Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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903 rows where state = "VA" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending
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| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=E84120EA-8917-4D32-BCF9-4DB12B4CAACF | Statement of Sen. Warner on Administration Response to Russian Interference | 2016-12-29 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the 115th Congress, issued a statement today on the Obama Administration's announcement that it will impose additional sanctions on Russia in response to Russian hacking and interference in the electoral process: "The actions the President took today are an important step, but preventing Russia from interfering in our elections will require a sustained response from the next administration and from Congress. "We are obligated to conduct a thorough, timely and bipartisan investigation in the 115th Congress with the goal of releasing as much information as possible, while protecting sources and methods, so that the American people can understand exactly what happened and what could well happen again if we fail to respond appropriately. "Make no mistake: Russia's actions were not those of a friend. I am grateful to the intelligence community for their hard work to warn us about Russia's efforts to interfere in the democratic process. I will continue to urge the incoming administration to respect the expertise and conclusions reached by our intelligence professionals, and to take actions that treat Russia's interference with the seriousness it deserves." # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-scott-to-close-richmond-district-office-on-january-2-2017 | Rep. Scott to Close Richmond District Office on January 2, 2017 | 2016-12-28 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | NEWPORT NEWS, VA – On Monday, January 2, 2017, Congressman Bobby Scott will be closing his Richmond District Office due to redistricting. As a result of court-ordered redistricting, the boundaries of the Third Congressional District of Virginia have changed. Effective on January 3, 2017, Congressman Scott will no longer represent the following localities in the United States Congress: the cities of Petersburg and Richmond, and the counties of Charles City, Henrico, Prince George and Surry. At the start of his new term on January 3, 2017, Congressman Scott will represent the following localities in the new Third Congressional District: the county of Isle of Wight, all of the cities of Franklin, Newport News, Portsmouth and parts of Chesapeake, Hampton, Norfolk, and Suffolk. “It has been a privilege to represent the citizens in these communities,” said Rep. Scott. “During my time in Congress, I have built long lasting relationships that played a vital role in my ability to effectively serve my constituents in Congress. I look forward to working with their new representatives on issues important to our Commonwealth in the 115th Congress.” The Richmond and Newport News offices will be available to assist constituents during this transition. If you live in one of the impacted localities and have a current case with the office, please call 757-380-1000 immediately to advise the office to either return all of your documents or give the office permission to forward your case to your new Member of Congress. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398658 | Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.26.16 | 2016-12-26 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Celebrating All Twelve Days of Christmas “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is one of the most popular carols for this time of the year. Its alliteration like “swans a swimming,” outlandish gifts like “twelve lords a leaping,” and repetition make it an enjoyable song to sing and hear. Artists from Perry Como to John Denver and the Muppets have recorded their own versions that are played during the Christmas season. The exact origins of the lyrics have been lost to time. Some theories suggest the song originated in France, while others point to the north of England. But we should not let the unusual nature of the song’s gifts or uncertainty about the origins of the carol to take away from the point that there are twelve days of Christmas. When decorations appear in stores and promotions for holiday shopping start in October, it may seem that everything is building towards Christmas Day on December 25th alone. But the days after Christmas have their own meanings, too. Take Boxing Day. On December 26th, Britain and many countries with strong cultural ties to it celebrate Boxing Day, although it is not a tradition that made it to the British colonies that became the United States. Professor Mark Connelly of the University of Kent notes, “While Christmas Day was about being at home with your family, Boxing Day was a time to get outside, to get away from the home.”1 Fox hunting and horse racing are pastimes often associated with the day. It is also a popular day for soccer, just as many Americans look forward to watching football on our Thanksgiving. Perhaps the name of the holiday came from the boxed gifts given by aristocrats to their servants for the Christmas season. Or perhaps the name came from the church boxes which contained donations for the poor and were opened the day after Christmas. This suggestion seems appropriate, for December 26th is also St. Stephen’s Day. The day’s link to charity is immortalized in the first lines of the traditional Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas:” Good King Wenceslas look… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398657 | Ninth District Traveling Staff Office Hours for January | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Griffith’s Ninth District STAFF will be available at the following locations during the month of January. In the event of inclement weather (heavy snow, sleet, icy rain, etc.), traveling office hours