Press Releases
Leaders from 20 VA Colleges Share Student Loan Debt Concerns During Roundtable Hosted by Sens. Warner & Kaine
WASHINGTON - Student leaders from 20 Virginia colleges traveled to Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss their challenges paying for college and the impact of rising student loan obligations during a roundtable conversation organized by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA). The students represented a diverse cross-section of Virginia's public and private, two- and four-year colleges and universities. An estimated 60% of Virginia college students graduate with student debt, and … Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Kaine Urges CDC To Release Delayed Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined five of his Senate colleagues to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release delayed opioid prescribing guidelines. Over-prescription of opioid painkillers puts patients at risk of abuse, misuse and addiction and is closely linked to an escalating heroin crisis. Also signing the letter were U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Richard Durbin, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Manchin and Edward J. Markey. "The United States is … Continue Reading
January 27, 2016
Kaine Introduces Legislation To End Gun Industry's Liability Shield
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined U.S Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy to introduce the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act which would ensure that the gun industry - manufacturers, sellers and interest groups - is not shielded from liability when it acts with negligence and disregard for public safety. The bill would repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). A companion bill in the House of Representatives was … Continue Reading
January 22, 2016
Kaine Joins 21 Democratic Senators To Express Concern Over Immigration Raids On Central American Families
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined 21 of his Senate Colleagues to express profound concern in a letter to President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson regarding DHS's targeted immigration enforcement operations against mothers and children from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. "We are troubled by the priorities reflected in … Continue Reading
January 20, 2016
Kaine: Refugees Are Not Our Enemy; ISIL Is Our Enemy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today after voting against consideration of the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act (SAFE): "Today I voted against consideration of a bill that would have labeled millions of innocent people fleeing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II as enemies of the United States. Instead of allowing amendments that would actually keep … Continue Reading
January 16, 2016
Kaine Welcomes Iran Deal Implementation Day And Release Of American Prisoners
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations & Armed Services Committees and co-author of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, released the following statement on Implementation Day of the Iran nuclear deal and Iran's release of four American prisoners: "Today is a good day for international security. Significant, concrete steps have now been taken to ensure that Iran cannot create or acquire a nuclear weapon. Additionally, the news … Continue Reading
January 15, 2016
Warner and Kaine Applaud Progress In Selection Of Winchester Site For FBI Central Records Complex
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today applauded an announcement by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) that it intends to acquire a 60-acre land parcel on Route 50 east of Winchester for construction of a new $98 million FBI records facility. The FBI Central Records Complex, which has been in the planning stages for more than a decade and which included a GSA evaluation of at least three potential sites in or near Winchester, will consolidate paper … Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Warner, Kaine Announce 2016 Virginia Delegates To Senate Youth Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced the two Virginia students selected to represent the Commonwealth in the 54th Annual United States Senate Youth Program. Monica Marciano of Front Royal who attends Wakefield Country Day School and William Shangraw of Sterling who attends Potomac Falls High School will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and spend one week in March participating in the program in Washington. This year's program will include major policy … Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Kaine Statement On Retirement Of Congressman Scott Rigell
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on Congressman Scott Rigell's retirement: "Scott Rigell has played a unique role in the House of Representatives throughout his three terms. There are few Members of Congress who are as focused on doing what's right and working with any and all partners to find common ground. I am thankful for Scott's service to the Commonwealth and I will really miss working … Continue Reading
January 14, 2016
Warner, Kaine Announce Carroll & Grayson Counties Designated As High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has designated Carroll County and Grayson County as Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA). The designations will enable each county to receive federal resources and tools to improve drug control efforts and coordination between federal, state and local law enforcement. "Too many families throughout the Commonwealth are suffering from the … Continue Reading
January 13, 2016
