Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation will receive $14,420,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair Grant Program. This funding will go towards replacing an existing double-track rail bridge with two new double-track rail bridges, expanding passenger rail capacity in the Washington...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court: “I voted not to confirm Judge Barrett to the Supreme Court. After declaring the Senate shouldn’t confirm a new justice during an election year in 2016, Senate Republicans have abandoned their own rule so they can ram through their own nominee in hopes she will strike down the Affordable Care Act. I strain to recall ever before witn...Continue Reading

You can watch the full speech here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered a speech on the Senate floor speaking out against the rushed nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. In his remarks, Kaine shared his belief that the Senate should focus on passing COVID relief rather than breaking precedent to rush a nominee who could help take away health care from millions of Americans in the middle of a pandemic. “Why rush this nomination, ignoring Se...Continue Reading

You can watch the full speech here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered a speech on the Senate floor on what’s at stake for millions of Americans as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case that could eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Kaine shared stories from concerned constituents across Virginia – including New Castle, Vienna, Hampton, and Henrico – who have received life-saving care thanks to the ACA, and urged his colleagues to help protect th...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $7,829,980 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to support treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) and drug court programs across the Commonwealth. The funding will go toward the development, improvement, and expansion of four different treatment programs designed to address substance use disorders.  “We’re pleased to announce these federal funds to support treatment service...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) today sent a letter to Pope Francis concerning the treatment of ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang, China. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has systematically persecuted the Uyghur Muslim population of Xinjiang for years. The Vatican is currently in the process of negotiating a renewed agreement with the CCP concerning the Pope’s role in the appointment of Chinese Bishops. The Senators are e...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $3,910,184 in Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funding for communities in Southwest and Southside Virginia. The funding, awarded through ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative, will go towards addressing substance-use disorders, improving broadband connectivity, strengthening rural economies and improving local infrastructure. ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Virginia Port Authority will receive $20,184,999 in federal funds to complete its Central Rail Yard (CRY) expansion project at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). This funding will build on the investments the Port has made across its two largest terminals, the NIT and Virginia International Gateway (VIG), to expand on-terminal rail capacity at NIT.  &l...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $2,901,726 in rural development funding to further distance learning and telemedicine at Ballad Health, Carilion Medical Center, Retina and Vitreous Center, P.C., and the Lee County School District in Jonesville, VA. This funding was awarded through the Distance Learning and Telemedicin...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mazie Hirono announced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA), sweeping legislation that would address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities as well as women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural populations, and socioeconomically disadvantaged communities across the United States. “Whether someone lives or dies should never depend on factors like race, income, gender, or LGBTQ status. As the COVID-19 pandemic cont...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement after President Trump announced he is calling off negotiations for COVID-19 relief until after the November general election and insisted the Senate focus its efforts on rushing through a Supreme Court nominee: “The American public is telling us they need COVID relief now and we should wait until after the election to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. Instead, the President and Senate ...Continue Reading

You can watch Kaine’s opening remarks here and his calls for delay here  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered opening remarks on the Senate floor and called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to delay the Senate’s rushed Supreme Court nomination process until after the election in November, citing not only the “unprecedented process” — rushing a nomination while an election is underway — but also the safety of members an...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) requested an update from the Department of Defense (DoD) on the implementation of reforms to the Military Housing Privatization Initiative (MHPI) – reforms the Senators were able to help secure in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in response to pervasive and appalling health, safety and environmental hazards in private...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19: “I wish the President and First Lady a speedy recovery. Having had COVID-19, let me stress: all need to take this seriously. Please follow CDC guidelines of mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.”  ###

You can watch the full speech here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, following President Trump’s refusal to condemn white supremacists, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, legislation he cosponsored to help prevent domestic terrorism by requiring federal law enforcement agencies to regularly assess this threat and provide training and resources to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcemen...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after the Senate approved a stopgap funding bill to keep the government running through December 11, sending it to the president’s desk for signature: “We’re relieved that we’re going to avoid another pointless, painful government shutdown in the middle of a pandemic. But funding the government is Congress’ most basic responsibility, and we don’t think a...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Tim Kaine and Mark Warner (both D-Va.) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow oyster and clam businesses to access funds included within the CARES Act Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. The Senators penned a letter in July urging USDA to include these businesses – many of which are small and family owned – given the economic hardship they...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—and Congressman Gerry Connolly—a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee—requested that President Trump personally seek the release of U.S. citizen and northern Virginia resident Salah Al-Haidar, who has been detained on baseless grounds in Saudi Arabia since April 2019. Mr. Al-Haidar is the son of prominent women’s rights activist Aziza Al-Yousef, ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would designate September 30th as National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day. According to reports, overall military suicides have increased by approximately 20 percent compared to this time last year. The senators’ resolution would highlight the treatable invisible wounds sustained by many servicemembers and recognize t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Town of Wise and the Town of Pennington Gap will receive $550,000 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). “We’re pleased to announce these investments to strengthen Virginia’s workforce and wastewater infrastructure,” said the Senators. “This funding aims to support projects that will help expand economic opportunity in the region and improve health and water qua...Continue Reading