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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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Link to the original release on the member's official site
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has_text
1 if body text was successfully extracted
date_source
How the publication date was determined
bioguide_id
Bioguide ID of the member

2,801 rows where chamber = "Senate", party = "Democrat" and state = "VA" sorted by date descending

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  • 2025 836
  • 2024 566
  • 2026 515
  • 2023 344
  • 2022 288
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state 1

  • VA · 2,801 ✖

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  • Senate · 2,801 ✖
url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
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. – 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’s 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. “No 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,” said Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation will make the food supply chain more efficient, improve coordination between the federal government and state and local entities about food safety—all the more important in the context of recent outbreaks of foodborne illness—and help keep dangerous products off U.S. shelves. I am grateful to my Senate colleagues for supporting this common-sense, bipartisan legislation.” Specifically, the Making America’s Food Safer Act would: Expand 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. Provide 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, inc… 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’s 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. – 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’s final rule reinstating Title IX regulations from President Donald Trump’s first term: “Today’s 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,” said Kaine. “America’s future depends on the quality and safety of our schools. The Trump-Vance Administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education and weaken protections for students are dangerous steps in the wrong direction.” Since Trump took office for his second term, Kaine has been at the forefront of opposing the Trump-Vance Administration’s 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’s 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. ### 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’s 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. – 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. The 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’s National Security Law. The legislation responds to the CCP’s continued erosion of Hong Kong’s 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. “China’s 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,” said Kaine. “The United States must stand up for freedom and the rights of all people. This legislation would improve the State Department and other agencies’ ability to strengthen access to internet and keep China from censoring information. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.” The senators’ bill would establish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program within the State Department’s 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. The Jimmy Lai Internet Freedom Act would: Establish a Hong Kong Internet Freedom Program at the Department of State and Open Technology Fund. Support technologies that allow Hongkongers to circumvent internet blocking, filtering, and censorship. Support virtual private networks and other firewall circumvention tools. Provide digi… 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’s Elections, Recognize Certified Outcome and Support Brazil’s 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. — 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’s 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’s democratic institutions ahead of its October 4, 2026, presidential election. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Senators outline how the Trump Administration’s actions undermine confidence in Brazil’s electoral process ahead of its upcoming election and inflict further damage on the United States’ relationship with a strategic ally and trading partner. The Senators also highlight how the Administration’s actions reflect a broader and deeply troubling pattern of interference in recent electoral processes across Latin America, as seen during Argentina’s midterm elections and the presidential elections in Honduras and Colombia. The senators detailed how, over the course of President Trump’s second term, U.S. officials have engaged in a campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil. “This 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’s 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’s 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 unde… 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. – 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. “Every Virginian deserves dependable access to clean, safe drinking water,” said the senators. “We’re proud to help deliver these federal dollars to replace aging infrastructure in Wise County, improve reliable water service for residents, and support the community’s long-term growth.” The 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. The 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. Sens. 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’s wastewater system expansion and $700,000 to extend Wise County’s public wastewater service. In 2023, they announced close to $62.4 million in funding for water infrastructure upgrades a… 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 – 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: “We 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. “It 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.” ### 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 WASHINGTON – 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. The 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. Warner 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. In his speech today, Sen. Warner explained that the Ratepayer Protection Act “could be a starting point, but here’s 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’ve 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.” Warner continued, “I 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’ve seen communities where a lot of their water usage has gone up dramatically. We’ve seen these data centers sometimes literally intrude right into neighborhoods.” Warner’s Data Center Tax Accoun… 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 WASHINGTON – 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. In his speech today, Sen. Warner detailed the importance of legislating on artificial intelligence now and how we need to “get AI right, that it’s safe and it’s fair. That America leads in AI innovation.” “The whole world has recognized that we’ve got to do something. When AI companies come out one after another say we’ve got to elevate safety ,” said Sen. Warner. “We 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,” he continued. When explaining the legislation, Sen. Warner said, “Our request is really simple. It’s 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’s at least basic safety policy. God forbid we have an incident; we’ve got to have an incident reporting mechanism. No more, no less.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage. Sen. Warner’s full remarks are below: I think most of us in this chamber realize that we are literally living through one of the most consequential technology moments in our lifetime. That’s why I’m here with several of my colleagues, Senator Schatz from Hawaii and Senator Kim from New Jersey, to say that we can’t, frankly, have regular business at this moment. You know, before I got into politics, I was in the technology field. I was lucky enough to be in on the … 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 –Today, 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. “Specialty and mail-order pharmacies provide critical medications to patients across Virginia, and they should be reimbursed fairly and accurately for the care they provide,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m 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.” “Although I’m a doctor, you don’t have to be a doctor to see patients aren’t able to afford the prescription drugs they need,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This 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.” Pharmacy 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. Under 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. … 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— 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. “Film and television production supports good-paying jobs and small businesses across Virginia and across the country. This bill will help keep more productions — and the jobs they create — here at home, while giving Virginia’s talented artists and production workers more opportunities to succeed. I’m proud to support this effort,” said Sen. Warner. The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would: Spur 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.; Offer 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; Make 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 Support the investments of states currently offering incentives by allowing the federal incentive to supplement state credits. In 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… 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 – 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. “Every Virginian deserves dependable access to clean, safe drinking water,” said the senators. “We’re proud to help deliver these federal dollars to replace aging infrastructure in Wise County, improve reliable water service for residents, and support the community’s long-term growth.” The 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. The 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. Sens. 