Press Releases
Kaine & Portman Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Support Training For Skilled Infrastructure Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Rob Portman (R-OH), both co-chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA-15), and Jim Langevin (D-RI-2) reintroduced the Building U.S. Infrastructure by Leveraging Demands for Skills (BUILDS) Act. The legislation would ensure workers are prepared with the … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Kaine Statement on Afghanistan Withdrawal
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on President Biden's announcement that he will withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan by September 11, 2021: "The U.S. went into Afghanistan in 2001 to defeat those who attacked the U.S. on 9/11. It took us 10 years to find and kill Osama bin Laden. We stayed an additional 10 years to help train Afghan security forces and create conditions for a more stable future in that country. It is now time to bring our … Continue Reading
April 08, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $96 Million from American Rescue Plan to Combat Homelessness across Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $96,982,527 in federal funding to help Virginians who are homeless or at risk of homelessness access safe and affordable housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the funding through the Homeless Assistance and Supportive Services program, which was included in the American Rescue Plan. The grants will be awarded to 21 recipients across Virginia. "We're glad to see the American Rescue … Continue Reading
April 07, 2021
Warner & Kaine Applaud More Than $19 Million for Airports throughout the Commonwealth
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $19,155,185 in federal funding to provide economic relief to 11 airports across Virginia. The funding, awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), was authorized by the December 2020 emergency COVID-19 relief bill supported by Sens. Warner and Kaine. "We are happy to announce that these funds will go towards supporting 11 airports in Virginia," said the … Continue Reading
April 01, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $1.1 Million in Funding To Combat Substance Use Disorder in Southwest and Southside Virginia
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,169,961 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for three organizations across Southwest and Southside Virginia that are supporting individuals suffering from substance use disorder. "Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen an increased demand for substance abuse treatment," said the Senators. "We are glad to announce that this funding will provide increased support to those … Continue Reading
March 30, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $2.6 Million in Federal Funding To Support Covid-19 Emergency Protective Measures In Hampton Roads
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that two emergency projects across the Commonwealth will receive $2,624,138.82 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The federal funds will be used to communicate COVID-19 warnings and guidance to Virginians, and procure and utilize medical supplies and equipment to combat the virus. "We're glad to see these federal dollars go towards … Continue Reading
March 30, 2021
Warner & Kaine Applaud Biden Admin for Boosting Funds for Covid-19 Emergency Protective Measures in Virginia
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Biden administration for increasing the amount of federal dollars that Virginia will receive for five emergency projects across the Commonwealth. By adjusting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s federal cost share from 75 percent to 100 percent, the Biden administration will help deliver an additional $22,915,050 in federal funding to cover the cost of communicating COVID-19 warnings and guidance … Continue Reading
March 26, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $79 Million in Federal Funding To Support Virginia Health Centers
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that Virginia will receive $79,907,625 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support 26 community health centers across the Commonwealth. The funding - which was made possible through the American Rescue Plan - will be awarded beginning in April by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "For the past year, our community health centers have been on the … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
With COVID-19 Adding To Financial Strain, Bipartisan Senators Introduce Bill To Help Rural Hospitals Keep Their Doors Open
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2021 to fix a flawed formula that results in disproportionately low Medicare payments for hospitals in rural and low-wage areas. The bill would provide additional financial support for rural hospitals that are already operating on very thin margins and shutting down at record rates during the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Kaine & Warner Reintroduce Bill to Protect George Washington National Forest’s Wilderness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner reintroduced the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, legislation that would add a total of 5,600 acres to two existing wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, Virginia. A wilderness designation is the highest level of protection for public land under federal law. These additions were recommended by the U.S. Forest Service in 2014 and endorsed by members of the GW National Forest … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Kaine Statement on Belarus’s Freedom Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today in commemoration of Belarus's Freedom Day and in solidarity with Belarusian demonstrators: "103 years ago, the people of Belarus exercised their fundamental right to self-governance and declared the establishment of a free and independent Belarusian National Republic. Today, I join Belarusians all around the world in commemorating Freedom Day and express my support for their ongoing effort to bring real democracy … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Kaine Statement on Virginia Abolishing the Death Penalty
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after Governor Northam signed legislation today ending the use of capital punishment in Virginia: "I'm proud to see Virginia abolish this brutal and racist institution," Kaine said. "As the death penalty capital of the United States, Virginia gives hope that work done for justice is not in vain and that progress is possible for all. I will continue pushing legislation in the Senate to end the death penalty at the … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $2.3 Million in Federal Funding To Update Community Facilities & Equipment to Better Serve Rural Virginia
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $2,390,400 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide much needed infrastructure improvements around the Commonwealth. The funding was awarded through the Community Facilities Direct Loans & Grants Program and the Community Facilities Loan Guarantees Program, both administered by USDA's Rural Development. These programs offer direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Cornyn, Kaine Introduce Bill to Streamline Infrastructure Investment
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Revitalizing American Priorities for Infrastructure Development (RAPID) Act, which would streamline the application process for the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program and increase transparency in vetting the projects requesting these funds. "TIFIA loans have supported numerous important transportation projects in Texas, but the arduous application process has served … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Virginia Congressional Delegation Urges Biden to Include Critical Funding For Norfolk Harbor Project in Fy22 Budget Request
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Don Beyer (D-VA), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elaine Luria (D-VA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), and Bob Good (R-VA) requested that the Biden administration prioritize the Norfolk Harbor Widening and Deepening project by including at least $83.7 million for the project in the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Klobuchar, Portman, Kaine Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Nationwide Housing Shortage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced the Housing Supply and Affordability Act to create a new grant program that would provide funding to help localities develop and implement comprehensive housing policy plans. This program will provide technical assistance to help states, localities, and regional coalitions increase housing supply, improve housing affordability, and reduce barriers to new housing development while avoiding … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Warner, Kaine & Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Cut Prescription Drug Costs For Seniors
WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Amy Klobuchar and their colleagues in reintroducing the Empowering Medicare Seniors to Negotiate Drug Prices Act to allow Medicare to negotiate the best price of prescription drugs for seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. Current law only allows for bargaining by pharmaceutical companies, not Medicare. By harnessing the bargaining power of the nearly 46 million seniors enrolled in the program, Medicare could negotiate … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $4.3 Million in Federal Funding To Support Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $4,387,500.00 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to support COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Virginia. "As more Americans receive one of the three COVID-19 vaccines, the supply of available vaccines still can't meet the demand," said the Senators. "We are glad to announce that this funding … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $700,000 for Housing Assistance for Virginia Tribes
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that seven Virginia tribes have been awarded $724,246 in federal funding for housing assistance as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. "We're pleased to announce this funding to expand access to affordable housing for Virginia's tribes during this health crisis," the Senators said. "These grants will help ensure these communities have a safe and affordable place to live during and after the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Lankford, Kaine Defend Open Internet in Hong Kong
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced the Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act. Since July 2020, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has implemented a "national security law" that violates the basic freedoms of Hong Kongers including the freedom to peacefully assemble and the right to freely access and share information online. The bill supports firewall circumvention infrastructure in Hong Kong to strengthen the ability of the people … Continue Reading
