Press Releases
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $5 Million In Funding To Support HIV Treatment In Norfolk
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $5,788,425 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support HIV relief efforts in Norfolk. The goal of the project is to enhance access to effective, cost efficient, community-based care for low-income individuals and families with HIV. "We are pleased to announce federal funding to help those with HIV in Norfolk get the care they deserve," the Senators said. The funding … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $2 Million For Loudoun Community Health Center
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $2,238,496 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the Loudoun Community Health Center. This funding will enable Loudoun County to provide accessible, quality health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. "We're pleased to announce federal funding to ensure the Loudoun Community Health Center can continue to offer valuable care to those in need of support," … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Kaine Cosponsors Legislation To Extend Unemployment Compensation To Unpaid Federal Workers During Shutdown
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation to extend unemployment compensation to federal employees who are working without pay during the government shutdown. Currently, furloughed federal employees are able to seek unemployment compensation, but the Department of Labor has not determined whether the same benefit is available to employees who are working without pay. "This shutdown is hurting millions of Americans and it must end now. I've heard from many unpaid … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Kaine, Wyden, Murray, Collins Introduce Bill To Eliminate Penalties For Federal Workers When Accessing Money From Retirement Savings During Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Patty Murray (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act of 2019 to ensure that federal employees can access money from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) without penalty. The bill would waive penalties and contribution prohibitions as a result of financial hardship during the government shutdown. "This painful shutdown is affecting the ability of federal workers to put food … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Kaine Statement On Failed Vote to Reopen Government
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate's vote on a clean bill to reopen government, which failed 52-44: "Today, I voted to end President Trump's shutdown and provide much-needed relief to the millions of Americans who have been hurt, including the Virginians who will be missing their second paycheck tomorrow. I'm deeply disappointed that the vast majority of our Republican colleagues didn't support reopening government as we negotiate a … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Va. & Md. Sens. Ask Childcare Providers for Flexibility During Govt Shutdown
~ Letters highlight arrangements reportedly made by some organizations and request details on any accommodations being made for families ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) was joined by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in requesting financial flexibility from childcare organizations for parents and guardians affected by the partial government shutdown. Among the expenses piling up for these families, who do not know when their next paycheck … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Warner & Kaine Press Trump Administration on Shutdown Effect for Craft Brewers
~ Virginia is home to more than 200 licensed breweries & industry contributes more than $9.3 billion to Virginia's economy ~ ~ As a result of shutdown, Treasury Dept. isn't approving labeling changes, new recipes, or permits for brewers and distillers ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today wrote to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to inquire about the impact of the government shutdown on craft breweries in Virginia. The shutdown has halted operations … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bill To Raise The Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined 30 Senate colleagues to introduce the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, legislation that would gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2024 and help expand economic opportunity for hardworking families. Raising the federal minimum wage would directly raise the wages of approximately 786,000 Virginians. "No one who works full time should have to live in poverty, but too often that's the case," said Kaine. "Raising the minimum wage is an important … Continue Reading
January 19, 2019
Warner & Kaine Statement on President Trump's Speech
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today issued the following statement: "President Trump's remarks today failed to acknowledge the pain and suffering he has caused to federal workers, contractors, and millions of Americans with this unnecessary government shutdown, and his rhetoric toward immigrants was inflammatory and unproductive. We would be glad to review, starting this week, any proposals he has to responsibly improve and increase border security and … Continue Reading
January 19, 2019
Warner, Kaine Voice Concerns About the Status of Food Stamp Program In Light of Government Shutdown
~ Letter encourages USDA Secretary to ensure continued funding for the program, which provides aid to 776,000 Virginians ~ WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter today to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, stressing the importance of sustained funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The lawmakers expressed concern with the agency's ability to support states and grocery stores, following a decision by the United States … Continue Reading
