Press Releases
Kaine Reacts To Betsy DeVos Confirmation Vote On Facebook Live
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine reacted to a Senate vote confirming Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education on Facebook Live today shortly after leaving the Senate floor. Kaine, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, offered thanks to the tens of thousands of Virginia constituents who called his office, wrote letters and sent emails through his Senate website to express their deep concern about the DeVos nomination over the past few weeks. "I do want … Continue Reading
February 06, 2017
Warner & Kaine Urge President Trump To Expand Broadband Access
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined a bipartisan group of 46 Senate colleagues urging President Trump to include broadband in any infrastructure initiative. "A broad agenda to promote broadband access will empower Americans living in every community - from urban city centers to rural towns - with economic opportunities that will jumpstart growth in jobs and wages," the Senators wrote in the letter. "That is why improving broadband access must be a priority in … Continue Reading
February 06, 2017
Kaine To Trump: ACA Repeal Would Hurt Virginia’s Effort To Fight Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senate colleagues in writing to President Donald Trump warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) with no replacement would pull the rug out from under local communities working to combat the opioid epidemic and could endanger millions of Americans just as they are getting treatment. A repeal threatens to cut $5.5 billion in federal dollars that each year go toward treating Americans battling opioid addiction through the Medicaid … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Kaine To Trump Administration: Fully Enforce Iran Sanctions For Ballistic Missile Test
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined a group of 21 Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter to President Trump after reports that Iran conducted a ballistic missile test late last week. "Iranian leaders must feel sufficient pressure to cease deeply destabilizing activities, from sponsoring terrorist groups to continued testing of ballistic missiles," the Senators wrote. "Full enforcement of existing sanctions and the imposition of additional sanctions on Iran for its … Continue Reading
February 02, 2017
Kaine To Oppose Scott Pruitt For EPA Administrator
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "The EPA needs an Administrator who will follow the best science to keep Americans safe. Scott Pruitt is unwilling to accept the scientific consensus that human-generated CO2 emissions are a significant cause of climate change. This is a fundamental issue for Virginia, a state affected by sea level rise and … Continue Reading
February 01, 2017
Kaine To Oppose Jeff Sessions For Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to be Attorney General: "I was a civil rights lawyer for 17 years and know that one of the most important roles of the Justice Department is to protect civil rights. This calls for an Attorney General whose commitment to marginalized communities is strong in both word and deed. Unfortunately, Senator Sessions has a long, public record that reflects the opposite. He has … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Judge Neil Gorsuch To Serve On The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after President Trump announced his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court: "The importance of an appointment to the highest court in the land and the duty of upholding and defending our Constitution demand a higher threshold for confirmation than for any other appointee. The actions of the Trump Administration over the past week raise the stakes to an even higher level. In … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Kaine Announces Expanded Regions Of Focus On Foreign Relations Committee & Armed Services Subcommittee Assignments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, announced that he will again serve as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism as well as join the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity. Kaine previously chaired the Middle East Subcommittee from 2013-2015. He will also continue to serve on the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Kaine Statement On Vote To Confirm Elaine Chao As Transportation Secretary
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on his vote to confirm Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation: "I voted to confirm Elaine Chao as Secretary of Transportation. She is a mainstream pick with experience in transportation policy. I look forward to working with her to address transportation infrastructure needs in Virginia-particularly those related to the Metro system, Memorial Bridge, traffic congestion, and sea level … Continue Reading
January 31, 2017
Warner & Kaine Introduce Bill To Immediately Rescind President Trump’s Muslim Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have cosponsored a bill to rescind President Trump's discriminatory executive order barring immigrants from Muslim-majority countries and suspending the U.S. refugee program. "The President's actions are misguided and do not reflect American values," said Warner. "It is clear this policy was crafted with no regard to its constitutionality and the negative effects that it would have on law-abiding legal residents and individuals who … Continue Reading
January 30, 2017
Kaine To Oppose Nominations Of Dr. Ben Carson And Congressman Mick Mulvaney