Warner & Kaine Urge VA To Reconsider Unnecessary Burdens On Blue Water Navy Veterans Seeking Care For Agent Orange-Related Conditions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a bipartisan group of 12 Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to change inconsistent and burdensome regulations placed on "Blue Water Navy" veterans seeking health care and benefits for conditions resulting from exposure to toxic chemicals during their service aboard Navy ships in Vietnam. Prior to 2002, veterans serving in Vietnam as well as within the territorial waters had presumptive … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Kaine Statement On The President's State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after President Obama delivered his final State of the Union Address: "Tonight, President Obama reflected on the significant progress our country has made over the past seven years and challenged us to reach higher. After assuming office in the midst of a global fiscal collapse and two open-ended wars, President Obama has patiently worked to rebuild a more sustainable economy, inspire an innovative and cleaner energy … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Returning From The Middle East, Kaine Condemns Attacks In Turkey, Iraq
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, condemned the attacks in Turkey and Iraq over the past two days. "I'm saddened by yet another wave of suicide attacks in the Middle East, including today in Istanbul and yesterday in Iraq," said Kaine, who was just in Istanbul's Sultanahmet Square on Saturday. "The continued slaughter of innocent civilians is savage and unjustified, and the United States stands firmly with … Continue Reading
January 12, 2016
Kaine Statement On Anniversary Of Metro's Deadly Yellow Line Incident
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today: "The deadly incident on the Yellow Line on this day last year was the low point of a bad year for WMATA. There's been some progress in the past year - a new chief executive in place, new accountability for the WMATA Board, full funding of federal infrastructure grants - but trust in Metro's safety and reliability won't be restored overnight. It will take the hard work of following through on each and every item … Continue Reading
January 08, 2016
Kaine Invites Drug Addiction Prevention Advocate & Alexandria Resident Don Flattery To State Of The Union
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced that his guest to President Obama's final State of the Union address on Tuesday will be Don Flattery, a resident of Alexandria who lost his son Kevin - a 26-year-old graduate of UVA and Gonzaga College High School - to an opioid overdose in 2014. Kaine has spoken with families, law enforcement and businesses across Virginia about the devastating impact that drug abuse has had on their communities and has worked across the aisle on … Continue Reading
January 05, 2016
Kaine Statement On Executive Actions To Reduce Gun Violence
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the executive actions President Obama announced to reduce gun violence: "Virginia knows all too well the tragedy and pain of gun violence. When I was Governor, Virginia suffered the deadliest mass shooting to date on the campus of Virginia Tech. More recently, the nation witnessed the terrifying shooting of two young journalists from our Commonwealth on live television. And there are too many incidents of … Continue Reading
January 05, 2016
Kaine Joins Democrats In Filing Bicameral Amicus Brief Standing Up For Women's Access To Constitutionally Protected Health Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senate and House colleagues in filing an amicus brief in the case of Whole Woman's Health v. Cole, which is currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States and represents the most comprehensive challenge to the Supreme Court's historic ruling in Roe v. Wade in nearly a decade. In the brief, Democrats call on the justices to uphold Roe v. Wade and reject efforts to undermine a woman's constitutionally protected right … Continue Reading
December 23, 2015
Kaine Statement On Retirement Of Congressman Robert Hurt
RICHMOND, VA - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on Congressman Robert Hurt's retirement: "From his start in local politics on the Chatham Town Council to his tenure in the General Assembly and three terms in Congress, Robert Hurt has made a strong mark on his community. I'm proud of our work across the aisle to help move projects like Commonwealth Crossing Business Center and Berry Hill Mega Park forward, and I'm grateful for his partnership as we continue to … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Kaine Joins 20 Democratic Senators To Express Profound Concern Over Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Test In Letter To President Obama
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, along with U.S. Senators Ben Cardin, Chuck Schumer, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Gary Peters, Michael Bennet, Ron Wyden, Jeanne Shaheen, Debbie Stabenow, Heidi Heitkamp, Bill Nelson, Ed Markey, Kirsten Gillibrand, Bob Casey, Mark Warner, Cory Booker, Maria Cantwell, Martin Heinrich, Barbara Mikulski, and Jeff Merkley expressed profound concern in a letter to President Obama … Continue Reading
December 18, 2015
Following Senate Passage Of Final Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Warner & Kaine Applaud Virginia Provisions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine applauded Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which provides discretionary funding for the entire federal government for the next fiscal year. "The bipartisan budget deal helped pave the way for this legislation, which restores some of the most harmful sequester cuts and provides certainty to our military and to Virginia shipyards. It provides much-needed additional resources to improve cybersecurity … Continue Reading
