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1,856 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "VA" and year = 2019 sorted by date descending

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https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-on-legislation-to-stop-annoying-robocalls-signed-into-law Warner on Legislation to Stop Annoying Robocalls Signed Into Law 2019-12-31 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the followingstatement after President Trump signed into law a bill sponsored by Sen. Warner to crack down on illegal robocall scams: The truth is, folks in Virginia and across the nation are sick and tired of receiving unsolicited robocalls at all hours of the day, said Sen. Warner. These calls are intrusive and often set up by scammers looking to pray on vulnerable individuals. I'm proud to have sponsored this legislation and am very excited to see it signed into law so that it can start giving individuals some peace of mind. Personally, I know I won't miss these annoying robocalls, and I have a feeling other Virginians won't either. The Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence (TRACED) Act gives regulators more time to find scammers, increases civil forfeiture penalties for those who are caught, requires service providers to adopt call authentication and blocking, and brings relevant federal agencies and state attorneys general together to address impediments to criminal prosecution of robocallers who intentionally break laws. Sen. Warner sponsored the Senate version of the bill, which passed the Senate in 97-1 vote in May 2019. After the House passed an amended version of the bill earlier this month, the Senate unanimously voted to send the bill to the President's desk for signature on December 18. The TRACED Act: Broadens the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally flout telemarketing restrictions. Extends the window for the FCC to catch and take civil enforcement action against intentional violations to four years after a robocall is placed. Under current law, the FCC has only one year to do so, and the FCC has told the committee that even a one-year longer statute of limitations for enforcement would improve enforcement against violators. Brings together the Department of Justice, FCC, Federal Trade Commission, Department of … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2378 President Trump Signs into Law Spanbergers Legislation to Combat Trafficking & Smuggling Networks in Central America, Strengthen U.S. Border Security 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy HENRICO, V.A. U.S. President Donald J. Trump signed into law U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger's bipartisan legislationled alongside U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX-23)to combat Central American trafficking and smuggling networks and strengthen U.S. border security. Specifically, Spanberger and Hurd's Trafficking and Smuggling Intelligence Act directs the U.S. intelligence community to prioritize efforts to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking, and human smuggling networks in the Northern Triangle countriesHonduras, Guatemala, and El Salvadorand Mexico. Additionally, it uses the expertise of the intelligence community to understand how these criminal organizations in the region contribute to the ongoing security and humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. Spanberger and Hurdboth former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) case officersintroduced the legislation in July 2019, and their legislation passed in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) earlier this month. To tackle the security and humanitarian challenges at our southern border, we need to understand the root causes of instability, illegal migration, increased levels of asylum seekers, and senseless violence in Mexico and the Northern Triangle, said Spanberger, a former federal law enforcement agent and CIA case officer. As two former intelligence officers, Congressman Hurd and I recognize how the reprehensible activities of criminal organizations in this region create a devastating ripple effect that threatens our national security and exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis along the U.S-Mexico border. At its core, our bipartisan legislation will deploy the expertise of the intelligence community to keep the American people safe and secure. I'd like to thank President Trump for signing our bill into lawand I'd like to thank Congressman Hurd for working across the aisle to protect vulnerable populations in Central America and for committing to strengthening … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=150 Reps. Wexton and McEachin Call for the Replacement of Virginias Robert E. Lee Statue at the U.S. Capitol 2019-12-23 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Representatives Jennifer Wexton (VA-10) and A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) wrote to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, calling for the replacement of Virginia's statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, housed in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol Building. The National Statuary Hall Collection consists of two statues donated by each state, with 100 statues total in the collection, that honor notable persons in a state's history. Currently, Virginia's two statues in the collection depict George Washington and Robert E. Lee. Virginia's statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection is placed in the U.S. Capitol Crypt, a prominent location that is displayed to almost every tour group that visits the U.S. Capitol. Virginia's decision to donate the statue of Lee was a part of a national effort to rewrite the history of the South's secession and rehabilitate the image of Confederate leaders. In their letter to Governor Northam, the Representatives outline Virginia's long history of racial injustice, dating from the arrival of the first enslaved Africans, to the era of Jim Crow and racial terror, to current inequities that still exist. As Virginians, we have a responsibility to not only learn from but also confront our history, The Representatives wrote. As part of this responsibility, we must strive for a more complete telling of history by raising up the voices, stories, and memories of minorities and people of color. In doing so, we should consider what monuments we can add to acknowledge the horrors of slavery, expose the injustices of institutional racism, and honor those who dedicated their lives to fighting for equality. Wexton and McEachin go on to list some of the numerous historical figures who would better represent Virginia in the National Statuary Hall Collection, listing Virginians such as civil rights leader, Oliver Hill, and renowned 19th century thinker, Booker T. Washington. In the letter, the Representatives call on Governor Northam to include t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-praise-signing-of-virginia-beach-strong-act-into-law Warner & Kaine Praise Signing of Virginia Beach Strong Act into Law 2019-12-22 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 22, 2019 Warner & Kaine Praise Signing of Virginia Beach Strong Act into Law ~ Legislation will make donations to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund tax deductible ~ WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after theirlegislationto treat Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund donations as tax-deductible contributions was signed into law: Following the horrific shooting in Virginia Beach, we were heartened to see the community come together to support victims and their families by helping alleviate some of the financial burden of the tragedy,the Senators said.Our bill will now make sure that the community's generosity is treated appropriately by making donations to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund tax-deductible. We are thrilled that Congress and the White House were able to put any partisanship aside and rapidly get this bill signed for the sake of Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth. On May 31, 2019, a gunman opened fire at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killing 12 people and injuring four. Soon after, the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund was created to support the wounded victims and the families of those killed. However, because the fund was set up exclusively for the benefit of those affected by the tragedy, it violates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable tax rule that requires a charitable organization to serve a charitable class of persons that is indefinite or of sufficient size.Accordingly, charitable funds can't be earmarked for specific individuals. As a result, donors are not able to receive a tax deduction for their contributions. TheVirginiaBeachStrong Actrectifies this flaw by classifying any contribution made on or after May 31, 2019 through June 1, 2021 as tax-deductible. Sens. Warner and Kaine, along with U.S. Rep.Elaine Luria (D-VA) have been fierce advocates for the victims and families affected by the May 31st shooting. Earlier this month, the Senatorssecured congressional passageof this legislation and in June, theywroteto t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-praise-signing-of-virginia-beach-strong-act-into-law Warner & Kaine Praise Signing of Virginia Beach Strong Act into Law 2019-12-22 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after theirlegislationto treat Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund donations as tax-deductible contributions was signed into law: Following the horrific shooting in Virginia Beach, we were heartened to see the community come together to support victims and their families by helping alleviate some of the financial burden of the tragedy,the Senators said.Our bill will now make sure that the community's generosity is treated appropriately by making donations to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund tax-deductible. We are thrilled that Congress and the White House were able to put any partisanship aside and rapidly get this bill signed for the sake of Virginia Beach and the Commonwealth. On May 31, 2019, a gunman opened fire at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killing 12 people and injuring four. Soon after, the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund was created to support the wounded victims and the families of those killed. However, because the fund was set up exclusively for the benefit of those affected by the tragedy, it violates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable tax rule that requires a charitable organization to serve a charitable class of persons that is indefinite or of sufficient size.Accordingly, charitable funds can't be earmarked for specific individuals. As a result, donors are not able to receive a tax deduction for their contributions. TheVirginiaBeachStrong Actrectifies this flaw by classifying any contribution made on or after May 31, 2019 through June 1, 2021 as tax-deductible. Sens. Warner and Kaine, along with U.S. Rep.Elaine Luria (D-VA) have been fierce advocates for the victims and families affected by the May 31st shooting. Earlier this month, the Senatorssecured congressional passageof this legislation and in June, theywroteto the commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to verify that victims and families were not being taxed on the contributions they were receiving. In August, the Presidentsigned into l… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3726 Connolly, 50 Members Call for Investigation into Reports of CBP Officials Issuing Fake Court Notices to Asylees 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) joined Reps. Tony Crdenas (D-CA), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), and more than 50 House Members in calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to open an investigation into recent reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are issuing fake court notices and barring refugees from entering the United States after being granted asylum. In a letter to the DHS OIG, the congressional delegation asked that a full report of the investigation be sent to the United States House of Representatives and should agency officials be found criminally liable that they are held accountable.According to news reports, refugees who have been granted asylum are intentionally being given incorrect information by CBP officials as a strategy to keep them out of the U.S. This type of behavior by a government agency is abhorrent, violates the rule of law, and is antithetical to our values and the very essence of what we stand for as a nation, the Members wrote. We request that DHS Inspector General answer our questions, investigate this matter, and issue a full report to the United States House of Representatives. Additionally, if the investigation finds that officials are criminally liable, we demand that they are held accountable immediately and referred to the Department of Justice for prosecution. The letter was signed by Rep. Tony Crdenas (CA-29); Rep. J. Luis Correa (CA-46); Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31); Rep. Don Beyer Jr. (VA-08); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03); Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07); Rep. Katherine Castor (FL-11); Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27); Rep. Gil Cisneros (CA-39); Rep. Katherine Clark (MA-05); Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11); Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR-04); Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03); Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13); Rep. Bill Foster (IL-14); Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-07); Rep. Jess "Chuy" Garca (IL-4); Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29); Rep. John Garamendi (CA-03); Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34); Rep. Ral Grijalv… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-applauds-markup-postal-renaming-legislation-0 McEachin Applauds Markup of Postal Renaming Legislation 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. - Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) released the following statement after the House Committee on Oversight and Reform markup of H.R. 3847, his legislation to designate the Hopewell post office on 117 West Poythress Street as the Reverend Curtis West Harris Post Office Building. Yesterday's hearing was an important step forward in our shared commitment to celebrate the life of a strong and fearless leader of our community, and I am pleased that my legislation passed unanimously, said Congressman Donald McEachin. Reverend Harris was a civil rights hero who dedicated his remarkable life to championing social and economic equity. I am humbled to have led a delegation-wide effort to honor his legacy to the Civil Rights Movement, the Commonwealth, and our nation. I urge the House to pass this important bill immediately, and I look forward to it becoming law. Full bill text can be found here. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/statement-warner Sen. Warner on the USMCA Agreement 2019-12-20 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today announced that he will support the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which is intended to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). I believe that trade is good for Virginia's economy. I believed that as Governor of Virginia, and I believe it now. Whether in agricultural products, digital goods, or heavy-duty manufacturing, Virginia has benefited from the exports of the Commonwealth's globally competitive businesses. And the bustling Port of Virginia ensures that Virginia benefits from much of the imports flowing through our region, said Sen. Warner. Trade relationships are also a form of diplomacy, allowing us to increase U.S. influence abroad and deepen our relationships with foreign partners in ways that benefit not just American prosperity but U.S. security and leadership. I'm optimistic that this trade agreement will help American farmers, ports, manufacturers, retailers, and workers. This deal will address issues like digital trade that NAFTA couldn't fully anticipate, and help decrease market barriers to agricultural products that have been huge points of concern for Virginia farmers. I'm also enormously grateful for the work of House and Senate Democrats in improving key provisions of this bill, most notably related to environmental and fair labor practices. This agreement includes strong labor protections, including monitoring and enforcement, to ensure that companies in our partner nations are held accountable to the same labor standards as American firms. These improvements are critical to ensuring that American workers are permitted to compete with foreign workers on a level playing field, Sen. Warner said. Overall, I'm hopeful that the agreement will provide the consistency and stability the business community needs, Sen. Warner continued. At the same time, I worry that the costs of this deal will come in the form of reduced U.S. credibility and trust from our allies and clo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-appeals-courts-affordable-care-act-decision- Kaine Statement On Appeals Court’s Affordable Care Act Decision 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 19, 2019 Kaine Statement On Appeals Court's Affordable Care Act Decision WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today following the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' decision declaring the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate unconstitutional and directing a district court to determine whether the rest of the law can stand without the individual mandate: The Fifth Circuit ruling is the result of the latest effort by Republicans in this case Republican State Attorneys General acting in concert with the Trump Administration to take health care away from millions of Americans. I am optimistic that, just as in previous lawsuits, the continuous efforts to sabotage health care will ultimately fail. And I am confident that the American people will remember who worked to expand their health care and who schemed to take it away. ### Print Email Tweet 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/mcconnell/kaine-bill-to-raise-tobacco-purchase-age-to-21-now-goes-to-president-for-signature McConnell/Kaine Bill to Raise Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 Now Goes to President for Signature 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 19, 2019 McConnell/Kaine Bill to Raise Tobacco Purchase Age to 21 Now Goes to President for Signature Senate approves bipartisan bill introduced by Senators McConnell and Kaine to raise the tobacco purchase age to 21. Utilizing his role as Senate Majority Leader, McConnell successfully secured their provision in the end of the year funding bills. WASHINGTON, D.C. The United States Senate approved today the Tobacco-Free Youth Act, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), to raise the nationwide minimum age to buy all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices, from 18 to 21 and help protect young people from the dangers of nicotine. Utilizing his role as Majority Leader and as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator McConnell secured their bipartisan bill in the Fiscal Year 2020 government-funding agreement, which now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. Kentucky continues to punch above its weight in Washington as I use my position as Majority Leader to advance Kentucky priorities, such as my bipartisan bill with Senator Tim Kaine, to stem the tide of early nicotine addiction among youth in Kentucky and across the nation, said Majority Leader McConnell. I'm proud the Senate approved legislation today including our Tobacco-Free Youth Act to help address this urgent crisis and keep these dangerous products away from our children. It is because of my position as a tobacco state Senator that I introduced this bill, and it is because of my role as Senate Majority Leader that President Trump will be signing the Tobacco-Free Youth Act into law by week's end. Passage of this lifesaving legislation is an enormous victory for the health of our young people. By raising the age to buy tobacco products nationwide, we can save 223,000 lives and reduce youth tobacco use. I'm grateful for the work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and all the Virginians who made their voices heard to join… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-announce-over-12-million-in-funding-for-conservation-and-sustainable-agriculture Warner & Kaine Announce Over $1.2 Million in Funding for Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 19, 2019 Warner & Kaine Announce Over $1.2 Million in Funding for Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture ~ Federal funding creates opportunities for innovative environmental solutions at Virginia Tech and Appalachian Sustainable Development ~ WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,269,461 in federal funding from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support innovation in resource conservation and agricultural practices at Virginia Tech and in the Appalachian-Blue Ridge Forests ecoregion of Virginia. When we talk about forest farming and pollinator-friendly grazing, we're talking about some of the most innovative work in conservation and sustainable agriculture, and it's happening right here in Virginia, said the Senators. The work Appalachian Sustainable Development is doing with forest botanicals represents an important step in growing an industry that is creating jobs while conserving our natural heritage. We're also proud to see Virginia Tech at the forefront of creating market-based sustainable solutions to environmental challenges facing our farmers and our ecosystems. Appalachian Sustainable Development will receive $386,539 to use market-based incentives to help forest owners pilot the alley cropping of high-value forest botanicals. This project is intended for use by small, historically underserved forest owners to conserve endangered forest ecosystems. Forest farming is an agroforestry practice that cultivates herbal, edible, decorative, and handicraft non-timber forest products (NTFP) under a forest canopy modified or maintained to provide shade levels and habitats that favor growth and enhance production. Forest farming allows farmers to produce and sell raw material that is traceable, unadulterated, and sustainable. In 2016, consumers spent an estimated $7.45 billion on herbal supplements, an increase of approximately $530 million from 2013. The USDA will also award Virginia Tech $882,922 to research the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-praise-passage-of-government-funding-bills Warner & Kaine Praise Passage of Government Funding Bills 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 19, 2019 Warner & Kaine Praise Passage of Government Funding Bills ~ Bills to avert a government shutdown head to the President's desk ~ WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) praised Senate passage of two bipartisan, bicameral spending bills to fund federal programs that are critical to Virginia and keep the federal government open through 2020. Following today's Senate passage, the bills now head to the President's desk for signature. Today I voted to avert another painful government shutdown like the one that hurt thousands of Virginia families earlier this year, during President Trump's 35-day government shutdown,said Sen. Warner.Every year I advocate for much-needed resources to strengthen communities across Virginia and this year is no exception. In this bill, we finally secured health care and pension benefits that our miners have rightfully earned, and successfully pushed for a well-deserved pay raise for our federal workforce and men and women in uniform. This bill also forces the Department of Justice to finally adhere to a firm deadline on the full implementation of the Ashanti Alert system, just to name a few wins for Virginia. With so much critical funding at stake for the Commonwealth, I urge the President to swiftly sign these bills into law. I'm proud many of our efforts to improve the lives of Virginians were included in our final spending package, said Sen. Kaine. This bipartisan legislation includes my bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 and a bill I cosponsored to protect the health and pension benefits of retired miners. It also includes significant funding I supported to boost resiliency at military installations at risk from threats like climate change, strengthen rural infrastructure, and support career and technical education. I'm thrilled our colleagues worked together to fund these crucial priorities. The following list includes many of the provisions Sens. Warner and Kaine advocated for: 400 Years of African-American Histo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-vote-to-ratify-usmca