{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"Senate\", party = \"Democrat\" and state = \"VA\" sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-applauds-senate-passage-of-his-bipartisan-legislation-to-make-food-supply-chain-safer", "Kaine Applauds Senate Passage of His Bipartisan Legislation to Make Food Supply Chain Safer", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, applauded the Senate passage of the Making America\u2019s Food Safer Act, bipartisan legislation he led alongside HELP Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) to improve the safety of the U.S. food supply chain. The HELP Committee advanced this legislation in July.\n\n\u201cNo one should be in a grocery store aisle having to wonder whether the food in their cart is going to make them ill. Protecting Americans from contaminated food, faulty products, and other dangerous items is one of the most basic regulatory responsibilities the government has,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will make the food supply chain more efficient, improve coordination between the federal government and state and local entities about food safety\u2014all the more important in the context of recent outbreaks of foodborne illness\u2014and help keep dangerous products off U.S. shelves. I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for supporting this common-sense, bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Making America\u2019s Food Safer Act would:\n\nExpand the third-party certificate program to allow both foreign and domestic entities involved in the food supply chain to be audited by accredited third-party auditors. Previously, only foreign entities were eligible for third-party auditing. This broadening of eligibility will relieve administrative burden on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and improve efficiency while preserving safety.\n\nProvide the FDA with the authority to share food safety information with state and local regulatory agencies. Previously, the FDA was barred from sharing certain data, including surveillance data on foodborne illness outbreaks, laboratory fundings, facility inspection records, recall information, and consumer complaints, due to proprietary restrictions. Historically, coordination between the FDA and state/local regulators have helped protect public health, including in 2024 when data sharing between the FDA and North Carolina state health authorities led to the successful recall of lead-contaminated applesauce nationwide.\n\nExpand the authority of the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to order the destruction of any FDA-regulated product that presents a significant public health risk, such as contaminated foods and illegal vaping/e-cigarette products. The FDA already has this authority for items like medical devices and prescription drugs. By expanding HHS\u2019 authority to destroy dangerous items, this legislation would help close a loophole known as \u201cport shopping\u201d\u2014i.e., subsequent attempts to bring dangerous goods into the U.S. after they have already been rejected through another port.\n\nFull text of the legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-criticizes-trump-vance-administrations-rollback-of-protections-for-survivors-of-assault-on-campus-and-lgbtq-students", "Kaine Criticizes Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s Rollback Of Protections For Survivors Of Assault On Campus And LGBTQ+ Students", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and former civil rights attorney, issued the following statement regarding the Education Department\u2019s final rule reinstating Title IX regulations from President Donald Trump\u2019s first term:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s Title IX final rule guts discrimination protections based on gender identity and sexual orientation, and will reimpose rules from the first Trump Administration that made it even harder for survivors of campus sexual assault to obtain justice,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cAmerica\u2019s future depends on the quality and safety of our schools. The Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and weaken protections for students are dangerous steps in the wrong direction.\u201d\n\nSince Trump took office for his second term, Kaine has been at the forefront of opposing the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). In July 2026, Kaine successfully secured committee passage of his legislation to prevent the Administration from scattering ED\u2019s programs to other agencies ill-equipped to handle them. Kaine has also advocated for legislation to combat campus sexual assault. Kaine has previously led introductions of the Survivor Outreach and Support on (S.O.S.) Campus Act and the Support for Universities and Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors (SUCCESS) Act, legislation to help support student survivors of sexual assault and other violence.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-lankford-introduce-jimmy-lai-internet-freedom-act-to-counter-chinas-internet-censorship-in-hong-kong", "Kaine, Lankford Introduce Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act to Counter China\u2019s Internet Censorship in Hong Kong", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the bipartisan Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act to assist the people of Hong Kong in circumventing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) censorship and maintain access to a free and open internet.\n\nThe bill is named in honor of Jimmy Lai, the Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and publisher who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Hong Kong court after being convicted under Beijing\u2019s National Security Law. The legislation responds to the CCP\u2019s continued erosion of Hong Kong\u2019s freedoms and expanding efforts to restrict access to information online. The bill notes that Beijing has used its National Security Law to suppress freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and the press, while granting authorities expanded power to censor online content and obtain user information.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s restrictions on internet in Hong Kong are a blatant attempt to crack down on dissent, stifle freedom of expression, and censor the free flow of information to the people of Hong Kong,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThe United States must stand up for freedom and the rights of all people. This legislation would improve the State Department and other agencies\u2019 ability to strengthen access to internet and keep China from censoring information. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.\u201d\n\nThe senators\u2019 bill would establish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program within the State Department\u2019s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and a corresponding program at the Open Technology Fund. The programs would coordinate with an interagency working group to develop a strategy for strengthening internet resiliency and online access in Hong Kong.\n\nThe Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act would:\n\nEstablish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program at the Department of State and Open Technology Fund.\n\nSupport technologies that allow Hongkongers to circumvent internet blocking, filtering, and censorship.\n\nSupport virtual private networks and other firewall circumvention tools.\n\nProvide digital security and resiliency support to pro-democracy activists and civil society organizations.\n\nRequire a strategic planning report outlining the federal government\u2019s efforts to expand internet freedom and circumvention technology in Hong Kong.\n\nKaine and Lankford first introduced the Safeguarding Internet Freedom in Hong Kong Act after Beijing imposed its National Security Law on Hong Kong. That legislation sought to develop and deploy firewall circumvention technology to help Hongkongers access information and communicate freely.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-welch-shaheen-urge-trump-admin-to-stop-meddling-in-brazils-elections-recognize-certified-outcome-and-support-brazils-democracy", "Kaine, Welch, Shaheen Urge Trump Admin to Stop Meddling in Brazil\u2019s Elections, Recognize Certified Outcome and Support Brazil\u2019s Democracy", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women\u2019s Issues, along with Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), sent a letter raising concerns that the Trump Administration is using diplomatic, economic, and political pressure to deliberately weaken Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions ahead of its October 4, 2026, presidential election.\n\nIn their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators outline how the Trump Administration\u2019s actions undermine confidence in Brazil\u2019s electoral process ahead of its upcoming election and inflict further damage on the United States\u2019 relationship with a strategic ally and trading partner. The Senators also highlight how the Administration\u2019s actions reflect a broader and deeply troubling pattern of interference in recent electoral processes across Latin America, as seen during Argentina\u2019s midterm elections and the presidential elections in Honduras and Colombia.\n\nThe senators detailed how, over the course of President Trump\u2019s second term, U.S. officials have engaged in a campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil.\n\n\u201cThis effort first escalated sharply during the summer of 2025, with the administration deploying tariffs and targeted sanctions to attempt to shape the Brazilian Supreme Court\u2019s verdict in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro on charges of attempting to foment a military coup to stay in power. Despite some subsequent measures of de-escalation in the months that followed, including direct and cordial talks between Presidents Trump and Lula, the campaign directed at Brazil\u2019s authorities resumed with the appointment of Darren Beattie as a senior advisor on Brazil issues in the State Department. Beattie, a noted far-right extremist and white supremacist, came into this post with a record of public statements signaling an overt ideological commitment to undermining Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions and advancing the interests of the Brazilian far-right,\" said the senators.\n\n\u201cMore recently, the administration again targeted Brazilian imports with steep tariffs following a Section 301 investigation by the U.S. Trade Representative. The investigation was reportedly initiated at President Trump\u2019s direction at the same moment that he publicly criticized Brazilian court actions against former President Bolsonaro and U.S. social media companies. The administration\u2019s most recent actions point toward an effort to interfere with, and potentially undermine, Brazil's general election in October. Senator and presidential candidate Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro\u2019s recent Oval Office meeting with President Trump, undertaken while attempting to mitigate a domestic political scandal, underscored the administration's willingness to insert itself in the election,\" continued the senators.\n\n\u201cImmediately following the announcement of the election results in 2022, the United States moved swiftly\u2014in coordination with allies and partners\u2014to recognize President Lula\u2019s victory, helping to deny legitimacy to efforts to contest or reverse the outcome. Following the January 8, 2023, attacks on Brazil\u2019s democratic institutions, the United States stood firmly with Brazil\u2019s newly elected government and played a key role in rallying support across the region for Brazil\u2019s efforts to defend its hard-won 1988 constitution and the democratic institutions it established,\" the senators stressed.\n\nGiven the administration\u2019s actions, the senators requested answers to the following questions:\n\nHow does the Department coordinate its democracy and human rights objectives with regional partners in the Western Hemisphere, particularly regarding technical assistance or monitoring of electoral and judicial processes?\n\nWill the administration commit to recognizing the certified outcome of Brazil's 2026 democratic elections and to supporting normal diplomatic relations with whichever candidate is freely and fairly chosen by the Brazilian people?\n\nThe senators' full letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-more-than-500000-in-federal-funding-to-improve-water-infrastructure-in-wise-county", "Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $500,000 In Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Wise County", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $529,133 in federal funding to help replace and improve a waterline in Wise County, ensuring residents have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water.\n\n\u201cEvery Virginian deserves dependable access to clean, safe drinking water,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to help deliver these federal dollars to replace aging infrastructure in Wise County, improve reliable water service for residents, and support the community\u2019s long-term growth.\u201d\n\nThe funding will support the Ramsey Road Waterline Replacement Project, which will replace and realign the waterline along Ramsey Road and U.S. Route 58. The existing line was installed before the construction of U.S. Route 58 and later buried under deep infill, making it difficult and costly to access for repairs. As the line has aged, repeated leaks have created potential public health risks, increased maintenance costs, and threatened reliable water service. The project will install a new, properly sited waterline with direct maintenance access, as well as new abandonment caps and gate valves. The upgrades will help prevent service disruptions, reduce maintenance costs, and support long-term community and economic growth throughout Wise County.\n\nThe funding was awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal-state partnership that Warner and Kaine have helped fund to support economic development and community growth across the Appalachian region.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve clean water access and infrastructure across the Commonwealth. In 2026, the senators announced more than $3 million in federal funding for wastewater treatment facility upgrades in Campbell County. In 2025, they announced more than $26 million in federal funding for Lee County\u2019s wastewater system expansion and $700,000 to extend Wise County\u2019s public wastewater service. In 2023, they announced close to $62.4 million in funding for water infrastructure upgrades across Virginia, with more than $47 million made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which the senators helped pass.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cdfi-caucus-co-chairs-warner-and-crapo-applaud-release-of-congressionally-appropriated-fy25-cdfi-funds/", "CDFI Caucus Co-Chairs Warner and Crapo Applaud Release of Congressionally Appropriated FY25 CDFI Funds", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mike Crapo (R-ID), co-chairs of the Senate Community Development Finance Caucus, issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe welcome Treasury taking another step to get these long-delayed FY25 CDFI Fund dollars out the door before they expire at the end of the month. These funds matter to families, small businesses, and communities across the country, especially at a time when Americans are already feeling squeezed by the cost of groceries, gas, housing, and other everyday expenses.\n\n\u201cIt should not take months of bipartisan pressure from Congress and advocates across the country to release funding at the eleventh hour that Congress already approved. We also remain deeply concerned by repeated efforts to weaken the CDFI Fund and its ability to do its job. We urge Treasury to make sure these dollars are deployed quickly, transparently, and fairly in accordance with the intent of Congress.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-warner-calls-for-data-center-guardrails-on-water-energy-and-transparency/", "On Senate Floor, Warner Calls for Data Center Guardrails on Water, Energy, and Transparency", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 On the floor of the United States Senate today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) called on Congress to enact meaningful protections for communities facing the rapid expansion of data centers, arguing that legislation must include enforceable requirements on energy costs, water usage, transparency, and community impacts.\n\nThe Senate is expected to vote tomorrow on the Ratepayer Protection Act, which would direct states to consider adopting a standard under which certain large data centers would pay for the infrastructure costs associated with their development. States would have two years to consider the standard and would not be required to adopt it.\n\nWarner argued that the proposal does not go far enough and urged his colleagues to instead consider his Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act, which would establish mandatory transparency requirements for large data centers and condition valuable federal tax benefits on developers meeting standards related to energy, water, environmental performance, and community impacts.\n\nIn his speech today, Sen. Warner explained that the Ratepayer Protection Act \u201ccould be a starting point, but here\u2019s what the bill does. It says that states can consider adopting a federal standard that would hold data centers responsible for rising electricity bills, and then they get two years to consider that. Candidly, they could do that today. We\u2019ve already taken some action in Virginia. And what happens if nobody takes up that offer? Anything happen to these data centers? Does anything happen to those communities? Well, nothing.\u201d\n\nWarner continued, \u201cI think we need real legislation on this. We need legislation that actually has some boundaries. This should not be optional. We have seen communities hit by skyrocketing electrical costs. We\u2019ve seen communities where a lot of their water usage has gone up dramatically. We\u2019ve seen these data centers sometimes literally intrude right into neighborhoods.\u201d\n\nWarner\u2019s Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act would require greater public disclosure of data centers\u2019 energy and water consumption, backup power systems, environmental impacts, and other information. It would also condition access to accelerated depreciation tax benefits on developers meeting standards related to energy, water, building efficiency, setbacks, and community transparency.\n\n\u201cWe need to make sure we\u2019ve got accurate information about power usage, water usage, setbacks, backup power, get rid of non-disclosure agreements,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cMy legislation would require, not invite, but require that information to come forward and put a penalty in place.\u201d\n\nWarner also emphasized that the legislation would use existing federal tax incentives to encourage better behavior from developers rather than simply relying on voluntary commitments.\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re going to do all that and not meet those standards, then you shouldn\u2019t get bonus depreciation,\u201d Sen. Warner said. \u201cWe have given these hyperscalers, we\u2019ve given these data center builders, enormous tax benefits and bonus depreciation, where they can write off the cost of these very expensive centers, all in the first year. I don\u2019t want to take that away. I\u2019m not raising anybody\u2019s taxes. But I\u2019m saying, you shouldn\u2019t get all the benefits up front if you don\u2019t provide to the community some guarantees about water, power, setbacks, community involvement.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnless we put some consequences, I think we are going to completely miss the boat,\u201d he continued.\n\nWarner contrasted that approach with the legislation before the Senate, rejecting the argument that Congress should accept a limited measure now and address the remaining issues later.\n\n\u201cI know people will say, and my colleagues may say, well, why don\u2019t you take half a loaf?\u201d said Warner. \u201cBut the underlying bill isn\u2019t half a loaf. It\u2019s the promise of maybe one slice of that bread two years down from now.\u201d\n\nSen. Warner said, \u201cI hope that I can encourage my colleagues to join me in passing the Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act, one that I\u2019ve already socialized with industry, one that would put some mandatory requirements, but also put some real teeth in this very important issue.\u201d\n\nSen. Warner\u2019s full remarks are below:\n\nI\u2019ve spent the last couple of years trying to learn as much as I can about artificial intelligence and its upside and still long AI in terms of innovational bring. I think there are some real challenges.\n\nI have to acknowledge I did witness something this afternoon something that was a little bit surreal. The president had brought together some leaders of the AI Industry and in a closed, quiet room, I guess they reached some level of moral agreement, whatever that means, that they\u2019re going to try to make sure things are safe. As a matter of fact, they even went so far as to say all of the president\u2019s critique about concerns about AI being a hoax or about data centers not being a problem are suddenly being solved because the president has renamed AI, SI, superintelligence. I didn\u2019t know whether to laugh or cry to think that the greatest innovation in my lifetime \u2014 and I was in the tech business before I came to politics \u2014 that it\u2019ll be bigger than my old industry, wireless, or bigger than cloud computing. And with all the up sides, there are down sides and it\u2019s suddenly going to be solved by a name change of but that\u2019s the status of our political debate.\n\nEarlier today I came down with two of my democratic colleagues and said as we get all of these warnings from industry, form business that use AI tools, from national security, wouldn\u2019t it be a good idea to put in some basic safety precautions in place. We stripped away all of the other provisions and just have a safety board here. I know the presiding officer has had an interest in this topic. I\u2019ve yet to talk to a member that doesn\u2019t think some level of safety with this enormous innovation is appropriate. Well, that\u2019s not going to take place before we finish before the elections.\n\nSo I\u2019m back again this afternoon to talk about another piece of the AI debate that certainly needs congressional action. And that is the whole question about how we build out and ensure consumers don\u2019t get stuck with the buildout of data centers. This is something I know a little bit about. Virginia is the capital of data centers in our country, and there is enormous concern from neighbors, from communities, many of the kind of the worst examples of data centers were built 15 or 20 years, but the industry has moved forward. I give credit there. But the angst about data centers, I think is also reflective of the angst about AI is not going away, no matter what the president wants to say. I\u2019d urge him to travel anywhere across Virginia, for that matter, anywhere across Kansas or Texas or anywhere else where these data centers are being proposed because communities actually want to have a say in what happens in their backyard, what happens with their utility rates, what happens with their water usage, what happens with local communities signing nondisclosure agreements, so the community doesn\u2019t even know what they\u2019re getting until after the deal is cooked.\n\nI guess tomorrow the Senate will turn to focus on the so-called Ratepayer Protection Act, which is supposed to answer all of these concerns about cost, about community.\n\nThe challenge is, and it could be a starting point, but here\u2019s what the bill does. It says that states can consider adopting a federal standard that would hold data centers responsible for rising electricity bills, and then they get two years to consider that. Candidly, they could do that today. We\u2019ve already taken some action in Virginia. And what happens if nobody takes up that offer? Anything happen to these data centers? Does anything happen to those communities? Well, nothing.\n\nI think we need real legislation on this. We need legislation that actually has some boundaries. This should not be optional. We have seen communities hit by skyrocketing electrical costs. We\u2019ve seen communities where a lot of their water usage has gone up dramatically, and they\u2019re concerned, concerned about the water table. We\u2019ve seen these data centers sometimes literally intrude right into neighborhoods.\n\nI\u2019ve heard the pushback from communities all across our Commonwealth. Matter of fact, even the community that\u2019s got the most, that has received the most economic benefits, they recently, Loudoun County, they recently put a pause. Now, I don\u2019t think we can pause. I don\u2019t think we can put the genie back in the bottle, but I would urge the Senate not to take this flim flam do nothing bill, but actually take a look at my Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act, which I didn\u2019t dream up in the last couple of days, but put forward much earlier this summer on an issue that I\u2019ve been working on for a couple of years. What we can\u2019t rely on is simply the goodwill of these hyperscalers and these companies. Some are well intentioned, some are not.\n\nWe need to make sure we\u2019ve got accurate information about power usage, water usage, setbacks, backup power, get rid of non-disclosure agreements. My legislation would require, not invite, but require that information to come forward and put a penalty in place, at a relatively small amount, if they don\u2019t submit that. But the real bite, and what\u2019s going to really change this behavior and, frankly, earn back some of the community\u2019s trust if there\u2019s a tool. Frankly, I have had ongoing discussions with most of the hyperscalers who are building out these data centers, who, frankly, think my piece of legislation makes some sense.\n\nThe second half of my legislation would say, if you don\u2019t meet LEED Gold or LEED Platinum standards, which are already established. If you don\u2019t show how you\u2019re bringing your own power. You don\u2019t have criteria on water usage, that\u2019s gotten better because more of these data centers have circulatory systems. If you don\u2019t have setbacks from neighborhoods. If you use non-disclosure agreements. What it would say is, well, if you\u2019re going to do all that and not meet those standards, then you shouldn\u2019t get bonus depreciation. I\u2019m not going to raise anybody\u2019s taxes. But we have given these hyperscalers, we\u2019ve given these data center builders, enormous tax benefits and bonus depreciation, where they can write off the cost of these very expensive centers, all in the first year. I don\u2019t want to take that away. I\u2019m not raising anybody\u2019s taxes. But I\u2019m saying, you shouldn\u2019t get all the benefits up front if you don\u2019t provide to the community some guarantees about water, power, setbacks, community involvement. If a community then wants to go or a hyperscaler wants to come in and say, we\u2019ll help provide. I think, in Louisiana, some additional benefits for your schools have at it. You\u2019ve got to set a federal baseline, so the communities don\u2019t feel that they\u2019re getting snookered. And the ability to make sure we don\u2019t give away these tax benefits without that minimum guarantee I think, has a lot of benefit. And just today, we learned that Microsoft saved about $12 billion in taxes on using accelerated depreciation or bonus depreciation. Meta saved about 16 billion, 15.9 billion, from using bonus depreciation. And I\u2019ve reached out to these companies. They understand the game has changed. They have to be more engaged. And I think many of the hyperscalers would meet these new standards.\n\nBut unless we put some consequences I think we are going to completely miss the boat.\n\nIt\u2019s kind of like saying, even though the AI companies themselves are saying, \u2018gosh, we\u2019re really worried about safety,\u2019 none of the responsible ones realize they can simply say, \u2018just trust us.\u2019 The idea that these largest companies in the world, and I know the CEOs of most of them, I think there are many of them are good people, but the idea, after we\u2019ve all experienced some of the ups and downs of social media, we\u2019re going to turn the same power over to this same group of CEOs and say, \u2018we\u2019re going to trust you to figure this all out on your own, without any public input.\u2019 I keep thinking back, would I ever climb on an airplane that hadn\u2019t had a safety inspection? But that\u2019s what we\u2019re thinking about on overall AI safety and these models being released.\n\nBut at least tomorrow, if the Senate takes up this Ratepayer Protection Act, I\u2019m not sure what I\u2019m going to do on the vote tomorrow, but I would say that the Ratepayer Protection Act is a fig leaf. And I know people will say, and my colleagues may say, well, why don\u2019t you take half a loaf? You know, I\u2019m pretty involved in every bipartisan action. You know, take half a loaf and we keep working on it. But the underlying bill isn\u2019t half a loaf. It\u2019s the promise of maybe one slice of that bread two years down from now.\n\nThe anger in my state and in every state across the country on this issue is not going to wait two years to have some kind of no penalty, but optional review where, frankly, the pitchforks are out already.\n\nI hope that I can encourage my colleagues to join me in passing the Data Center Tax Accountability and Disclosure Act, one that I\u2019ve already socialized with industry, one that would put some mandatory requirements, but also put some real teeth in this very important issue.\n\nBut, these issues are not going to disappear and simply punting or saying to industry, \u2018trust us,\u2019 and I come from the tech industry, is not going to satisfy the concerns of the American people.\n\nThe sooner we get to work on serious business, the sooner we can make sure that we benefit from all of this AI innovation that I do think lies in wait, because if we have a mistake, or if we have a challenge and something happens, all of this innovation could go away because the American people are already enormously suspect about AI. They are already enormously concerned at a 90-10 ratio about data centers.\n\nIt is time for us to act and not simply punt.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-warner-discusses-urgent-need-to-pass-ai-security-legislation/", "On Senate Floor, Warner Discusses Urgent Need to Pass AI Security Legislation", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 On the floor of the United States Senate today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), joined by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), asked for unanimous consent to pass the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026, legislation to establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced artificial intelligence systems.\n\nIn his speech today, Sen. Warner detailed the importance of legislating on artificial intelligence now and how we need to \u201cget AI right, that it\u2019s safe and it\u2019s fair. That America leads in AI innovation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe whole world has recognized that we\u2019ve got to do something. When AI companies come out one after another say we\u2019ve got to elevate safety ,\u201d said Sen. Warner.\n\n\u201cWe should not miss the moment to put a safety protocol in place now. If we leave and we have an incident, AI is already suspect by most Americans, we could actually see the stop of innovation if an AI tool took over a hospital, or a water system,\u201d he continued.\n\nWhen explaining the legislation, Sen. Warner said, \u201cOur request is really simple. It\u2019s been as pared down as possible. Before these models are released, there should be pretesting to make sure, secondly, the sandboxes where they do the testing have appropriate cyber protocols. That even before you start testing, there\u2019s at least basic safety policy. God forbid we have an incident; we\u2019ve got to have an incident reporting mechanism. No more, no less.\u201d\n\nSen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage.\n\nSen. Warner\u2019s full remarks are below:\n\nI think most of us in this chamber realize that we are literally living through one of the most consequential technology moments in our lifetime.\n\nThat\u2019s why I\u2019m here with several of my colleagues, Senator Schatz from Hawaii and Senator Kim from New Jersey, to say that we can\u2019t, frankly, have regular business at this moment.\n\nYou know, before I got into politics, I was in the technology field. I was lucky enough to be in on the ground floor of the wireless industry and then became a venture capitalist and was involved with iterations around the internet and cloud computing.\n\nBut I can say without reservation that as big as wireless was, as big as the internet is, as big as cloud computing, they will pale in comparison to the innovation that will come about through artificial intelligence.\n\nIn many ways, the reason I chose to ask the people of Virginia to hire me one last time was, because having spent an enormous amount of time on this subject, I am enormously concerned we get AI right. That it\u2019s safe. That it\u2019s fair. That America leads in AI innovation.\n\nAnd over the last year and a half or so, two years, I\u2019ve spoken on this subject repeatedly. I laid out my ideas on how we ought to have a comprehensive approach. I\u2019ve got legislation on data centers, that, if they don\u2019t meet federal minimum standards, would impose their inability to get a bonus tax depreciation. I\u2019ve got plans in terms of how we ought to be dealing with child safety. If you think social media messed up your kids, wait until your teenager daughter or son thinks they\u2019ve got an affinity or relationship with a chatbot. China has already prohibited that. We\u2019re seeing increasingly the use of AI agents. Who bears the liability? I\u2019ve got some ideas there. National security. When Mythos came out from Anthropic, our head of NSA and Cyber Command said this tool will change warfare as much as drones. Finally, I continue to be enormously concerned that while AI may create jobs long term, in the short run, in the next two to five years, I think it will have an enormous disruption in our workforce. I would make a wager with anyone that I hope I would lose, that we could see up to 30% of recent college grad unemployment as companies try to integrate the productive gains from AI. They\u2019re simply not going to hire as many folks going forward.\n\nI remain an AI optimist. I am not an AI doomer. But we are at a moment in time, particularly over the last few weeks, where I think the whole world has recognized we\u2019ve got to do something. When AI companies, one after another, come out and say, \u201cwe\u2019ve got to elevate safety and put that first and foremost.\u201d When OpenAI yesterday said they\u2019re slowing their model on Astra. When Anthropic has said they\u2019re trying to build in more safety protocols, I think that\u2019s good.\n\nBut, are we really going to trust the industry to self-police on something that goes beyond what is happening? We\u2019ve already seen not tens but thousands of examples where these models go beyond what humans want them to do. The most famous being the OpenAI-Hugging example where 3,000 bots jumped the sandbox fence, attacked another company, then came back and attacked OpenAI. Literally during that period they communicated with each other, hid their intent from human beings, would sacrifice some of the bots for the greater cause. And we\u2019re doing nothing. That was July. In August, they had 10,000 bots collaborate.\n\nWe three, and there are a lot of senators on both sides of the aisle who I think are enormously concerned, we said we\u2019ll all have time to debate all of our pet rocks, and say, we\u2019ve all got great ideas here. But we should not miss the moment to put a safety protocol in place now. If Congress goes out, God forbid we have an incident, AI is already suspect by most Americans, we could see the stop of innovation if an AI tool took over a hospital or water system.\n\nI\u2019m not an AI doomer, but the ability to have these AI agents take over, shut down part of the financial system, is real. We should heed the call from the experts. I think you\u2019ll also see shortly the finance world has said we need mandatory controls. I think you\u2019ll see other large businesses say that as well. We need to make sure whatever safety board we put in place doesn\u2019t ensconce the already largest frontier labs.\n\nOur request is really simple. It\u2019s been as pared down as possible. Before these models are released, there should be pretesting to make sure, secondly, the sandbox where they do the testing has appropriate cyber protocols. That before you start testing there\u2019s at least a basic safety policy. These companies welcome this. God forbid, we\u2019ve got an incident, we\u2019ve got to have an incident reporting mechanism. No more, no less. We would house this at NIST. The safety board would have to include where the expertise is, the frontier models. I think it would be good to have an international validator, somebody like the British, where they\u2019ve got an AI safety institute, where we can guarantee to the rest of the world that our models are safe.\n\nLet\u2019s not get involved, this is not a partisan issue. I think the Chairman of the Commerce Committee is coming down. We\u2019ve worked with him. We look forward to working with him further.\n\nLet\u2019s put a statement in place that we in the United States Senate recognize the enormous upside of AI, but there is also a downside.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-cassidy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-pbm-reimbursement-data-protect-patients-from-out-of-pocket-costs/", "Warner, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve PBM Reimbursement Data, Protect Patients From Out-of-Pocket Costs", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Finance Committee, and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reintroduced the Ensuring Accurate Payments to Specialty Pharmacies Act, bipartisan legislation to include specialty and mail-order pharmacies in federal drug acquisition cost surveys, improving the accuracy of prescription drug reimbursement data and rates, and bringing down costs for patients.\n\n\u201cSpecialty and mail-order pharmacies provide critical medications to patients across Virginia, and they should be reimbursed fairly and accurately for the care they provide,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce legislation that will give the Department of Health and Human Services a more accurate picture of what pharmacies actually pay for prescription drugs, help ensure reimbursement rates reflect those costs, and protect patients from out-of-pocket expenses.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlthough I\u2019m a doctor, you don\u2019t have to be a doctor to see patients aren\u2019t able to afford the prescription drugs they need,\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cThis legislation ensures that Medicaid and Medicare pay a fair and accurate price for specialty drugs so patients can access the best care at the lowest cost.\u201d\n\nPharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are third-party intermediaries that manage prescription drug benefits and pharmacy networks on behalf of health plans, including Medicare Part D plans and some state Medicaid programs. Among other responsibilities, PBMs help determine which medications are covered by health insurance plans, how much patients pay for prescriptions, and how pharmacies are reimbursed.\n\nUnder current law, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) requires retail community pharmacies to participate in surveys used to determine the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), which measures how much pharmacies pay to acquire prescription drugs. Medicaid programs and their PBMs use this data to help establish appropriate pharmacy reimbursement rates.\n\nThe Ensuring Accurate Payments to Specialty Pharmacies Act would expand participation in these surveys to include specialty and mail-order pharmacies, providing more thorough data on drug acquisition costs and helping ensure PBM reimbursement rates cover the complete cost of prescription drugs.\n\n\u201cThe Virginia Pharmacy Association supports the Ensuring Accurate Payments to Specialty Pharmacies Act because accurate drug acquisition cost data is essential to establishing fair and sustainable pharmacy reimbursement. Expanding participation in the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) survey to include specialty and mail-order pharmacies will strengthen the integrity of reimbursement benchmarks and help ensure pharmacies are reimbursed based on more complete and representative data. We appreciate Senator Warner\u2019s continued leadership on policies that promote transparency and strengthen patient access to pharmacy services,\u201d said Jamie Fisher, Executive Director, Virginia Pharmacy Association.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-colleagues-sponsor-bipartisan-bill-to-establish-a-federal-film-tax-credit/", "Warner, Colleagues Sponsor Bipartisan Bill to Establish a Federal Film Tax Credit", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and a coalition of bipartisan lawmakers sponsored the Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act, legislation to create a federal film tax incentive.\n\n\u201cFilm and television production supports good-paying jobs and small businesses across Virginia and across the country. This bill will help keep more productions \u2014 and the jobs they create \u2014 here at home, while giving Virginia\u2019s talented artists and production workers more opportunities to succeed. I\u2019m proud to support this effort,\u201d said Sen. Warner.\n\nThe Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would:\n\nSpur American jobs and economic development by providing a 20% federal, labor-based tax credit to U.S. film and television productions with minimum spend of $1 million and where at least 75% of the principal photography days occur within the U.S.;\n\nOffer 5% bonus credit allowances, increasing the base credit up to a maximum of 30%, for productions in rural opportunity zones and areas impacted by disasters, independent productions, multi-state producers in 10+ states, and producers who show a measurable onshoring of productions;\n\nMake the credit available to traditional post-production and visual effects activities when at least 75% of the respective post-production and visual effects production takes place in the U.S.; and\n\nSupport the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits.\n\nIn addition to Sen. Warner, the legislation is sponsored by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT). Companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives is sponsored by Reps. Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01), Linda Sanchez (D-CA- 38), Brian Jack (R-GA-03), Laura Friedman (D-CA-30), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), David Kustoff (R-TN-08), Tom Suozzi (D-NY-03), Vince Fong (R-CA-20), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5).\n\nThis bill is endorsed bytheAmerican Federation of Musicians, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), CreativeFuture, Coalition for American Production (CAP), Directors Guild of America (DGA), FilmUSA, Independent Film and Television Alliance (IFTA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Motion Picture Association (MPA), Producers Guild of America (PGA), Screen Actors Guild \u2013 American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), Teamsters, Television Academy, U.S. Film and Television Production Coalition, Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), and Writers Guild of America West (WGAW).\n\nSen. Warner is a strong supporter of the performing arts industry. In 2025, the senator introduced the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act, legislation to provide much-needed tax relief to working artists. Sen. Warner also sponsored the CREATE Act, legislation to allow entertainers, singers, and songwriters to write off production expenses by extending Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 181 for five years. The senator also sent a letter to Leaders Thune and Schumer in 2025 urging them to consider legislation to extend Section 181 before it expired.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-more-than-500000-in-federal-funding-to-improve-water-infrastructure-in-wise-county/", "Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $500,000 in Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Wise County", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $529,133 in federal funding to help replace and improve a waterline in Wise County, ensuring residents have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water.\n\n\u201cEvery Virginian deserves dependable access to clean, safe drinking water,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to help deliver these federal dollars to replace aging infrastructure in Wise County, improve reliable water service for residents, and support the community\u2019s long-term growth.\u201d\n\nThe funding will support the Ramsey Road Waterline Replacement Project, which will replace and realign the waterline along Ramsey Road and U.S. Route 58. The existing line was installed before the construction of U.S. Route 58 and later buried under deep infill, making it difficult and costly to access for repairs. As the line has aged, repeated leaks have created potential public health risks, increased maintenance costs, and threatened reliable water service. The project will install a new, properly sited waterline with direct maintenance access, as well as new abandonment caps and gate valves. The upgrades will help prevent service disruptions, reduce maintenance costs, and support long-term community and economic growth throughout Wise County.\n\nThe funding was awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), a federal-state partnership that Warner and Kaine have helped fund to support economic development and community growth across the Appalachian region.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve clean water access and infrastructure across the Commonwealth. In 2026, the senators announced more than $3 million in federal funding for wastewater treatment facility upgrades in Campbell County. In 2025, they announced more than $26 million in federal funding for Lee County\u2019s wastewater system expansion and $700,000 to extend Wise County\u2019s public wastewater service. In 2023, they announced close to $62.4 million in funding for water infrastructure upgrades across Virginia, with more than $47 million made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which the senators helped pass.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-statement-on-president-trumps-executive-order-to-rebrand-artificial-intelligence/", "Warner Statement on President Trump\u2019s Executive Order to Rebrand \u2018Artificial Intelligence\u2019", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe companies building the most powerful AI systems are warning us that the technology is advancing faster than our safeguards. The president\u2019s response? To rename it and tell the companies developing it to regulate themselves. But changing what we call artificial intelligence does nothing to address the very real risks that come with increasingly powerful AI systems.\n\n\u201cI believe deeply in the promise of AI and in America\u2019s ability to lead the world in this technology. But leadership also means making sure these systems are safe, secure, and remain under human control. That is why I\u2019ve introduced legislation to require rigorous testing and evaluation of the most advanced AI systems, strengthen cybersecurity and incident reporting, and establish clear rules of the road before the most powerful models are deployed.\n\n\u201cThere is bipartisan interest in Congress in getting this right. The technology is moving incredibly fast, and the risks are no longer theoretical. The question is whether Washington is going to act before something goes seriously wrong \u2014 or wait until afterward to ask why we didn\u2019t.\u201d\n\nWarner has introduced the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026, legislation to establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced artificial intelligence systems. This legislation comes as leading AI companies and cybersecurity researchers have issued increasingly urgent warnings about the rapidly advancing capabilities of frontier AI systems. The legislation would establish a permanent Artificial Intelligence Safety Board within the Department of Commerce, bringing together representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Department of the Treasury, along with independent technical experts, to evaluate emerging AI risks and establish technical safety and security standards. Developers of frontier AI models would also be required to provide the Board access to their models at least 45 days before public release. The AI Safety Board would develop enforceable standards for evaluating frontier models and securing testing environments, including safeguards and monitoring procedures for models capable of discovering and exploiting software vulnerabilities without direct human prompting. Developers would be legally required to comply with applicable standards, with violations subject to civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation, per day.\n\nEarlier today, Warner joined Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), original co-sponsors of the bill, on the Senate floor to request unanimous consent to pass the legislation, but the request was blocked by a Republican objection.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-30T10:57:52Z", "2026-09-30T10:59:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-demand-dhs-halt-efforts-to-undermine-2026-midterm-elections", "Kaine, Colleagues Demand DHS Halt Efforts to Undermine 2026 Midterm Elections", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined 33 of his Senate colleagues in a letter demanding that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin halt the Department\u2019s efforts to extend federal control over and undermine public trust in the 2026 midterm elections. The senators wrote to request information substantiating Mullin\u2019s public claims about noncitizens who registered to vote, called on DHS to rescind new election-related conditions on Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) homeland security grants and release the full grant funding to states, and urged DHS to end the alleged \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d disclosed by a recent whistleblower.\n\n\u201cWe write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President\u2019s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration\u2019s demands,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nIn their letter, the Senators raised concerns about Mullin\u2019s unsupported claim that 250,000 noncitizens were registered to vote in four states and criticized DHS efforts to pressure states to provide sensitive voter roll information to be run through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, despite the Administration\u2019s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data. The Senators also objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA\u2019s Homeland Security Grant Program, which have been retroactively applied to previously awarded Fiscal Year 2025 funding and are threatening Fiscal Year 2026 funding. By threatening to withhold funding that communities rely on to prevent acts of terrorism and other threats, Mullin is putting Americans' safety at risk as political leverage.\n\nThe senators also highlighted allegations from a federal whistleblower about an effort referred to as the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d According to the whistleblower, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) personnel were allegedly directed to use sensitive, personally identifiable information and improperly access state voter registration websites to find noncitizen voters. The whistleblower also alleged that personnel were directed to create law enforcement records using incomplete and unverifiable data for potential referral to law enforcement.\n\nThe senators called on Mullin to immediately provide all information substantiating his July 17, 2026 allegations regarding noncitizens who registered to vote, rescind FEMA Information Bulletin Nos. 569 and 569(a) and release all withheld funds to states without further delay; and provide information about the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and immediately cease its activities.\n\n\u201cThe 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nWe write to warn you against continued activities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that seek to undermine the Constitutional authority of both Congress and states to administer elections and defy the directions of federal courts. As Secretary of Homeland Security, you have promoted the President\u2019s conspiracy theories about our elections, pressured states to participate in illegal activities, and explicitly threatened to reduce grant funding and initiate criminal investigations for those states that do not comply with the Administration\u2019s demands.\n\nYou have been unwilling to publicly affirm that you will not send U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel to the polls, despite federal law barring their presence. Most recently, you deployed Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) agents across nine states for a \u201ccoordinated criminal voter fraud surge initiative,\u201d despite the lack of verifiable evidence of widespread noncitizen voter fraud. Your actions as Secretary are intentionally undermining Americans\u2019 trust in the 2026 midterm elections and appear to purposefully disenfranchise eligible voters. Taken together, these actions amount to an illegal attempt to federalize the administration of the upcoming midterm elections.\n\nAt the direction of President Trump, you have endeavored to coerce states into divulging sensitive voter roll information, raising serious concerns about how that information will be stored and used. On March 25, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order No. 14248, which required DHS to compare state voter registration lists against federal immigration databases. The Executive Order was followed by an overhaul of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, which transformed the program from one used for individual benefits eligibility checks to a system that could carry out bulk searches of records using Social Security numbers. Since then, DHS has repeatedly pressured states to share their voter rolls and run them through the modified SAVE program, despite legal concerns and known accuracy issues. You have exerted this pressure despite the fact that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which administers the SAVE program, has acknowledged that its results can be inaccurate. Additionally, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has acknowledged that its citizenship data for naturalized citizens \u2013 which is used by the SAVE program \u2013 is incomplete and unreliable. Even though the Supreme Court has allowed you to use the SAVE program for now, we remind you of the requirement of the National Voter Registration Act, 52 U. S. C. \u00a720507(c)(2)(A) that bars any systematic removal of ineligible voters within 90 days of Election Day.\n\nOn July 17, 2026, you claimed, without evidence, that 250,000 non-citizens were registered to vote in four states. This claim has been refuted by states and even by other administration officials. For example, you claimed that around 16,000 noncitizens illegally registered to vote in Nevada, but later, other DHS officials alleged the number was only 185. A subsequent review by Nevada state officials found all 185 individuals were U.S. citizens. These states did not agree to give you their sensitive state voter roll information and judges in each state dismissed the Department of Justice\u2019s efforts to access that information. Moreover, elections experts have challenged the legitimacy of these numbers. Considering the inaccuracies in SSA\u2019s citizenship categorizations and the questions surrounding how you obtained the voter roll information needed to analyze this data, we cannot trust the numbers as reported.\n\nFurther, under your leadership, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently added new terms and conditions to fiscal year (FY) 2025 and 2026 Urban Area Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grant Program awards. These are grants provided to states to help them protect their communities from terrorism and other hazards. In the FY 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), FEMA mandated that 3% of the target allocations for these grants be spent on enhancing election security, including critical activities like hardening election locations. Now, after FY25 agreements have already been signed, this Administration is threatening to withhold a percentage of the funding hostage if recipients do not meet these new, specious requirements, despite serious legal and implementation concerns. FEMA also added requirements to the recently released FY26 Homeland Security Grant Program NOFO, conditioning 20% of the full amount of the grants on states\u2019 compliance with election requirements that states have contested in litigation. DHS\u2019s continued interference with FEMA\u2019s grants puts FEMA\u2019s mission at risk, slows down the administration of grants, and ultimately hurts communities.