Press Releases
Sens. Warner, Kaine Join Bipartisan Letter Urging President To Move To Reduce V-A Claims Backlog
WASHINGTON -U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to take action to reduce the current backlog of veterans' disability claims. Currently, the average claim takes over 300 days to be resolved. In the letter, Sens. Warner and Kaine, who were joined by 65 other members of the Senate, cited long delays in cities across the country in making the case for swift action to reduce the backlog. "After a decade of war, and despite the … Continue Reading
April 24, 2013
In Armed Services Hearing, Kaine Raises Skepticism On Savings From Proposed BRAC Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Service Committee, today questioned defense officials on their proposal for another Defense Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission. Kaine continued to raise skepticism at the actual savings such a process would yield as opposed to focusing on other savings like the reduction of overseas bases. "If there have been five BRAC rounds adding up to $12 billion in annual savings that's about $2.5 billion per round in a $3.6 … Continue Reading
April 24, 2013
Kaine Announces Additional Members Of Senate Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today announced additional members of his Virginia based Senate staff. "I'm proud to announce additional members of my Virginia-based team. This diverse group of very talented individuals performs important casework, constituent services and outreach to individuals and groups around the state," said Kaine. "The appointment of two new regional directors will allow our Danville office to open immediately and a Roanoke office to open soon. I am pleased … Continue Reading
April 23, 2013
Kaine Presses Shinseki On Website Loophole That Delayed Treatment For Virginia Veteran
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services and Budget Committees, today questioned Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki on backlogged requests to the VA, including serious delays in mental health care treatment Virginia veterans have experienced due to a loophole Kaine recently learned of in a website application form. "I am kind of stunned as I hear that we did not have a credible system for dealing electronically with vets claims until you started to do … Continue Reading
April 22, 2013
Kaine Talks Immigration, Talent Issues At A Technology Company In Reston
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today visited Oracle, a global technology company in Reston, to meet with leaders of the Northern Virginia technology corridor and discuss his efforts to help their businesses grow and thrive, including a comprehensive solution to the nation's broken immigration system. Kaine has advocated comprehensive immigration reform as an important way to attract talent to Virginia businesses that will help them compete and has voiced support for the bipartisan … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Kaine Statement On Gun Violence Votes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement regarding the votes today on gun violence measures: "On the sixth anniversary of the horrible shootings at Virginia Tech yesterday, I took to the Senate floor to remember the 32 Hokies who lost their lives. The tragedy happened after a dangerous young man illegally purchased weapons due to flaws in the background records check system. "I told the story of Liviu Librescu, a professor who lost his life barricading a … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Kaine Statement On Bipartisan Immigration Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 introduced by Senators Schumer, McCain, Durbin, Graham, Menendez, Rubio, Bennet and Flake: "I am strongly encouraged by this bipartisan bill to fix our broken immigration system. The proposal strengthens border security, creates a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, helps reunite families and … Continue Reading
April 17, 2013
Kaine Presses Hagel, Dempsey On Sequester, BRAC
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, questioned Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey on the impact of sequestration cuts on readiness, as well as how the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) proposal in the defense budget would potentially affect Virginia and whether it's the best way to reduce overall costs. "I worry about the sturm und drang of BRAC. When BRAC is announced what … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Kaine, Chambliss, Baucus Introduce Troop Talent Act of 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced the Troop Talent Act of 2013. The bipartisan bill will help ease the transition of servicemembers from active duty to the civilian workforce by improving the alignment of specialty skills acquired in the military with civilian credentials or licenses required for post-service employment. The Troop Talent Act is Kaine's first bill in the U.S. Senate. Last week, Kaine, … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Kaine Announces Support For Burwell Nomination During Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Budget Committee, participated in the confirmation hearing of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director nominee Sylvia Mathews Burwell today. During the hearing, Kaine announced his support for her nomination based on her decades of experience and track record of bipartisanship. "I think you are the right person for the job at this challenging time and as we wrestle with finding a big picture budget deal. Your combined experience … Continue Reading
