Press Releases
Warner, Kaine Call on Administration for Sustained CEO Leadership to Fix Healthcare.Gov
WASHINGTON, D.C. - As Americans continue to experience technical difficulties with federal and state health insurance enrollment, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a coalition of Senators in calling on President Obama to quickly appoint a long-term replacement for Jeffrey Zients, who is departing to become director of the National Economic Council on January 2, to oversee the technical repair of healthcare.gov. In a letter delivered to the Administration today, the Senators … Continue Reading
November 24, 2013
Kaine Statement on Nuclear Deal with Iran
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, released the following statement from the 2013 Halifax International Security Forum on the first step agreement reached on Iran's nuclear program. Kaine is leading a U.S. Congressional delegation to the forum with Senator John McCain: "As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's death, I recall his wise commencement … Continue Reading
November 22, 2013
Advisory: Senators John McCain And Tim Kaine To Lead U.S. Delegation To The Halifax International Security Forum
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) will lead the U.S. Congressional delegation to the 2013 Halifax International Security Forum and hold a press conference at 4:00 p.m. AST tomorrow, Saturday, November 23, 2013. Other members of the delegation include Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Congressman Adam Kinzinger (IL-16). Delegation members will also participate in Halifax Forum panel discussions. PRESS CONFERENCE - SATURDAY, … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
State Department: Diplomatic Security Training Needs Are Best Met Using Fort Pickett Facility
Washington, D.C. - Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) released a letter today from the U.S. Department of State detailing how Fort Pickett, Virginia remains the most suitable location for a Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC), which provides critical training for U.S. diplomatic personnel serving in high-risk environments abroad. In response to a November 5 letter from Senator Kaine and Congressman Forbes to Secretary of State John Kerry … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Sens. Warner, Collins, Kaine & Grassley Introduce Legislation To Protect Military Whistleblowers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced proposals today to strengthen military whistleblower protection laws to ensure those who are courageous enough to report sexual assault and other misconduct are not further victimized by retaliation. The Military Whistleblower Protection Act is supported by over 50 good government, public health and veterans organizations, including the Service Women's Action Network, the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Kaine Joins 19 Senators In Bipartisan Effort To Grant Temporary Protected Status To Filipinos In Wake Of Typhoon Haiyan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined 19 of his Senate colleagues in calling on President Obama's administration to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Filipino nationals currently residing in the United States and to consider additional avenues of relief for certain Filipinos with U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident family members in the U.S. TPS is granted to foreign nationals who cannot safely return to their native country. "Typhoon Haiyan has wrought … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Kaine Statement On Senate Rules Change To End Gridlock
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after voting to ensure judicial nominees get an up-or-down vote on confirmation by eliminating the filibuster on all judicial nominations other than Supreme Court nominees: "Today I joined a majority of my Senate colleagues in taking an important step to ensure highly-qualified, non-controversial judicial nominees, including Virginia's own Pattie Millett, are given the up-or-down vote they deserve. "What we have … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Kaine Praises Passage Of Bipartisan Battlefield Protection Bill Out Of Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act, a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to preserve historical battlegrounds, was passed out of the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee on a voice vote. "Committee passage of this bipartisan bill is an important step toward preserving our nation's battlefields for future generations to enjoy," said Kaine. "This legislation will benefit Virginia and all states that are home to historic … Continue Reading
November 21, 2013
Joint Statement By U.S. Sens. Warner & Kaine On the SCC’s Finding On Continuation Of Existing Health Policies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released this statement following the announcement by the Virginia State Corporation Commission's Bureau of Insurance approving renewal of existing health insurance plans in the individual and small business markets, allowing policyholders to continue existing coverage through the end of 2014. In a letter to the SCC last week, Sens. Warner and Kaine urged state regulators to take action to help those Virginians who had concerns … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Kaine Introduces Bill To Boost Tourism At National Parks And Aid Local Economies
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced the Entrance Fee Suspension Act of 2013 today to encourage tourism at national parks and wildlife refuges and bolster local economies that were harmed by the 16-day government shutdown. The bill will assist businesses like Captain Steve's Bait and Tackle in Chincoteague and Carrot Tree Kitchens in Yorktown that lost revenue or were forced to close temporarily during the government shutdown because of national park closures. According to the … Continue Reading