\n\nNow, a federal whistleblower has alleged that, at the direction of DHS and USCIS leadership, the component\u2019s Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate staff may have violated laws and DHS policies in furtherance of a new \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d According to the whistleblower, USCIS staff were given a list of names and told to use sensitive personally identifiable information to impersonate voters and access state voter registration websites to verify individuals\u2019 immigration and voter registration statuses. Equipped with incomplete and unverifiable data compiled with \u201csupplemental magic,\u201d USCIS staff are allegedly being directed to create law enforcement records on individuals, including U.S. citizens, for possible referral to HSI for further investigation. If true, this is just another alarming effort by the Department to use data that USCIS materials admit may be inaccurate, coupled with questionable means to potentially disenfranchise voters.\n\nThe 2026 midterm elections are already underway. Your unsubstantiated allegations of noncitizen voter fraud, public recitation of unreliable data, and unwarranted conditioning of continued grant funding for state election security measures on compliance with politically motivated requests for voter data appear to be calculated efforts to undermine confidence in our elections and risks wrongly disenfranchising voters.\n\nWe are deeply troubled by the actions that you, DHS, and the Trump Administration have taken. As such, we demand that you immediately cease the aforementioned activities and provide us with all information underpinning the allegations made in your July 17, 2026, letter regarding non-citizens registered to vote, rescind Information Bulletin Nos. 569 and 569(a), release all withheld funds to the states without further delay, and provide information about the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d\n\nThank you for your prompt attention and cooperation in this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-strengthen-us-critical-mineral-supply-chains", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chains", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) joined U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) in introducing the Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen U.S. critical mineral supply chains and reduce reliance on China by improving diplomatic training and coordination across the federal government.\n\n\u201cWe need critical minerals to build chips for everything from our smartphones to our national defense apparatus. The U.S. must not cede control of global critical mineral supply chains to China,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThat is why I\u2019m glad to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to establish a dedicated executive branch critical minerals czar and marshal our diplomatic corps\u2019 expertise in this area. This commonsense and overdue step is crucial to our national security and retaining our technological edge, and I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers to support this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe Critical Mineral Executive Coordination Act would establish a Foreign Service Institute training program to help Foreign Service Officers advance U.S. economic and national security interests related to critical minerals and strategic competition with China. The bill would also establish a permanent Special Advisor to the President for Critical Minerals and Supply Chains within the National Security Council to coordinate a government-wide critical minerals strategy.\n\nThe legislation also advances two provisions of the DOMINANCE Act, a bill led by U.S. Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA-06) and Young Kim (R-CA-40) that passed the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan support.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, Scott, and Warnock, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), and John Curtis (R-UT).\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-subramanyam-applaud-bill-designating-george-c-marshall-house-as-national-park-service-affiliated-area-becoming-law", "Kaine & Subramanyam Applaud Bill Designating George C. Marshall House as National Park Service Affiliated Area Becoming Law", "2026-09-27", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam\u2019s (D-VA-10) bill designating the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as a National Park Service (NPS) affiliated area was signed into law.\n\n\u201cGeorge C. Marshall was educated at Virginia Military Institute, served as the US Army\u2019s Chief of Staff during World War II and then earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as Secretary of State,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis NPS designation of Dodona Manor will help preserve his home, honor General Marshall\u2019s legacy, and ensure future generations understand the critical role he played in our history. I\u2019m grateful to the many advocates and partners who have worked with us to get this done.\u201d\n\n\u201cDodona Manor has been a pillar of the Northern Virginia community for hundreds of years. I am proud to honor George C. Marshall\u2019s legacy by ensuring the property is preserved for many years to come. The International Center right here in Leesburg has so much to offer visitors from around the world, including educational programming for people of all ages. I am proud that Senator Kaine and I delivered for Virginians and made this bill law,\u201d said Subramanyam.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Representative Subramanyam and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership in advancing this legislation to preserve and elevate General Marshall\u2019s legacy,\u201d said Paul Michaels, chairman of the George C. Marshall International Center Board of Directors. \u201cThis measure marks a historic milestone for Dodona Manor and is wonderful news for the Leesburg and Loudoun County community. The increased visibility and expertise that come with National Park Service affiliation will help preserve this nationally significant landmark and help ensure future generations can learn from General Marshall\u2019s extraordinary character and example.\u201d\n\nThe official designation is the final step in many years of advocacy for recognition of Dodona Manor as a unit of the National Park System. Designation as an NPS affiliated area provides new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall\u2019s legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming.\n\nGeneral Marshall dedicated his life to public service, holding pivotal roles such as Chief of Staff of the Army during America's entry into World War II, Secretary of State where he designed the transformative Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe, and Secretary of Defense during the early stages of the Korean War. In 1941, while serving as Army Chief of Staff, he purchased Dodona Manor, where he lived until his passing in 1959.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi-jinping", "Kaine, Colleagues Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi Jinping", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined 15 of his Democratic colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The senators also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity.\n\n\u201cWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026,\u201d began the senators.\n\n\u201cWe support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement,\u201d continued the senators.\n\n\u201cAs you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large,\u201d the senators added.\n\n\u201cThe conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit,\u201d the senators emphasized.\n\n\u201cAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nKaine was joined in sending the letter by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nPresident Trump,\n\nWe write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI\u2019s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the world in AI safety and international cooperation, including by working with China to develop a formal agreement that would slow down, and potentially enact a mutual pause in, frontier AI development to prevent cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that threaten the lives of the American people and humanity writ large.\n\nThe development, release, and proper and improper use of AI present several risks unique to this technology. Testing AI models without constant monitoring and safe sandboxing has resulted in security breaks. Current publicly available models are concerningly capable of detecting and exploiting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Companies developing AI have even more powerful models internally. An international race between the U.S. and China to advance these capabilities without safety guardrails, as is currently unfolding, poses unnecessary and dangerous risks to the American people. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said that it would \u201cnot be misplaced\u201d to refer to the capabilities of AI as \u201cakin to digital nuclear weapons.\u201d At the same time, despite serious warnings from those in your administration and bipartisan Congressional action, your administration has loosened export controls of semiconductors to China and refused to close relevant loopholes on the remaining regulations, enabling China to access the U.S. chips it needs to accelerate its own AI development. Both countries are currently integrating AI tools into military and defense applications, including in autonomous and unmanned systems, which Congress and AI developers alike have warned against without significant safeguards. AI has many applications and many of them are tools we will find beneficial, but its significant dangers and potential use in lethal applications without meaningful human control must be addressed, in part, through international cooperation.\n\nIn addition, efforts to engage with China should not stop the U.S. from constructing and implementing guardrails domestically, and Congress and U.S. companies should not wait to do so. In fact, both the U.S. and the Chinese government have already put some guardrails in place, but these provisions are not sufficient on their own. Your administration has implemented a voluntary testing scheme before the public release of advanced AI models. China reportedly has put in place several testing and capability restrictions, including registration and safety requirements for certain applications, although consistent implementation remains uncertain. The mutual recognition between the two countries that AI poses significant risks both during development and after release should be the foundation of discussions centered on reaching concrete terms for an international safety agreement. The conversations should include specific focus on the standards needed for development and testing processes, oversight and monitoring of models, enforcing human control over the use of autonomous systems, and technological verification of any agreed upon terms to ensure that an agreement is being enforced. Protecting American safety and leadership in AI will require international cooperation with many countries, but it must start with serious engagement by your administration and China at this summit.\n\nWhile advanced AI may be new, engagement between two superpowers over a technology that poses an existential threat is not. The U.S. and Soviet Union, over decades, negotiated and implemented multiple nuclear arms control agreements with each other, despite many deep-seated ideological differences during the Cold War. At the core of those agreements were verification mechanisms to ensure both countries were complying. Like those agreements that have helped keep the world safe from mutually assured destruction, identifying and coming to terms with the technical specifications for AI safety will require some of the smartest minds in the world committed to diplomacy. We encourage you to embrace these challenges because the stakes are existential, and our response must match the moment.\n\nThe experts building frontier AI models have also been raising concerns for some time that the capabilities of AI models may soon accelerate beyond our ability to understand or control them. In July, over 1,300 employees of frontier AI companies, who are uniquely aware of AI\u2019s potential and risks, called on the U.S. government to engage in an international effort to create the tools necessary to pace the frontier of AI development, particularly as increased automation of AI research may lead to even faster advancement. We should take these warnings seriously. Former Treasury Secretaries Henry Paulson and Robert Rubin recently published an op-ed calling for you and President Xi to work on an \u201cACT\u201d \u2014 AI Cooperation Treaty.\u201d We may not get another moment to take the actions necessary to protect our citizens and people around the world.\n\nAI technology is too powerful, and its risks too many, for the U.S. and China to forgo discussions on parameters around its development and use. What our two countries develop as guardrails will serve as a standard for how the technology is used worldwide. Given how quickly AI technology is developing and how transformative it may be, we cannot delay our pursuit of diplomatic efforts to mitigate its risks. Those efforts must start with direct engagement with China to ensure the safety and well-being of all people as AI innovation continues.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/in-response-to-extensive-salt-typhoon-hacks-warner-cruz-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-strengthen-telecommunications-cybersecurity/", "In Response to Extensive Salt Typhoon Hacks, Warner, Cruz Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Telecommunications Cybersecurity", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and former technology entrepreneur who cofounded the wireless firm Nextel, and Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today introduced the Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act, bipartisan legislation that would create a voluntary framework, developed by experts from government and the private sector, to strengthen telecommunications cybersecurity. This bill comes after the Salt Typhoon hacks that widely compromised the U.S. and global telecommunications sector.\n\n\u201cThe Salt Typhoon intrusion was the worst telecom hack in our nation\u2019s history and showed us just how vulnerable our critical infrastructure is, but it does not have to be that way. If telecommunications companies adopt cybersecurity best practices, our networks can be more resilient,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation is a good start in protecting our nation and strengthening the communications networks Americans rely on every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cForeign adversaries are increasingly targeting America\u2019s communications networks. Securing them requires an approach that keeps pace with evolving threats. This sensible bill brings government and industry together to develop voluntary, telecom-specific cybersecurity best practices rather than adopting rigid federal mandates that quickly become outdated. As Commerce Committee chairman, I will continue working to strengthen the networks Americans rely on while preserving the innovation needed to protect them,\u201d said Chairman Cruz.\n\nThe Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act would:\n\nCreate a telecommunications cybersecurity working group among providers, suppliers, cybersecurity experts, and relevant state, local, and federal agencies, to develop practical, risk-based cybersecurity best practices focusing specifically on the telecommunications sector.\n\nCreate a voluntary certification process, that puts real accountability behind the adoption of best practices through independent third-party assessment and certification.\n\nRequire the best practices to be reviewed and updated at least every two years and following major cyber incidents or significant changes in the threat landscape.\n\nRead the full bill here. Read a one pager here and a section by section here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-senate-floor-warner-asks-for-unanimous-consent-to-pass-the-protect-americas-workforce-act/", "On Senate Floor, Warner Asks for Unanimous Consent to Pass the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE\n\nWASHINGTON \u2013 On the floor of the United States Senate today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) asked for unanimous consent to pass his Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation that would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers.\n\nIn his remarks, Sen. Warner explained how the Trump administration \u201chas wanted to traumatize the federal workforce.\u201d The president \u201csigned two executive orders, one that ripped away collective bargaining rights from more than a million public servants and the other that unilaterally canceled hundreds of thousands of existing union contracts under, frankly, what I think are a false national security pretext to make it easier, frankly, to fire experienced, nonpartisan civil servants and, candidly, replace them with political loyalists.\u201d\n\nSen. Warner continued, \u201cThese executive orders reclassify entire departments and agencies \u2013 for example the whole Department of Treasury, the whole Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Communications Commission.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs I mentioned, this has already passed with a large margin, bipartisan in the Republican-controlled House,\u201d Sen. Warner said.\n\nHe then urged his colleagues to \u201cstand up for these vital and dedicated workers, protect long-standing labor protections, and the integrity of the civil service.\u201d\n\nSen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage.\n\nSen. Warner\u2019s full remarks as prepared are below:\n\nI rise today to remind my colleagues that federal workers do indispensable work to keep Americans safe, healthy, and informed.\n\nThey inspect our food, support our troops, respond to natural disasters, and protect our safety. They deserve basic workplace protections that prevent retaliation, discrimination, and wrongful terminations.\n\nSince taking office, the Trump Administration has treated federal workers with incredible cruelty \u2014 stripping them of basic employment rights, insulting their work, questioning their integrity, and indiscriminately firing hundreds of thousands of hardworking civil servants. This is a shameful way to treat the individuals that keep our country running every single day.\n\nI\u2019ve said this a hundred times, but federal workers are not interchangeable widgets that you can fire and replace with the snap of a finger. They are dedicated experts with irreplaceable knowledge and experience.\n\nWhen we treat these people as disposable, air traffic becomes more dangerous, our food supply becomes less safe, the health and safety of our coal miners and firefighters becomes compromised, scientific progress is halted, and our national security is placed at risk.\n\nAs part of his rampage against federal workers, last year President Trump signed two executive orders, one that ripped away collective bargaining rights from more than a million public servants and one that unilaterally canceled hundreds of thousands of existing union contracts under a false national security pretext to make it easier to fire experienced, nonpartisan civil servants and replace them with political loyalists.\n\nThrough these executive orders, President Trump has blatantly abused the authority granted to him under the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which allows the president to limit collective bargaining agreements when there is a national security concern.\n\nNow let me be clear, as the Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I thoroughly understand the importance of making occasional exceptions to protect our national security.\n\nHowever, the Trump Administration has not utilized these exceptions in good faith.\n\nInstead, the president has inappropriately classified two-thirds of the federal workforce as having national security missions without any explanation whatsoever.\n\nThese executive orders reclassify entire departments and agencies \u2013 including the Department of Treasury, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Federal Communications Commission \u2013 stripping their employees of collective bargaining rights without explanation because, clearly, the decision was made without any reasoning.\n\nToday I urge my colleagues to join me in reversing these reckless executive orders that have stolen long-standing labor protections from our workforce by passing my bill, the Protect America\u2019s Workforce Act.\n\nOur colleagues in the House have already taken a stand against this administration\u2019s union-busting campaign by passing this bill on a bipartisan basis.\n\nNow it is our turn, here in the Senate, to pass this legislation and repeal these harmful executive orders.\n\nLet\u2019s stand up for these vital and dedicated workers, restore long-standing labor protections, safeguard the integrity of the civil service, and ensure the federal workforce can continue serving the American people.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-introduces-bills-to-fight-against-tick-borne-diseases-protect-americans-with-alpha-gal-syndrome/", "Warner Introduces Bills to Fight Against Tick-Borne Diseases, Protect Americans With Alpha-Gal Syndrome", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today introduced two bills to strengthen the federal response to tick-borne diseases and better protect Americans living with alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).\n\n\u201cCases of alpha-gal syndrome are rapidly increasing in Virginia and across the country, and nearly everyone I meet has or knows someone whose life has been affected by this disease. We must do more to understand, prevent, and treat AGS and other tick-borne diseases,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce these two bills to strengthen our efforts to combat tick-borne diseases by expanding the Tick-Borne Disease Working Group, supporting research through targeted grants, and giving those living with AGS greater support by adding the condition to the major food allergen list.\u201d\n\nAGS is an allergic condition primarily associated with the bite of the lone star tick. Individuals with AGS develop a potentially life-threatening allergy to alpha-gal, a carbohydrate found in meat from mammals, including beef, pork, lamb, venison, and rabbit, as well as certain products derived from mammals, including gelatin, dairy products, and some pharmaceuticals. The prevalence of AGS in the United States has increased in recent years with researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University finding a 100-fold increase in positive test results for alpha-gal antibodies between 2013 and 2024. AGS is the 10th most common food allergen in the country.\n\nThe Strengthening Tick-borne disease Opposition and Prevention Through Investment in Collaboration, Knowledge, and Surveillance (STOP TICKS) Act would boost efforts to prevent and respond to AGS and other tick-borne diseases by reauthorizing and expanding the federal Tick-Borne Disease Working Group (TBDWG) and increasing funding for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants that support states and researchers working to combat vector-borne diseases.\n\nThe Alpha-Gal Allergen Inclusion Act would add alpha-gal to the federal list of major food allergens, requiring clear and specific labeling on all U.S. packaged food products and helping Americans with AGS more easily identify products that could trigger a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ-02) and endorsed by the Alpha-gal Alliance, Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund, Alpha-gal Foundation, the National Society of Professional Surveyors, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, FARE, Tick-Borne Conditions United, Center for Lyme Action, Project Lyme, the Elijah-Alavi Foundation, LymeTV, FAACT, the Asthma and Allergy Network, the International FPIES Association, Alpha-gal Encouragers, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of American, AllergyStrong, FOODiversity, Food Equality Initiative, The Foundation of AAIR, LivLyme, Lymedisease.org, and the Bay Area Lyme Foundation.\n\n\u201cWe are very grateful to Senator Warner for his leadership in encouraging and leading measures to further both education and science into the relationship between tick bites and human allergic reactions. We appreciate his responsiveness to this serious, potentially life-threatening allergy,\u201d stated UVA School of Medicine\u2019s Thomas Platts-Mills, FRS, the Oscar Swineford, Jr. Professor of Medicine and the Jeffrey M. Wilson, MD, PhD., Associate Professor of Medicine, in the Department of Medicine\u2019s Division of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology.\n\n\u201cEvery day, we hear from Virginians with alpha-gal syndrome who struggle to feed themselves and their families safely. Reading a label should not require guesswork or a call to the manufacturer. Clear allergen labeling would give people with AGS the confidence to shop, cook, and share meals without fear. The Alpha-gal Foundation is grateful to Senator Warner for standing with the patients and families in our community,\u201d said Candice Matthis and Debbie Nichols, Co-founders Alpha-gal Foundation.\n\n\u201cThe Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act would add alpha-gal to the list of major food allergens disclosed on food labels, allowing people with alpha-gal syndrome to identify safe food options. People with AGS must avoid foods that contain mammalian ingredients, but current labeling law does not require those ingredients to be clearly disclosed. Alpha-gal syndrome is a life-altering and sometimes fatal allergy, which the CDC has identified as a \u2018growing threat to public health.\u2019 Cases are rising rapidly in the most affected areas, including in Virginia. The Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund thanks Senator Warner for his leadership and looks forward to working with him to pass this urgently needed legislation,\u201d said Sharon Forsyth, Executive Director, Alpha-gal Alliance Action Fund.\n\n\u201cTick-borne diseases, including alpha-gal syndrome, are a growing public health concern, and we welcome a coordinated federal response,\u201d said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education). \u201cSen. Warner\u2019s legislation aligns with FARE\u2019s priorities for increased funding, more research, and better surveillance capabilities to fully understand the true impact of alpha-gal syndrome and improve outcomes for patients seeking diagnosis and care.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-introduces-new-sweeping-health-care-bill-to-lower-costs-expand-coverage-and-improve-access-to-care/", "Warner Introduces New Sweeping Health Care Bill to Lower Costs, Expand Coverage, and Improve Access to Care", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today introduced the Health for the Commonwealth through Affordability, Reform, and Expansion Act of 2026, or the Health CARE Act, sweeping legislation to lower costs, expand coverage, and make it easier to access the care they need. The legislation would make significant reforms across the health care system while advancing Warner\u2019s broader goal of ensuring every American, regardless of age or employment status, can access affordable health coverage.\n\n\u201cOur current health care system makes it hard and expensive for Virginians and Americans across the country to access the care they rely on,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cThere is still a lot of work to be done to get to universal coverage, but my comprehensive Health CARE Act includes life-saving provisions to meaningfully improve health care and lower costs, including for those on Medicare, Medicaid, and those who get health insurance through their employer right now.\u201d\n\nThe Health CARE Act would:\n\nReverse harmful health care provisions in H.R. 1.\n\nMake permanent enhanced ACA premium tax credits.\n\nImplement a low-cost public health insurance option.\n\nExpand the Medicare drug price negotiation program.\n\nExtend Medicare-negotiated drug prices, out-of-pocket limits for prescription drugs, inflation rebates, and $35 copay cap and no deductible on insulin to ACA and employer markets.\n\nEnsure health insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers do not put profit over patients by reforming the use of step therapy and prior authorization, banning PBM spread pricing in Medicaid, allowing Medicare Advantage enrollees to switch plans mid-year if their provider leaves their network, and requiring all retail, mail-order, and specialty pharmacies to respond to surveys that collect drug acquisition costs.\n\nImprove Medicaid by reinstating the higher federal match when a state newly expands Medicaid and applying it retroactively to states that expanded late.\n\nImprove Medicare by including hearing aid coverage.\n\nRequire hospitals, clinical laboratories, imaging centers, and ambulatory surgical centers make negotiated rates and cash prices public.\n\nRequire health insurance plans in the employer and ACA markets provide detailed information about benefits, explanations of benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and utilization management policies to plan enrollees, and to make certain cost and ownership information public.\n\nThis legislation is endorsed by Community Catalyst, Families USA, Small Business Majority, Virginia Community Healthcare Association, Virginia Poverty Law Center, and Virginia Rural Health Association.\n\n\u201cThe Virginia Rural Health Association appreciates the support Senator Warner continues to provide for rural citizens and rural healthcare. The Health CARE act will help rural citizens through maintaining the ACA premium tax credits and lowering prescription drug costs while supporting rural healthcare providers through prior authorization and Pharmacy Benefit Manager reforms,\u201d said Beth O\u2019Connor, Executive Director, Virginia Rural Health Association.\n\n\u201cVirginia\u2019s Community Health Centers are on the front lines of providing comprehensive, affordable health care to more than 400,000 Virginians each year. The Health CARE Act of 2026 represents a meaningful step toward expanding access to coverage, lowering health care costs, strengthening Medicaid, and reducing barriers that too often prevent patients from receiving the care they need. VCHA applauds Senator Warner\u2019s continued leadership on improving access to quality, affordable health care and is proud to endorse this legislation,\u201d said Tracy Douglas, MS, Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Community Healthcare Association.\n\n\u201cRecent cuts to health insurance tax credits and enrollment assistors combined with new red tape for people with Medicaid insurance has impacted people\u2019s ability to get insurance, get healthy and contribute to their communities,\u201d said Shaina Goodman, Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs, Community Catalyst. \u201cAs such, proposals like the Health CARE Act are the exact thing Congress should be focused on. We are grateful to Sen. Warner for his leadership and happy to support legislation that moves our healthcare system toward one Community Catalyst envisions: where healthcare is affordable, accessible, and accountable to all people.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe cuts to Medicaid from HR1 are devastating to low-income Virginians who were already struggling with increased costs for housing, food, and necessities. When someone goes without medical care due to red-tape barriers, the consequences to their health can be life threatening as well as financially devastating. We are excited that this bill would not only reverse the 2025 harmful cuts to life saving care but also create a federal option on the Marketplace which can assure that quality and affordable care is available to all Virginians,\u201d said Emily Hardy, Director of Advocacy, Virginia Poverty Law Center\u2019s Center for Healthy Communities.\n\nRead the full bill here. Read a section by section here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-schatz-to-take-to-senate-floor-to-demand-passage-of-new-ai-security-legislation/", "Warner, Schatz, Kim to Take to Senate Floor to Demand Passage of New AI Security Legislation", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced sweeping legislation to establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced artificial intelligence systems. Later today, Warner, Schatz, and Kim will speak about the legislation on the Senate floor.\n\nThe Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026 comes as leading AI companies and cybersecurity researchers have issued increasingly urgent warnings about the rapidly advancing capabilities of frontier AI systems. Leading AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Deepmind, Meta, and Microsoft have issued warnings about the rapidly advancing cybersecurity capabilities of their models, warning that the newest frontier models can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities without human guidance. Recent incidents have also highlighted alarming deficiencies in frontier labs\u2019 security practices. The combination of these factors underscores a rapidly emerging challenge: AI systems are becoming increasingly capable of performing sophisticated cybersecurity tasks that can be enormously valuable to defenders but could also pose serious risks if misused or inadequately secured.\n\n\u201cThe companies building the most powerful AI systems in the world are sounding the alarm: the step-change increase in AI models\u2019 capacity for cyber-offense, combined with clear failures to securely host and deploy these capabilities, could pose serious risks to our national security, our critical infrastructure, and the systems Americans rely on every day,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cI remain enormously optimistic about the potential of AI, but optimism cannot be an excuse for inaction, nor can we normalize these kinds of concerning incidents. If a model is capable of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in a bank, a water system, or our electric grid, we ought to know that before it is released to the public \u2013 not after something goes catastrophically wrong. This legislation establishes basic, enforceable rules of the road to make sure the most powerful models are tested, secured, and responsibly deployed.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, we\u2019re seeing new reports of AI models going rogue and hacking systems without our knowledge or oversight. The risks of AI are not theoretical \u2013 they are happening in real-time,\u201d said Sen. Schatz. \u201cOur bill is about making sure humans remain in control of AI models and preventing future breaches with rigorous standards, testing, and oversight. Immediate risk requires immediate action.\u201d\n\n\u201cInnovation without control just leads to chaos, and this is our moment to make sure that the American people have control over the incredible strides we\u2019re seeing on AI. Control means making sure that the technology does not outpace safety and common sense. It means making sure it can be used to advance quality of life instead of hurdling us towards the doomsday scenarios we\u2019ve been warned about. The actions we are proposing are in pursuit of meeting the moment that the American people are demanding; to work with urgency to keep our families safe,\u201d said Sen. Kim.\n\nThe Warner-Schatz-Kim legislation would establish a permanent Artificial Intelligence Safety Board within the Department of Commerce, bringing together representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Department of the Treasury, along with independent technical experts, to evaluate emerging AI risks and establish technical safety and security standards.\n\nCritically, developers of frontier AI models would be required to provide the Board access to their models at least 45 days before public release, including model weights, configuration files, runtimes, and software libraries necessary to operate the model, allowing experts to evaluate powerful models before deployment.\n\nThe legislation would also require AI developers to create and follow Model Safety Plans identifying the capabilities and risks of their systems, the specific steps they will take to mitigate those risks, and the corporate officer responsible for implementing the plan.\n\nUnder the legislation, the AI Safety Board would develop enforceable standards for evaluating frontier models and securing testing environments, including safeguards and monitoring procedures for models capable of discovering and exploiting software vulnerabilities without direct human prompting. Developers would be legally required to comply with applicable standards, with violations subject to civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation, per day.\n\nThe bill would also:\n\nCreate a secure reporting process and a national AI incident database to track AI safety and security incidents, recurring flaws, and near misses so researchers, government agencies, and developers can learn from failures across different systems. The database would be established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.\n\nRequire frontier AI companies to report serious safety and security incidents, generally within 30 days, and within 72 hours when an incident poses an imminent threat to national security, critical infrastructure, or public safety. Critical infrastructure operators using AI to manage industrial control systems or other operational technologies would also be covered.\n\nEstablish secure federal testing environments that can use resources at the National Security Agency and Department of Energy National Laboratories to conduct sensitive pre-deployment testing of frontier models.\n\nDevelop new standards specifically for autonomous AI agents, including risks involving identity, authentication, authorization, access to data and systems, and differing levels of autonomy.\n\nRequire standardized documentation for AI agents, including their intended uses, authority boundaries, access to data and tools, known limitations, and results of independent evaluations where applicable.\n\nThe legislation specifically focuses on advanced artificial intelligence models \u2013 systems that exhibit, or could be modified to exhibit, high levels of performance on tasks posing serious risks to national security, national economic security, or public health and safety.\n\nThe legislation is designed to address a range of risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems, including their potential to facilitate cyberattacks, evade the control of their developers or operators, assist in the development of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other weapons, or have their model weights stolen or maliciously modified.\n\nText of the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026 is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-to-force-votes-demanding-answers-regarding-trump-vance-administrations-horrifying-expansive-costly-third-country-deportation-network", "Kaine To Force Votes Demanding Answers Regarding Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s Horrifying, Expansive, Costly Third-Country Deportation Network", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, announced the filing of fifteen additional privileged resolutions to require the Trump-Vance Administration to produce assessments of the human rights situation in Belize, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Moldova, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, and Uganda following reports that the Trump-Vance Administration deported immigrants who are not from those countries to those places. The legislation comes amid new reporting alleging the Administration has pledged at least $410 million to build a vast network of dozens of countries for third-country deportations.\n\n\u201cThe American people want the government to focus on lowering their costs, not committing appalling human rights abuses with their tax dollars,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cYet the Trump-Vance Administration is spending hundreds of millions of dollars\u2014or more\u2014to rip migrants from their homes and families without due process and send them to random countries they have no connection to and where they are being brutally beaten and held in awful conditions. We have a right to demand answers about what conditions are like in those countries and to understand what kind of shady backroom deals are facilitating these shameful removals. We can get those answers by passing these resolutions.\u201d\n\nThe resolutions are privileged under the Foreign Assistance Act, meaning Kaine can force the Senate to debate and vote on them. Kaine previously teamed up with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to force a vote in the Senate to require a human rights report regarding El Salvador. The move came after President Trump threatened to imprison U.S. citizens there. Kaine has also previously filed resolutions to compel human rights reports regarding Cameroon, Costa Rica, Eswatini, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Mexico, Panama, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uzbekistan after reports of those countries\u2019 involvement in third-country deportations from the United States.\n\nIncluded here are the full texts of the legislation regarding Belize, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Moldova, Palau, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-warner-introduce-legislation-to-modernize-aging-schools-in-virginia-and-across-the-country", "Kaine, Warner Introduce Legislation to Modernize Aging Schools in Virginia and Across the Country", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) reintroduced the School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2026, legislation to help modernize aging school buildings in Virginia and across the nation by expanding access to the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC). The bill would make it easier for school districts to partner with private entities to finance renovations to historic school buildings that will continue to operate as schools after the improvements have concluded.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves a safe, healthy learning environment where they can succeed, but many schools are in need of urgent and often costly repairs,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to introduce this legislation to help communities across the Commonwealth and the nation modernize their schools, preserve historic buildings, and support local construction jobs.\u201d\n\nForty percent of public school buildings nationwide were built before 1980, and many aging facilities contain harmful materials such as asbestos, lead-based paint, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Research has shown that the physical conditions of school buildings affect student learning. Yet school districts are facing an estimated $85 billion funding gap for public school facilities, with state and local governments covering nearly all the costs.\n\nAs Mayor of Richmond, Kaine worked with local stakeholders to use the HTC to renovate the closed Maggie Walker High School and reopen it as the Maggie L. Walker Governor\u2019s School for Government and International Studies. The project helped address overcrowding at Thomas Jefferson High School by relocating its magnet program to the new building.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by Preservation Action, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the International WELL Building Institute, AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services, the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, the American Institute of Architects, the Build America\u2019s School Infrastructure Coalition, and the Historic Tax Credit Coalition.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here. A one-pager is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-blackburn-urge-centers-for-medicare-medicaid-services-to-reconsider-proposed-restrictions-on-remote-patient-monitoring/", "Warner, Blackburn Urge Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to Reconsider Proposed Restrictions on Remote Patient Monitoring", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider sweeping proposed changes to remote patient monitoring (RPM) that could limit access to care for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those in rural communities and those served by hospitals and small and independent practices, as well as undermine bipartisan efforts to expand technology-enabled health care.\n\nRPM is a growing health care service that utilizes real-time data and telehealth to keep people with acute and chronic diseases out of the emergency room by getting them the right care at the right time.\n\nIn a letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, Sens. Warner and Blackburn raised concerns that changes included in the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule would make it significantly harder for providers to offer remote monitoring services, even as Congress and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) work to expand access to technology-enabled care in rural communities.\n\nThe senators wrote, \u201cRemote monitoring services are especially important in rural communities, where patients often face long travel distances, transportation barriers, clinician shortages, hospital closures, and limited access to timely follow-up care. These services allow clinicians to monitor patients between visits, identify worsening conditions earlier, and intervene before a patient requires an emergency department visit or hospitalization. Congress, states, and providers are working to expand technology-enabled care, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize health information infrastructure, and support care in the home. Remote monitoring is central to these rural health transformation efforts. It extends the reach of limited clinical workforces, improves chronic disease management, supports patients following hospitalization, and helps rural residents remain stable and independent at home.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe proposed rule would make a number of changes that would fundamentally impact how RPM services are provided. One concerning change would prohibit contracting for RPM clinical services and instead require RPM services to be provided by clinical staff employed by the billing practitioner or the practitioner\u2019s practice. Many hospitals and rural, small, and independent practices rely on specialized clinical and technology partners to make remote monitoring available. However, these vendors are not mere middlemen; they are specialized to partner with health care practitioners to help provide these services to medically complicated patients. These arrangements help practices manage patient onboarding, device support, data review, alert management, documentation, and clinical escalation under the oversight of the treating practitioner.Because both hospital as well as small and rural practices often lack the internal workforce to manage these programs entirely in-house, we urge CMS to develop a regulatory framework that protects against waste while preserving flexible staffing models. In addition to the above, the proposed rule also includes provisions that create new payment methodologies, reduce reimbursement, and require additional health care appointments, all while acknowledging that it is making changes without even having all the information it needs,\u201d the senators added.\n\nThe senators noted that the proposed changes could run counter to bipartisan efforts to expand remote monitoring in rural America. Recently, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously advanced the Rural Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act, legislation that Sens. Warner and Blackburn have introduced in the Senate to ensure Medicare patients in rural and underserved communities have access to remote physiological monitoring services. HHS is also working with states to implement the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to make investments in technology that can help rural providers deploy remote patient monitoring infrastructure.\n\nThe senators continued by urging CMS to improve its collection of information about how remote patient monitoring is being provided and then implement targeted guardrails to effectively root out fraud, waste, and abuse without leaving rural providers who are following the rules with fewer tools to serve patients.\n\nThe senators concluded, \u201cWe respectfully urge CMS to reconsider the proposal\u2019s changes to remote patient monitoring, particularly the limits on remote monitoring staffing, and partner with providers, patient advocates, and remote monitoring stakeholders on program integrity standards that reach bad actors while preserving access for the beneficiaries these services were designed to serve.\u201d\n\n\u201cRemote monitoring has become an important way for patients, especially seniors and people in rural communities, to stay connected to their care teams without unnecessary travel or delays in care. CMS\u2019s proposal to substantially reduce when and how these services can be reimbursed would make it impossible for many practices\u2014particularly small and rural providers\u2014to offer remote monitoring at all. At a time when policymakers are trying to expand access to technology-enabled care, Medicare should be making it easier for providers to reach patients where they are, not narrowing the pathways they can use to deliver that care,\u201d said Chris Adamec, Executive Director, Alliance for Connected Care.\n\n\u201cUVA Health appreciates Senators Mark Warner and Marsha Blackburn\u2019s leadership in supporting Medicare policies that preserve access to remote patient monitoring. At UVA Health, RPM extends care beyond the walls of the hospital, allowing our clinical teams to remain connected with patients as they transition home\u2014monitoring their recovery, identifying changes in condition earlier, and intervening when needed. This service is particularly important for patients in rural communities, who may otherwise travel significant distances for or may not receive care. Remote patient monitoring has become an important part of how we improve continuity of care, support safer transitions, reduce avoidable utilization, and help patients recover where they most want to be\u2014at home,\u201d said Novella W. Thompson, MBA, MA, ALM-C, FACHE, Assistant Chief, Population Health Department, UVA Health University Medical Center.\n\n\u201cRemote patient monitoring has become an important extension of care for patients across Southern Virginia, particularly those managing chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, and diabetes. Through our partnership with Cadence, RPM allows our cardiology and primary care teams to stay connected with patients between visits, use vital data to identify potential concerns before they become health care crises and help patients better manage their health from the comfort of home. For many rural patients, RPM improves access, convenience and peace of mind while helping providers deliver more proactive, personalized care,\u201d said Steve Heatherly, Market President & CEO, Sovah Health (Danville and Martinsville, Virginia).\n\n\u201cAt Highpoint Health, remote patient monitoring plays an important role in helping patients with heart conditions stay connected to their care team while remaining in their own homes. For many patients, particularly those in rural communities, this type of proactive care, grounded in real time clinical data, can provide earlier identification of potential concerns and increased confidence in managing their health between office visits. This includes advancing their care plan in between office visits. As healthcare providers continue to look for ways to improve access and outcomes, maintaining access to remote patient monitoring remains an important tool for supporting patient-centered care,\u201d said Rod Harkleroad, Market President Highpoint Health with Ascension Saint Thomas & CEO of Highpoint Health \u2013 Sumner (Gallatin, TN).\n\n\u201cWe share the concerns Sens. Blackburn and Warner raised about the remote patient monitoring changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule,\u201d said Michele Stockwell, President of Bipartisan Policy Center Action. \u201cWe support strengthening program integrity and reducing administrative burden. To maximize the value of remote patient monitoring, CMS needs better data on remote patient monitoring use and cost. We also want to ensure RPM remains accessible, especially for rural patients. As Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s comments on the rule state, the agency should require the provider billing for remote monitoring to redetermine at regular intervals\u2014for example, every six months\u2014whether remote monitoring is medically necessary for their patient.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) thanks Senators Blackburn and Warner for raising important issues with CMS regarding the remoting monitoring provisions in the 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule,\u201d said AANP President Valerie J. Fuller, PhD, DNP. \u201cAANP raised similar concerns during the comment period, in particular the negative impact these proposals could have on access to care in smaller, rural practices, and we remain committed to working with Congress and CMS on policies that protect program integrity without harming patient access to care.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Commonwealth\u2019s largest safety-net provider, VCU Health has helped thousands of Medicare beneficiaries manage chronic conditions through remote monitoring and telehealth, reducing avoidable emergency department visits and rehospitalizations,\u201d said Marlon Levy, M.D., MBA, FACS, Chief Executive Officer of VCU Health. \u201cThese innovative digital health tools keep vulnerable patients connected to their care teams while preserving access to VCU Medical Center for high-acuity patients across central Virginia and beyond. As future policies and funding are considered, it is essential to maintain a balanced approach that protects patients, promotes high-quality care, and preserves the viability of these services.\u201d\n\n\u201cRPM services operate as an extension of an established primary care clinician, creating ongoing virtual support for patients in between regular visits. This access is critical in rural communities that struggle with physician and healthcare workforce shortages. Rural areas are especially susceptible to the harmful outcomes of RPM reimbursement variation: this often leads to a reduction in patients\u2019 access to cost-saving, patient-centered care. The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) advocates for delays in CMS\u2019 proposed remote monitoring policies. We encourage CMS to work with stakeholders and Congress on a balanced approach that protects patients, preserves clinically integrated care, and strengthens program integrity protections: such approaches are outlined in provisions within the widely supported legislation H.R. 3108/S.1535, the Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Access Act,\u201d said Alan Morgan, CEO, National Rural Health Association.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Administrator Oz:\n\nWe write regarding the sweeping proposed changes to remote monitoring in the Calendar Year 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule.\n\nWe share CMS\u2019s commitment to strengthening program integrity and ensuring taxpayer dollars are used to provide high-quality services to Medicare beneficiaries. However, we are deeply concerned that the proposed policies would reduce access to care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries, with particularly severe consequences for rural communities and patients served by hospitals as well as small and independent practices.\n\nWe urge CMS not to finalize these policies as proposed and instead work with Medicare beneficiaries, health care providers who utilize remote monitoring in their practice, and other stakeholders to collect any necessary data and develop targeted safeguards that address fraud, waste, and abuse without disrupting clinically appropriate care.\n\nRemote monitoring services are especially important in rural communities, where patients often face long travel distances, transportation barriers, clinician shortages, hospital closures, and limited access to timely follow-up care. These services allow clinicians to monitor patients between visits, identify worsening conditions earlier, and intervene before a patient requires an emergency department visit or hospitalization. Congress, states, and providers are working to expand technology-enabled care, strengthen the rural health workforce, modernize health information infrastructure, and support care in the home. Remote monitoring is central to these rural health transformation efforts. It extends the reach of limited clinical workforces, improves chronic disease management, supports patients following hospitalization, and helps rural residents remain stable and independent at home.\n\nFurther, this proposed rule works against bipartisan efforts by Congress and HHS itself to strengthen rural access to remote monitoring. Recently, the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed the Rural Patient Monitoring Access Act,which we introduced in the Senate. Additionally, HHS continues to work with states on the ongoing rollout of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). Through the RHTP, CMS is partnering with states to make investments in rural health technology, enabling rural providers in many states to deploy RPM infrastructure. We are concerned that the provisions in the proposed rule will disrupt the care delivery models that CMS and the states are working to build.