Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $70,000 grant to the Southside Planning District Commission to help establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region. The areas served by the Southside Planning District Commission comprise the counties of ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $570,326 in grants to support local law enforcement efforts and improve safety in communities throughout Virginia. The funding will be used to improve training, safety initiatives, drug treatment and enforcement programs, and purchase new equipment and supplies. “As a former Governor, I recognize the importance of equipping local law enforcement with the ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded grants totaling $9,589,377 to help Virginia’s K-12 schools improve student achievement and support colleges and universities in providing better outreach and student services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.   “The investment will help close some of the gaps that exist for students at lower-performing schools. This is more tha...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia Tech has been awarded more than $1.7 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to research the use of unmanned aerial and surface vehicles to monitor air and water pollutants through toxic agent testing, and develop an approach for emergency response and disaster recovery. A $900,835 NSF award will allow university researchers to study how unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned surfa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that airports in Petersburg/Dinwiddie, Front Royal/Warren and Culpeper will receive nearly $2 million in funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rehabilitate pavement conditions and improve the safety of their facilities. “This funding will help ensure Virginia airports can meet their increasing infrastructure demands while providing modern facilit...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that 18 initiatives led by local financial institutions and non-profits in Virginia will receive $6.6 million from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta (FHL-Bank Atlanta)’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) to support affordable housing development in Virginia.   “Affordable housing is one of the bedrocks of economic security and financial stability for American families,” said Sen....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia Tech will receive $19,420,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to help increase cyber workforce development and encourage scientific partnerships to deliver innovation in the field. The NSF grant will create an interdisciplinary team of software scientists who will help develop software frameworks, interact with community code developers, collaborate with partners in cyber-infrastructur...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that airports in Richmond, Norfolk and Emporia/Greensville will receive nearly $12 million in funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to rehabilitate existing taxiways, improve the safety of pavement conditions, and renovate facilities. “Our airports must continue to ensure they can maintain the proper safety standards while also maintaining modern fa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement upon the passing of Northern Virginia Regional Director Joe Montano, Jr.: “My staff and I are deeply saddened by the death of our Northern Virginia Regional Director, Joe Montano. Joe was an outstanding representative of this office, enthusiastic servant of the people of Northern Virginia, and admired colleague by all who worked with him. We will remember him by his positive energy, tireless work ethic, and in...Continue Reading

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