Press Releases
Kaine Urges Leader McConnell To Let The Senate Vote On Legislation To Address Gun Violence
Watch the floor speech here. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered a floor speech honoring the victims of gun violence tragedies, including in Virginia Beach and at Virginia Tech, and calling on Majority Leader McConnell to let the Senate vote on gun violence prevention measures, including universal background checks and high-capacity magazine limits. On the Senate floor, Kaine shared the story of Liviu Librescu, a Holocaust survivor and one of the 32 victims of the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Warner, Kaine Praise Warren County Inclusion Into Program to Combat Drug Trafficking
~ Designation will direct additional federal resources to Warren County to help combat opioid epidemic ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released a statement today following a decision by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to include Warren County in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program: "Despite increased public awareness about the dangers of opioids, this epidemic continues to devastate families all across the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Warner, Kaine Announce More than $100,000 for Chickahominy Environmental Efforts
~ Federal dollars will help the Chickahominy Indian Tribe develop a tribal land environmental program ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today announced $110,000 in federal funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will help the Chickahominy Indian Tribe build environmental capacity. "Last year, we fought for the federal government to finally recognize the Chickahominy tribe, allowing it to compete for educational programs and … Continue Reading
September 10, 2019
Kaine To Senate Republicans: ‘If You Won’t Stand Up For The Men And Women In Our Military, Who Will You Stand Up For?’
Watch the full floor speech here. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered a floor speech condemning the Trump Administration for taking $3.6 billion away from military construction projects, including $77,120,000 from projects in Virginia, to build portions of the border wall that the President promised Mexico would pay for. In his speech, Kaine highlighted examples of defunded projects across the country that will lose funding and called on Senate Republicans to oppose … Continue Reading
September 05, 2019
Kaine Statement On Trump Administration Denying 99% Of Loan Forgiveness Requests Under New TEPSLF Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement on the GAO report concluding that ninety-nine percent of loan-forgiveness requests under the new Temporary Expanded Public Service Loan Forgiveness (TEPSLF) program were rejected during the program's first year, from May 2018 to May 2019: "We created a fix to this program and provided the Trump Administration with hundreds of … Continue Reading
September 04, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce Nearly $1.5 Million In Federal Funding For Virginia Fire Departments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $1,455,722.85 in federal funding for the Lexington, Manassas, Bristol, and Portsmouth Fire Departments. The funding will be awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. "It's crucial for firefighters to have the tools necessary to best serve their communities," the Senators said. "We're pleased to announce this funding to help local fire departments … Continue Reading
September 04, 2019
Warner & Kaine Slam Trump Plan To Raid Virginia Military Construction Projects To Build Border Wall
Trump plan takes $77,120,000 away from military construction projects in Virginia WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine condemned the Trump Administration's plans to build portions of President Trump's border wall by diverting $3.6 billion in military construction funds, including by taking funding from four projects in Virginia: "The decision by the President to divert funding meant to support U.S. national security interests so that he can build a border … Continue Reading
August 29, 2019
Kaine Presses Trump Administration On Deportation “Death Sentences” For Immigrants With Serious Medical Conditions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine sent a letter pressing Acting DHS Secretary McAleenan on reports that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) sent letters to immigrants with serious medical conditions indicating that the agency will no longer consider most deferrals of deportation and that such decisions will now be made by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Extreme medical need in many of these cases reportedly includes patients and guardians of … Continue Reading
August 28, 2019
Va. & Md. Senators Question Decision to Reduce Payments for Employees Affected by Relocation of USDA Research Agencies
~ Express concern over rushed timelines for employees, payments $15,000 below what is standard ~ WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explain its decision to reduce payments to Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) employees who have declined to relocate to Kansas City following the Trump … Continue Reading
August 27, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce $125,000 In Federal Funding For Emergency Responders To Purchase Updated Equipment
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $125,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update outdated equipment at police and fire departments in Augusta County, Halifax County, and the town of Glade Spring. The funding will help improve emergency response times and public safety in these communities. "The men and women serving our communities need functional, up-to-date equipment that allows them to effectively do their jobs," … Continue Reading
