Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in response to today’s Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to strike down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage in Bostic v. Rainey: “Today's decision is a victory for the Virginia value of equality. I campaigned against the ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in 2006 and was very disappointed when it passed. I am gratified that the 4th Circuit Court has recognized that ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the passing of former Congressman Caldwell Butler of Roanoke: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our close family friend, former Congressman Caldwell Butler. Anne and I send our deepest sympathies to his loved ones and the entire Roanoke community. I will always admire Congressman Butler’s courageous decision to do what he believed was right, regardless of politics. He will be remem...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the deal announced by House and Senate negotiators today to improve veterans’ access to health care and address serious problems facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): “I’m heartened that bipartisan negotiators were able to reach a deal that will help ensure veterans receive the timely, high-quality care they deserve from the VA,” said Kaine, who was an original co-sponsor of the ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the opening of the Silver Line: “Today is an exciting day. Working on Phase 1 of the Silver Line remains one of the most challenging projects I’ve worked on in my 20 years of public service. In Northern Virginia, it has been a long-held dream to extend the Metro to this corridor. The Silver Line will boost the regional economy, improve daily life for thousands of commuters, and ultimately enabl...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine called for reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), highlighting how Ex-Im provides critical financing assistance to Virginia businesses that helps them increase their exports and create jobs across the Commonwealth – all at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer. Kaine shared stories of four Virginia companies who have benefited from Ex-Im’s assistance: Orbital Sciences Co...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, co-sponsored three bills to make post-secondary education and career-training programs more affordable. “The set of bills I am co-sponsoring today represent the type of comprehensive approach we need to make post-secondary education more affordable,” said Kaine. “In addition to increasing students’ access to Pell Grants and low-risk student loa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today: “I am heartbroken for the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives at the Cherrystone Campground today, as well as those who were injured in this storm. I stand ready to help the Eastern Shore community recover in whatever ways I can.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine applauded the measures announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) to improve the safety of crude oil rail shipments. Following the derailment of 17 tank cars carrying crude oil in downtown Lynchburg in April, Warner and Kaine urged Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to take action on areas of concern raised by the incident. DoT’s proposal includes several of the measures Warner and Kaine recommended...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, hosted a Senate briefing with Chief Representative of the Palestinian Delegation in Washington Maen Areikat to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank: “The deteriorating situation in Gaza is one of grave concern, especially the increasing death toll of Palestinian civilians, Israeli citizens, and Israeli soldiers...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Madam President, in the last year, I have been in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon to visit Syrian refugees and the organizations that work with them. I have seen the effect of refugees fleeing violence on these nations. Lebanon has four million people. They have to care for a million refugees from Syria. That is one in four members of their population. These countries, especially Jordan and Lebanon, are much smaller than the United States. They are much poorer than the United State...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, along with U.S. Congressman Jim Moran, applauded Department of Defense approval of a $23,798,603 grant to Fairfax County Public Schools for the renovation, repair and construction of new classrooms at Fort Belvoir Elementary School. The renovation project will help address the school’s capacity and building condition deficiencies. Following completion, Fort Belvoir Elementary School will serve more than 1,590 military...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today after a minority of Senators blocked the Senate from considering the Protect Women’s Health from Corporate Interference Act  or, the “Not My Boss’s Business Act,” legislation that would reverse the Supreme Court’s Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decision that denies women access to critical health care services: “It’s extremely disappointing that a minority of Senators kep...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a joint letter, U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and U.S. Congressmen Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Scott Rigell and Rob Wittman urged Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James to consider Virginia’s Joint Base Langley-Eustis as a location for the future Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC). Locating the new facility there would help minimize the impact of 742 positions being eliminated at Langley-Eustis as part of the Air Force’s con...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today: “I’m sorry that votes in the Senate kept me from joining the President at the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center in McLean earlier today, but I’m pleased he chose to come to Northern Virginia to discuss the importance of long-term transportation and infrastructure funding. Unreliability in federal funding has had a ripple effect in the Commonwealth, affecting our ability to ease traffic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine today applauded the announcement that the Fiscal Year 2015 Senate Defense Appropriations bill includes $848 million for the refueling and complex overhaul of the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington - a top defense priority for the Senators and the Virginia delegation.  Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, made the announcement during markup of the bill...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern, South and Central Asian Affairs, released the following statement today on the Syrian humanitarian crisis: “I welcome today’s long overdue passage of a United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing unhindered cross-border humanitarian assistance to civilians in need inside Syria, even without the consent of the Assad government.   I called for suc...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement in recognition of the blessed month of Ramadan. Last night, Kaine attended the Muslim American Citizens Coalition and Public Affairs Council’s (MACCPAC) 4th annual Iftar on Capitol Hill:  “Ramadan is a time of spiritual devotion, building community and helping those less fortunate – principals that resonate with every American, regardless of faith. It also serves as a reminder of one of the fo...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern, Southern and Central Asian Affairs, today applauded Senate passage of the Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2013, of which he is a co-sponsor. The bill, introduced by Senators Roy Blunt, Carl Levin and Bob Casey cites growing instances of religious persecution in the Middle East and calls for the creation of a special envoy within the State Department to bring ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, hosted a briefing for members of the Foreign Relations, Armed Services and Intelligence Committees with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer and Defense Attaché Major General Ayish to discuss the ongoing operation in Gaza – Operation Protective Edge. Kaine released the following statement after the briefing: “The deteriorat...Continue Reading

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH), co-chairs of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation to raise the quality of CTE programs at schools in Virginia, Ohio and across the country. The Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce Act amends the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act to better meet the needs of a 21st century workforce and ensure students have acce...Continue Reading