Press Releases
Kaine Testifies On Honduras At Human Rights Commission Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, today joined fellow Virginia delegation member Congressman Frank Wolf, co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, at the commission's hearing on the human rights situation in Honduras. During his testimony before the commission, Kaine reflected on his experience as a young law student working with Jesuit missionaries in Honduras and highlighted the deteriorating human rights and security … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Kaine, Thune Introduce Bill To Better Project Long-Term Impacts Of Current Fiscal, Economic Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced a bipartisan bill to provide for detailed analyses of how Congressional budgets and major pieces of new legislation would impact future generations. Kaine and Thune's bill, the Intergenerational Financial Obligations Reform (INFORM) Act, would also require the president to provide a detailed accounting of how the administration's budget would affect young people. The bill would ensure that Congress and the … Continue Reading
July 22, 2013
Kaine Discusses Education, Workforce Development In Dublin And Roanoke
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine discussed the importance of developing a talented and competitive workforce during visits to the Volvo Trucks' New River Valley (NRV) facility in Dublin and the RCPS+ summer program at Westside Elementary School in Roanoke. In Dublin, Kaine toured the manufacturing facility and held a discussion with Volvo Trucks' employees about the facility's energy efficiency accomplishments and answered questions about his first six months in office. "Volvo Trucks … Continue Reading
July 22, 2013
Kaine Travels To Wise, Norton, Lebanon and Floyd, Participates In Weekend Events
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Over the weekend, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine traveled throughout Southwest Virginia and participated in community events in Wise, Norton and Lebanon on Saturday and at the Floyd Country Store on Sunday. Kaine kicked off his weekend at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds to volunteer and help serve the patients in need of health services. RAM, an annual program to increase access to health care, attracted 3,000 patients from more than a dozen … Continue Reading
July 19, 2013
Kaine, Durbin Tour Newport News Shipbuilding
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, welcomed U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, to Newport News Shipbuilding today. During the tour, Kaine and Durbin heard from shipyard employees and officials about the unique capabilities of aircraft carriers and submarines and toured construction of the Virginia class submarine, the USS John F. Kennedy, and the USS … Continue Reading
July 19, 2013
Kaine To EPA: Provide Coal-Fired Plants Flexibility To Meet Any New Regulations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine wrote a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to urge the agency to adopt attainable New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for coal-fired power plants. In the letter, Kaine noted his support as Governor for the permitting of the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, a state-of-the-art coal plant in Southwest Virginia that dramatically reduced mercury and sulfur emissions. Facilities like Virginia City could not be … Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Kaine Announces Joint Effort With McCain To Reform War Powers Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine delivered remarks on the Senate floor today to announce his efforts with Senator John McCain (R-AZ) to reform the War Powers Resolution in a way that lays out a clear consultative process between Congress and the President on whether and when to engage in military action. Senators Kaine and McCain released a joint statement committing to work with their colleagues to codify such a process: "As we mark the 40th anniversary of the 1973 War Powers … Continue Reading
July 17, 2013
Kaine Statement On Samantha Power Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, participated today in the confirmation hearing of Samantha Power, President Obama's nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. During the hearing, Kaine applauded Power's significant experience and expertise, and discussed her strong commitment to Israel. Following the hearing, Kaine endorsed Power's nomination and stated he'd advocate for her swift confirmation. "I strongly support … Continue Reading
July 16, 2013
Kaine Statement On Senate Compromise To Avoid Nuclear Option, Confirm Executive Appointments
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today following the announcement of a compromise to allow confirmation votes for seven of President Barack Obama's nominees: "Yesterday, the entire Senate body came together and did something we rarely do - listen to each other for three and a half hours. As a result, we were able to find an acceptable compromise on pending executive nominations. I'm happy we've been able to find similar compromise on a number of … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Kaine Joins 38 Senators Urging Swift Implementation of Supreme Court DOMA Decision
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined 38 other senators today in sending a letter to President Obama calling on his administration to "swiftly and comprehensively" implement the Supreme Court's decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act. The senators wrote: "We understand that your Administration is evaluating the vast number of statutes and regulations impacted, and that many laws provide Federal agencies with great discretion to provide relief to legally-married, same-sex … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013
