VIDEO: Kaine Highlights 2023 Accomplishments, Work Ahead in 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following video celebrating this year’s accomplishments and looking ahead to 2024. In the video, Kaine discussed his travel across the Commonwealth to see how legislation he helped pass, like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act, is benefiting Virginians. He also highlighted that there’s more to do and that he’ll continue working to support communities across Virginia in the Senate in the new year.
“As I've traveled around the state and been in so many communities in Virginia, it's been good to celebrate moving forward on some important progress,” said Kaine. “The combination of the infrastructure bill and our chips manufacturing bill and the Inflation Reduction Act has meant that I've been able to do significant announcements of key projects in virtually every corner of Virginia.”
Kaine concluded, “Our strength is fundamentally the strength of our people, the strength of our investments, and the strength of our alliances. And whether that's right in Virginia or around the world, I'll keep promoting those strengths to keep America and Virginia moving forward.”
During the video, Kaine discussed some of this year’s accomplishments, including:
- On the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: So far, Virginia has received $8.4 billion in infrastructure law funding, including for over 247 projects. Kaine specifically mentioned a recent $729 million grant he secured for Transforming Rail in Virginia (TRV) Phase 2 projects, which will help alleviate current bottlenecks, promote economic growth, expand capacity, and improve reliability for Virginia commuters, travelers, and freight.
- On the Inflation Reduction Act: The Inflation Reduction Act took historic steps to lower health care and energy costs, including a $35 cap per month on insulin for Americans with Medicare, including 36,461 Virginians. Kaine talked about how this cap is saving seniors money. The cap took effect on January 1, 2023.
- On the Repeal of the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs): The Senate voted to pass Kaine’s bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs and formally end the Gulf and Iraq wars. Kaine has been a leading voice in Congress on the need to repeal outdated AUMFs to help ensure that decisions about whether servicemembers are sent into harm’s way are made through a deliberate congressional process.
- On the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act: Kaine discussed the passage of the recent defense bill, which included his legislation to prevent any U.S. president from withdrawing from NATO without the consent of the Senate or an Act of Congress. He also mentioned provisions he secured in the bill to support the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) agreement, in which the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia will share and collaborate on technologies crucial to the allies’ long-term security. In addition to bolstering our alliances, the agreement creates opportunities for further job creation and economic growth in Virginia, since a significant portion of Virginia-class submarines, which will be transferred through the agreement, are built in Hampton Roads.
A full transcript of the video is below:
Hey, everybody. Senator Tim Kaine here.
I want to wish you a happy holiday season as we come to the end of 2023.
As I've traveled around the state and been in so many communities in Virginia, it's been good to celebrate moving forward on some important progress. The combination of the infrastructure bill and our chips manufacturing bill and the Inflation Reduction Act has meant that I've been able to do significant announcements of key projects in virtually every corner of Virginia.
Just recently, we announced a $730 million rail investment in Virginia that will improve passenger and freight rail service all over the Commonwealth.
In the Inflation Reduction Act, we took steps to cap insulin costs for seniors at $35 a month under the Medicare program, and that has had tremendous benefit in saving our seniors money.
We have a record low unemployment rate, and the number of jobs that have been created since 2021 has been historic. But there's so much more to do.
In particular, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I work very hard to both help fund our military with a significant military pay increase we just passed, avoid unnecessary wars and not allow presidents to wage war without votes of Congress, but also strengthen alliances.
In the last couple of weeks, I've passed a historic bill that would block any president from getting out of the NATO alliance without a vote of Congress and also advance alliances in the Indo-Pacific with Australia and the U.K.
Our strength is fundamentally the strength of our people, the strength of our investments, and the strength of our alliances. And whether that's right in Virginia or around the world, I'll keep promoting those strengths to keep America and Virginia moving forward.
Have a great holiday.
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