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’s wastewater system expansion and $700,000 to extend Wise County’s public wastewater service. In 2023, they announced close to $62.4 million in funding for water infrastructure upgrades across Vir… 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’s Executive Order to Rebrand ‘Artificial Intelligence’ 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 – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement: “The companies building the most powerful AI systems are warning us that the technology is advancing faster than our safeguards. The president’s 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. “I believe deeply in the promise of AI and in America’s 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’ve 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. “There 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 — or wait until afterward to ask why we didn’t.” Warner 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 ex… 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. – 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’s efforts to extend federal control over and undermine public trust in the 2026 midterm elections. The senators wrote to request information substantiating Mullin’s 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 “Unlawful Voter Initiative” disclosed by a recent whistleblower. “We 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’s 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’s demands,” the senators wrote. In their letter, the Senators raised concerns about Mullin’s 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’s acknowledgment of problems with the underlying data. The Senators also objected to new election-related conditions on FEMA’s 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 American… 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. – 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. “We 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,” said Kaine. “That is why I’m glad to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation to establish a dedicated executive branch critical minerals czar and marshal our diplomatic corps’ 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.” The 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. The 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. In 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). Full text of the legislation is available here. ### 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. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam’s (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. “George C. Marshall was educated at Virginia Military Institute, served as the US Army’s Chief of Staff during World War II and then earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as Secretary of State,” said Kaine. “This NPS designation of Dodona Manor will help preserve his home, honor General Marshall’s legacy, and ensure future generations understand the critical role he played in our history. I’m grateful to the many advocates and partners who have worked with us to get this done.” “Dodona Manor has been a pillar of the Northern Virginia community for hundreds of years. I am proud to honor George C. Marshall’s 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,” said Subramanyam. “We are deeply grateful to Representative Subramanyam and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership in advancing this legislation to preserve and elevate General Marshall’s legacy,” said Paul Michaels, chairman of the George C. Marshall International Center Board of Directors. “This 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’s extraordinary character and example.” The 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 affiliat… 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. – 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. “We 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,” began the senators. “We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI’s 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,” continued the senators. “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,” the… 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 – 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. “The Salt Typhoon intrusion was the worst telecom hack in our nation’s 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,” said Sen. Warner. “This bipartisan legislation is a good start in protecting our nation and strengthening the communications networks Americans rely on every day.” “Foreign adversaries are increasingly targeting America’s 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,” said Chairman Cruz. The Telecommunications Cybersecurity and Resilience Act would: Create 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. Create a voluntary certification process, that puts real accountability behind the adop… 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’s 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 WASHINGTON – On the floor of the United States Senate today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) asked for unanimous consent to pass his Protect America’s Workforce Act (PAWA), legislation that would repeal two union-busting executive orders and restore collective bargaining rights and workplace protections for federal workers. In his remarks, Sen. Warner explained how the Trump administration “has wanted to traumatize the federal workforce.” The president “signed 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.” Sen. Warner continued, “These executive orders reclassify entire departments and agencies – for example the whole Department of Treasury, the whole Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Communications Commission.” “As I mentioned, this has already passed with a large margin, bipartisan in the Republican-controlled House,” Sen. Warner said. He then urged his colleagues to “stand up for these vital and dedicated workers, protect long-standing labor protections, and the integrity of the civil service.” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected, blocking the bill from Senate passage. Sen. Warner’s full remarks as prepared are below: I rise today to remind my colleagues that federal workers do indispensable work to keep Americans safe, healthy, and informed. They 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. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has treated federal workers with incredible cruelty — stripping them of basic employment rights, insulting their work, ques… 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 – 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). “Cases 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,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m 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.” AGS 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. The 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. The Alpha-Gal Allergen Inclusion Act would add alpha-gal to the federal list of major food allergens, requiring clear and specific lab… 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 – 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’s broader goal of ensuring every American, regardless of age or employment status, can access affordable health coverage. “Our current health care system makes it hard and expensive for Virginians and Americans across the country to access the care they rely on,” said Sen. Warner. “There 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.” The Health CARE Act would: Reverse harmful health care provisions in H.R. 1. Make permanent enhanced ACA premium tax credits. Implement a low-cost public health insurance option. Expand the Medicare drug price negotiation program. Extend 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. Ensure 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. Improve Medicaid by reinstating the higher federal match when a state newly expands Medicaid and applying it retroactively to states that expanded late. Improve Medicare by including hearing aid coverage. Require hospitals, clinical lab… 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 –Today, 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. The 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’ 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. “The companies building the most powerful AI systems in the world are sounding the alarm: the step-change increase in AI models’ 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,” said Sen. Warner. “I 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 – not after something goe… 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’s 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. – 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. “The American people want the government to focus on lowering their costs, not committing appalling human rights abuses with their tax dollars,” said Kaine. “Yet the Trump-Vance Administration is spending hundreds of millions of dollars—or more—to 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.” The 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, Equatori… 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. – 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. “Every student deserves a safe, healthy learning environment where they can succeed, but many schools are in need of urgent and often costly repairs,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” Forty 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. As 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’s 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. The 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’s School Infrastructure Coalition, and the Histori… 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 – 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. RPM 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. In 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. The senators wrote, “Remote 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.” “The