Scott Statement on Vote to Ratify USMCA 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Implementation Act: After months of tough negotiations between Speaker Pelosi and U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer, I was pleased to see them reach an agreement in the current form of the USMCA. Last year, the Trump administration announced a version of USMCA that wasdeeplyflawed.It would have locked in high prescription drug prices, exposed our environment and communities to dangerous pollution, accelerated the outsourcing of jobs, and it did nothing to protect the wages of American workers or the rights of our Mexican counterparts. While the current deal is still not perfect, itwillstrengthen environmental protections and improve labor standards through enforcement mechanisms that have been routinely absent from past trade deals. While the Trump administration is wrong to claim that this agreement will bring back hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs,USMCA's improved labor standards and unprecedented enforcement mechanisms canaddress the imbalances wroughtbythe race-to-the-bottom policiesembodied inNAFTA andbegin to level the playing field forworkers across North America.As Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, I will be carefully reviewing the implementation of this Agreement to ensure Mexico abides by its labor commitments. # # # 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3725 Oversight Committee Advances Connolly FedRAMP and Restore the Partnership Legislation 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform advanced two pieces of legislation authored by Congressman Gerry Connolly, Chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee. H.R. 3941, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Authorization Act, would codify the existing FedRAMP Program at the General Services Administration (GSA). FedRAMP was established in 2011 to provide a standardized government-wide approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud computing services. The program reduces the redundancies of federal cloud migration for both the federal government and for cloud service providers, Connolly said. Unfortunately, the current state of cloud adoption in the federal government involves various agency-specific processes, making it complicated for agencies to issue an authorization to operate for cloud services, even when a cloud service provider has already been authorized for use at other agencies. Our bipartisan bill will streamline the FedRAMP process and reduce the redundancies in federal cloud migration, so federal agencies can modernize their IT and realize cost-efficiencies, Connolly added. H.R. 3883, the Restore the Partnership Act, revives the concept of the defunct Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (ACIR) by creating the Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. The commission, an independent commission composed of 31 federal, state, local and tribal representatives, would be authorized to provide a forum for critical deliberations on issues of great intergovernmental import and will serve to collect and share best practices for effective collaboration, provide needed technical assistance, and recommend solutions that lead to more appropriate delegations of governmental functions. As a former member and Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, I know firsthand how crucial it is for our local governments to have the cooperation and support of their federal, state, and tribal partners, said Connolly. Ameri… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2349 Spanberger Votes to Pass Landmark USMCA Trade Deal, Praises Agreements Provisions to Support Central Virginia Businesses, Farms, & Workers 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy **VIDEO/AUDIO: On Floor of the U.S. House, Spanberger Urges Her Colleagues to Support the USMCA** WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today joined a bipartisan majority of her colleagues in passing a landmark trilateral trade deal that would strengthen export markets and level the playing field for Central Virginia businesses, farms, and workers. Spanberger voted to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA), whichif enactedwould replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Earlier this month, a deal was announced between House negotiators and the administration on changes to the agreement. Just days before this announcement, Spanbergerjoined Vice President Mike Pencein a bipartisan meeting with five of her colleagues at the White House to discuss the status of the USMCA and the need to finalize the agreement. There's no doubt that Central Virginia's economy depends on tradeand today's vote to pass the USMCA legislation in the House is a vote on the side of our district's economic security. Whether in discussions with cattlemen in Louisa or small business owners in Chesterfield, I've heard firsthand from those I represent about the much-needed benefits of the USMCA, said Spanberger. I've long called for implementing legislation to come to the floor of the House, and I'm calling on the Senate to take action now to strengthen our markets, secure fair labor and environmental standards, and put our businesses on equal footing with their competitors. Our businesses and farms have waited long enough for this improved agreementand they're expecting us to deliver an enacted USMCA. "Today's vote on the USMCA is an important step toward ensuring duty-free market access across most of North America for Virginia consumers, businesses, manufacturers, and farmers, said Barry DuVal, President and CEO, Virginia Chamber of Commerce. This historic trade agreement will drive export growth, boost our small businesses in Virginia, and provide much-needed reforms for e-commerce, customs… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=146 Wexton Bill Would Establish NSF Prize Competition to Spark New Deepfake Detection Technology 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) introduced legislation directing the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish prize competitions in order to incentivize new research into technology that would detect deepfakes. Deepfakes pose a serious threat to our national security, and there are significant challenges in our ability to effectively identify this manipulated content, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Establishing prize competitions in this critical field of research will help spur greater innovation and research into technologies that can detect deepfakes. With this bill, we will expand the tools available to address this growing threat to our democracy. Prize competitions at NSF have helped spur further research on important and emerging topics like data science, engineering, and astrophysics. The rapidly developing nature of artificial intelligence and machine learning has created a demand for new thinking and new technology to keep up with this threat. The United States General Services Administration estimates that since 2010 federal agencies have conducted more than 840 prize competitions and offered more than $280 million in prize money. In October, Wexton pressed Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his site's unwillingness to moderate political deepfakes, particularly Facebook's decision to not remove the widely-circulate deepfake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Wexton also authored an amendment to the Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks (IOGAN) Act, which passed the House last week. The IOGAN Act supports research to close existing gaps in the technology to identify outputs of generative adversarial networks (GANs), also known as deepfake videos. Wexton's amendment directs the National Science Foundation to support research on public awareness and understanding of manipulated digital content. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=147 Wexton Helps Pass Elimination of SALT Cap to Restore Major Tax Deductions for Nearly 150,000 VA-10 Households 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass H.R. 5377, the Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act, which would eliminate the state and local tax (SALT) cap instituted by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). Wexton is a cosponsor of the legislation and has been a forceful advocate for eliminating the SALT cap. Passage of this bill is significant for Virginia's 10th Congressional District where over half of households claim the SALT deduction and an estimated 150,000 households have been impacted by this cap and could see savings with its removal. The SALT deduction has protected Virginia taxpayers from double taxation for over 100 years -- that changed when Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans imposed the SALT cap, hurting hardworking Virginians and over 11 million Americans, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Today, we are restoring this important tax relief and putting money back in the pockets of 150,000 households right here in the 10th District. WATCH: Rep. Wexton speaks in support of the Restoring Tax Fairness for State and Localities Act on the House floor. The SALT deduction has protected taxpayers from double taxation since 1913 by allowing them to deduct all state and local taxes from their federal liability. That changed in 2017 when President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, instituting a $10,000 cap on the SALT deduction. This has particularly impacted families in Wexton's district. In 2017, the 10th District had the highest average SALT deduction in the commonwealth at $17,885, the greatest number of households claiming SALT at 213,500, and the highest percentage of households claiming SALT in Virginia at 52.7%. The Restoring Tax Fairness for States and Localities Act temporarily repeals the cap on SALT deductions for the years 2020 and 2021. It also doubles the cap of $5,000 per individual for joint filers which was instituted by the TJCA and has resulted in an unfair marriage penalty. The bill … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=148 Rep. Wexton Votes to Pass USMCA 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, following successful negotiations by House Democrats to improve the agreement and secure strong enforceable labor standards, meaningful environmental protections, and eliminate giveaways to Big Pharma companies. From the manufacturing facilities and apple orchards in Frederick County to the Dulles Tech Corridor, trade is crucial to our district's local economy, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Thanks to the negotiations led by House Democrats, this agreement will deliver fairer trade rules and the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement -- ensuring that Virginia businesses continue to thrive and Virginia's workers are protected. Wexton discussed the ongoing trade negotiations with constituent businesses across her district since being sworn into office. Wexton also worked closely with her colleagues on the House Working Group on NAFTA Renegotiation and met with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and foreign ministers from Canada and Mexico to emphasize the importance of trade in her district and to advocate for priorities important to Virginia during the negotiations process. In 2018, Virginia exported $4.3 billion of goods to Canada and Mexico. On December 10, Democratic House Leadership and the White House announced that, following months of negotiations, a deal was reached on a final agreement for a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The final USMCA includes victories on every provision that House Democrats fought for, including: Enforcement: Prevents a trade cheating nation from blocking enforcement complaints and creates strong rules of evidence to improve litigation. Labor: Stronger rules on labor commitments and enforcement, including new mechanisms for monitoring for compliance and a rapid-response enhanced labor-specific enforcement provision. Environment: Establishment of high-standard protections against environm… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=149 Rep. Wexton Votes to Pass USMCA 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, following successful negotiations by House Democrats to improve the agreement and secure strong enforceable labor standards, meaningful environmental protections, and eliminate giveaways to Big Pharma companies. From the manufacturing facilities and apple orchards in Frederick County to the Dulles Tech Corridor, trade is crucial to our district's local economy, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. Thanks to the negotiations led by House Democrats, this agreement will deliver fairer trade rules and the strongest enforcement mechanisms of any U.S. trade agreement -- ensuring that Virginia businesses continue to thrive and Virginia's workers are protected. Wexton discussed the ongoing trade negotiations with constituent businesses across her district since being sworn into office. Wexton also worked closely with her colleagues on the House Working Group on NAFTA Renegotiation and met with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and foreign ministers from Canada and Mexico to emphasize the importance of trade in her district and to advocate for priorities important to Virginia during the negotiations process. In 2018, Virginia exported $4.3 billion of goods to Canada and Mexico. On December 10, Democratic House Leadership and the White House announced that, following months of negotiations, a deal was reached on a final agreement for a renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The final USMCA includes victories on every provision that House Democrats fought for, including: Enforcement: Prevents a trade cheating nation from blocking enforcement complaints and creates strong rules of evidence to improve litigation. Labor: Stronger rules on labor commitments and enforcement, including new mechanisms for monitoring for compliance and a rapid-response enhanced labor-specific enforcement provision. Environment: Establishment of high-standard protections against environm… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-announce-over-1-2-million-in-funding-for-conservation-and-sustainable-agriculture Warner & Kaine Announce Over $1.2 Million in Funding for Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $1,269,461 in federal funding from the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to support innovation in resource conservation and agricultural practices at Virginia Tech and in the Appalachian-Blue Ridge Forests ecoregion of Virginia. When we talk about forest farming and pollinator-friendly grazing, we're talking about some of the most innovative work in conservation and sustainable agriculture, and it's happening right here in Virginia, said the Senators. The work Appalachian Sustainable Development is doing with forest botanicals represents an important step in growing an industry that is creating jobs while conserving our natural heritage. We're also proud to see Virginia Tech at the forefront of creating market-based sustainable solutions to environmental challenges facing our farmers and our ecosystems. Appalachian Sustainable Development will receive $386,539 to use market-based incentives to help forest owners pilot the alley cropping of high-value forest botanicals. This project is intended for use by small, historically underserved forest owners to conserve endangered forest ecosystems. Forest farming is an agroforestry practice that cultivates herbal, edible, decorative, and handicraft non-timber forest products (NTFP) under a forest canopy modified or maintained to provide shade levels and habitats that favor growth and enhance production. Forest farming allows farmers to produce and sell raw material that is traceable, unadulterated, and sustainable. In 2016, consumers spent an estimated $7.45 billion on herbal supplements, an increase of approximately $530 million from 2013. The USDA will also award Virginia Tech $882,922 to research the integration of pollinator-friendly plant species in grazing systems. The project will evaluate the economic and ecological impact of native wildflowers into the Southeastern grazing system. The funding is awarded through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-praise-passage-of-government-funding-bills Warner & Kaine Praise Passage of Government Funding Bills 2019-12-19 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) praised Senate passage of two bipartisan, bicameral spending bills to fund federal programs that are critical to Virginia and keep the federal government open through 2020. Following today's Senate passage, the bills now head to the President's desk for signature. Today I voted to avert another painful government shutdown like the one that hurt thousands of Virginia families earlier this year, during President Trump's 35-day government shutdown,said Sen. Warner.Every year I advocate for much-needed resources to strengthen communities across Virginia and this year is no exception. In this bill, we finally secured health care and pension benefits that our miners have rightfully earned, and successfully pushed for a well-deserved pay raise for our federal workforce and men and women in uniform. This bill also forces the Department of Justice to finally adhere to a firm deadline on the full implementation of the Ashanti Alert system, just to name a few wins for Virginia. With so much critical funding at stake for the Commonwealth, I urge the President to swiftly sign these bills into law. I'm proud many of our efforts to improve the lives of Virginians were included in our final spending package, said Sen. Kaine. This bipartisan legislation includes my bill to raise the tobacco age to 21 and a bill I cosponsored to protect the health and pension benefits of retired miners. It also includes significant funding I supported to boost resiliency at military installations at risk from threats like climate change, strengthen rural infrastructure, and support career and technical education. I'm thrilled our colleagues worked together to fund these crucial priorities. The following list includes many of the provisions Sens. Warner and Kaine advocated for: 400 Years of African-American History Commission:Includes $3.3 million in federal funding for the Commission to honor four centuries of African-American history. The Senators sponsoredlegislation, whi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-urge-changes-to-usda-industrial-hemp-production-program Warner, Kaine Urge Changes to USDA Industrial Hemp Production Program 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 18, 2019 Warner, Kaine Urge Changes to USDA Industrial Hemp Production Program ~ Responding to concerns raised by Virginia farmers, the Senators suggest tweaks to USDA's proposal for regulating industrial hemp ~ WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to encourage the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make changes to its proposed hemp regulations to better help Virginia farmers seeking to grow industrial hemp. Responding to concerns raised by farmers in Virginia, the Senators encouraged the Department to make several specific changes to draft plans regulating the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program, which was established by Congress as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. We appreciate USDA's commitment to developing a viable U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program for hemp producers in Virginia and across the country. We look forward to working with you to ensure Virginia hemp growers are able to take full advantage of this opportunity, the Senators wrote in a letter to Secretary Perdue. Among the issues the Senators raised in their letter: USDA's interim final rule requires growers to test hemp plants within 15 days of anticipated harvest. The Senators urged USDA to adopt a more reasonable testing timeframe of 30 days to reduce burdens to hemp producers and reduce unnecessary delays in getting products to market. USDA's interim final rules requires that hemp plant testing must be conducted by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered laboratory, but Virginia has only a small number of DEA-registered labs. The Senators urged USDA to remove the requirement that testing can only occur at DEA-registered labs and allow testing to be conducted at independent testing labs that meet USDA standards. USDA's interim final rule establishes a negligence threshold for hemp at 0.5% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If a grower is found to have hemp with a THC level above 0.5% they could face legal repercussions u… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4685 Beyer In Impeachment Debate: The Votes I Cast Today Will Stand The Test Of Time 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Today, Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) gave floor remarks during the House of Representatives debate on articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. Beyer argued for voting in favor of both articles, which would impeach President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. [Video] Beyer's remarks as delivered: Today, I will vote to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. I don't hate the President, but I love my country, and I have no other choice. Voting for these articles of impeachment is the only moral course of action, the only way to honor our oath of office. I have no doubt that the votes I cast today will stand the test of time. This has nothing to do with the 2016 elections. I am so disappointed that my Republican friends approve the President's abuses of power and solicitation of foreign interference in our elections. This is the very definition of the willful suspension of disbelief. They know in their hearts that what the President has done is deeply wrong. They know that they would vote without hesitation to impeach a Democratic president who had done these things. I remind all Americans that the President did not rebut the facts the many, many facts which led to these articles of impeachment today. For the sake of our democracy, our Constitution, and our country, we must do the right thing and vote to impeach President Trump. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4686 Beyer Statement On Federal Court Decision Imperiling Americans Healthcare 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Beyer Statement On Federal Court Decision Imperiling Americans' Healthcare Washington, December 18, 2019 Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, issued the following statement today on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling siding with Republican-led states and the Trump Administration against the Affordable Care Act: This ruling underscores the fact that the end result of Republicans' healthcare vision would be the evisceration of protections for people with preexisting conditions, tens of millions of Americans losing coverage, and more expensive healthcare for much of the country. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-fifth-circuit-court-s-ruling-in-texas-case Scott Statement on Fifth Circuit Courts Ruling in Texas Case 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy As originally released by the Committee on Education & Labor WASHINGTON, DCChairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement released the following statement regarding the Fifth Circuit Court's decision in Texas v. United States. Today, Republican attorneys general and the Trump administration took another step toward stripping access to affordable health care from millions of Americans. The latest challenge to the Affordable Care Act is legally frivolous. The argument that the absence of a monetary penalty for failing to purchase coverage invalidates the law is absurd on its face, and inherently shows the plaintiffs' lack of standing to bring this case. The court's decision continues to jeopardize the patient protections and expanded access to care that so many Americans rely on every day. The Affordable Care Act's protections for patients with preexisting conditions, its prohibition on insurance companies setting annual and lifetime caps, and the Medicaid expansion that helped more than 17 million Americans gain coverage are all at risk. Americans are tired of Republicans playing politics with their health care. Rather than continuing a nine-year assault on the Affordable Care Act, Republican leaders should focus their energy toward building on the progress it achieves for Americans across the country. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3724 Connolly Statement in Support of Articles of Impeachment 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor today in support of articles impeachment against President Donald J. Trump:"Each of us took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Not to the President. Not to our political party. Today, history will judge. Did we abide that oath? To extort a foreign country to investigate your political opponent is an unconstitutional abuse of power. To solicit foreign interference in an American election is an unconstitutional abuse of power. The need to protect against just such abuses prompted our founders to grant the sole power of impeachment to this House. The delicate balance of power that underpins our democracy is threatened when a President disregards the Constitution by obstructing Congress to cover up illegal behavior. In doing that, President Trump violated his oath. Today, we must put country over party. Conscience over complicity. Today, we must assert that no one is above the law. Today, we are summoned by history to do the right thing." Video of Connolly's remarks can be found here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-statement-impeachment-president-trump McEachin Statement on Impeachment of President Trump 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. - Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) released the following statement following his vote to impeach President Donald J. Trump. Today is a somber day in our nation's history, said Congressman McEachin. I am saddened that the president's actions and disregard for our Constitution has led us to this place and time. However, I take very seriously my oath and sacred obligation to uphold the Constitution, and to hold the president accountable for his actions. The president has violated his oath of office and with his actions, demonstrated complete disregard and disdain for our Constitution. President Trump abused the power of his office to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election for personal and political gain, and by doing so, risked the national security of the United States. Then, when faced by a legitimate Congressional inquiry into his actions, President Trump chose to stonewall that inquiry, refuse to cooperate, and instead, mock its legitimacy. If we value our democracy and our Constitution, then we cannot ignore nor justify President Trump's actions. I came to Congress to make a difference for my constituents and to improve their lives. I did not come to impeach a president. Today's decision is not just about holding this president accountable for his abuses of power; it is about restoring integrity and honor to the office of the presidency, and ensuring that any future president, regardless of political party, is held to the standard every American expects and deserves. Thus, I cast my vote to impeach President Trump. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2348 Spanberger: Budget Deal Protects Critical Investments in Rural Broadband Projects, includes Healthcare & Workforce Training Wins for Central Virginia 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger yesterday joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives in passing bipartisan funding bills that would protect funding for rural broadband projects, block a proposed congressional pay raise, and strengthen investment in apprenticeship programs. The package includes funding Spanberger fought to include for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) ReConnect Loan and Grant program. Across the country, this program partners with rural communities to expand high-speed internet infrastructure. In October 2019, Spanberger called for U.S. House and U.S. Senate appropriators to include ReConnect funding in the final budget legislation after the U.S. Senate zeroed-out funding for the program in its fiscal year (FY) 2020 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The legislation also includes a provision Spanberger helped spearhead to block a proposed congressional pay raise. Earlier this year, Spanberger was part of a small group of Democrats and Republicans who successfully pushed to block a pay raise for Members of Congress in the FY2020 Legislative Branch appropriations. Across Central Virginia's rural communities, a lack of access to high-speed internet impedes the ability of our students, businesses, and farms to stay competitive in an increasingly digitally-based economy. Many counties in our district have applied for ReConnect grants to expand access to reliable high-speed broadband internet, and I'm pleased that after pushing for continued ReConnect funding, this vital program will continue into next year, said Spanberger. A budget should reflect our prioritiesand this budget deal includes many wins I helped secure for Central Virginiaincluding additional support for Alzheimer's disease research, the repeal of the Health Insurance Tax, and strong investments in career-focused apprenticeship programs. And at a time when Congress has many priorities it should be focused on for the American people, I'm glad we were able to block a proposed cong… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/wexton-statement-passage-articles-impeachment Wexton Statement on Passage of Articles of Impeachment 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy I did not come to Congress to impeach the President. I came to fight for the people of Virginia's 10th Congressional District -- to lower the cost of health care, work to end the epidemic of gun violence, and to strengthen America's middle class -- but President Trump's actions have left us no choice. As a former prosecutor, I approached the question of impeachment with only the facts and evidence in mind -- the seriousness of this moment transcends politics. Over the course of a fair and transparent process, the investigating committees presented Congress and the American people with overwhelming evidence that the President violated his oath of office. On both articles of impeachment, the facts are uncontested and the truth is inescapable. The President committed a grave abuse of power when he withheld vital military aid from an ally at war with a U.S. adversary in exchange for the announcement of a baseless investigation into his political opponent that would support his own reelection. When his actions came to light, the President engaged in a systematic campaign to obstruct congressional investigations -- administering a wholesale blockade of fact witnesses, seeking to silence and intimidate any witnesses who did come forward, and refusing to produce even a single subpoenaed document. The President leveraged the highest office in the land for personal political gain. In doing so, he jeopardized our national security, undermined the integrity of our elections, and betrayed the public trust. The Framers gave Congress the power of impeachment precisely to protect our democracy from this kind of abuse of power. The President's pattern of misconduct outlined in the articles of impeachment and his unrepentant contempt for the rule of law make it clear that he poses a clear and present danger to the very foundations of our democracy. Voting to impeach the President was not an easy decision, nor was it one I took any pleasure in.I cast my vote with a heavy heart and a solemn sense of duty to protect our Constitution.… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=145 Wexton Statement on Passage of Articles of Impeachment 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy I did not come to Congress to impeach the President. I came to fight for the people of Virginia's 10th Congressional District -- to lower the cost of health care, work to end the epidemic of gun violence, and to strengthen America's middle class -- but President Trump's actions have left us no choice. As a former prosecutor, I approached the question of impeachment with only the facts and evidence in mind -- the seriousness of this moment transcends politics. Over the course of a fair and transparent process, the investigating committees presented Congress and the American people with overwhelming evidence that the President violated his oath of office. On both articles of impeachment, the facts are uncontested and the truth is inescapable. The President committed a grave abuse of power when he withheld vital military aid from an ally at war with a U.S. adversary in exchange for the announcement of a baseless investigation into his political opponent that would support his own reelection. When his actions came to light, the President engaged in a systematic campaign to obstruct congressional investigations -- administering a wholesale blockade of fact witnesses, seeking to silence and intimidate any witnesses who did come forward, and refusing to produce even a single subpoenaed document. The President leveraged the highest office in the land for personal political gain. In doing so, he jeopardized our national security, undermined the integrity of our elections, and betrayed the public trust. The Framers gave Congress the power of impeachment precisely to protect our democracy from this kind of abuse of power. The President's pattern of misconduct outlined in the articles of impeachment and his unrepentant contempt for the rule of law make it clear that he poses a clear and present danger to the very foundations of our democracy. Voting to impeach the President was not an easy decision, nor was it one I took any pleasure in. I cast my vote with a heavy heart and a solemn sense of duty to protect our Constitutio… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/on-floor-warner-calls-on-trump-administration-to-reverse-decision-blocking-agent-orange-benefits On Floor, Warner Calls on Trump Administration to Reverse Decision Blocking Agent Orange Benefits 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Mark R.Warner (D-VA) took to the Senatefloortoday to draw attention to the plight of Vietnam-era veterans who are struggling to get veterans benefits for illnesses related to toxic herbicide Agent Orange. In his speech, Warner called on the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to block an expansion of approved Agent Orangerelated conditions that automatically qualify a veteran for benefits. According to documents obtained by the Military Times, in early 2018 White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney blocked a request by then-Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin to add three medical conditions (bladder cancer, Parkinson's-like symptoms and hypothyroidism) to the list of approved Agent Orangerelated conditions. The documents reveal that an estimated 83,000 veterans would have been made eligible for coverage if the decision had gone through. There is more than enough evidence to expand the list of Agent Orangerelated conditions. We should be thanking these veterans for their service, not nickel and diming them,said Sen. Warner on the Senate floor.I urge my colleagues to listen to the veterans in their states. And I urge the White House to let the V-A provide these veterans with the benefits they've earned. In his remarks, Warner also shared the stories of two Hampton Roads veterans, William Badgett and Sam Harvey, and one Richmond-area veteran, Dorman Watts of North Chesterfield, VA. In recent months, Sen. Warner's office has helped these veterans with their Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) claims related to Agent Orange. My office hears regularly from veterans facing health problems like prostate cancer like Parkinson's and other conditions that have been linked to Agent Orange. Time and again we hear how the V-A tries to deny benefits on the basis of a technicality, continued Sen. Warner. Mr. President, this is just not right. Unfortunately, this administration is far from the first to ignore the evidence about Agent Orange in order to sa… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/statement-of-sen-warner-on-the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals-decision-on-the-aca Statement of Sen. Warner on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision on the ACA 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the followingstatement after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional, sending the case back to the lower courts: Despite the millions of Americans who have gained health care coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act and the critical protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions, Republicans remain determined to throw out our existing health care system with no viable options to replace it. The uncertainty created by this court ruling and the repeated attacks on our nation's health care laws place essential health care coverage for American families in serious jeopardy. As I have said before the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress should be working in a bipartisan fashion to strengthen existing law, not engaging in misguided attempts to take away people's health care. Should Republicans succeed in their campaign of health care sabotage, millions of Americans would be without insurance, have higher costs, and have fewer protections. In light of this ruling I remain committed to strengthening our health care law and will do everything I can to protect it. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-urge-changes-to-usda-industrial-hemp-production-program Warner, Kaine Urge Changes to USDA Industrial Hemp Production Program 2019-12-18 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to encourage the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make changes to its proposed hemp regulations to better help Virginia farmers seeking to grow industrial hemp. Responding to concerns raised by farmers in Virginia, the Senators encouraged the Department to make several specific changes to draft plans regulating the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program, which was established by Congress as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. We appreciate USDA's commitment to developing a viable U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program for hemp producers in Virginia and across the country. We look forward to working with you to ensure Virginia hemp growers are able to take full advantage of this opportunity, the Senators wrote in a letter to Secretary Perdue. Among the issues the Senators raised in their letter: USDA's interim final rule requires growers to test hemp plants within 15 days of anticipated harvest. The Senators urged USDA to adopt a more reasonable testing timeframe of 30 days to reduce burdens to hemp producers and reduce unnecessary delays in getting products to market. USDA's interim final rules requires that hemp plant testing must be conducted by a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered laboratory, but Virginia has only a small number of DEA-registered labs. The Senators urged USDA to remove the requirement that testing can only occur at DEA-registered labs and allow testing to be conducted at independent testing labs that meet USDA standards. USDA's interim final rule establishes a negligence threshold for hemp at 0.5% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If a grower is found to have hemp with a THC level above 0.5% they could face legal repercussions under the current guidelines. The Senators urged USDA to raise the threshold to 1.0% THC before a grower is subject to penalties, since it is possible hemp growers could take all the necessary steps and precautions to produce hemp acco… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-and-mcsallys-veteran-treatment-court-bill-passes-senate Kaine and McSally’s Veteran Treatment Court Bill Passes Senate 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 17, 2019 Kaine and McSally's Veteran Treatment Court Bill Passes Senate WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) announced that the Senate unanimously passed their bipartisan legislation to expand access to veteran treatment courts for veterans in need today. U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tina Smith (D-MN), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) are co-sponsors of the legislation. The Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019 establishes a program in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to help state, local, and tribal governments to develop and maintain veteran treatment courts. The bill would provide grants, training, and technical assistance for veteran treatment courts and communities interested in starting a program. Some veterans come home with invisible wounds that result in addiction or trouble with the law, said McSally. Instead of spiraling down, veteran treatment courts provide an opportunity for vets to receive treatment and add accountability to reverse that spiral, heal, and continue to contribute positively to society. I have seen their powerful lifesaving impact first-hand in Arizona and look forward to getting our bill to the president's desk to help more vets around the country. As veterans return home, the transition to civilian life can often be complicated by PTSD, brain injury, or other trauma and mental health issues. Veteran treatment courts have played a critical role in the criminal justice system by working to help get our veterans get back on track,Kaine said. I'm proud of this bipartisan legislation that will expand access to these courts, help rehabilitate those in need, and reduce recidivism. OnNovember 5, McSally introducedtheVeteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019. ### Print Email Tweet 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/video-kaines-military-housing-reforms-pass-congress Video: Kaine’s Military Housing Reforms Pass Congress 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 17, 2019 Video: Kaine's Military Housing Reforms Pass Congress Legislation will now go to the President for signature You can watch video of Kaine talking about the legislationhere WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), released the following statement after Congress passed the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes Kaine's provisions to improve military housing and many of his other priorities for Virginia, including paid family leave for federal employees and support for shipbuilding. The bill now heads to the President's desk for his signature. Every year, I'm proud of the bipartisan work that goes into delivering a national defense bill that helps support our servicemembers and protect ourcountry. Thisyear,one of my top prioritieswasaddressingthe dangerous conditionsthatI saw firsthand in military housing across Virginia, including mold issues and safety concerns. I'm thankful that my colleagues supported my provisions totackle this issue.These reforms will go a long way towards fixing the problem, and we need to stay on this to ensure safer housing for our troops and their families,said Kaine. The final legislation includes two Kaine amendments to address dangerousconditions in military family housing. The first amendment would require DOD to establish a move-out checklist so that both the tenant and military housing office verify that outstanding maintenance needs are fixed and that the tenant is leaving the home in good condition. This would address concernsKaine has heardfrommilitary families who moved into homes with unsatisfactory maintenance conditions and others who were charged unjustifiable maintenance fees that were difficult to dispute because they had already moved out of the home. This provision would help prevent housing companies from charging former tenantsfees or failing to repair outstanding maintenance items. It would also help ensure that tenants meet their obligations… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4678 Bipartisan Bill to Improve Militarys Energy Security Included in NDAA 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today announced that bipartisan legislation to improve the U.S. military's energy security and reduce carbon emissions has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference agreement approved by the Senate. The Securing Energy for our Armed Forces Using Engineering Leadership (SEA FUEL) Act would direct the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to pioneer new technologies that will capture carbon dioxide from air and seawater and convert it to clean fuels or other useful products. This marks the first time a federal program will be created for dedicated research and deployment of direct air capture and blue carbon technologies. The program has been allocated $8 million in the 2020 appropriations agreement set to be approved by Congress this week. The military has much at stake with climate change. Rising seas are lapping at bases at home and abroad, and the danger of conflict across the globe is increasing as natural resources dry up, said Senator Whitehouse. Investing the military's research capabilities in carbon capture technology holds the promise of making overseas installations more self-sufficient while heading off the effects of climate change. The Pentagon recognizes that climate change is real and poses serious national security challenges. This provision directs the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Homeland Security to invest in promising research into carbon capture technologies, said Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee. The U.S. military has an opportunity to accelerate innovative technologies that could help our fleet project strength and operate in every corner of the globe like never before, while also revolutionizing energy use and improving the lives of people around the world, said Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The SEA FUEL Act will build on the progress of the Navy's 2017 carbon capture breakthrough and hopefully lead to beneficial new ways to utilize carbon dioxide to supply a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4679 Beyer-Led Effort To Reauthorize And Fund Key Patient-Centered Research Agency Passes House In Spending Bill 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today hailed the passage of the substance of his Protecting Access to Information for Effective and Necessary Treatment (PATIENT) Act in the House's end-of-year domestic funding package. The House-passed reauthorization of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), which is now set to become law, extends funding to PCORI for ten years, through FY2029. Giving PCORI authorization and funding for years to come will mean patients get the evidence-based information they need to make better healthcare decisions, said Rep. Beyer. I am very pleased that this patient-focused legislation will become law next to other vital healthcare priorities, including investments in NIH medical research, grants to prevent suicide and fight the opioid epidemic, and the first CDC funding for gun violence prevention research in two decades. The bill also fully funded the 2020 census, invests in election security, and gave civilian federal employees a 3.1 percent raise next year while avoiding another disastrous shutdown. We did not get everything I would have liked, but these provisions include important victories for Northern Virginia families that will really help our community. Beyer serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which advanced his PATIENT Act in June. Additional details about the FY20 spending agreement are available here. Congressman Don Beyer represents nearly 87,000 federal employees, the largest number of any Member of the House of Representatives. Beyer joined Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney this February to introduce the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4680 Beyer Votes To Approve USMCA 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, today voted to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement. Beyer explained his support during the Ways and Means markup of the legislative text of the agreement (remarks as prepared): BEYER: I would like to add my voice to those thanking the Chairman, the Speaker, Trade Subcommittee Chairman Blumenauer, the members of the working group and their staffs as well staff of the committee, Katherine Tai and her team along with Katherine Mong in the Speaker's Office, for their tireless work through this summer and fall without which we would not be at this point. Last winter we were presented with an agreement that had a number of positive elements, many drawn from TPP, but that was also fundamentally flawed. Today I am proud to support a USMCA that has been fixed by House Democrats. From the moment we got that first draft of an unworkable deal, our leadership, this committee, and our caucus faced an organized campaign of political pressure dedicated to the thoughtless passage of that agreement without fixing any of its deep flaws, which included a totally broken dispute settlement mechanism. We were accused almost weekly of stalling or burying the agreement out of personal animus towards the President. The December 10 agreement put the lie to that theory. House Democrats were ready to do the work as soon as the administration recognized that political pressure could not replace substantive reform. I hope that passage of this agreement with a strong bipartisan vote will put an end to the cycle of threat and uncertainty that has governed our trading relationship with our closest neighbors. It's critical that this agreement provides the promised