August 27, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce more than $8 Million for Affordable Housing in Virginia
~ Funding will target housing needs for low- and moderate-income individuals, including homeless Virginians and those living with HIV/AIDS ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today announced $8,288,283 in federal funding to support access to safe and affordable housing in Richmond and Suffolk. This funding, from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was awarded through four grant programs - the Community Development Block Grant … Continue Reading
August 27, 2019
Warner and Kaine Join Murray, Democrats Opposing Labor Department Proposal to Create Duplicative, Lower-Quality Unregistered Apprenticeships
In letter, 45 Senators urge Department to reconsider proposed rule and extend comment period Senators: "The Department's proposal is yet one more attempt to undermine the Nation's registered apprenticeship system, which has existed for 80 years and enjoys broad support from Congress, workers, and industry alike." WASHINGTON, D.C. - Led by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, 45 Senators sent a letter to Acting … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $3 Million In Federal Funding To Support Addiction Treatment At Virginia Health Clinics
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $3,426,635 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for 21 Virginia health clinics. These grants will expand access to integrated mental health and substance use disorder services as part of an ongoing effort to combat the addiction crisis. "This federal funding will help ensure that these clinics can continue to provide lifesaving treatment for addiction," the Senators … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $17 Million In Head Start Funding For Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $17,417,978 in federal grant funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Head Start programs throughout Virginia. "The Head Start program plays an important role in helping schools and organizations across the Commonwealth get the resources they need to support young children," the Senators said. "We're excited to announce this funding that promotes early childhood development." The … Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Warner & Kaine Join Colleagues To Urge Trump Administration To Reject $100 Billion Tax Cut For Wealthy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 39 colleagues in urging Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin against unilaterally cutting capital gains taxes for the wealthiest Americans by an additional $100 billion over 10 years, an action that would defy longstanding Justice Department policy. The request follows a letter signed by 21 Republican senators urging Secretary Mnuchin to circumvent Congress and index capital gains rates to … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Kaine Joins Letter To Education Department, IRS To Help Students’ Access Financial Aid
Senators' Letter Highlights Changes to Tax Form That Could Disrupt Students' FAFSA Applications WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senator Maggie Hassan and 8 of their colleagues on a letter urging the Department of Education and the IRS to ensure changes on tax forms following passage of the Republican tax law do not jeopardize students' access to financial aid. In an attempt to make good on Congressional Republicans' political promise that their tax law would allow people to … Continue Reading
August 07, 2019
Warner, Kaine Urge Secretary DeVos To Fulfill Her Responsibility And Help Students Impacted By Sudden Closures Of For-Profit Colleges
After collapse of three for-profit colleges, Department of Education does little to help affected students WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Patty Murray and 27 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urging the Department of Education to fulfill its duty by providing assistance to the 32,000 students that have been impacted by the recent and sudden closures of three for-profit college chains: Education … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Warner & Kaine Now Accepting Applications For U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine are now accepting applications for the position of U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia to succeed U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, who has announced she will take senior status effective August 1, 2019. An independent panel of lawyers assembled by the Senators will review applications and interview qualified individuals. The Senators will then use those recommendations, as well as input from bar … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Kaine Joins Colleagues to Call for Inclusion of Bipartisan Iran Amendment in Final NDAA
Bipartisan, bicameral group of 28 lawmakers call for final defense bill to include amendment prohibiting unauthorized and unconstitutional war with Iran WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and U.S. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of 28 lawmakers in calling on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to include a bipartisan amendment to prohibit unconstitutional war with Iran in the final … Continue Reading
August 02, 2019
Warner & Kaine Join Colleagues To Urge VA Secretary To End Anti-Worker, Anti-Union Negotiation Tactics
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Sherrod Brown and 31 of their Democratic colleagues in urging Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie to abandon the Department's current destructive approach to ongoing negotiations with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Despite VA and AFGE's history of engaging in good-faith negotiations that equally benefit employees, veterans and the Department, the current negotiating … Continue Reading
