Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine called for improved safety for rail shipments of crude oil and increased collaboration with local first responders following last week’s derailment of 17 rail tank cars carrying crude oil in downtown Lynchburg. An estimated 20,000 gallons of crude oil was released into the James River following last week’s derailment and resulting fire. The senators expressed their concerns in a letter today to U.S. Department of Transp...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern, South and Central Asian Affairs, called for urgent action to halt the deteriorating humanitarian situation inside Syria and full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2139.  Kaine believes the UN has authority under international law to organize a robust and aggressive cross border assistan...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a symposium on Women in Combat Units: The Experiences of Partner Nations on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine reiterated his strong support for the decision to lift the ban on women in combat. Kaine, along with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, sponsored the symposium, which included firsthand accounts from women who recently returned from serving in combat. “It is a fundamental civil rights issue that men and w...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to express support for its targeted experiments to expand affordable, quality broadband to rural America, and urged the FCC to consider Virginia as the process moves forward. “Access to broadband is no longer a luxury and the current divide between urban and rural area access to modern communication is unacceptable,” the Senators said. “We need to continue to ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON - The bipartisan Northern Virginia congressional delegation today announced that the Dulles Metrorail Project has received final approval for a nearly $1.9 billion low-interest, long-term federal loan.  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has signed the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program loan after the U.S. Department of Transportation Credit Council voted to approve it. This financing represents the largest loan in the TIFIA progra...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance legislation that would raise the minimum wage: “Today, I voted to advance legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016, which could give nearly 750,000 Virginians a raise. I’m discouraged that many of my Senate colleagues chose to block a bill with such broad, bipartisan support from the American public. Raising the minimum wage is about giving hard-working p...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statements on the mark of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces released today: “This is a great example of the bipartisan Virginia Congressional delegation working together to get the maximum service life from our aircraft carriers and maintain the 11 carrier fleet,” said Warner. “Representative Forbes and the House Armed Services Committee deserve credit f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring’s announcement today that Virginia students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, or DREAMers, will now be eligible for in-state tuition at Virginia’s public community colleges and universities: “Attorney General Herring’s announcement that Virginia DREAMers will now qualify for in-state tuition at Virginia’s public community...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statements on the announcement of a multiyear, $17.6 billion contract for construction of 10 Virginia-class submarines, two ships per year from 2014 to 2018: “Today’s announcement that the Navy has committed to purchasing 10 submarines over the next five years is great news for Hampton Roads and Virginia,” Senator Warner said. “This multi-year buy further strengthens the partnership...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter to Katherine Archuleta, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and John Koskinen, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine called for swift action in the wake of recent reports that millions of dollars’ worth of pay and awards were given to IRS employees who had conduct issues resulting in disciplinary actions and to employees who owe delinquent taxes. “Incidents like that of the IRS are unacceptable ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine led 14 of his colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel calling on the Department of Defense to modify its regulations on appearance so that patriotic Sikh Americans can serve in the U.S. Armed Forces while abiding by their articles of faith. “Despite their achievements, Section 4(g) of the revised Instruction would require religiously observant service members to remove their head coverings, cut their hair, or shave ...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 on the announcement of reconciliation between the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas today, as well as its impact on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. "It is disappointing to see events in recent weeks that have driven the Israelis and Palestinians further apart in the important quest to find a pe...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the announcements by MWAA and WMATA regarding substantial completion of the Silver Line: “I am pleased MWAA is now able to certify substantial completion of the Silver Line.  Though the delays have been frustrating, safety must always be the top priority. I hope the additional time has provided for the most stringent safety measures to be taken, and look forward to WMATA taking possession of the...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In Bristol today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine toured the Clean Energy Research & Development Center and learned how the state-of-the-art facilities could benefit businesses while conserving energy. During the visit, Kaine discussed the importance of research and development in renewable and alternative energy for U.S. troop safety abroad, and its role in preparing Virginia's workforce to succeed in the jobs of the 21st century. “Meeting with local elected offic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In Wytheville today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine hosted a roundtable discussion with business and community leaders at Wytheville Community College. Kaine learned more about economic development in the region, including the need for expanded workforce development training and career and technical education, as well as discussed his efforts to help pass a two-year budget agreement that has provided greater budget certainty for communities across the Commonwealth. “If we ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In Roanoke today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine met with women community leaders to discuss issues that impact local businesses and families and learn more about economic development in the region. The visit is Kaine’s latest stop on a two-week tour across the Commonwealth. During the discussion, Kaine described why passage of a two-year budget agreement is so important for the local economy and small businesses in the Roanoke Valley. “We don't know how to best...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine along with U.S. Representatives Randy Forbes and Robert Hurt applauded today’s announcement that Fort Pickett, Virginia will be the location for a new Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) to train U.S. diplomatic and government personnel assigned to high-threat posts around the world. After a multi-year exhaustive search for the best site, the Administration has determined Fort Pickett is the best site to meet the...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine continued his statewide tour of the Commonwealth in the Martinsville and Henry County area where he joined U.S. Representatives Robert Hurt and Morgan Griffith at the groundbreaking of the Commonwealth Crossing Business Centre. During the ceremony, Kaine praised the extraordinary work done to receive a site permit in line with environmental standards and begin the process of developing the site. Henry County and the Martinsville-Henry Co. Ec...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the murder of Carlos Mejia Orellana in Honduras: “I was shocked to learn of the murder of Carlos Mejia Orellana, journalist and marketing director of Jesuit founded Radio Progreso in Honduras.  My prayers go out to Carlos’s friends and family in the  El Progreso community that welcomed me as a young student in the 1980’s. “Too often, Honduran officials have dismissed threats and ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine continued his two-week tour of Virginia in Hampton with a visit to the NASA Langley Research Center. Throughout the tour, Kaine discussed the importance of NASA Langley’s role in growing and diversifying the regional economy and attracting talented workers. "NASA is a great player in Virginia and Langley is a fantastic center for aeronautical and aviation related research," said Kaine. "With wonderful private sector partners here too, ...Continue Reading