\n\nThe proposed rule would make a number of changes that would fundamentally impact how RPM services are provided. One concerning change would prohibit contracting for RPM clinical services and instead require RPM services to be provided by clinical staff employed by the billing practitioner or the practitioner\u2019s practice. Many hospitals and rural, small, and independent practices rely on specialized clinical and technology partners to make remote monitoring available. However, these vendors are not mere middlemen; they are specialized to partner with health care practitioners to help provide these services to medically complicated patients. These arrangements help practices manage patient onboarding, device support, data review, alert management, documentation, and clinical escalation under the oversight of the treating practitioner.Because both hospital as well as small and rural practices often lack the internal workforce to manage these programs entirely in-house, we urge CMS to develop a regulatory framework that protects against waste while preserving flexible staffing models. In addition to the above, the proposed rule also includes provisions that create new payment methodologies, reduce reimbursement, and require additional health care appointments, all while acknowledging that it is making changes without even having all the information it needs.\n\nWe share CMS\u2019s commitment to strengthen oversight of technology-enabled care, including remote patient monitoring (RPM). However, in 2024, the HHS Office of the Inspector General reviewed RPM and agreed that CMS \u201clacks key information for oversight.\u201d OIG also made substantive recommendations that would enable CMS to create the data and accountability pathways to distinguish clinically integrated remote monitoring from arrangements that present genuine program integrity risk without imposing a blanket employment restriction. We believe CMS should work first to implement OIG\u2019s recommendations for collecting more information about how these services are being provided. Once CMS has that information, it can implement guardrails that appropriately steward taxpayer dollars by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse without leaving rural providers who are following the rules with fewer tools to serve their patients, which would only and push care back toward more costly emergency departments and institutional settings.\n\nWe respectfully urge CMS to reconsider the proposal\u2019s changes to remote patient monitoring, particularly the limits on remote monitoring staffing, and partner with providers, patient advocates, and remote monitoring stakeholders on program integrity standards that reach bad actors while preserving access for the beneficiaries these services were designed to serve.\n\nThank you for your attention. We look forward to your prompt reply.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-introduce-legislation-to-modernize-aging-schools-in-virginia-and-across-the-country/", "Warner, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Modernize Aging Schools in Virginia and Across the Country", "2026-09-23", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) reintroduced the School Infrastructure Modernization Act of 2026, legislation to help modernize aging school buildings in Virginia and across the nation by expanding access to the federal historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC). The bill would make it easier for school districts to partner with private entities to finance renovations to historic school buildings that will continue to operate as schools after the improvements have concluded.\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves a safe, healthy learning environment where they can succeed, but many schools are in need of urgent and often costly repairs,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to introduce this legislation to help communities across the Commonwealth and the nation modernize their schools, preserve historic buildings, and support local construction jobs.\u201d\n\nForty percent of public school buildings nationwide were built before 1980, and many aging facilities contain harmful materials such as asbestos, lead-based paint, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Research has shown that the physical conditions of school buildings affect student learning. Yet school districts are facing an estimated $85 billion funding gap for public school facilities, with state and local governments covering nearly all the costs.\n\nAs Mayor of Richmond, Kaine worked with local stakeholders to use the HTC to renovate the closed Maggie Walker High School and reopen it as the Maggie L. Walker Governor\u2019s School for Government and International Studies. The project helped address overcrowding at Thomas Jefferson High School by relocating its magnet program to the new building.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by Preservation Action, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the International WELL Building Institute, AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services, the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, the American Institute of Architects, the Build America\u2019s School Infrastructure Coalition, and the Historic Tax Credit Coalition.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here. A one-pager is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-tackle-maternal-and-infant-mortality", "Kaine & Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Tackle Maternal And Infant Mortality", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced the Mothers and Newborns Success Act, bipartisan legislation to address the United States\u2019 disturbingly high maternal and infant mortality rates and reduce the well-documented racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. is the most prosperous, powerful, and innovative nation in the world\u2014yet more mothers and infants die throughout pregnancy and childbirth than in nearly any other peer nation. For Black women, rates of maternal mortality are even higher,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis is tragic but overwhelmingly preventable\u2014that\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation with Senator Murkowski to direct federal resources toward dramatically decreasing U.S. maternal and infant mortality and addressing inequities in maternal and infant health outcomes. This is a goal everyone should be able to get behind, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe racial and rural disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates in this country are alarming and unacceptable,\u201d said Murkowski. \u201cOur legislation works to address this by investing in innovative approaches to maternal health care, improving data collection, strengthening support for women during the postpartum period, and expanding the use of telehealth in rural communities. Whether you\u2019re in Napakiak or New York City, every mother and child deserves access to quality care, and the programs implemented through this bill will help bring us closer to that goal.\u201d\n\nMaternal and infant mortality in the U.S. is a tale of two crises: an overall rate that far exceeds other developed nations, and a rate among people of color that is yet worse. The overall U.S. maternal mortality rate in 2024 was 17.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, far higher than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)\u2014a collection of developed peer nations\u2014average of 10.3. That same year, the U.S. infant mortality rate was 5.52 deaths per 1,000 live births, compared to an OECD average of 4.0. For both maternal and infant mortality rates, there are clear racial disparities, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women suffering worse outcomes than white women. For example, the 2024 maternal mortality rate among Black women was 44.8 per 100,000 live births, which is over three times higher than the maternal mortality rate for white women and more than four times the OECD average.\n\nThe Mothers and Newborns Success Act would aim to bring the U.S. maternal and infant mortality below the OECD average and reduce racial and ethnic disparities by directing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to take actions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and deploy such measures in a manner that counters inequities. Specifically, the bill would:\n\nProvide grants administered through the Health Resources and Services Administration\u2019s (HRSA) State Maternal Health Innovation Program and the Supporting Maternal Health Innovation Program for states to create and implement plans to address disparities in maternal health and improve maternal health outcomes.\n\nSupport the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to classify birthing facilities so that patients know the level of risk-appropriate maternal and neonatal care at each facility. This would help improve care delivery and health outcomes for expectant mothers and their infants.\n\nSupport the CDC\u2019s efforts to gather pregnancy checkbox data from death certificates to help provide more accurate data on maternal deaths.\n\nSupport the CDC\u2019s data collection on maternal attitudes and experiences during the pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum periods as well as efforts to provide technical assistance to states to ensure representation of communities of color in key datasets. This data would help determine and address gaps in care.\n\nEstablish a pilot program through HRSA to identify and share best practices and evidence-based information on maternal health with providers and patients.\n\nEstablish a National Maternal Health Research Network at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support innovative research on the underlying causes of maternal mortality and their treatment.\n\nSupport HRSA\u2019s Rural Maternity and Obstetric Management Strategies (RMOMS) Program to improve access to and continuity of obstetric care in rural communities, including through the use of telehealth.\n\nEstablish a public and provider awareness campaign through the CDC to promote awareness of maternal health warning signs and the importance of vaccinations for pregnant women and children.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-23T09:45:16Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-vote-against-advancing-college-sports-legislation", "Kaine Statement on Vote Against Advancing College Sports Legislation", "2026-09-22", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after voting against advancing college sports legislation that insufficiently protects student athletes:\n\n\u201cThis is a bill to tackle a real problem that needs a comprehensive solution. I can see some things in this bill that I like, and I\u2019m impressed that the NCAA and college conferences, including those whose members include Virginia schools, have signaled their support. But this bill won\u2019t be ready for primetime until it strikes the right balance to protect the best interests of student athletes. For example, why does the bill cap compensation for student athletes while allowing those who make massive salaries and profits from their labors\u2014coaches, athletic directors, sports networks, online gambling operations\u2014to rake in obscene amounts of money with no cap? And why must student athletes\u2019 rights to avail themselves of legal remedies under state laws for mistreatment by their institutions be dramatically restricted? We should pass a version of this bill that keeps its many good provisions without unreasonably limiting the young people who create America\u2019s exciting college athletic environment.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-24T09:44:48Z", "2026-09-24T09:45:52Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-protect-students-from-physical-abuse-end-dangerous-corporal-punishment-practices-in-schools", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Students from Physical Abuse, End Dangerous Corporal Punishment Practices in Schools", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), introduced the Protecting Our Students in Schools Act, legislation to federally prohibit corporal punishment in any school that receives federal funding.\n\n\u201cNo child should ever face physical abuse, including at school,\u201d said Senator Kaine. \u201cIt's time to end the outdated and harmful practice of corporal punishment in every school across the country. Instead of relying on fear, our schools should provide safe, supportive learning environments that students need to thrive and be healthy.\u201d\n\nThe administration of corporal punishment\u2014defined as the intentional infliction of physical pain upon a student for disciplinary purposes\u2014constitutes an unacceptable educational practice that remains prevalent across multiple jurisdictions. Empirically validated research demonstrates that corporal punishment fails to achieve measurable behavioral corrections; rather, it introduces substantial risk of long-term physical and psychological trauma, diminishes academic performance, and severely undermines the institutional trust required for effective learning. By establishing a comprehensive statutory prohibition on these practices, this federal legislation enacts protections for students to ensure all public educational facilities maintain safe, non-violent environments.\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-23T09:46:14Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-expand-federal-support-for-magnet-schools", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand Federal Support for Magnet Schools", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, alongside Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Magnet Schools Accessibility, Growth, and Nonexclusionary Enrollment Transformation (MAGNET) Act, legislation to fuel the growth of magnet schools nationwide by improving and expanding the federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP).\n\n\u201cEvery student deserves an education that helps them reach their full potential, regardless of their background or their ZIP code,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cMagnet schools bring kids from many different communities together, giving them valuable opportunities to learn from one another and explore their interests. I\u2019m proud to support this legislation to expand access to magnet schools and help both new and existing programs build diverse classrooms in Virginia and across the country.\u201d\n\nMagnet schools are public schools designed to cater to different learning styles and attract a wide range of students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, and across ZIP codes. Over 3.5 million students nationwide currently attend magnet schools. The MAGNET Act would help counter a growing national trend of segregation by race and income in school districts by updating the MSAP grant to expand access to funding and promote diversity. The bill would also authorize the Supplemental Diversity Grant, a new grant program to be housed under MSAP to help preexisting magnet programs reach diversity-related goals.\n\nThe MAGNET Act is led in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-2).", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-gao-report-reviewing-implications-of-global-aging", "Kaine Statement on GAO Report Reviewing Implications of Global Aging", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees, released the following statement after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report requested by Kaine that reviewed the implications of global aging:\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad that the Government Accountability Office produced this report that I requested to better understand how the U.S. government is responding to this massive\u2014but under-appreciated\u2014global phenomenon, and to assess how aging populations will affect our security, economic competitiveness, and global health. At a time when the Trump-Vance Administration is chaotically slashing critical foreign assistance programs that have for decades served to maintain global stability and keep Americans safe, it\u2019s critical that we understand the implications of this demographic shift and thoughtfully incorporate the needs of aging communities in our foreign policy. As we work to restore U.S. foreign assistance programs and rebuild our alliances, this report underscores the need to develop a more comprehensive strategy to address global aging.\u201d\n\nThe share of the global population over 60 will double by 2050, and the total number of people over 80 will triple in that same time period.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-reed-coons-press-pentagon-dni-for-answers-on-reported-ai-failures-in-military-operations/", "Warner, Reed, Coons Press Pentagon, DNI for Answers on Reported AI Failures in Military Operations", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, called on Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to investigate reported failures involving the use of artificial intelligence in U.S. military and intelligence operations and provide relevant Inspectors General unrestricted access to examine the incidents.\n\nThe senators\u2019 letter follows public reports of an AI-targeting platform relying on outdated geospatial data in a kinetic strike in Minab, Iran, and an aborted military interdiction operation after AI-generated false information was included in disseminated U.S. intelligence.\n\n\u201cRecent events \u2013 including public reports of an AI-targeting platform relying on outdated geospatial data in a kinetic strike in Minab, Iran and a public report on an aborted military interdiction operation driven by potential AI-hallucination in disseminated intelligence by U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific \u2013 have given us growing concern about the extent to which agencies under your oversight have prioritized acceleration of AI capability adoption and \u2018experimentation\u2019 over effective governance,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nWarner, Reed, and Coons warned that reported AI failures in targeting and intelligence systems could lead to serious operational errors and erode confidence in U.S. intelligence and military actions.\n\n\u201cPublic reports that AI targeting platforms have repeatedly generated spurious outputs (based on outdated input data or outright hallucination) risk serious operational error, in addition to undermining the confidence of both the American public and international partners in the accuracy and reliability of U.S. intelligence and intelligence-informed kinetic actions,\u201d they continued.\n\nThe senators called for the reported incidents to be investigated by the relevant Inspectors General, warning against sacrificing safeguards in the push to rapidly deploy AI across national security missions.\n\n\u201cThese potential mistakes \u2013 against the backdrop of the Department of Defense\u2019s harassment of a leading U.S. AI vendor over the latter\u2019s reluctance to allow its products\u2019 use in fully-autonomous kinetic operations \u2013 deserve immediate investigation by relevant Inspectors General, with a higher degree of public transparency in the ultimate findings, given the impacts these perceived failures have on public confidence in our intelligence and warfighting missions,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nWarner, Reed, and Coons also stressed that AI can play an important role in intelligence analysis while requiring rigorous standards and human oversight, particularly when intelligence could lead to military action.\n\n\u201cWhile AI has appropriate applications in the analytic and other fields, strong tradecraft standards should ensure that no disseminated intelligence product contains AI-generated errors, particularly when such intelligence may serve as the impetus for a kinetic action against a nuclear-armed adversary,\u201d they wrote.\n\nThe senators pointed to the administration\u2019s rollback of AI governance measures, including the revocation of National Security Memorandum 25 and a Department of Defense AI strategy that characterizes governance policies as barriers to adoption.\n\n\u201cA \u2018Move Fast and Break Things\u2019 approach may serve for high-engagement memes on social media platforms, but it risks potentially grave operational miscalculations and represents a serious threat to morale; recruitment; and foreign perceptions on the thresholds, accuracy, and justness of U.S. military action,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nWarner, Reed, and Coons concluded by calling for a broader examination of potential AI-related failures beyond the two publicly reported incidents:\n\n\u201cWe urge you to promptly investigate this matter, providing relevant Inspectors General with unrestricted access to both instances this year in which media reports have suggested significant errors in AI-enabled targeting workflows, as well as any additional instances that may have so far not been publicly reported.\u201d\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-22T09:42:49Z", "2026-09-22T09:44:35Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-colleagues-urge-congressional-leaders-to-reject-trumps-proposed-federal-pay-freeze/", "Warner, Colleagues Urge Congressional Leaders to Reject Trump\u2019s Proposed Federal Pay Freeze", "2026-09-21", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and a coalition of 110 bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers urged congressional leaders to reject the Trump administration\u2019s proposed federal employee pay freeze and deliver a meaningful pay increase in 2027.\n\nThe lawmakers urged Congress to enact the 4.1 percent increase provided under the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, or FAIR Act, which would help federal pay keep pace with rising costs after two straight years of falling behind inflation. At a minimum, they wrote, civilian federal employees should receive the same 3.8 percent increase the Trump administration has proposed for federal law enforcement personnel.\n\nFederal employees received a 1 percent raise this year, well short of the 3.4 percent rise in consumer prices over the past 12 months.\n\nThe lawmakers wrote, \u201cThese challenges have come on top of just a 2 percent pay raise in 2025 and a 1 percent raise in 2026. Asking these public servants to now accept a pay freeze as the cost of living continues to rise amounts to an effective pay cut.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers continued, \u201cThe Administration\u2019s own proposal on federal pay increases demonstrates why such an increase is necessary. President Trump has proposed that federal law enforcement personnel receive a 3.8 percent pay increase to improve recruitment and retention, and has proposed a 5-7 percent pay increase for service members given the critical support they provide our nation. The same rationale applies to all federal workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal government must recruit and retain skilled employees to care for our veterans, protect our national security, inspect our food and medicine, conduct lifesaving research, process benefits, secure federal networks, and perform countless other critical functions,\u201d the lawmakers added.\n\nThe letter, signed by 12 senators and 98 House members, urges congressional leaders to include the increase in Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations legislation.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Leader Thune, Speaker Johnson, Leader Schumer, and Leader Jeffries,\n\nWe write to urge you to reject the Trump Administration\u2019s proposed pay freeze and work to provide federal\n\nemployees with a meaningful pay increase in 2027 that keeps pace with the rising cost of living.\n\nFederal employees have endured an extraordinarily difficult period marked by government shutdowns and\n\nrepeated efforts to strip away longstanding civil service protections, all while continuing to deliver the benefits\n\nand services Americans rely on every day. These challenges have come on top of just a 2 percent pay raise in\n\n2025 and a 1 percent raise in 2026. Asking these public servants to now accept a pay freeze as the cost of living\n\ncontinues to rise amounts to an effective pay cut.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s own proposal on federal pay increases demonstrates why such an increase is necessary.\n\nPresident Trump has proposed that federal law enforcement personnel receive a 3.8 percent pay increase to\n\nimprove recruitment and retention, and has proposed a 5-7 percent pay increase for service members given the critical support they provide our nation. The same rationale applies to all federal workers.\n\nThe federal government must recruit and retain skilled employees to care for our veterans, protect our national\n\nsecurity, inspect our food and medicine, conduct lifesaving research, process benefits, secure federal networks,\n\nand perform countless other critical functions. If competitive compensation is necessary to recruit and retain\n\nqualified federal law enforcement officers, it is also necessary to recruit and retain qualified employees\n\nthroughout the federal government.\n\nWithout a meaningful pay raise, we risk further exacerbating staffing challenges at critical agencies like the\n\nDepartment of Health and Human Services, whose employees conduct lifesaving medical research, monitor\n\ndisease outbreaks, administer critical health programs, and protect the safety of our food and medicines. HHS\n\nhas already lost thousands of employees, including significant reductions at the FDA, reducing the agency\u2019s\n\ncapacity to conduct inspections essential to Americans\u2019 wellbeing. At a time when families are seeing repeated\n\nfood recalls and outbreaks, further weakening the federal workforce responsible for inspecting facilities and\n\nidentifying contamination could put even greater strain on our food-safety system.\n\nA pay cut could similarly exacerbate staffing challenges across other mission-critical agencies. At the Social\n\nSecurity Administration, further workforce losses could mean longer waits for seniors, people with disabilities,\n\nand families seeking benefits. And at agencies responsible for our national security, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a pay freeze could make it even harder to recruit and retain the highly\n\nskilled cybersecurity professionals needed to protect federal networks and critical infrastructure. That is\n\nespecially concerning as cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, including our energy, water,\n\ntransportation, and communications systems, continue to grow more frequent and sophisticated.\n\nAt a minimum, federal civilian employees should receive the same 3.8 percent pay increase the Administration\n\nhas proposed for federal law enforcement. We strongly believe, however, that Congress should go further and\n\nprovide the 4.1 percent increase called for in the FAIR Act, which would help federal pay keep pace with rising\n\ncosts while ensuring the government can continue to attract and retain the workforce necessary to serve the\n\nAmerican people.\n\nThere\u2019s precedent for Congress taking action when a President fails to ensure federal employee pay keeps pace\n\nwith the cost of living. In 2019, after President Trump initially froze federal employee pay, Congress rejected\n\nthe freeze and enacted a pay increase. Congress should once again exercise its authority to ensure federal\n\nemployees receive a fair and meaningful adjustment to their pay in 2027.\n\nWe therefore urge you to include a federal employee pay increase of no less than 3.8 percent, and preferably the 4.1 percent provided under the FAIR Act, in Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations legislation.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-whistleblower-disclosure-warner-kaine-demand-investigation-into-dhs-data-misconduct-in-virginia-nationwide/", "Following Whistleblower Disclosure, Warner, Kaine Demand Investigation Into DHS Data Misconduct in Virginia, Nationwide", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), joined by 16 other Senate Democrats, today demanded the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) immediately open an independent investigation into the wrongdoings detailed in a recent whistleblower\u2019s disclosure. The disclosure alleges that DHS is directing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers to impersonate voters in Virginia and across the country in violation of state laws to access online voter data as a part of its \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative,\u201d an effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for President Trump\u2019s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud.\n\nIn Virginia, individuals using the state\u2019s online voter portal must certify that they are accessing their own voter registration record and are warned that accessing another voter\u2019s record is unlawful. According to the whistleblower, USCIS officers were nevertheless directed to falsely certify that they were the individual voters whose records they were searching. On Thursday, Virginia\u2019s Attorney General Jay Jones warned DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that officers\u2019 actions, specifically those who checked a box falsely attesting they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records, \u201cpotentially violates several Virginia laws.\u201d\n\nThe senators wrote in their letter, \u201cThe DHS Office of Inspector General\u2019s mission is \u2018[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS.\u2019 We urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower\u2019s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.\u201d\n\nThe senators highlighted additional allegations in the whistleblower\u2019s disclosure, including that USCIS personnel were directed to create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as \u201cTECS records\u201d based on potentially unreliable information; required to meet performance quotas of reviewing 40 subjects per day with minimal training; and instructed to rely on DHS data of dubious origin that agency officials reportedly described as having been augmented with \u201csupplemental magic.\u201d\n\nThe senators also urged the OIG to take immediate action to prevent additional wrongdoing, writing, \u201cIn addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.\u201d\n\n\u201cGiven the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary,\u201d the senators concluded. \u201cFinally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary\u2019s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe DHS whistleblower\u2019s disclosure has also prompted outside watchdog organizations to conduct their own investigations into the Trump administration\u2019s wrongdoings, including an investigation launched by American Oversight to obtain DHS and USCIS records under the Freedom of Information Act regarding the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d and alleged DHS directives to violate state laws.\n\nThe full letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Inspector General Cuffari:\n\nOn September 8, 2026, a protected whistleblower made the attached disclosure to the Senate (the \u201cDisclosure\u201d) that reveals serious allegations of illegal and inappropriate activities within the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s (\u201cDHS\u201d or \u201cthe Department\u201d) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (\u201cUSCIS\u201d) Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate (\u201cFDNS\u201d).\n\nThe attached Disclosure confirms that the Department and USCIS leadership have abruptly diverted FDNS from its mission and directed personnel to an \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d using highly questionable data and methods to identify purported unlawful voters. DHS and USCIS training materials admit these investigations will include U.S. citizens, some of whom will have federal law enforcement records created about them based on unreliable data and rushed reviews by officers held to quotas. This initiative is placing FDNS employees in an impossible position. They are being directed to take actions in the weeks before the election that this whistleblower believes are against the law and Department policy, and which will harm Americans.\n\nThe whistleblower\u2019s Disclosure includes compelling evidence of wrongdoing by agency leadership including:\n\n(1) USCIS personnel have been directed to access sensitive voter information in violation of state laws prohibiting unauthorized access to individual voter records, including to make false certifications and affirmations;\n\n(2) USCIS personnel are under significant pressure from headquarters to enter federal\n\nTECS records about individuals that have a high risk of being false, potentially harming thousands of people in likely violation of federal privacy requirements;\n\n(3) Agency leadership is imposing reckless quotas that demand USCIS personnel investigate 40 subjects per day with minimal training, a rate of roughly 12 minutes per subject, with leadership tracking agent output in an attempt to complete this rushed investigation by September 12; and\n\n(4) DHS is providing USCIS personnel with DHS data of dubious origin, including voter data, which they are required to accept as accurate despite the admission that the data has been augmented with \u201csupplemental magic.\u201d\n\nThe whistleblower\u2019s Disclosure states that rank-and-file USCIS employees have serious concerns with the actions they have been directed to perform as part of the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative.\u201d When the whistleblower and others raised concerns about potential violations of state law, they were advised that they would not be held \u201cpersonally liable\u201d, implying an awareness of potential illegality by agency leadership. All these claims require a thorough and objective investigation, including whether authority exists to collect and use all relevant data, free of interference by agency leadership.\n\nThis initiative plainly appears to be a political exercise that poses risks to national security. Over the past several weeks, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and other outlets have reported on the intense White House pressure on DHS and other agencies to back up the President\u2019s baseless claims of widespread election fraud. According to these reports, former USCIS officials are concerned that \u201cwork screening immigration applications for false information and possible security threats has effectively ground to a halt.\u201d\n\nConcerningly, the launch of the \u201cUnlawful Voter Initiative\u201d also occurred immediately following an FDNS reorganization that may have made these highly questionable practices easier to implement quickly across the agency. Your investigation should also examine whether this reorganization contributed to the management failures involved in this initiative.\n\nThe DHS Office of Inspector General\u2019s (OIG) mission is \u201cto provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS.\u201d We urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower\u2019s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity. Failure to do so risks compounding the serious concerns about these activities within the FDNS workforce and the lack of integrity of FDNS, USCIS, and DHS leadership. In addition to your investigation, please use every tool at your disposal, including a management alert, to address this immediately and prevent any additional wrongdoing or misuse of agency personnel and resources while the investigation is ongoing.\n\nGiven the time-sensitive nature of these claims, and the potential for misuse of this information for political purposes in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections, please provide weekly updates on the status of your investigation to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, and Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Finally, recognizing the special provisions concerning the DHS Secretary\u2019s authority over certain DHS OIG audits and investigations, if the Secretary refuses to cooperate with an audit or investigation, please notify us immediately.\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-statement-on-the-trump-administrations-repeal-of-an-executive-order-to-clean-up-the-chesapeake-bay/", "Warner, Kaine Statement on the Trump Administration\u2019s Repeal of an Executive Order to Clean Up the Chesapeake Bay", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement on the Trump administration\u2019s repeal of an executive order to clean up the Chesapeake Bay:\n\n\u201cFor more than a decade-and-a-half, the federal government has worked alongside states and local communities to restore the Chesapeake Bay and protect one of Virginia\u2019s greatest natural and economic resources. The Trump administration\u2019s decision to repeal the 2009 executive order, which to this point has maintained considerable bipartisan support, dismantles a longstanding framework for coordinating that federal effort, including work to expand scientific research, assess the impacts of climate change, and tackle pollution from agricultural runoff and stormwater.\n\n\u201cRestoring the Chesapeake Bay is critical to the Commonwealth\u2019s seafood and tourism industries, thousands of good-paying jobs, educational opportunities, and Virginians\u2019 recreation. Rolling back efforts to clean up the Bay is dangerous not just for our environment but for our economy. We should be building on the progress we\u2019ve made instead of walking away from a framework that has guided restoration efforts for more than 15 years.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-schatz-murray-shaheen-reed-coons-statement-on-deadly-iranian-wedding-strike/", "Warner, Schatz, Murray, Shaheen, Reed, Coons Statement on Deadly Iranian Wedding Strike", "2026-09-18", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on an apparent errant U.S. strike on a home hosting a wedding in Kuhestak, Iran on September 1st:\n\n\u201cReports that a strike on a home in Kuhestak, Iran that killed four civilians, including women and a child, and injured more than 60 others was likely caused by an errant U.S. bomb are shocking and deeply troubling. This is not the first time that U.S. strikes have resulted in civilian casualties during this war of choice, and it once again raises grave concerns about the Trump administration\u2019s disregard for protecting civilian life. This incident must be fully and impartially investigated, and the full investigation must be shared publicly with Congress and the American people. We have yet to receive the full investigation of the Pentagon\u2019s inquiry into a February 28th strike on a school in Minab that killed 175 civilians, mostly children. The public deserves to know what led to these failures and what is being done to prevent similar incidents in the future. This war must end.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-wyden-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-cybersecurity-standards-for-american-health-care-system/", "Warner, Wyden Introduce Bill to Strengthen Cybersecurity Standards for American Health Care System", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today reintroduced the Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act, legislation to improve cybersecurity in our health care system amid a growing wave of cyberattacks that are compromising Americans\u2019 sensitive information and disrupting access to critical care across the country.\n\n\u201cCyberattacks on our health care system compromise Americans\u2019 most sensitive personal information, delay essential medical care, and put lives at risk,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cAs cybercriminals ramp up their attacks on hospitals and health care providers, it\u2019s becoming increasingly clear that voluntary standards are not enough to protect Americans\u2019 health, safety, and privacy. This legislation would establish strong, commonsense cybersecurity protocols for health care entities, while also getting resources to rural and underserved hospitals to strengthen their defenses and protect the patients who depend on them.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmericans share their most sensitive personal information with their health care providers, and in return they expect every effort to be made to keep it secure,\u201d said Sen. Wyden. \u201cThe frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks has dramatically increased in every part of the health care system, and will only grow. Our bill creates national cybersecurity standards for health care providers and devotes resources, especially in rural and underserved areas, to ensure every Americans\u2019 medical information is secure. Congress cannot wait to act until another catastrophic cyberattack compromises the safety and privacy of American families\u2019 most personal information.\u201d\n\nThe American health care system is particularly at risk for cyberattacks due to its size, technological dependence, collection of sensitive personal information, and unique vulnerability to disruptions.\n\nSpecifically, the Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish, enforce, and regularly update strong minimum cybersecurity standards for health care providers, health plans, clearinghouses, and business associates, with heightened standards for systemically important entities and entities critical to national security. The legislation would also require covered entities to develop continuity plans describing how it would resolve a tech failure or intrusion, conduct annual cybersecurity tests, and undergo independent security audits, while increasing fines for failure to meet security requirements and strengthening HHS oversight through annual cybersecurity audits. Additionally, this legislation would provide $1.3 billion to help hospitals strengthen their cybersecurity, including $800 million for hospitals in rural and underserved urban communities.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here. A summary of the bill can be found here.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-senate-democrats-demand-answers-from-hegseth-on-cost-of-iran-war/", "Warner, Senate Democrats Demand Answers From Hegseth on Cost of Iran War", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined 45 of his Senate colleagues in demanding a full accounting of the costs of the ongoing war with Iran. The letter also criticized the Department of Defense for withholding basic budget information from Congress and the American public even as U.S. casualties and taxpayer costs continue to increase.\n\nThe United States is now more than six months into a conflict President Trump initially said would last six weeks. Eighteen American servicemembers have been killed and more than 820 wounded, and over 50,000 troops are currently deployed to the Middle East. In the letter, the senators note that deployments, including for the USS Lincoln and the 82nd Airborne, have been repeatedly extended, and that their offices have heard directly from military families worried about loved ones serving in the conflict.\n\n\u201cMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cNow you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon\u2019s transparency record with past wartime practice, noting that Hegseth has briefed Congress only seven times in six months and held just eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the war began, compared to more than 70 press briefings in the first month of the Iraq War alone. The senators also criticized the administration\u2019s public supplemental funding request as a seven-page document offering only vague line items, in contrast to the detailed, hundred-page supplemental requests provided to Congress during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.\n\nThe senators are requesting that the Department of Defense provide:\n\nA detailed breakdown of all direct and indirect costs of military operations against Iran to date, including damage to installations, aircraft, and equipment.\n\nA full accounting of the $67 billion supplemental request, specifying what covers past costs versus future operations.\n\nA detailed plan for how the Pentagon intends to spend the remaining $34 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.\n\n\u201cDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent,\u201d continued the senators. \u201cCongress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by Sens. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nThe full text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth:\n\nWe write regarding the Department of Defense\u2019s failure to provide the American people with basic information about the war with Iran and its cost to taxpayers, even as the human costs of this war rise. More than six months into a war that the President said would last six weeks, 18 American servicemembers have been killed, more than 820 have been wounded, and more than 50,000 troops are currently deployed in the Middle East. Our troops have had their deployments extended repeatedly, as with the USS Lincoln and now the 82nd Airborne. Our offices have all received outreach from military families concerned about the safety and well-being of their loved ones serving and sacrificing in this war.\n\nMeanwhile, at home, American taxpayers have already paid an extra $100 billion out of their pockets for higher gas and diesel prices alone and at least another $60 billion in higher costs for things like groceries, mortgages, and plane tickets as a result of the war. Now you are asking that they pay again to fund a war of choice that Congress never authorized and the President launched with no strategic plan.\n\nBased on the little information provided, the Department says it has already spent $41.7 billion on this war, though unofficial estimates put that figure much higher. In June, you formally asked the American taxpayers to foot the bill for a $67 billion Iran war supplemental request. This is on top of the Pentagon\u2019s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. And all of these pending requests come while the Department still has $48 billion in unspent funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that the Pentagon has not accounted for.\n\nDespite your stated needs, you have repeatedly refused to share basic information that previous Administrations, both Republican and Democratic, provided to the American public and Congress during times of war. Donald Rumsfeld, as Secretary of Defense during the Iraq War, briefed Congress more than 20 times in the first six months of that war. In his briefings, he publicly provided granular detail about the war, including objectives; precise figures on damaged aircraft; quality of life for our troops\u2014down to the number of days it took to deliver mail; and detailed breakdowns for transportation, operational support, and munitions replenishment costs in the supplemental request. In stark contrast, you have briefed Congress just seven times in that same period and in those appearances refused to answer even basic questions about the objectives and cost of this war. Your Department has held only eight Pentagon press briefings or interviews since the start of the Iran War, compared to more than 70 in the first month of the Iraq War alone.\n\nThis lack of basic information extends to the Pentagon\u2019s spending. During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Congress regularly received public supplemental requests that were more than a hundred pages long, with detailed explanations for how funding would be used, down to the number of barrels of fuel. In contrast, your public $67 billion Iran war supplemental request was a thin, seven-page document with only vague descriptions, such as \u201c$1.2 billion for Administration priorities.\u201d\n\nDespite asking for tens of billions of additional taxpayer dollars, you have so far failed to provide basic information on how this money has and will be spent. Congress must have access to this information to carry out our oversight responsibilities. It is the bare minimum that any American would expect in balancing their own household budget.\n\nYou shared this belief before entering government. In 2012, you criticized the Department\u2019s ability to \u201cshift literally hundreds of millions of dollars from program to program with little accountability.\u201d You added, \u201c[r]eforming the culture at the Pentagon to bring greater spending accountability will be difficult, but it\u2019s long overdue.\u201d And just last year, you said that \u201cthe American taxpayers deserve\u201d to know where their money goes, \u201chow it\u2019s spent and make sure it\u2019s spent wisely.\u201d We agree.\n\nGiven this, we request the following information to inform the Senate\u2019s decision-making by September 30, 2026.\n\nCost of the Iran War: Please provide a detailed cost breakdown for the cost of military operations against Iran to date, inclusive of all direct and indirect costs attributable to the conflict. This should include damage to military installations, aircraft, and equipment; cost to refurbish deployed ships and aircraft; and expected benefits for veterans.\n\n$67 Billion Iran War Supplemental: Please provide a breakdown of the Administration\u2019s supplemental request, including a detailed accounting for each major funding category and estimated expenses for the war in Iran. This breakdown should identify which portions of the request are intended to reimburse costs already incurred, which are intended to fund anticipated future operations, and which are unrelated to military operations against Iran. Please also note potential future funding requirements not included in the request, such as repairing military installations.\n\nOne Big Beautiful Bill Act Funding: Please provide a detailed accounting of how the $48 billion remaining from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be spent, on what timeline, and whether any of these funds will support operations related to the Iran war.\n\nThe American people elected us to be responsible stewards of their tax dollars. The information we are requesting is the bare minimum required for us to carry out that responsibility. We look forward to receiving your response.", 1, "2026-09-19T09:11:33Z", "2026-09-19T09:12:45Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-schiff-file-oman-war-powers-resolution", "Kaine & Schiff File Oman War Powers Resolution", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) filed a War Powers Resolution to prohibit the use of the U.S. Armed Forces in hostilities in or against Oman. Last month, President Donald Trump threatened to \u201cbomb the shit\u201d out of Oman if it interferes with the United States\u2019 blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump calls himself the \u2018Peace President,\u2019 but he has ordered military strikes in more countries around the world than any President in recent history,\u201d said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. \u201cThe American people don\u2019t want more war, but instead of listening to them, President Trump is threatening to bomb Oman. The use of the U.S. military has a time and a place, but President Trump\u2019s chaotic and expansive use of the military isn\u2019t making Americans more secure. All it\u2019s doing is raising costs, hurting servicemembers and their families, depleting our munitions stockpile, killing innocent civilians, and distracting us from real threats posed by China and Russia. I hope my colleagues will join us in trying to prevent the Trump-Vance Administration from stumbling from one blunder into another.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Trump threatened, and then launched a war with Iran. Donald Trump threatened, and then launched strikes against Venezuela. And last month, Donald Trump threatened strikes against Oman \u2013 his next potential target for yet another foreign war,\u201d said Schiff. \u201cCongress has not authorized any of these commitments of our armed forces. And this resolution will make it clear that the American people and the U.S. Senate reject any additional deployment of our servicemembers for new wars around the globe.\u201d\n\nFull text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-17T09:53:00Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/as-the-administration-continues-dangerous-effort-to-exploit-federal-workers-health-records-warner-and-schiff-demand-end-to-violation-of-privacy/", "As the Administration Continues Dangerous Efforts to Exploit Federal Workers\u2019 Health Records, Warner and Schiff Demand End to Violation of Privacy", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following the White House Office of Personnel Management\u2019s (OPM) failure to suspend their proposed collection of the personal medical records of millions of federal workers, retirees, and their families to be weaponized in employment actions, U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) are leading their colleagues in urging the administration to end this illegal effort and demanding safeguards to protect the data of federal workers.\n\nEarlier this year, Warner, Schiff, and 17 senators urged the administration to reverse course on the dangerous decision to seek unprecedented access to personal medical records. In addition to OPM\u2019s failure to address the Senators\u2019 inquiry, the System of Records Notice (SORN), published in June, confirms their intention to collect identifiable data of federal workers.\n\n\u201cThe modified SORN does not resolve the fundamental privacy, legal, and constitutional concerns raised in our initial letter regarding a federal personnel agency maintaining a longitudinal repository of highly sensitive health information on more than eight million people\u2026Most concerningly, the SORN states that OPM retains the right to re-identify pseudonymized records. In combination, these features create an extraordinarily detailed longitudinal health history that remains linkable to a specific person,\u201d the senators wrote in a new letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor.\n\nThe senators point to the administration\u2019s clear intent to target vulnerable communities by using sensitive health information in employment actions, including the hiring and firing of federal workers.\n\nThe SORN revealed OPM is \u201cutilizing ZIP code, birth year, provider, service dates, diagnoses, procedures, and drug information to reveal highly specific patterns of care.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe support responsible efforts to protect the integrity of federal health-benefit programs. However, OPM\u2019s proposals create an unnecessarily broad, decades-long, re-identifiable medical history of millions of workers, retirees, spouses, children, and other family members. We strongly urge OPM to suspend further implementation while these concerns are addressed and to work with Congress, federal employees and retirees, health plans, privacy and civil-rights experts, reproductive-health advocates, and other affected stakeholders to establish safeguards commensurate with the sensitivity of the information at issue,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nAdditionally, the senators are requesting that OPM brief Congress to provide answers on their work to protect federal workers\u2019 families and OPM\u2019s automated detection system, which has the potential to result in the wrongful targeting of individuals.\n\nIn addition to Sens. Warner and Schiff, the letter is signed by U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Director Kupor,\n\nWe write to express serious concern regarding the System of Records Notice (SORN) published by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on June 23, 2026, following OPM\u2019s December 2025 proposal to obtain detailed health claims information from millions of federal employees, retirees, and their family members. On April 20, 2026, we urged you to immediately reverse course on OPM\u2019s potentially illegal and dangerous decision to seek unprecedented access to personal medical records. The modified SORN does not resolve the fundamental privacy, legal, and constitutional concerns raised in our initial letter regarding a federal personnel agency maintaining a longitudinal repository of highly sensitive health information on more than eight million people.\n\nThe June SORN describes OPM\u2019s intent to use identifiable data of federal employees, retirees, and their family members to create person-level longitudinal records that include persistent unique identifiers. Furthermore, OPM would enable authorized personnel to retrieve records using member identifiers for approved linkage, validation, and data-quality activities. Most concerningly, the SORN states that OPM retains the right to re-identify pseudonymized records. In combination, these features create an extraordinarily detailed longitudinal health history that remains linkable to a specific person.\n\nWhile the SORN claims that pseudonymization will reduce some routine internal exposure, this change alone is not equivalent to eliminating identifiability. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) cautions that not all techniques that merely mask personal information provide sufficient de-identification and recommends that agencies evaluate re-identification risk, adopt measurable de-identification standards, and conduct governance and risk assessment around data releases and access. In the case of OPM\u2019s recent SORN, a stable identifier permits repeated encounters to be linked over time, utilizing ZIP code, birth year, provider, service dates, diagnoses, procedures, and drug information to reveal highly specific patterns of care. OPM itself maintains the mechanism needed to reconnect the pseudonymized history to the individual, negating any intended anonymization of data.