Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine applauded the announcement that the Jordan Hydroelectric Partnership will receive a $1,125,000 guaranteed loan from the Rural Energy for America Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The loan will help fund the development of a 1.8 megawatt hydroelectric station at the John Flannagan Dam in Dickenson County, delivering power to more than 800 homes and reducing yearly carbon dioxide emissions by more than 8,500 tons. “This proj...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate passed a short-term continuing resolution to fund the government through December 11, 2014 by a vote of 78-22.   “Today I voted in support of an interim spending bill that will keep the government open and prevent another needless shutdown. I continue to believe that short-term stopgaps are the wrong way to budget, but I’m hopeful we will create a long-term solution...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement on the President’s nomination of Elizabeth Dillon to serve on the Western District Court of Virginia. If confirmed by the Senate, Ms. Dillon will be the first woman to serve on the Western District bench. “Virginia is fortunate to have the President nominate Elizabeth Dillon to the Western District. Ms. Dillon’s career reflects a commitment to public service, a kee...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Co-Chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, introduced the Creating Quality Technical Educators Act that would create a CTE teacher-training grant partnership to recruit and train high-quality CTE teachers. The Creating Quality Technical Educators Act grant would foster partnerships between high-needs secondary schools and post-secondary institutions to create one...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing with Secretary of State John Kerry on the U.S. mission against ISIL, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine took the opportunity to applaud and welcome home the Portsmouth-based MV Cape Ray after a successful mission to neutralize the most dangerous of Syria’s declared chemical weapons. “A container ship, the MV Cape Ray, is returning to the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Kaine remarked to Secretary Kerry. “A...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, will introduce a narrow and specific authorization for use of military force against ISIL. As the Foreign Relations Committee prepares to draft a tailored authorization to provide President Obama with authority in the mission to degrade and destroy ISIL, Kaine’s proposal is meant to re...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and General Martin Dempsey today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine reiterated his call for Congress to debate and vote on an authorization for use of U.S. military force against ISIL. “I believe very strongly…that the President does need the authority of Congress to conduct the mission that he described and you discussed today,” Kaine said. “That was first tested by a Vi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated September 15 through October 15: “I am proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring generations of Hispanic Americans in Virginia and across the country for their social, cultural and economic contributions to our nation. Through hard work and dedication, Hispanic Americans have contributed to science, the arts, commerce, sports, philanthrop...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with 29 other senators, sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker supporting the Department’s decision to initiate investigations into Chinese tire imports and urging it to act to restore fair trade conditions. The investigations are in response to petitions filed by the United Steelworkers (USW) on behalf of U.S. tire workers, who allege that Chinese tire companies are ille...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine addressed the annual Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference in Richmond where he commemorated the twentieth anniversary of AmeriCorps and participated in the organization’s National Swearing-in Ceremony. After leading the conference participants in the AmeriCorps pledge, Kaine spoke about the importance of service and the large impact that AmeriCorps members’ personal commitment can have on communities. “All of you wh...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine co-sponsored the Survivor Outreach and Support Campus Act (S.O.S. Campus Act), legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer that would require colleges and universities to establish an independent, on-campus advocate to support survivors of sexual assault. The legislation will require every institution of higher education that receives federal funding to designate an independent advocate for campus sexual assault prevention and respon...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined 126 other members of Congress in filing an amicus curiae brief to the Supreme Court on behalf of Peggy Young. In her case, Young v. UPS, Ms. Young argues that she was discriminated against in the workplace when her employer refused to provide reasonable accommodations to her job that would have allowed her to continue working during her pregnancy, even though similar accommodations were routinely provided to other employees with simil...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today in commemoration of the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001: "Today we honor the memory of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania. As we continue to face new challenges around the world, let us remember the American spirit that united us in the wake of 9/11 and the heroic actions of our first responders and servicemembers who co...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs released the following statement in response to President Obama’s address on ISIL: “Tonight President Obama made a strong case for the need to degrade and destroy ISIL. The President has worked to enlist partners, including key allies across the region, in this effort – a partnersh...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, today introduced the Middle School Technical Education Program (Middle STEP) Act that would expose middle school students to CTE programs focused on career exploration. The Middle STEP Act would establish a pilot program for middle schools to partner with postsecondary institutions and local businesses to develop and implement career and technical education exploration programs th...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the Department of Transportation’s announcement of a $15 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) infrastructure grant to the Virginia Port Authority and a $24.9 million grant to the City of Richmond: “I applaud today’s announcement of federal transportation grants for the Port of Virginia and the City of Richmond and commend the Governor for his leadership on...Continue Reading

Mr. President, one month ago, the President initiated an air campaign against ISIL in Iraq. ISIL is a dangerous terrorist organization committing atrocities against thousands of people, including American hostages, and a strong American response to include military action is certainly warranted. In the first month of the air campaign, two explanations for the mission were given by the President. We began with a mission for humanitarian purpose and also the need to protect American embassy person...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on Governor Terry McAuliffe’s “A Healthy Virginia” plan and initiatives announced by Attorney General Mark Herring to combat drug abuse in the Commonwealth: “I’m pleased Governor McAuliffe will act to expand healthcare services to more than 200,000 Virginians and has answered our call to create a Task Force to Combat Prescription Drug and Heroin Abuse, which will be a critical tool as we address the rapid spread of...Continue Reading

ROTA, SPAIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, visited Naval Station Rota in Rota, Spain. This week, Kaine is leading a Congressional delegation to North Africa and Spain, including Representatives Loretta Sanchez (CA), Congressmen Adam Schiff (CA), Albio Sires (NJ), Juan Vargas (CA) and Pedro Pierluisi (PR). During the visit, the delegation ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, along with Senators Mark Warner, Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski, who combined represent 13.7 percent of the nation’s federal workforce, applauded the recent U.S Office of Personnel Management (OPM) decision to allow federal employees to carryover up to $500 in unspent Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds from one year to the next. Federal FSA (FSAFED) participants will now be allowed to use unspent funds from the previous year to pay for...Continue Reading