Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that the Old Dominion University Research Foundation has been awarded nearly $1 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop and implement courses in Virginia colleges that research and explore the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The $899,477 NSF award will help Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations Technicians (UASOT) succeed in the emerging fields of geospatial data acquisition, analy...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined 25 other Senators in sending a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to issue a Presidential Memorandum to promote diversity at federal land management agencies like the National Park Service, which celebrates its centennial this August. This renewed focus on diversity will more fully reflect and celebrate the numerous cultures, communities, and people that have contributed to America’s rich history. &...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are urging the federal government to improve lead screening policies for children eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). In a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which has jurisdiction over lead screening policies for children insured by Medicaid and CHIP, the lawmakers urged CMS to review and update its polices to ensure that children at risk of lead poison...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia colleges and universities will receive more than $2 million from the Department of Education (ED) to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply to and graduate from college. The funding will come as part of the Talent Search program, which identifies and assists individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the potential to succeed in higher education. The program then provides...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that 19 Virginia localities will receive more than $2 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding will help Virginia families who receive federal housing vouchers and public housing residents reduce their dependency on welfare assistance and rental subsidies by providing tools and resources that will assist them in gaining job skills and increasing their earned in...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced that the Senate unanimously passed the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act, bipartisan housing legislation that would enact broadly supported federal housing reforms. The bill includes provisions from the Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act, a bill Kaine introduced late last year to prevent youth homelessness, keep children and families together and meet the needs of youth transitioning out of foster ca...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the police shootings in Baton Rouge: “The shooting today in Baton Rouge that killed three police officers and injured others is an atrocity. All must condemn it.” “I worked with dedicated police officers as Mayor of Richmond and Governor of Virginia. And now as Senator, I see dedication by our Capitol Police every day. My heart goes out to law enforcement everywhere and to their families w...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, announced his support for new legislation to help veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The bill, known as the Puppies Assisting Wounded Service members (PAWS) Act, would help veterans suffering from PTSD to access innovative treatment methods to improve their quality of life. The bill was originally introduced by Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) a...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide funding for three Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) projects that will help connect rural communities in Southwest Virginia with medical and educational experts in other parts of the state and increase access to mental health care and specialty services. Carilion Medical Center in Roanoke will receive $434,182 to provide psychiatric, mental health a...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass bipartisan and bicameral compromise legislation to expand opioid abuse prevention and education efforts. The bill, which includes provisions authored by Kaine, takes a comprehensive approach to addressing a crisis that claimed more lives in Virginia in 2014 than vehicle crashes.  “I’ve seen firsthand how significant an impact the opioid and heroin abuse epidemic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced his support for a bill to expand a key tax incentive for the development and use of carbon capture, utilization and storage technologies. This legislation would support a path forward for developing commercially viable cleaner coal energy production, as part of a national strategy to generate more energy with less pollution over time. “I believe it is in our nation’s interest to make energy production cleaner and less p...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, met with President Juan Orlando Hernández of Honduras to discuss economic and human rights conditions in the country and the fight against government corruption. Photos of today’s meeting are available here.   “It was great to sit down with President Hernández to discuss the issues mutually important to our nations,” Kaine said....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously passed two bipartisan bills introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine - one that would recognize the resilience and contributions of African Americans to the United States since 1619 and another that would add additional historically significant areas around the City of Petersburg to Petersburg National Battlefield. These bills will now advance to the floor for a full Senate vote. “...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously in support of bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) to help students make smart decisions in the financing of their higher education. The Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act would promote financial literacy by providing students who are recipients of federal financial aid with comprehensive counseling servic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in Philippines v. China: "I was encouraged to see the final ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the case of the Philippines v. China over competing claims in the South China Sea.  Today’s decision at The Hague demonstrates that existing international frameworks like the United Natio...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today: “The shootings in Dallas last night were a brazen and calculated attack on brave police officers doing their jobs to protect their fellow citizens. I join Americans across the country in condemning this horrific act of senseless violence, mourning the loss of five law enforcement heroes and praying for the recovery of those wounded.” ###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced their support for legislation to establish a coordinated regional response to effectively address the endemic violence and humanitarian crisis driving women and children to flee from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The Secure the Northern Triangle Act calls for increased refugee processing in the region, and orderly and humane processing of individuals who reach the U.S.-Mexico border seeking protection....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, along with Senators Dick Durbin, Chris Murphy, Jeanne Shaheen, and Barbara Boxer sent a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to carry a message to world leaders at the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Warsaw, Poland: success in Ukraine and resistance to Russian aggression, including through the rotational deployment of NATO troops to Eastern Europe,...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, and Representative Bobby Scott applauded unanimous House passage of a bipartisan bill that would recognize the resilience and contributions of African Americans to the United States since 1619. Kaine and Warner introduced the Senate version and Scott the House version of the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act in February. The bill would establish a commission to plan programs and activities across the coun...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the Obama Administration’s announcement regarding troop levels in Afghanistan: “I support the President’s decision to adjust the trajectory of U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan through the end of next year and believe this informed strategy---based on the security situation, rather than an arbitrary calendar-based timeline---affirms our commitment to the people of Afghanistan and will help ...Continue Reading