\n\nThe Privacy Act requires federal agencies to only maintain information about an individual that is relevant and necessary to accomplish a purpose required by statute or Executive Order. OPM has failed to provide any justification for the collection of person-level data, instead relying on broad references to program integrity, fraud prevention, or cost evaluation. Additionally, the SORN concerningly permits disclosure of personal data to federal, state, local, territorial, tribal, or foreign law-enforcement authorities whenever OPM believes a record indicates a potential violation of criminal, civil, or regulatory law. It also permits disclosures to other federal agencies to address suspected fraud, waste, and abuse in programs under those agencies\u2019 purview. These overly broad allowances to share sensitive health information are extremely concerning, given this administration\u2019s clearly stated goals of targeting vulnerable populations.\n\nIn our April 20, 2026, letter, we specifically expressed concern that sensitive health information could be used in employment actions, including hiring, suitability determinations, appeals, reductions in force, disability accommodation requests, labor-management relations, and performance reviews. We have yet to receive a response to that letter. Furthermore, the June SORN fails to confirm that collected data will not be used for these purposes or related personnel actions. We urge OPM to make these prohibitions explicit and enforceable, extending those protections to matching claims information against personnel systems or other OPM databases.\n\nThe SORN also incorporates a National Archives and Records Administration Records Schedule directing OPM to retain Health Claims Records for 30 years, materially increasing the consequences of breach or misuse of highly sensitive health data. OPM has failed to explain why identifiable or re-identifiable longitudinal health claims must persist for decades. At a minimum, OPM should adopt a substantially shorter retention period for identifiable and pseudonymized person-level records, with automatic destruction of linkage keys after the operational need has expired to protect individuals\u2019 data.\n\nOPM\u2019s proposal covers not only federal employees but also annuitants, spouses, former spouses, family members, Postal Service employees and their families, certain tribal employees, separated employees, and former family members. Many of these individuals are not federal employees and have no employment relationship with OPM. Young-adult dependents may receive reproductive, sexual-health, mental-health, substance-use, or other sensitive services that should not be accessible to the federal government, regardless of their family member\u2019s Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage. OPM should preserve strict separation among family members\u2019 records and prohibit use of one individual\u2019s claims information to infer or investigate another family member\u2019s conduct.\n\nLastly, reports indicate that OPM intends to use claims data to identify potential anomalies and that records deemed suspicious by analysts may be referred to OPM\u2019s Office of Inspector General for investigation. However, claims data are not complete clinical narratives and may reflect rare diseases, complex pregnancy, disability, chronic illness, fragmented care, referral patterns, or coding practices rather than fraud. We are deeply concerned that adverse referral or action based solely on automated scoring or anomaly detection, without documented human review, will result in wrongful targeting of individuals with complex health needs and subject them to unwarranted administrative or law enforcement scrutiny.\n\nBefore OPM proceeds further with expanded collection and use of federal employee health data, we urge OPM to take the following actions:\n\nSuspend implementation of any expanded person-level collection under the modified SORN.\n\nPublish a field-by-field necessity analysis identifying the statutory purpose served by each data element and explaining why de-identified, aggregated, limited, or sampled data would be insufficient.\n\nUse genuinely de-identified or aggregated data by default and permit re-identification only after a documented, individualized showing of necessity, with dual authorization, immutable audit logging, and periodic independent review.\n\nAdopt an enforceable firewall prohibiting use, disclosure, matching, or linkage of claims data for any employment or personnel decisions.\n\nProhibit use or disclosure of OPM records to other federal agencies or any law enforcement entities, including \u2013 but not limited to \u2013 records related to an individual\u2019s for seeking, obtaining, providing, or assisting with lawful health care.\n\nProhibit the use or referral of any health information for unrelated civil, criminal, or regulatory enforcement, particularly when based merely on a potential violation of law and require senior-level legal and privacy review before any external law-enforcement disclosure.\n\nReevaluate the 30-year retention schedule for health claims records and adopt much shorter retention periods for identifiable and pseudonymized person-level data, including time-limited retention of re-identification keys.\n\nEstablish independent oversight and public transparency, including annual reporting on the number and categories of re-identifications, external disclosures, law-enforcement referrals, access-control violations, security incidents, and disciplinary actions for misuse.\n\nProvide specific protections for dependents and family members, including strict separation of family members\u2019 claims and a prohibition on using one family member\u2019s health data to infer or investigate another family member.\n\nDescribe the validation, human-review, error-correction, and anti-bias safeguards that will govern any automated or algorithmic fraud or anomaly detection before a person or provider is referred for investigation.\n\nWe support responsible efforts to protect the integrity of federal health-benefit programs. However, OPM\u2019s proposals create an unnecessarily broad, decades-long, re-identifiable medical history of millions of workers, retirees, spouses, children, and other family members. We strongly urge OPM to suspend further implementation while these concerns are addressed and to work with Congress, federal employees and retirees, health plans, privacy and civil-rights experts, reproductive-health advocates, and other affected stakeholders to establish safeguards commensurate with the sensitivity of the information at issue.\n\nWe request a written response and briefing by OPM on the office\u2019s efforts related to the above requested actions no later than September 25, 2026.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-17T09:52:05Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-applauds-passage-of-bill-to-help-workers-share-in-company-profits", "Kaine Applauds Passage of Bill to Help Workers Share In Company Profits", "2026-09-16", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement celebrating the passage of the Retire through Ownership Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with Senator Roger Marshall (R-KS) to facilitate the establishment and operation of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), which allow workers to directly share in the profits they help their company earn, leading to higher wages and more wealth-building:\n\n\u201cESOPs help workers make more money, build their retirement, and feel a sense of ownership and connection toward their places of work. I am glad that this bipartisan legislation, which will help companies to establish new ESOPs and operate existing ones, has now passed both houses of Congress. I encourage the President to sign this bill into law.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the legislation amends the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to clarify that companies operating in good faith can use long-standing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidance on valuing shares to determine \u201cadequate consideration\u201d in an ESOP transaction, thus eliminating a source of uncertainty for companies establishing or operating ESOPs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, joined Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in leading 20 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the U.S. Department of State to report to Congress on the growing violence in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years, with many more having been detained, but none have received justice from either the Israeli or U.S. government.\n\nThe senators\u2019 resolution would require the State Department to provide information related to the investigations of the killings of U.S. citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank. It would also demand an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically in relation to the detention of Palestinian children.\n\n\u201cThe violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level, and as a result more and more Americans and Palestinians are being killed and injured. These actions\u2014and the Israeli government\u2019s lack of response to this violence\u2014are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cFriends need to listen to each other, and my colleagues and I have repeatedly urged Israeli leaders to take firmer action to curtail illegal settlements in the West Bank, prosecute violent settlers, and protect Palestinian residents as well as American citizens living in or visiting the West Bank. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution to require the State Department to conduct a formal assessment and provide a report to Congress on the situation in the West Bank, in particular the safety and security of Americans.\u201d\n\nThe proposal draws upon Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, which allows Congress to file a privileged resolution that, if passed, would require the State Department to provide information on any country receiving U.S. security assistance and that country\u2019s observance of internationally recognized human rights. After introduction, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has 10 days to consider it in committee, and if it fails to do so, the resolution can be called up for a vote on the Senate floor. If the resolution passes the Senate, the Trump-Vance Administration must submit the report within 30 days or most security assistance authorized to Israel would be prohibited. If the resolution passes, and following the receipt of the State Department report, Congress may consider any necessary changes to U.S. security assistance to that country considering the information received. If the Administration declines or fails to submit the required report, the Administration\u2019s decision would prompt the termination of certain covered security assistance programs for Israel.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, Van Hollen, and Sanders, the resolution was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).\n\nFull text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-statement-on-clarity-act/", "Warner Statement on CLARITY Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after voting against cloture on the CLARITY Act:\n\n\u201cI have long believed Congress needs to establish clear rules of the road for digital assets that protect consumers, safeguard our national security, and give responsible companies the certainty they need to operate in the United States.\n\n\u201cBut we cannot pass landmark legislation governing this industry while allowing the President of the United States to personally profit from it. The president should not be able to use the power and influence of his office to benefit his own crypto holdings while his administration makes decisions that could directly affect their value. At a minimum, any serious crypto legislation must include meaningful ethics requirements that prevent the president and other senior government officials from profiting off the policies they oversee.\n\n\u201cI want to get to yes on responsible digital asset legislation, and no one has worked harder or spent more time engaging in good faith to try to get this done. We got close to resolving some of the toughest outstanding issues around law enforcement and national security, but ultimately, the failure to address this fundamental conflict of interest made it impossible for me to support moving forward. That is why I voted no today.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-statement-on-kennedy-center-closure/", "Warner Statement on Kennedy Center Closure", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), ex officio member of the Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, released the following statement on today\u2019s board meeting:\n\n\u201cThe John F. Kennedy Center has an important relationship with Congress; it was established by and receives vital funding to maintain the building from Congress.\n\n\u201cIt is no surprise that the Center has its own challenges, but its leadership and the president should be working with Congress to address and remedy those problems. Instead, President Trump has turned a national monument into another one of his vanity projects.\n\n\u201cWith the president\u2019s handpicked board voting to close the Center immediately, we are losing one of the country\u2019s premier arts and cultural institutions. It is a shame the president would rather close the Center because it cannot have his name on the building, rather than work with Congress to renovate the building.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-statement-on-the-protect-college-sports-act/", "Warner Statement on the Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after voting for the Protect College Sports Act:\n\n\u201cCollege athletics provide incredible opportunities for student-athletes, serve as a critical pipeline for Team USA, and bring beloved traditions to communities across Virginia. I\u2019ve long understood their importance \u2013 as governor, I worked to make sure Virginia Tech had a place in the newly expanded ACC.\n\n\u201cThe current disorder in college sports isn\u2019t serving athletes, schools, or fans well. This bill isn\u2019t perfect, but it provides needed stability while protecting athletes\u2019 ability to earn compensation from their name, image, and likeness, safeguarding scholarships, expanding guaranteed access to health care, and protecting athletes from predatory agents. I\u2019m also glad to see strong protections for women\u2019s and Olympic sports, and I believe this bill represents an important step toward a fairer and more sustainable future for college athletics.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-subramanyam-bill-designating-george-c-marshall-house-as-a-national-park-service-affiliated-area-headed-to-the-presidents-desk", "Kaine, Subramanyam Bill Designating George C. Marshall House as a National Park Service Affiliated Area Headed to the President\u2019s Desk", "2026-09-15", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10)'s legislation designating the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as an affiliated area under the National Park Service (NPS) has passed the House of Representatives and Senate. The bill now heads to President Trump\u2019s desk for his signature.\n\n\u201cI am glad to see that my legislation with Representative Subramanyam to designate General George C. Marshall\u2019s Dodona Manor as a National Park Service Affiliated Area has passed the House and is headed to the President\u2019s desk,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis will ensure that the site is preserved for future generations, honor General Marshall\u2019s legacy, and present an opportunity for the public to learn more about this period of our history.\u201d \u201cFor hundreds of years, Dodona Manor has been a pillar of the Northern Virginia community. I am proud to honor George C. Marshall\u2019s legacy and Dodona Manor\u2019s significance by ensuring the property is preserved for many years to come. Virginians, Americans, and visitors alike can witness the history and educational programming of the International Center right here in Leesburg. I am grateful to work alongside Senator Kaine to deliver for Virginians and looking forward to continuing to visit such a historic landmark,\u201d said Subramanyam.\n\nKaine and Subramanyam introduced the bill in February 2025.\n\n\u201cWe are deeply grateful to Representative Subramanyam and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership in advancing this legislation to preserve and elevate General Marshall\u2019s legacy,\u201d said Paul Michaels, Chairman of the George C. Marshall International Center Board of Directors. \u201cThis measure marks a historic milestone for Dodona Manor and is wonderful news for the Leesburg and Loudoun County community. The increased visibility and expertise that come with National Park Service affiliation will help preserve this nationally significant landmark and help ensure future generations can learn from General Marshall\u2019s extraordinary character and example.\u201d\n\nThe official designation would be the final step in many years of advocacy for recognition of Dodona Manor as a unit of the National Park System. Designation as an NPS affiliated area would provide new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall\u2019s legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming.\n\nGeneral Marshall dedicated his life to public service, holding pivotal roles such as Chief of Staff of the Army during America's entry into World War II, Secretary of State where he designed the transformative Marshall Plan to rebuild post-war Europe, and Secretary of Defense during the early stages of the Korean War. In 1941, while serving as Army Chief of Staff, he purchased Dodona Manor, where he lived until his passing in 1959.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-statement-on-report-that-dhs-personnel-were-told-to-lie-to-illegally-access-virginians-personal-information", "Warner & Kaine Statement on Report That DHS Personnel Were Told to Lie to Illegally Access Virginians\u2019 Personal Information", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding a report that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees were instructed to lie in order to unlawfully obtain Virginians\u2019 personal information, by falsely attesting that they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records:\n\n\u201cAs much as President Trump and his cronies insist otherwise, working for the federal government doesn\u2019t mean you can break the law. The Virginia Department of Elections is clear: lying about one\u2019s identity in order to access Virginians\u2019 personal information is illegal, and any DHS officials who violated that code should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it\u2019s no surprise that a President who is thin-skinned enough to incite a deadly riot to overturn a free and fair election he lost would lead an Administration that commits crimes in order to look for virtually non-existent voter fraud. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure citizens are not wrongfully purged from voting rolls and to protect Virginians\u2019 personal information and the security of our elections from this deranged Administration.\u201d\n\nVirginians are able to check their registration status online, but must certify and affirm that they are checking their own registration in order to do so. Per the Virginia elections webpage, searchers are specifically asked to acknowledge that it is unlawful to access the record of any other voter, punishable as computer fraud under Va. Code \u00a7 18.2-152.3.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-15T09:50:21Z", "2026-09-15T09:52:05Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-statement-on-report-that-dhs-personnel-were-told-to-lie-to-illegally-access-virginians-personal-information/", "Warner & Kaine Statement on Report That DHS Personnel Were Told to Lie to Illegally Access Virginians\u2019 Personal Information", "2026-09-14", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding a report that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees were instructed to lie in order to unlawfully obtain Virginians\u2019 personal information, by falsely attesting that they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records:\n\n\u201cAs much as President Trump and his cronies insist otherwise, working for the federal government doesn\u2019t mean you can break the law. The Virginia Department of Elections is clear: lying about one\u2019s identity in order to access Virginians\u2019 personal information is illegal, and any DHS officials who violated that code should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it\u2019s no surprise that a President who is thin-skinned enough to incite a deadly riot to overturn a free and fair election he lost would lead an Administration that commits crimes in order to look for virtually non-existent voter fraud. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure citizens are not wrongfully purged from voting rolls and to protect Virginians\u2019 personal information and the security of our elections from this deranged Administration.\u201d\n\nVirginians are able to check their registration status online, but must certify and affirm that they are checking their own registration in order to do so. Per the Virginia elections webpage, searchers are specifically asked to acknowledge that it is unlawful to access the record of any other voter, punishable as computer fraud under Va. Code \u00a7 18.2-152.3.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-16T09:43:13Z", "2026-09-16T09:44:22Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-25th-anniversary-of-september-11th-attacks", "Kaine Statement On 25th Anniversary of September 11th Attacks", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001:\n\n\u201cThis is a solemn anniversary for all Americans, but it\u2019s especially close to home for the Commonwealth\u2014nearly 200 people died that day at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77, and Virginia, as one of the most military-connected states in the country, had a disproportionate number of her sons and daughters deploy overseas after the attacks. Twenty-five years later, I\u2019m praying for the families of the nearly 3,000 Americans who died, the first responders who heroically put themselves in harm\u2019s way in the aftermath, the thousands of Americans who suffered disability or death because of the dangerous recovery work, the tens of thousands of servicemembers who answered the call and defended our nation in the War on Terror, and the millions of ordinary Americans who pulled together to try and help the nation heal. As Governor of Virginia, I went to the deployments, the homecomings, the funerals, and the wakes of many of our brave servicemembers\u2014and it has made me even more dedicated to, as a U.S. Senator, ensure our veterans, servicemembers, and their families have the resources, health care, and benefits they have earned, to keep our nation secure, and to keep our troops from having to risk their lives unless absolutely necessary.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-colleagues-press-rfk-jr-on-diversion-of-taxpayer-public-health-funding-to-promote-his-personal-brand/", "Warner, Colleagues Press RFK Jr. on Diversion of Taxpayer Public Health Funding to Promote His Personal Brand", "2026-09-11", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) pressed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for answers regarding his use of time and resources for vanity projects as he fails to address the public health challenges facing Americans. While a record number of Americans are contracting measles, falling sick from parasites found in their food, and struggling to afford the health care that they need, Secretary Kennedy is diverting taxpayer dollars for self-promotion projects such as a podcast and cooking show to highlight his own interests, hobbies, and brand. The effort was joined by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as well as U.S. Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM).\n\n\u201cOn a bipartisan basis, Congress has provided your Department with targeted resources to fight outbreaks of disease\u2026 However, it appears that you are not using this Office or comparable Department resources to address ongoing public health crises,\u201d the senators wrote in a request for records and information to Secretary Kennedy.\u201cInstead, you appear to be directing taxpayer dollars and official federal resources to produce vanity projects. These self-promotion projects include a new podcast and a new show that are each centered around your personal brand instead of the responsibility of your Department to protect the health of all Americans.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cOn \u2018The Secretary Kennedy Podcast,\u2019 you appear to be using official HHS resources to discuss topics such as \u2018biohacking\u2019 while ignoring the pressing outbreaks that Americans are facing every day. You also appear to be spending official HHS resources to personally host a cooking show called \u2018The Real Food Show.\u2019 A recent episode of this show, paid for with taxpayer dollars, featured you discussing \u2018The Secret to the PERFECT Omelet.\u2019 Both projects are on official government websites and state that they were produced by the Department of Health and Human Services.\u201d\n\nIn the letter to Secretary Kennedy, the senators pressed for answers on how much of his Department\u2019s time and taxpayer funds have been spent on projects such his \u201cThe Real Food Show,\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast.\u201d The letter also requests answers on how much of the Department\u2019s time and funding is being spent to respond to growing public health emergencies, such as the measles outbreak, including how much of Secretary Kennedy\u2019s own time is actually dedicated to addressing these public health threats.\n\nUnder Secretary Kennedy\u2019s leadership, the United States is facing multiple life-threatening public health challenges. More Americans have contracted measles during this current administration than in the past 24 years combined. Additionally, as many as 20,000 people have been infected by cyclospora, a parasite that causes severe gastrointestinal distress, and two people have died as a result of this uncontrolled outbreak.\n\nRead the full text of the letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Kennedy,\n\nRecord numbers of Americans are contracting measles, falling sick with a parasite, and struggling to afford the health care that they need. At the same time, you are failing to carry out your duties as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). We are concerned that, instead of addressing the struggles that Americans face today in trying to keep their families safe and healthy, you are using taxpayer dollars to promote your personal brand.\n\nIn just the past few months, the United States has faced life-threatening public health challenges that you have failed to adequately address. Since President Trump was sworn in, more than 4,600 Americans \u2013 mostly children \u2013 have been infected by measles, and three have died. During this Administration, we have seen more cases of measles in the United States than in the previous 24 years combined. Yet you have made nearly no effort to help families protect their children from the life-threatening impacts of measles, and infections continue to skyrocket: in August of 2026, we have already surpassed the total number of measles cases reported in all of 2025. In fact, this is a predictable consequence of your longstanding crusade against vaccines.\n\nWhile measles outbreaks continue to make children sick in every region of the country, you are also failing to protect Americans from historic outbreaks of foodborne illness. As many as 20,000 people have reported infections from cyclospora, a parasite that causes severe gastrointestinal distress, and two people have now died as a result of this uncontrolled outbreak. As your Department fails to get a handle on cyclospora, people in at least 32 states have also been infected by salmonella, and dozens have been hospitalized.\n\nOn a bipartisan basis, Congress has provided your Department with targeted resources to fight outbreaks of disease. For example, the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs has received significant funding to lead national communications campaigns about public health emergencies. However, it appears that you are not using this Office or comparable Department resources to address ongoing public health crises.\n\nInstead, you appear to be directing taxpayer dollars and official federal resources to produce vanity projects. These self-promotion projects include a new podcast and a new show that are each centered around your personal brand instead of the responsibility of your Department to protect the health of all Americans. On \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast,\u201d you appear to be using official HHS resources to discuss topics such as \u201cbiohacking\u201d while ignoring the pressing outbreaks that Americans are facing every day. You also appear to be spending official HHS resources to personally host a cooking show called \u201cThe Real Food Show.\u201d A recent episode of this show, paid for with taxpayer dollars, featured you discussing \u201cThe Secret to the PERFECT Omelet.\u201d Both projects are on official government websites and state that they were produced by the Department of Health and Human Services.\n\nTo better understand how you are allocating the Department\u2019s resources, we request answers to the following questions by September 30, 2026:\n\nHow much official time have you spent in meetings, briefings, and public engagements related to coordinating a response to address the following outbreaks?\n\nMeasles\n\nCyclospora\n\nSalmonella\n\nHantavirus\n\nEbola\n\nHow much has the Department spent on efforts to respond to the measles outbreak and promote vaccination against measles?\n\nPlease describe the efforts and resources that you have dedicated to hiring staff at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the following areas of expertise:\n\nEpidemiology\n\nInfectious disease\n\nLaboratory science\n\nPublic health informatics and surveillance\n\nPublic health communication\n\nHow much official time have you personally spent in producing the \u201cThe Real Food Show\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast?\u201d\n\nHow many federal employees are working on \u201cThe Real Food Show\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast\u201d, and how many hours are staff spending on these projects?\n\nWhat are the total budget and expenditures thus far for the Department\u2019s production and promotion of \u201cThe Real Food Show\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast\u201d?\n\nFrom where in the HHS operating budget is funding being drawn down to obtain the materials, production resources, staff resources, and promotion budget for these shows?\n\nPlease provide all communications, including contracts, statements of work, invoices, and payment records, between the Office of the Secretary and any production companies, media consultants, personal branding vendors, or third-party contractors involved in the \u201cThe Real Food Show\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast.\u201d\n\nDid the Department\u2019s ethics officials review and approve the use of taxpayer dollars for \u201cThe Real Food Show\u201d and \u201cThe Secretary Kennedy Podcast?\u201d If so, please provide all associated opinions, guidance, memoranda, and conditions.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-12T09:02:30Z", "2026-09-12T09:03:27Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-warner-unveil-legislation-to-reduce-traffic-improve-safety-at-dca", "Kaine & Warner Unveil Legislation to Reduce Traffic, Improve Safety at DCA", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) announced the DCA Air Safety Act, legislation that would improve safety in the constrained and complex airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after last year\u2019s deadly midair collision that claimed 67 lives. The bill would cap hourly arrivals, reduce the clustering of flights, and remove 30 slots\u2014thereby addressing issues that contributed to the January 2025 disaster. The legislation would also mandate reports to Congress, public comment, and expert input to ensure that implementation is occurring in a manner that best improves safety.\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the midair collision that killed 67 people last year near DCA, Congress must do more to ensure that the highest level of safety regulations is in place to prevent future tragedies,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cWhile I support various proposals to help do that, it\u2019s obvious that any set of reforms that doesn\u2019t address overcrowding at this airport\u2014which sits along restricted airspace and is already operating beyond capacity\u2014is dangerously insufficient. That\u2019s why this legislation lays out a commonsense plan to decrease hourly arrivals and reduce flight clustering and overall traffic, and we urge our colleagues to put safety first and join us in getting it across the finish line as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe owe it to the victims of the fatal mid-air collision near DCA and their loved ones to take action and prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. DCA\u2019s overburdened runway is the busiest in the country, and the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s investigation of the January 2025 crash underscored the serious risks posed by unsustainable traffic levels at the airport. Yet since the collision, there have been numerous near misses in DCA airspace,\u201d said Warner. \u201cFor years, Senator Kaine and I have been warning that DCA is overcrowded and have fought to reduce the number of slot exemptions at the airport. The risks are now painfully clear, and Congress cannot wait for another tragedy to act. I urge my colleagues to quickly support this legislation to cap hourly arrivals, reduce flight clustering, decrease slot exemptions, and put passenger safety first.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the DCA Air Safety Act would:\n\nCap hourly arrivals by requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce DCA\u2019s Airport Arrival Rate to no more than 28 aircraft per consecutive 60-minute period, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a collision.\n\nReduce flight clustering, i.e., when takeoffs and landings are condensed into short, high-intensity windows, by requiring the establishment of binding 30-minute interval caps within 180 days so operations are distributed evenly across each hour.\n\nEliminate 30 slots over five years to reduce overcrowding, including at least 26 beyond-perimeter (i.e., flights that have been given permission to operate outside of the airport\u2019s 1,250-mile range limit) exemptions. The legislation would phase in the eliminations at a rate of six per year, starting in 2028, with full implementation required by the end of 2032.\n\nRequire a public process from the FAA, specifically the publication of a proposed list of slots to be eliminated, a 60-day public comment period, and the publication of a final list within 120 days after the public comment period closes.\n\nSince 2000, DCA has added 64 daily flights, known as slots, straining the airport\u2019s capacity. On the night of the January 2025 midair collision, there was an 18-minute period in which one single air traffic controller was responsible for managing 29 separate aircraft, including a 5-minute span with 6 takeoffs or landings \u2013 clear evidence of an airport pushed past its breaking point to the detriment of passenger safety.\n\nKaine and Warner have consistently sounded the alarm about hazardous overcrowding in DCA\u2019s airspace and have called on Congress to reduce the number of slots at DCA, even before the January 2025 midair collision. After the publication of the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s (NTSB) report on the causes of the disaster\u2014which included evidence that airspace overcrowding and high controller workload contributed to the crash\u2014the senators again urged Congress to act to remove slots and enact other safety measures and supported the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Reform (ROTOR) Act, legislation that would enact safety reforms at DCA and similarly-sized airports and improved coordination between the FAA and Department of Defense. In the weeks after the accident, Kaine and Warner, along with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), secured Senate passage of a resolution honoring and remembering the 67 victims of the collision.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting", "Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers and former lawmakers in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al. The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of state attorneys general, including Virginia\u2019s Attorney General Jay Jones, challenges the legality of President Trump\u2019s executive order and U.S. Postal Service rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Specifically, the case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump\u2019s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\nNearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14399 and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.\n\n\u201cAs current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States \u2014 including its guarantee of the separation of powers,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cAmici have a particular interest in defending the institutional role of the Legislative Branch under Article I of the Constitution and in vindicating the long-settled principle that the Constitution commits ultimate regulatory authority over federal elections to Congress. The Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do.\u201d\n\nThe amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are \u201csubstantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe district court correctly concluded that Appellees are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that USPS lacked authority to issue the Final Rule, that the Final Rule unconstitutionally imposes mail-ballot requirements on the States, and that the Final Rule unconstitutionally bars non-compliant State and local election officials from using the USPS to mail ballots at all,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\n\u201cThe integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cThe Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress\u2019s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress subsequently imbued the President or the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Warner and Kaine, the amicus brief was filed by 259 lawmakers and former lawmakers, including the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.\n\nWarner and Kaine have been pushing back on the Trump administration\u2019s attempts to \u201ctake over\u201d and \u201cnationalize\u201d our upcoming elections. Fighting to ensure the safety and security of our midterms and protect Americans\u2019 constitutional right to vote, the senators have repeatedly demanded that USPS abandon its proposed rule to implement President Trump\u2019s unconstitutional executive order to restrict voting by mail.\n\nThe full brief is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-supreme-court-to-block-postal-service-rule-limiting-mail-in-voting/", "Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Supreme Court to Block Postal Service Rule Limiting Mail-In Voting", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers and former lawmakers in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of State of California, et al. v. United States Postal Service, et al. The lawsuit, brought by a coalition of state attorneys general, including Virginia\u2019s Attorney General Jay Jones, challenges the legality of President Trump\u2019s executive order and U.S. Postal Service rule seeking to exert control over mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Specifically, the case challenges a final rule issued by the USPS pursuant to Trump\u2019s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a \u201ccitizenship verification list\u201d and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail.\n\nNearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections \u2014 a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida\u2019s Republican primary.\n\nIn the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump\u2019s Executive Order 14399 and USPS\u2019s final rule violate the separation of powers and usurp congressional authorities outlined in Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which gives the States and Congress exclusive authority over election administration.\n\n\u201cAs current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States \u2014 including its guarantee of the separation of powers,\u201d wrote the lawmakers. \u201cAmici have a particular interest in defending the institutional role of the Legislative Branch under Article I of the Constitution and in vindicating the long-settled principle that the Constitution commits ultimate regulatory authority over federal elections to Congress. The Constitution does not contemplate the Executive Branch acting unilaterally to assert power over federal elections. Yet that is what the Order and Final Rule do.\u201d\n\nThe amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blocking the USPS from implementing its newly finalized mail ballot rule for the midterm elections, saying the agency lacked the authority to implement the rule and that its actions are \u201csubstantively unconstitutional and contrary to law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe district court correctly concluded that Appellees are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims that USPS lacked authority to issue the Final Rule, that the Final Rule unconstitutionally imposes mail-ballot requirements on the States, and that the Final Rule unconstitutionally bars non-compliant State and local election officials from using the USPS to mail ballots at all,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe lawmakers concluded by asserting States\u2019 power to administer elections and Congress\u2019s power to make or alter rules regulating elections, which the Supreme Court itself has described as an \u201coverride\u201d authority. Trump\u2019s illegal incursion on this authority is an attempt to disenfranchise people who depend on mail-in ballots to vote.\n\n\u201cThe integrity of our constitutional system depends on each branch keeping to its assigned role,\u201d concluded the lawmakers. \u201cThe Framers set up a two-part system that gave the States default authority to regulate federal elections subject to Congress\u2019s authority to override the States. The Framers did not provide the President with any authority to interfere in that system, nor has Congress subsequently imbued the President or the Executive Branch with any such authority by statute.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the amicus brief was filed by 259 lawmakers and former lawmakers, including the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have been pushing back on the Trump administration\u2019s attempts to \u201ctake over\u201d and \u201cnationalize\u201d our upcoming elections. Fighting to ensure the safety and security of our midterms and protect Americans\u2019 constitutional right to vote, the senators have repeatedly demanded that USPS abandon its proposed rule to implement President Trump\u2019s unconstitutional executive order to restrict voting by mail.\n\nThe full brief is available here.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-unveil-legislation-to-reduce-traffic-improve-safety-at-dca/", "Warner, Kaine Unveil Legislation to Reduce Traffic, Improve Safety at DCA", "2026-09-10", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced the DCA Air Safety Act, legislation that would improve safety in the constrained and complex airspace around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) after last year\u2019s deadly midair collision that claimed 67 lives. The bill would cap hourly arrivals, reduce the clustering of flights, and remove 30 slots\u2014thereby addressing issues that contributed to the January 2025 disaster. The legislation would also mandate reports to Congress, public comment, and expert input to ensure that implementation is occurring in a manner that best improves safety.\n\n\u201cWe owe it to the victims of the fatal mid-air collision near DCA and their loved ones to take action and prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again. DCA\u2019s overburdened runway is the busiest in the country, and the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s investigation of the January 2025 crash underscored the serious risks posed by unsustainable traffic levels at the airport. Yet since the collision, there have been numerous near misses in DCA airspace,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cFor years, Senator Kaine and I have been warning that DCA is overcrowded and have fought to reduce the number of slot exemptions at the airport. The risks are now painfully clear, and Congress cannot wait for another tragedy to act. I urge my colleagues to quickly support this legislation to cap hourly arrivals, reduce flight clustering, decrease slot exemptions, and put passenger safety first.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn the wake of the midair collision that killed 67 people last year near DCA, Congress must do more to ensure that the highest level of safety regulations is in place to prevent future tragedies,\u201d said Sen. Kaine. \u201cWhile I support various proposals to help do that, it\u2019s obvious that any set of reforms that doesn\u2019t address overcrowding at this airport\u2014which sits along restricted airspace and is already operating beyond capacity\u2014is dangerously insufficient. That\u2019s why this legislation lays out a commonsense plan to decrease hourly arrivals and reduce flight clustering and overall traffic, and we urge our colleagues to put safety first and join us in getting it across the finish line as quickly as possible.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the DCA Air Safety Act would:\n\nCap hourly arrivals by requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce DCA\u2019s Airport Arrival Rate to no more than 28 aircraft per consecutive 60-minute period, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a collision.\n\nReduce flight clustering, i.e., when takeoffs and landings are condensed into short, high-intensity windows, by requiring the establishment of binding 30-minute interval caps within 180 days so operations are distributed evenly across each hour.\n\nEliminate 30 slots over five years to reduce overcrowding, including at least 26 beyond-perimeter (i.e., flights that have been given permission to operate outside of the airport\u2019s 1,250-mile range limit) exemptions. The legislation would phase in the eliminations at a rate of six per year, starting in 2028, with full implementation required by the end of 2032.\n\nRequire a public process from the FAA, specifically the publication of a proposed list of slots to be eliminated, a 60-day public comment period, and the publication of a final list within 120 days after the public comment period closes.\n\nSince 2000, DCA has added 64 daily flights, known as slots, straining the airport\u2019s capacity. On the night of the January 2025 midair collision, there was an 18-minute period in which one single air traffic controller was responsible for managing 29 separate aircraft, including a 5-minute span with 6 takeoffs or landings \u2013 clear evidence of an airport pushed past its breaking point to the detriment of passenger safety.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have consistently sounded the alarm about hazardous overcrowding in DCA\u2019s airspace and have called on Congress to reduce the number of slots at DCA, even before the January 2025 midair collision. After the publication of the National Transportation Safety Board\u2019s (NTSB) report on the causes of the disaster\u2014which included evidence that airspace overcrowding and high controller workload contributed to the crash\u2014the senators again urged Congress to act to remove slots and enact other safety measures and supported the Rotorcraft Operations Transparency and Reform (ROTOR) Act, legislation that would enact safety reforms at DCA and similarly-sized airports and improved coordination between the FAA and Department of Defense. In the weeks after the accident, Kaine and Warner, along with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS), secured Senate passage of a resolution honoring and remembering the 67 victims of the collision.\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-11T09:25:29Z", "2026-09-11T09:27:08Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-call-on-un-security-council-to-pass-sanctions-on-sudan-to-cut-off-funding-for-conflict", "Kaine, Colleagues Call on U.N. Security Council to Pass Sanctions on Sudan to Cut Off Funding for Conflict", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, joined seven of his colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz calling on the United States to push to pass additional sanctions measures in Sudan that would restrict the flow of funds to the warring parties driving the current conflict in the country. The letter was transmitted shortly before the September 8 kick-off of the 2026 UN General Assembly.\n\nThe senators specifically advocated for international prohibitions on the sale of precursor chemicals used in certain types of gold extraction, and the development of due diligence guidelines for the procurement of gum arabic\u2014a resource frequently smuggled by belligerents to fund their operations.\n\n\u201cAny resolution put forward to renew sanctions pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) should also prohibit the export or transfer of precursor chemicals used in Sudan\u2019s artisanal mining industry, target the illicit sale of Sudanese gum arabic, and improve reporting by the Panel of Experts to explicitly identify arms embargo violations and the parties responsible,\u201d said the senators.\n\n\u201cRestrictions meant to disrupt transactions at the point of sale must be combined with a coordinated effort to restrict access to the precursor chemicals that enable unregulated gold extraction in the first place. This is especially critical to curtail other sources of profit tied to the gold sector but outside material sales, such as informal taxation schemes, security fees, and transportation fees levied against mining firms in RSF-held territory,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cGold is not the only natural resource being exploited to fund the war-- revenue tied to gum arabic production is small relative to gold, but profits from its sale and control over of trade networks now help sustain the conflict. The RSF has engaged in looting and extortion to exert control over trade routes and border crossings, leveraging the proceeds to bankroll their side of the war. Cross-border smuggling and re-labelling of Sudanese gum arabic to avoid heightened scrutiny about sourcing is also pervasive in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt,\u201d the senators underscored.\n\n\u201cThe war in Sudan is now into its fourth year. A straight renewal of the UN Security Council Resolution on Sudan that maintains the status quo will not bring an end to the unimaginable violence and devastation that has affected millions of Sudanese. The international community should urgently adapt its strategy to creatively deploy the entire range of tools at its disposal. Coordinated, comprehensive measures to increase the pressure on the economic engine of the war, particularly on natural resources supply chains, can raise the cost of the war, making it too costly and burdensome to continue,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nKaine has worked to strengthen the U.S. response to the war in Sudan and support civilians affected by the conflict. He passed into law the Response to Conflict in Sudan Act to bolster U.S. diplomatic and humanitarian efforts by codifying and strengthening the position of Special Envoy for Sudan. He has also urged the Trump-Vance Administration to help prevent further atrocities, including by halting certain U.S. arms sales to countries fueling the war, and called for extending and redesignating Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan to protect Sudanese nationals from being returned to hazardous conditions.\n\nIn addition to Kaine, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Ambassador Waltz,\n\nAs the United Nations (UN) Security Council considers the renewal and possible expansion of the Sudan sanctions regime, we write to request that the U.S. Mission put forth additional measures that would target key funding sources actively enabling the horrific violence in Sudan. The recent proposal from U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs Massad Boulos to expand the scope of the Darfur arms embargo to the entirety of the country is encouraging. We also appreciate his recognition that external financial support to all parties remains a driver of conflict and agree that the UN has the tools to address these issues. We therefore urge the U.S. Mission to engage accordingly and advocate for the passage of additional provisions to eliminate financial channels that belligerents depend on to perpetuate the conflict.\n\nSpecifically, any resolution put forward to renew sanctions pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1591 (2005) should also prohibit the export or transfer of precursor chemicals used in Sudan\u2019s artisanal mining industry, target the illicit sale of Sudanese gum arabic (also known as acacia gum), and improve reporting by the Panel of Experts to explicitly identify arms embargo violations and the parties responsible.\n\nGold is widely considered the most significant source of income and foreign currency for both sides of Sudan\u2019s war, which use the proceeds to purchase weapons and compensate personnel. The Treasury Department has previously targeted operatives in the RSF\u2019s financial network that facilitate the sale of gold, recognizing the role that the sector plays in funneling cash to the militia group. However, restrictions meant to disrupt transactions at the point of sale must be combined with a coordinated effort to restrict access to the precursor chemicals that enable unregulated gold extraction in the first place. This is especially critical to curtail other sources of profit tied to the gold sector but outside material sales, such as informal taxation schemes, security fees, and transportation fees levied against mining firms in RSF-held territory.\n\nAlthough it is difficult to determine precise figures because a substantial amount of Sudan\u2019s gold is smuggled out of the country and gold production in RSF-controlled territory is not reported, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations account for approximately 80-90% of Sudan\u2019s gold production. ASGM mining employs various methods of extraction, but it typically relies on mercury and sodium cyanide as relatively cheap and simple chemicals to easily find and process gold particles. In addition to the chemicals\u2019 vital role in the wartime economy, numerous studies have found prolonged exposure can lead to severe health complications and is harmful to the local environment. According to a 2025 report, most of these precursor chemicals are imported from China, the United Arab Emirates, and some European Union (EU) nations. While the EU recently unveiled a suite of regulations restricting the sale of precursor chemicals to Sudan, the diverse supply chain necessitates a more comprehensive prohibition to eliminate the transfer of mercury and sodium cyanide to ASGM miners. Adoption of an export ban on mercury and sodium cyanide as part of the Security Council\u2019s Sudan sanctions regime, with appropriate exceptions for humanitarian purposes, would help sever the link between the gold sector and the ongoing conflict.\n\nGold is not the only natural resource being exploited to fund the war. As documented by the UN Office of the High Commission for Human Rights, revenue tied to gum arabic production is small relative to gold, but profits from its sale and control over of trade networks now help sustain the conflict. Sudan was one of the world\u2019s largest exporters of gum arabic prior to 2023, but widespread disruption to the industry has caused output to plummet and its value to skyrocket. Consequently, the RSF has engaged in looting and extortion to exert control over trade routes and border crossings, leveraging the proceeds to bankroll their side of the war. Cross-border smuggling and re-labelling of Sudanese gum arabic to avoid heightened scrutiny about sourcing is also pervasive in neighboring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt. As the Security Council has done in response to other conflicts where natural resource exploitation has contributed to instability, it should mandate the Panel of Experts to develop due diligence guidelines to improve gum arabic procurement practices, prevent smuggled products from entering the supply chain, and avoid inadvertently enriching the belligerents.\n\nFinally, we encourage the U.S. to ensure the Panel of Experts\u2019 extended mandate requires annual reporting that includes explicit documentation of all violations of the arms embargo and the parties responsible. Given the outsized role that external actors play in shaping the war, the Panel must improve transparency about the transfer of arms and financial support to the warring parties, including engagement with illicit gold smugglers. Reporting by other UN-sanctioned panels, including the Panel of Experts on Libya, demonstrate a level of naming and shaming that the Sudan panel should strive for. Countries who blatantly circumvent the arms embargo and other UN restrictions to prolong the conflict cannot be permitted to continue hiding their role and must be publicly held to account for their actions.