Press Releases

Watch Kaine’s remarks on the bill here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Senate passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, legislation which will ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages are recognized by every state: “I am deeply gratified by today’s passage of a bill protecting marriage equality in the United States. In 2006, over my objection, Virginia passed a referendum amending the state constitution to deny any recognition to same...Continue Reading

Letter follows a successful push by the Senators to close a Virginia breeding facility accused of mistreating their dogs WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 21 Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack urging him to update standards for commercial breeding facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). In the letter, the Senators call on Secretary Vilsack t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the passing of Congressman A. Donald McEachin: “I met Donald McEachin in 1985 and we became fast friends. Anne and I went to the Richmond party celebrating his marriage to Colette. Our kids were the same age, we shared a statewide ticket with Mark Warner, and we’ve been together in the Virginia federal delegation for years. I was last with him on election night three weeks ago, celebrating h...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined U.S. Representative A. Donald McEachin (VA-04), along with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representatives Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Elaine Luria (VA-02), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) in sending a letter to the Virginia General Assembly urging for prompt action to be taken to protect abortion access for all Virginians. This letter comes afte...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement welcoming the Department of Justice’s approval of benefits through the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program for Serena Liebengood, the wife of Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood of Vienna, Virginia, who died by suicide after protecting the Capitol from insurrectionists on January 6. Kaine weighed in to support the approval of the benefits. “Officer Howie Liebengood was often one of ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and chair of the SFRC subcommittee that oversees human rights—released the following statement regarding the State Department’s support for immunity for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) in a lawsuit brought by friends and family of Virginia resident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi, following MBS’ role in Khashoggi’s brutal murder: “I am d...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine applauded the unanimous Senate passage of bipartisan legislation he cosponsored to expand research into marijuana-derived medications. The Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act will streamline the application process for scientific marijuana studies and remove existing barriers for researchers that frequently slow the research process. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July and now heads to President Biden to be sig...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine along with U.S. Reps. Don Beyer and Jennifer Wexton (all D-VA) released the following statement today, five years after the shooting death of Bijan Ghaisar: “Today marks five years since Bijan was shot and killed by U.S. Park Police. While we appreciate that the current leadership of the Department of the Interior has taken several positive steps to ensure that the failures that led to the tragic death of this young man don&#...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $4,999,975.50 in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program funding for planning broadband expansion projects in the Commonwealth. Awarded to Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, this first phase of funding will allow Virginia to develop their plans for deploying funding made available under the bipartisan infrastructure law to expand access to high-speed internet. R...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine celebrated the opening of the Silver Line Extension, connecting customers to six new stations, adding 11.4 miles of track to the Metrorail system, and beginning operations at a modern rail maintenance facility. The Silver Line Extension gives customers a new connection to Washington Dulles International Airport and new service between Reston and eastern Loudoun County. The grand opening also marks the completion of the Silver Line project, a g...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro requesting an update on a study commissioned by the Navy to assess the number of amphibious warships needed in the future fleet. In the letter, the senators explain that senior flag officers continue to report a major fleet buildup for the Chinese Navy, and that further delays in American shipbuilding could have serious ramifications for our national defense. ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) pushed Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Assistant Secretary, Chris Williamson, for answers on the delayed announcement of a new silica standard for miners across America, especially Appalachia.  The Senators said in part, “In September 2021, the Department of Labor (DOL) provided that a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was expected to be r...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement regarding the shooting at the University of Virginia, which took three lives and injured two others on November 13, 2022: “We are heartbroken to hear about the tragic shooting at UVA and are praying for those who were injured, the families who lost loved ones, and the entire UVA community. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and urge everyone to follow the directions of local l...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $703,900 in federal funding for communities throughout Southwest Virginia in order to boost economic development and upgrade old and out-of-date equipment used for critical public services. The funding is awarded through two programs within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development division, which aims to support economic development and essential services that improv...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) released the following statements after welcoming members of Virginia and Maryland’s African diaspora community to the U.S. Senate for a briefing and panel discussion by the U.S. Department of State and other key stakeholders. Senators and Kaine and Van Hollen both serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and on the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, which is chaired by Senator Van Hollen...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $682,479 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for projects in Carroll County and the towns of Hurley and Whitewood. The funding will go toward expanding access to broadband and supporting recovery efforts following devastating flooding in Buchanan County. “We are proud to announce these investments in Southwest Virginia,” said the Senators. “This funding wi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $76,530,000 in federal funding for the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility, also known as Jefferson Lab, in Newport News to support multiple projects that are critical to ensuring the U.S. remains a leader in science and technology. The funding was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation Warner and Kaine helped pass in August to lower costs for Virginians and build a strong foundatio...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced two direct loans for Virginia from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program: a loan of up to $82.6 million to help finance the I-81 Regular Project—which is focused on various improvements in Roanoke County, including the construction of additional lanes and bridge replacements—and $15 million for the I-81 Rural Proje...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $115,675,266 in federal funding to help low-income individuals and families in Virginia pay for home heating costs, cover unpaid utility bills, and make cost-effective home energy repairs that will lower their heating and cooling bills ahead of the winter season. The funds are being awarded through the Administration for Children and Families’ Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and they we...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) announced that the Silver Line expansion to Washington Dulles International Airport will open on Tuesday, November 15, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday: “We are pleased to see WMATA move forward on its promise to safely open the Silver Line’s service to Dulles—just in time to provide Virginians with a more conve...Continue Reading