proposed rule would make a number of changes that would fundament… 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 – 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. “Every student deserves a safe, healthy learning environment where they can succeed, but many schools are in need of urgent and often costly repairs,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” Forty 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. As 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’s 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. The 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’s School Infrastructure Coalition, and the Historic Tax Cre… 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. – 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’ disturbingly high maternal and infant mortality rates and reduce the well-documented racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes. “The U.S. is the most prosperous, powerful, and innovative nation in the world—yet 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,” said Kaine. “This is tragic but overwhelmingly preventable—that’s why I’m 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.” “The racial and rural disparities in maternal and infant mortality rates in this country are alarming and unacceptable,” said Murkowski. “Our 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’re 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.” Maternal 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)—a collection of developed peer … 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. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement after voting against advancing college sports legislation that insufficiently protects student athletes: “This 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’m impressed that the NCAA and college conferences, including those whose members include Virginia schools, have signaled their support. But this bill won’t 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—coaches, athletic directors, sports networks, online gambling operations—to rake in obscene amounts of money with no cap? And why must student athletes’ 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’s exciting college athletic environment.” ### 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. – 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. “No child should ever face physical abuse, including at school,” said Senator Kaine. “It'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.” The administration of corporal punishment—defined as the intentional infliction of physical pain upon a student for disciplinary purposes—constitutes 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. Full text of the bill is available here. ### 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. – 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). “Every student deserves an education that helps them reach their full potential, regardless of their background or their ZIP code,” said Kaine. “Magnet schools bring kids from many different communities together, giving them valuable opportunities to learn from one another and explore their interests. I’m 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.” Magnet 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. The 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. – 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: “I’m 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—but under-appreciated—global 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’s 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.” The 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. ### 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 – 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. The senators’ 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. “Recent events – 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 – have given us growing concern about the extent to which agencies under your oversight have prioritized acceleration of AI capability adoption and ‘experimentation’ over effective governance,” the senators wrote. Warner, 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. “Public 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,” they continued. The senators called for the reported incidents to be investigat… 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’s 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 – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and a coalition of 110 bipartisan, bicameral lawmakers urged congressional leaders to reject the Trump administration’s proposed federal employee pay freeze and deliver a meaningful pay increase in 2027. The 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. Federal employees received a 1 percent raise this year, well short of the 3.4 percent rise in consumer prices over the past 12 months. The lawmakers wrote, “These 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.” The lawmakers continued, “The Administration’s 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.” “The 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,” the lawmakers added. The letter, signed by 12 senators and 98 House members, urges congressional leaders to include the increase in Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations legislation. The full letter is available here and below. Dear Leader Thune, Speaker Johnson, Leade… 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 – 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’s 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 “Unlawful Voter Initiative,” an effort aimed at manufacturing evidence for President Trump’s unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. In Virginia, individuals using the state’s online voter portal must certify that they are accessing their own voter registration record and are warned that accessing another voter’s 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’s Attorney General Jay Jones warned DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin that officers’ actions, specifically those who checked a box falsely attesting they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records, “potentially violates several Virginia laws.” The senators wrote in their letter, “The DHS Office of Inspector General’s mission is ‘[t]o provide independent oversight and promote excellence, integrity, and accountability within DHS.’ We urge you to carry out that mission by immediately opening an independent investigation into the alleged wrongdoings detailed in the whistleblower’s claims, which describe agency leadership directing officers to violate the law and DHS standards of integrity.” The senators highlighted additional allegations in the whistleblower’s disclosure, including that USCIS personnel were directed to create erroneous federal law enforcement records known as “TECS records” based on … 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’s 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 – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement on the Trump administration’s repeal of an executive order to clean up the Chesapeake Bay: “For 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’s greatest natural and economic resources. The Trump administration’s 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. “Restoring the Chesapeake Bay is critical to the Commonwealth’s seafood and tourism industries, thousands of good-paying jobs, educational opportunities, and Virginians’ 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’ve made instead of walking away from a framework that has guided restoration efforts for more than 15 years.” ### 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 – 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: “Reports 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’s 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’s 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.” ### 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 – 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’ sensitive information and disrupting access to critical care across the country. “Cyberattacks on our health care system compromise Americans’ most sensitive personal information, delay essential medical care, and put lives at risk,” said Sen. Warner. “As cybercriminals ramp up their attacks on hospitals and health care providers, it’s becoming increasingly clear that voluntary standards are not enough to protect Americans’ 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.” “Americans 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,” said Sen. Wyden. “The 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’ medical information is secure. Congress cannot wait to act until another catastrophic cyberattack compromises the safety and privacy of American families’ most personal information.” The 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. Specifically, 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 … 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 — 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. The 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. “Meanwhile, 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,” wrote the senators. “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.” In their letter, the senators highlight the contrast between the current Pentagon’s 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’s 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. The senators are requesting that the Department of Defense provide: A detailed breakdown of all direct and indire… 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. – 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 “bomb the shit” out of Oman if it interferes with the United States’ blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. “President Trump calls himself the ‘Peace President,’ but he has ordered military strikes in more countries around the world than any President in recent history,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees. “The American people don’t 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’s