economic certainty. And I hope that if that proves not to be the case, if there is a return to tariffs or threats, we will see a similar bipartisan majority to restore the sanity and certainty promised by this agreement. This revised agreement contains landmark reform… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4681 Beyer Introduces Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced the Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act, legislation that would bolster NASA's efforts to reduce emissions from the aviation industry while also reducing the impact of airplane noise in airport-adjacent communities. The Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act would address climate change and noise pollution from aircraft, two of the most persistent problems I hear about from Northern Virginians, said Rep. Beyer. As the climate crisis continues to inflict damage on American communities, Congress must look at every available option to reduce emissions, and that should include the aviation industry. In addition to being better for the planet, this legislation will also lead to quieter skies above and peace of mind to communities near airports. I appreciate the support for this bill on both sides of Capitol Hill, and will be making the case for it in the House as our Committee takes up NASA's authorizing legislation. Companion legislation was previously introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), with cosponsors including Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Aviation currently accounts for approximately 3 percent of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, and emissions from this sector are expected to triple by 2050 given the projected growth of passenger air travel and freight. In addition, as air traffic volumes increase, communities are increasingly impacted by noise pollution from airplanes. This legislation sets a goal for cleaner, quieter airplanes by 2030 (regional transport planes) and 2040 (single-aisle planes), and it authorizes NASA to accelerate its work developing and demonstrating the technologies to make this goal a reality. Specifically, this bill: Establishes an ambitious goal of commercial airplanes emitting 50 percent less greenhouse gas and 50 percent less noise compared to 2019 levels by 2030 for regional planes and 2040 for larger, single-aisle planes. Authorizes NASA to accelerate its work on electrified propulsi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-changes-to-devos-flawed-partial-relief-formula-focused Scott Statement: Changes to DeVos Flawed Partial Relief Formula Focused on Optics, Not Students 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy As originally released by the Committee on Education & Labor WASHINGTON, DC Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education revised its plan to provide only partial relief to student borrowers defrauded by predatory institutions. At Thursday's hearing, Secretary DeVos refused to acknowledge serious flaws in her plan to provide only partial relief to some defrauded borrowers while outright denying relief for others. A day later, the Department quietly took the plan off of its website and issued a revised version with no public notice. Unfortunately, rather than fixing the partial relief formula so it is fairer to students, the revised plan only improves the optics of denying defrauded borrowers the relief they deserve. Not one defrauded borrower will receive more relief under the revised plan. In fact, the Department already began notifying borrowers of their relief amount under the old formula. The Department's decision to rapidly revise its formula, while preserving a pre-determined outcome, raises several questions about the validity of its formula and the integrity of the process that produced it. We will be asking Secretary DeVos these questions and expect to get timely and responsive answers. Under both versions of the Department's partial relief formula, defrauded student borrowerswill be unfairly denied relief. Secretary DeVos' plan is so flawed that borrowers will be denied relief simply because they attend a program in a high-cost state, or because graduates of similarly worthless programs are also stuck in low-wage jobs. Ultimately, the Department's new plan makes clear that even when borrowers document widespread and pervasive fraud at their institution, the Department will not make them whole. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-articles-of-impeachment-against-president-trump Scott Statement on Articles of Impeachment Against President Trump 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on the two articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump: Every Member of Congress swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution, and that oath should be the guide for all of us when considering articles of impeachment against the President of the United States. There has been considerable public debate over what constitutes impeachable offenses, as the Constitution names them as Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.' Under normal circumstances, the country could wait until the next election to remove an undesirable president from office. However, our founders included impeachment in the Constitution for times when an official's conduct was so egregious, we could not wait for the next election to remove that individual from office. President Trump's Ukraine scheme was intended to influence the 2020 election to make it an unfair process, and that highlights a key reason why he must be impeached and removed from office. Multiple House Committees have conducted extensive investigations into the President's conduct. The facts are uncontested. President Trump invited Ukraine to interfere in our next presidential election and leveraged desperately needed military aid and a high-profile visit to the White House to promote his scheme. This constitutes an attack on our electoral system and democracy itself and is a gross abuse of presidential power. This scheme needs to be viewed in the context of other actions by this President. The Mueller report found multiple instances of obstruction of justice committed by the President, and that obstruction has continued. Furthermore, the President has continued to violate the Emoluments Clause by profiting from foreign and domestic business transactions from the moment he took office, and that violation has continued. With the Ukraine scheme, the President has admitted in public to actions that sacrifice national security for his own personal, political gain and then … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-passage-of-government-funding-bills Scott Statement on Passage of Government Funding Bills 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed House Amendment to the Senate Amendment toH.R. 1158Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 and House Amendment to the Senate Amendment toH.R. 1865Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020: These spending bills mark a bipartisan compromise and will help us avoid a harmful government shutdown. The funding approved in this legislation will meaningfully improve the lives of students, workers, and families across Virginia as well as the nation. I was very pleased to see the 400 Years of African American History Commission got a boost in this legislation. This past August, I joined with fellow Virginians and people from around the world to commemorate the 400thanniversary of the first landing of enslaved Africans to the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia. In 2017, Congress passed a bill that I sponsored with Senator Tim Kaine to establish the national commission that has, up to this point, been unfunded. This funding package both extends the commission's mandate until 2021 and appropriates $3.3 million to study and appropriately commemorate this chapter of our nation's history. This package will also benefit the Commonwealth by increasing the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program funding to a record total of $85 million which will help restore the Bay. The bills also make critical investments in shipbuilding which received funding to procure multiple Navy ships and aircraft carriers. It also invests in efforts to deploy broadband services to our rural communities, as well as providing funding to ensure the Census is properly administered this coming year. It also supports the Department of Housing and Urban Development's work in Choice Neighborhoods by providing funding to improve health, income, and educational outcomes for households in target communities. As the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor, I was pleased to see this spending package also reject the a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-issues-statement-ahead-house-s-vote-impeachment Congresswoman Elaine Luria Issues Statement Ahead of House’s Vote on Impeachment 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) issued the following statement ahead of the House's vote on impeachment on Wednesday. In the Navy and in Congress, I swore an oath to protect our Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic, Congresswoman Luria said. President Trump took that very same oath when he was sworn in, but he has clearly put his personal and political interests above the good of our country. The President abused his power by withholding critical aid from a partner in exchange for information to detract from a political opponent. Voting to impeach President Trump was not an easy decision or one I take lightlybut I take my oath seriously, and I will be voting in favor of both articles of impeachment tomorrow. Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on theHouse Armed Services Committee, where she is theVice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and theHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-luria-supports-two-crucial-fiscal-year-2020-spending-packages Congresswoman Luria Supports Two Crucial Fiscal Year 2020 Spending Packages to Avoid Government Shutdown 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) voted for two Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations packages advancing key priorities for Coastal Virginia and national security interests. I proudly support the two Fiscal Year 2020 spending packages, that will provide significant funding for programs that benefit working families in Coastal Virginia, Congresswoman Luria said. Among many other highlights, this critical legislation includes my Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, which would provide urgent relief to Gold Star Families impacted by the 2017 tax law that caused America's most heroic families to see drastic tax increases. These funding levels will protect national security, preserve the environment, improve coastal resiliency, and support important economic development within the district. I will continue fighting to fund these important programs in Congress to ensure that Virginians have fair representation. Highlights of the two appropriations packages include: Supporting Military Servicemembers, Families, and Communities Tax relief for Gold Star families. This bill includes a fix championed by Congresswoman Luria to eliminate a tax hike causing many Gold Star families to pay thousands in additional taxes. Congresswoman Luria introduced the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act in May and has been advocating tirelessly for a solution to this problem. 3.1% civilian pay raise for Department of Defense Employees $50 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program to support projects supporting military bases. $70 million for Impact Aid to assist school districts with high concentrations of families living in military housing. Protecting National Security $1.648 billion for naval nuclear reactors to continue safe and reliable operation of the Navy's nuclear-powered fleet. $783 million for NASA aeronautics research to support transonics and hypersonics research at NASA Langley. $172 million for the NATO Security Investment program to support responses to threats emanating from Russia, the Middle East, and … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-donates-200-books-highland-springs-high-school-library McEachin Donates 200 Books to Highland Springs High School Library 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Richmond, V.A. Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) visited Highland Springs High School in Henrico County to donate 200 new books from the Library of Congress to the school library. He was joined by elected senior class officers, school librarians Kimberly Paige and Adrienne Coffey, school principal Ken White, and Henrico Board of Supervisors members John Montgomery and Alicia Atkins. I am always pleased to visit the schools in our district and speak with students and faculty there, said Congressman McEachin. Today's visit was extra special because I was able to bring 200 brand new books donated from the Library of Congress for students to check out. I hope that the students will enjoy these new additions to their library. Congressman McEachin has donated books from the Library of Congress to schools and public libraries in Henrico, Chesterfield, Prince George, Hopewell, Petersburg and Surry. ### Contact: Keenan Austin Reed (202) 225-6365 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mceachin-and-rep-long-applaud-passage-mapping-accuracy-promotes-services Rep. McEachin and Rep. Long Applaud Passage of Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. - Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) and Congressman Billy Long (MO-07) released the following statement praising House passage of their bipartisan Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act. The MAPS Act would prohibit broadband providers from willfully, knowingly, or recklessly providing inaccurate broadband coverage data to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Too many Virginians do not have access to high-speed internet. Without these services, businesses and jobs relocate; community health suffers due to less connected hospitals and providers; and children lack much-needed internet access to complete their homework, said Congressman McEachin. We cannot expand broadband internet access to our communities, however, if we do not know exactly where broadband service is needed. The MAPS Act will help ensure we have a more complete understanding of broadband availability and thus bring much-needed, high-speed internet to all our constituents. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to consider this bill immediately so that all Virginians and all Americans have access to fast, reliable, and affordable broadband internet services. The federal government spends billions of dollars each yearon rural broadband deployment, yet millions of Americans lack basic access to broadband services.For rural communities, such as those in Missouri, knowing where broadband is and is not available at certain speeds is crucial and will go a long way in closing the digital divide.I'm grateful for thestrong, bipartisan supportas we work towards a more connected future, and I commend my colleague, Rep. Donald McEachin, for his hard work on the MAPS Act, said Congressman Billy Long. The Mapping Accuracy Promotes Services (MAPS) Act: Prohibits internet service providers from knowingly, willfully, or recklessly providing inaccurate data to the FCC; and Subjects providers who do submit inaccurate data appropriate penalty as determined by the FCC. ### Keenan Austin Reed (McEachin) 202-225-6365 Katie Milner (… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2347 Spanberger Chairs Hearing on Expanding Access to Federal Conservation Programs, Hears from Louisa County Cattleman 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail SpanbergerChair of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee's Conservation and Forestry Subcommitteetoday led a hearing focused on expanding Historically Underserved farmers and ranchers' access to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) conservation programs. During today's Subcommittee hearing, Spanberger heard from Irvin Whitea first-generation farmer and consultant with a business based in Louisa County. For more than two decades, White has helped area farmers work in tandem with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to implement voluntary conservation practices. To date, his business has installed hundreds of miles of stream fencing and alternative watering systems throughout Central Virginiaincluding in Culpeper, Orange, Louisa, and Spotsylvania Counties. In her opening statement, Spanberger highlighted how Historically Underserved farmers and ranchers often struggle to gain access, assistance, and the necessary credit to succeed in conservation implementation. Additionally, she called for USDA's conservation programs to better account for structural barriers and to recognize the critical contributions of Historical Underserved producersincluding women, beginning, minority, and veteran farmers and ranchers. To support the next generation of producers, we need to make sure they can actively participate in conservation programs that will both increase the profitability of their farms and help mitigate the effects of extreme weather and climate change. But for generations, many farm families have faced discrimination and insufficient access to credit, which makes fully using federal conservation program more difficult today, said Spanberger. I greatly appreciated hearing the perspective of Mr. White, whose operations in Louisa County have helped many of our district's farmers and cattlemen expand their conservation efforts. His testimony underscored the numerous barriers to new and beginning farmers as they begin their operationsincluding a lack of… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wexton-votes-pass-bipartisan-funding-deal-avoid-government-shutdown-0 Rep. Wexton Votes to Pass Bipartisan Funding Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass two bipartisan minibus appropriations packages which would fund the government for Fiscal Year 2020 and avoid a government shutdown. The House passed the Domestic Priorities and International Assistance Appropriations Minibus, H.R. 1865 by a vote of 297-120. The House passed the National Security Appropriations Minibus, H.R. 1158 by a vote of 280-138. Lurching from continuing resolution to continuing resolution is no way to run the government,said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. The last government shutdown was devastating, seriously jeopardizing the financial security of tens of thousands of federal workers and contractors in my district -- many of whom are still recovering from its impacts. My top priority was keeping the government open. With this bipartisan agreement, we will ensure the government remains funded through the end of FY2020 and that no federal employee goes through the holiday season without a paycheck. While this deal is not perfect, these bills are the product of bipartisan and bicameral compromise, and important priorities for Virginia are reflected in this agreement. The funding packages include many crucial and hard-won budgetary priorities for Wexton, including: Supporting our federal workers My colleagues and I fought for and won a long overdue, and well-deserved pay raise of 3.1% for all federal civilian employees,said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. This increase will help the federal government compete with the private sector to attract and retain the best and brightest into public service. All federal employees receive a 3.1% average pay raise. Wexton cosponsored legislation to raise federal worker pay thatpassed the House in January. Senate-approved appropriations of $25 million to relocate two United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies is removed. USDA's authority to reorganize departments or reprogram funds without congressional consent has also been limited.Wexton led a bicameral effo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/banking-committee-democrats-press-trump-administration-on-future-of-fannie-mae-freddie-mac Banking Committee Democrats Press Trump Administration on Future of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Led by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), today Democrats on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee sent a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Mark Calabria and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin with a series of questions regarding the Trump Administration's plans to return Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to private ownership. The GSEs play a critical role in the U.S. housing market, providing the necessary liquidity and stability that makes the U.S. mortgage market the most dependable market in the world. This year the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs held a number of hearings on our housing finance system. The message was clear any reform must strengthen our housing finance system and provide the tools to address the nation's affordable housing crisis, wrote the Senators. In addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by Ranking Member Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Robert Menendez (NJ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). Said the Senators, As members concerned with housing access and affordability, and the continued success of the secondary mortgage market, we request additional, detailed information regarding the Administration's plans to reform these entities and the analysis that supports these plans. Without additional information, Congress will be unable to fulfill its proper oversight role, or otherwise design policies to protect critical access and affordability to homeownership and rental housing. The Senators requested responses to a variety of questions, including the Administration's timeline for releasing the entities and how proposed changes could impact affordable homeownership: Please explain, in detail, the timeline, or benchmarks, by which the Administration intends to adopt reforms and release the GSEs from conservatorship. If multiple timeline… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/burr-warner-praise-house-and-senate-passage-of-three-year-intel-authorization-act Burr, Warner Praise House and Senate Passage of Three-Year Intel Authorization Act 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, on a 86-8 vote, the Senate passed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2020, which included the Damon Paul Nelson and Matthew Young Pollard Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020. The legislation was passed last week by the House. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statements on the bill's passage by Congress: I applaud the Senate's passage today of the Senate Intelligence Committee's bipartisan authorization legislation as part of our nation's defense authorization bill, said Vice Chairman Warner. The bipartisan intelligence authorization bill ensures that the women and men of our intelligence agencies have the resources they need to do their jobs, as well as robust provisions to improve oversight of our nation's intelligence functions. I am particularly proud that the NDAA carries a provision providing twelve weeks of paid parental leave for government employees that builds upon the Committee's original provision providing twelve weeks of paid parental leave to Intelligence Community personnel, including adoptive and foster parents. This provision will help recruit and retain top talent within the IC. I am also pleased that it includes a number of other provisions aimed at deterring foreign influence in our elections, tackling the technological threats from China as the U.S. and other nations move to 5G communications, modernizing our outdated security clearance process, and enabling the IC to exchange talent with the private sector. The men and women of our Intelligence Community work tirelessly to keep our nation safe by naming the threats we face today and preparing for those we may face tomorrow,said Chairman Burr.This legislation, which passed the Senate Intelligence Committee unanimously and cleared the House and Senate with overwhelming bipartisan majorities, is a significant investment in America's vital interest… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/senate-passes-warner-backed-military-housing-reforms-in-annual-defense-bill Senate Passes Warner-Backed Military Housing Reforms in Annual Defense Bill 2019-12-17 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) applauded Congressional passage of the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). After the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 86-8, sending the legislation to the President's desk for signature, Sen. Warner released the following statement: I've heard gut-wrenching stories from servicemembers and their families about being subjected to dangerous living conditions in privatized military housing. I've walked through these homes in communities across the Commonwealth and have seen firsthand mold and insect-infested conditions that no one should ever be exposed to. Military families shouldn't have to worry that their homes might make their families sick, nor should they feel powerless when facing companies charged with providing high-quality housing. I'm proud to have secured large portions of my legislation within this bill to provide greater oversight over military housing and to live up to the promises we've made to our men and women in uniform. I'm also pleased that today's bill provides a 3.1 percent pay raise for our military and repeals the unjust tax on more than 4,000 military widows in Virginia, which has prevented them from receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled. This bipartisan bill also guarantees 12 weeks of paid parental leave for Virginia's 170,000 federal civilian employees, which will serve as an important recruitment and retention tool as more and more existing federal workers become eligible for retirement. Additionally, with the passage of today's bill we are able to provide consistent funding to support our world-class shipbuilding fleet in Hampton Roads. This includes $11 billion for ship repair and the restoration of mid-life refueling for the USS Truman (CVN 75). It also provides funding to execute the Navy's recently announced block buy of Virginia-class submarines, which will generate 25,000 jobs and save billions in taxpayer dollars. Collectively, these essential shipbuilding programs will support thousands of job… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-bill-to-raise-tobacco-age-to-21-included-in-government-funding-deal Kaine Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21 Included In Government Funding Deal 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 16, 2019 Kaine Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21 Included In Government Funding Deal WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine,a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, released the following statement on the news that his bipartisanlegislation with Senate Majority LeaderMcConnelltoraise the tobacco age to 21will be voted on as part of the appropriations package in the House and Senate this week: I'm thrilled that our billto raise the tobacco age from 18 to 21 will get a vote in the House and Senate this week. This legislation will have an enormous positive impact on public health in America, and it's needed now more than ever as we grapple with theyouth e-cigarette epidemic.It's estimated that raising the tobacco age to 21 would reduce the number of premature deaths by 223,000 and significantly reduce lung cancerdeathsand other health problems. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their work on this critical effort including LeaderMcConnell, Leader Schumer, and Senators Murray, Alexander,Schatz, Young, Durbin, and Romney.I hope we can get this lifesaving bill across the finish line without delay,Kaine said. Since I introduced my legislation earlier this year to raise the minimum nationwide purchase age for tobacco products from 18 to 21, stories of vaping related illnesses and deaths -- especially among young people -- have stunned Kentucky and the nation, McConnell said.I'm grateful to the communities, the businesses and my fellow elected officials who joined Senator Kaine and me to address this urgent crisis and keep these dangerous products away from our children. It is because of my position as a tobacco state Senator that I introduced this bill, and it is because of my role as Senate Majority Leader that it will become law. Together, we can help Kentucky's young people grow up healthy and with every opportunity to reach their full potential. TheTobacco-Free Youth Actwould raise the nationwide minimum age to buy all tobacco pro… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-announce-more-than-800000-in-federal-funding-to-help-reduce-veteran-homelessness-in-virginia- Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $800,000 In Federal Funding To Help Reduce Veteran Homelessness In Virginia 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 16, 2019 Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $800,000 In Federal Funding To Help Reduce Veteran Homelessness In Virginia WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $883,881 infederal funding from a collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The funding will help homeless veterans find affordable and stable housing. Our nation's veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, and we owe them our support as they make the transition to civilian life, the Senators said. We're pleased to announce this funding to help those who have served get access to safe and affordable housing. The funding will be awarded as follows: Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $38,883 for 5 housing units. Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $37,583 for 5 housing units. Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $31,701 for 5 housing units. Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $42,294 for 5 housing units. Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $35,633 for 5 housing units. Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $26,356 for 5 housing units. Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $25,139 for 5 housing units. Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $37,620 for 5 housing units. Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $304,980 for 25 housing units. Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $34,024 for 5 housing units. Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation will receive $38,464 for 5 housing units. Prince William County Office of Housing and Community Development will receive $231,204 for 20 housing units. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines rental assistance voucher prog… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2344 Spanberger Calls for Democrats & Republicans to Work Together to Fund Government Through End of FY2020 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger is calling on Congress to come to a bipartisan agreement that will fully fund the federal government through the end of fiscal year (FY) 2020. Currently, government funding is set to expire on December 20, 2019. In a letter sent to U.S. House and U.S. Senate leadership, Spanberger and her colleagues urged Republican and Democratic leadership to work together to prevent another government shutdown and to maintain critical funding for national defense and domestic programs. Additionally, the letter underscores the tremendous uncertainty created by repeated short-term government funding resolutions. Spanberger sent the joint letter with members of the Republican Tuesday group and members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. We write to express grave concerns regarding the dwindling timeframe for the consideration of regular appropriations bills prior to the current funding deadline on December 20, the letter states. With six days on the legislative calendar before funding expires, a bipartisan commitment is needed to fully fund the entire government through the end of FY2020 and prevent yet another costly and unnecessary government shutdown. Providing adequate funding for government operations constitutes one of Congress's most fundamental responsibilities to the American people, the letter continues. With millions of our constituents depending on the certainty of federal funding for critical national defense operations and domestic programs, any lapse in appropriations represents an unacceptable outcome that needlessly jeopardizes their well-being. Last month, Spanberger warned against the continued passage of stopgap measures that repeatedly push the federal government toward potential shutdowns. The bipartisan letter was led by all members of Blue Dog Coalition leadershipU.S. Representatives Stephanie Murphy (D-FL-07), Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ-01), Lou Correa (D-CA-46), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY-22), and Kurt Schrader (D-OR-05)as well as Co-Chairs of the Tue… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2345 Spanberger Statement on Articles of Impeachment 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement announcing her position on articles of impeachment. As a former federal agent and CIA officer, I have spent my professional career in search of facts and evidencethe facts and evidence necessary to uphold the rule of law and protect our national security. Today, I am driven by facts and evidence to protect the integrity of our democracy. This week, the House of Representatives will vote on two articles of impeachment. In advance of casting my vote, I have read the articles and studied the evidenceincluding the majority and minority reports, deposition transcripts, and public testimony. The facts are not in dispute; witnesses, including those called by both parties, affirm these facts. The President has abused his power by soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election and leveraging U.S. security assistance dollars paid for by taxpayers and appropriated by both parties in Congress to compel a close allyat war and dependent on our aidto malign his political rival. When these actions became known, the President endeavored to hide the truth, and he obstructed Congress' constitutional duty to investigate by withholding documents, evidence, and fact witnesses. The President's actions violate his oath of office, endanger our national security, and betray the public trust. Because of the oath I swore to support and defend the Constitution, I will be voting in favor of both articles of impeachment. This vote is about more than one man's abuse of power; it is about the power of the presidency and whether we, as citizens, can expect that our elected officials, and most powerfully, our President, will fulfill their obligation to uphold the Constitution. The framers foresaw the risks to our republic that could come with a President willing to put self-interest before national interest, and they gave Congress the sole power of impeachment as a remedy. It is with a heavy heart, a solemn devotion to our Constitution, and a… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-a Warner & Kaine Announce more than $800,000 in Federal Funding to Help Reduce Veteran Homelessness in Virginia 2019-12-16 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $883,881 infederal funding from a collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The funding will help homeless veterans find affordable and stable housing. Our nation's veterans have sacrificed so much in service to our nation, and we owe them our support as they make the transition to civilian life, the Senators said. We're pleased to announce this funding to help those who have served get access to safe and affordable housing. The funding will be awarded as follows: Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $38,883 for 5 housing units. Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $37,583 for 5 housing units. Hopewell Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $31,701 for 5 housing units. Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $42,294 for 5 housing units. Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $35,633 for 5 housing units. Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $26,356 for 5 housing units. Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $25,139 for 5 housing units. Chesapeake Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $37,620 for 5 housing units. Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $304,980 for 25 housing units. Petersburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority will receive $34,024 for 5 housing units. Virginia Beach Department of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation will receive $38,464 for 5 housing units. Prince William County Office of Housing and Community Development will receive $231,204 for 20 housing units. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program combines rental assistance voucher programs for homeless veterans administered by HUD with case management and clinical services provided by the VA. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4674 Beyer Welcomes FCC Decision To Designate 9-8-8 National Suicide Prevention Hotline 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan House Suicide Prevention Task Force, today praised the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) unanimous vote to approve a proposal designating 9-8-8 as the National Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Hotline. Creating a National Suicide Prevention Hotline will save lives. The growing epidemic of Americans lost to suicide is an emergency, and establishing this hotline makes that fact clear and takes meaningful action to address it, said Rep. Beyer. Congress should support the FCC's action and strengthen the National Suicide Prevention Hotline by passing my bipartisan legislation to create an education campaign to tell people about the hotline. Our bill would also promote a better discourse around suicide prevention. I will continue to press for Congress to take action on this and other suicide prevention measures in 2020. Beyer is the sponsor of the Campaign To Prevent Suicide Act, a bipartisan bill that would set up an educational campaign recommended by suicide prevention advocates and the FCC to raise awareness for the three-digit suicide lifeline phone number. The legislation would also promote suicide prevention resources, and help educate Americans about strategies to identify warning signs that may precede suicide and encourage effective discourse to prevent suicide. Beyer is the founder of thebipartisan House Suicide Prevention Task Force, the author of the bipartisan Barriers To Suicide Act, and co-lead on the bipartisan Extreme Risk Protection Order Act and the bipartisan Suicide Prevention Lifeline Improvement Act. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-nlrb-s-proposed-rule-to-stall-union-elections Scott Statement on NLRBs Proposed Rule to Stall Union Elections 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy As originally released by the Committee on Education & Labor WASHINGTON, DC Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a final rule rescinding key portions of the 2014 Election Rule, which prohibits employers from delaying or obstructing union elections. In 2014, the Obama administration delivered a major victory for American workers by protecting their right to hold fair and timely union elections. Five years later, the Trump administration is erasing that victory by restoring employers' power to undermine workers' ability to organize and negotiate for decent wages, benefits, and working conditions. This major rewrite of the election rules was enacted with no notice to the public, no opportunity for public comments, and no evidence-based explanation. Unfortunately, the NLRB's new rule is the most recent example of how the Trump administration is failing to keep its promise to fight for American workers. Without the commonsense guidelines in the 2014 Elections Rule, anti-union companies will once again be emboldened to frustrate union elections, effectively denying employees the rights guaranteed by the National Labor Relations Act. In particular, the rule allows employers to delay union elections through protracted litigation, further weakening workers' collective bargaining rights and eroding their power in the workplace. Workers represented by labor unions consistently enjoy higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions. Protecting workers' right to join a union is critical to rebuilding the middle class and ensuring that hardworking people receive a fair share of the profits they produce. Under the new rule, the minimum time between the filing of a petition for an election and the actual election was extended from 15 to 55 days. According to studies, the longer the delay prior to an election, the more often employers commit unfair labor practices, including firing or otherwise coercing union supporters. A 2019 studyfound t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-announces-department-health-and-human-services-grant McEachin Announces Department of Health and Human Services Grant 2019-12-13 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) today announced a grant award of $207,907 from the Department of Health and Human Services to Virginia Commonwealth University for cancer treatment research. "In 2016, over 40,000 Virginians were diagnosed with cancer, and it is typically one of the two leading causes of death in the Commonwealth, said Congressman McEachin. Research into treatment can improve thosestatistics and allow more Virginians to conquer this pernicious disease and lead healthy and long lives." ### Contact: Keenan Austin Reed (202) 225-6365 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/help-committee-passes-key-provisions-of-kaine-bills-to-strengthen-support-for-children-at-risk-of-abuse HELP Committee Passes Key Provisions Of Kaine Bills To Strengthen Support For Children At Risk Of Abuse 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 12, 2019 HELP Committee Passes Key Provisions Of Kaine Bills To Strengthen Support For Children At Risk Of Abuse WASHINGTON, D.C.Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, applauded HELP Committee passage of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, which includes key provisions of his legislation to strengthen America's child welfare system: the Child Welfare Workforce Support Act and the Protecting LGBTQ Youth Act.TheChild Welfare Workforce Support Actwouldaddress high turnover rates among child welfare workers, and theProtecting LGBTQYouthActwouldhelp preventthemaltreatmentofLGBTQ youth, who are nearlyfourtimes more likely to experience childhood sexual abuse than their non-LGBTQ peers. The pair of bills would help ensure there are enough well-trained child welfare workers and improve outcomes for vulnerable youth. In addition to Kaine, theProtecting LGBTQ Youth Actis cosponsored by Senator Tammy Baldwin. As we reform our child welfare system, it's important that we grapple with the reality that LGBTQ youth are significantly more likely to suffer from abuse than other kids. I'm thankful that my colleagues supported my legislation to help ensure our child welfare policies reflect this reality and protect LGBTQ children. I'm also pleased we were able to pass provisions of my bill to address major shortages in the child welfare workforce whether it's social workers or other mental health professionals. We need more resources to help prevent child abuse and neglect, create greater stability for families, and improve services for vulnerable kids. I'm hopeful this legislation will help make sure we have the workforce in place to meet that demand, said Kaine. The physical and emotional challenges inherent in child welfare work, combined with relatively low compensation and work benefits, make these careers difficult to sustain, resulting in high turnover rates including a 30% annual turnover rate in Virginia.High turnover… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4669 Safe Climate Caucus Co-Chairs Statement and Resolution on the Four-Year Anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Reps. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) and Don Beyer (D-VA), co-chairs of the Congressional Safe Climate Caucus, today issued the following statement on their introduction of a resolution celebrating the fourth anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement: The climate crisis is the existential threat of our time. It impacts every facet of our economy, the environment, our national security, public health, and the future we leave our children. We are already beginning to experience its effects, and those effects will only get worse if we do not begin to earnestly address this issue. As long as President Trump is in office, this anniversary will serve as a sobering reminder of the lack of climate leadership we have in the White House and the battle ahead to address climate change. However, we will not let President Trump's decision to initiation the year-long formal withdrawal from the Agreement be the voice for the entire of the country. In the Democratic-led House of Representatives, we have held over 100 hearings on climate change, passed the Climate Action Now Act (HR 9), and sent a high-level delegation to COP25 in Spain. Our record on the climate crisis in the 116th Congress speaks for itself. With this resolution marking this important day in history and our work to address the existential threat of our generation, we are continuing to let the world know that we are still in. The resolution was cosponsored by 61 Members of Congress. It celebrates the anniversary of the Paris Agreement and supports global efforts to keep warming under 2 degrees Celsius, efforts to protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of climate change, and policies at the Federal, State, and local level that promote reductions in carbon pollution. Text of the resolution can be viewed here. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4670 House Passes Meaningful Legislation To Lower Prescription Drug Prices 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a Member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, today hailed the passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. The historic legislation would lower the costs of key medicines and medical treatments by thousands of dollars, making lifesaving care more affordable for American families. Today House Democrats delivered on a core promise which we made to the American people, that we would take action to lower the cost of their prescription drugs, said Rep. Beyer. This legislation is a huge step forward in our fight to secure access to affordable health care for all Americans. Patients in the United States pay four times more than those in other countries for the exact same drugs and treatments, and today we are doing something about that. If the President and his allies in the Senate would honor his core campaign promise to act on drug prices, they should take up this lifesaving legislation without delay and pass it into law. An analysis by the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has partial jurisdiction over health care legislation, shows that passing H.R. 3 into law would result in enormous savings for residents of Beyer's VA-8 district and people across Virginia, including: Breast Cancer: Virginia patients could save $45,100 off the average total cost of the breast cancer medication Ibrance per year; Leukemia: Virginia patients could save $66,300 off the average total cost of the leukemia medication Tasigna per year; Prostate Cancer: Virginia patients could save $72,100 off the average total cost of the prostate cancer medication Zytiga per year; Arthritis: Virginia patients could save $30,000 off their total costs on most arthritis drugs per year; Asthma: Virginia patients could save $1,130 off their total costs on most Asthma drugs per year; HIV/AIDS: Virginia patients could save $9,000 off their total costs on most HIV/AIDS drugs per year; Multiple Sclerosis: Virginia patients could save $27,000 off their total costs on … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4671 Beyer Will Vote Yes On Both Articles Of Impeachment 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement regarding articles of impeachment against President Donald John Trump: For nearly three months, I have listened to accounts of the President's abuses of power. I read testimony, watched hearings, and weighed the growing mountain of evidence indicating historic presidential misconduct. I received messages from thousands of constituents, most of whom expressed the opinion that President Trump should be impeached. The names and details in the story of President Trump's extortion of Ukraine are complex, but their import is clear and simple. President Trump demanded foreign influence in our elections. He used the power and weight of his office in pursuit of personal benefit, and did so in a manner that jeopardized the national security of the United States. The facts allow for no other interpretation: President Trump violated his oath of office to faithfully execute the laws. In order to cover up his offenses, he engaged in unprecedented obstruction of Congress's oversight power and role as an equal branch of government. He committed high crimes that were more brazenly corrupt than any others in American presidential history. The Founders enumerated the impeachment power in the Constitution specifically to provide a recourse for a president like Donald Trump, and ignoring what he has done would endanger our democracy. I did not come to Congress to impeach anyone, but the gravity of these offenses allows no other choice to any person of conscience serving in the House of Representatives. For the future of our democracy, President Trump must be impeached, and I will vote for both articles of impeachment against him. