Press Releases

You can watch Senator Kaine’s full questioning here WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider the nomination of retired General Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine asked General Austin how the military should address the rise of white supremacy and extremism among military personnel. According to a Military Times survey, more than one-third of active-duty servicemembers and more than half of minority servicemembers sai...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, and Jennifer Wexton (all D-VA) today issued the following statement on the agreement between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the United States Secret Service (USSS) authorizing the use of Virginia State Police assets, resources, and personnel, to assist with the closure of bridges spanning the Potomac River during the 2021 Presidential Inauguration Ceremony: “The...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement after the incoming Biden Administration announced its American Rescue Plan, an emergency relief package to address the ongoing economic and public health crises. “I’m encouraged to see the Biden Administration already unveiling a comprehensive plan to better address COVID-19. Their plans to speed up vaccination efforts and deliver direct relief to those hit hardest will provide a ladder for Americ...Continue Reading

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) in announcing the reintroduction of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021, bicameral legislation to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. “I have long been morally opposed to the death penalty and believ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their Senate colleagues in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar demanding the Trump Administration take immediate action to fix the significant failures of the COVID-19 vaccine distribution as coronavirus cases continue to climb. In the letter, the senators call out the Administration’s failure to develop and implement a comprehensive national vaccine plan despite havi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement upon the certification of the Electoral College results: “Today’s certification makes official what we have known since November: that at noon on January 20th, President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will lead our nation to a healthier, fairer, more prosperous future.   “But we all must condemn—in the strongest possible terms—th...Continue Reading

You can watch the full speech here  WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine spoke on the Senate floor in opposition to his GOP colleagues’ objection to certifying the Electoral College votes. Kaine highlighted the danger of the GOP’s objection. He also talked about the responsibility of his colleagues to honor the will of the American people. “We should be coming together today, after acts of violence, as the United States Senate to affirm the votes of all w...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after the Senate voted 81-13 to override President Trump’s veto of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):  “I’m glad my colleagues on both sides of the aisle stood by our servicemembers and rejected President Trump’s veto. For 60 years in a row, the NDAA has provided necessary support for our troops and natio...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after President Trump vetoed the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which passed both the House and the Senate with strong bipartisan support: “By vetoing this bipartisan legislation, President Trump ekes out one final betrayal of our nation’s military. The President’s veto stands in the way of a pay raise for troops, vetera...Continue Reading

Bill to offer millions of Americans COVID relief and avert a government shutdown heads to the President’s desk WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan, bicameral spending bill to fund federal programs crucial to Virginia and keep the federal government open through 2021. The legislation also includes comprehensive measures to help Americans amid the ongoing economic and public health crisis caused by the COVID-19...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) today sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, President-elect Biden’s nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), urging him to take swift action once confirmed to protect 58,000 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients living in Virginia and Maryland alone. Currently, TPS status for thousands of beneficiaries continues to be in jeopardy ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,879,967 in federal funding to help Virginians in 19 localities reduce their dependency on federal assistance and rental subsidies. The funding, awarded through the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will help connect Virginia families to public and private resources that help them increase their earned income and transition to more ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today upon the Commission on Historical Statues’ selection of Barbara Johns to represent Virginia in the U.S. Capitol Building:  “Brave, patriotic, and pioneering, Barbara Johns represents the best of Virginia. Her statue will serve as a testament to the power of young people who stand up for themselves, their peers, and their rights under the Constitution. ‘And a little child shall lead them....Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine—a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and co-chair of the Senate Career and Technical Education Caucus—released the following statement today upon the announcement of a deal on a $748 billion bipartisan coronavirus relief bill: “While not perfect, the compromise delivers relief that’s far overdue: jobless benefits, small business loans, funds for vaccine distribution and health care provider...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on the passing of Robert “Bob” Bloxom Sr., who served as Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry during Kaine’s term as Governor: “Bob Bloxom was the epitome of public servant—dedicated, kind, devoted to the beautiful Eastern Shore.” ###

WASHINGTON, D.C – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $7,485,000 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to construct a new stormwater pump station in the Olde Towne Historic District of Portsmouth. It’s estimated that this project will reduce the flooding risk for the entire Olde Towne Historic District, including 210 buildings, and protect an area of approxi...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congress passed the HBCU Propelling Agency Relationships Towards a New Era of Results for Students (PARTNERS) Act, legislation cosponsored by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine to strengthen partnerships between federal agencies and the country’s more than 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), including the five HBCUs in Virginia. The bill is now on its way to the President’s desk for signature.  “HBCUs play a crucial role ...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine are now accepting applications for the positions of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern and Western District of Virginia to replace current officeholders. After receipt of applications, the Senators will select from the list of qualified attorneys to recommend for the nomination. The White House will then nominate individuals to be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The nominations are subject to confirmation by the full Se...Continue Reading

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes numerous provisions he championed to benefit Virginia’s defense community, shipbuilding industry, and military families. The legislation also includes an amendment to initiate a 3-year process to rename DOD facilities currently named after Confederates, includin...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 after voting for two Senate resolutions to block the Trump Administration’s proposed arms sale to the United Arab Emirates: "Today I voted in favor of two Senate Resolutions disapproving the Trump Administration’s recently announced arms sale to the United Arab Emirates. While I believe that the UAE is an important US ally, Congress...Continue Reading