may be rescheduled to avoid putting constituents at risk. Please contact the Christiansburg Office at 540-381-5671 or the Abingdon Office at 276-525-1405 with any questions or to confirm that traveling hours are still in effect. January 3, 2017 Richlands: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Richlands Town Hall 200 Washington Square Richlands, VA 24641 Buchanan County: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Grundy Town Hall 1185 Plaza Dr. Grundy, VA 24614 Pulaski County: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Dublin Town Hall Route 100, 1 mile North of I-81 Dublin, VA 24084 January 4, 2017 Smyth County: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Town Council Chambers 138 West Main Street Marion, VA 24354 Covington: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Covington City Hall City Hall Conference Room 333 W. Locust Street Covington, VA 24426 Craig County: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Craig County Administration Bldg. 108 Court Street New Castle, VA 24127 Bristol: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Bristol VA Public Library Upstairs Conference Room 701 Goode Street Bristol, VA 24201 January 5, 2017 Lee County: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Lee County Sheriff’s Office Conference Room 33640 Main Street – Suite U101 Jonesville, VA 24263 Martinsville: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm New College Institute Room 106 – Classroom Building 30 Franklin Street Martinsville, VA 24112 Norton: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm City Council Chambers 618 Virginia Ave NW Norton, VA 24273 January 10, 2017 Giles County: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Pearisburg Town Hall 112 Tazewell Street Pearisburg, VA 24134 Dickenson County: 10:00 am. – 12:00 pm Dickenson Center for Education & Research 818 Happy Valley Drive Clintwood, VA 24228 Salem: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Salem Town Hall 114 N. Broad Street Salem, VA 24153 Wise County: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Big Stone Gap Federal Courthouse 3rd Floor Room 303 322 Wood Ave. E Big Stone Gap, VA 24219 J… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-joins-group-of-senators-asking-trump-to-help-congress-bring-down-drug-prices | Kaine Joins Group Of Senators Asking Trump To Help Congress Bring Down Drug Prices | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Joins Group Of Senators Asking Trump To Help Congress Bring Down Drug Prices Thursday, December 22, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine joined Senate Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to President-elect Donald Trump outlining specific steps his Administration should take to help Congress bring down the cost of prescription drugs. “It is undeniable that more and more families are struggling to access medications, and in many cases, are forced to choose between paying for prescription drugs and other necessities, like food and shelter. The American public is fed up, with roughly 8-in-10 Americans reporting that drug prices are unreasonable, and that we must take action to lower costs,” said the Senators in the letter. “You now have the authority to push for a future that prioritizes patients. We are ready to advance measures to achieve this goal and we urge you to partner with Republicans and Democrats alike to take meaningful steps to address the high cost of prescription drugs through bold administrative and legislative actions.” In a letter sent to Trump, the Senators expressed their shared frustration over the cost of drugs and outlined several ways Trump can make good on his promise to lower the rising cost of prescription drugs for consumers including: allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to negotiate better prices for Medicare recipients; requiring drug companies to disclose costs associated with creating drugs so prices are more transparent; putting an end to abusive price gouging; and ensuring innovation that will lead to greater competition and more affordable, effective drugs. In June, Kaine called on U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) to review patient perspectives on access to health care and the impact of high out-of-pocket expenses. Kaine has also previously pressed the Administration on its efforts to inf… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-call-on-president-elect-trump-to-stand-with-women-protect-access-to-family-planning-centers- | Warner & Kaine Call On President-Elect Trump To Stand With Women, Protect Access To Family Planning Centers | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner & Kaine Call On President-Elect Trump To Stand With Women, Protect Access To Family Planning Centers Thursday, December 22, 2016 WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 32 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to oppose any efforts to restrict federal funding from supporting Title X family planning centers. “The economic security of women and their families is directly tied to a woman’s access to reproductive health care, including birth control and counseling,” wrote the Senators in the letter. “Despite numerous Court decisions supporting and reiterating the importance of reproductive health care for women and families, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly attempted to restrict federal funding from supporting Title X family planning centers in communities nationwide.” Enacted with strong bipartisan support in 1970, the Title X family planning provider network is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. In fact, four out of ten women who received care at health centers funded by Title X consider it to be their only source of health care. Last year alone, Title X provided basic primary and preventive health care services such as pap tests, breast exams, and HIV testing to more than 4.1 million low-income women and men at more than 4,100 health centers, more than 130 