chaotic and expansive use of the military isn’t making Americans more secure. All it’s 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.” “Donald 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 – his next potential target for yet another foreign war,” said Schiff. “Congress 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.” Full text of the resolution is available here. ### 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’ 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 – Following the White House Office of Personnel Management’s (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. Earlier 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’s failure to address the Senators’ inquiry, the System of Records Notice (SORN), published in June, confirms their intention to collect identifiable data of federal workers. “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…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,” the senators wrote in a new letter to OPM Director Scott Kupor. The senators point to the administration’s clear intent to target vulnerable communities by using sensitive health information in employment actions, including the hiring and firing of federal workers. The SORN revealed OPM is “utilizing ZIP code, birth year, provider, service dates, diagnoses, procedures, and drug information to reveal highly specific patterns of care.” “We support responsible efforts to protect the integrity of federal health-benefit programs. However, OPM’s proposals create an unnecessarily broad, decades-long, re-identifiable medical history of millions of workers, retirees, spouses, children, and oth… 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. – 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: “ESOPs 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.” Specifically, 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 “adequate consideration” in an ESOP transaction, thus eliminating a source of uncertainty for companies establishing or operating ESOPs. ### 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. – 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. The senators’ 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. “The 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—and the Israeli government’s lack of response to this violence—are unacceptable and threaten the long-term safety and security of the entire region,” said Kaine. “Friends 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.” The 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 rec… 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 – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after voting against cloture on the CLARITY Act: “I 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. “But 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. “I 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.” ### 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 – 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’s board meeting: “The John F. Kennedy Center has an important relationship with Congress; it was established by and receives vital funding to maintain the building from Congress. “It 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. “With the president’s handpicked board voting to close the Center immediately, we are losing one of the country’s 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.” ### 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 – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after voting for the Protect College Sports Act: “College athletics provide incredible opportunities for student-athletes, serve as a critical pipeline for Team USA, and bring beloved traditions to communities across Virginia. I’ve long understood their importance – as governor, I worked to make sure Virginia Tech had a place in the newly expanded ACC. “The current disorder in college sports isn’t serving athletes, schools, or fans well. This bill isn’t perfect, but it provides needed stability while protecting athletes’ 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’m also glad to see strong protections for women’s and Olympic sports, and I believe this bill represents an important step toward a fairer and more sustainable future for college athletics.” ### 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’s 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 – 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’s desk for his signature. “I am glad to see that my legislation with Representative Subramanyam to designate General George C. Marshall’s Dodona Manor as a National Park Service Affiliated Area has passed the House and is headed to the President’s desk,” said Kaine. “This will ensure that the site is preserved for future generations, honor General Marshall’s legacy, and present an opportunity for the public to learn more about this period of our history.” “For hundreds of years, Dodona Manor has been a pillar of the Northern Virginia community. I am proud to honor George C. Marshall’s legacy and Dodona Manor’s 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,” said Subramanyam. Kaine and Subramanyam introduced the bill in February 2025. “We are deeply grateful to Representative Subramanyam and Senators Kaine and Warner for their leadership in advancing this legislation to preserve and elevate General Marshall’s legacy,” said Paul Michaels, Chairman of the George C. Marshall International Center Board of Directors. “This 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’s extraordinary … 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’ 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. – 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’ personal information, by falsely attesting that they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records: “As much as President Trump and his cronies insist otherwise, working for the federal government doesn’t mean you can break the law. The Virginia Department of Elections is clear: lying about one’s identity in order to access Virginians’ personal information is illegal, and any DHS officials who violated that code should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it’s 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’ personal information and the security of our elections from this deranged Administration.” Virginians 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 § 18.2-152.3. ### 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’ 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 – 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’ personal information, by falsely attesting that they were specific Virginians verifying their voter registration records: “As much as President Trump and his cronies insist otherwise, working for the federal government doesn’t mean you can break the law. The Virginia Department of Elections is clear: lying about one’s identity in order to access Virginians’ personal information is illegal, and any DHS officials who violated that code should be held accountable. Unfortunately, it’s 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’ personal information and the security of our elections from this deranged Administration.” Virginians 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 § 18.2-152.3. ### 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. – 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: “This is a solemn anniversary for all Americans, but it’s especially close to home for the Commonwealth—nearly 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’m praying for the families of the nearly 3,000 Americans who died, the first responders who heroically put themselves in harm’s 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—and 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.” ### 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 – 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 Luján (D-NM). “On a bipartisan basis, Congress has provided your Department with targeted resources to fight outbreaks of disease… However, it appears that you are not using this Office or comparable Department resources to address ongoing public health crises,” the senators wrote in a request for records and information to Secretary Kennedy.“Instead, 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.” The senators continued, “On ‘The Secretary Kennedy Podcast,’ you appear to be using official HHS resources to discuss topics such as ‘biohacking’ 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 ‘The Real Food Show.’ A recent episode of this show, paid for with taxpayer dollars, featured you discussing ‘The Secret to the PERFECT Omelet.’ Both projects are on official government websites and state that they were produced by the Department of Health and Human Services.” In the letter to Secretary Ken… 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’s deadly midair collision that claimed 67 lives. The bill would cap hourly arrivals, reduce the clustering of flights, and remove 30 slots—thereby 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. “In 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,” said Kaine. “While I support various proposals to help do that, it’s obvious that any set of reforms that doesn’t address overcrowding at this airport—which sits along restricted airspace and is already operating beyond capacity—is dangerously insufficient. That’s 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.” “We 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’s overburdened runway is the busiest in the country, and the National Transportation Safety Board’s 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,” said Warner. “For 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 … 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. – 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’s Attorney General Jay Jones, challenges the legality of President Trump’s 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’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail. Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary. In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14399 and USPS’s 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. “As current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States — including its guarantee of the separation of powers,” wrote the lawmakers. “Amici 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.” The amici also pointed to a recent federal court r… 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 – 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’s Attorney General Jay Jones, challenges the legality of President Trump’s 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’s directive that imposes unconstitutional and unworkable restrictions on mail-in voting, including requiring states to provide a “citizenship verification list” and attempting to give USPS control over who can vote by mail. Nearly one-third of Americans have voted by mail in recent elections — a voting practice Trump himself used as recently as August 2026, when he voted in Florida’s Republican primary. In the court filing, the amici curiae argue that Trump’s Executive Order 14399 and USPS’s 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. “As current and former legislators, amici took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States — including its guarantee of the separation of powers,” wrote the lawmakers. “Amici 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.” The amici also pointed to a recent federal court ruling blo… 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 – 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’s deadly midair collision that claimed 67 lives. The bill would cap hourly arrivals, reduce the clustering of flights, and remove 30 slots—thereby 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. “We 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’s overburdened runway is the busiest in the country, and the National Transportation Safety Board’s 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,” said Sen. Warner. “For 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.” “In 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,” said Sen. Kaine. “While I support various proposals to help do that, it’s obvious that any set of reforms that doesn’t address overcrowding at this airport—which sits along restricted airspace and is already operating beyond capacity—is dangerously insufficient. That’s why this legislation lays out a commonsense plan to d… 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. – 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. The 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—a resource frequently smuggled by belligerents to fund their operations. “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’s 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,” said the senators. “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,” the senators continued. “Gold 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, lever… 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. – 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. “The 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’ loss and resilience on one of our nation’s darkest days,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” Affiliated 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. 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. ### 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’ 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 – 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. HIGH-QUALITY PHOTOS AVAILABLE HERE “It 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,” said Sen. Warner. “Veterans 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.” Western 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. Sen. Warner has long fought to expand health care access and benefits for Virginia’s 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’ve 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’ access to hea… 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 – 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. “The 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’ loss and resilience on one of our nation’s darkest days,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” Affiliated 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. Sens. 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. ### * High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here * Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The 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 – 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 José Mejía Hernandez’ hospitalization and brain injury: “We strongly support the Arlington County Police Department’s decision to open this investigation, which is essential to establishing how José Mejía 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’ misconduct caused Mr. Mejía Hernandez’ injuries or impeded his medical treatment, they must face consequences. We will continue seeking answers about what happened to Mr. Mejía Hernandez in Arlington, and working to ensure he receives access to the medical care and support he needs to recover.” ### 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 – 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’s wastewater treatment plant. The funding will improve the plant’s 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. “High-quality water infrastructure is critical to the health and well-being of all Virginians,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” The funding was awarded through an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant program. Year after year, the senators have supported robust EDA funding in Congress. Sens. 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’s 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. ### 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. – 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. “We write to express our strong opposition to the Department of Education’s … 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,” wrote the members. “As proponents of CTE, we know that fair and equitable access is critical to our students and the strength of our economy.” “The 1979 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’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) responds retroactively to filed complaints,” the members continued. “The 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.” They continued, “Despite 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… 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. – 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—including at least one person whose family helped the U.S. fight the Taliban—to the Central African Republic (CAR) and other countries in the region, despite none being residents of those countries: “Over 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’s 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’s honor.” ### 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’s Trade War and Free Virginians from Trump’s 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. – Following President Trump’s latest tariffs, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and 12 of their Senate colleagues introduced the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump’s newest barrage of tariffs, and rein in the president’s tariff authority by repealing the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump’s newest global tariffs of 10­–12.5 percent and 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of imports from Canada. Since Trump has started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump’s 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. “From escalating trade wars to costly conflicts abroad, the president’s reckless policies are driving up costs and making it harder for Virginians to make ends meet,” said the senators. “The data is clear: American families, small businesses, and farmers are footing the bill for Trump’s chaotic tariffs. We’re proud to support this legislation to rein in these disastrous taxes, lower costs, and put working families ahead of the president’s failed agenda.” The 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). In Congress, Warner and Kaine have been outspoken critics of President Trump’s 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 – with interest – of Trump’s illegal tariffs, after they were struck down by the U.S. Sup… 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’s Trade War and Free Virginians From Trump’s 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 – Following President Trump’s latest tariffs, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and 12 of their Senate colleagues introduced the End Trump’s Tariff Tax Act, legislation that would revoke and refund Trump’s newest barrage of tariffs, and rein in the president’s tariff authority by repealing the archaic authorities he has used to continue his trade war. This legislation would apply to Trump’s newest global tariffs of 10­–12.5 percent and 50 percent tariff on $20 billion worth of imports from Canada. Since Trump has started his latest trade war, American families have paid the price. In just one year, Trump’s 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. “From escalating trade wars to costly conflicts abroad, the president’s reckless policies are driving up costs and making it harder for Virginians to make ends meet,” said the senators. “The data is clear: American families, small businesses, and farmers are footing the bill for Trump’s chaotic tariffs. We’re proud to support this legislation to rein in these disastrous taxes, lower costs, and put working families ahead of the president’s failed agenda.” The 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). In Congress, Sens. Warner and Kaine have been outspoken critics of President Trump’s 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 – with interest – of Trump’s illegal tariffs, after they were struck down by the U.S. Suprem… 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. – 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’ve earned, particularly after the removal of over 1,700 positions