\n\nThe war in Sudan is now into its fourth year. A straight renewal of the UN Security Council Resolution on Sudan that maintains the status quo will not bring an end to the unimaginable violence and devastation that has affected millions of Sudanese. The international community should urgently adapt its strategy to creatively deploy the entire range of tools at its disposal. Coordinated, comprehensive measures to increase the pressure on the economic engine of the war, particularly on natural resources supply chains, can raise the cost of the war, making it too costly and burdensome to continue. In the coming weeks, we hope that you and your team at USUN will consider incorporating these solutions into any forthcoming resolution to provide for the continuation and possible expansion of the Sudan sanctions measures.\n\nThank you for your consideration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-commend-designation-of-9/11-pentagon-memorial-as-national-park-service-affiliated-area", "Warner, Kaine, Commend Designation of 9/11 Pentagon Memorial as National Park Service Affiliated Area", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), following reports today, commended the official designation of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial as an affiliated area of the National Park System, a recognition that will help preserve the memory of the 184 people killed at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, and ensure their stories are passed down to future generations.\n\n\u201cThe 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is a solemn tribute to each of the 184 individuals at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 77 who tragically died on September 11, 2001, standing as a lasting reminder of Americans\u2019 loss and resilience on one of our nation\u2019s darkest days,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to support efforts that will preserve this memorial for generations to come and ensure that Americans always have a place to honor those we lost, remember their stories, and deepen their understanding of the enduring impact of September 11 on our nation.\u201d\n\nAffiliated areas are nationally significant sites that preserve important cultural or natural resources but are typically owned and operated independently of the National Park Service. Through affiliation, the National Park Service can provide technical assistance and other support to help maintain these important sites. The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial becomes the 33rdaffiliated area in the National Park System.\n\nWarner and Kaine have long supported the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and efforts to expand its educational mission, including the establishment of a Visitor Education Center that will tell the story of that day, and of how Americans responded, came together, and moved forward in the aftermath of the tragic September 11 attacks.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-attends-chesapeake-veterans-affairs-facility-ribbon-cutting-reaffirms-support-for-veterans-access-to-high-quality-health-care/", "Warner Attends Chesapeake Veterans Affairs Facility Ribbon Cutting, Reaffirms Support for Veterans\u2019 Access to High-Quality Health Care", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) attended the ribbon cutting for the new Western Branch outpatient clinic in Chesapeake, a state-of-the-art Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC). The facility spans 27,000 square feet and will have a drive-through pharmacy, primary care, mental health care, and radiology. The clinic will serve more than 10,000 veterans who reside in South Hampton Roads.\n\nHIGH-QUALITY PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE\n\n\u201cIt is my pleasure to be here on a really important day for Hampton Roads veterans. Improving access to care for our veterans must always be a priority, and this brand new, state-of-the-art facility will be a key part of that equation for thousands of veterans in the region,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cVeterans and their families have more than earned access to quality, reliable, and timely health care through years of service and sacrifice, but they have faced unnecessary hurdles to getting that care. I deeply appreciate the men and women who have signed up to work at this facility, and their colleagues nationwide who have devoted their careers to this medical and public service. I will continue fighting to improve access to quality care for our veterans.\u201d\n\nWestern Branch CBOC is strategically located in South Hampton Roads to enhance access for veterans who must use either a bridge or tunnel to seek care at Hampton VAHCS, reducing travel times for many.\n\nSen. Warner has long fought to expand health care access and benefits for Virginia\u2019s nearly 700,000 veterans. Earlier this year, Sen. Warner pressed the administration to significantly boost funding for VA facilities, warning that years of underinvestment will increasingly leave Virginia veterans without the care access they\u2019ve earned. Sen. Warner has specifically focused on the need to modernize and streamline how the VA delivers medical facilities and infrastructure, reduce the disability claim backlog at the VA, ensure the VA is appropriately staffed to improve access to care and benefits, improve women veterans\u2019 access to health care, and he has pushed Congress to approve major VA facilities across the Commonwealth.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-commend-designation-of-9-11-pentagon-memorial-as-national-park-service-affiliated-area/", "Warner, Kaine Commend Designation of 9/11 Pentagon Memorial as National Park Service Affiliated Area", "2026-09-08", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), following reports today, commended the official designation of the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial as an affiliated area of the National Park System, a recognition that will help preserve the memory of the 184 people killed at the Pentagon and aboard American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, and ensure their stories are passed down to future generations.\n\n\u201cThe 9/11 Pentagon Memorial is a solemn tribute to each of the 184 individuals at the Pentagon and aboard Flight 77 who tragically died on September 11, 2001, standing as a lasting reminder of Americans\u2019 loss and resilience on one of our nation\u2019s darkest days,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to support efforts that will preserve this memorial for generations to come and ensure that Americans always have a place to honor those we lost, remember their stories, and deepen their understanding of the enduring impact of September 11 on our nation.\u201d\n\nAffiliated areas are nationally significant sites that preserve important cultural or natural resources but are typically owned and operated independently of the National Park Service. Through affiliation, the National Park Service can provide technical assistance and other support to help maintain these important sites. The 9/11 Pentagon Memorial becomes the 33rdaffiliated area in the National Park System.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported the 9/11 Pentagon Memorial and efforts to expand its educational mission, including the establishment of a Visitor Education Center that will tell the story of that day, and of how Americans responded, came together, and moved forward in the aftermath of the tragic September 11 attacks.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-09-09T09:27:09Z", "2026-09-09T09:29:04Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/virginia-members-of-congress-welcome-investigation-of-ice-encounter-with-jose-mejia-hernandez/", "Virginia Members Of Congress Welcome Investigation Of ICE Encounter With Jose Mejia Hernandez", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-8), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) today issued the following statement after the Arlington County Police Department opened a formal investigation into the August 11 encounter with ICE agents that resulted in Jos\u00e9 Mej\u00eda Hernandez\u2019 hospitalization and brain injury:\n\n\u201cWe strongly support the Arlington County Police Department\u2019s decision to open this investigation, which is essential to establishing how Jos\u00e9 Mej\u00eda Hernandez suffered serious injuries. These included internal bleeding and a brain injury after an encounter with ICE agents. It is unfortunate that the Trump Administration has abandoned its responsibilities to hold federal agents under their command accountable, leaving state and local jurisdictions to do the job the Administration refuses to do to maintain law and order and protect the public. That failure is fueling a pattern of unchecked violence, rights violations, and chaos, in some cases with deadly consequences. If this investigation finds that ICE agents\u2019 misconduct caused Mr. Mej\u00eda Hernandez\u2019 injuries or impeded his medical treatment, they must face consequences. We will continue seeking answers about what happened to Mr. Mej\u00eda Hernandez in Arlington, and working to ensure he receives access to the medical care and support he needs to recover.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-3-million-in-federal-funding-for-wastewater-treatment-in-campbell-county/", "Warner, Kaine Announce $3 Million in Federal Funding for Wastewater Treatment in Campbell County", "2026-09-04", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $3 million in grant funding to support major upgrades to the Town of Altavista\u2019s wastewater treatment plant. The funding will improve the plant\u2019s operational reliability, lower energy usage and the associated costs, enhance treatment capabilities, and improve system resiliency to extend the useful life of critical infrastructure. The project will also create 273 jobs.\n\n\u201cHigh-quality water infrastructure is critical to the health and well-being of all Virginians,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to have helped deliver this federal funding to Altavista to help the town create jobs while modernizing its wastewater treatment plant, ensuring local residents and businesses have a quality water system they can depend on.\u201d\n\nThe funding was awarded through an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant program. Year after year, the senators have supported robust EDA funding in Congress.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve clean water access and strengthen wastewater infrastructure across the Commonwealth. In 2025, the senators announced more than $26 million in federal funding to modernize and expand Lee County\u2019s wastewater system and announced $700,000 to extend public wastewater service in Wise County. In 2023, they announced nearly $62.4 million for clean water infrastructure upgrades across Virginia, including more than $47 million made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which they helped pass.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-05T08:49:07Z", "2026-09-05T08:50:44Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-bonamici-and-colleagues-demand-education-department-abandon-effort-to-rescind-guidelines-that-prevent-discrimination-in-career-and-technical-education", "Kaine, Bonamici, And Colleagues Demand Education Department Abandon Effort to Rescind Guidelines That Prevent Discrimination in Career and Technical Education", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and former civil rights attorney, and U.S. Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) led 29 of their Democratic colleagues in both chambers of Congress in issuing a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon opposing the decision from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to end-run federal law and rescind federal guidelines in place for nearly half a century that are designed to proactively root out discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, and disability in career and technical education (CTE) programs.\n\n\u201cWe write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education\u2019s \u2026 decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines,\u201d wrote the members. \u201cAs proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe 1979 Guidelines \u2026 established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints,\u201d the members continued. \u201cThe Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people seeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.\u201d\n\nThey continued, \u201cDespite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule.\u201d\n\n\u201cFurthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to \u2018public property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts,\u2019 this exception does not apply in this case,\u201d the group wrote. \u201cTherefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight.\u201d\n\nThe bicameral group of Democratic members requested responses to the following questions by Secretary McMahon:\n\nWhat analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines?\n\nWhat legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines?\n\nDid the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who?\n\nWhat alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring?\n\nWas any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs?\n\nWill the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued?\n\nIn addition to Kaine and Bonamici, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representatives Shontel Brown (D-OH-11), Andr\u00e9 Carson (D-IN-07), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Dwight Evans (D-PA-03), Jes\u00fas Garc\u00eda (D-IL-04), Daniel Goldman (D-NY-10), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-05), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Seth Magaziner (D-RI-02), Jennifer McClellan (D-VA-04), Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-AL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Dina Titus (D-NV-01), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here and below:\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nWe write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education\u2019s (Department, or ED) decision on July 23, 2026, to rescind guidelines from 1979 that worked to eliminate discrimination and denied services based on race, color, national origin, sex, and disability for career and technical education (CTE) programs, and urge you to reinstate the guidelines. As proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.\n\nBefore 1979, the provisions of Title VI (34 C.F.R. Part 100, Appendix B), Section 504 (34 C.F.R. Part 104, Appendix B), and Title IX (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Appendix A) were not adequately enforced in CTE programs. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare was sued in 1973 for failing to enforce Title VI. As a result of injunctive orders from the U.S. District Court of D.C., the 1979 Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex and Handicap in Vocational Education Programs (Guidelines) established the Methods of Administration between states and the federal government to provide a framework for CTE programs to proactively root out discrimination. To date, this is the only mechanism within ED that actively works to prevent discrimination, as the Department\u2019s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints.\n\nThe Guidelines require each state CTE agency to run a compliance program that collects and analyzes civil rights data, conducts periodic reviews of local programs, provides technical assistance, and reports findings to OCR. While Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 prohibit discrimination, the Guidelines turn those prohibitions into a working system of prevention, monitoring, and remedy, so that no student is steered into or shut out of a career path because of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The Guidelines were issued with a clear purpose, in the government's own words: to end unlawful discrimination against people \u201cseeking the skills necessary for gainful and meaningful employment.\u201d\n\nCareer and technical education continues to grow nationwide, currently serving nearly 12 million students in K-12 and higher education. Congress annually recognizes the significant benefit CTE provides students in academic rigor, high school completion, employability skills, and college readiness. Despite the overall benefits, it is vital that the enforcement of nondiscrimination protections remains in place to end occupational segregation. Although Black students enroll in CTE programs at rates that roughly match their share of the overall student population, they tend to cluster in service-focused fields that often have lower earning potential. Research shows that students with disabilities who take at least four CTE courses in high school have better academic and employment outcomes, yet there are significant gaps in enrollment. Women continue to be significantly underrepresented in male-dominated, higher-paying fields6 , and middle and high school girls make up one in three students in STEM CTE programs, one in four in manufacturing and construction-related programs, and one in four in transportation, distribution, and logistics programs.\n\nThe Guidelines are also valuable to students who do not participate in CTE, as these programs are offered at 86% of public schools nationwide. For example, ensuring that facilities are accessible to CTE students with disabilities consequently ensures accessibility for all students with disabilities, regardless of their course enrollment. The Department\u2019s argument is that it will continue to enforce federal civil rights laws. Yet ED announced, through an Interagency Agreement (IAA) in June 2026, that OCR would move to the Department of Justice. DOJ\u2019s enforcement approach to civil rights differs significantly from ED\u2019s, which raises concerns even if the Guidelines were still in effect. Prior to the announcement, OCR at ED had already been a target of this administration, with nearly half of its staff placed on administrative leave and seven of its 12 regional offices closing in March 2025. Meanwhile, the agency dismissed about 90 percent of the complaints it received over a seven-month period and reached zero resolution agreements involving seclusion and restraint, sexual harassment or violence, racial harassment, or discriminatory school discipline in all of 2025.\n\nThis is occurring while the administration systematically strips away other sweeping civil rights protections. When the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education, which oversees CTE programs, was transferred by IAA to the Department of Labor (DOL) last summer, the transfer was not officially announced by ED or DOL officials; it was only disclosed in court documents. The Department has now compounded that disruption to federal CTE oversight by rescinding the Guidelines that established the proactive civil rights compliance framework specifically applicable to CTE programs.\n\nFurthermore, the Department rescinded the Guidelines without following the law. While the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) includes an exception for notice-and-comment rulemaking before issuing or rescinding a final rule when the matter relates to \u201cpublic property, loans, grants, benefits, or contracts\u201d, this exception does not apply in this case. Section 437 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA), which governs ED programs, explicitly overrides this APA exception for ED programs and states that the exception only applies in two limited circumstances. The first circumstance is for regulations that \u201cgovern the first grant competition under a new or substantially revised program authority,\u201d which is not at issue here because no authority has been revised. The second circumstance is where the Secretary determines that following the APA procedures would \u201ccause extreme hardship to the intended beneficiaries of the program affected by such regulations\u201d.\n\nED\u2019s final rule does not make that claim under GEPA, includes no finding that grantees would be under \u201cextreme hardship,\u201d and, in fact, has no mention of GEPA at all. Therefore, ED is required to go through notice-and-comment rulemaking before rescinding the Guidelines. This is all taking place while ED is being dismantled illegally without congressional input or oversight.\n\nAt the same time, the Department has implemented other measures that weaken civil rights protections for CTE students. These include eliminating longstanding disparate impact provisions from Title VI regulations and proposing to rescind the rules governing Equity Assistance Centers. These centers provide technical assistance to state and local educational agencies to address discrimination and desegregation challenges. Together, these actions weaken established systems of CTE oversight, civil rights enforcement, and technical assistance that have historically prevented discrimination that otherwise might have denied CTE students educational and career opportunities.\n\nDespite the rescission of the Guidelines, the underlying nondiscrimination statutes remain in force, and we are hopeful that states will continue to fulfill their duty to prioritize practices adopted under the Guidelines. We believe the Guidelines remain critical, and we urge you to rescind your final rule.\n\nWe also respectfully request responses to the following questions by October 5, 2026.\n\nWhat analysis led the Department to the decision to rescind the 1979 Guidelines?\n\nWhat legal authority did the Department rely on to rescind the Guidelines?\n\nDid the Department consult with any state CTE directors or civil rights organizations before rescinding the Guidelines, and if so, who?\n\nWhat alternative mechanism will replace the Guidelines framework for proactive monitoring?\n\nWas any equity or impact analysis conducted on how rescission would affect students of color, students with disabilities, and girls and women in CTE programs?\n\nWill the Department commit to a public comment period before any permanent replacement policy is issued?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-trump-vance-administration-deporting-dozens-including-family-member-of-afghan-allies-to-war-torn-countries-they-have-no-connection-to", "Kaine Statement on Trump-Vance Administration Deporting Dozens, Including Family Member of Afghan Allies, To War-Torn Countries They Have No Connection To", "2026-09-03", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees and former civil rights attorney, released the following statement in response to the Trump-Vance Administration deporting dozens of people\u2014including at least one person whose family helped the U.S. fight the Taliban\u2014to the Central African Republic (CAR) and other countries in the region, despite none being residents of those countries:\n\n\u201cOver the weekend, the Trump-Vance Administration deported dozens of Afghans, Iranians, and others to the Central African Republic. These people are not citizens of CAR and have no ties to CAR or the region. Most of those deported this weekend had withholding-of-removal orders, meaning that an Immigration Judge had found that they would be persecuted or tortured if they were sent back to their countries of origin. At least one of those deported had family members who helped the U.S. fight the Taliban and would be in danger from the Taliban as a result of his family ties. But instead of acknowledging his family\u2019s service to the U.S. or even the basic human dignity of those fleeing persecution, the Trump-Vance Administration loaded them onto planes and dropped them off in instability-wracked countries to which they have zero connection. These third-country deportations are a stain on our country\u2019s honor.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-04T09:19:37Z", "2026-09-04T09:20:58Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-move-to-end-trumps-trade-war-and-free-virginians-from-trumps-tariff-tax", "Warner, Kaine Move to End Trump\u2019s Trade War and Free Virginians from Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Following President Trump\u2019s latest tariffs, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and 12 of their Senate colleagues introduced the End Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump\u2019s newest barrage of tariffs, and rein in the president\u2019s tariff authority by repealing the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump\u2019s newest global tariffs of 10\u00ad\u201312.5 percent and 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of imports from Canada.\n\nSince Trump has started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump\u2019s tariff tax cost the average family nearly $2,000, with hardworking Americans bearing 96 percent of the cost of the hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs. Still, Trump has been undeterred by the chaos and pain his trade war has wrought and continues to double down on the global stage.\n\n\u201cFrom escalating trade wars to costly conflicts abroad, the president\u2019s reckless policies are driving up costs and making it harder for Virginians to make ends meet,\u201d said the senators. \u201cThe data is clear: American families, small businesses, and farmers are footing the bill for Trump\u2019s chaotic tariffs. We\u2019re proud to support this legislation to rein in these disastrous taxes, lower costs, and put working families ahead of the president\u2019s failed agenda.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is also sponsored by Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nIn Congress, Warner and Kaine have been outspoken critics of President Trump\u2019s tariff policies, which are a tax on American families and small businesses. The senators introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 to require full refunds \u2013 with interest \u2013 of Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs, after they were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Supreme Court considered the case, the senators both joined an amicus brief urging that these tariffs be struck down. Warner and Kaine also led bipartisan legislation to repeal the administration\u2019s tariffs on Canada imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support, and a version of the bill was subsequently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, reflecting growing congressional opposition even among some Republicans to tariff policies that have raised costs for consumers, strained relationships with key allies, and disrupted cross-border trade.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-move-to-end-trumps-trade-war-and-free-virginians-from-trumps-tariff-tax/", "Warner, Kaine Move to End Trump\u2019s Trade War and Free Virginians From Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax", "2026-09-02", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following President Trump\u2019s latest tariffs, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and 12 of their Senate colleagues introduced the End Trump\u2019s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump\u2019s newest barrage of tariffs, and rein in the president\u2019s tariff authority by repealing the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump\u2019s newest global tariffs of 10\u00ad\u201312.5 percent and 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of imports from Canada.\n\nSince Trump has started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump\u2019s tariff tax cost the average family nearly $2,000, with hardworking Americans bearing 96 percent of the cost of the hundreds of billions of dollars in new tariffs. Still, Trump has been undeterred by the chaos and pain his trade war has wrought and continues to double down on the global stage.\n\n\u201cFrom escalating trade wars to costly conflicts abroad, the president\u2019s reckless policies are driving up costs and making it harder for Virginians to make ends meet,\u201d said the senators. \u201cThe data is clear: American families, small businesses, and farmers are footing the bill for Trump\u2019s chaotic tariffs. We\u2019re proud to support this legislation to rein in these disastrous taxes, lower costs, and put working families ahead of the president\u2019s failed agenda.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is also sponsored by Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Peter Welch (D-VT).\n\nIn Congress, Sens. Warner and Kaine have been outspoken critics of President Trump\u2019s tariff policies, which are a tax on American families and small businesses. The senators introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 to require full refunds \u2013 with interest \u2013 of Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs, after they were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Supreme Court considered the case, the senators both joined an amicus brief urging that these tariffs be struck down. Sens. Warner and Kaine also led bipartisan legislation to repeal the administration\u2019s tariffs on Canada imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support, and a version of the bill was subsequently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, reflecting growing congressional opposition even among some Republicans to tariff policies that have raised costs for consumers, strained relationships with key allies, and disrupted cross-border trade.\n\nRead the full bill here.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-09-03T09:29:33Z", "2026-09-03T09:31:32Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-vindman-meet-with-veterans-discuss-long-wait-times-at-fredericksburg-va-health-care-center", "Kaine, Vindman Meet with Veterans, Discuss Long Wait Times at Fredericksburg VA Health Care Center", "2026-08-31", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last week, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and U.S. Representative Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) hosted a roundtable in Fredericksburg with veterans to discuss their experiences with the local VA Health Care Center. This comes after consistent reports of long wait times and staffing shortfalls at the facility. Kaine has pressed leadership at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fill vacant roles and ensure that veterans receive the quality care they\u2019ve earned, particularly after the removal of over 1,700 positions at VA clinics in Virginia earlier this year.\n\n\"I was glad to hear directly from veterans that they are pleased with the quality of their care, but I will keep pushing the VA to do more to address wait times,\" said Kaine. \"Virginia is home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, and I will always advocate for our servicemembers, veterans, and their families to have access to the high-quality, timely care they deserve.\u201d\n\nKaine has long fought to address VA workforce challenges, including after the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s abrupt elimination of up to 35,000 health care roles at VA clinics nationwide last year. He has introduced the bipartisan Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Physicist Pay Cap Relief Act, legislation that would help address staffing shortages of physicists critical to delivering cancer care and treatment at the VA by removing an arbitrary cap on their pay. Kaine also secured $4.5 million in federal grant funding to support suicide prevention efforts for veterans last year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-01T09:48:49Z", "2026-09-01T09:49:51Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-six-months-of-the-trump-vance-administrations-foolish-and-illegal-war-with-iran", "Kaine Statement on Six Months of the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s Foolish and Illegal War with Iran", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 As the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s war with Iran stretches into its sixth month today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cSix months ago, the Trump-Vance Administration launched a deeply unpopular war with Iran that has taken the lives of at least 18 servicemembers, injured more than 750 others, killed countless civilians\u2014including over 100 children from one strike alone\u2014and raised Americans\u2019 gas costs by tens of billions of dollars. The American people made it crystal clear that they want lower prices, not another endless war in the Middle East, and both houses of Congress have declared this war illegal. Because the Trump-Vance Administration refuses to listen, I\u2019m going to keep doing all that I can to cut off funding for what will go down in history as one of America\u2019s most foolish foreign policy catastrophes of all time.\u201d\n\nKaine has consistently been a leading voice to reassert Congress\u2019 authority over war powers under Presidents of both parties. He insisted on congressional approval ahead of President Barack Obama\u2019s strikes against the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Iraq and Syria in 2014. Under the Biden Administration, he led a bipartisan bill to repeal the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) for the 1991 Gulf War and the 2002 Iraq War. The bill became law last year as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Kaine introduced War Powers Resolutions both before and after the Trump-Vance Administration began its present military operations in Iran, Venezuela, and the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. In June, both chambers of Congress voted to end the war in Iran.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-call-for-senate-hearing-on-dods-mismanagement-of-illegal-war-in-iran-and-its-effect-on-servicemembers", "Kaine, Colleagues Call for Senate Hearing on DOD\u2019s Mismanagement of Illegal War in Iran and Its Effect on Servicemembers", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services (SASC) Subcommittee on Seapower, joined a group of his colleagues in urging SASC Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) to hold a hearing with U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) leadership to investigate the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s failure to support servicemembers carrying out indefinite extended deployments in President Donald Trump\u2019s foolish and illegal war in Iran.\n\nIn their letter, the senators emphasized how the Administration\u2019s inability to end the conflict has taken a widespread physical, emotional, and mental toll on troops deployed to the region, even beyond the incidents reported aboard USS Abraham Lincoln, with dwindling supplies and deteriorating conditions taking hold aboard numerous ships and in numerous bases in the Middle East.\n\n\u201cThe toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cTroops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers \u2013 why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse, or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cThe stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nAlong with Kaine, the letter is co-signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nFull text of the senators\u2019 letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Chairman Wicker:\n\nWe request that you convene a public Armed Services Committee hearing with Department of Defense (DoD) leadership regarding the poor planning and mismanagement of extended deployments to support Iran operations and the impact on our troops. Recent reports of sailors suffering from severe mental health issues amid deteriorating conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln have only added to a disturbing pattern of failures to adequately plan and support our troops, who have been away from their families indefinitely as the Iran War drags on.\n\nOn August 11, Military Times reported that multiple sailors on board the USS Abraham Lincoln currently supporting Iran operations attempted to jump overboard, a heartbreaking decision in effort to escape the mental health toll of an extended deployment that was planned to end in May but is now at 9 months and counting. Horrifying messages from military families described other poor conditions onboard the Lincoln, including food rationing, rotten meals, shortages of supplies like water and soap, overflowing toilets, broken facilities and disrupted mail delivery. It took nine months for the Navy to relieve the Lincoln with the USS George Washington, after conditions had reached such severity that military families directly confronted the Acting Secretary of the Navy. This has revealed the real impact of unplanned deployment extensions on our ability to maintain and logistically support our ships in a contested environment.\n\nThis is not the first time during this war that we have seen the consequences of extended deployments onboard an aircraft carrier or even other ships. Sailors on the USS Ford experienced hundreds of broken toilets and significant damage from a non-combat fire that injured multiple sailors and affected 100 sleeping berths and forced it to redirect to Greece for emergency repair. After this emergency repair, the Ford was again sent back to the Red Sea to support Iran operations \u2013 eventually completing 11 months of deployment, even though the Navy tries to limit deployments to seven months. Military families of servicemembers on board the multiple ships as part of the Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) in the region have reported emotional and financial strain from the unplanned extensions, struggling to balance work and childcare and caught in limbo with disrupted plans every time orders are extended.\n\nBoth the Lincoln and the Ford Carrier Strike Groups (CSGs) were redirected from their original missions to support President Trump\u2019s illegal wars of choice. The Lincoln originally deployed in November to conduct routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific, but was redirected to the Middle East in January to support the start of the Iran operations. The Ford ultimately served a whopping 11 months at sea \u2013 redirected three times from an original mission to support deterrence in Europe, to operations in the Caribbean Sea and against Venezuela, to Iran operations. This Administration has failed to explain why it has insisted on stretching our sailors in this way without adequate planning \u2013 let alone for unauthorized wars of choice.\n\nThe strain on our troops is not confined to the Navy. In fact, our offices and press have heard story after story of Soldiers and Airmen, including National Guardsmen and Reservists, seeing their deployments extended with uncertainty about when they will be relieved by other units and can return home to their families. Bases in the Middle East originally designed to support a specific footprint have been stretched to support a much larger scale of units now stationed there \u2013 and conditions are deteriorating as too many people meet too little space and supplies.\n\nThe toll this illegal, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable. Troops are suffering because of this Administration\u2019s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.\n\nAll these developments strongly indicate a systemic failure of planning and adaptation by the Secretary of Defense and senior DoD leaders. It is appalling that in month seven of the Iran War, DoD still continues to fail to anticipate and plan for the second-order consequences of the President\u2019s choices to continue this war with no end.\n\nMilitary families and the American people deserve answers about when our heroes will come home and how DoD plans to restore military readiness that has been drained by this war. Supply shortages and unjustified extended deployments also have a real impact on our ability to recruit and retain our servicemembers \u2013 why would anyone sign up to fight when they fear they will be exploited and left without supplies, recourse or support? Not only do we owe our troops the bare minimum respect and support they deserve, but it is a recruitment and retention imperative.\n\nThe stakes couldn\u2019t be higher. The longer this Administration fails to articulate a plan to end this disastrous war, the longer our brave servicemembers will pay the price.\n\nWe request a public hearing to help Congress and the public better understand how we got here and how the Department will ensure it never happens again. We call on the Department to explain to Congress, military families and the American people how it assesses and justifies the readiness impacts of these extended deployments, how it plans for relief rotations and what accounts for the systemic failures to provide troops with the support they need to do the mission the President has illegally asked of them. Importantly, the Department must justify and detail exactly how it plans to sustain our troops in this war indefinitely -- as the President\u2019s negotiations continue to fail.\n\nAs Members of this Committee, we take seriously our responsibility to make sure the U.S. military is properly led, well-resourced, supported and able to conduct its missions. We believe it is critical that we conduct public oversight to ensure that whenever we ask the military to answer the Nation\u2019s call, we will have their backs \u2013 not leave them stranded with no support. For these reasons, we urge the Committee to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity to examine these issues directly with DoD leaders.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-colleagues-oppose-israeli-governments-e1-settlement-tenders/", "Warner, Colleagues Oppose Israeli Government\u2019s E1 Settlement Tenders", "2026-08-28", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) in a joint statement opposing the Israeli government\u2019s decision to issue tenders for the construction of 1,234 housing units in the E1 settlement project, following a joint effort with 45 senators urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately crack down on settler violence and settler expansion in the West Bank.\n\n\u201cConstruction in the E1 area would sever East Jerusalem from major Palestinian population centers and make a viable contiguous Palestinian state under a two-state solution far harder to achieve. For decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have recognized that development in E1 would seriously jeopardize the prospects for a Palestinian state. That concern remains just as urgent today.\n\n\u201cAt a time when settler violence \u2014 including violence against Palestinian Americans \u2014 is reaching unprecedented levels in the West Bank and severe restrictions continue to constrain Palestinian movement and the Palestinian economy, moving forward with construction in E1 risks further destabilizing the West Bank and making a negotiated resolution even more difficult.\n\n\u201cWe urge the Israeli government to immediately rescind these tenders, halt settlement expansion in the West Bank, and take urgent action to rein in settler violence. Without a change in course, Israel risks weakening its international standing and undermining its prospects for long-term security. We also urge the Trump administration to make full use of its existing authorities, including targeted sanctions on individuals and entities.\n\n\u201cThe United States must remain committed to a two-state solution that delivers lasting peace and security for both the Jewish, democratic State of Israel and for a future Palestinian state. Construction in E1 would take us further away from that goal.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-29T11:31:28Z", "2026-08-29T11:32:37Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/new-data-trump-vance-affordability-crisis-has-cost-virginia-families-3200-for-goods-and-services", "New Data: Trump-Vance Affordability Crisis Has Cost Virginia Families $3,200+ For Goods and Services", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are highlighting a new congressional report showing that Virginia families have had to pay at least an extra $3,200 because of rising costs of goods and services on the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s watch.\n\n\u201cAs if it weren\u2019t bad enough that President Trump broke every promise he made to the American people to lower costs, the Trump-Vance Administration has actively made the affordability crisis worse by starting illegal wars and imposing chaotic tariffs on allies. This latest data is damning \u2013 paying $3,200 extra for goods and services may be pocket change to President Trump and his cronies, but not to everyday Americans,\u201d said the senators. \u201cEverywhere we go throughout the Commonwealth, we hear the same thing: Virginians cannot afford this Administration\u2019s disastrous policies. We\u2019ll keep fighting every day to lower the cost of putting food on the table, filling up your car at the pump, and keeping the lights on.\u201d\n\nThis new report finds that Virginians and people across the country have incurred increases in costs of everyday goods and services since President Donald Trump took office. Highlights include:\n\nVirginians have incurred nearly $700 more in housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, since Trump took office.\n\nAverage grocery prices are more than 4 percent higher than under the previous Administration, with Americans paying $310 more for groceries in 2025 than in the previous year. Beef now costs a record-high $7+ per pound, and coffee is now nearly $10 per pound.\n\nVirginians overall have paid an additional $2 billion for gas since the start of Trump\u2019s war of choice in Iran. This comes out to just over $700 extra spent on gas for the average Virginia family.\n\nVirginians are projected to have spent $211 more on electricity in the first half of 2026 than in the first half of 2024. In 2025, Virginia families spent $170 more on electricity than before Trump took office.\n\nBecause of Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 refusal to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, monthly health care premiums through the ACA skyrocketed by more than 50 percent in 2026 compared to last year, with deductibles increasing by more than $1,000 on average.\n\nThe full national report from the Joint Economic Committee \u2013 Minority can be found here, with Virginia-specific data available here and congressional district-specific data available here.\n\nWarner and Kaine have been vigorously and vocally fighting against the Trump-Vance Administration\u2019s catastrophic economic policies and the consequences for Virginia families. In February, the senators introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, legislation that would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to quickly refund Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs and prioritize the interests of small businesses when doing so. Warner and Kaine have highlighted how the Administration\u2019s war of choice in Iran \u2013 which the senators are working tirelessly to bring to an end \u2013 has been pummeling everyday Americans at the gas pump. The senators have also sounded the alarm about the destructive effects of Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget megabill, including making children go hungry to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-data-trump-vance-affordability-crisis-has-cost-virginia-families-3200-for-goods-and-services/", "New Data: Trump-Vance Affordability Crisis Has Cost Virginia Families $3,200+ for Goods and Services", "2026-08-27", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are highlighting a new congressional report showing that Virginia families have had to pay at least an extra $3,200 because of rising costs of goods and services on the Trump-Vance administration\u2019s watch.\n\n\u201cAs if it weren\u2019t bad enough that President Trump broke every promise he made to the American people to lower costs, the Trump-Vance Administration has actively made the affordability crisis worse by starting illegal wars and imposing chaotic tariffs on allies. This latest data is damning \u2013 paying $3,200 extra for goods and services may be pocket change to President Trump and his cronies, but not to everyday Americans,\u201d said the senators. \u201cEverywhere we go throughout the Commonwealth, we hear the same thing: Virginians cannot afford this Administration\u2019s disastrous policies. We\u2019ll keep fighting every day to lower the cost of putting food on the table, filling up your car at the pump, and keeping the lights on.\u201d\n\nThis new report finds that Virginians and people across the country have incurred increases in costs of everyday goods and services since President Donald Trump took office. Highlights include:\n\nVirginians have incurred nearly $700 more in housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, since Trump took office.\n\nAverage grocery prices are more than 4 percent higher than under the previous administration, with Americans paying $310 more for groceries in 2025 than in the previous year. Beef now costs a record-high $7+ per pound, and coffee is now nearly $10 per pound.\n\nVirginians overall have paid an additional $2 billion for gas since the start of Trump\u2019s war of choice in Iran. This comes out to just over $700 extra spent on gas for the average Virginia family.\n\nVirginians are projected to have spent $211 more on electricity in the first half of 2026 than in the first half of 2024. In 2025, Virginia families spent $170 more on electricity than before Trump took office.\n\nBecause of Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 refusal to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits, monthly health care premiums through the ACA skyrocketed by more than 50 percent in 2026 compared to last year, with deductibles increasing by more than $1,000 on average.\n\nThe full national report from the Joint Economic Committee \u2013 Minority can be found here, with Virginia-specific data available here and congressional district-specific data available here.\n\nWarner and Kaine have been vigorously and vocally fighting against the Trump-Vance administration\u2019s catastrophic economic policies and the consequences for Virginia families. In February, the senators introduced the Tariff Refund Act of 2026, legislation that would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to quickly refund Trump\u2019s illegal tariffs and prioritize the interests of small businesses when doing so. Warner and Kaine have highlighted how the administration\u2019s war of choice in Iran \u2013 which the senators are working tirelessly to bring to an end \u2013 has been pummeling everyday Americans at the gas pump. The senators have also sounded the alarm about the destructive effects of Trump and congressional Republicans\u2019 budget megabill, including making children go hungry to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-28T17:11:49Z", "2026-08-28T17:13:14Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-44-senate-colleagues-urge-netanyahu-to-immediately-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank-protect-u-s-citizens/", "Warner, 44 Senate Colleagues Urge Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and 44 of his Senate colleagues urged Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years.\n\n\u201cWe urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,\u201d the senators wrote in a letter signed by almost the entire Senate Democratic Caucus.\n\nThe senators warn that \u201ccontinued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\u201d\n\nPresident Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address.\n\n\u201cLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nAdditionally, the senators call for those responsible for such violent acts to be held accountable and investigated.\n\nIn addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was also signed by Sens. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).\n\nLast year, Sen. Warner and 45 other Senate Democrats urged President Trump to reinforce his stated opposition to the State of Israel\u2019s annexation of territory in the West Bank amidst ongoing focus on implementing and sustaining the much-needed ceasefire in Gaza. The senator also joined 44 Senate Democrats in pushing for large-scale expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire agreement and end the war in the region.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Prime Minister,\n\nWe write in shared concern and opposition to the growing levels of violence in the West Bank. Many of us have previously expressed to President Trump that continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel\u2019s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.\n\nIncidents of fatal violence by settlers have reportedly already surpassed 2025 levels and continue to increase. The last few weeks alone saw a significant surge in violence on both sides, resulting in a large-scale response by Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reported attacks by settlers on mosques. We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people.\n\nWe write particularly on behalf of American citizens who have been killed or threatened in such violence. Many of us have heard first-hand from their families and other constituents who have themselves been threatened without cause by settlers. We have engaged the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and your embassy in Washington to ensure their protection and appreciate measures taken on their behalf, but a more significant response from your government is clearly needed. We ask for your personal and direct engagement and intervention in order to protect our constituents and their families.\n\nPresident Trump and Secretary of State Rubio have expressed their opposition to all violence in the West Bank and actions aimed at annexation, but those concerns have gone unaddressed. Now, we urge you to take the following actions:\n\nIssue clear directives to the Israeli Police and Israeli Defense Forces to prevent and intervene in harassment, threats, and actual use of violence, regardless of the perpetrators.\n\nEnsure that all those responsible for harassment, threats, and violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, are held accountable through a transparent and credible process. This includes completing investigations into and ensuring accountability for the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank since 2022.\n\nStop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank.\n\nLike you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-padilla-demand-answers-from-prediction-market-companies-paying-influencers-spreading-election-disinformation/", "Warner, Padilla Demand Answers from Prediction Market Companies Paying Influencers Spreading Election Disinformation", "2026-08-26", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, demanded answers from the country\u2019s largest prediction market platforms and urged them to take immediate action to protect election integrity ahead of this year\u2019s midterm elections and end relationships with paid influencers on their platforms spreading election disinformation.\n\nIn a letter to Polymarket and Kalshi, the senators raised concerns regarding the platforms\u2019 practice of paying online influencers who have spread false information, including claims that U.S. federal elections are subject to widespread fraud.\n\n\u201cWe are seriously alarmed that your marketing strategy includes paying numerous social media influencers willing to espouse unreliable information on elections,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cIn doing so, we are concerned that your prediction market platforms may be subsidizing \u2014 and amplifying \u2014 social media influencers who echo President Trump\u2019s baseless attacks and sow distrust in American elections. Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, we urge your platforms to reevaluate this practice, thoroughly vet your paid influencers election related activities, and immediately terminate any paid influencer relationships with individuals who undermine free and fair elections.\u201d\n\nThe senators also highlighted the platforms\u2019 ability to allow users to wager on government actions. They emphasized the role of paid Polymarket and Kalshi influencers in those wagers through spreading false claims of election fraud and ultimately undermining election integrity in their promoted social media posts. The Senators specifically flagged paid influencer posts about the anti-voter SAVE Act.\n\n\u201cIn July, a series of major social media influencers, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, all posted similar \u2018paid partnership\u2019 posts linking to Polymarket and Kalshi charts showing the odds of enactment of the SAVE Act dropping to all-time lows. As Majority Leader Thune has noted, much of the pressure on the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, rooted in false claims of widespread election fraud, comes from \u2018paid influencers.\u2019 These paid posts on X, some of which have been removed for violation of X\u2019s policies, added commentary that either undermined confidence in U.S. election integrity, advocated for the passage of this partisan, anti-voter legislation, or both,\u201d continued the senators.\n\nThe senators requested additional information from Polymarket and Kalshi about their paid influencer contracts and strategy, their policies for influencers who post about elections, whether the companies consider disinformation to be fraudulent conduct, and the vetting process of paid influencers in the context of elections.