Gillibrand, Kaine Urge Defense Secretary Hagel To Allow Sikh Soldiers Who Wear Beards, Turbans To Serve In The Military
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) urged U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to remove an Army policy that currently bars Sikh Americans from serving in the military if they choose to wear beards and turbans as part of their faith. The request comes after a recent news report that several members of the Sikh community have won exceptions from the military, but many others have failed and face an uphill battle. The Defense Department's decades-old rule, … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Kaine "Extremely Disappointed" In Filibuster To Block Student Loan Fix
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement following the vote to advance a proposal to keep subsidized Stafford student loan rates at 3.4%: "I am extremely disappointed the proposal to keep subsidized Stafford student loan rates at 3.4% was stopped by a filibuster. I have long supported measures, including the Student Loan Affordability Act, that would have prevented the doubling of these rates. "More than 179,000 students in Virginia rely on these loans and … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Sens. Warner & Kaine Introduce Virginian Patricia Millett At Judicial Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced Alexandria resident Patricia Millett at a confirmation hearing in support of her nomination to the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals. In their remarks, both Senators noted Millett's extensive legal experience and public and community service. "I recommend the confirmation of Patricia Millett without reservation, and it is a pleasure to speak on behalf of a Virginian with such extensive legal … Continue Reading
July 10, 2013
Advisory: Kaine To Hold First Twitter & Facebook Town Hall
ADVISORY: KAINE TO HOLD FIRST TWITTER & FACEBOOK TOWN HALL WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Wednesday, July 17, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine will hold his first Twitter & Facebook town hall to answer questions about his first six months in the Senate and get feedback on issues that matter to Virginians, including the economy and job growth, immigration reform, measures to reduce gun violence and support for veterans. Questions can be submitted now on Twitter and Facebook using #AskTim. Wednesday, … Continue Reading
July 08, 2013
Kaine Discusses First CODEL Including Visits With Troops In Afghanistan
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, today discussed his first overseas congressional delegation visit to Afghanistan, Jordan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Germany. During the July Fourth work week, he joined Senators Cornyn (R-TX), Cochran (R-MS), Sessions (R-AL), Boozman (R-AR), and Fischer (R-NE), to meet servicemembers in each country and discuss developing situations in Syria, Egypt and Iran, and … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Virginia Congressional Delegation Expresses Support of Hire Vets Virginia Initiative
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of Virginia's Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Seth D. Harris expressing unified support for a proposal to obtain a federal grant to support the Hire Vets Virginia initiative. All thirteen members of the Virginia Congressional Delegation signed the letter expressing interest in the proposal submitted for the National Emergency Grant on behalf of the Commonwealth. The letter reads, in part: "Virginians are … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Kaine Tours Small Businesses In Herndon With Community Leaders
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Herndon Mayor Lisa Merkel, town officials and local business owners today for a tour of Herndon small businesses. During the tour, Kaine discussed steps he has taken - including his support for the Marketplace Fairness Act and his work to pass a Senate budget - to provide greater certainty and a level playing field for small businesses throughout the Commonwealth. Today's tour included stops at the Green Lizard Cycling, ArtSpace Herndon, … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Kaine Statement On Final Passage Of Commonsense Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after final Senate passage of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act by a vote of 68 to 32. Kaine has discussed the need for immigration reform at events across Virginia, including in Roanoke, Leesburg, and Reston, and in remarks he delivered in Spanish on the Senate floor: "Today the Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform legislation with significant bipartisan … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Kaine Joins 40 Senators to Repeal Defense of Marriage Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following yesterday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor, Senator Kaine joined 40 other senators to introduce the Respect for Marriage Act. The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and provide equal treatment of all married couples. Feinstein, Nadler Reintroduce Legislation to Repeal DOMA Respect for Marriage Act Repeals Discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act Washington-Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
June 26, 2013
Kaine Statement On Supreme Court Decisions Supporting Marriage Equality
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today released the following statement following the outcomes of Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor at the U.S. Supreme Court: "Today's Supreme Court decisions are an enormous victory for thousands of committed couples and their families across the country and a major step toward marriage equality. In ruling the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, the Court has affirmed the principle that every legally married couple has the … Continue Reading
