Press Releases
Warner, Kaine Write To Health Secretary, Urge Greater Access To Contraception
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with 37 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell following reports that insurers, in violation of the Affordable Care Act, are failing to cover forms of FDA-approved contraception and neglecting to provide women with accurate information about the range of essential health care services that are now available without cost-sharing. In the letter, … Continue Reading
May 05, 2015
New Education Department Data Shows Increase In Title Ix Sexual Violence Complaints On College Campuses
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today released new data on Title IX sexual violence complaints and the Department of Education's efforts to combat sexual assault on college campuses. In a letter responding to calls for transparency from Senators Boxer and Gillibrand, the Department highlighted its efforts to close difficult cases and urged Congress to increase funding to handle its increasing case load. Senator Kaine sent a … Continue Reading
May 05, 2015
Kaine Statement On Nomination Of General Joseph Dunford To Be Chairman Of The Joint Chiefs Of Staff
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on President Obama's nomination of General Joseph Dunford to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: "In nominating General Dunford to succeed General Dempsey as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, President Obama has selected a proven leader with extensive experience in Iraq & Afghanistan - a tremendous asset as we continue to face significant … Continue Reading
May 05, 2015
Virginia And DC Delegation Urges Congress To Maintain Current Flight Rules At Reagan National & Dulles Airports
WASHINGTON - As the 2015 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill comes before Congress, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), along with Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), Don Beyer (D-VA-8), and Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10) urged the Congress not to exacerbate overburdened operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport by adding more flight traffic. In their letter, the members point out that when Congress … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Kaine Joins Bipartisan Legislation To Prevent Horse Soring
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Kelly Ayotte to co-sponsor the Preventing All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect horses from the abusive practice known as soring - where show horse trainers apply blistering or burning agents, laceration, sharp objects, or other substances or devices to a horse's limb to intentionally make each step painful, forcing a horse to perform an exaggerated high-stepping gait that is … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Kaine Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Restore Freedom to Travel to Cuba
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine co-sponsored the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act. The bipartisan bill would end restrictions on travel by American citizens and legal residents to Cuba, restrictions that do not exist for travel by Americans to any other country in the world. The bill would also end restrictions on related transactions incident to such travel, such as banking transactions. "Ending the travel ban will encourage the free exchange of ideas and values, including … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
On One-Year Anniversary Of Lynchburg Derailment, Warner, Kaine Introduce Bill To Protect Communities From Oil Train Accidents
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation with Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and others to better protect local communities by getting unsafe oil trains off the tracks. The legislation would provide firefighters and other first responders in local communities the resources they need if accidents occur, and provides a tax credit to incentivize the owners of older tanker cars to transition to newer, safer models. "Today marks exactly one year since the day an … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Kaine Introduces Legislation To Raise The Minimum Wage
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray and 31 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Raise the Wage Act, legislation that would raise the federal minimum wage to $12 by 2020 and help expand economic opportunity for hardworking families. Beginning in 2020, the minimum wage would be indexed to median wages. Raising the federal minimum wage would directly raise the wages of approximately 786,000 Virginians. "No one who works full time should live … Continue Reading
April 24, 2015
Warner, Kaine, Forbes, Hurt Announce Major Step Toward Construction Of Embassy Security Training Facility At Fort Pickett
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine along with U.S. Representatives Randy Forbes and Robert Hurt announced that the U.S. Department of State has completed the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) at Fort Pickett in Nottoway County. The FEIS will be released to the public today through the Federal Register. This notification is a major milestone in efforts to provide a facility dedicated to training … Continue Reading
April 23, 2015
Kaine Statement On Confirmation Of Loretta Lynch As Attorney General
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on Senate confirmation of Loretta Lynch as Attorney General of the United States: "In confirming Loretta Lynch as our next Attorney General, the Senate has chosen a distinguished legal mind and experienced public servant to lead the Department of Justice. Throughout her career, Lynch has developed a reputation for her integrity and trusted leadership, which will serve the nation well as she addresses recent … Continue Reading