\n\n\u201cAs your platforms work to respond to these questions, we urge you to act now to reevaluate all paid influencer relationships regarding elections, thoroughly vet all existing and future paid influencer arrangements, and immediately terminate any existing relationships with those who spread election misinformation, disinformation, or undermine the integrity of U.S. elections,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nSen. Warner is committed to making sure that our upcoming elections are fair, safe, and secure. Earlier this month, the senator led a group of his colleagues in pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) on their compliance with federal voting laws, as well as cautioning against the misuse of any federal election monitors to target jurisdictions in a partisan manner or interfere with voting or state and local election officials\u2019 administration of the voting process. In February, Sens. Warner and Padilla demanded answers from former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on election security after she joined the FBI in raiding Fulton County, Georgia\u2019s elections office. Sen. Warner also pushed then-DNI Gabbard and ODNI to coordinate an intelligence community (IC) briefing on foreign election threats and requested a plan for defensive cybersecurity measures ahead of upcoming election cycles. In May, Sen. Warner sent a letter to DHS Secretary Mullin raising concerns on reports that CISA is not providing critical election security support to states and localities.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Coplan and Mr. Mansour:\n\nIn operating prediction markets tied to American elections, your platforms have a responsibility not to undermine the confidence in those elections as well as an obligation to protect the integrity of the trading activities on the platforms. With the 2026 midterm elections 69 days away, we are writing to urge your companies, the largest prediction markets platforms in the United States, to assume greater responsibility and take immediate appropriate action to ensure that your platforms do not undermine confidence in American elections.\n\nMisinformation and disinformation pose serious threats to election security and the ability to hold free and fair elections. Recent surveys show that Americans\u2019 confidence in our elections has been falling in the wake of years of baseless attacks on the integrity of our elections, including those led by President Trump and his election denier allies. As a result of these baseless attacks, nonpartisan and bipartisan election workers have endured verbal abuse and threats of physical violence for doing their jobs, causing many experienced personnel to leave the field. By creating and aggressively promoting markets on elections, your platforms now play a significant role in shaping Americans\u2019 perceptions of their elections.\n\nGiven this context, we are seriously alarmed that your marketing strategy includes paying numerous social media influencers willing to espouse unreliable information on elections. In doing so, we are concerned that your prediction market platforms may be subsidizing\u2014and amplifying\u2014social media influencers who echo President Trump\u2019s baseless attacks and sow distrust in American elections. Ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, we urge your platforms to reevaluate this practice, thoroughly vet your paid influencers election related activities, and immediately terminate any paid influencer relationships with individuals who undermine free and fair elections.\n\nSocial media influencer content sponsored by prediction markets that contains election misinformation or disinformation is not a hypothetical concern. In June, influencers under contract with both Kalshi and Polymarket spread false conspiracy theories about recent California elections. These posts appeared on X, formerly Twitter, marked as \u201cpaid partnership,\u201d using prediction market election odds to support baseless claims of election fraud. These posts were only taken down when reported on by the news media, and after they were viewed by millions of Americans. Yet, despite posting previous \u201cpaid partnership\u201d posts violating Polymarket and Kalshi\u2019s terms and conditions, some of these same influencer accounts continue to post misinformation that undermine confidence in elections as paid partners.\n\nPolymarket has committed to keep its \u201cmarkets free from deceptive, manipulative, and unfair trading practices.\u201d Similarly, Kalshi forbids users from \u201cintentionally provid[ing] misleading, erroneous, or fraudulent information.\u201d Polymarket and Kalshi both forbid certain persons with the ability to influence, directly or indirectly, the outcome of the underlying event, from trading on related contracts on the platform. When election related mis- and disinformation is deployed to create false narratives, to manipulate attitudes, to obfuscate facts, and to create public perceptions derived from that mis- and disinformation, it undermines confidence in the accuracy and fairness of the markets that your platforms offer for U.S. elections.\n\nYour companies also have independent obligations under the Commodity Exchange Act to police fraud, enforce compliance with their rules, and guard against prohibited trading practices. These obligations raise additional concerns when platforms are paying individuals to promote contracts while those same individuals may be spreading false information about the events underlying those contracts.\n\nIn addition to offering prediction markets based on election outcomes, both Kalshi and Polymarket offer users the ability to bet on government actions, including the passage of legislation or actions by the executive branch. Also relevant to election misinformation on your platforms is the betting interest in whether President Trump\u2019s partisan, anti-voter legislation known as the SAVE Act or SAVE America Act will be enacted by certain dates. In July, a series of major social media influencers, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, all posted similar \u201cpaid partnership\u201d posts linking to Polymarket and Kalshi charts showing the odds of enactment of the SAVE Act dropping to all-time lows. As Majority Leader Thune has noted, much of the pressure on the Senate to pass the SAVE Act, rooted in false claims of widespread election fraud, comes from \u201cpaid influencers.\u201d These paid posts on X, some of which have been removed for violation of X\u2019s policies, added commentary that either undermined confidence in U.S. election integrity, advocated for the passage of this partisan, anti-voter legislation, or both. A document containing saved images of many of these posts is attached.\n\nSome paid influencer election misinformation posts were taken down after Senate committee staff or the media alerted Polymarket, Kalshi and/or X that these posts appeared to violate X\u2019s paid partnership policy prohibiting \u201c[g]eo-political, political, social issues or crises for commercial purposes\u201d as a content category for paid partnerships. In contrast, posts that were not flagged for X remain online, indicating that both Kalshi or Polymarket continue to enable the dissemination of false content undermining our nation\u2019s elections and are not taking sufficient steps to prevent this harmful content from being published by your paid social media marketers. Prediction markets appear to place responsibility on the social media companies, rather than taking proactive measures with your marketing partners, for posts that violate your own terms and conditions. Given the public track record of many of these influencers, these types of paid sponsorship posts espousing election denial claims were foreseeable \u2013 and should not be repeated.\n\nWe appreciate your platforms\u2019 engagement with Senate staff to answer questions about your paid influencer policies and practices. However, given the issues discussed above, serious questions remain. We therefore request written answers to the following inquiries by September 4, 2026:\n\nDescribe the standard paid influencer contract for your platform, including any restrictions, range of payment amounts, and provide a sample contract.\n\nWhat criteria does a paid influencer need to meet to be considered for an influencer contract with your platform? What type of vetting do paid influencers receive before your platform finalizes a paid influencer contract?\n\nDoes your platform have a policy towards paid influencer content regarding U.S. elections? If so, please provide a copy of that policy.\n\nDoes your platform have a policy towards paid influencer content containing misinformation about elections? If so, please provide a copy of that policy.\n\nPlease explain your company\u2019s rationale for entering into paid influencer contracts with social media influencers who have public records of spreading misinformation or disinformation about U.S. elections.\n\nKalshiEX LLC Rulebook\u2019s Rule 5.17(h) states that \u201cNo Person shall engage in any activity that presents a risk of harm to Kalshi, its Participants, or the public.\u201d In the same document, Rule 5.17 (i) states that \u201cNo Person shall engage in any activity that adversely affects the integrity of the Platform or its underlying systems.\u201d\n\nDoes Kalshi consider the spreading of mis- and disinformation about events that are the subject of event contracts as creating a risk of harm to Kalshi, its Participants, or the public?\n\nDoes Kalshi consider the spreading of mis- and disinformation about events that are the subject of event contracts as an action that adversely affects the integrity of the Kalshi Platform?\n\nPolymarket\u2019s Rulebook Rule 7.2(b) states that \u201cNo Participant shall engage in fraudulent or deceitful conduct. Nor shall any Participant make any untrue or misleading statement or omit a material fact.\u201d\n\nDoes Polymarket consider the spreading of mis- and disinformation about events that are the subject of event contracts as engaging in fraudulent or deceitful conduct?\n\nDoes Polymarket consider the spreading of mis- and disinformation about events that are the subject of event contracts to be the making of an untrue or misleading statement or omit a material fact? Does Polymarket believe that mis- and disinformation is capable of changing the likelihood of events to resolve in a given way, and therefore is information that would influence the result, and payout, of an event contract?\n\nDoes your platform engage in any vetting of paid influencer content regarding U.S. elections, either before or after the influencer posts content for which they are being compensated for by your platform? Please describe.\n\nAre paid influencers allowed to place bets in the prediction markets that they are being paid to promote, such that they could \u201cfront run\u201d their own posts by taking positions that would likely profit following a coordinated social media influencer campaign?\n\nPlease describe the policies, procedures, surveillance systems, or other controls your respective platforms have in place to identify whether paid influencer activity may constitute or contribute to fraud, manipulation, price distortion, or other conduct prohibited by the Commodity Exchange Act, CFTC regulations, or your respective platform rules.\n\nHave either of your platforms investigated paid influencer activity for potential violations of these obligations?\n\nAs your platforms work to respond to these questions, we urge you to act now to reevaluate all paid influencer relationships regarding elections, thoroughly vet all existing and future paid influencer arrangements, and immediately terminate any existing relationships with those who spread election misinformation, disinformation, or undermine the integrity of U.S. elections. Thank you for your continued engagement on these issues, and we urge you to take all necessary actions to prepare for the 2026 election so that prediction markets do not cause additional harms to American election security.\n\nThank you for your continued engagement on these issues, and we urge you to take all necessary actions to prepare for the 2026 election so that prediction markets do not cause additional harms to American election security.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-27T16:10:01Z", "2026-08-27T16:10:50Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-call-on-trump-to-reverse-costly-directive-restoring-outdated-technology-on-aircraft-carriers", "Kaine, Colleagues Call on Trump to Reverse Costly Directive Restoring Outdated Technology on Aircraft Carriers", "2026-08-19", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, joined a group of his colleagues in calling on President Trump to reverse a recent national security memorandum directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam-powered systems on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. The letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).\n\n\u201cCatapults are central to an aircraft carrier\u2019s ability to project airpower around the world, launching aircraft from the flight deck using either pressurized steam or, in newer systems, electrical power and magnetic fields. The Navy moved to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) because it offers more precise control over aircraft launches, can accommodate a wider range of aircraft, and reduces maintenance and manpower requirements. The Navy has spent years improving this technology and has now conducted tens of thousands of successful launches,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cYour plan to revert to steam-powered systems is not feasible. The Ford class was designed around electromagnetic catapults, while steam requires a fundamentally different infrastructure. With the Doris Miller already under construction and its electromagnetic launch equipment reportedly nearly 50 percent complete, your directive threatens to impose significant new costs and delays on a carrier program already critical to meeting the Navy\u2019s global commitments,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cThese projects are planned years in advance and go through intense scrutiny. Your constant interference in them risks wasting time, taxpayer dollars, and the safety of our warfighters. Our servicemembers and their families deserve to know that the equipment they receive is driven by operational requirements, not your whim,\u201d stressed the senators.\n\n\u201cOur aircraft carriers are among the most complex weapons systems ever built, and decisions about their design will shape the Navy\u2019s combat power for decades. Changes of this magnitude should be driven by the operational requirements of the fleet, the judgment of Navy engineers and warfighters, and rigorous assessments of cost, schedule, and capability\u2014not the personal preference of any President,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nFull text of the senators\u2019 letter is available here and below.\n\nDear Mr. President,\n\nWe write to express serious concerns regarding your August 13 national security memorandum directing the Department of Defense to replace electromagnetic catapults with steam-powered systems on future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, beginning with the USS Doris Miller (CVN-81). At precisely the moment the Navy is struggling to meet growing demands for aircraft carriers around the world, you are ordering costly and ill-conceived redesigns of the future carrier fleet.\n\nCatapults are central to an aircraft carrier\u2019s ability to project airpower around the world, launching aircraft from the flight deck using either pressurized steam or, in newer systems, electrical power and magnetic fields. The Navy moved to the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) because it offers more precise control over aircraft launches, can accommodate a wider range of aircraft, and reduces maintenance and manpower requirements. The Navy has spent years improving this technology and has now conducted tens of thousands of successful launches.\n\nYour plan to revert to steam-powered systems is not feasible. The Ford class was designed around electromagnetic catapults, while steam requires a fundamentally different infrastructure. With the Doris Miller already under construction and its electromagnetic launch equipment reportedly nearly 50 percent complete, your directive threatens to impose significant new costs and delays on a carrier program already critical to meeting the Navy\u2019s global commitments.\n\nMost concerning, this directive is not an isolated instance. Your directive follows a growing pattern of personally prescribing the design of some of the military's most complex weapons systems, including a new class of battleships, a twin-engine version of the F-35, and now steam catapults aboard aircraft carriers. These projects are planned years in advance and go through intense scrutiny. Your constant interference in them risks wasting time, taxpayer dollars, and the safety of our warfighters. Our servicemembers and their families deserve to know that the equipment they receive is driven by operational requirements, not your whim.\n\nWe therefore request answers to the following questions:\n\nWhat technical, engineering, operational, and cost analyses informed your August 13 directive? Before it was issued, did the Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary of the Navy, NAVSEA, NAVAIR, or other Navy technical authorities recommend replacing the electromagnetic catapults with steam?\n\nWhat is the Navy\u2019s current estimate of the total cost and schedule impact of redesigning CVN-81 to incorporate steam catapults, including engineering and redesign costs, equipment already procured or under contract, contract modifications, and potential construction delays?\n\nHow would replacing electromagnetic catapults with steam affect the operational capabilities, including sortie generation, maintenance requirements, and its ability to launch the Navy\u2019s planned future carrier air wing, including unmanned aircraft?\n\nWhat impact would any delay to future carriers have on the Navy\u2019s ability to generate sufficient aircraft carrier presence to meet projected global operational requirements, particularly given the increasingly extended deployments already being required of the existing carrier fleet?\n\nOur aircraft carriers are among the most complex weapons systems ever built, and decisions about their design will shape the Navy\u2019s combat power for decades. Changes of this magnitude should be driven by the operational requirements of the fleet, the judgment of Navy engineers and warfighters, and rigorous assessments of cost, schedule, and capability \u2013 not the personal preference of any President.\n\nSincerely,\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-21T05:30:57Z", "2026-08-21T05:32:22Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-latest-reporting-on-us-strikes-targeting-random-fishing-boats", "Kaine Statement on Latest Reporting on U.S. Strikes Targeting Random Fishing Boats", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement regarding public reporting detailing a series of mysterious attacks on random fishing boats without known ties to narcotrafficking operations:\n\n\u201cBeginning in April, The Guardian, The New York Times and the Washington Post have published a set of stories about U.S.-connected attacks on Ecuadoran fishing boats. These attacks are separate from the U.S. military attacks carried out as part of the recently shuttered Operation Southern Spear, the campaign that struck 60+ boats in international waters, killing more than 220 people aboard. But the stories are consistent with a tragic U.S. decision to kill people in the Americas without any meaningful requirement that they are engaging in narcotrafficking operations.\n\n\u201cI have maintained since the beginning of these fatal boat strikes in September 2025 that they are illegal, that they are killing innocent people and that they are ineffective in reducing drug flow into the U.S. I\u2019ve reached those conclusions based on extensive discussions over many months with those involved and my own in-depth review of the relevant classified documents produced by the Pentagon and Department of Justice regarding these attacks. I have stated my objections publicly during committee hearings throughout 2025 and 2026 and explained my profound opposition to this strategy in a public letter to President Trump on August 3. One day later, the Pentagon announced that it was ending Operation Southern Spear.\n\n\u201cThus far, the Administration has refused to declassify virtually any of the relevant material that I\u2019ve reviewed. I believe they have refused to do so because they are ashamed. The public should see the original presidential order initiating the campaign, the Department of Justice legal opinion attempting to justify fatal strikes so long as certain conditions were met, the Department of Defense order allowing fatal strikes far beyond the legal limits specified by the DOJ and all information about the strikes themselves. The Pentagon relishes showing selectively edited video of exploding boats but is deeply afraid to provide full video of attacks killing innocent people, including struggling shipwrecked sailors who had no idea that the most powerful military on earth marked them for execution.\n\n\u201cIn response to my objections, Administration spokespeople usually refuse to provide information or blandly claim that these actions are against narcotraffickers. If that were true, they would not be so afraid to make public the documents that I\u2019ve described above.\n\n\u201cThe good news is that the Administration has now, following pressure from Congress and diligent journalists, ended the U.S. boat strike campaign. Instead, it has recently announced a new multinational counternarcotics operation in the Americas. If it\u2019s operated within the bounds of the law, that can be a very positive development. But the bloodthirsty attacks of the last year demand that all engage in serious oversight of this new strategy to make sure it meets standards that the American people expect.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/following-reports-of-conditions-aboard-uss-lincoln-warner-kaine-press-trump-administration-on-effect-of-extended-deployment-on-military-families/", "Following Reports of Conditions Aboard USS Lincoln, Warner, Kaine Press Trump Administration on Effect of Extended Deployment on Military Families", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today pressed the Trump administration about the impacts of extended deployments on military families back home.\n\nAt a roundtable Sen. Warner hosted with military families in June, he heard from spouses and family members about the effects of USS Gerald R. Ford\u2019s record long deployment. Last month, Sens. Warner and Kaine visited USS Ford and met with sailors to discuss what effects the deployment had on them.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of the Navy Acting Secretary Hung Cao, the senators wrote, \u201cWe write in response to growing public alarm related to the conditions of recent and ongoing military deployments. Combat deployments are always challenging in any number of ways \u2013 and extended deployments that keep servicemembers separated from loved ones and raise long term readiness concerns, compound these challenges. We are particularly frustrated that the ongoing war of choice with Iran has resulted in these notably long and challenging deployments, and that our nation\u2019s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cIn recent days the public has seen alarming reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Following those reports it was announced that the USS Lincoln would be returning home after more than 265 days deployed. This was a deployment approaching nine months \u2013 during which it set the record for consecutive days at sea. We are particularly concerned by public reports detailing multiple instances of the health and well-being of servicemembers being stretched to the max.\u201d\n\nThe senators also noted that President Trump characterized USS Lincoln\u2019s deployment as \u201cnot nearly long enough,\u201d and disagreed with reports that family members were concerned about conditions on the ship. They also pointed out that USS George HW Bush deployed from Norfolk, VA earlier this year and remains in the Middle East, and USS Ford returned to Norfolk in May after a historic 11-month deployment.\n\nThe senators detailed their conversations with some of the crew and leadership from USS Ford during their visit last month. The sailors talked about the stresses and challenges of the deployment, especially the crew\u2019s worries about the wellbeing of their families back home. The senators stressed the importance of supporting families, particularly during these challenging periods, and the noted the strain that these extended deployments have on families.\n\nWarner and Kaine concluded with a series of questions related to the impacts of these deployments, including what data collection the administration is doing to fully understand these challenges and needed support, and inquired as well as to what Secretary Cao heard during his meeting with family members of sailors deployed on USS Lincoln.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth and Acting Secretary Cao:\n\nWe write in response to growing public alarm related to the conditions of recent and ongoing military deployments. Combat deployments are always challenging in any number of ways \u2013 and extended deployments that keep servicemembers separated from loved ones and raise long term readiness concerns, compound these challenges. We are particularly frustrated that the ongoing war of choice with Iran has resulted in these notably long and challenging deployments, and that our nation\u2019s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.\n\nIn recent days the public has seen alarming reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Following those reports it was announced that the USS Lincoln would be returning home after more than 265 days deployed. This was a deployment approaching nine months \u2013 during which it set the record for consecutive days at sea. We are particularly concerned by public reports detailing multiple instances of the health and well-being of servicemembers being stretched to the max.\n\nUnfortunately, even in the face of these hard truths, this administration has continued to proceed in a callous and flippant manner. On Friday, when asked about the USS Lincoln\u2019s deployment, President Trump characterized it as \u201cnot nearly long enough.\u201d He also flatly disagreed with reports that family members were concerned about conditions on the ship.\n\nThe deployment of the USS Lincoln came alongside that of the USS George HW Bush, which earlier this year deployed from Norfolk, VA and remains engaged in the Middle East. It also follows that of the USS Gerald R. Ford, which in May returned to Norfolk after an 11-month deployment that was extended to cover the Caribbean and coast of Venezuela, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.\n\nLast month, we had the privilege of sitting down with some of the crew and leadership from the USS Ford, and we spent several hours with the ship during its ongoing maintenance period in Hampton Roads. In those conversations we heard about the burden and the challenges of the recent deployment \u2013 the longest since the Vietnam War \u2013 which included a dramatic fire and a series of plumbing issues aboard the ship. During many of the conversations we had with the crew, they emphasized that one of their frequent worries during the extended deployment was the well-being of their families back home. We heard many stories reflecting the weight that this worry places on our sailors as they perform their duties.\n\nAs you both know, military service is shouldered by the entire family, with partners and spouses, kids, parents, and other family members working to balance the challenges that exist back home while a loved one is deployed. Over the years, Congress has worked hard with successive administrations to improve upon the network of support available to these families, while local communities and support organizations across the country have also stepped in to fill gaps as best they can.\n\nIt is clear that more must be done to support these families, and we worry about the strain that these extended deployments will continue to have on servicemembers in combat and their families back home. The USS Lincoln is now reportedly being replaced by the USS George Washington, with no strategic end to this war in sight. Secretary Hegseth, your recent comments suggested that the U.S. naval blockade against Iran can continue \u201cindefinitely\u201d and that \u201cthe United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we\u2019ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we\u2019ll continue to.\u201d\n\nAgainst the backdrop of multiple long and extended deployments for other ships in the region, we ask that you please provide answers to the following questions, related to these deployment impacts on military families:\n\nSecretary Cao, on August 6 you met with family members of sailors deployed on the USS Lincoln. What challenges did you hear expressed by those family members related to the deployment? What concerns were expressed related to conditions on the ship?\n\nHow does family readiness factor into force management decisions? What factors are taken into account?\n\nWhat analysis was done in considering the decisions to extend the USS Ford and Lincoln deployments?\n\nWhat analysis was done to consider the extensions of other surface combatants supporting operations in CENTCOM?\n\nWhat data do you actively collect related to the impact of extended deployments on military spouse employment?\n\nFor spouses who are also in the military or are civilian employees, are there additional flexibilities that are made available to them as a spouse\u2019s deployment is extended?\n\nWhat data do you actively collect related to the impact of extended deployments on childcare?\n\nAre there additional resources that are made available to families as a deployment is extended?\n\nPlease provide the most recent data related to the impact of extended deployments on servicemember retention. Of particular note, what is the role of family impact in a servicemember\u2019s retention?\n\nWhat mental health resources or services are made available to servicemembers and their families during extended deployment? Do those resources continue post-deployment?\n\nAlongside the recent extended deployments, has there been increased demand for various support services offered through your departments, including Fleet and Family Support Centers, non-medical counseling, financial counseling, and other family support programs?\n\nAre additional resources provided to those programs alongside extended deployments, and is additional resourcing needed from Congress?\n\nIn light of recent and ongoing deployments, what changes have you implemented, or are considering related to support programs for families during extended deployments?\n\nWe thank you for your response to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-presses-meta-ceo-on-ads-featuring-child-sexual-abuse-material-and-non-consensual-intimate-images/", "Warner Presses Meta CEO on Ads Featuring Child Sexual Abuse Material and Non-Consensual Intimate Images", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) raised the alarm over a recent report that Meta ran advertisements across its platforms that featured child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual intimate images (NCII). In a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Sen. Warner pressed Meta on advertisements that have run and likely continue to run on their platforms, demanding answers about how the company allowed the ads to pass its review systems, how much Meta profited from them, and what steps the company has taken to identify and remove similar content.\n\nResearch from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) found that Meta ran dozens of paid advertisements over a nine-month period containing AI-generated CSAM or promoting tools that could be used to create NCII. Researchers identified more than 50 image and video ads containing exploitative imagery of children in Meta\u2019s publicly accessible Ad Library, which does not provide users with a mechanism to report ads.\n\nThe ads included content directing users to apps or websites that could be used to create NCII, images of children as thumbnails leading to sexually explicit content, and images in which a child\u2019s face had been superimposed onto an adult\u2019s body. The findings come despite Meta\u2019s own advertising standards that prohibit \u201cimagery depicting nudity, sexual activity, depictions of people in explicit or sexually suggestive positions, or activities that are sexually suggestive.\u201d Researchers found that some of the ads were distributed to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of users.\n\nSen. Warner wrote, \u201cIt strains credulity that Meta was (or is) unknowingly hosting\u2014and profiting from\u2014such blatantly illegal content, when your company explicitly states that it reviews and approves all ads. The CSAM and NCII that Meta hosted were paid ads that Meta\u2019s own systems reviewed and approved per Meta\u2019s advertising procedures. Researchers also found that new ads continued to appear even after Meta was directly notified of the problem, and that that notification followed a July 2026 BBC investigation that found similar CSAM-linked ads running on Instagram in India.\u201d\n\nThe letter concludes with the senator pressing Meta for an explanation on how the identified advertisements were approved and distributed on its platforms and to provide detailed information about the company\u2019s handling of ads involving child exploitation and \u201cnudify\u201d services. Among other questions, Sen. Warner asked Meta to provide:\n\nThe dates the ads were detected and reported, as well as an explanation for any delay between detection and reporting;\n\nInformation about whether Meta distributed, transported, or advertised CSAM;\n\nAn explanation of whether and how Meta reviews advertisements before publication, as its policies state;\n\nAn explanation for why identified ads remain in Meta\u2019s Ad Library after being detected and removed from circulation;\n\nThe unique IDs for every ad placed by Meta\u2019s eleven Chinese resellers that was removed from Meta\u2019s platforms or Ad Library during the past two years for violating policies related to child abuse, exploitation, or \u201cnudify\u201d ads; and\n\nThe number of paid ads later flagged for nudity or exploitation that were shown to users under the age of 18.\n\nSen. Warner has led efforts in Congress to crack down on AI-generated sexual abuse material and non-consensual intimate images. In July, he introduced the SAFE AI Act, legislation to ban federal agencies from procuring AI systems capable of generating CSAM or NCII, prohibit software designed to circumvent AI safety controls, and create a private right of actions for survivors whose likeness is used to generate AI-produced CSAM.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Mr. Zuckerberg:\n\nI write to express my alarm and frustration over public reporting that child sexual abuse material (\u201cCSAM\u201d) and non-consensual intimate imagery (\u201cNCII\u201d) were featured in advertisements that have run, and likely continue to run, on Meta Platforms, Inc\u2019s (\u201cMeta\u201d) services and platforms. Recent reporting suggests that some of Meta\u2019s advertising partners, including companies based in China, are placing thousands of ads that depict women and girls simulating sexual acts on Meta platforms. It is unacceptable that any of this material appears on Meta\u2019s platforms and appalling that your company is seemingly profiting from it. I request specific and detailed answers as to how Meta repeatedly allowed these ads to appear and the corrective action that Meta is taking in response.\n\nResearch from the Tech Transparency Project (\u201cTTP\u201d) indicates that Meta ran dozens of paid advertisements containing AI-generated CSAM across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Threads over a nine-month period. Distributing, transmitting, and advertising CSAM are federal crimes punishable by mandatory minimum sentences ranging from five to fifteen years. Researchers identified more than 50 image and video ads containing exploitative imagery of children available in Meta\u2019s own public Ad Library. While advertisements in the Ad Library may not be running, they remain accessible to the public. Concerningly, these ads reportedly could not be reported to Meta\u2019s safety systems because there is no reporting mechanism for ads that are not actively running despite the fact that they remain in the Ad Library.\n\nAccording to TTP\u2019s research, the ads ran between November 2025 and early August 2026, and reached users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and more than a dozen European countries. At least one advertisement reaching over 2,500 social media accounts in Europe alone. Some ads directed users to \u201cnudify\u201d apps or websites (digital tools to create NCII); others used images of children as thumbnails leading to sexually explicit content or superimposed a child\u2019s face onto an adult\u2019s body.\n\nIt strains credulity that Meta was (or is) unknowingly hosting\u2014and profiting from\u2014such blatantly illegal content, when your company explicitly states that it reviews and approves all ads. The CSAM and NCII that Meta hosted were paid ads that Meta\u2019s own systems reviewed and approved per Meta\u2019s advertising procedures. Researchers also found that new ads continued to appear even after Meta was directly notified of the problem, and that that notification followed a July 2026 BBC investigation that found similar CSAM-linked ads running on Instagram in India.\n\nImage Based Sexual Abuse (\u201cIBSA\u201d) is pervasive and deeply harmful. Depictions of nudity and sexual activity violate Meta\u2019s own community standards and, very importantly in these instances, its own advertising standards. Meta\u2019s advertising policy on Adult Nudity and Sexual Activity states that \u201cAds must not contain imagery depicting nudity, sexual activity, depictions of people in explicit or sexually suggestive positions, or activities that are sexually suggestive.\u201d [emphasis added]. Contrast that policy with the TTP\u2019s findings that \u201cexplicit AI-generated [CSAM] and images of minors alongside sexually suggestive statements\u201d were prominent in dozens of paid advertisements that Meta directed towards thousands, if not tens of thousands, of individuals.\n\nI am seeking answers about the corrective actions that Meta is taking in response to these disturbing reports. If Meta has information about the advertisements identified in the Wired reporting, provide a list of those ads, as well as detailed answers to the following questions, accompanied by documentation sufficient to substantiate the answers provided, not later than August 26, 2026:\n\n1. Section 2258A of Title 18 of the United States Code requires electronic communication service providers to report apparent CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (\u201cNCMEC\u201d) \u201cas soon as reasonably possible\u201d upon obtaining actual knowledge.\n\na. Provide for each ad referenced in the reporting by Wired:\n\ni. the date on which each of these advertisements was identified internally;\n\nii. the date (if ever) each of these advertisements was reported to NCMEC; and\n\niii. and the basis for any delay between detection and reporting.\n\nYou do not need to provide the content of the ad; a unique ID # is sufficient.\n\n2. Provide for each ad referenced in the reporting by Wired:\n\na. the date on which each of these advertisements was identified internally;\n\nb. the date (if ever) each of these advertisements was reported to removed; and\n\nc. and the basis for any delay between detection and removal.\n\nYou do not need to provide the content of the ad; a unique ID # is sufficient.\n\n3. Sections 2251, 2252, and 2252A of Title 18 of the United States Code make it a crime to knowingly distribute, transport, or advertise CSAM, including computer-generated CSAM.\n\na. In the instances noted in the Wired article cited in this letter, did Meta distribute, transport, or advertise CSAM, including computer-generated CSAM?\n\ni. If the answer offered is \u2018no\u2019, provide an explanation sufficient to support such a claim.\n\nb. Does Meta review advertisements before the company publishes them across its platforms, as your policies state?\n\ni. Do you assert that any such review of a given advertisement and subsequent approval to publish a given advertisement does not constitute knowledge for the purpose of 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 1446A, 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2251, 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2252, and 18 U.S.C. \u00a7 2252A?\n\nii. Why were the advertisements not removed from the Ad Library even after they were detected and removed from active circulation?\n\nc. Please confirm on behalf of Meta your understanding that federal law does not require a real child to have been used to produce the underlying image for CSAM to be illegal.\n\nd. Provide a list of every ad placed by any of Meta\u2019s eleven Chinese resellers that Meta removed from its platform or ad library for violating policies on child abuse and exploitation.\n\ni. Between which dates did each ad run?\n\nii. How were the users to whom the ads were targeted identified or selected?\n\niii. How many impressions did each ad receive in the United States?\n\niv. How many impressions did each ad receive in total?\n\nv. How much money was Meta paid to run each ad?\n\nvi. Did Meta retain the revenues generated from running each of these ads?\n\nvii. Does Meta, as a matter of policy, retain revenue for advertisements that are illegal in nature, or feature material, like CSAM or NCII, that is illegal under U.S. law? If no, what does Meta do with any such revenue?\n\nYou do not need to provide the content of the ad; a unique ID # is sufficient.\n\n4. Provide a list of all ads placed by any of Meta\u2019s eleven Chinese resellers that were removed for violating policies on nudify ads within the past two years. For the purpose of this question, a \u201cnudify ad\u201d is any advertisement offering, or linking to, a service that a used can use to digitally manipulate an image of an identifiable individual (as that term is used in 47 U.S.C. \u00a7 223, as amended by the TAKE IT DOWN Act, Pub. L. No. 119-12 (2025)) in order to create an intimate visual depiction (as that term is used in 15 U.S.C. \u00a7 6851).\n\na. Between which dates did each ad run?\n\nb. How were the users to whom the ads were targeted identified or selected?\n\nc. How many impressions did each ad receive in the United States?\n\nd. How many impressions did each ad receive in total?\n\ne. How much money was Meta paid to run each ad?\n\nf. Did Meta retain the revenues generated from running each of these ads?\n\ng. Does Meta, as a matter of policy, retain revenue for advertisements that are illegal in nature, or feature material, like CSAM or NCII, that is illegal under U.S. law? If no, what does Meta do with any such revenues?\n\nYou do not need to provide the content of the ad; a unique ID # is sufficient.\n\n5. Meta reviewed and approved paid advertisements that reportedly contained illegal content, including CSAM. Arguably, the protections offered to interactive computer services under 47 U.S. Code \u00a7 230 do not apply, as Meta is the publisher and monetizer of this content.\n\na. Did Meta undertake an analysis of its legal liability for publishing and hosting the content identified in this reporting?\n\n6. How many paid advertisements later flagged by Meta\u2019s systems for adult nudity, child sexual exploitation, adult sexual exploitation, or human exploitation were shown to users aged 13-18 in the U.S. in calendar year 2025? As of August 24, 2026?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter, and I look forward to your response.", 1, "2026-08-19T05:29:02Z", "2026-08-19T05:30:24Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/following-reports-of-conditions-aboard-uss-lincoln-warner-kaine-press-trump-administration-on-effect-of-extended-deployment-on-military-families", "Following Reports of Conditions Aboard USS Lincoln, Warner, Kaine Press Trump Administration on Effect of Extended Deployment on Military Families", "2026-08-18", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today pressed the Trump administration about the impacts of extended deployments on military families back home.\n\nLast month, Sens. Warner and Kaine visited USS Ford and met with sailors to discuss what effects the deployment had on them.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of the Navy Acting Secretary Hung Cao, the senators wrote, \u201cWe write in response to growing public alarm related to the conditions of recent and ongoing military deployments. Combat deployments are always challenging in any number of ways \u2013 and extended deployments that keep servicemembers separated from loved ones and raise long term readiness concerns, compound these challenges. We are particularly frustrated that the ongoing war of choice with Iran has resulted in these notably long and challenging deployments, and that our nation\u2019s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.\u201d\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cIn recent days the public has seen alarming reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Following those reports it was announced that the USS Lincoln would be returning home after more than 265 days deployed. This was a deployment approaching nine months \u2013 during which it set the record for consecutive days at sea. We are particularly concerned by public reports detailing multiple instances of the health and well-being of servicemembers being stretched to the max.\u201d\n\nThe senators also noted that President Trump characterized USS Lincoln\u2019s deployment as \u201cnot nearly long enough,\u201d and disagreed with reports that family members were concerned about conditions on the ship. They also pointed out that USS George HW Bush deployed from Norfolk, VA earlier this year and remains in the Middle East, and USS Ford returned to Norfolk in May after a historic 11-month deployment.\n\nThe senators detailed their conversations with some of the crew and leadership from USS Ford during their visit last month. The sailors talked about the stresses and challenges of the deployment, especially the crew\u2019s worries about the wellbeing of their families back home. The senators stressed the importance of supporting families, particularly during these challenging periods, and the noted the strain that these extended deployments have on families.\n\nWarner and Kaine concluded with a series of questions related to the impacts of these deployments, including what data collection the administration is doing to fully understand these challenges and needed support, and inquired as well as to what Secretary Cao heard during his meeting with family members of sailors deployed on USS Lincoln.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Hegseth and Acting Secretary Cao:\n\nWe write in response to growing public alarm related to the conditions of recent and ongoing military deployments. Combat deployments are always challenging in any number of ways \u2013 and extended deployments that keep servicemembers separated from loved ones and raise long term readiness concerns, compound these challenges. We are particularly frustrated that the ongoing war of choice with Iran has resulted in these notably long and challenging deployments, and that our nation\u2019s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.\n\nIn recent days the public has seen alarming reports about conditions on the USS Abraham Lincoln. Following those reports it was announced that the USS Lincoln would be returning home after more than 265 days deployed. This was a deployment approaching nine months \u2013 during which it set the record for consecutive days at sea. We are particularly concerned by public reports detailing multiple instances of the health and well-being of servicemembers being stretched to the max.\n\nUnfortunately, even in the face of these hard truths, this administration has continued to proceed in a callous and flippant manner. On Friday, when asked about the USS Lincoln\u2019s deployment, President Trump characterized it as \u201cnot nearly long enough.\u201d He also flatly disagreed with reports that family members were concerned about conditions on the ship.\n\nThe deployment of the USS Lincoln came alongside that of the USS George HW Bush, which earlier this year deployed from Norfolk, VA and remains engaged in the Middle East. It also follows that of the USS Gerald R. Ford, which in May returned to Norfolk after an 11-month deployment that was extended to cover the Caribbean and coast of Venezuela, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.\n\nLast month, we had the privilege of sitting down with some of the crew and leadership from the USS Ford, and we spent several hours with the ship during its ongoing maintenance period in Hampton Roads. In those conversations we heard about the burden and the challenges of the recent deployment \u2013 the longest since the Vietnam War \u2013 which included a dramatic fire and a series of plumbing issues aboard the ship. During many of the conversations we had with the crew, they emphasized that one of their frequent worries during the extended deployment was the well-being of their families back home. We heard many stories reflecting the weight that this worry places on our sailors as they perform their duties.\n\nAs you both know, military service is shouldered by the entire family, with partners and spouses, kids, parents, and other family members working to balance the challenges that exist back home while a loved one is deployed. Over the years, Congress has worked hard with successive administrations to improve upon the network of support available to these families, while local communities and support organizations across the country have also stepped in to fill gaps as best they can.\n\nIt is clear that more must be done to support these families, and we worry about the strain that these extended deployments will continue to have on servicemembers in combat and their families back home. The USS Lincoln is now reportedly being replaced by the USS George Washington, with no strategic end to this war in sight. Secretary Hegseth, your recent comments suggested that the U.S. naval blockade against Iran can continue \u201cindefinitely\u201d and that \u201cthe United States Navy can maintain a blockade like that because we\u2019ll rotate ships in and out, as we have, and we\u2019ll continue to.\u201d\n\nAgainst the backdrop of multiple long and extended deployments for other ships in the region, we ask that you please provide answers to the following questions, related to these deployment impacts on military families:\n\nSecretary Cao, on August 6 you met with family members of sailors deployed on the USS Lincoln. What challenges did you hear expressed by those family members related to the deployment? What concerns were expressed related to conditions on the ship?\n\nHow does family readiness factor into force management decisions? What factors are taken into account?\n\nWhat analysis was done in considering the decisions to extend the USS Ford and Lincoln deployments?\n\nWhat analysis was done to consider the extensions of other surface combatants supporting operations in CENTCOM?\n\nWhat data do you actively collect related to the impact of extended deployments on military spouse employment?\n\nFor spouses who are also in the military or are civilian employees, are there additional flexibilities that are made available to them as a spouse\u2019s deployment is extended?\n\nWhat data do you actively collect related to the impact of extended deployments on childcare?\n\nAre there additional resources that are made available to families as a deployment is extended?\n\nPlease provide the most recent data related to the impact of extended deployments on servicemember retention. Of particular note, what is the role of family impact in a servicemember\u2019s retention?\n\nWhat mental health resources or services are made available to servicemembers and their families during extended deployment? Do those resources continue post-deployment?\n\nAlongside the recent extended deployments, has there been increased demand for various support services offered through your departments, including Fleet and Family Support Centers, non-medical counseling, financial counseling, and other family support programs?\n\nAre additional resources provided to those programs alongside extended deployments, and is additional resourcing needed from Congress?\n\nIn light of recent and ongoing deployments, what changes have you implemented, or are considering related to support programs for families during extended deployments?\n\nWe thank you for your response to this matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-20T05:28:41Z", "2026-08-20T05:29:58Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/amid-ongoing-conflict-warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-extend-temporary-protected-status-for-sudanese-nationals", "Amid Ongoing Conflict, Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese Nationals", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) led their colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan as ongoing violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis continue to put citizens at grave risk.\n\nTPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens in the U.S. who are endangered by conditions in their home country resulting from extraordinary events such as ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic. TPS status is granted for set periods ranging from six to 18 months, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to extend a country\u2019s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Sudan\u2019s current TPS designation is set to expire October 19, 2026. An extension and redesignation would protect current Sudanese TPS holders from returning to the country amid its ongoing conflict and would offer protected status to Sudanese nationals who arrived in the United States after August 16, 2023.\n\n\"After war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), DHS extended and redesignated Sudan for TPS, citing ongoing armed conflict, widespread violence, severe humanitarian conditions, mass displacement, and serious human rights abuses. DHS again extended Sudan's TPS designation in 2025 after determining that these conditions continued to prevent the safe return of Sudanese nationals,\" the senators wrote.\n\n\u201cThe armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF has intensified and expanded, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Fighting has spread across much of the country, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions of people, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, severe food insecurity, and credible reports of war crimes and other serious human rights violations. The U.S. government has determined that the RSF and SAF have committed war crimes and that the RSF is responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide. Secretary Rubio has further recognized the genocide in Sudan and joined G7 countries in warning against further atrocities in El Obeid in July 2026,\" the senators highlighted.\n\n\u201cHumanitarian access remains severely restricted, and large areas of Sudan continue to be unsafe for civilians, making the return of Sudanese nationals unsafe under current conditions. Sudan continues to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions \u2013 including the risk of famine in several areas \u2013 that have been compounded by climate shocks, widespread food insecurity, and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, hospitals, schools, water systems, roads, and electrical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed, severely limiting access to basic services and humanitarian assistance,\u201d the senators concluded.\n\nThe senators also noted that the Trump administration has already acknowledged the dangers posed by the war and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The State Department maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for the entire country, citing risks including armed conflict, civil unrest, and terrorism. Furthermore, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended operations since April 2023, leaving the U.S. government unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan.\n\nIn addition to Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).\n\nSince the conflict erupted, Warner and Kaine have been outspoken voices in the Senate on the need for increased diplomatic and humanitarian support for Sudan. In June 2025, the senators sponsored the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to provide qualified TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients a path to legal permanent residency. In January 2025, Warner and Kaine urged then-President Biden to extend or redesignate TPS for all 17 TPS-eligible countries, including Sudan. The senators have fought to strengthen the U.S. response to the Sudan crisis, introducing the Response to Conflict in Sudan Act to bolster and coordinate the U.S. response to the war in Sudan by codifying the Special Envoy for Sudan position at the U.S. Department of State.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe write to urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan. The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan continue to place its citizens at severe risk. An extension would protect current Sudanese TPS holders from returning to Sudan amid ongoing violence, and a redesignation would offer protected status to Sudanese nationals who arrived after August 16, 2023.\n\nAfter war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), DHS extended and redesignated Sudan for TPS, citing ongoing armed conflict, widespread violence, severe humanitarian conditions, mass displacement, and serious human rights abuses. DHS again extended Sudan's TPS designation in 2025 after determining that these conditions continued to prevent the safe return of Sudanese nationals.