at VA clinics in Virginia earlier this year. "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.” Kaine has long fought to address VA workforce challenges, including after the Trump-Vance Administration’s 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. ### 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’s 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. – As the Trump-Vance Administration’s 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: “Six 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—including over 100 children from one strike alone—and raised Americans’ 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’m going to keep doing all that I can to cut off funding for what will go down in history as one of America’s most foolish foreign policy catastrophes of all time.” Kaine has consistently been a leading voice to reassert Congress’ authority over war powers under Presidents of both parties. He insisted on congressional approval ahead of President Barack Obama’s 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. ### 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’s 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. – 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’s failure to support servicemembers carrying out indefinite extended deployments in President Donald Trump’s foolish and illegal war in Iran. In their letter, the senators emphasized how the Administration’s 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. “The toll this unauthorized, disastrous war is taking on our troops is unconscionable,” wrote the senators. “Troops are suffering because of this Administration’s inability to end this war or make the environment safe enough for our servicemembers to be delivered the food, medication or supplies they need.” “Military 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 – 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,” the senators continued. “The stakes couldn’t 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,” the senators concluded. Along with Kaine, the letter is co-signed by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), M… 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’s 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 – 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 Luján (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’s 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. “Construction 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. “At a time when settler violence — including violence against Palestinian Americans — 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. “We 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 undermi… 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. – 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’s watch. “As if it weren’t 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 – paying $3,200 extra for goods and services may be pocket change to President Trump and his cronies, but not to everyday Americans,” said the senators. “Everywhere we go throughout the Commonwealth, we hear the same thing: Virginians cannot afford this Administration’s disastrous policies. We’ll 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.” This 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: Virginians have incurred nearly $700 more in housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, since Trump took office. Average 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. Virginians overall have paid an additional $2 billion for gas since the start of Trump’s war of choice in Iran. This comes out to just over $700 extra spent on gas for the average Virginia family. Virginians 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. Because of Trump and congressional Republicans’ refusal t… 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 – 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’s watch. “As if it weren’t 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 – paying $3,200 extra for goods and services may be pocket change to President Trump and his cronies, but not to everyday Americans,” said the senators. “Everywhere we go throughout the Commonwealth, we hear the same thing: Virginians cannot afford this Administration’s disastrous policies. We’ll 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.” This 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: Virginians have incurred nearly $700 more in housing costs, including rent and mortgage payments, since Trump took office. Average 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. Virginians overall have paid an additional $2 billion for gas since the start of Trump’s war of choice in Iran. This comes out to just over $700 extra spent on gas for the average Virginia family. Virginians 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. Because of Trump and congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend … 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 – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and 44 of his Senate colleagues urged Israel’s 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. “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,” the senators wrote in a letter signed by almost the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. The senators warn that “continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” President 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. “Like 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,” the senators concluded. Additionally, the senators call for those responsible for such violent acts to be held accountable and investigated. In 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)… 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 — 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’s largest prediction market platforms and urged them to take immediate action to protect election integrity ahead of this year’s midterm elections and end relationships with paid influencers on their platforms spreading election disinformation. In a letter to Polymarket and Kalshi, the senators raised concerns regarding the platforms’ practice of paying online influencers who have spread false information, including claims that U.S. federal elections are subject to widespread fraud. “We are seriously alarmed that your marketing strategy includes paying numerous social media influencers willing to espouse unreliable information on elections,” wrote the senators. “In doing so, we are concerned that your prediction market platforms may be subsidizing — and amplifying — social media influencers who echo President Trump’s 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.” The senators also highlighted the platforms’ 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. “In July, a series of major social media influencers, including former Congressman Matt Gaetz, all posted similar ‘paid partnership’ posts linking to Polymarket and Kalshi charts showing the odds of enactment of the SAVE Act dropping to all-ti… 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. –U.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). “Catapults are central to an aircraft carrier’s 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,” wrote the senators. “Your 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’s global commitments,” the senators continued. “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,” stressed the senators. “Our aircraft carriers are among the most complex weapons systems ever built, and decisions about their design will shape t… 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. – 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: “Beginning 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. “I 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’ve 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. “Thus far, the Administration has refused to declassify virtually any of the relevant material that I’ve 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 leg… 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 – 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. At 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’s 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. In a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of the Navy Acting Secretary Hung Cao, the senators wrote, “We 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 – 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’s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.” The senators continued, “In 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 – 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.” The senators also noted that President Trump characterized USS Lincoln’s deployment as “not nearly long enough,” 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 … 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 – 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. Research 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’s publicly accessible Ad Library, which does not provide users with a mechanism to report ads. The 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’s face had been superimposed onto an adult’s body. The findings come despite Meta’s own advertising standards that prohibit “imagery depicting nudity, sexual activity, depictions of people in explicit or sexually suggestive positions, or activities that are sexually suggestive.” Researchers found that some of the ads were distributed to thousands, if not tens of thousands, of users. Sen. Warner wrote, “It strains credulity that Meta was (or is) unknowingly hosting—and profiting from—such 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’s own systems reviewed and approved per Meta’s 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 Ju… 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. – 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. Last month, Sens. Warner and Kaine visited USS Ford and met with sailors to discuss what effects the deployment had on them. In a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of the Navy Acting Secretary Hung Cao, the senators wrote, “We 