January 18, 2019
Kaine Joins Warner In Writing To Trump On Shutdown Housing Crisis
Senators urge the President to immediately re-open the Department of Housing and Urban Development 2.2 million low-income households are at risk of eviction because of Trump's shutdown WASHINGTON - Senator Tim Kaine joined over 170 Members of Congress, led by Senator Mark R. Warner, in sending a letter to President Trump expressing concern that the shutdown will force Americans from their homes. Affordable housing programs in Virginia and across the country depend on the Department of … Continue Reading
January 17, 2019
Kaine, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill To Prevent Any President From Leaving NATO
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Jack Reed (D-RI), Lindsey Graham, (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Susan Collins (R-ME) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to explicitly prohibit any President of the United States from withdrawing from NATO without Senate approval. Just this week, reports indicate that over the past year, President Trump repeatedly raised withdrawing the United States from NATO. The bill … Continue Reading
January 16, 2019
Warner & Kaine Introduce Bill To Pay Back Federal Contract Workers After Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) in introducing legislation to secure back pay for the federal contractor service employees who continue to go without pay during the government shutdown. The bill-the Fair Compensation for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Act-aims to help low-wage federal contractor employees-including janitorial, food, and security services … Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Kaine, and Warner to Trump: Hear Our Federal Employees
Senators Urge Trump to Meet Face-to-Face with Federal Workers WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a letter with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) to President Trump urging him to meet with federal workers suffering from the impacts of the shutdown. The Senators write, "We are writing to ask that you meet with some of the federal civil servants who are either working without pay or locked out of their job as a result of the … Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Kaine Objects To Senate Going Into Recess During Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement announcing he objects to the Senate leaving town while hundreds of thousands of federal employees - many of them Virginians - are going without pay: "Millions of Americans have been hurt by President Trump's shutdown, but Majority Leader McConnell has refused to hold a vote to end it. It would be outrageous for Senators to leave town this Wednesday without fixing this mess, and I object to the Senate going … Continue Reading
January 15, 2019
Warner & Kaine Ask FDA To Explain Shutdown's Impact On Health & Food Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined 32 colleagues in writing to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb asking how the government shutdown has impacted the FDA and its work to protect public health. Warner and Kaine wrote out of concern about how the shutdown's effects on the FDA could harm Virginians. "The shutdown has severely limited federal oversight of the nation's food supply and medical products and may result in slower approvals … Continue Reading
January 13, 2019
Kaine On Meet The Press: Trump Is Hurting Hardworking Public Safety Professionals
Watch here: https://timkaine.box.com/s/u2vphs4p46sdkx4e0rlj2m2igqh9yfx2 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today on NBC's Meet the Press with Chuck Todd, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine highlighted the pain President Trump's shutdown is causing federal workers, including public safety professionals, in Virginia and across the country. On Friday, hundreds of thousands of public servants began receiving paychecks for $0. As of this weekend, President Trump has now caused the longest shutdown in history. Virginia is … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
Md. & Va. Senators Request Info on WMATA Shutdown Impact
~ Md. & Va. Senators express concern about the effect of a prolonged shutdown on vital transportation networks ~ WASHINGTON - Today Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD), wrote a letter to Paul J. Wiedefeld, General Manager and CEO of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), seeking information on the impact that the partial government shutdown has had on WMATA's transit system, ridership, operational … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
Kaine Secures Back Pay For Federal Workers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine applauded House passage of a Senate bill he helped champion to guarantee back pay as soon as possible for federal workers who go without a paycheck during the government shutdown. On Wednesday, Kaine lodged an objection to the Senate adjourning for the weekend while hundreds of thousands of federal employees - many of them Virginians - were set to miss paychecks starting today. His objection led to negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Mitch … Continue Reading
January 10, 2019
Warner & Kaine Press Trump Administration to Work to Pay Federal Contractors
Virginia is home to 170,000 federal employees and tens of thousands of federal contractors WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined 32 colleagues in writing to the Trump Administration urging them to direct federal agencies to work with contractors to pay low- and middle-income employees for the wages they have lost during the shutdown. The Senators point out that federal contracting officers typically have existing authority that allows them to modify the … Continue Reading
