Press Releases

WASHINGTON,D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the decision by Timothy Heaphy, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, to step down: “Tim has served the Western District of Virginia with distinction as U.S. Attorney. I appreciate Tim’s dedication to combatting prescription drug abuse, human trafficking, and illegal gang activity, and I’m confident his work to promote community outreach and crime prevention will leave a la...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement today on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s decision to step down: “Secretary Hagel has led the Department of Defense through an extremely challenging time in our nation’s history, including a severely constrained fiscal environment. He has been a strong advocate for military servicemembers and their families, ensuring t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to a letter from U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and three of their colleagues in July 2014, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced a policy change today that will prohibit the use of allotments by servicemembers to purchase, lease or rent personal property.  This important change will protect servicemembers from businesses that use allotments to trap Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families in illegal predatory loans. “I&rsqu...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, released the following statement on recent sexual violence allegations in Virginia:        “The allegations of sexual assault depicted in a recent Rolling Stone article are beyond alarming and cannot be tolerated. If the law enforcement and school investigations into these allegations are found to be true, the individuals and organizations involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In addition to a co...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia introduced legislation to help level the playing field for miners battling black lung disease, an ailment caused by inhaling coal dust over an extended period of time that can be debilitating and potentially fatal. Federal law requires that coal companies compensate disabled miners who contract black lung, but employers routinely deploy an array of unfair tactics to avoid paying miners the benefits they deserve. The Bla...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC - El Senador Tim Kaine hizo las siguientes declaraciones sobre el anuncio del presidente Obama sobre inmigración de esta noche: "En junio de 2013, tuve el orgullo de votar a favor de un proyecto de ley bipartidista, que al ser aprobado, tomaría medidas importantes para reparar nuestro quebrantado sistema migratorio. Después de casi un año y medio de inacción de la Cámara de Representantes, apoyo la decisión del presidente Obama de t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, released the following statement on President Obama’s immigration announcement tonight:        “In June 2013, I was proud to cast my vote in support of bipartisan legislation that would take major steps to fix our broken immigration system. After nearly a year and a half of inaction from the House, I support President Obama’s decision to take action within his executive authority to address some of the problem...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine praised today’s news that the United States Air Force is considering Joint Base Langley-Eustis as one of four finalists for the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC).  Warner and Kaine met with senior Air Force leadership in July to urge the selection of Joint Base Langley-Eustis as it considered sites across the country. In a time of sequestration and austerity for the military, this new headquarter...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the Senate’s vote on the Keystone XL Pipeline Project: “Tonight the Senate made the right decision to reject a proposal I believe would take our country’s future in the wrong direction. We can’t throw the brakes on the use of fossil fuels - that would be unrealistic and hurt our economy. But we have a responsibility to generate cleaner energy tomorrow than we do today. Based on the scienti...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released the following joint statement on the U.S. Forest Service’s announcement of a final management plan for the George Washington National Forest:  “We’re pleased that the Forest Service’s final management plan announced today for the George Washington National Forest closes the overwhelming majority of lands in the Forest to horizontal drilling activities, with the remaining portion comprising acre...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine signed onto bipartisan legislation to provide up to 15,000 visas annually for Koreans with specialized skills that are lacking in the U.S. labor market.   “Smart reforms in the high-skill visa program will help Virginia businesses struggling to find qualified individuals to fill open positions. This bipartisan approach will help Virginia businesses fill this labor gap, and it also will strengthen existing stron...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Senator Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Father Ismael “Melo” Moreno, a Honduran Jesuit and well-known human rights activist.  Kaine and Father Melo discussed the evolution of the Jesuit role in Honduras, where Kaine worked with Jesuit missionaries in 1980 – 1981.  Father Melo, who directs two Jesuit ministries:  Radio Progreso and E.R.I.C. (The Team for Reflection, Research and Communication)...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Committee Chairman Senator Robert Menendez met with Guatemalan Foreign Minister Carlos Morales and Salvadoran Foreign Minister Hugo Martinez to discuss Central American efforts to address the factors driving migration and threatening the social fabric and long-term prosperity of the region.  The Central American leaders highlighted short-term actions to curb the flow of undocumented migran...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. - El Senador Tim Kaine, miembro del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores, Y el presidente dicho comité, el Senador Robert Menéndez, se reunieron con el Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Guatemala Carlos Morales y el Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de El Salvador Hugo Martínez para hablar sobre los esfuerzos centroamericanos para enfrentar las causas del flujo migratorio que también amenaza la prosperidad de la región. Los líderes ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine expressed their support for Elizabeth K. Dillon, nominee to the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, as the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to consider her nomination. “Elizabeth is exceptionally well qualified to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a judge for the Western District of Virginia. She possesses the experience, integrity, temperament and expertise that we ex...Continue Reading

Madame Chair and Minority Leader Grassley, I support the nomination of Elizabeth K. Dillon to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.  I am happy the Judiciary Committee has taken the initial step toward confirming the first female judge for this court. Elizabeth Dillon’s career reflects a dedication to the law that has focused on employment issues, civil rights, and local government that will serve her well as a federal district court judge.  She boasts ext...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the agreement announced by the United States and China today to control carbon pollution through clean energy cooperation:  “The United States has taken bold steps to reduce carbon pollution through technology innovation and smart incentives to get cleaner and more efficient with energy, yet we know other countries must follow suit.  Today we heard that China – the world’s most populou...Continue Reading

Full Transcript: Thank you and good morning! If past history is any guide, I’m hoping that a lame session will be followed by a virile duck, so that is my hope for the next two months. I want to thank Jane for the introduction and the opportunity to be here with Jim and Jack to talk about an issue that I’m very passionate about. Hard to say everything I want to say in ten minutes, but let me try to just say three things. First, and I never do this, I’m going to talk a little bi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on Governor Terry McAuliffe’s announcement that construction on Amtrak service to Roanoke will begin immediately: “I’m pleased to see we are another step closer to passenger rail service in Roanoke. As Governor, I was proud of our work to extend Amtrak service to Lynchburg, and I can’t wait to ride it to Roanoke in just over two years. I’m grateful for the efforts of Governor McAuliffe,...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in commemoration of Veterans Day 2014:  “As I march in the Tidewater Veterans Day Parade, I'll be thinking about the service of every generation of American veterans – the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation and promote the values we hold dear. We also pay tribute, after 13 years of war, to all those who have served in the military since September 11, 2001. D...Continue Reading