Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify Americans’ right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its decision in Griswold v. Connecticut. The introduction follows Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion in D...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services—like birth control, cancer screenings, and more—by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning Program. “For over 50 years, Title X has provid...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation to protect access to mail-order medication abortion in states where abortion is still available. Specifically, the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would codify Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines issued during the COVID pandemic so that women can continue to access abortion medications through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies. “Telemedicine is a critical tool f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) along with Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) today sent a letter to Dr. Taquisa K. Simmons, executive director of the Hampton Veterans Affairs health care system, expressing serious concern over a recent Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) report detailing failures at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA that led to a delayed cancer diagnosis duri...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, along with 39 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough seeking answers to reports of the VA refusing to provide certain benefits to same-sex veteran couples. The letter calls for speedy action to ensure these couples have access to the full spousal benefits they are owed. “Each of our veterans and their spouses deserve the same quality care and services onc...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced legislation to remove “Robert E. Lee Memorial” from the official name of Arlington House. The legislation, which was partially inspired by the request of descendants of Lee and people who were enslaved at Arlington House, was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Don Beyer (VA-08), alongside Representatives Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Eleanor Holmes No...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement on President Biden’s nominations of U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Ballou for the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division and Mr. Jamar Walker for the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division. “We are pleased that the President has nominated Judge Ballou and Mr. Walker to fill these...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statements regarding the devastating flooding in Buchanan County: “My heart goes out to every Virginian affected by this catastrophic flooding in Buchanan County. This spring, I met with families who were still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s flooding in Hurley, and saw up close the need to support the road to recovery. I’m going to do everything I can to be a strong pa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 21 of their Senate colleagues introduced the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022, legislation to simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans, saving them hours and hundreds of dollars. Along with lowering costs and eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, simplified filing tools would ensure that more eligible people – including millions of low-income Americans – receive important tax re...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act. The legislation helps miners who have suffered from ‘black lung’ disease and their survivors access the workers compensation they are entitled to receive under the Black Lung Benefits Program. The legislation helps miners and their survivors access legal representation, ensures benefits ar...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022. This legislation would make it clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services and would empower the U.S. Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against th...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, and eight of their democratic Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning consistently high levels of violence against journalists in Mexico and expressing support for increased efforts to safeguard Mexican freedom of the press. Following the ongoing spike in extrajudic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), SFRC Chairman Bob Menendez, and 20 of their Senate colleagues called on the Biden Administration to continue to protect displaced Venezuelans by extending and re-designating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The situation in Venezuela has continued to deteriorate and remains one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world with over six million Venezuelan refugees...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $50,265,000 in federal funding for two Virginia airports awarded through the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program, which was created through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act negotiated by Sen. Warner and strongly supported by Sen. Kaine. “These funds will go toward modernizing and updating both Dulles and Richmond Interna...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the statement below, celebrating a joint plan between the Department of Justice and Envigo RMS LLC. to facilitate the surrender of nearly four thousand dogs from an Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, Va., which has been repeatedly cited for egregious animal welfare violations. Under the agreement, ownership and physical custody of the dogs will be transferred to ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $2,140,321 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Program (MEP), also known as GENEDGE Alliance, in Martinsville. This funding will help GENEDGE better support small and medium-sized manufacturing companies across Virginia with expanding their reach, growing our manufacturing industry,...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued its decision on West Virginia v. EPA, curbing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ability to fight climate change: “At a time we’re seeing devastating impacts of climate change in communities across Virginia and the nation, it’s outrageous that the out-of-touch Supreme Court has handcuffed the EPA’s ability to address the climate crisis....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $6,999,632 in federal funding for the Hampton Roads Community Action Program and Total Action Against Poverty in Roanoke Valley to provide training and career counseling services to incarcerated individuals so that they are prepared for employment opportunities and able to successfully transition into the workforce following their release. “By expanding employment opportunities for forme...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined by Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) issued the following statement in response to the release of a Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General report detailing failures at the Hampton Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA that led to a delayed cancer diagnosis during the period of 2019 to 2021: “We are appalled and disheartened to learn ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) cosponsored the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA), comprehensive legislation led by Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to help eliminate racial and ethnic health inequities. Building on the gains made under the Affordable Care Act, the HEAA lays out additional investments Congress must make to enhance the health and well-being of systematically marginalized and underserved communities, address health disparities...Continue Reading