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 – 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’s servicemembers and their families back home are being placed under increasing strain in support of an ill-defined and creeping mission.” The senators continued, “In 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 – 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.” The senators also noted that President Trump characterized USS Lincoln’s deployment as “not nearly long enough,” 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. The senators detailed their conversations with some of the crew and … 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. – 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. TPS 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’s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Sudan’s 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. "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. “The 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 … 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’s Deranged Threat To “Bomb the Shit” 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. – Today, President Donald Trump threatened to “bomb the shit” 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: “President 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—a country the United States has a strong diplomatic relationship and a free trade agreement with—makes 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.” ### 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. – 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’s (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. “The Surry ferry has been carrying passengers and connecting communities across the James River for almost 50 years,” said the senators. “We’re proud to announce that this funding will help modernize the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet and help make Virginia’s transit system better for our environment.” Sens. 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’s Low- or No-Emission Program to improve Virginia’s 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. ### 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 – 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. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the senators wrote, “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.” TPS 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’s status on a recurring basis. Each time a country is recertified, recipients must reapply and pass a thorough background check. Sudan’s 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. The senators highlighted the mounting crisis in Sudan, adding, “The 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 infrastruc… 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 – 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’s (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. “The Surry ferry has been carrying passengers and connecting communities across the James River for almost 50 years,” said the senators. “We’re proud to announce that this funding will help modernize the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry fleet and help make Virginia’s transit system better for our environment.” Sens. 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’s Low- or No-Emission Program to improve Virginia’s 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. ### 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 – 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’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) for Fiscal Year 2026, which the senators have supported robust funding for. “Virginia’s airports play a critical role in connecting communities and supporting local economies,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” The nine grant awards include: $8,000,000 for Lynchburg Regional Airport to expand the existing terminal, including the TSA exit lane, to accommodate more passengers. $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. $3,311,779 for Warrenton-Fauquier Airport to complete the rehabilitation of an existing taxiway and taxiway lighting, extending its useful life. $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. $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’s 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. $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. $165,000 for Ingalls Field Air… 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’s 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 – 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. “Reliable 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,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver major investments to Virginia, improving our transportation infrastructure, boosting our Commonwealth’s 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.” The funding is awarded through the Department of Transportation’s 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. The grant awards include: $2,050,000,000 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak)’s 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’s 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 ne… 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 – 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 – multiple of whom have been detained for more than four years. Virginian Charles “Chuck” Zimmerman is one of the five U.S. nationals currently detained. In the years following Russia’s 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. After reports that Robert Gilman, a U.S. marine veteran detained in Russia since 2022, was “unresponsive” and “at risk of dying” 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’s release, the senators demanded that the Trump administration do everything possible to bring home every American being detained in Russia. Despite 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 (“Levinson Act”), an official “wrongful detainment” designation would ensure additional legal and social protections and would strengthen the U.S.’s negotiating position to secure the hostages’ return. The five Americans – as well as their friends and families – have suffered immense emotional, financial, and legal hardship while fighting for release, and the “wrongful detainee” designation would provide critical resources to the families fighting for their loved ones’ freedom. “We are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the United St… 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. – 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 – multiple of whom have been detained for more than four years. Virginian Charles “Chuck” Zimmerman is one of the five U.S. nationals currently detained. In the years following Russia’s 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. After reports that Robert Gilman, a U.S. marine veteran detained in Russia since 2022, was “unresponsive” and “at risk of dying” 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’s release, the senators demanded that the Trump administration do everything possible to bring home every American being detained in Russia. Despite 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 (“Levinson Act”), an official “wrongful detainment” designation would ensure additional legal and social protections and would strengthen the U.S.’s negotiating position to secure the hostages’ return. The five Americans – as well as their friends and families – have suffered immense emotional, financial, and legal hardship while fighting for release, and the “wrongful detainee” designation would provide critical resources to the families fighting for their loved ones’ freedom. “We are united in the belief that the safe return of U.S. nationals detained abroad must remain a priority of the … 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 – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced a package of four bipartisan bills to strengthen America’s national security and close loopholes that foreign adversaries, including China, can exploit. “The 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’s national security, protect our technological edge, and bolster our global competitiveness.” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this legislative package that would give us greater insight into our adversaries’ capabilities and better prevent advanced U.S. technologies from falling into the wrong hands.” “America must continue to compete and win in the technology race, but we know that communist China’s strategy has never been to compete, but to steal and exploit. This bipartisan package would strengthen our understanding of China’s action, improve enforcement and protect American companies, workers and innovations from Chinese espionage,” said Sen. Husted. The lawmakers introduced the following bills: The 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’s Republic of China’s efforts to indigenize its artificial intelligence (AI) stack. This report would include information on Beijing’s progress to develop home-grown chip design and production, semiconductor manufacturing equipment, subcomponent production, model development and deployment competencies. The 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 … 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. – 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: “I was in Ukraine last month for the second time since Putin’s brutal full-scale invasion, and it was clear that the Ukrainian people’s 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’s war, which his own finance officials have told him he can’t afford. Now is the perfect time for the United States to bring down the full force of comprehensive sanctions on Russia, and I’m proud that the Senate took an important step forward today by passing this legislation.” The 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 Luján (D-NM), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO). The 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. “There is an unacceptably high rate of suicide among construction workers,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation