Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) today introduced a bipartisan resolution to encourage educators to promote career and technical education (CTE) as an option for students. In addition to recognizing the importance of career and technical education in preparing a skilled workforce, the resolution also designates the month of February as “Career and Technical Education Month” to celebrate CTE programs a...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced Hannah Lauck, nominated to serve on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  "Hannah Lauck has an excellent record as a prosecutor and a magistrate judge, and her peers praise her character and integrity,” Sen. Warner said. “Her career now comes full circle as she is nom...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, chaired a hearing on recent political and security developments in Lebanon. With more than one million Syrian refugees currently in Lebanon, the hearing focused on the impact of the Syrian civil war, as well as what more the international community can do to provide assistance. “Lebanon is at a crossroads,” said Kaine. &ldq...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine questioned Department of Defense (DoD) nominees on the impact of the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget on national security priorities, including the critical importance of maintaining an 11-carrier fleet, based on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s preview yesterday. Kaine, who is strongly opposed to any reductions to the 11-carrier Navy, pressed Deputy Secretary of Defense...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a week-long trip across the Middle East, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, released a statement on the United Nations Security Council Resolution on Syria approved yesterday: “While it has taken too long for the U.N. Security Council to act – largely due to Russian obstruction - this resolution, if fully implemented, is a good step forward. I believe hum...Continue Reading

CAIRO, EGYPT – On the final day of a week-long tour across the Middle East, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, visited the Multinational Forces and Observers Mission (MFO) South Camp in Sharm el Sheik and met with *servicemembers from Virginia. The MFO mission helps maintain the 1981 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, with peacekeeping responsibilities in the Sinai. Along with troops from 13 other...Continue Reading

CAIRO, EGYPT – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs had substantive discussions today with Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nabil Fahmy and Defense Minister Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Kaine also met with youth leaders, opposition party members, civil society, and Egyptian business leaders.   In meetings with the government officials, Kaine expr...Continue Reading

BEIRUT, LEBANON – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, made a two-day visit to Lebanon as part of their wider trip to the region. The Senators had substantive discussions with President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Tammam Salam, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Comman...Continue Reading

RAMALLAH and JERUSALEM – Today U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees had substantive discussions with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. They also met with a group of Pa...Continue Reading

JERUSALEM - Today U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, visited an Iron Dome site near the Gaza border, as well as had substantive discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. During the meetings, Senators Ka...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Angus King, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, will depart today for a week-long trip to the Middle East. Senators Kaine and King will visit Israel and the West Bank. Senator Kaine will also visit Egypt.   In Israel, Kaine and King will visit an Iron ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D. C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate voted to repeal pension reductions for current servicemembers included in the Bipartisan Budget Act: “Today the Senate came together to repeal pension reductions that would have harmed our veterans and military families. I have been fighting to repeal these reductions since December and I’m relieved we can now give military veterans and their families the peace of mi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement today after the Senate voted, 67-31, to suspend the debt ceiling and prevent default on America’s fiscal obligations. “After coming together to pass a bipartisan budget agreement, as well as an appropriations package and a farm bill, I’m extremely heartened that Congress has again chosen economic certainty over crisis-budgeting and brinksmanship. I hope&nbs...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced today that Diane Kaufman will serve as Regional Director for Eastern Virginia.   “I’m proud to announce that Diane Kaufman will join my state team as Director of my Eastern Virginia regional office,” said Kaine.  “Located in Virginia Beach, this office performs important casework, constituent services, and outreach to individuals and groups throughout the area stretching from Williamsburg throug...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today introduced an amendment to the Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act that would find alternative savings through closure of an offshore tax loophole to replace the cost of living adjustment (COLA) reduction for military retirees. The amendment mirrors legislation introduced by the Senators in December 2013 that would replace the pension reductions with new legislation that could raise as...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced Deputy Secretary of Labor nominee Christopher Lu of Arlington, Virginia at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pension (HELP) Committee.  Kaine highlighted Lu’s wide breadth of experience, including his roles as White House Cabinet Secretary and Co-Chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI), as evidence of his tremendous qualifications to...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the Senate voted to advance legislation to repeal the military pension reductions included in the Bipartisan Budget Act: “Today the Senate took an important step toward the repeal of military pension reductions that unfairly impact our veterans and military families. Since December, I have fought to reverse this provision of the Bipartisan Budget Act by introducing legislation to repl...Continue Reading

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine visited a Resource Workforce Center in Richmond this morning to speak with employees and unemployed workers searching for jobs. During his visit, Kaine discussed the importance of extending emergency unemployment benefits for up to 1.7 million Americans as they look for work. “Today I heard from folks in my hometown who have spent months searching for work as they struggle to support their families,” said Kaine. “The gridlock in C...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after a minority of Senators blocked yet another vote on passage of emergency unemployment insurance legislation today: “I regret that a minority of Senators continue to block us from restoring emergency unemployment benefits for up to 1.7 million Americans, including more than 10,000 Virginians. In addition to hurting workers searching for jobs as they struggle to support their families, t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) voted today for Senate passage of the bipartisan Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2014, which now goes to the President for his signature.  The legislation included many provisions championed by the Senators that will benefit Virginians, including strengthened crop insurance for farmers and conservation programs for the Chesapeake Bay.  The 2014 farm bill, which saves taxpayers more than $23 billion over 1...Continue Reading