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-mcdonald-s-decision-reflects-serious-issues-at-trump-nlrb Scott: McDonalds Decision Reflects Serious Issues at Trump NLRB 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy As originally released by the Committee on Education & Labor WASHINGTON, DCChairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) approved a settlement with McDonald's and franchisees involving numerous unfair labor practices committed by its McDonald's and its franchisees. The settlement was previously rejected by an administrative law judge, who found that the remedies were not reasonable compared to the scope of the violations alleged. The NLRB's decision to force a settlement with McDonald's despite the objections of the workers who allege McDonald's violated their rights, the ruling of an administrative law judge, and concerns regarding ethical conflicts within the Board reflect serious issues with the NLRB's commitment to treating workers fairly. When workers are illegally fired or retaliated against for exercising their right to organize, the NLRB has an obligation to pursue their best interests and seek appropriate relief. The joint employer standard has always dictated that all parties involved in violating workers' right to organize should be held jointly liable for the damages workers suffer. Instead, the Republican-controlled Board is letting McDonald's off the hook in an agreement that failed to hold them accountable for their role in the violations committed by the company and its franchisees. For this reason, an independent judge found the settlement not a reasonable resolution based on the nature and scope of the violations alleged and the settlements' limited remedial impact.'The Board is now overruling her, not because they found she abused her discretion, as the standard requires, but because the Board merely disagrees with the ruling. Regardless of the outcome, this 2-1 decision is tainted by the participation of Member William Emanuel, whose former law firm represented McDonald's and its franchisees on the underlying matters in this case. Today's decision is a disservice to workers in this case and across the country. It sends a clear… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-praises-passage-of-landmark-bill-to-lower-prescription-drug-costs Scott Praises Passage of Landmark Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Costs 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Chairman Robert C. Bobby Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act. By passing H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, House Democrats are delivering on our promise to provide the American people long-awaited relief from skyrocketing prescription drug costs. This legislation will cut the cost of prescription drugs for seniors, families, taxpayers, and businesses across the country. This bill not only saves $500 billion by preventing drug companies from overcharging American consumers, it reinvests that money into expanding Medicare benefits, strengthening community health centers, and funding other vital public health programs. The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act is a historic achievement on behalf of the American people,and I urge the Senate to join our effort to lower drug costs by immediately taking up this legislation. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3719 Paid parental leave may be coming to more than 2 million Americans 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Greg IacurciMore than 2 million Americans could soon have access to mandatory paid parental leave. Senior congressional members have reached a bipartisan deal that would provide federal workers with 12 weeks of guaranteed paid time off for parents following the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. The proposed policy, which would apply to the 2.1 million civilian workers employed by the federal government, is part of a broader $738 billion legislative package on defense spending for the government's upcoming fiscal year. The bipartisan agreement comes at a time when the U.S. lags behind most of the world in providing paid leave to workers. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said in a congressional hearing Tuesday that the U.S. is one of just two countries in the world without any sort of mandatory paid leave, the other being Papua New Guinea. The U.S. is dead last in the world in terms of not providing any sort of paid leave, said Wendy Chun-Hoon, co-director of Family Values @ Work, a group that advocates for paid family leave. The legislation would be the first update to federal family leave policy in a generation, since the Family and Medical Leave Act was enacted in 1993. That law provided employees with up to 12 weeks of unpaid time off for personal illness and care of a newborn child or sick family member. However, it only covers roughly 60% of the workforce due to exemptions for firms with fewer than 50 employees. In addition, eight states and the District of Columbia have enacted paid family and medical leave policies. Proponents of paid leave say the proposed legislation would represent a step forward for the country, especially since the federal government is the largest employer in the U.S. It's the government deciding to put this in place for its own workforce, and it's a significant workforce, Chun-Hoon said. At the same time, there's much room for improvement, according to advocates, since the bill doesn't cover paid leave for family caregivi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3721 Connolly, 100 Dems Introduce Legislation to Block USDA Rule Kicking People off SNAP 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and more than 100 House Democrats in introducing the Protect SNAP Act, legislation to prevent the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from implementing stricter work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill follows USDA's final rule restricting hundreds of thousands of Americans' access to SNAPAmerica's leading anti-hunger program.People are going to go hungry because of President Trump and his administration's cruel new restrictions on SNAP, said Congresswoman DeLauro. Despite the USDA's own research showing that the vast majority of SNAP recipients who can work do, President Trump is cutting off a vital lifeline and rigging SNAP against the very people who the program was created to help. That is a betrayal of our nation's values and the decades bipartisan leadership in support of SNAP. Congress defeated this immoral proposal in last year's farm bill, and we need to step up again by passing the Protect SNAP Act immediately to reinforce our authority and intent on this issue. Make no mistake: the Trump Administration's latest work requirement rule will not create jobs or help anyone find work it's designed to punish unemployed or underemployed workers for falling on hard times, said Congresswoman Lee. What's more, we know that this rule will disproportionately affect communities of color, rural areas, and other places where good jobs are scarce. We cannot allow Trump to push more families further into poverty, and make it that much harder to climb out. Congress explicitly rejected these ideas in the last Farm Bill, and it's time to pass the Protect SNAP Act to further safeguard this critical program. No one should be going to bed hungry in the richest nation on earth. The Administration is callously forging ahead with a rule that would strip critical food assistance from nearly 700,000 of our most v… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-votes-bipartisan-bill-address-agricultural-labor Congresswoman Elaine Luria Votes for Bipartisan Bill to Address Agricultural Labor Shortages 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTONToday, Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) announced the House's passage of H.R. 5038, Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019. This bipartisan bill will help Coastal Virginia's agricultural industry by implementing reforms that aim to address scarcities in labor. Farmers and growers throughout our Eastern Shore community have shared with me the need for access to a reliable workforce,Congresswoman Luria said. That is why I supported this measure to make it easier for agricultural employers to hire and retain workers and grow our regional economy. H.R. 5038 would address scarcities in the labor market by reforming the H-2A visa program and by creating a Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status. It will modernize the H-2A visa program by creating a single, online platform for completing and processing H-2A visa applications. This would allow employers to file a single petition for all H-2A visa applications, making the program more responsive and easier to use for employers. The CAW status under H.R. 5038 would create a pathway for certain agricultural workers to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would prevent agricultural businesses from hiring ineligible workers by phasing in a mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system for agricultural employers to verify the status of each worker. The bill would give smaller farms more time to implement this system to prevent excessive administrative burdens. Congresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on theHouse Armed Services Committee, where she is theVice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and theHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-votes-lower-prescription-drug-costs-coastal Congresswoman Elaine Luria Votes to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Coastal Virginians 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) announced the House's passage of H.R. 3, the Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019. This bill would lower prescription drug costs for over 600,000 residents of Virginia's Second Congressional District. Today, I voted for landmark legislation that would lower prescription drug costs for hundreds of thousands of Coastal Virginians, Congresswoman Luria said. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act is an overdue bill that would ease the financial burdens of many hardworking families while funding groundbreaking research. I urge the Senate to make life-saving prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans by passing the Lower Drug Costs Now Act. H.R. 3 will give Medicare the power to negotiate directly with drug companies to lower drug prices for Coastal Virginians covered by private insurance and Medicare. Congresswoman Luria's amendment to strengthen this provision was incorporated into the House-passed bill. The amendment would ensure that federal employees benefit from the lower drug prices that Medicare negotiates. This would help 30,000 federal workers in Virginia's Second Congressional District benefit from the newly lowered drug prices. The Lower Drug Costs Now Act ensures that Americans will no longer pay significantly more for their prescription drugs than people overseas. It would achieve this by mandating that manufacturers of drugs subject to negotiation agree on a price no higher than 120 percent of the average price in other industrialized countries. H.R. 3 would also implement a $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for people covered by Medicare. This would reverse years of unfair price increases that are well above the price of inflation for thousands of drugs in Medicare. According to guidance from the Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 3 is estimated to save approximately $500 billion over the next five years. These savings will be used to reinvest in Medicare, allowing Medicare to include new vision, dental, and hearing ben… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2338 Spanberger, U.S. House Pass Landmark Prescription Drug Legislation, Vote to Give Medicare the Power to Negotiate Drug Prices 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today passed major legislation to lower drug costs for Central Virginia families and strengthen Medicare benefits for Central Virginia seniors. Over the past decade, rising drug costs have created tremendous financial certainty for seniors and families in Central Virginia and across the country. Between 2012 and 2017, the average annual cost of prescription drug treatments in Virginia increased by nearly 60 percent, while the annual income for Virginians only increased by 8.5 percent. The Spanberger-cosponsored Lower Drug Costs Now Act would give Medicare Part D the power to negotiate directly with drug companies, and the resulting lower prices would also be available to Americans with private insurance. Additionally, the bill would expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision, and hearing coverageand it would establish a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for individuals on Medicare. Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from negotiating for lower prices. At my prescription drug forum last month in Henrico County, I heard about the tough decisions Virginia seniors and families face every day as drug prices skyrocket. In conversation after conversation, it's clear that Central Virginians are being gouged on their lifesaving prescription medications. And for too long, Congress' hands have been tied by the pharmaceutical lobbyand lawmakers have refused to take action, said Spanberger. I'm proud to be a cosponsor of the Lower Drug Costs Now Act, and today's passage brings us one step closer to combating relentless price increases in our communities. I've long pushed to give Medicare the power to negotiate for lower prices, and this bill delivers that commonsense provision. Our bill also cracks down on drug companies' abusive practices, and it would help reverse decades of unfair price hikes on medications to treat widespread conditions like diabetes, breast cancer, and arthritis. American families shouldn't be paying tens of … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2339 Bipartisan Majority of U.S. House Passes Spanberger-Cosponsored Farm Workforce Modernization Act 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed bipartisan legislation originally cosponsored by U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger to improve predictability for Central Virginia agriculture employers and to reform the U.S. immigration system for farmworkers. To keep their operations open and grow their businesses, farms, greenhouses, and agribusinesses in Central Virginia need steady access to qualified and legal labor. However, the existing H-2A guest-worker program does not meet the employment requirements of local businesses and has long needed meaningful reforms.In Virginia's Seventh District, the current seasonal program doesn't fit local agriculture's need for year-round workersincluding in the dairy and horticulture sectors. Last month, Spanberger helped introduce the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would address some of the key challenges facing farms and agricultural workers in Central Virginia. The bill would modernize and streamline the H-2A process for growers to hire farmworkers in response to their labor needs. Additionally, the legislation would create a merit-based visa program for agricultural workers to earn legal status through continued employment. Last night's passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act marks an important success in our bipartisan efforts to reform our immigration system and strengthen our country's rural economies. In Central Virginia, our crop and livestock producers need to be able to ward off the farm labor crisis and retain their workforce, and our greenhouses and dairieswhich have unique labor requirementsneed modernized policies, said Spanberger. In face-to-face conversations with our producers, I've repeatedly heard that the current H-2A program is overly-burdensome and fails to address the year-round labor requirements of the Seventh District. By cutting down on red tape, creating a new year-round guest worker program, and stabilizing the existing workforce, this legislation reflects the needs of farmers in Central Virginia an… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/wexton-votes-lower-cost-prescription-drugs Wexton Votes to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will help bring down the cost of prescription drugs and level the playing field for American patients who are paying more for their medicines than patients in other countries. This bipartisan bill gives the Department of Health and Human Services the power to negotiate the prices of the most costly drugs in the U.S, which don't face competition, and these lower prices will be transparent so that private insurance companies can make the same prices available to their consumers. With the savings from lower drug prices -- estimated to be nearly half a trillion dollars -- Medicare's benefits will be expanded to cover vision, dental, and hearing and billions of dollars will be directed to medical research on breakthrough cures, new investments to combat the opioid epidemic, and more. The legislation also creates a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. We have miracle drugs that can save lives, but they don't do any good when the American people can't afford them, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. The skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs are crushing Virginia families, taking a toll on their finances and -- in the worst cases -- costing lives. Many of my constituents are making impossible decisions, rationing their insulin and other medication to pay their rent or put food on the table. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to send this legislation to the President's desk as soon as possible. Too many Virginians -- of all ages -- have a hard time keeping up with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. There is an opportunity and an urgency for Congress to make prescription drugs more affordable, and I thank Representative Wexton for her leadership, said Jim Dau, State Director, AARP Virginia. My 8-year-old son, Jack, has cystic fibrosis. Recently, we were thrilled to learn that there's a new medication that has the potential t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=143 Wexton Votes to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs 2019-12-12 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which will help bring down the cost of prescription drugs and level the playing field for American patients who are paying more for their medicines than patients in other countries. This bipartisan bill gives the Department of Health and Human Services the power to negotiate the prices of the most costly drugs in the U.S, which don't face competition, and these lower prices will be transparent so that private insurance companies can make the same prices available to their consumers. With the savings from lower drug prices -- estimated to be nearly half a trillion dollars -- Medicare's benefits will be expanded to cover vision, dental, and hearing and billions of dollars will be directed to medical research on breakthrough cures, new investments to combat the opioid epidemic, and more. The legislation also creates a new $2,000 out-of-pocket limit on prescription drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries. We have miracle drugs that can save lives, but they don't do any good when the American people can't afford them, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. The skyrocketing prices of prescription drugs are crushing Virginia families, taking a toll on their finances and -- in the worst cases -- costing lives. Many of my constituents are making impossible decisions, rationing their insulin and other medication to pay their rent or put food on the table. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to send this legislation to the President's desk as soon as possible. Too many Virginians -- of all ages -- have a hard time keeping up with the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. There is an opportunity and an urgency for Congress to make prescription drugs more affordable, and I thank Representative Wexton for her leadership, said Jim Dau, State Director, AARP Virginia. My 8-year-old son, Jack, has cystic fibrosis. Recently, we were thrilled to learn that there's a new medication that has the potential t… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/foreign-relations-committee-passes-kaines-bipartisan-bill-to-prevent-the-president-from-leaving-nato Foreign Relations Committee Passes Kaine’s Bipartisan Bill To Prevent The President From Leaving NATO 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 11, 2019 Foreign Relations Committee Passes Kaine's Bipartisan Bill To Prevent The President From Leaving NATO WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Armed Services Committee (SASC), applauded SFRC passage of his bipartisan bill to explicitly prohibit any President of the United States from withdrawing from NATO without congressional approval. Recent actions have raised serious questions among our allies about America's commitment to NATO. This bill would clarify that no U.S. President can withdraw from NATO without Congressional approval. This sends a strong message that after 70 years Congress sees the continuing vitality of the alliance, Kaine said. Specifically, the legislation would: 1. Require the President to seek the advice and consent of the Senate to terminate U.S. participation in NATO. 2. Require the President to notify the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee of any effort to terminate U.S. membership in NATO within 48 hours after any such action is taken, and prohibits the use of funds for such actions without Congressional approval. 