a $23,798,603 grant to Fairfax County Public Schools for the renovation, repair and construction of new classrooms at Fort Belvoir Elementary School. The renovation project will help address the school’s capacity and building condition deficiencies. Following completion, Fort Belvoir Elementary School will serve more than 1,590 military...Continue Reading