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the nominations of Dr. Ben Carson to be Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Congressman Mick Mulvaney to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): "I will oppose Dr. Ben Carson's nomination. As a former mayor, I know how critical the success of HUD can be for our work to reduce the impact of urban poverty in Richmond and other cities. Putting someone in charge with zero … Continue Reading
January 30, 2017
Kaine Introduces Resolution To Honor Civil Rights Hero Fred Korematsu
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced a resolution honoring Fred Korematsu and recognizing January 30, 2017 as "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" for his work and advocacy of the civil rights and liberties of all people, and denouncing President Donald Trump's executive order establishing a Muslim ban. "Fred Korematsu is a role model for all people of the United States who love the United States and the promises contained in the Constitution of the … Continue Reading
January 29, 2017
In Letter to DHS Secretary Kelly, Warner & Kaine Demand Answers About Status of Detained Travelers at Dulles and Across the Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine demanded answers about the status of travelers being detained at Dulles International and other airports across the country as a result of President Trump's executive order. "In the two days since the issuance of the executive order, there has been widespread confusion and distress, as well as the reported detention of legal permanent residents at many … Continue Reading
January 28, 2017
Kaine Statement On President Trump's Executive Order On Refugee Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement on President Trump's executive order on refugee programs: "I am appalled by the cruelty the Trump Administration has demonstrated over the past 24 hours. By indefinitely suspending the Syrian refugee program and imposing a religious test at our borders, he has defied everything our nation stands for. He's also weakened our national security … Continue Reading
January 26, 2017
Warner & Kaine Urge Trump To Exempt Entire VA From Hiring Freeze
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to President Trump citing the devastating impact his federal hiring freeze will have on veterans and their families, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine urged the President to exempt the entire VA and all veterans seeking federal jobs from his executive order. Warner and Kaine emphasized that the hiring freeze will add to the chronic workforce shortages that are plaguing the VA, and that more administrative and medical support staff are needed at VA … Continue Reading
January 25, 2017
Senators Introduce Bill To Authorize Delayed V-A Medical Leases
WASHINGTON- U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and 14 other Senators, reintroduced the bipartisan Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, legislation that would authorize pending leases for 24 Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) medical facilities in 15 states. The bill seeks to improve veteran's access to healthcare through the approval of these medical leases, which would allow the V-A to open needed healthcare facilities for which the V-A … Continue Reading
January 25, 2017
Kaine, Portman Introduce Bipartisan JOBS Act To Help Workers Access Training For In-Demand Career Fields
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, introduced the Jumpstart Our Businesses By Supporting Students (JOBS) Act, a bill that would help students access training for the 5.5 million vacant jobs that are unfilled in part due to a shortage of qualified workers. The JOBS Act would close this "skills-gap" by expanding Pell Grant eligibility to cover high-quality and rigorous short-term … Continue Reading
January 25, 2017
Kaine To Oppose Betsy DeVos For Secretary of Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, released the following statement today on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education: "I will oppose Betsy DeVos's nomination. She failed to meet three requirements I consider essential to serving as Secretary of Education - someone who is pro-public schools, pro-accountability and pro-civil rights. Over 90 percent of our nation's children attend public schools. … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Warner & Kaine Sponsor Bipartisan Legislation To Permanently Repeal The Global Gag Rule
WASHINGTON - One day after President Trump issued an executive order to reinstate the Global Gag Rule, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), joined Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and 39 other Senators to introduce the Global Health, Empowerment, and Rights (HER) Act, which would permanently repeal the harmful policy. The Global Gag Rule, also known as the Mexico City Policy, bans foreign non-governmental organizations that receive U.S. aid from using their own … Continue Reading
January 24, 2017
Kaine Questions OMB Director Nominee Mick Mulvaney On Trump Administration Actions That Hurt The Federal Workforce, Views On Climate Change
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, participated in a hearing on the nomination of U.S. Representative Mick Mulvaney to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Pressing Mulvaney on his record on federal workforce issues as well as recent Trump Administration actions that would hurt federal employees - including 170,000 Virginians - Kaine asked, "How is calling federal employees 'corrupt and beholden to special … Continue Reading