3. Authorize the Senate Legal Counsel and General Counsel to the House of Representatives to challenge the Administration in court should the President seek a unilateral withdrawal. The full text of the bill can be viewed here. ### Print Email Tweet 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-applaud-congressional-passage-of-the-virginia-beach-strong-act Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 11, 2019 Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act ~Legislation to make contributions to the Virginia Beach Tragedy fund tax-deductible now heads to the President's desk for signature ~ WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act, a bill that would make contributions to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund tax-deductible. The legislation cleared the Senate unanimously following Monday's passage in the House of Representatives and will now head to President Trump's desk for his signature. Following the tragic shooting in Virginia Beach, folks from across the Commonwealth came together to provide financial relief for victims and families by donating to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, said the Senators. Unfortunately, those donations aren't considered tax-deductible because the IRS generally disallows a deduction unless the donations go towards a charitable class of sufficient size, as opposed to a small group of individuals. But with Congress passing the Virginia Beach Strong Act, we can now fix this error with a stroke of the President's pen. U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. I am glad to see swift Senate passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act and I thank Senators Warner and Kaine for their continued support of our Virginia Beach community following the May 31 mass shooting, said Rep. Luria. Six months later, many families of the victims are still facing financial hardships related to the shooting, in addition to the devastating loss of a loved one. I remain hopeful that President Trump will join this bicameral, bipartisan effort to support these families by signing into law the Virginia Beach Strong Act. On May 31, 2019, a gunman opened fire at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killing 12 people and injuring four. Soon after, the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund was created to support the wounded victims and the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-house-passage-of-defense-bill-for-fy-2020 Scott Statement on House Passage of Defense Bill for FY 2020 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Conference Report to Accompany S. 1790National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020. Congressman Scott served as a conferee for the education and labor provisions contained in the House and Senate versions of the FY 2020 NDAA: Hampton Roads is the heart of our nation's shipbuilding industrial base. I am pleased that the conference report for this year's National Defense Authorization Act reaffirms the requirement that the United States Navy must maintain a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers and authorizes the first year of appropriations for the midlife refueling of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Additionally, the conference report preserves a plan for the Navy to procure 10Virginia-class submarines, and supports full funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. It also provides an additional $653 million for ship maintenance to address the ongoing backlog of ship and submarine maintenance. These provisions are beneficial not just to the Hampton Roads economy but are also critical to our national security. As Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, I was pleased to see workplace safety being prioritized in this bill by codifying the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)'s Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health. This committee brings unions, employers and maritime safety experts together to advise OSHA on improving protections for shipyard and longshore workers. By permanently establishing this committee, it will no longer be interrupted by lapses in its charter. As the nation's largest employer, the federal government should be a leader in making workplaces more family friendly. I applaud the inclusion of paid parental leave for federal workers in this legislation. This is an important step toward ensuring all workers, no matter where they work or who they work for, have the right … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3718 Connolly Amendments Included in House-Passed FY20 NDAA Conference Report 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Today, the House of Representatives adopted the conference report for the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act, which included amendments offered by Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) regarding the proposed elimination of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the government-wide backlog of security clearance adjudications, and the loopholes that still allow servicemembers who have been convicted in domestic violence cases to purchase firearms. The report also included a provision, backed by Connolly and the National Capital Region delegation, providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees. The House passed the conference report 377-48.Proposed Merger of OPM and GSA: Connolly's amendment puts a hold on the administration's proposed merger of the Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration by prohibiting the transfer or merging of any authority or responsibility from OPM to GSA until a comprehensive study of the proposal is conducted and submitted to Congress. The whole of the federal government functions thanks in large part to the work of the dedicated staff at the Office of Personnel Management, said Connolly. They, and every federal employee, deserves better than the administration's shortsighted proposal to eliminate OPM altogether. This amendment makes clear that there are ways to improve efficiency and modernize the federal government. This merger simply isn't one of them. Paid Family Leave: This provision, originally introduced in the House by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), provides 12 weeks of paid parental leave benefits for all federal employees. Earlier this month, Rep. Connolly and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer were joined by the National Capital Region delegation in urging the Chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to include the provision in the final conference report. It is our absolute duty as Members of Congress to advocate on behalf of the 2.6 million federal employees who carry out the laws we pass and who make up the most … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-highlights-wins-final-conference-report-national Congresswoman Elaine Luria Highlights Wins in Final Conference Report of National Defense Authorization Act 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria (VA-02) praised the results of the Conference Report for the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The final version of the NDAA keeps Congresswoman Luria's longstanding promise to advocate for servicemembers and military families in Coastal Virginia and beyond. I am honored to fight for our bravest men and women and ensure they have the resources they need to protect our country, Congresswoman Luria said. This year's National Defense Authorization Act upholds our promise to servicemembers and satisfies key priorities for military installations in Hampton Roads. I am proud to support this bipartisan, bicameral agreement that will advances our national security and protect and the wellbeing of our servicemembers and their families. The FY2020 would: Repeal the Widow's Tax to end an unjust rule and ensure that Gold Star families can continue to receive Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits without reducing their SBP benefits. Authorize $75 million for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which supports infrastructure projects in communities surrounding military installations. Require the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify, mitigate, and plan for the effects of climate change on military installations and infrastructure, which is of critical for readiness of Hampton Roads installations. Establish a limit of $13.22 billion for the construction of the U.S.S. Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78). Reaffirm that the United States must maintain a minimum of 11 aircraft carriers to protect national security interests. Authorize the first year of appropriations for the midlife refueling of the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). Authorize $140.8 million to hire additional personnel to improve oversight and management of privatized military family housing and create a tenant bill of rights to protect families in military housing. Provide 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees in the case of … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2334 Spanbergers Amendment to Combat Trafficking & Smuggling Networks in Central America Passes U.S. House in Defense Authorization Bill, Expected to be Signed into Law by President Trump 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. The U.S. House of Representatives today passed U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger's bipartisan legislationintroduced alongside U.S. Representative Will Hurd (R-TX-23)to combat Central American trafficking and smuggling networks as part of the fiscal year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Additionally, the FY2020 NDAA includes key provisions from Spanberger's legislation to combat child pornography on government-associated networks, as well as her amendment to increase transparency in the use of military force in counterterrorism operations abroad. The defense authorization bill now moves to the U.S. Senate for a vote before heading to the President's desk. Specifically, Spanberger and Hurd's Trafficking and Smuggling Intelligence Act would direct the U.S. intelligence community to prioritize efforts to combat drug trafficking, human trafficking, and human smuggling networks in the Northern Triangle countriesHonduras, Guatemala, and El Salvadorand Mexico. Additionally, it would use the expertise of the intelligence community to understand how these criminal organizations in the region contribute to the ongoing humanitarian suffering at the U.S.-Mexico border. Spanberger and Hurdboth former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) case officersintroduced the legislation in July 2019. To strengthen the security of our borders and points of entry, part of our strategy must include addressing the root causes of increased migration and violent conflict in Central America. The volatility in our backyard should be a major concern as we look to protect American families and communities, and our legislation is a step toward building a tough, smart response to the reprehensible activities of cartels and traffickers in the Northern Triangle countries and Mexico, said Spanberger. As a former law enforcement agent and intelligence officer, I recognize that the ripple effects of these nefarious actors in their home countries can impact the safety of Americans across the border. Today, I'm pr… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-final-defense-authorization-wexton-amendment-support House Passes Final Defense Authorization with Wexton Amendment to Support Servicemembers’ Transition Into Intelligence Workforce 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted for the Conference Report on S. 1790, the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included paid parental leave for all federal workers and Wexton's amendment to support military intelligence members as they transition into jobs in the public sector. This defense authorization demonstrates our bipartisan commitment to a smart and strong national security approach, including important priorities for Virginia such as paid leave for all federal workers and a pay raise for our servicemembers, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. I'm pleased that my amendment to support military intelligence members as they transition into new jobs requiring a security clearance was included in the final legislation. These servicemembers are doing important work in cyberspace operations, electronic warfare, and other critical need areas that can continue to benefit our intelligence agencies and protect our national security beyond their military service. This defense authorization supports a bipartisan, bicameral national defense strategy with a $738 billion defense budget, the most robust in our nation's history. The legislation also includes provisions for paid parental leave for all federal workers, provides a 3.1% pay raise for all servicemembers, repeals the widow's tax, establishes a much-needed tenant bill of rights for residents in private military family housing, and requires an intelligence assessment naming those responsible for the premeditated murder of Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. The final bill also includes a House-passed provision to block the merger of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the General Services Agency (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) without the review of an independent study. Congresswoman Wexton, a vocal advocate for the inclusion of the paid parental leave policy in the final defense bill, hailed its passage as a major victory for federal workers and an important st… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wexton-house-science-committee-members-seek-accountability-transparency Rep. Wexton, House Science Committee Members Seek Accountability, Transparency in USDA Relocation 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) led members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee today in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking answers about a cost-benefit analysis that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has refused to make public despite repeated efforts by Congressional requestors. USDA has relied on findings from this analysis to justify the relocation of two key research agencies out of Washington, D.C., which has resulted in hundreds of employees being removed from their jobs and an estimated cost of up to $215 million in lost expertise. The Representatives also requested that GAO review the relocation's impact on the agencies' missions and the critical contributions to scientific research that they provide. This relocation has resulted in hundreds of federal employees being forced out of their jobs and critical scientific research being utterly stifled -- so how is it that USDA came to believe this move would benefit the missions of these agencies and American taxpayers? said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. USDA's refusal to comply with congressional oversight requests on the cost-benefit analysis raises serious questions about the decision-making process which led to the relocation of ERS and NIFA. I hope and expect that GAO will provide the transparency owed to this Committee, the employees of these agencies, and the American people. Congresswoman Wexton's GAO review request is a crucial step in holding this administration accountable for the damage it has caused to our nation's premier food and agriculture research agencies. Farmers and all Americans deserve to know if the relocation wasted taxpayer money. GAO's review will also help prevent this Administration from taking a wrecking ball to other federal research agencies, said Dr. Rebecca Boehm, Economist with the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. That USDA may have uprooted entire research units to undermine the work of non-partisan scientis… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=141 Rep. Wexton, House Science Committee Members Seek Accountability, Transparency in USDA Relocation 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) led members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee today in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking answers about a cost-benefit analysis that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has refused to make public despite repeated efforts by Congressional requestors. USDA has relied on findings from this analysis to justify the relocation of two key research agencies out of Washington, D.C., which has resulted in hundreds of employees being removed from their jobs and an estimated cost of up to $215 million in lost expertise. The Representatives also requested that GAO review the relocation's impact on the agencies' missions and the critical contributions to scientific research that they provide. This relocation has resulted in hundreds of federal employees being forced out of their jobs and critical scientific research being utterly stifled -- so how is it that USDA came to believe this move would benefit the missions of these agencies and American taxpayers? said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. USDA's refusal to comply with congressional oversight requests on the cost-benefit analysis raises serious questions about the decision-making process which led to the relocation of ERS and NIFA. I hope and expect that GAO will provide the transparency owed to this Committee, the employees of these agencies, and the American people. Congresswoman Wexton's GAO review request is a crucial step in holding this administration accountable for the damage it has caused to our nation's premier food and agriculture research agencies. Farmers and all Americans deserve to know if the relocation wasted taxpayer money. GAO's review will also help prevent this Administration from taking a wrecking ball to other federal research agencies, said Dr. Rebecca Boehm, Economist with the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. That USDA may have uprooted entire research units to undermine the work of non-partisan scientists, and at the exp… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=142 House Passes Final Defense Authorization with Wexton Amendment to Support Servicemembers Transition Into Intelligence Workforce 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted for the Conference Report on S. 1790, the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which included paid parental leave for all federal workers and Wexton's amendment to support military intelligence members as they transition into jobs in the public sector. This defense authorization demonstrates our bipartisan commitment to a smart and strong national security approach, including important priorities for Virginia such as paid leave for all federal workers and a pay raise for our servicemembers, said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton. I'm pleased that my amendment to support military intelligence members as they transition into new jobs requiring a security clearance was included in the final legislation. These servicemembers are doing important work in cyberspace operations, electronic warfare, and other critical need areas that can continue to benefit our intelligence agencies and protect our national security beyond their military service. This defense authorization supports a bipartisan, bicameral national defense strategy with a $738 billion defense budget, the most robust in our nation's history. The legislation also includes provisions for paid parental leave for all federal workers, provides a 3.1% pay raise for all servicemembers, repeals the widow's tax, establishes a much-needed tenant bill of rights for residents in private military family housing, and requires an intelligence assessment naming those responsible for the premeditated murder of Washington Post journalist, Jamal Khashoggi. The final bill also includes a House-passed provision to block the merger of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) with the General Services Agency (GSA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) without the review of an independent study. Congresswoman Wexton, a vocal advocate for the inclusion of the paid parental leave policy in the final defense bill, hailed its passage as a major victory for federal workers and an important step towards a compr… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2019/12/warner-kaine-applaud-congressional-passage-of-the-virginia-beach-strong-act Warner & Kaine Applaud Congressional Passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act 2019-12-11 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Mark Warner W000805 www.warner.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the Senate passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act, a bill that would make contributions to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund tax-deductible. The legislation cleared the Senate unanimously following Monday's passage in the House of Representatives and will now head to President Trump's desk for his signature. Following the tragic shooting in Virginia Beach, folks from across the Commonwealth came together to provide financial relief for victims and families by donating to the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund, said the Senators. Unfortunately, those donations aren't considered tax-deductible because the IRS generally disallows a deduction unless the donations go towards a charitable class of sufficient size, as opposed to a small group of individuals. But with Congress passing the Virginia Beach Strong Act, we can now fix this error with a stroke of the President's pen. U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. I am glad to see swift Senate passage of the Virginia Beach Strong Act and I thank Senators Warner and Kaine for their continued support of our Virginia Beach community following the May 31 mass shooting, said Rep. Luria. Six months later, many families of the victims are still facing financial hardships related to the shooting, in addition to the devastating loss of a loved one. I remain hopeful that President Trump will join this bicameral, bipartisan effort to support these families by signing into law the Virginia Beach Strong Act. On May 31, 2019, a gunman opened fire at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, killing 12 people and injuring four. Soon after, the Virginia Beach Tragedy Fund was created to support the wounded victims and the families of those killed. However, because the fund was set up exclusively for the benefit of those affected by the tragedy, it violates a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable tax rule that requires a charitable organization to serve a charitable class of per… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/four-kaine-bills-included-in-bipartisan-health-care-package-including-bill-to-raise-tobacco-age-to-21 Four Kaine Bills Included In Bipartisan Health Care Package, Including Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 10, 2019 Four Kaine Bills Included In Bipartisan Health Care Package, Including Bill To Raise Tobacco Age To 21 WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine,a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee,released the following statement on the bipartisan health careagreementannounced Sunday.Fourof Kaine'sbills were included in this comprehensive package: one toraise the tobacco age to 21, one toimprove the nation's public health data systems,onetoexpand health care to rural areas through telehealth, andprovisions of a billtoincrease patent transparency for biologic drugs. I'm excited that my reforms to improve our health care system were included in this bipartisan package, including my bill with Leader McConnell to raise the tobacco age to 21. Our nation is facing ayouthe-cigarette epidemic, and this legislation is a critical step to help keep tobacco products out of kids' hands.I'm pleased this packagealsoincludes my legislation with Senators Isakson and King to boost our ability to respond quickly to health threatsliketherecent outbreak ofvaping-linked lung injuries. Countless people will benefit from the expansion of telehealth in rural areas,greaterpatent transparency for innovative treatments, and reforms to stop the surprise medical bills that have wreaked financial havoc on families. This is a good compromise, and I hope we'll quickly pass it into law. Kaine's proposals were drawn from four bipartisan bills he introduced this year: TheTobacco-Free Youth Act, legislation Kaine introduced with Senate Majority Leader McConnell to raise the nationwide minimum age to buy all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21.The billpassedthe HELP Committee in June.The following Virginia organizations support theTobacco-Free Youth Act:Virginia Rural Health Association, Prevention Council of Roanoke County, Piedmont Community Services Board, Drug Free MHC (Martinsville-Henry County), Fresh (Focus on Response and Education to Stay Healthy) - Franklin County,… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-joins-lankford-hassan-on-bipartisan-bill-to-end-government-shutdowns Kaine Joins Lankford, Hassan on Bipartisan Bill to End Government Shutdowns 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 10, 2019 Kaine Joins Lankford, Hassan on Bipartisan Bill to End Government Shutdowns WASHINGTON, DC Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced an updated version of their bipartisanPrevent Government Shutdowns Act. As Congress approaches the threat of a second government shutdown this year, Lankford and Hassan are joined by four of their Senate colleagues to push for this commonsense reform that protects federal employees and forces Congress to stay in DC to fund the government. If signed into law, the bill would set up an automatic Continuing Resolution (CR) at the current spending level until an agreement on funding is enacted. This will prevent a government-wide shutdown, continue critical services and operations for Americans, and hold federal workers harmless while Congress negotiates. The last 40 years, we've had 21 government shutdowns led by both partieseach one costing taxpayers billions of dollars and hurting federal employees, said Lankford. The plan is simple: End government shutdowns, while keeping the government open as Members of Congress, their staffs, and the Office of Management and Budget remain in Washington to finish appropriations bills. It's time to hold Congress accountable for their most basic function and stop hurting federal families and taxpayers in another government shutdown. Amidst the partisan gridlock that has too often led to costly, irresponsible government shutdowns, Republican Senator James Lankford and I have been pushing for a commonsense solution: If Congressional leadership cannot come together on a bipartisan spending bill to avert a shutdown, our bill provides automatic funding to keep the government's doors from closing, and critically, Congress stays in Washington working until a deal is reached,said Hassan.We have seen time and time again the harmful effects that government shutdowns have on Granite Staters and Americans across the country. That's why Senator Lankford and I came together to work on a measure to end… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4662 Beyer Statement On Announced USMCA Agreement 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, today issued the following statement upon the announcement that negotiators had reached an agreement in principle on the substance of the US-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement: The announcement of an agreement on USMCA is an important and positive step forward. I thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Neal, and the Democratic working group for fighting hard for months to fix this deal and improve outcomes for American workers. It was their successful efforts to deliver big victories on progressive policy areas that opened a pathway for this agreement to advance in Congress. Thousands of Northern Virginia jobs depend on trade, and I will have the best interests of my constituents in mind as I evaluate the text of this agreement in days to come. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4664 Beyer Statement On Articles Of Impeachment 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Beyer Statement On Articles Of Impeachment Rep. Don Beyer today released the following statement after the House Judiciary Committee introduced articles of impeachment against President Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress: I encourage all Americans to read the articles of impeachment against President Trump for themselves. For weeks House investigators carefully followed the facts in an inquiry examining the President's misconduct towards our ally Ukraine. Those facts exposed a clear pattern in which the President abused his office, weakened our national security, and jeopardized our democratic elections in order to benefit himself and strengthen his own power. He continues to do so at this moment. This is a sad moment for our country, and a solemn one. My duty requires that I review these articles and the evidence which led to them carefully, and to vote in a way that honors my oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4665 Beyer Statement On NDAA Paid Parental Leave Provision 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Donald Beyer B001292 beyer.house.gov     legacy Rep. Don Beyer today hailed a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act conference report which would guarantee twelve weeks of paid parental leave for all federal employees: This paid parental leave provision is one of the biggest victories for the federal workforce in my lifetime. Against all odds, Chairman Smith, Majority Leader Hoyer, and the House negotiating team won this historic concession from an administration which has at times shown fierce hostility to the federal workforce. All American workers deserve paid family and medical leave, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in pursuit of that goal. This measure represents enormous progress. Congressman Don Beyer represents nearly 87,000 federal employees, the largest number of any Member of the House of Representatives. Beyer joined Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney this February to introduce the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-praises-passage-of-future-act Scott Praises Passage of FUTURE Act 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Robert Scott S000185 bobbyscott.house.gov     legacy As originally released by the Committee on Education & Labor WASHINGTON, DC Today, the House voted to pass theFUTURE Act, a bipartisan proposal to authorize permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The legislation, which comes after months of negotiation between House and Senate leaders, provides more than $250 million in mandatory funding per year for these institutions. It also facilitates stronger cooperation between the IRS and Department of Education to simplify the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA). Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges or Universities, and other Minority-Serving Institutions play a significant role in expanding access to higher education for low-income students and students of color,said Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03)on the House Floor ahead of the vote.Unfortunately, despite their outsized role in serving our nation's most underserved students, these schools have historically been under-resourced compared to other institutions of higher education. Now, after careful negotiation and compromise, the bill we are voting on today does not just guarantee more than $250 million per year for HBCUs and MSIs, it simplifies the Free Application for Student Aid, or FAFSA, and makes it easier for students to access student aid and repay their loans. I would like to give special thanks to Chairman Neal for his dedication and hard work in negotiating to bring this legislation to the floor. TheFUTURE Act would ensurethat: Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) continue to receive$85 millionper year. American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) continue to receive$30 millionper year. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) continue to receive$100 millionper year. Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) continue to receive$15 millionper year. Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving In… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-luria-delivers-coastal-resiliency-win-military-communities Congresswoman Luria Delivers Coastal Resiliency Win for Military Communities 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria announced House passage of the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act (H.R. 729). This bipartisan bill contains her amendment advancing the coastal resiliency of military communities. Rising sea levels and recurrent flooding present immense challenges to communities throughout Hampton Roads as well as our nation's military readiness,Congresswoman Luria said.My amendment improves H.R. 729 to better position military communities in Coastal Virginia. H.R. 729 would establish a grant program directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to award grants to state and local governments to implement living shoreline projects. These projects restore and stabilize shorelines, including marshes, wetlands, and other parts of the shoreline ecosystem by using materials such as plants and oyster shells. Congresswoman Luria's amendment would ensure that the NOAA considers the potential of a living shoreline project that support resiliency at military installations or community infrastructure supportive of a military installation. The Department of Defense's 2019Report on the Effects of a Changing Climatefound the greater Hampton Roads area is one of the most vulnerable to flooding military installations in the United States. Congresswoman Luria's amendment would encourage the NOAA to fund projects that bolster these installations from the threats of imminent flooding. The amendment passed the House today in a 368-51 vote. Ahead of the House's passage of Congresswoman Luria's amendment, she gave opening remarks on the House Floor. See below for transcribed remarks. Opening Remarks I rise in support of my amendment to H.R. 729, the Coastal and Great Lakes Communities Enhancement Act. My amendment directs NOAA to consider the potential of proposed living shoreline projects to enhance the resiliency of military installations and the communities that support them. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense found that well over half of the highest-prior… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2328 Spanberger Statement on USMCA Trade Deal Announcement 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Abigail Spanberger S001209 spanberger.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after the announcement that the United States, Mexico, and Canada have reached a deal on the final text of the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA). Central Virginia businesses, farms, and manufacturers have waited patiently for this day to arrive. Since coming to the U.S. House, I've repeatedly heard business owners and workers describe the clear economic need for expanded export markets in Canada and Mexico. And just last week, I shared their views with Vice President Pence, said Spanberger. Today, I'm encouraged that the administration and House negotiators have been able to work out an agreement with all three countries that will bring greater long-term trade stability to the Commonwealth's economy. Now, we need to focus on receiving implementing legislation from the administration and advancing it to the floor of the U.S. Houseand I'll keep pressing all players involved until that happens. Last week, Spanberger joined Vice President Mike Pence and a bipartisan group of her colleagues at the White House to discuss the status of the USMCA and the need to finalize the agreement. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Virginia exported $4.3 billion of goods to Mexico and Canada in 2018. BACKGROUND Spanberger has long worked to press for final progress on the USMCA and advance the trade priorities of Central Virginia businesses, workers, and producers, including by: Meeting directly with administration officials to voice the concerns of Central Virginia farms, businesses, and workers. In aMay 2019 meetingwith Deputy U.S. Trade Representative C.J. Mahoney, Spanberger discussed the status of ongoing USMCA negotiations and the potential benefits of the USMCA for Virginia's economy. Additionally, in March 2019, she met with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and fellow members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus to discuss the status of the USMCA. Hearing fr… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wexton-statement-inclusion-paid-leave-all-federal-employees-final-defense Rep. Wexton Statement on the Inclusion of Paid Leave for All Federal Employees in Final Defense Authorization 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy In response to the announcement that the House and Senate have reached a final agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes paid parental leave for all federal employees, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released the following statement: I am incredibly pleased that the House and Senate conferees have reached a deal to provide paid parental leave for all federal workers. This policy would be life-changing for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and their families. Not only is paid leave sound economic policy, it would greatly improve efforts to attract and retain the best and brightest into public service. There are more than 35,000 federal employees in Virginia's 10th Congressional District who are forced to cobble together sick days or unpaid time off to care for a new child -- that hurts Virginia families and the critical work these individuals do for the American people. One of my first acts in Congress was to introduce the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act alongside Representatives Maloney, Hoyer, and Beyer. Providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees is an important step in the right direction toward ensuring comprehensive paid family and medical leave for all Americans. Last week, Rep. Wexton joined Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Chairs of the Armed Services Committees urging them to include the House-passed provision guaranteeing paid leave in the final version of the NDAA. Rep. Wexton introduced the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act in February alongside Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), and Donald S. Beyer (D-VA). ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/media/press-releases/wexton-statement-usmca-agreement Wexton Statement on USMCA Agreement 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy In response to the announcement of a revised United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released the following statement: Trade is a crucial part of our region's economy, and the people of Virginia's 10th Congressional District deserve a trade agreement that puts their needs first. Thank you to Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Neal, and the Democratic working group who successfully overhauled a flawed agreement, secured victories on enforceable labor standards and meaningful environmental protections, and eliminated giveaways for Big Pharma. The trade rules for American workers will now be fairer thanks to this agreement. I look forward to evaluating all of the benefits that USMCA will offer to my constituents in the coming days. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=140 Rep. Wexton Statement on the Inclusion of Paid Leave for All Federal Employees in Final Defense Authorization 2019-12-10 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Jennifer Wexton W000825 wexton.house.gov     legacy In response to the announcement that the House and Senate have reached a final agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that includes paid parental leave for all federal employees, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) released the following statement: I am incredibly pleased that the House and Senate conferees have reached a deal to provide paid parental leave for all federal workers. This policy would be life-changing for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and their families. Not only is paid leave sound economic policy, it would greatly improve efforts to attract and retain the best and brightest into public service. There are more than 35,000 federal employees in Virginia's 10th Congressional District who are forced to cobble together sick days or unpaid time off to care for a new child -- that hurts Virginia families and the critical work these individuals do for the American people. One of my first acts in Congress was to introduce the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act alongside Representatives Maloney, Hoyer, and Beyer. Providing 12 weeks of paid parental leave to federal employees is an important step in the right direction toward ensuring comprehensive paid family and medical leave for all Americans. Last week, Rep. Wexton joined Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Chairs of the Armed Services Committees urging them to include the House-passed provision guaranteeing paid leave in the final version of the NDAA. Rep. Wexton introduced the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act in February alongside Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), and Donald S. Beyer (D-VA). ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/in-bipartisan-letter-warren-cotton-kaine-and-romney-warn-of-national-security-and-public-health-risks-posed-by-chinas-influence-over-drug-supply-chain In Bipartisan Letter, Warren, Cotton, Kaine, & Romney Warn of National Security and Public Health Risks Posed by China's Influence Over Drug Supply Chain 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 09, 2019 In Bipartisan Letter, Warren, Cotton, Kaine, & Romney Warn of National Security and Public Health Risks Posed by China's Influence Over Drug Supply Chain Foreign Imports Account for 80% of U.S. Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Text of the Letter (PDF) Washington, D.C. - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper raising concerns about the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on foreign-manufactured pharmaceutical products. The senators' letter follows the publication of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission's 2019 Annual Report that highlights the nation's "growing reliance" on products critical to the manufacturing of drugs, which are primarily made in China. In recent years, China has come to dominate the global market for pharmaceutical products, particularly active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are necessary to manufacture pharmaceutical products such as generic drugs and vaccines. Despite the critical role of APIs in drug production, the United States only makes about 20% of the APIs used in domestic pharmaceutical production, with the remaining 80% coming from foreign sources. "Millions of Americans, including servicemembers, rely on drugs to stay healthy-yet the United States imports a significant portion of these drug components from China," the senators wrote. "It is critical that DoD, along with other key federal agencies, address the dangers posed by this reliance on foreign drug makers." In their letter, the senators warned that an interruption in the delivery of APIs would impact the production of medicines and ultimately military readiness, noting that DoD provides servicemembers and their families with drugs that can contain ingredients from China. The senators also observed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not consistently conduct tests to verify the contents of API… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
http://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaines-military-housing-reforms-included-in-final-2020-defense-bill Kaine’s Military Housing Reforms Included In Final 2020 Defense Bill 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Tim Kaine K000384 www.kaine.senate.gov     legacy December 09, 2019 Kaine's Military Housing Reforms Included In Final 2020 Defense Bill WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), released the following statement after today's announcement of the final conference report of theFiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), whichincludes Kaine's provisions to improve military housing and many of his other priorities for Virginia. The Senate and House of Representatives will vote on the final legislation. After seeing the horrific housing conditions that Virginia military families have dealt with, including mold issues that were making kids sick, I worked with my colleagues on reforms to make sure the families serving our country have safe places to live. I'm proud that we were able to once again secure key wins for Virginia's defense community in the NDAA, and I hope we can get this final bill across the finish line without delay. The final legislation includes two Kaine amendments to address dangerousconditions in military family housing. The first amendment would require DOD to establish a move-out checklist so that both the tenant and military housing office verify that outstanding maintenance needs are fixed and that the tenant is leaving the home in good condition. This would address concernsKaine has heardfrommilitary families who moved into homes with unsatisfactory maintenance conditions and others who were charged unjustifiable maintenance fees that were difficult to dispute because they had already moved out of the home. This provision would help prevent housing companies from charging former tenantsfees or failing to repair outstanding maintenance items. It would also help ensure that tenants meet their obligations of leaving the home in an acceptable condition for the next tenant. Kaine's second military housing amendment will require the Secretary of Defense to work with local law enforcement to ensure military police can patrol locations where privatized military ho… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3717 ‘It’s not hard, but you need to do it’: Virginia congressman pushes REAL ID sign-up 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Gerald Connolly C001078 connolly.house.gov     legacy Kristi King Virginia does not require drivers to upgrade to a REAL ID-compliant license, but hundreds of thousands of contractors serving defense and intelligence agencies will need one, so state officials strongly encourage it.Leading by example, U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., applied for his REAL ID-compliant license in Dumfries, Virginia, on Monday. I waited in line like everybody else, but I wanted to do it publicly to bring attention to why I need to do it and you need to do it, Connolly said. It's not hard, but you need to do it. After October 2020, anyone entering a secured federal facility or boarding a domestic flight will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or another form of federally accepted identification, such as a passport. In addition to the many area military facilities that will require civilians to show REAL IDs, Connolly noted many private sector offices also will do so to comply with federal standards. We're all busy, and so we need a little jog to move this up in the priority list of things I gotta get done,' he said. Applicants need to appear in person and bring documents to prove identity, legal presence, residency and Social Security number. When is the best time to do it? Let me tell you: Now, Virginia DMV Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb said. Normally, December and January are our slow months February, March it picks back up. Also at the news conference, Prince William County Supervisor-Elect Andrea Bailey tried to get her REAL ID, but needed to bring back a marriage license to verify her name had changed. Holcomb said that issue is one of the most common reasons applicants are initially turned away. Otherwise, the process flows quite smoothly. At the Dumfries office, 61 REAL ID-compliant licenses were processed before lunchtime. The Dumfries DMV Select office typically only processes vehicle-related issues, but on Monday, it was being visited by one of Virginia's DMV mobile operations. The way the word is getting out, and the feedback from everybody about how simple the… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-s-bill-providing-financial-relief-virginia-beach Congresswoman Elaine Luria’s Bill Providing Financial Relief to Virginia Beach Mass Shooting Victims Passes House 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA Elaine Luria L000591 luria.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON The House today passed Congresswoman Elaine Luria's Virginia Beach Strong Act. This bipartisan bill would make it easier for families of victims of the May 31 Virginia Beach mass shooting to receive urgently-needed financial support. May 31, 2019 was a day that has forever changed Virginia Beach, and we will always remember the 12 wonderful people we lost that day, Congresswoman Luria said. In the immediate aftermath of our community's darkest hour, we experienced a selfless outpouring of financial support for grieving families. I am thankful the House has advanced my effort to help families of victims receive the financial assistance they need. Following the May 31 mass shooting, the City of Virginia Beach established a fund to help victims, survivors, and their families. Due to a technicality in the definition of charitable beneficiaries in the tax code, donations to this fund will likely not be considered tax-deductible without congressional action. The Virginia Beach Strong Act is a bipartisan and bicameral bill that would ensure that donations to immediate family members of victims of the Virginia Beach mass shooting are tax-deductible. It would apply retroactively, making any contribution on or after May 31, 2019 tax-deductible. Ahead of the vote, Congresswoman Luria spoke on the House Floor. See below for transcribed remarks and click here for the video of Congresswoman Luria's remarks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I rise in support of my bipartisan and bicameral bill, H.R. 4566, the Virginia Beach Strong Act. Just over six months ago, our Virginia Beach community suffered a devastating tragedy. On May 31, 12 wonderful people lost their lives in a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center. During our great city's darkest hour, we showed the world the strength and resolve that makes us Virginia Beach Strong. We saw first responders heroically running into Building 2 - sacrificing their safety to save others, doctors working long hours to provide victims with expert care, and many o… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-applauds-passage-his-bill-help-grow-partnerships-between-small McEachin Applauds Passage of His Bill to Help Grow Partnerships Between Small Businesses and DHS 2019-12-09 2019 2019-12 Democrat House VA A. McEachin M001200 mceachin.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his legislation H.R. 4727, the Department of Homeland Security Mentor-Protg Program Act of 2019. H.R. 4727 seeks to encourage large prime contractors to partner with and enhance the capabilities of small businesses, and thus increase their ability to compete for future Department of Homeland Security (DHS) contracts. The mentor-protg program has been in existence at DHS since 2003 but has yet to be codified. In Congress, I have vowed to fight for small businesses, including woman-, veteran-, and minority-owned firms, and work to enhance America's security. Today, I am proud to deliver on that promise, said Congressman McEachin. My bipartisan legislation is a win for Virginians and all Americans building the capacity of small businesses and growing a broader, more diverse pool of contractors will create good-paying jobs, foster innovation, and ultimately, ensure a safer America. I urge my Senate colleagues to swiftly pass this legislation to give small businesses a fairer shot at contracts with the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security Mentor-Protg Program Act of 2019 will: Motivate large businesses to provide developmental assistance and subcontracting opportunities to small businesses; Strengthen subcontracting opportunities and accomplishments for small businesses; Foster the establishment of long-term business relationships between large business prime contractors and small business subcontractors; and Diversify the contractor base supporting DHS, while improving the performance of DHS contracts and subcontracts. Under the bill, mentor firms can provide technical, managerial, and financial, as well as subcontracting opportunities to protg firms. For its part, DHS may provide incentives to mentor firms such as additional credit when being evaluated for the award of future DHS contracts. To ensure that Congress monitors the effectiveness of the p… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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