Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, took to the Senate floor again today to call for an end to Republican obstruction on the budget. In his remarks, Kaine noted the proposed budget would replace the sequester cuts in the next fiscal year which have caused 800,000 furloughs of Department of Defense civilian employees this year, including 90,000 in Virginia. “As we’ve taken steps to begin a budget conference, again and again individ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in response to Virginia Tech President Charles Steger’s retirement announcement: "Virginia Tech has made huge progress under the leadership of Charles Steger.  I join Hokies in congratulating him for his long and distinguished service and wish the Board of Visitors well as they search for the next President of this fine University." ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in response to recent reports the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeted organizations based on ideology: “I am very concerned about allegations the IRS targeted certain groups seeking tax-exempt status on political grounds, including a Virginia-based organization. There’s no excuse for ideological discrimination in our system. The Administration should take swift action to get to the bottom of thi...Continue Reading

Background:America’s historic battlefields allow us to experience the epic battles that defined our nation.  From the Revolutionary War to the War of 1812 to the Civil War, preserving these American historic treasures helps to educate future generations about our rich cultural history and to commemorate the sacrifices made to secure our freedom. Unfortunately, suburban sprawl and haphazardly-planned development are encroaching on many of these significant battlefields. Only about 20 p...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) visited Slaughter Pen battlefield today to announce his second bill, the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act. The bipartisan bill introduced by Kaine and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) during the sesquicentennial of the Civil War will preserve historical battlegrounds by reauthorizing the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program (CWBPP) that provides competitive federal grants to match private and non-profit donat...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today highlighted more than $2.5 million that’s being made available for 24 Virginia community health centers as a result of the Affordable Care Act. Last year, the 24 eligible health centers served 283,906 Virginians. “Community health centers play a critical role in providing quality care to Virginians and are on the front lines of our health care system,” said Kaine. “I’m pleased these new resources are being made a...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget committee, today criticized Republican obstruction of the budget process as they continue to object to appointing conference members. The most recent motion to appoint conferees was made today by Kaine’s Budget Committee colleague, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA). During Kaine’s speech on the floor, he noted that while there are signs of economic recovery, a budget deal between both houses is necessary f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, pressed top United States Air Force officials in a hearing today on the issue of sexual assault in the military including the arrest of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, chief of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response branch, on charges of sexual battery in Arlington, Virginia.  In his questioning, Kaine expressed his concern over the signal these news accounts send to current and future servi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act by a vote of 69 to 27. Last week, Kaine discussed the Marketplace Fairness Act across Virginia including in Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro, Falls Church and Leesburg: “Merchants across our Commonwealth play by the rules and collect sales tax but big internet retailers have been shielded from that same responsibility. I am pleased we took a bipartisan step...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine visited the Eden Center in Falls Church today to meet with members of the Asian-American business community and discuss the ways immigration reform would have a positive impact in the region and throughout Virginia. Kaine, a supporter of comprehensive immigration reform, noted that an improved legal system would continue to draw talent to Virginia’s schools and businesses and develop the state’s overall competitiveness. "For years we've...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine made stops in the Shenandoah Valley today including a roundtable with women business leaders at James Madison University in Harrisonburg and a downtown tour of Waynesboro to learn more about growing the economy in the region. In Harrisonburg and Waynesboro, Kaine discussed the importance of a business-friendly atmosphere to revitalizing local economies. Kaine also discussed the upcoming vote on the Marketplace Fairness Act to level the playing fiel...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Roanoke Mayor Dave Bowers and members of the local business community today to tour the city’s downtown and discuss economic development in the region. During the discussion, Kaine expressed his support for the Marketplace Fairness Act that will level the playing field for small businesses in Roanoke and across Virginia that are a major source of job creation. "I support the Marketplace Fairness Act for two reasons," said Kaine. "First...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, began his in-state work week in Emporia with families of National Guardsmen and women who were recently activated to discuss ways he can support them in the Senate and thank them for their sacrifices on behalf of the nation. The Emporia-based unit will be the first Virginia National Guard unit to enter federal active duty since last year. "When I sit in Budget Committee hearings or Armed Services hearings ...Continue Reading

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 ...Continue Reading

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 a...Continue Reading

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 wee...Continue Reading

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
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(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mark Begich (D-AK), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Al Franken (D-MN), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to urge Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi and other members of the Un...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Budget Committees, visited HDT Robotics today for a discussion about budget uncertainty and the need for Congress to finish FY2013 appropriations and pass an FY2014 budget.  Kaine began with a discussion on how Congress’ habit of “budgeting by crisis” has affected businesses like HDT Robotics. During a tour of the Fredericksburg defense contractor, he discussed his efforts to find op...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a new member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, continued his defense tour across Virginia today with stops in Staunton, Stafford, and Quantico to discuss the harmful impact budget uncertainty and sequestration are already having on military readiness and the future of our national defense. Kaine began the day in Staunton, meeting with members of the Virginia National Guard 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and touring their facilities. The 11...Continue Reading