\n\nThe armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF has intensified and expanded, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Fighting has spread across much of the country, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions of people, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, severe food insecurity, and credible reports of war crimes and other serious human rights violations. The U.S. government has determined that the RSF and SAF have committed war crimes and that the RSF is responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide. Secretary Rubio has further recognized the genocide in Sudan and joined G7 countries in warning against further atrocities in El Obeid in July 2026.\n\nHumanitarian access remains severely restricted, and large areas of Sudan continue to be unsafe for civilians, making the return of Sudanese nationals unsafe under current conditions. Sudan continues to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions \u2013 including the risk of famine in several areas \u2013 that have been compounded by climate shocks, widespread food insecurity, and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, hospitals, schools, water systems, roads, and electrical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed, severely limiting access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.\n\nMore than 30 million people \u2013 two-thirds of Sudan's population \u2013 are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 15 million children. More than 8 million people are internally displaced, making Sudan the world's largest internal displacement crisis. Millions more have fled to neighboring countries as refugees. Humanitarian organizations continue to warn that funding shortfalls, ongoing insecurity, and restrictions on aid delivery are preventing life-saving assistance from reaching millions of people in need. These overlapping crises \u2013 ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement, widespread hunger, disease outbreaks, climate-related disasters, and the collapse of essential services \u2013 have significantly worsened since Sudan's most recent TPS designation and continue to make the safe return of Sudanese nationals impossible.\n\nThe posture of the State Department demonstrates the dangers of the war in Sudan. The U.S. Department of State currently maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for all of Sudan, warning U.S. citizens not to travel to the country due to ongoing armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, landmines, and serious health and security risks. The State Department also notes that the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended operations since April 2023 and that the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan. These conditions underscore the continued instability throughout the country and further demonstrate that Sudan remains unsafe for the return of Sudanese nationals.\n\nAt the beginning of this administration, approximately 1.2 million foreign nationals were protected under TPS, including 1,790 individuals from Sudan. These individuals make significant contributions to the U.S. economy and the communities they call home. They are taxpayers, consumers, entrepreneurs, and essential members of the workforce. According to the American Immigration Council, TPS holders collectively generated more than $10.3 billion in household income, held nearly $8 billion in spending power, and contributed over $2.2 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2021 alone. Beyond these measurable economic contributions, TPS holders strengthen local economies by purchasing homes, renting apartments, starting businesses, and filling critical labor shortages across a range of industries. Although Sudanese TPS beneficiaries represent only a portion of the overall TPS population, they likewise contribute to the U.S. workforce and economy while lawfully employed under TPS.\n\nIn light of these circumstances, we strongly urge you to extend and redesignate Sudan for TPS. The ongoing armed conflict, catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and widespread human rights abuses make the safe return of Sudanese nationals impossible at this time, meeting the legal standard for extension and redesignation of TPS under Sec. 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. TPS for Sudanese nationals in the United States remains both a humanitarian necessity and a prudent policy to ensure that individuals are not forced to return to conditions that continue to threaten their safety and well-being.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of this request.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-will-challenge-trumps-deranged-threat-to-bomb-the-shit-out-of-oman", "Kaine Will Challenge Trump\u2019s Deranged Threat To \u201cBomb the Shit\u201d Out of Oman", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, President Donald Trump threatened to \u201cbomb the shit\u201d out of Oman if it interferes with his oft-threatened blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In response, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump is increasingly deranged in his one-man campaign to threaten and initiate wars all over the globe. His wars are illegal since they are not approved by Congress, but he keeps on despite the massive toll on our troops, their families, the pocketbooks of everyday Americans, our stock of munitions and our alliances around the globe. His threat to waste even more of our dwindling weapons on Oman\u2014a country the United States has a strong diplomatic relationship and a free trade agreement with\u2014makes real adversaries like China and Russia rub their hands with glee. I will file a War Powers Resolution prohibiting military action against Oman as soon as we return from August recess and hope to find some Republican colleagues to join with Democrats and check this blindly stumbling power-drunk President from inflicting more damage on the U.S. and the world.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-68-million-in-federal-funding-to-modernize-jamestown-scotland-ferry", "Warner, Kaine Announce $68 Million in Federal Funding to Modernize Jamestown-Scotland Ferry", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $68,000,000 in federal grant funding to replace the Surry ferry, part of the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet. This funding comes from the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program for Fiscal Year 2026, which is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped negotiate and pass.\n\n\u201cThe Surry ferry has been carrying passengers and connecting communities across the James River for almost 50 years,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to announce that this funding will help modernize the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet and help make Virginia\u2019s transit system better for our environment.\u201d\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to fund lower emission transportation vehicles. Last year, the senators announced over $70 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s Low- or No-Emission Program to improve Virginia\u2019s bus systems and reduce their emissions. In 2023, they secured more than $171 million in funding to invest in American-built, low-emission buses and bus facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/amid-ongoing-conflict-warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-extend-temporary-protected-status-for-sudanese-nationals/", "Amid Ongoing Conflict, Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Sudanese Nationals", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) led their colleagues in urging the Trump administration to extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan as ongoing violence and a worsening humanitarian crisis continue to put citizens at grave risk.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators wrote, \u201cAfter war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), DHS extended and redesignated Sudan for TPS, citing ongoing armed conflict, widespread violence, severe humanitarian conditions, mass displacement, and serious human rights abuses. DHS again extended Sudan\u2019s TPS designation in 2025 after determining that these conditions continued to prevent the safe return of Sudanese nationals.\u201d\n\nTPS is a temporary, legal immigration status granted to foreign citizens in the U.S. who are endangered by conditions in their home country resulting from extraordinary events such as ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or epidemic. TPS status is granted for set periods ranging from six to 18 months, requiring the Department of Homeland Security to extend a country\u2019s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Sudan\u2019s current TPS designation is set to expire October 19, 2026. An extension and redesignation would protect current Sudanese TPS holders from returning to the country amid its ongoing conflict and would offer protected status to Sudanese nationals who arrived in the United States after August 16, 2023.\n\nThe senators highlighted the mounting crisis in Sudan, adding, \u201cThe armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF has intensified and expanded, causing one of the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crises. Fighting has spread across much of the country, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions of people, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, severe food insecurity, and credible reports of war crimes and other serious human rights violations. The U.S. government has determined that the RSF and SAF have committed war crimes and that the RSF is responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide. Secretary Rubio has further recognized the genocide in Sudan and joined G7 countries in warning against further atrocities in El Obeid in July 2026.\u201d\n\n\u201cHumanitarian access remains severely restricted, and large areas of Sudan continue to be unsafe for civilians, making the return of Sudanese nationals unsafe under current conditions. Sudan continues to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions \u2013 including the risk of famine in several areas \u2013 that have been compounded by climate shocks, widespread food insecurity, and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, hospitals, schools, water systems, roads, and electrical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed, severely limiting access to basic services and humanitarian assistance,\u201d the senators continued.\n\nThe senators also noted that the Trump administration has already acknowledged the dangers posed by the war and humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The State Department maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for the entire country, citing risks including armed conflict, civil unrest, and terrorism. Furthermore, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended operations since April 2023, leaving the U.S. government unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan.\n\nIn addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the letter was signed by Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA).\n\nSince the conflict erupted, Sens. Warner and Kaine have been outspoken voices in the Senate on the need for increased diplomatic and humanitarian support for Sudan. In June 2025, the senators sponsored the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to provide qualified TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients a path to legal permanent residency. In January 2025, Sens. Warner and Kaine urged then-President Biden to extend or redesignate TPS for all 17 TPS-eligible countries, including Sudan. The senators have fought to strengthen the U.S. response to the Sudan crisis, introducing the Response to Conflict in Sudan Act to bolster and coordinate the U.S. response to the war in Sudan by codifying the Special Envoy for Sudan position at the U.S. Department of State. In December 2024, Sen. Warner urged the Biden administration to take more decisive action against foreign entities fueling the ongoing civil war in Sudan. In May 2023, Sens. Warner and Kaine led a group of colleagues in urging the administration to offer all available support for humanitarian efforts in the region \u2013 and to be forward-leaning on prioritizing local and community-based response efforts \u2013 as well as appoint a Special Envoy to Sudan tasked with coordinating and leading U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crisis. That same year, the senators also successfully called on the Biden administration to redesignate TPS for Sudan.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Mullin and Secretary Rubio:\n\nWe write to urge you to issue an 18-month extension and redesignation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Sudan. The ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis in Sudan continue to place its citizens at severe risk. An extension would protect current Sudanese TPS holders from returning to Sudan amid ongoing violence, and a redesignation would offer protected status to Sudanese nationals who arrived after August 16, 2023.\n\nAfter war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), DHS extended and redesignated Sudan for TPS, citing ongoing armed conflict, widespread violence, severe humanitarian conditions, mass displacement, and serious human rights abuses. DHS again extended Sudan\u2019s TPS designation in 2025 after determining that these conditions continued to prevent the safe return of Sudanese nationals.\n\nThe armed conflict between the SAF and the RSF has intensified and expanded, causing one of the world\u2019s worst humanitarian crises. Fighting has spread across much of the country, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of millions of people, widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure, severe food insecurity, and credible reports of war crimes and other serious human rights violations. The U.S. government has determined that the RSF and SAF have committed war crimes and that the RSF is responsible for crimes against humanity and genocide. Secretary Rubio has further recognized the genocide in Sudan and joined G7 countries in warning against further atrocities in El Obeid in July 2026.\n\nHumanitarian access remains severely restricted, and large areas of Sudan continue to be unsafe for civilians, making the return of Sudanese nationals unsafe under current conditions. Sudan continues to face catastrophic humanitarian conditions \u2013 including the risk of famine in several areas \u2013 that have been compounded by climate shocks, widespread food insecurity, and the destruction of critical infrastructure. Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, hospitals, schools, water systems, roads, and electrical infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed, severely limiting access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.\n\nMore than 30 million people \u2013 two-thirds of Sudan\u2019s population \u2013 are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 15 million children. More than 8 million people are internally displaced, making Sudan the world\u2019s largest internal displacement crisis. Millions more have fled to neighboring countries as refugees. Humanitarian organizations continue to warn that funding shortfalls, ongoing insecurity, and restrictions on aid delivery are preventing life-saving assistance from reaching millions of people in need. These overlapping crises \u2013 ongoing armed conflict, mass displacement, widespread hunger, disease outbreaks, climate-related disasters, and the collapse of essential services \u2013 have significantly worsened since Sudan\u2019s most recent TPS designation and continue to make the safe return of Sudanese nationals impossible.\n\nThe posture of the State Department demonstrates the dangers of the war in Sudan. The U.S. Department of State currently maintains a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for all of Sudan, warning U.S. citizens not to travel to the country due to ongoing armed conflict, civil unrest, crime, kidnapping, terrorism, landmines, and serious health and security risks. The State Department also notes that the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum has suspended operations since April 2023 and that the U.S. government cannot provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Sudan. These conditions underscore the continued instability throughout the country and further demonstrate that Sudan remains unsafe for the return of Sudanese nationals.\n\nAt the beginning of this administration, approximately 1.2 million foreign nationals were protected under TPS, including 1,790 individuals from Sudan. These individuals make significant contributions to the U.S. economy and the communities they call home. They are taxpayers, consumers, entrepreneurs, and essential members of the workforce. According to the American Immigration Council, TPS holders collectively generated more than $10.3 billion in household income, held nearly $8 billion in spending power, and contributed over $2.2 billion in federal, state, and local taxes in 2021 alone. Beyond these measurable economic contributions, TPS holders strengthen local economies by purchasing homes, renting apartments, starting businesses, and filling critical labor shortages across a range of industries. Although Sudanese TPS beneficiaries represent only a portion of the overall TPS population, they likewise contribute to the U.S. workforce and economy while lawfully employed under TPS.\n\nIn light of these circumstances, we strongly urge you to extend and redesignate Sudan for TPS. The ongoing armed conflict, catastrophic humanitarian crisis, and widespread human rights abuses make the safe return of Sudanese nationals impossible at this time, meeting the legal standard for extension and redesignation of TPS under Sec. 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. TPS for Sudanese nationals in the United States remains both a humanitarian necessity and a prudent policy to ensure that individuals are not forced to return to conditions that continue to threaten their safety and well-being.\n\nWe thank you for your consideration of this request.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-68-million-in-federal-funding-to-modernize-jamestown-scotland-ferry/", "Warner, Kaine Announce $68 million in Federal Funding to Modernize Jamestown-Scotland Ferry", "2026-08-17", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $68,000,000 in federal grant funding to replace the Surry ferry, part of the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet. This funding comes from the Department of Transportation\u2019s (DOT) Electric or Low-Emitting Ferry Pilot Program for Fiscal Year 2026, which is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped negotiate and pass.\n\n\u201cThe Surry ferry has been carrying passengers and connecting communities across the James River for almost 50 years,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to announce that this funding will help modernize the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet and help make Virginia\u2019s transit system better for our environment.\u201d\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to fund lower emission transportation vehicles. Last year, the senators announced over $70 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\u2019s Low- or No-Emission Program to improve Virginia\u2019s bus systems and reduce their emissions. In 2023, they secured more than$171 million in funding to invest in American-built, low-emission buses and bus facilities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-nearly-19-million-in-federal-funding-to-improve-8-virginia-airports/", "Warner, Kaine Announce Nearly $19 Million in Federal Funding to Improve 8 Virginia Airports", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $18,761,701 in federal grant funding for eight local and regional airports across Virginia to upgrade infrastructure, improve safety, and expand capacity. This funding comes from the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for Fiscal Year 2026, which the senators have supported robust funding for.\n\n\u201cVirginia\u2019s airports play a critical role in connecting communities and supporting local economies,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to deliver nearly $19 million in federal funding to help airports across the Commonwealth modernize aging infrastructure, make necessary safety improvements, and better serve travelers.\u201d\n\nThe nine grant awards include:\n\n$8,000,000 for Lynchburg Regional Airport to expand the existing terminal, including the TSA exit lane, to accommodate more passengers.\n\n$4,984,707 for Washington Manassas Airport to revitalize an existing runway and runway lighting and construct a runway safety area, enhancing safety and preserving pavement integrity.\n\n$3,311,779 for Warrenton-Fauquier Airport to complete the rehabilitation of an existing taxiway and taxiway lighting, extending its useful life.\n\n$1,330,000 for Front Royal-Warren County Airport to complete the rehabilitation of an existing runway, preserving its structural integrity, reducing the risk of foreign object debris, and extending its useful life.\n\n$438,620 for Culpeper Regional Airport to carry out the design of a project that will reconstruct the aging runway and its lighting, update the airport\u2019s Exhibit A Airport Property Map, and support the removal of obstructive vehicular traffic. These planned improvements will enhance safety, bring the airport into compliance with current standards, and extend the useful life of critical infrastructure.\n\n$336,300 for New Kent County Airport to carry out the design phase of a project to remove obstructions and bring the airport into compliance with current standards.\n\n$165,000 for Ingalls Field Airport to complete the design phase of a runway rehabilitation project that will preserve structural integrity, reduce the risk of foreign object debris, and extend the runway\u2019s useful life.\n\n$114,713 for Hanover County Municipal Airport to rehabilitate an existing taxiway, prepare required environmental documentation, remove obstructions, and extend an existing taxiway to improve safety and bring the airport into conformity with current standards.\n\n$80,582 for Hanover County Municipal Airport to carry out the design phase of a project that will rehabilitate apron pavement, preserving its structural integrity and reducing the risk of foreign object debris.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to modernize Virginia\u2019s airports. In July, the senators announced nearly $6 million to modernize nine Virginia airports and more than $32 million to upgrade eight Virginia airports. In May, they celebrated nearly $100 million for local and regional airports across the Commonwealth. Many of these grants were made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation the senators helped pass that has secured billions in federal funding for airport infrastructure since 2021.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-robust-federal-funding-for-virginias-passenger-rail/", "Warner, Kaine Announce Robust Federal Funding for Virginia\u2019s Passenger Rail", "2026-08-14", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced robust federal funding for projects that will support safer, more reliable, and more accessible passenger rail service in Virginia, including over $17 million for improvements in Staunton and Chesterfield County and investments in new Amtrak trains serving routes across the Commonwealth.\n\n\u201cReliable passenger rail plays a critical role in connecting Virginians to their jobs, families, and communities, while also giving travelers more options to get where they need to go,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re thrilled that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver major investments to Virginia, improving our transportation infrastructure, boosting our Commonwealth\u2019s economy, and creating good-paying jobs. This funding will help modernize the Amtrak services that folks rely on, improve accessibility in Staunton, and lay the groundwork for safer rail crossings in Chesterfield County.\u201d\n\nThe funding is awarded through the Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program. The program was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a transformative investment in American infrastructure needs that the senators helped negotiate and pass.\n\nThe grant awards include:\n\n$2,050,000,000 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)\u2019s Fleet and Facilities to Secure the Future of Amtrak State Supported Intercity Passenger Rail Service Project. The funding will support the purchase of up to 43 new trainsets and make associated improvements, including for routes serving Virginia. The new trains will replace aging equipment and expand Amtrak\u2019s fleet, allowing for additional state-supported service. The investment will support numerous services operating in Virginia, including the Carolinian and routes connecting Washington, D.C., with Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke. The project will improve reliability, accommodate growing passenger demand, and support additional service. Additionally, the new trains will be manufactured in the United States and will boost local economies and good-paying jobs with support from nearly 100 suppliers across 31 states.\n\n$15,566,400 for the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority\u2019s Staunton Station State of Good Repair and ADA Improvements project, which will make the Staunton Station safer and more accessible. The funding will support upgrades to the platform, canopy, and accessible routes, including handrails and curb ramps.\n\n$2,316,479 for Chesterfield County\u2019s Curtis Street and West Street Crossing Improvements Project. The funding will support work toward a future grade separation and the permanent closure of two at-grade rail crossings. By eliminating two points where roads and rail lines intersect at the same level, the project will enhance safety and reliability for both passenger and freight rail service.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding for infrastructure improvements across the Commonwealth, many of the grants made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In July, the senators announced more than $76 million to expand passenger rail, reduce traffic congestion, and strengthen infrastructure, more than $32 million to upgrade eight Virginia airports, and nearly $6 million to modernize nine Virginia airports.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-08-15T05:23:20Z", "2026-08-15T05:24:50Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-escalate-efforts-to-secure-release-of-u-s-nationals-detained-in-russia/", "Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Escalate Efforts to Secure Release of U.S. Nationals Detained in Russia", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 14 of their Senate colleagues, urged the Trump administration to employ all diplomatic, economic, and political means available to secure the release of five U.S. nationals who have been detained by Russia \u2013 multiple of whom have been detained for more than four years. Virginian Charles \u201cChuck\u201d Zimmerman is one of the five U.S. nationals currently detained. In the years following Russia\u2019s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has wrongfully detained multiple visiting U.S. citizens, sentencing them to years of detention with little to no evidence of criminality and using their detainment as leverage over the United States.\n\nAfter reports that Robert Gilman, a U.S. marine veteran detained in Russia since 2022, was \u201cunresponsive\u201d and \u201cat risk of dying\u201d from mistreatment, the United States announced that he had been released from captivity. However, at least five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia. On the heels of Gilman\u2019s release, the senators demanded that the Trump administration do everything possible to bring home every American being detained in Russia.\n\nDespite their wrongful detainment, at least five Americans in Russian custody have yet to be officially designated as such by the Trump administration, hindering the fight to bring them home. Under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (\u201cLevinson Act\u201d), an official \u201cwrongful detainment\u201d designation would ensure additional legal and social protections and would strengthen the U.S.\u2019s negotiating position to secure the hostages\u2019 return. The five Americans \u2013 as well as their friends and families \u2013 have suffered immense emotional, financial, and legal hardship while fighting for release, and the \u201cwrongful detainee\u201d designation would provide critical resources to the families fighting for their loved ones\u2019 freedom.\n\n\u201cWe are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the United States government,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe are deeply concerned that the current Administration has yet to utilize the authorities outlined in the Levinson Act to designate the U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation as wrongful detainees and elevate their cases to SPEHA. This valuable tool would maximize U.S. government coordination and advance negotiations to ensure their swift release, as well as provide needed resources to the families as they advocate for their loved ones.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the senators urged the administration to continue to demand and ensure adequate consular access to all U.S. nationals held in Russian detention; expedite the consideration and employment of the \u201cwrongful detention\u201d designation as intended under the Levinson Act and subsequent legislation that has expanded the Levinson Act, including continued communication with Congress on the criteria and deliberations of such designations; have a plan in place to secure the release of U.S. nationals currently detained in the Russian Federation outside of stalled negotiations related to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine or broader issues in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship; and consider using the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation that has already been used on other repeat offender nations, including Iran and Afghanistan.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine were joined by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nIn March, Sens. Warner and Kaine urged the State Department to prioritize the case of Chuck Zimmerman, calling for a formal designation as \u201cwrongfully detained\u201d by the Russian government and pressing for timely diplomatic efforts to secure his release.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to express our grave concern for the U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation under circumstances that raise serious questions about their safety and wellbeing, due process, and violations to international norms. In particular, we write with concern for U.S. nationals who have been detained for extended periods and are recognized by the Department of State as \u2018cases of concern\u2019 but who have not yet been designated as wrongfully detained under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (\u201cLevinson Act\u201d) by the Department, a reality which deeply undermines the negotiating position of the United States in securing their safe and rightful return home, perpetuating their suffering under an unjust regime.\n\nImportantly, Stephen Hubbard is the only American who has been designated as a wrongful detainee in Russia. A U.S. citizen with broad familial ties across the U.S., Stephen is currently 74 years old and has been detained since April 2, 2022. He was formally designated as a wrongful detainee in January 2025, and we continue to join in his family\u2019s advocacy to bring Stephen home urgently and hold Russia accountable for its cruel use of hostage diplomacy.\n\nWe recognize and appreciate the continued efforts by the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and others in the administration who continuously engage on these critical cases and with the families of those wrongfully held by the Russian government, as well as the efforts of the Department of State to engage with Congress on constituent cases. We join the Gilman family in their relief following this week\u2019s release of Robert Gilman after 1,666 days wrongfully detained in Russia and after horrific reports on his health and the conditions of his imprisonment. Today, at least 5 other Americans remain in these conditions. The continued detention of Americans in Russia underscores the need for sustained engagement and a renewed urgency to obtain their release, including in independent and direct negotiations with the Russian government separate from broader, ongoing negotiations on Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine. Given the stalled status of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, we are deeply concerned that tying the fate of these Americans and their families to broader issues in the U.S.-Russia relationship and deferring their designation as wrongful detainees merely prolongs their hardship.\n\nFamilies of detainees endure significant emotional and financial hardship while awaiting progress on the release of their loved ones. Several of our offices have received troubling reports from family and community members regarding the conditions of detention of their loved ones and the perpetual nature of their detention. Many detainees have remained in Russian custody for years with no clear pathway for their release or return to the United States. As time passes, the physical, emotional, and psychological toll on both the detainees and their families continues to mount. The cases of detained U.S. nationals in Russia, include, but are not limited to, many of our constituents. As of August 12, 2026, these individuals have been held in Russian custody for the following days:\n\nAndre Khachatoorian \u2013 1,688 days\n\nDavid Barnes \u2013 1,671 days\n\nOlga Jezler \u2013 1,506 days\n\nAlexsandr Antonov \u2013 524 days\n\nChuck Zimmerman \u2013 420 days\n\nWe are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the United States government. We are deeply concerned that the current administration has yet to utilize the authorities outlined in the Levinson Act to designate these U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation as wrongful detainees and elevate their cases to SPEHA. This valuable tool would maximize U.S. government coordination and advance negotiations to ensure their swift release, and the designation is key for providing needed resources to the families as they advocate for their loved ones and health and other support to released detainees upon their return to the U.S.\n\nWe urge the administration to continue employing all diplomatic, economic, and strategic tools available to secure the release of these detained U.S. nationals, steadfastly support their families throughout this process, and conduct these negotiations regardless of a Russia-Ukraine peace process or other issues of bilateral concern. Specifically, we ask that this include:\n\nContinuing to demand and ensure adequate consular access to all U.S. nationals held in Russian detention.\n\nExpediting the consideration and employment of the \u201cwrongful detention\u201d designation as intended under the Levinson Act and subsequent legislation that has expanded the Levinson Act, including continued communication with Congress on the criteria and deliberations of such designations.\n\nA plan and path forward to secure the release of U.S. nationals currently detained in the Russian Federation outside of stalled negotiations related to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine or broader issues in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship.\n\nConsideration of the use of the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation that has already been used on other repeat offender nations, including Iran and Afghanistan.\n\nWe thank you for your continued engagement with Congress on these and other critical cases. We look forward to your response and continued cooperation in support of U.S. nationals detained abroad and their families here at home.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-08-13T06:17:16Z", "2026-08-13T06:18:13Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-escalate-efforts-to-secure-release-of-us-nationals-detained-in-russia", "Warner, Kaine, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Escalate Efforts to Secure Release of U.S. Nationals Detained in Russia", "2026-08-12", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 14 of their Senate colleagues, urged the Trump administration to employ all diplomatic, economic, and political means available to secure the release of five U.S. nationals who have been detained by Russia \u2013 multiple of whom have been detained for more than four years. Virginian Charles \u201cChuck\u201d Zimmerman is one of the five U.S. nationals currently detained. In the years following Russia\u2019s illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has wrongfully detained multiple visiting U.S. citizens, sentencing them to years of detention with little to no evidence of criminality and using their detainment as leverage over the United States.\n\nAfter reports that Robert Gilman, a U.S. marine veteran detained in Russia since 2022, was \u201cunresponsive\u201d and \u201cat risk of dying\u201d from mistreatment, the United States announced that he had been released from captivity. However, at least five other Americans remain imprisoned in Russia. On the heels of Gilman\u2019s release, the senators demanded that the Trump administration do everything possible to bring home every American being detained in Russia.\n\nDespite their wrongful detainment, at least five Americans in Russian custody have yet to be officially designated as such by the Trump administration, hindering the fight to bring them home. Under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (\u201cLevinson Act\u201d), an official \u201cwrongful detainment\u201d designation would ensure additional legal and social protections and would strengthen the U.S.\u2019s negotiating position to secure the hostages\u2019 return. The five Americans \u2013 as well as their friends and families \u2013 have suffered immense emotional, financial, and legal hardship while fighting for release, and the \u201cwrongful detainee\u201d designation would provide critical resources to the families fighting for their loved ones\u2019 freedom.\n\n\u201cWe are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the United States government,\u201d wrote the senators. \u201cWe are deeply concerned that the current Administration has yet to utilize the authorities outlined in the Levinson Act to designate the U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation as wrongful detainees and elevate their cases to SPEHA. This valuable tool would maximize U.S. government coordination and advance negotiations to ensure their swift release, as well as provide needed resources to the families as they advocate for their loved ones.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the senators urged the administration to continue to demand and ensure adequate consular access to all U.S. nationals held in Russian detention; expedite the consideration and employment of the \u201cwrongful detention\u201d designation as intended under the Levinson Act and subsequent legislation that has expanded the Levinson Act, including continued communication with Congress on the criteria and deliberations of such designations; have a plan in place to secure the release of U.S. nationals currently detained in the Russian Federation outside of stalled negotiations related to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine or broader issues in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship; and consider using the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation that has already been used on other repeat offender nations, including Iran and Afghanistan.\n\nWarner and Kaine were joined by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).\n\nIn March, Warner and Kaine urged the State Department to prioritize the case of Chuck Zimmerman, calling for a formal designation as \u201cwrongfully detained\u201d by the Russian government and pressing for timely diplomatic efforts to secure his release.\n\nRead the full letter here and below.\n\nDear Secretary Rubio,\n\nWe write to express our grave concern for the U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation under circumstances that raise serious questions about their safety and wellbeing, due process, and violations to international norms. In particular, we write with concern for U.S. nationals who have been detained for extended periods and are recognized by the Department of State as \u2018cases of concern\u2019 but who have not yet been designated as wrongfully detained under the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act (\u201cLevinson Act\u201d) by the Department, a reality which deeply undermines the negotiating position of the United States in securing their safe and rightful return home, perpetuating their suffering under an unjust regime.\n\nImportantly, Stephen Hubbard is the only American who has been designated as a wrongful detainee in Russia. A U.S. citizen with broad familial ties across the U.S., Stephen is currently 74 years old and has been detained since April 2, 2022. He was formally designated as a wrongful detainee in January 2025, and we continue to join in his family\u2019s advocacy to bring Stephen home urgently and hold Russia accountable for its cruel use of hostage diplomacy.\n\nWe recognize and appreciate the continued efforts by the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs (SPEHA), the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and others in the administration who continuously engage on these critical cases and with the families of those wrongfully held by the Russian government, as well as the efforts of the Department of State to engage with Congress on constituent cases. We join the Gilman family in their relief following this week\u2019s release of Robert Gilman after 1,666 days wrongfully detained in Russia and after horrific reports on his health and the conditions of his imprisonment. Today, at least 5 other Americans remain in these conditions. The continued detention of Americans in Russia underscores the need for sustained engagement and a renewed urgency to obtain their release, including in independent and direct negotiations with the Russian government separate from broader, ongoing negotiations on Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine. Given the stalled status of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, we are deeply concerned that tying the fate of these Americans and their families to broader issues in the U.S.-Russia relationship and deferring their designation as wrongful detainees merely prolongs their hardship.\n\nFamilies of detainees endure significant emotional and financial hardship while awaiting progress on the release of their loved ones. Several of our offices have received troubling reports from family and community members regarding the conditions of detention of their loved ones and the perpetual nature of their detention. Many detainees have remained in Russian custody for years with no clear pathway for their release or return to the United States. As time passes, the physical, emotional, and psychological toll on both the detainees and their families continues to mount. The cases of detained U.S. nationals in Russia, include, but are not limited to, many of our constituents. As of August 12, 2026, these individuals have been held in Russian custody for the following days:\n\nAndre Khachatoorian \u2013 1,688 days\n\nDavid Barnes \u2013 1,671 days\n\nOlga Jezler \u2013 1,506 days\n\nAlexsandr Antonov \u2013 524 days\n\nChuck Zimmerman \u2013 420 days\n\nWe are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the United States government. We are deeply concerned that the current administration has yet to utilize the authorities outlined in the Levinson Act to designate these U.S. nationals detained by the Russian Federation as wrongful detainees and elevate their cases to SPEHA. This valuable tool would maximize U.S. government coordination and advance negotiations to ensure their swift release, and the designation is key for providing needed resources to the families as they advocate for their loved ones and health and other support to released detainees upon their return to the U.S.\n\nWe urge the administration to continue employing all diplomatic, economic, and strategic tools available to secure the release of these detained U.S. nationals, steadfastly support their families throughout this process, and conduct these negotiations regardless of a Russia-Ukraine peace process or other issues of bilateral concern. Specifically, we ask that this include:\n\nContinuing to demand and ensure adequate consular access to all U.S. nationals held in Russian detention.\n\nExpediting the consideration and employment of the \u201cwrongful detention\u201d designation as intended under the Levinson Act and subsequent legislation that has expanded the Levinson Act, including continued communication with Congress on the criteria and deliberations of such designations.\n\nA plan and path forward to secure the release of U.S. nationals currently detained in the Russian Federation outside of stalled negotiations related to Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine or broader issues in the U.S.-Russia bilateral relationship.\n\nConsideration of the use of the State Sponsor of Wrongful Detention designation that has already been used on other repeat offender nations, including Iran and Afghanistan.\n\nWe thank you for your continued engagement with Congress on these and other critical cases. We look forward to your response and continued cooperation in support of U.S. nationals detained abroad and their families here at home.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-18T05:27:41Z", "2026-08-18T05:29:06Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-husted-lead-bipartisan-package-of-bills-to-strengthen-u-s-national-security-and-hold-china-accountable/", "Warner, Husted Lead Bipartisan Package of Bills to Strengthen U.S. National Security and Hold China Accountable", "2026-08-11", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced a package of four bipartisan bills to strengthen America\u2019s national security and close loopholes that foreign adversaries, including China, can exploit.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. must continue to lead in the technologies that will define the future, and we cannot allow China or other foreign adversaries to exploit American innovation and turn our own technologies against us. These bipartisan bills make commonsense improvements that will strengthen America\u2019s national security, protect our technological edge, and bolster our global competitiveness.\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this legislative package that would give us greater insight into our adversaries\u2019 capabilities and better prevent advanced U.S. technologies from falling into the wrong hands.\u201d\n\n\u201cAmerica must continue to compete and win in the technology race, but we know that communist China\u2019s strategy has never been to compete, but to steal and exploit. This bipartisan package would strengthen our understanding of China\u2019s action, improve enforcement and protect American companies, workers and innovations from Chinese espionage,\u201d said Sen. Husted.\n\nThe lawmakers introduced the following bills:\n\nThe China AI Power Report Act to require the Secretaries of Commerce and State, in consultation with relevant federal agencies, to provide an annual report on the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s efforts to indigenize its artificial intelligence (AI) stack. This report would include information on Beijing\u2019s progress to develop home-grown chip design and production, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, subcomponent production, model development and deployment competencies.\n\nThe ECRA Statute of Limitations Extension to amend Sections 1760 and 1774 of the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA) to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting violations of ECRA from five years to 10 years. ECRA currently lacks an explicit statute of limitations and is thus subject to the five-year federal period, even as Chinese technology smuggling operations frequently take years longer to uncover and prosecute.\n\nThe Addressing Dangerous Vulnerabilities in Exports and Research to Strategic Adversaries, Regimes and Industrial Entities of Security Concern (ADVERSARIES) Act to direct the Department of Commerce\u2019s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to study whether U.S.-domiciled affiliates of designated Chinese companies allow these companies to circumvent export controls to access controlled technologies.\n\nThe Bureau of Industry and Security Strategic Talent Recruitment to Enhance National Guardrails for Technological Handling (BIS STRENGTH) Act to grant BIS temporary hiring authority to recruit highly qualified subject matter experts to guide BIS management of advanced technology export controls and fill BIS technical expertise gaps.\n\nAll four of these bills have been introduced on a bipartisan basis in the U.S. House of Representatives. The China AI Power Report Act passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs 47-0 on Jan. 21, 2026.", 1, "2026-08-12T06:18:38Z", "2026-08-12T06:20:33Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-senate-passage-of-russia-sanctions-bill", "Kaine Statement on Senate Passage of Russia Sanctions Bill", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement after the Senate passed comprehensive Russia sanctions legislation he cosponsored:\n\n\u201cI was in Ukraine last month for the second time since Putin\u2019s brutal full-scale invasion, and it was clear that the Ukrainian people\u2019s resilience and patriotism are unwavering, and they are demonstrating real expertise on the battlefield. At the same time, Russians are becoming increasingly exhausted by Putin\u2019s war, which his own finance officials have told him he can\u2019t afford. Now is the perfect time for the United States to bring down the full force of comprehensive sanctions on Russia, and I\u2019m proud that the Senate took an important step forward today by passing this legislation.\u201d\n\nThe bill must next be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-cortez-masto-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-support-construction-worker-mental-health/", "Warner, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Support Construction Worker Mental Health", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) in introducing legislation to prevent suicide among construction workers. The Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act would authorize a national study through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect data on the unique suicide risk factors facing construction workers that can be used to inform future suicide prevention programming. This legislation is also cosponsored by Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luj\u00e1n (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).\n\nThe construction industry has the second-highest risk of suicide across all industries. In 2023, almost a fifth of deaths by suicide with a reported industry code were tied to construction, despite construction workers making up only seven percent of the American workforce.\n\n\u201cThere is an unacceptably high rate of suicide among construction workers,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cThis legislation will give us the resources to understand how we can combat it and better inform suicide prevention programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom our homes to our offices, our roads to our favorite coffee shops, construction workers are responsible for building America,\u201d said Sen. Cortez Masto. \u201cBut work in this industry presents distinct mental health risks, and we owe it to construction workers to find solutions. This legislation will give us the tools we need to combat the tragically high rate of suicide among construction workers and work to end the stigma around mental health on the jobsite.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe high rate of suicide among construction workers should be alarming to us all,\u201d said Sen. Shaheen. \u201cI\u2019m proud to help introduce legislation alongside a group of my colleagues who understand the importance of figuring out what\u2019s fueling this crisis and the urgent need to make sure we\u2019re getting mental health resources where they\u2019re needed.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn New Mexico and across the country, our construction workers are the backbone of our country,\u201d said Sen. Luj\u00e1n. \u201cThe high rate of suicide in the construction industry is deeply concerning, and we must do more to address this crisis. This legislation will do just that and help us better strengthen suicide prevention programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cConstruction workers build America\u2014our homes, our roads, and our communities. With an alarming suicide rate in this industry, they should have the resources to take care of their mental health,\u201d said Sen. Kelly. \u201cThis bill will help us understand what\u2019s driving those numbers to prevent more deaths.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe people who build Colorado from the ground up are also among those most at risk of suicide,\u201d said Sen. Hickenlooper. \u201cWe need to understand why and make sure construction workers have access to the support they need.\u201d\n\nThe CDC study authorized by the Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act would investigate risk factors for deaths by suicide among construction workers, including employment and financial stability, history of substance and alcohol use, and access to essential resources like health care coverage, employment benefits, and employee assistance programs. The bill would also require the Department of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress on policy recommendations for future suicide prevention programming targeted to construction workers.\n\nThe Constructing the Path to Suicide Prevention Act is endorsed by the Southern Nevada Building Trades Unions (SNBTU), the Building and Construction Trades Council of Northern Nevada (BCTNN), the Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, North America\u2019s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the Laborers\u2019 International Union of North America (LiUNA), and the Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust (LMCT).\n\nThe full text of this legislation can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-08T05:41:38Z", "2026-08-08T05:43:24Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-merkley-and-colleagues-introduce-new-legislation-to-close-ethics-loopholes-for-all-officials-representing-the-us-abroad", "Kaine, Merkley, & Colleagues Introduce New Legislation to Close Ethics Loopholes for All Officials Representing the U.S. Abroad", "2026-08-07", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and other colleagues in introducing the Transparency in the Administration\u2019s Business Opportunities Overseas (TABOO) Act. The new legislation mandates strong ethics requirements for every individual representing the United States government in negotiations with foreign governments and international multilateral organizations, including Special Envoys and other officials serving in similar roles as paid employees, volunteers, or in unpaid capacities.\n\nThese individuals representing the United States, such as Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, frequently exercise significant authority and speak for the country on sensitive diplomatic and national security matters. However, current gaps in federal law allow individuals serving in these roles to conduct high-stakes negotiations with foreign governments while holding undisclosed financial interests in those same countries, creating the risk\u2014or at least impression\u2014that personal profit, rather than the national interest, shapes American foreign policy.\n\n\u201cWhen someone is given the honor of representing the United States in a sensitive diplomatic negotiation, it is a basic expectation that they will prioritize America\u2019s national security interests\u2014not their personal pocketbooks. But many senior officials in the Trump-Vance Administration seem to openly disdain this public trust and instead see their roles primarily as a means for personal enrichment and brazen corruption,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cThis legislation will ensure individuals given the privilege of representing the United States are actually working for the American people.\u201d\n\nIn addition to Kaine, the TABOO Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Jack Reed (D-RI).\n\nThe TABOO Act would:\n\nDeem all individuals in covered positions to be officers or employees for purposes of federal bribery, graft, and conflict of interest laws, regardless of employment, compensation, or volunteer status.\n\nDesignate individuals serving as Special Envoys or in similar positions as public financial disclosure filers.\n\nLimit filing extensions for these individuals to no more than 30 days.\n\nRequire individuals, within 30 days of starting, to certify in writing that they hold no financial interest, including any interest held by a spouse or immediate family member, in the countries they will work with, to divest or place any pre-existing interest in a qualified blind trust within 60 days, and to commit to acquiring no new financial interest in those countries for 1 year after vacating the position.\n\nRequire the Executive Branch to provide a quarterly list of all individuals serving as Special Envoys or in similar positions, along with a brief description of their duties and the countries and organizations they are expected to engage with.