Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) cosponsored the bipartisan National Climate Adaptation and Resilience Strategy Act (NCARS), legislation to streamline the federal response to climate hazards that threaten human health and well-being, critical infrastructure, and natural systems. The bill is led by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). “Across Virginia and our country, we’ve witnessed the devastating impacts of climate change, including sea level...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senator Elizabeth Warren in reintroducing the Behavioral Health Coverage Transparency Act, legislation that would strengthen oversight and enforcement of federal parity laws requiring that most insurance plans provide mental health coverage on par with the coverage they provide for other medical or surgical services. This bill would help hold health insurers accountable by ensuring they provide adequate behavioral health care benefits...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,200,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for Henry County. This funding will go towards improving 3,550 linear feet of Reservoir Road and updating gravel roadways to meet Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) standards. The project will support the creation of 400 new jobs, help leverage approximately $188 million in private investments, and improve access t...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, alongside Representatives Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), Don Beyer (VA-08), and Gerry Connolly (VA-11), pressed President Biden to raise Asim Ghafoor’s detention with the highest levels of the Emirati government and advocate for his fair and humane treatment. Asim Ghafoor—a U.S. citizen and Virginia resident—was reportedly tried in absentia, detained without notice of his conviction, and sentenced to prison on...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,958,173 in federal funding for two Virginia airports. The funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Airport Improvement Program.   “We are continuing to see investments in the Commonwealth’s airports that will make travel through Virginia safer, more convenient, and more accessible,” the senators said....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) in introducing the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that would codify Americans’ right to contraception, which the Supreme Court first recognized more than half a century ago in its decision in Griswold v. Connecticut. The introduction follows Justice Clarence Thomas’ concurring opinion in D...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services—like birth control, cancer screenings, and more—by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning Program. “For over 50 years, Title X has provid...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored legislation to protect access to mail-order medication abortion in states where abortion is still available. Specifically, the Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would codify Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines issued during the COVID pandemic so that women can continue to access abortion medications through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies. “Telemedicine is a critical tool f...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) along with Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA-02) and Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) today sent a letter to Dr. Taquisa K. Simmons, executive director of the Hampton Veterans Affairs health care system, expressing serious concern over a recent Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) report detailing failures at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Hampton, VA that led to a delayed cancer diagnosis duri...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, along with 39 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough seeking answers to reports of the VA refusing to provide certain benefits to same-sex veteran couples. The letter calls for speedy action to ensure these couples have access to the full spousal benefits they are owed. “Each of our veterans and their spouses deserve the same quality care and services onc...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine introduced legislation to remove “Robert E. Lee Memorial” from the official name of Arlington House. The legislation, which was partially inspired by the request of descendants of Lee and people who were enslaved at Arlington House, was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Don Beyer (VA-08), alongside Representatives Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jennifer Wexton (VA-10), and Eleanor Holmes No...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statement on President Biden’s nominations of U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Ballou for the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Abingdon Division and Mr. Jamar Walker for the vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk Division. “We are pleased that the President has nominated Judge Ballou and Mr. Walker to fill these...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine released the following statements regarding the devastating flooding in Buchanan County: “My heart goes out to every Virginian affected by this catastrophic flooding in Buchanan County. This spring, I met with families who were still grappling with the aftermath of last year’s flooding in Hurley, and saw up close the need to support the road to recovery. I’m going to do everything I can to be a strong pa...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 21 of their Senate colleagues introduced the Tax Filing Simplification Act of 2022, legislation to simplify the tax filing process for millions of Americans, saving them hours and hundreds of dollars. Along with lowering costs and eliminating red tape for all taxpayers, simplified filing tools would ensure that more eligible people – including millions of low-income Americans – receive important tax re...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act. The legislation helps miners who have suffered from ‘black lung’ disease and their survivors access the workers compensation they are entitled to receive under the Black Lung Benefits Program. The legislation helps miners and their survivors access legal representation, ensures benefits ar...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022. This legislation would make it clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services and would empower the U.S. Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against th...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today was joined by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chairman of the SFRC Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, and eight of their democratic Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning consistently high levels of violence against journalists in Mexico and expressing support for increased efforts to safeguard Mexican freedom of the press. Following the ongoing spike in extrajudic...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), SFRC Chairman Bob Menendez, and 20 of their Senate colleagues called on the Biden Administration to continue to protect displaced Venezuelans by extending and re-designating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). The situation in Venezuela has continued to deteriorate and remains one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world with over six million Venezuelan refugees...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $50,265,000 in federal funding for two Virginia airports awarded through the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Terminals Program, which was created through the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act negotiated by Sen. Warner and strongly supported by Sen. Kaine. “These funds will go toward modernizing and updating both Dulles and Richmond Interna...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the statement below, celebrating a joint plan between the Department of Justice and Envigo RMS LLC. to facilitate the surrender of nearly four thousand dogs from an Envigo breeding facility in Cumberland, Va., which has been repeatedly cited for egregious animal welfare violations. Under the agreement, ownership and physical custody of the dogs will be transferred to ...Continue Reading