Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded today the House’s unanimous passage of the Treatment of Certain Payments in Eugenics Compensation Act (S. 1698), which would exclude eugenics victims’ compensation payments from being used in determining eligibility for, or the amount of, federal public benefits. Without this legislation, eugenics victims who receive compensation payments could see their federal benefits reduced or even have their eligib...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) led a bipartisan group of 18 Senators seeking to improve veterans’ access to healthcare by introducing the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act to authorize leases for 24 Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in 15 states. Most of the leases have been pending congressional approval for more than a year. Under law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) must receive specific legislative authorization to lease medical facilit...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded the U.S. Army for committing to reforming its policies, regulations and documentation practices in the wake of its multidisciplinary review of misconduct separations of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). In a written response to a request from Kaine and 11 of his Senate colleagues, Secretary of the Army Eric K. Fanning conceded the A...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes $10.6 billion in water infrastructure projects across the nation. This bill makes investments in harbor dredging, maintenance of locks and dams, flood control, ecosystem restoration and other water-related priorities around the nation. Additionally, the bill includes a package of measures to address the drinking water crisis in F...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today on the new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on security assistance with Israel:  “After regular engagement with the Administration and Israeli government on this issue, I am pleased that an agreement has been reached to provide Israel with an unprecedented level of U.S. military assistance in a consistent manner over the next ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond and George Mason University (GMU) in Fairfax will receive a total of $1,125,897 in federal funds through two grants from the Department of Justice National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to support research that will improve the forensic science testing and equipment used in domestic violence and sexual assault cases. VCU will receive $676,460 and GMU will r...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia fire departments will receive $693,533 in federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The AFG program supports local fire departments by providing funds for new equipment and training.   “Virginia’s first-responders, including the firefighters who put themselves at risk every day, must be well-equipp...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Danville Regional Airport will receive $2,427,098 and Mountain Empire Regional Airport will receive $2,525,004 in federal funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the rehabilitation of the airports ‘existing runways. Today’s funding was made available through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP). “The safety of Vir...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) will award $9,476,756 to housing authorities and nonprofit organizations to help ongoing efforts in the Commonwealth to prevent veteran homelessness and provide stable housing for low-income veterans and their families. “Our country has a duty to honor our commitments to support the men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform, and these feder...Continue Reading

Wednesday, August 24, 2016 – In response to an August 4 letter to Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan in which U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) emphasized their support for a permanent postal facility in Pocahontas, Virginia, the United States Postal Service (USPS) confirmed it has “no plans to close the Post Office at this time” and that it is making “every effort to locate a permanent location as soo...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Mecklenburg-Brunswick Regional Airport will receive $3,337,172 in funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the rehabilitation of the airport’s existing runway. Today’s funding was made available through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program. “This funding will help the Mecklenburg-Brunswick Airport upgrade its infrastruct...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport will receive $1,679,715 in funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fund the acquisition of a new aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle to assist the airport in meeting safety requirements. This project will fund the acquisition of one replacement and one additional multi-task equipment vehicle to enhance the ai...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced that the University of Virginia (UVA) will receive a $246,140 grant from the Department of Education’s Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program. This program provides fellowships to assist graduate students who have excellent records, demonstrate financial need, and plan to pursue the highest degree available in a field designated as an area of national need. “Virginia can help lead the na...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $72,348 in grants to support local law enforcement efforts and improve safety in communities throughout Virginia. The funding will be used to improve training, safety initiatives, drug treatment and enforcement programs, and purchase new equipment and supplies. “As a former Governor, I recognize the importance of equipping local law enforcement with the tool...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia Tech Montgomery Executive Airport in Blacksburg and Charlottesville Albemarle Airport in Charlottesville will receive more than $12 million in funds from the Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to extend and rehabilitate existing runways and improve the safety of their facilities. “Virginia airports face challenges in maintaining critical infrastru...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on the passing of Richmond radio host and former Virginia NAACP Executive Director Jack Gravely: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Richmond’s Jack Gravely. Jack was an incredibly influential voice in Richmond and communities throughout our Commonwealth for decades. As someone who had the pleasure of knowing Jack for years, I can tell you that he was as genuine as it gets, was extreme...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $70,000 grant to the Southside Planning District Commission to help establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region. The areas served by the Southside Planning District Commission comprise the counties of ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $570,326 in grants to support local law enforcement efforts and improve safety in communities throughout Virginia. The funding will be used to improve training, safety initiatives, drug treatment and enforcement programs, and purchase new equipment and supplies. “As a former Governor, I recognize the importance of equipping local law enforcement with the ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded grants totaling $9,589,377 to help Virginia’s K-12 schools improve student achievement and support colleges and universities in providing better outreach and student services to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.   “The investment will help close some of the gaps that exist for students at lower-performing schools. This is more tha...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia Tech has been awarded more than $1.7 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to research the use of unmanned aerial and surface vehicles to monitor air and water pollutants through toxic agent testing, and develop an approach for emergency response and disaster recovery. A $900,835 NSF award will allow university researchers to study how unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and unmanned surfa...Continue Reading