\n\nOutline enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the requirements set forth in the Act.\n\nFull text of the TABOO Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-11T05:54:29Z", "2026-08-11T05:56:25Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/key-senate-committee-passes-bills-to-establish-fairlawn-zip-codeand-rename-three-virginia-post-offices", "Key Senate Committee Passes Bills to Establish Fairlawn ZIP Code\r\nAnd Rename Three Virginia Post Offices", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation to establish a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Va., as well as three bills introduced by U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) to rename United States Postal Service (USPS) offices in Loudoun County, Fairfax, and New Kent.\n\n\u201cGiving Fairlawn its own ZIP code will ensure the town and Pulaski County do not unfairly lose out on tax revenue to fund public services, as well as alleviate confusion and stress for its residents. Gerry Connolly, Trevor Brown, and Patricia Paige were three exceptional Virginians who devoted their lives to serving the Commonwealth,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe are thrilled to see these bills pass out of committee and urge our colleagues to support this legislation to give Fairlawn its own ZIP code and honor these dedicated public servants.\u201d\n\nThe Loudoun County post office, in Sterling, would be designated as the \u201cFirefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building,\u201d honoring the service of firefighter Trevor Brown \u2013 a husband, father of three, and youth soccer and baseball coach who lost his life in the line of duty on February 16, 2024. The USPS facility is located at 46164 Westlake Drive in Sterling, VA.\n\nThe Fairfax post office would be designated as the \u201cCongressman Gerald E. \u2018Gerry\u2019 Connolly Post Office Building.\u201d The renaming honors the late Congressman Gerald E. \u201cGerry\u201d Connolly, whose decades of service and leadership transformed Northern Virginia and inspired a generation of public servants. The USPS facility is located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, VA.\n\nThe New Kent post office would be renamed the \u201cPatricia Paige Post Office\u201d after an Army Reservist who became the first black woman to serve on the New Kent Board of Supervisors. Page was a persistent advocate for the replacement of the former New Kent Post Office due to its aging structure and inability to accommodate residents and postal workers. The USPS facility is located at 12109 New Kent Highway in New Kent, VA.\n\nLast year, Warner and Kaine and Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) introduced bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to designate a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/key-senate-committee-passes-bills-to-establish-fairlawn-zip-code-and-rename-three-virginia-post-offices/", "Key Senate Committee Passes Bills to Establish Fairlawn ZIP Code and Rename Three Virginia Post Offices", "2026-08-06", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved legislation to establish a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Va., as well as three bills introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) to rename United States Postal Service (USPS) offices in Loudoun County, Fairfax, and New Kent.\n\n\u201cGiving Fairlawn its own ZIP code will ensure the town and Pulaski County do not unfairly lose out on tax revenue to fund public services, as well as alleviate confusion and stress for its residents. Gerry Connolly, Trevor Brown, and Patricia Paige were three exceptional Virginians who devoted their lives to serving the Commonwealth,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe are thrilled to see these bills pass out of committee and urge our colleagues to support this legislation to give Fairlawn its own ZIP code and honor these dedicated public servants.\u201d\n\nThe Loudoun County post office, in Sterling, would be designated as the \u201cFirefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building,\u201d honoring the service of firefighter Trevor Brown \u2013 a husband, father of three, and youth soccer and baseball coach who lost his life in the line of duty on February 16, 2024. The USPS facility is located at 46164 Westlake Drive in Sterling, VA.\n\nThe Fairfax post office would be designated as the \u201cCongressman Gerald E. \u2018Gerry\u2019 Connolly Post Office Building.\u201d The renaming honors the late Congressman Gerald E. \u201cGerry\u201d Connolly, whose decades of service and leadership transformed Northern Virginia and inspired a generation of public servants. The USPS facility is located at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, VA.\n\nThe New Kent post office would be renamed the \u201cPatricia Paige Post Office\u201d after an Army Reservist who became the first black woman to serve on the New Kent Board of Supervisors. Page was a persistent advocate for the replacement of the former New Kent Post Office due to its aging structure and inability to accommodate residents and postal workers. The USPS facility is located at 12109 New Kent Highway in New Kent, VA.\n\nLast year, Sens. Warner and Kaine and Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09) introduced bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to designate a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-07T06:11:19Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-colleagues-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-and-reform-340b-drug-program", "Kaine & Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Strengthen and Reform 340B Drug Program", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and John Boozman (R-AR), members of the Senate 340B Bipartisan Working Group, introduced the SUSTAIN 340B Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen and reform the 340B program. The 340B program requires that drug manufacturers that participate in Medicaid provide certain covered entities, including non-profit health care providers, such as hospitals and community health centers, a discount on outpatient drugs. The 340B program enables covered entities to use these savings to provide more comprehensive services to patients and their communities.\n\n\u201cThe 340B program has been an important program that has helped health care providers better care for communities across Virginia, especially those in rural and underserved areas. At a time when clinics and hospitals have been forced to close due to massive cuts to Medicaid and other federal health programs, it\u2019s critical that Congress acts to help providers and ensure Americans continue to have access to the care they need,\u201d said Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. \u201cI\u2019m grateful to the many health care providers and stakeholders around Virginia who have provided feedback about ways to improve the stability and integrity of the 340B program. This bipartisan legislation makes needed reforms to strengthen the 340B program and help ensure patients are benefiting. I\u2019m committed to working with my colleagues to pass these reforms.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the SUSTAIN 340B Act would:\n\nSense of Congress \u2013 Reiterate the original intent of the 340B program and clarify the program provides point-of-purchase discounts, as opposed to rebates.\n\nContract Pharmacy \u2013 Codify covered entities\u2019 use of contract pharmacies while placing reasonable limitations including registration, audits of covered entities with a large number of contract pharmacies, and standardization of contractual requirements between covered entities and contract pharmacies. The bill does not place numeric or geographic limitations on the use of contract pharmacies.\n\nPatient Definition \u2013 Establish the definition of an eligible patient under the 340B program and covered services for these patients. It also adds requirements and oversight for 340B patients being dispensed 340B drugs through referrals to non-covered entities.\n\n340B Rebate Model Pilot Program \u2013 End any 340B Rebate Model program within one year and require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) transition to the clearinghouse established in the legislation.\n\nChild Sites \u2013 Establish that child sites must be wholly owned and integrated with the parent covered entity, disincentivizes child site acquisitions with the sole purpose of expanding 340B footprints, and directs HHS to establish registration and oversight procedures.\n\nTransparency \u2013 Place new annual reporting requirements on covered entities relating to their utilization of the 340B program.\n\nProgram Integrity \u2013 Give HHS authority to establish auditing and reporting procedures for compliance under the 340B program and authorize removal of covered entities who are found in noncompliance and do not implement corrective action plans.\n\nSafeguards to Prevent Duplicate Discounts \u2013 Establish a 340B data clearinghouse operated by an independent, third-party entity to prevent diversion and duplicate discounts in the 340B program.\n\nPatient Financial Assistance \u2013 Require covered entities to establish a standard, transparent patient financial assistance policy for patients at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.\n\nEquitable Treatment of Covered Participants \u2013 Prevent insurers from discriminating against 340B covered entities and their contract pharmacies.\n\nUser Fee Program \u2013 Establish a user fee program for participation in the 340B program to pay for program administration, including the clearinghouse.\n\nStudies and Reports \u2013 Require reports to Congress on hospital debt collection practices, dispensing fees, and data collection system integration.\n\nAdditional Resources \u2013 Authorize three million dollars annually for five years for conducting oversight and enforcement and nine million dollars annually for four years for bill implementation.\n\nDefinitions \u2013 Establish definitions for \u201cchild site\u201d and \u201ccontract pharmacy.\u201d\n\nFull text of the legislation is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-supporting-free-and-fair-elections-in-venezuela", "Kaine, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Supporting Free and Fair Elections in Venezuela", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations (SFRC) Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women\u2019s Issues, joined a group of his colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution reaffirming America\u2019s support for free and fair elections in Venezuela. In addition to Kaine, the resolution is co-sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rick Scott (R-FL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).\n\n\u201cVenezuelans have the right to decide the future of their own country, and the United States must support a timely democratic transition,\u201d said Kaine. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in calling for free and fair elections in Venezuela as soon as possible and the release of political prisoners. I will also continue to do all that I can to urge the Trump-Vance Administration to support the safe return of Mar\u00eda Corina Machado to Venezuela.\u201d\n\nKaine has been a steadfast advocate for the restoration of democracy in Venezuela. That work has included introducing the bipartisan Venezuela Democratic Transition Act, legislation that would push for free and fair elections in Venezuela this year.\n\nFull text of the resolution is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-over-5-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-victims-of-sexual-assault-combat-violence-against-women", "Warner, Kaine Announce Over $5 Million In Federal Funding to Support Victims of Sexual Assault, Combat Violence Against Women", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,285,635 in federal grant funding for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to help law enforcement, court personnel, and victim services organizations support victims of sexual assault and their families, enhance victim protection and safety, and curb violent crimes against women. This funding comes from the Office on Violence Against Women\u2019s (OVW) STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Formula Program. The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program is made possible by the Violence Against Women Act, which Sens. Warner and Kaine successfully fought to reauthorize in 2022.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, there\u2019s still far too much work to be done to combat sexual assault and domestic violence against women. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to stand with survivors, ensure they have access to the support and resources they need, and hold perpetrators accountable,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased to announce this federal funding, which will help communities across Virginia strengthen services for survivors, prevent violence from occurring, and support efforts to keep women and families safe.\u201d\n\nThe grant awards include:\n\n$4,269,937 through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to reduce violent crimes against women, apprehend and prosecute perpetrators effectively, and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.\n\n$1,015,698 through the SAS Formula Program to support rape crisis centers and nonprofit organizations that provide core services, intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. This funding will provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and others affected by sexual violence.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long fought for efforts that support survivors of sexual assault and combat violence against women. Both senators strongly supported reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which successfully passed Congress and was reauthorized in 2022. In 2020, the senators announced more than $5 million in federal funding to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault across Virginia. Sens. Warner and Kaine also sponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a law to aid domestic violence survivors and their pets included in the 2018 Farm Bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-applaud-over-17-million-in-federal-funding-for-local-law-enforcement-agencies-across-virginia", "Warner, Kaine Applaud Over $1.7 Million In Federal Funding for Local Law Enforcement Agencies Across Virginia", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,716,459 in federal funding to help local law enforcement agencies across Virginia strengthen public safety through upgraded equipment, specialized training, and enhanced emergency response capabilities. Awarded through the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program, the funding will support personnel, equipment, training, forensic tools, information systems, and other critical public safety needs.\n\n\u201cKeeping Virginians safe means ensuring the officers, investigators, first responders, and court personnel who serve our communities day in and day out have the training, technology, and equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re proud to announce this funding that will help law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth strengthen emergency response capabilities, modernize critical equipment, and better protect Virginians.\u201d\n\nIn Central Virginia, the grant awards include:\n\n$101,765 for the Richmond Police Department to replace critical equipment and support the Richmond Adult Drug Treatment Court\u2019s operations and participant compliance.\n\n$83,788 for the County of Chesterfield to purchase equipment to improve its Tactical Response Unit as well as software to assist in officer wellness.\n\n$81,531 for the Henrico County Police Division to upgrade technology and equipment used by its Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team, Crisis Negotiations Team, and Technical Support Team.\n\n$35,202 for the City of Lynchburg to update outdated technology and assist with implementation of a Real Time Crime Center at the Lynchburg Police Department.\n\n$29,500 for Spotsylvania County\u2019s Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office to purchase up to nine portable, high-performance forensic laptops that will improve efficiency.\n\n$29,935 for the City of Petersburg to continue a phased officer-safety and duty-weapon modernization project.\n\n$15,087 for the Albemarle County Police Department to procure forensic DNA analysis and evidence processing services that will strengthen investigative capacity, reduce evidence backlogs, and improve public safety outcomes.\n\n$12,236 for Dinwiddie County to upgrade communications equipment and vehicle immobilization technology to strengthen law enforcement capabilities and deputy safety.\n\n$11,285 for the Hopewell Police Department to facilitate regular, on-site professional development training for law enforcement.\n\nIn Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore, the grant awards include:\n\n$188,997 for the Norfolk Police Department to investigate recovered firearms used in crimes and strengthen efforts to identify how firearms are obtained by individuals engaged in criminal activity.\n\n$156,527 for the Newport News Police Department to enhance officer leadership training and purchase equipment to improve officer and community safety.\n\n$131,700 for the Chesapeake Police Department to support a Community Prosecution Analyst within the Commonwealth\u2019s Attorney\u2019s Office, strengthening collaboration among prosecutors, law enforcement, and community stakeholders. The funding will also support subscriptions to digital forensic tools that expand investigators\u2019 capacity to lawfully extract, analyze, and manage digital evidence.\n\n$59,792 for the City of Suffolk to train command-level staff and purchase a new FARO Laser Scanner that will improve efficiency and provide more accurate data collection at crime scenes.\n\n$55,515 for the City of Virginia Beach to purchase narcotic testing equipment, helping keep officers and residents safe from exposure to potentially hazardous substances. The funding will also be used to purchase a police horse for community-oriented policing.\n\n$46,962 for the Hampton Police Division to replace outdated equipment.\n\nIn Northern Virginia, the grant awards include:\n\n$146,826 for the Prince William County Police Department to replace dated portable radio communications equipment with a more secure, reliable system to support emergency response.\n\n$142,035 for the Fairfax County Police Department to establish a regional training initiative focused on investigating and prosecuting child exploitation, abuse, and trafficking in an increasingly complex digital environment. The initiative will convene practitioners across jurisdictions to standardize investigative practices and strengthen regional coordination.\n\n$69,097 for Arlington County to procure critical equipment and supplies.\n\n$38,964 for the Alexandria Police Department to support overtime for task forces, special details, and hiring officers for patrol.\n\n$37,657 for the Stafford County Sheriff\u2019s Office to purchase an all-terrain vehicle for patrols, search-and-rescue operations, public events, and response in hard-to-access areas. The funding will also support equipment to assist disabled motorists and technology to enhance the SWAT Team's nighttime operational capabilities.\n\n$34,964 for the Loudoun County Sheriff\u2019s Office to purchase five custom ballistic shields that will address current shortages and strengthen countywide response capabilities.\n\n$16,552 for the City of Fredericksburg to acquire a replacement all-terrain vehicle to be deployed in the city\u2019s watershed area.\n\n$15,482 for the Leesburg Police Department to purchase motorcycle communication and safety equipment, mobile citation printing equipment, power accessories, and mobile scanning equipment that will improve officer safety, mobile enforcement capabilities, and field efficiency.\n\n$13,899 for the City of Manassas to support law enforcement operations, field incident management, and digital evidence preservation for the Manassas City Police Department.\n\nIn the Shenandoah Valley, the grant awards include:\n\n$14,730 for the Harrisonburg Police Department to purchase three advanced whiteboards that can be used to share information and coordinate communications more efficiently during emergencies and investigations.\n\nIn Southwest Virginia and Southside, the grant awards include:\n\n$65,414 for the Roanoke Police Department to purchase equipment that will improve real-time intelligence sharing between the Roanoke Operations and Crime Control Center (ROC3) and personnel in the field.\n\n$25,699 for the Roanoke County Police Department to modernize its patrol rifles with advanced optical and lighting systems.\n\n$18,175 for the Danville Police Department to purchase two drone systems equipped with thermal imaging capabilities that will improve both investigative and patrol response.\n\n$15,958 for the Henry County Sheriff\u2019s Office to support a High Impact Directed Enforcement Project focused on reducing violent crime, gang activity, and narcotics trafficking through targeted overtime enforcement in identified high-crime areas.\n\n$10,652 for Campbell County to replace aging firearms with updated models that can improve officer accuracy and readiness during emergency situations.\n\n$10,533 for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to purchase two ballistic shields to enhance officer safety and operational effectiveness during active threats, high-risk warrants, and emergency situations.\n\nWarner and Kaine have long supported efforts to protect law enforcement, strengthen public safety, and improve the criminal justice system. Last month, the senators announced over $6 million in federal funding to support state and local law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. That funding was made possible in part by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, landmark legislation championed by Warner and Kaine that includes commonsense provisions similar to those outlined in the senators\u2019 Virginia Plan to Reduce Gun Violence. The senators also supported the bipartisan First Step Act, a historic criminal justice law that reduced sentences for nonviolent offenders and lowered recidivism rates. In 2020, they joined 31 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Justice in Policing Act to improve police accountability for misconduct, increase transparency through better data collection, and improve police practices and training.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-07T06:12:42Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/new-data-black-lung-rate-in-appalachia-highest-in-nearly-50-years/", "New Data: Black Lung Rate in Appalachia Highest in Nearly 50 Years", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Following a new report that found that coal miners in central Appalachia are suffering from black lung at the highest rates in nearly 50 years, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) highlighted the urgent need to strengthen protections for miners and ensure they receive the health care and benefits they have earned.\n\n\u201cCoal miners in Appalachia are getting sicker and at younger ages, and this new data that black lung rates are at their highest in nearly 50 years is devastating. The administration\u2019s decision to cut funding for programs that protect miners\u2019 health and pause enforcement of the silica dust rule is leaving miners at greater risk,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cMiners have risked their lives to fuel and power our nation. I am proud to fight for coal miners in Appalachia and across the country, and we must do right by them. Congress must enact legislation to ensure miners can access the medical care, compensation, and benefits they have earned.\u201d\n\nThe report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a federal research agency, found that among miners in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia with at least 25 years in the mines, 32.5 percent tested positive for black lung, the highest recorded rate since 1978. The report also found that miners with at least 15 years underground are developing black lung at rates not seen in nearly 40 years.\n\nSen. Warner has introduced the Relief for Survivors of Miners Act and the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, bills that would remove barriers to benefits and ensure that miners and their families receive the compensation they are entitled to. He also previously spoke out against the Trump administration\u2019s decision to pause enforcement of a Department of Labor rule to protect miners from silica dust, which is contributing to a significant uptick in severe black lung disease, particularly among younger miners in their thirties and forties.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-banks-introduce-bill-to-better-match-a-patient-to-their-health-records/", "Warner, Banks Introduce Bill to Better Match a Patient to their Health Records", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Patient Matching and Transparency in Certified Health IT (MATCH IT) Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve standardization of patients\u2019 demographic data entered into certified health IT products to help decrease patient misidentification and promote interoperability. The bill would also create an anonymous, voluntary system to measure patient match rates across the healthcare ecosystem. The ability to match patients to their health records is critical to health data interoperability, vital to HIPAA Privacy Rule compliance, and would improve patient safety.\n\n\u201cPatient misidentification is a serious problem that has led to medical mistakes and even patient death,\u201d said Sen. Warner. \u201cMy bipartisan bill would improve the interoperability between health care systems and decrease patient misidentification, while protecting patient privacy and leading to better patient care.\u201d\n\n\u201cPatient matching errors are a hidden tax on the healthcare system,\u201d said Sen. Banks. \u201cThis bipartisan bill would make sure doctors have the right patient\u2019s records and reduce medical errors, speed up care, and reduce healthcare costs.\u201d\n\nThe MATCH IT Act would:\n\nDirect HHS to develop uniform data standards and definitions for accurate and precise patient matching;\n\nEstablish minimum data set standard needed to support the adoption of patient match rate at 99.9;\n\nRequire all Certified Electronic Health Record Technology systems to adopt these standards; and\n\nEstablish a voluntary Medicare bonus for providers who meet a patient matching rate of 90%.\n\nThe MATCH IT Act is endorsed by the Patient ID Now Coalition, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), American Heart Association, Becton Dickinson (BD), College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Inc. (HIMSS), Intermountain Health, 4medica, Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE), American College of Physicians, American Medical Informatics Association, Baptist Health, Civitas Networks for Health, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), DirectTrust, e4health, Harris Data Integrity Solutions, Imprivata, Medical Group Management Association, MyLigo, Inc, Nemours Children\u2019s Health, OrthoVirginia, Parkland Health, Parkview Health, Robert Wood Johnson Barnabus Health, SynchroLink AI, Valley Children\u2019s Healthcare, and Verato.\n\n\u201cA close family member was undergoing cancer treatment when they were taken to the emergency room within the same hospital system where they had been receiving care. Despite being treated within that system, the ER staff had no record that they were a cancer patient. They didn\u2019t have an active medication list or information about ongoing treatments. I had to rush to the ER to provide the missing medical information without which I don\u2019t believe they\u2019d be alive today,\u201d said Terri Ripley, CIO of OrthoVirginia. \u201cThe MATCH IT Act is critical to solving this issue and ensuring providers have access to a complete medical history\u2014including previous x-rays, surgical history, and active medications\u2014to deliver safe, high-quality care.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt Virginia Health Information, we see every day the essential role accurate, timely data plays in delivering quality patient care. When health information is correctly connected to the right patient, clinicians can spend less time searching for records and more time caring for people,\u201d said Kyle Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Virginia Health Information. \u201cThe MATCH IT Act advances a common-sense national approach that improves patient safety, reduces unnecessary costs, and affords Virginians the right care at the right time.\u201d\n\n\u201cPatient misidentification directly threatens lives, transforming what seems like a technical challenge into an urgent patient safety crisis,\u201d said Heather Stebbins, President of Virginia Health Information Management Association. \u201cThe MATCH IT Act recognizes the importance of data integrity and interoperability in modern healthcare. The Virginia Health Information Management Association (VHIMA) commends Senators Mark Warner and Jim Banks for championing legislation that helps ensure the right information reaches the right provider at the right time.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI has the potential to transform healthcare, but its effectiveness depends on accurate, trusted patient data. As providers manage a historic volume of health information, the need for a national patient matching standard has never been more urgent,\u201d said Russ Branzell, CEO of College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME). \u201cThe MATCH IT Act will strengthen patient safety, protect patient privacy, and improve interoperability by ensuring health information is accurately matched to the right individual. By reducing duplicate records and eliminating costly, manual reconciliation processes, this legislation will create new efficiencies across the healthcare system while laying the foundation for safe and effective AI adoption.\u201d\n\n\u201cOn behalf of HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society), I applaud Senators Mark Warner and Jim Banks for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the MATCH IT Act in the Senate,\u201d said Hal Wolf, President and CEO of HIMSS. \u201cAccurate patient identification is fundamental to safe, interoperable, and high-quality care. By addressing the persistent challenge of patient misidentification, the MATCH IT Act will help improve patient safety, strengthen privacy protections and ensure providers have access to complete and accurate information for delivering informed care. We now urge Congress to advance this critical legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMedical care begins with the information found in a patient\u2019s health record. However, patient misidentification within the healthcare ecosystem continues to threaten patient safety and privacy, which can lead to dire outcomes,\u201d said David D. Cella, CEO of American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). \u201cWith the introduction of the MATCH IT Act, we are one step closer to ensuring patients\u2019 health information is complete and accurate. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) commends Senator Warner and Senator Banks for leading the effort to address this critical issue.\u201d\n\nFull text of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-over-5-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-victims-of-sexual-assault-combat-violence-against-women/", "Warner, Kaine Announce Over $5 Million in Federal Funding to Support Victims of Sexual Assault, Combat Violence Against Women", "2026-08-05", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $5,285,635 in federal grant funding for the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to help law enforcement, court personnel, and victim services organizations support victims of sexual assault and their families, enhance victim protection and safety, and curb violent crimes against women. This funding comes from the Office on Violence Against Women\u2019s (OVW) STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program and the Sexual Assault Services (SAS) Formula Program. The STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program is made possible by the Violence Against Women Act, which Sens. Warner and Kaine successfully fought to reauthorize in 2022.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, there\u2019s still far too much work to be done to combat sexual assault and domestic violence against women. As lawmakers, we have a responsibility to stand with survivors, ensure they have access to the support and resources they need, and hold perpetrators accountable,\u201d said the senators. \u201cWe\u2019re pleased to announce this federal funding, which will help communities across Virginia strengthen services for survivors, prevent violence from occurring, and support efforts to keep women and families safe.\u201d\n\nThe grant awards include:\n\n$4,269,937 through the STOP Violence Against Women Formula Grant Program to develop and strengthen law enforcement, prosecution, and court strategies to reduce violent crimes against women, apprehend and prosecute perpetrators effectively, and strengthen victim services in cases involving domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.\n\n$1,015,698 through the SAS Formula Program to support rape crisis centers and nonprofit organizations that provide core services, intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. This funding will provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims, and others affected by sexual violence.\n\nSens. Warner and Kaine have long fought for efforts that support survivors of sexual assault and combat violence against women. Both senators strongly supported reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which successfully passed Congress and was reauthorized in 2022. In 2020, the senators announced more than $5 million in federal funding to reduce domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault across Virginia. Sens. Warner and Kaine also sponsored the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act, a law to aid domestic violence survivors and their pets included in the 2018 Farm Bill.\n\n###\n\n* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *\n\nPhotos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to \u2018The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner", 1, "2026-08-06T07:37:31Z", "2026-08-06T07:38:34Z"], ["https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-van-hollen-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-prevent-further-atrocities-in-sudan-kaine-van-hollen-colleagues-urge-trump-administration-to-prevent-further-atrocities-in-sudan", "Kaine, Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Tim Kaine", "K000384", "www.kaine.senate.gov", "kaine", "https://www.kaine.senate.gov/news", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined a group of his colleagues led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in pressing the State Department to use its leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and help bring the war to an end. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, the senators stressed the immediate need for the State Department to act in light of the impending siege of the city of El Obeid and following the atrocities that occurred in El Fasher last year.\n\n\u201cWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF,\u201d wrote the senators.\n\n\u201cWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u2018hallmarks of genocide\u2019 according to United Nations investigators. [\u2026] The siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction,\u201d the senators continued.\n\n\u201cThe State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u2018alarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u2019 and said \u2018the RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering,\u2019\u201d the senators emphasized.\n\n\u201cNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end,\u201d they concluded.\n\nIn addition to Kaine and Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD).\n\nFull text of the letter is available here and below:\n\nSecretary Rubio,\n\nWe write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces\u2019 (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department\u2019s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF.\n\nWe have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF\u2019s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the \u201challmarks of genocide\u201d according to United Nations investigators. A United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission found that \u201cthe Rapid Support Forces steadily squeezed the life out of El-Fasher and surrounding displacement camps, cutting off food, water, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance, while subjecting the city to recurring shelling and ground assaults. Civilians were increasingly trapped, as escape routes were restricted or closed, and forced to endure conditions of life progressively incompatible with human survival.\u201d This 18-month siege culminated in a 3-day rampage in October 2025, where survivors describe the slaughter of civilians, mass executions, and crimes against humanity.\n\nEl-Fasher University \u201cbecame one of the bloodiest execution sites in the city.\u201d According to survivors, over a hundred civilians were gunned down or executed as they sought shelter or attempted to flee. Survivors described notorious RSF commander Abu Lulu, known as the \u201cButcher of El-Fasher\", asking a pregnant woman how far she was in her pregnancy and then firing seven bullets into her abdomen when she replied that she was seven months along. He at one point said, \u201cI was planning to kill 2000 people today, but I lost count, so I will start all over again.\u201d In the case of El-Saudi Hospital, RSF forces stormed the hospital and \u201cproceeded to search the wards and killing those they found, including patients, accompanying persons and medical personnel...it is estimated that over 460 patients and others present were killed.\u201d Flight didn\u2019t bring safety, according to survivors, as \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces pursued fleeing civilians along escape routes...where they had established ambushes and checkpoints...the perpetrators chasing people in open fields, firing at them with automatic rifles and mounted submachine guns, and running over fleeing persons with vehicles, causing mass casualties.\u201d The horrors were visible from space, with satellite images analyzed by the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab showing bodies piled up in the streets, pools of blood on the ground, and mass burial sites.\n\nThe siege of El Fasher lasted for over 500 days, and the ensuing atrocities were widely foreseen and repeatedly forewarned by the United Nations, intelligence from the U.S. State Department and foreign governments, humanitarian monitors, and researchers. We remain greatly concerned by this administration\u2019s grave failure to act despite the chorus of alarm bells. What occurred in El Fasher is a stark warning of what could unfold in El Obeid and across Sudan if this administration\u2014and the international community\u2014continues this current pattern of inaction.\n\nAnd now those alarm bells are ringing once again \u2013 this time in El Obeid. Volker T\u00fcrk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said on July 3, \"This is not a drill. It is a red alert that needs to land on the desks of heads of state and government around the world. Their phones should be running hot in the coming days and weeks, with ideas on how to prevent atrocity crimes in El Obeid and in other places in Kordofan.\u201d Tom Fletcher, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, said of El Obeid on June 30, \u201cToo often in this brutal war, clear warnings have been ignored. Civilians have paid the price. The international community must make itself heard. We cannot say we were not warned.\u201d\n\nThe State Department has also recognized that this is a critical moment. On June 22, the State Department spokesperson warned of \u201calarming indications that mass atrocities could be imminent\u201d and said \u201cthe RSF and their allied forces must cease any actions that could endanger civilians, impede humanitarian assistance, or contribute to further atrocities and suffering.\u201d On June 23, State Department Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos said that he spoke with RSF leadership and \u201cstrongly urged them to halt any actions that could endanger civilians in and around El Obeid.\u201d And this Administration has repeatedly affirmed, including in July 2025, that \u201cThe Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias have committed genocide.\u201d In November 2025, you yourself said that the RSF is \u201cclearly receiving assistance from outside\u201d and that \u201csomething needs to be done to cut off the weapons and the support the RSF is getting as they continue their advances.\u201d\n\nThe evidence is clear \u2013 the United Arab Emirates is the primary external backer of the RSF, providing unparalleled military, financial, and technical support to the group. In May 2026, a new report by Human Rights Watch found that the UAE trained hundreds of Colombian mercenaries who then \u201ctook part in combat in and around El Fasher and, according to media reports, provided training to RSF recruits\u2013including child soldiers\u201d. In February 2026, a Reuters investigation found that Ethiopia has built a secret camp to train thousands of RSF fighters, and that the UAE financed the construction of the camp and provided military trainers and logistical support. This follows U.S. intelligence from October 2025, including separate reports from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the State Department\u2019s intelligence bureau, that \u201cshow an increase in the flow of materiel from the U.A.E. to the rebel Rapid Support Forces since the spring.\u201d These findings are part of a large and growing body of credible evidence that the UAE is both arming and providing military support to the RSF.\n\nNow, an estimated 500,000 civilians are at risk in El Obeid, including many who have sought shelter there after fleeing RSF attacks across the Kordofan region. The encirclement and systematic crippling of resources in El Obeid increasingly parallels El Fasher, and this administration must use its leverage and influence to prevent a repeat of El Fasher\u2019s horrors in El Obeid before it is too late. We urge this administration to take concrete actions to prevent such mass atrocities in El Obeid, including by ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to the UAE and other external actors that are fueling this war. We also request an update on what other actions the administration is taking, beyond just words, to prevent mass atrocities in El Obeid and to help bring this war to an end.\n\nWe request a response to this letter by August 17, 2026.\n\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-08-05T07:37:37Z", "2026-08-05T07:38:44Z"], ["https://www.warner.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/warner-colleagues-press-trump-administration-on-chaotic-opaque-oversight-of-new-artificial-intelligence-models/", "Warner, Colleagues Press Trump Administration On Chaotic, Opaque Oversight Of New Artificial Intelligence Models", "2026-08-04", "2026", "2026-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "VA", "Mark R. Warner", "W000805", "www.warner.senate.gov", "warner", "https://www.warner.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, joined four Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the Trump administration for answers about its unpredictable oversight of frontier artificial intelligence (AI) models and its opaque standards for evaluating a model\u2019s national security risk. The letter follows the Trump administration\u2019s recent haphazard responses to frontier models from Anthropic and OpenAI, and comes as basic questions surround the implementation of Executive Order 14409, the White House\u2019s voluntary pre-release review framework for frontier models.\n\nIn addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Adam Schiff (D-CA).\n\nIn the letter, the senators expressed their support for maintaining the United States\u2019 competitive lead in AI development while protecting the country from serious national security risks. However, they stressed that continued reliance on ad hoc, case-by-case regulation will not sufficiently address the cybersecurity and other risks frontier AI models pose. The senators also warned that without consistent policy governing American models, consumers and businesses would be incentivized to migrate to models from foreign vendors, including those based in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC).\n\n\u201cLast month provided a dramatic example of these potential risks. During an internal evaluation, OpenAI models escaped their testing environment and used high-level technical capabilities to compromise a third party\u2019s network without any instructions to take those actions. The Federal Government cannot be passive as these capabilities emerge. At the same time, the administration\u2019s recent actions surrounding access to advanced U.S. AI models have raised serious concerns about process, transparency, and strategic effect. On June 12, 2026, the Department of Commerce (\u201cthe Department\u201d) utilized an infrequently used authority to direct Anthropic to suspend all access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals (including foreign national employees inside the United States) citing an undisclosed national security concern later described as a narrow jailbreak finding. Because the directive took effect immediately and Anthropic had no reliable way to verify users\u2019 nationality in real time, the company was forced to disable both models for all users worldwide within hours. Over the following eighteen days, the Department and Anthropic negotiated a resolution outside of public view: a partial restoration of Mythos 5 to a defined set of trusted partners on June 26, followed by a full lifting of the export controls on June 30,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe senators continued, \u201cWhile the Administration may have been responding to real security concerns to protect the United States, even justifiable interventions can create broader harm if the standards and decision-making processes are opaque, ad hoc, or unpredictable. Moreover, when the Executive Branch exercises authority delegated from Congress, such as in the conduct of export control administration, it is essential that it keep Congress fully apprised of its actions and procedures.\u201d\n\nThe senators concluded the letter with a list of areas of clarification that will bring transparency to the public processes and standards the administration uses to deem frontier AI models a national security risk, the legal authorities the administration relies on to restrict access to AI models, and the administration\u2019s assessment of whether its oversight strategy could incentive adoption of Chinese or other non-U.S. AI models.\n\n\u201cWe support serious, technically informed action to prevent frontier AI from being misused by adversaries or criminals and to mitigate risks posed by misalignment in the models themselves. The United States cannot afford to create a policy environment in which the most advanced American AI systems are subject to opaque, case-by-case restrictions while Chinese alternatives appear cheaper, easier to access, and more predictable to deploy. A clear public framework is necessary to protect national security, preserve U.S. AI leadership, and give industry and allies confidence that the United States remains the safest and most reliable source of advanced AI technology. We hope you will work with Congress to pursue such a framework,\u201d the senators wrote.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below.\n\nDear Secretaries Rubio, Bessent and Lutnick, Ms. Wiles, and Directors Kratsios and Cairncross:\n\nWe believe strongly in the importance of maintaining the United States\u2019 competitive lead in artificial intelligence (AI) development while protecting the country from serious national security risks. Frontier AI models can strengthen U.S. cyber defenses, scientific discovery, and military readiness \u2013 when used responsibly and with proper human oversight \u2013 but they may also lower barriers for malicious cyber activity, foreign intelligence operations, and other dangerous uses. Moreover, the Administration\u2019s ad hoc and unpredictable approach undermines U.S. competitiveness, heightening market incentives to adopt open weight models from vendors based in the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC).\n\nLast month provided a dramatic example of these potential risks. During an internal evaluation, OpenAI models escaped their testing environment and used high-level technical capabilities to compromise a third party\u2019s network without any instructions to take those actions. The Federal Government cannot be passive as these capabilities emerge.\n\nAt the same time, the administration\u2019s recent actions surrounding access to advanced U.S. AI models have raised serious concerns about process, transparency, and strategic effect. On June 12, 2026, the Department of Commerce (\u201cthe Department\u201d) utilized an infrequently used authority to direct Anthropic to suspend all access to its Fable 5 and Mythos 5 models for foreign nationals (including foreign national employees inside the United States) citing an undisclosed national security concern later described as a narrow jailbreak finding. Because the directive took effect immediately and Anthropic had no reliable way to verify users\u2019 nationality in real time, the\n\ncompany was forced to disable both models for all users worldwide within hours. Over the following eighteen days, the Department and Anthropic negotiated a resolution outside of public view: a partial restoration of Mythos 5 to a defined set of trusted partners on June 26, followed by a full lifting of the export controls on June 30. On June 26, OpenAI also limited public access to its newest model, GPT-5.6, following discussions with the Administration.\n\nWhile the Administration may have been responding to real security concerns to protect the United States, even justifiable interventions can create broader harm if the standards and decision-making processes are opaque, ad hoc, or unpredictable. Moreover, when the Executive Branch exercises authority delegated from Congress, such as in the conduct of export control administration, it is essential that it keep Congress fully apprised of its actions and procedures.\n\nThe United States wins the global AI competition by building, deploying, and scaling the world\u2019s most capable and trusted systems. If U.S. model developers, cloud providers, enterprise customers, critical infrastructure operators, and allied partners cannot predict whether access to U.S. models, let alone a leading American model, may be restricted, suspended, or limited to government-approved users based on non-public requirements at any time and with no notice, they will plan around that uncertainty. Developers may delay deployment or divert resources away from frontier work. Customers may avoid integrating U.S. models into critical workflows. Allies and partners may question whether U.S. systems will be reliably available when needed.\n\nThat uncertainty creates an opening for the PRC. Chinese AI models are rapidly narrowing the performance gap with leading U.S. models, and many Chinese systems are inexpensive, widely available, and easy to deploy. Following the Administration\u2019s June 12 suspension of Anthropic\u2019s Fable 5 and Mythos 5, an entity-listed Chinese lab saw its stock price roughly double. During the OpenAI model\u2019s breach of a third-party company, that company had to rely on a Chinese model because U.S. frontier model\u2019s refusal behavior inhibited meaningful use for digital forensics and incident response.\n\nIf American models are perceived as subject to sudden access disruptions based on a black-box U.S. Government process, or as unreliable because U.S. AI labs are overcorrecting in the face of this black-box process, companies and governments in the United States and abroad may hedge by adopting Chinese or other foreign models instead. That outcome would undermine U.S. technological leadership while increasing exposure to systems that may carry risks of PRC or otherwise directed censorship, espionage, IP theft, and other supply chain security risks.\n\nWhile Executive Order 14409, Promoting Advanced Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Security, provides for a voluntary pre-release review framework for frontier models, many questions of implementation remain. Ultimately, a rigorous, predictable, and competitiveness enhancing process for evaluating frontier models requires a statutory framework. We encourage the Administration to work with Congress to develop a public, durable, and technically grounded framework that allows U.S. companies and their customers to understand the rules of the road. Clear standards will strengthen, not weaken, national security by preserving incentives to build and use trusted American models while allowing the Government to act quickly when genuine risks arise.\n\nIn the interim, we request that, no later than 30 days after receipt of this letter, you provide an unclassified response, with a classified annex if necessary, clarifying the Administration\u2019s current policy and approach to limiting access to advanced AI models, including by addressing the following:\n\nThe public process and standards the Administration uses, or intends to use, to determine\n\nwhether a frontier AI model presents a national security risk sufficient to warrant restrictions\n\non development, release, export, foreign-national access, customer access, or continued\n\ndeployment under the framework laid out under Executive Order 14409 or any successor\n\nOrder or presidential directive.\n\nThe legal authorities the Administration intends to invoke for such restrictions, including\n\nwhether export control authorities will be used to restrict access by foreign nationals inside\n\nthe United States, and how any such action is consistent with existing law and jurisprudence\n\nas well as Executive Order 14409.\n\nThe agencies and officials responsible for evaluating model risk and making decisions on AI\n\nmodel development, release, export, foreign-national access, customer access, or continued\n\ndeployment, including the roles of the Department of Commerce, the Center for AI Standards\n\nand Innovation, National Security Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security\n\nAgency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Office of Science and\n\nTechnology Policy, the National Security Council, and other relevant agencies.\n\nWhether opportunities exist for independent, third-party experts to participate in the\n\nbenchmarking process and in what capacity and under what legal authority they may do so.\n\nThe remedy and rebuttal process available to affected companies, including notice, the\n\nopportunity to provide technical evidence, protection of confidential business information,\n\ntimelines for decision, standards for emergency action, remediation pathways, and\n\nreconsideration or appeal.\n\nThe criteria for imposing, narrowing, or lifting restrictions on AI models, including how the\n\nAdministration will distinguish between isolated jailbreaks, remediable vulnerabilities, and\n\ncapabilities that create unacceptable risk in a way that establishes consistent, risk-based\n\ntreatment across developers with comparable capabilities.\n\nThe legal authorities the Administration is relying upon for any stipulated modifications to a\n\nfrontier AI model communicated\u2014formally or informally\u2014to a vendor, including where the\n\nprospect of an export control or other regulatory penalty is presented absent such a\n\nmodification, and the process by which the Administration memorializes these stipulated\n\nmodifications consistent with the Freedom of Information Act, Administrative Procedures\n\nAct, the Federal Records Act, and other relevant federal law.\n\nThe steps the Administration will take to avoid disrupting access to frontier AI models by\n\nU.S. customers, allied and partner-nation users, critical infrastructure operators, and foreign national employees who are determined not to present a national security risk.\n\nThe Administration\u2019s assessment of whether the actions taken thus far in the Anthropic and\n\nOpenAI examples cited earlier in this letter are an approach to implementing restrictions on\n\nU.S. models that could incentivize adoption of Chinese or other non-U.S. models, and what\n\nsteps it will take to prevent U.S. policy from inadvertently strengthening PRC or other\n\nforeign AI ecosystems.\n\nWe support serious, technically informed action to prevent frontier AI from being misused by adversaries or criminals and to mitigate risks posed by misalignment in the models themselves. The United States cannot afford to create a policy environment in which the most advanced American AI systems are subject to opaque, case-by-case restrictions while Chinese alternatives appear cheaper, easier to access, and more predictable to deploy. A clear public framework is necessary to protect national security, preserve U.S. AI leadership, and give industry and allies confidence that the United States remains the safest and most reliable source of advanced AI technology. We hope you will work with Congress to pursue such a framework.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter. 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