November 20, 2013
Sens. Warner, Kaine Introduce Legislation To Authorize Expansion Of Petersburg National Battlefield
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced legislation that would authorize the National Park Service to acquire more than 7,000 acres to add to Petersburg National Battlefield. Purchase of the land would make the Petersburg National Battlefield the largest Civil War historic battlefield in the nation. The Petersburg National Battlefield Boundary Modification Act will not spend any money, only authorize the acquisition of land. The legislation also authorizes … Continue Reading
November 19, 2013
Kaine Statement On Guantanamo Bay Amendments To NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after voting on amendments to the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act regarding Guantanamo Bay. "Today I voted against an amendment to the defense bill that would have had the practical effect of keeping Guantanamo open indefinitely. After visiting the prison this summer, and after extensive discussion with our military leaders, I support common-sense provisions that allow the Administration flexibility in … Continue Reading
November 18, 2013
Kaine Praises Passage Of Compounding Pharmacies Bill To Prevent Future Outbreaks
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after final passage of the Drug Quality and Security Act, a bill to address the issue of quality of compounded drugs and the security of our nation's drug supply chain: "I'm pleased that a strong, bipartisan majority of the Senate came together today to pass this commonsense legislation that could prevent another outbreak like the one that took the lives of five Virginians and sickened dozens more last year. The … Continue Reading
November 15, 2013
Kaine & Warner Urge Virginia Insurance Commissioner To Allow Renewal Of Canceled Health Care Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner sent a letter to Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jacqueline Cunningham urging her to allow plans that had been canceled under the Affordable Care Act to be renewed for another year, giving Virginians more time to make the best health care choices for their families. Full text of the letter is below: November 15, 2013 Jacqueline K. CunninghamCommissioner of InsuranceCommonwealth of VirginiaBureau of InsuranceP.O. Box … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Kaine And Chambliss Introduce The Serve Act Of 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced the Servicemember Education Reform and Vocational Enhancement (SERVE) Act of 2013, a bill to improve the quality of educational programs for servicemembers and veterans and help them transition into the civilian workforce. The SERVE Act will raise minimum standards for programs that accept educational benefits from the Veterans Administration (VA) and … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
In Letter To Secretary Kerry, Kaine Calls For Free And Fair Elections In Honduras
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, and a dozen fellow senators sent a letter today to Secretary of State John Kerry calling for all possible efforts to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections in Honduras. "I'm very concerned by the ongoing violence in Honduras and the impact on the November 24 elections," said Kaine, who served as a missionary in Honduras in 1980. "We are receiving reports of threats against journalists and even … Continue Reading
November 13, 2013
Kaine Introduces Bill To Expand Access To High-Quality Early Education Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, U.S. Senator Kaine joined eight of his Senate colleagues to introduce the Strong Start for America's Children Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. Kaine has long-championed early childhood education, having worked with members of both parties as Governor to develop stronger Pre-K programs across Virginia and increase enrollment by 40 percent. Building on the framework put forward by President … Continue Reading
November 12, 2013
Kaine Statement On Filibuster Of Nina Pillard’s Nomination To The D.C. Circuit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after a minority in the Senate blocked the nomination of Nina Pillard to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit: "I'm disappointed Senate Republicans have chosen to block the nomination of another highly-qualified nominee to the D.C. Circuit. Nina Pillard is an accomplished litigator who has practiced law at every level of the legal system across the country. She successfully argued the … Continue Reading
November 08, 2013
Kaine to Announce Bill to Improve Veterans' Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine will announce the Servicemember Education Reform and Vocational Enhancement (SERVE) Act of 2013 at veterans events in Winchester and Richmond today. The SERVE Act, which is a companion to Kaine's first bill, the Troop Talent Act, will improve the quality of education received by servicemembers and veterans. The legislation will also create pilot programs to facilitate the use of veterans' education benefits for employment and on-the-job training … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Kaine on Senate Floor: Is There a Double Standard for Women Nominees to the DC Circuit?
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Speaking on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine addressed the pattern of Republican obstruction of women appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, raising the question of whether there is a double standard for women nominees to this court. Since Kaine took office eleven months ago, two supremely qualified women nominees, Caitlin Halligan and Patricia Millett, have been filibustered in part because of a Republican argument that the D.C. … Continue Reading
