Press Releases

State officials announced a case of COVID-19 at a long-term care facility in Virginia today WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined more than 30 of their Democratic colleagues to press the Coronavirus Task Force on their preparedness and response plans for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Senators sent three letters to the Trump Administration regarding the safety of people living in nursing homes, the ability of seniors living in the community to...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Senator Chris Van Hollen, along with 24 of their colleagues, in sending a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the Administration has issued guidance recommending agencies expand their telework capabilities, too many federal employees are still required to come to work in-person when the...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) as well as Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) sent a letter to the financial regulators asking them to take action to mitigate the adverse impacts of the coronavirus on workers in the hospitality and tourism industry. The letter was sent to Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve; Joseph Otting, Comptroller of the Currency; Jelena McWilliams, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporati...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation to provide federally-funded unemployment assistance to affected individuals. The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act would create a temporary unemployment compensation program to provide benefits to individuals who are unable to work because of the coronavirus. “The spread of COVID-19 risks serious economic impacts on American workers and families, especially those who are f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing legislation to prohibit employers from firing, punishing, or otherwise discriminating against a worker who is quarantined or isolated—or who is caring for a family member in quarantine or isolation—amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Especially during this public health emergency, we need to ensure...Continue Reading

Bill Would Provide Free Diagnostic Testing And Related Health Care Services For Americans Receiving Tests To Confirm Coronavirus Infection WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their colleagues in introducing the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, legislation that would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for individ...Continue Reading

Senators Emphasize That Use Of $40+ Billion In Funds Could Alleviate Strain On Local Governments And Would Help Mitigate Disease Spread, Save Lives, And Protect Public Health And Safety   WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined his colleagues in a letter urging President Trump to immediately consider any disaster declaration requests so states can utilize the $42.6 billion currently available...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after the House passed his bipartisan war powers resolution to prevent further escalation of hostilities with Iran without congressional authorization by a vote of 227-186: “For years, Congress has abdicated its responsibility on matters of war, but now a bipartisan majority in both the Senate and House has made ...Continue Reading

Senators push for DeVos to address school lunches, online learning, and federal financial aid and student loans WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined Ranking Member Patty Murray and 29 of their Democratic colleagues in urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to provide clear guidance for school districts and institutions of higher education, as well as families and student...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, cosponsored emergency paid sick leave legislation to provide paid sick days immediately to workers in light of the coronavirus crisis and in preparation for future public health emergencies. The legislation was introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03). “A public health crisis like the coronavir...Continue Reading

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, as well as Representatives Connolly, Scott, Wittman, Griffith, Beyer, McEachin, Cline, Riggleman, Wexton, Luria and Spanberger sent a letter to Secretary Chao in support of the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation’s (DRPT) application for an Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant for the Long Bridge Project. “Long Bridge, the most heavily traveled railroad bridge connecting Washington, D.C. to...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement on today’s announcement that a Marine at Fort Belvoir in Virginia has tested positive for the coronavirus: “We are carefully monitoring the case of the coronavirus announced in Virginia today and are committed to doing everything we can to ensure the Commonwealth is getting the federal support it needs to respond. This week, we voted to pass a bipartisan emergency funding bill that di...Continue Reading

~ Letter follows first cases of the coronavirus in the DMV ~ WASHINGTON – Today, amid reports of the first cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the national capital region, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) urged the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to continue to work to ensure the safety of employees and travelers who rely on Metro trains, buses, and other facilities. In a letter to WMAT...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON ­– Today, U.S. Senators Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Tim Kaine (Va.) announced that the Negro Leagues Baseball Centennial Commemorative Coin Act has unanimously passed the Senate. Their bipartisan legislation directs the U.S. Treasury to mint a coin to commemorate the Centennial of Negro Leagues Baseball. U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (Mo.) and Steve Stivers (Ohio) have introduced companion legislation in the House. “Several of the game’s greatest and most icon...Continue Reading

~ Bipartisan legislation includes millions in additional funding for local efforts in Virginia to protect against and prepare for coronavirus ~ WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued a statement today after the Senate approved a bipartisan emergency funding bill to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) on a 96-1 vote: “We are pleased that Congress quickly passed this important coronavirus response package on a bipartisan basis, an...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and 20 of their Senate colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General to review the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement’s (ORR) reported disclosure of confidential information from children’s therapy sessions to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fo...Continue Reading

~ Virginia schools received more than $2 million through the Rural Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program last year – funding now in jeopardy due to sudden change in how eligibility is calculated ~ WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter with a bipartisan group of Senators expressing their strong opposition to an abrupt decision by the Department of Education that jeopardizes funding eligibility for 800 rural, low-income schools across the cou...Continue Reading

 ~ Includes millions in additional funding for local efforts in Virginia to protect against and prepare for coronavirus ~  WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued a statement today after bipartisan Capitol Hill negotiators reached an agreement on an emergency funding bill to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19): “After the Trump Administration initially requested just $1.25 billion in new money for federal agencies to combat the spread of the co...Continue Reading

Senators demand Trump Health Department reverse efforts to promote junk plans and undermine Medicaid, and commit to ensuring that any potential coronavirus vaccine is affordable for all Senators: “We are deeply concerned both by your refusal to commit that a potential vaccine for coronavirus will be affordable to anyone who needs it, and this Administration’s numerous policies that make it harder for patients to get care during an outbreak.” WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,...Continue Reading

~ Sent letters to insurers, state and federal policymakers ~ WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today urged health insurers and federal and state officials to eliminate cost burdens that could disincentivize people with coronavirus symptoms from seeking testing and treatment for the contagious illness. “We are fortunate that to date there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Virginia. While public health offici...Continue Reading