will give us the resources to understand how we can combat it and better inform suicide prevention programs.” “From our homes to our offices, our roads to our favorite coffee shops, construction workers are responsible for building America,” said Sen. Cortez Masto. “But 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.” “The high rate of suicide among construction workers should be alarming to us all,” said Sen. Shaheen. “I’m proud to help introduce legislation alongside a group of my colleagues who understand the importance of figuring out what’s fueling this crisis and the urgent need to make sure we’re getting mental health resources where they’re needed.” “In New Mexico and across the country, our construction workers are the backbone of our country,” said Sen. Luján. “The high rate of suicide in the constru… 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. – 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’s 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. These 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—or at least impression—that personal profit, rather than the national interest, shapes American foreign policy. “When 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’s national security interests—not 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,” said Kaine. “This legislation will ensure individuals given the privilege of representing the United States are actually working for the American people.” In 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). The TABOO Act would: Deem all individuals in covered positions to be officers or employees for purpos… 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 And 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. – 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. “Giving 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,” said the senators. “We 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.” The Loudoun County post office, in Sterling, would be designated as the “Firefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building,” honoring the service of firefighter Trevor Brown – 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. The Fairfax post office would be designated as the “Congressman Gerald E. ‘Gerry’ Connolly Post Office Building.” The renaming honors the late Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” 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. The New Kent post office would be renamed the “Patricia Paige Post Office” 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, V… 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 – 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. “Giving 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,” said the senators. “We 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.” The Loudoun County post office, in Sterling, would be designated as the “Firefighter Trevor Brown Post Office Building,” honoring the service of firefighter Trevor Brown – 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. The Fairfax post office would be designated as the “Congressman Gerald E. ‘Gerry’ Connolly Post Office Building.” The renaming honors the late Congressman Gerald E. “Gerry” 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. The New Kent post office would be renamed the “Patricia Paige Post Office” 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. Last … 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. – 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. “The 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’s critical that Congress acts to help providers and ensure Americans continue to have access to the care they need,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee. “I’m 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’m committed to working with my colleagues to pass these reforms.” Specifically, the SUSTAIN 340B Act would: Sense of Congress – Reiterate the original intent of the 340B program and clarify the program provides point-of-purchase discounts, as opposed to rebates. Contract Pharmacy – Codify covered entities’ 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 … 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. – 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’s Issues, joined a group of his colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution reaffirming America’s 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). “Venezuelans have the right to decide the future of their own country, and the United States must support a timely democratic transition,” said Kaine. “I’m 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 María Corina Machado to Venezuela.” Kaine 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. Full text of the resolution is available here. ### 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. – 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’s (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. “Unfortunately, there’s 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,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” The grant awards include: $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. $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 as… 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. – 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’s (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. “Keeping 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,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” In Central Virginia, the grant awards include: $101,765 for the Richmond Police Department to replace critical equipment and support the Richmond Adult Drug Treatment Court’s operations and participant compliance. $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. $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. $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. $29,500 for Spotsylvania County’s Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office to purchase up to nine portable, high-performance forensic laptops that will improve efficiency. $29,935 for the City of Petersburg to continue a phased officer-safety and duty-weapon modernization project. $15,087 for the Albemarle County Police … 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 – 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. “Coal 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’s decision to cut funding for programs that protect miners’ health and pause enforcement of the silica dust rule is leaving miners at greater risk,” said Sen. Warner. “Miners 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.” The 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. Sen. 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’s 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. ### 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 – 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’ 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. “Patient misidentification is a serious problem that has led to medical mistakes and even patient death,” said Sen. Warner. “My bipartisan bill would improve the interoperability between health care systems and decrease patient misidentification, while protecting patient privacy and leading to better patient care.” “Patient matching errors are a hidden tax on the healthcare system,” said Sen. Banks. “This bipartisan bill would make sure doctors have the right patient’s records and reduce medical errors, speed up care, and reduce healthcare costs.” The MATCH IT Act would: Direct HHS to develop uniform data standards and definitions for accurate and precise patient matching; Establish minimum data set standard needed to support the adoption of patient match rate at 99.9; Require all Certified Electronic Health Record Technology systems to adopt these standards; and Establish a voluntary Medicare bonus for providers who meet a patient matching rate of 90%. The 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 Ophthalmolo… 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 – 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’s (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. “Unfortunately, there’s 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,” said the senators. “We’re 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.” The grant awards include: $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. $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, fa… 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. – 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. “We write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces’ (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’s 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,” wrote the senators. “We have already witnessed what happens when the international community fails to heed warnings of RSF atrocities. The RSF’s siege and devastation of El Fasher bore the ‘hallmarks of genocide’ according to United Nations investigators. […] 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’s 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—and the international community—conti… 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 – 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’s national security risk. The letter follows the Trump administration’s 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’s voluntary pre-release review framework for frontier models. In 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). In the letter, the senators expressed their support for maintaining the United States’ 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’s Republic of China (PRC). “Last 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’s network without any instructions to take those actions. The Federal Government cannot be passive as these capabilities emerge. At the same time, the administration’s 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 (“the Department”) utilized an infrequently used authority to direct Anthropic to suspend all acces… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z

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