April 10, 2013
Kaine Statement On White House Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to the Fiscal Year 2014 budget proposed by the White House today: "The President's budget proposal is a good faith effort to find real compromise between the House and Senate budgets. I'm encouraged by ongoing conversations among my Senate colleagues and look forward to working toward a final budget … Continue Reading
April 09, 2013
Sens. Warner & Kaine Urge Confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner as CMS Administrator
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sens, Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today urged Senate confirmation of the Presidential nomination of Marilyn B. Tavenner of Virginia to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS is the lead federal agency responsible for health care for millions of Americans through its administration of Medicare, Medicaid and programs related to implementation of The Affordable Care Act. The senators, joined today by U.S. House of … Continue Reading
April 05, 2013
Kaine Tours Assateague Island, Meets With Local Leaders in Chincoteague
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine held a roundtable with Mayor John Tarr and other local leaders in Chincoteague today following a tour of Assateague Island. During the tour of Assateague, Kaine visited the beach and discussed the issue of preserving access to Assateague beach with Park Service and Fish & Wildlife Service officials, noting that preservation of this Virginia landmark needs to remain a top priority while still protecting Chincoteague's local economy that relies … Continue Reading
April 04, 2013
Kaine Tours NASA Facility On Wallops Island
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine toured the NASA Facility on Wallops Island today and spoke with employees about the planned launch of the Antares rocket in April and other projects at the flight facility. During his visit, Kaine toured the Antares rocket at the Horizontal Integration Facility and later viewed the pad it will launch from. The Antares rocket will be launched April 17th and will get stood up vertically on the pad on Saturday. Throughout the tour, Kaine discussed the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2013
Kaine Discusses First Bill in Lynchburg, Charlottesville
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine participated in a roundtable with veterans in Lynchburg today to discuss the announcement of his first bill, the Troop Talent Act, which would improve and streamline credentialing for veterans. In the afternoon, Kaine gave a guest lecture to Dr. Larry Sabato's class at the University of Virginia during which he reflected on his first few months as a Senator and outlined his bill that would help ease the transition of servicemembers from active duty to … Continue Reading
April 02, 2013
Kaine Announces First Bill To Increase & Streamline Credentialing For Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, today announced his first bill, the Troop Talent Act of 2013, at the American Legion Headquarters in Richmond. The bill will help ease the transition of servicemembers from active duty to the civilian workforce by improving the alignment of skills acquired in the military with civilian certifications or licenses required for post-service employment. During Kaine's travels across Virginia, he has heard from … Continue Reading
April 02, 2013
FACT SHEET: Troop Talent Act of 2013
Background: The Troop Talent Act of 2013 will help ease the transition of servicemembers from active duty to the civilian workforce by improving the alignment of specialty skills acquired in the military with civilian credentials or licenses required for post-service employment, expanding existing efforts to meet current workforce demands and match the skills of servicemembers with growth industries, and implementing rigorous standards to ensure credentials translate into the private … Continue Reading
April 01, 2013
Kaine Tours Defense Installations, Meets with Military Families in Hampton Roads
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, toured military bases in Hampton and Virginia Beach today where he discussed the importance of budget certainty for the defense community. In the afternoon, Kaine met with military families in Norfolk to discuss steps to increase support for servicemembers and their families as well as ease the transition from active duty to civilian life and employment. Kaine began the day with a visit to Langley Air … Continue Reading
March 23, 2013
Kaine Statement On Passage of Senate Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on the passage of a budget out of the full Senate this morning: "I'm proud of the work we did on the Budget Committee to develop a balanced plan that will spur economic growth while putting us on a path to replacing harmful sequester cuts and responsibly reducing our deficit. I was pleased to join my colleagues in voting for its passage out of the Senate. After four years … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Kaine To Chair Mexico Interparliamentary Group
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was appointed Chairman for the Mexico Interparliamentary Group (IPG) by Senator Harry Reid. The IPG is the official dialogue mechanism between the United States Senate and the Mexican government. "I'm honored to chair this group that is an important avenue for open discussion and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, our third-largest trading partner," said Kaine. "I look forward to … Continue Reading
