Press Releases
Kaine Statement On Passage Of The VA Mission Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on final passage of the VA Mission Act, legislation he supports to consolidate all community care programs under the Department of Veterans Affairs, which includes the VA Choice program, and provide an additional year of funding for the Choice program until the consolidation. The legislation passed the Senate today by a bipartisan vote of 92-5: "The VA Mission Act is a … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
In Wake Of Niger Report, Kaine Calls On DOD To Provide Details On Advise & Assist Missions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis to request more details regarding the Department of Defense's train, advise, assist, and accompany missions in Africa and across the globe. Kaine's letter comes in the wake of an investigation that determined the mission in Niger that ended in the death of four American servicemembers was inaccurately presented as a 'train … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Warner & Kaine Join Bipartisan Bill To Legalize Hemp
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have cosponsored the Hemp Farming Act of 2018, a bipartisan bill that would legalize and clearly define hemp as an agricultural commodity, removing it from the list of controlled substances. Currently, hemp falls under the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act and, while it is cultivated for research purposes in Virginia, the agriculture industry cannot currently grow it for commercial use. Hemp is distinct from … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $43 Million For Housing & Infrastructure Projects Across Virginia
~ Funds awarded to support the development and well-being of communities across Virginia ~ WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $43,246,753 in federal funding to support affordable housing development across Virginia. The funding, which will go to 26 municipalities across the Commonwealth, has been awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund. "Families all across the Commonwealth should have … Continue Reading
May 18, 2018
Warner & Kaine Join Bipartisan Letter In Support Of Rural Broadband Improvements
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a bipartisan letter calling on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to support long-term funding that would make broadband and voice services more accessible and affordable in rural communities. In the letter, the Senators thank the FCC for its work to support rural broadband and request that it prevent upcoming funding cuts to smaller operators that deliver broadband to the country's most rural communities, … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Warner & Kaine Urge Trump Administration To Stop Sabotaging Health Insurance Market, Hurting Virginians
~ Encourage HHS Secretary to work with Congress on bipartisan proposals to stabilize marketplace and address double-digit health insurance premium increases ~ WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar, urging him to take swift action to stabilize the insurance marketplace. On May 4, the majority of health insurers filed initial rates with the Virginia Bureau of Insurance proposing to … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Warner & Kaine Vote To Save Net Neutrality
~ Senate passes bill to reverse Trump Administration action, preserve a free and open internet ~ WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) voted in favor of a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to undo the Trump Administration's repeal of net neutrality rules. In February 2018, Sens. Warner and Kaine joined a group of Senate and House Democrats in introducing the CRA to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) partisan vote to repeal open … Continue Reading
May 16, 2018
Warner & Kaine Express Opposition To Domestic Gag Rule On Title X
~ New gag rule would interfere with doctors' ability to provide patients information about reproductive care ~ *Click here to see a list of Va. health centers that receive Title X funding* WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined more than two hundred of their Senate and House colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar expressing opposition to the implementation of a domestic gag rule on Title X, the only … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Warner & Kaine Call On Trump Administration To Put American Jobs, National Security Before China
~ Senators say trading American security for jobs in China is a bad deal ~ WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined a group of 33 Senators calling on the Trump Administration to put American jobs and national security ahead of China. The Senators wrote a letter to the Administration in response to President Trump's announcement that he has directed the Department of Commerce to look at easing penalties imposed on China-based company ZTE for violations … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Kaine Cosponsors Bipartisan Sentencing Reform Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senator Tim Kaine has joined a bipartisan group of his colleagues to cosponsor the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act-bipartisan, comprehensive legislation to narrow the scope of mandatory minimum prison sentences for nonviolent drug offenders, target violent and career criminals and save taxpayer dollars. The legislation permits more judicial discretion at sentencing for offenders with minimal criminal histories and helps inmates successfully reenter society, while … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Warner & Kaine Announce Nearly $1.2 Million To Help William & Mary Recruit STEM Teachers
~ Funds will be used to place 33 new teachers in schools in Gloucester, New Kent, York, Williamsburg-James City, Newport News and Hampton ~ WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the College of William and Mary (W&M) will receive $1,199,858 in federal funding to recruit Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) students to become secondary school mathematics and science teachers. "This critical funding will support the … Continue Reading
May 11, 2018
Kaine Statement Opposing Gina Haspel's Nomination For CIA Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees released the following statement announcing his opposition to Acting Director Gina Haspel's nomination for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: "There have been many casualties of the war against terrorism; among them was the moral judgment by those in our government who were complicit in the use of torture. Gina Haspel has served this country with dedication and … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Kaine Statement On Niger Report
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 a Pentagon report outlined multiple failures that led to the deaths of four American troops in Niger last year: "Today's report about the tragic deaths of American and Nigerien troops in Niger last October is deeply troubling. Our troops were in Niger to 'train and equip' the Nigerien military. They embarked on a mission described as … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Visa Program For Afghan Interpreters, Support Staff
Legislation would authorize 4,000 additional visas for individuals who risked their lives to protect Americans WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce legislation to further extend the Afghan Special Immigrant Visa program (SIV). The program allows Afghans who have supported the U.S. mission in Afghanistan and face threats as … Continue Reading
May 10, 2018
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $9 Million In Head Start Funding For Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $9,442,626 million in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Head Start programs throughout Virginia. "We are thrilled to announce funding through Head Start to ensure young children in Virginia have the resources they need," the Senators said. "We strongly believe in efforts to support early childhood development that can promote kids' readiness for school and … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Kaine Provisions To Protect Tangier Island And Coastal Virginia Included In Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine praised the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) for including his provisions to initiate new flood-resilience projects for Tangier Island and Coastal Virginia in its draft water resources bill. The EPW Committee's draft of the America's Water Infrastructure Act includes two provisions that will result in roadmaps for new resilient infrastructure-a broad plan for the entire coastal region of Virginia and a specific one for … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Warner & Kaine Announce $94.8 Million In Grants For Housing & Infrastructure Projects Across Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $94,819,202 in federal funding to help Virginia communities with housing and infrastructure projects. The funding, which will go to more than 30 locations across Virginia, will be awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), HOME, and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Kaine Statement On The Release Of Three Americans Wrongly Detained In North Korea
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today on the release of three Americans wrongly detained in North Korea: "I welcome the long-overdue release of these three Americans, including former Virginia resident Kim Dong-chul who has been wrongly detained for nearly three years. This is a positive development, but the North Korean regime must be held accountable for its appalling pattern … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Kaine Statement On Trump Decision To Exit Iran Nuclear Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today on President Trump's decision to break the U.S. commitment to the Iran nuclear agreement, despite Iran's compliance with the deal: "President Trump showed us again today that when he says 'America First,' he actually means 'America alone.' By violating the Iran deal, the President is creating a new nuclear crisis while we're trying to … Continue Reading
May 07, 2018
Warner & Kaine Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Dedicating The Week Of May 6 As Public Service Recognition Week
~ Virginia is home to one of the highest concentrations of federal employees in the country ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined a group of Senators in honoring the critical work of federal, state, county, and local government employees and members of the uniformed services by passing a bipartisan resolution designating May 6-12, 2018 as Public Service Recognition Week. Virginia is home to one of the highest concentrations of federal employees in the … Continue Reading