April 23, 2015
Kaine Statement On Hostages Killed In U.S. Counterterror Operation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement on the announcement from President Obama today regarding a U.S. airstrike that killed an American and Italian aid worker in January: "My deepest condolences go out to the families of Warren Weinstein and Giovanni Lo Porto who we learned today were accidentally killed in an American counterterror operation on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in … Continue Reading
April 22, 2015
Kaine Introduces Bill To Ban Racial Profiling By Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced legislation that would prohibit discriminatory racial profiling by law enforcement at all levels nationwide. The End Racial Profiling Act eliminates racial profiling by changing the policies and procedures underlying the practice. It also promotes best practices in community-based law enforcement. Joining Kaine in introducing the End Racial Profiling Act are Senators Ben Cardin, Richard Durbin, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Coons, Debbie … Continue Reading
April 22, 2015
Kaine Meets With Honduran President Hernandez To Discuss Efforts To Address Root Causes Of Irregular Migration
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, met with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez to discuss Central American efforts to address the factors driving irregular migration in the context of President Obama's $1 billion budget request for Central America. Kaine last met with President Hernandez in February 2015 during a three-day visit to Honduras focused on economic and security challenges facing the … Continue Reading
April 21, 2015
Kaine Urges President Obama To Establish Humanitarian Safe Zones In Syria
WASHINGTON-Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and John McCain (R-AZ), sent a letter to President Obama calling on him to immediately establish and enforce humanitarian safe zones in Syria to protect civilian lives and supply lines for food, water and medical supplies. "With the brutal Syrian conflict entering its fifth year, the Syrian people are facing a humanitarian nightmare of … Continue Reading
April 21, 2015
Warner, Kaine Call For Funding To Support Port Of Virginia, Other Harbor Maintenance Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined 18 of their colleagues to send a bipartisan letter calling on the Senate Appropriations Committee to support harbor maintenance funding to maintain the nation's shipping channels and ports of entry. Additional funding could help expand the Port of Virginia's capacity and bolster commerce along Virginia's inland waterways. "As you work on the Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, we respectively request that you … Continue Reading
April 20, 2015
Kaine Pushes For Virginia Priorities In Budget Conference Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - During a full meeting of the House and Senate's bipartisan Budget Conference Committee today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, one of 30 conferees, discussed his concern with the current budget proposals being considered by congressional negotiators. Kaine pressed for additional relief from automatic, across-the-board spending cuts dictated by the sequester, both in defense and non-defense programs. He also expressed concern about deep spending cuts included in both House and Senate … Continue Reading
April 17, 2015
Senate Help Committee Passes Key Provisions Of Kaine's Career Ready Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee passed key provisions of the Career Ready Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, co-chair of the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, that would help ensure students are ready for postsecondary education and the workforce by encouraging career guidance programs in schools and requiring states to incorporate career readiness indicators into their state report … Continue Reading
April 17, 2015
Kaine Introduces Legislation To Ensure Careful Review Of New Opioid Drugs
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced the FDA Accountability for Public Safety Act, bipartisan legislation that would hold the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accountable for the approval of new opioid drugs, ensuring experts' voices are heard as new and potentially dangerous opioid medications are considered for approval. "Prescription opioid abuse has become an epidemic in this country, and the dramatic growth in overdose deaths demonstrates just how … Continue Reading
April 16, 2015
Kaine Delivers Senate Floor Speech On Eighth Anniversary Of Virginia Tech Tragedy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine marked the eighth anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech, highlighting the resilience of survivors and the entire Virginia Tech community, and challenging Congress to stand up against groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) by taking action to reduce gun violence in America, including passage of comprehensive background check legislation. Kaine opened his remarks by reading the names of the 32 … Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Kaine Statement On Meeting With Iraqi Prime Minister & Continuing Need For New Authorization For Use Of Military Force Against ISIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today: "I was pleased to meet with Prime Minister Abadi today to discuss progress in the fight against ISIL as well as efforts to develop an inclusive government that protects the rights of all Iraqi people. "Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reached bipartisan consensus on legislation that sets up a process for appropriate … Continue Reading