of them in Virginia. In 2014, Title X-funded health centers served more than 66,000 Virginia residents, more than half of whom had incomes at or below the federal poverty level, meaning they earned $11,670 a year or less. In December, the Obama Administration finalized a historic rule that protects the Title X program from partisan efforts to undermine women’s access to health care, by ensuring that federal funds are awarded based on a provider’s ability to serve patients—not based on any discriminatory purp… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=1BDBB011-431A-4AE2-B256-B2B0F890FA66 | Warner & Kaine Call on President-Elect to Protect Access to Family Planning Centers | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 32 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President-elect Donald Trump urging him to oppose any efforts to restrict federal funding from supporting Title X family planning centers. “The economic security of women and their families is directly tied to a woman’s access to reproductive health care, including birth control and counseling,” wrote the Senators in the letter. “Despite numerous Court decisions supporting and reiterating the importance of reproductive health care for women and families, Republicans in Congress have repeatedly attempted to restrict federal funding from supporting Title X family planning centers in communities nationwide.” Enacted with strong bipartisan support in 1970, the Title X family planning provider network is the only federal grant program dedicated solely to providing individuals with comprehensive family planning and related preventive health services. In fact, four out of ten women who received care at health centers funded by Title X consider it to be their only source of health care. Last year alone, Title X provided basic primary and preventive health care services such as pap tests, breast exams, and HIV testing to more than 4.1 million low-income women and men at more than 4,100 health centers, more than 130 of them in Virginia. In 2014, Title X-funded health centers served more than 66,000 Virginia residents, more than half of whom had incomes at or below the federal poverty level, meaning they earned $11,670 a year or less. In December, the Obama Administration finalized a historic rule that protects the Title X program from partisan efforts to undermine women’s access to health care, by ensuring that federal funds are awarded based on a provider’s ability to serve patients—not based on any discriminatory purpose. In today’s letter, the Senators called on President-elect Trump to commit to implement a final rule by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which reinforces exi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=CE3107FE-1E32-4697-885A-15BCCEF7CAFE | Banking Committee Democrats Press Wells Fargo for Answers on Phony Accounts Scandal | 2016-12-22 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Democrats on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee including Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today called on Wells Fargo’s board of directors to respond to questions that the bank’s management has failed to answer following a scandal over its fraudulent sales practices. In response to questions from Sen. Warner, Wells Fargo previously indicated that as many as 41,000 fraudulent accounts could have been opened in Virginia without customers’ knowledge. In a letter, the Senators asked Wells Fargo’s board for details about its ongoing investigation of the fraud, the timeline of when the board learned about the bank’s illegal practices, actions the board took to address the problem, and reasons why it didn’t investigate the misconduct sooner. The Senators also asked for responses to questions that Wells Fargo’s management has continued to dodge but the board is in a position to answer. “[C]ontinued failure to answer questions – especially basic questions – about the causes and consequences of the fraud that Wells Fargo permitted for many years does nothing to restore the trust of Wells Fargo’s customers and shareholders, many of whom are our constituents,” the Senators wrote. “In our view, waiting until spring 2017 to provide more documents and information to our questions is not diligence.” The Senators asked Wells Fargo's board to respond by Jan. 6, 2017. The letter was jointly submitted by Sens. Warner, Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Joe Donnelly (D-IN). In September, the Banking Committee Democrats asked Wells Fargo to answer dozens of questions for the record to clarify and supplement the Sept. 20 testimony of the bank’s former chief executive, John Stumpf, before the Banking Committee. Wells Fargo's response on Nov. 15 either ignored or provided insufficient responses to a host of the Senators’ questions. In several instances, Wells Fargo declined to provide dir… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=805 | Engel-Connolly Offer Sanctions Legislation To Respond to Election Interference | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | “We need to know exactly who was behind the foreign interference in our election and we need to respond swiftly and effectively." share: f t Democratic members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs have introduced legislation that would impose sanctions on any foreign person or entity found to interfere illegally with a U.S. election. The Protect American Democracy Act (H.R. 6533), authored by Ranking Member Eliot L. Engel (NY) and Representative Gerald E. Connolly (VA), would bar entry to the United States and freeze U.S.-based assets of anyone involved in such interference.All 19 Democratic members of the Foreign Affairs Committee are original cosponsors of the bill.“We need to know exactly who was behind the foreign interference in our election and we need to respond swiftly and effectively. We also need to make sure governments don’t view future U.S. elections as an easy target. This legislation is a no-brainer. It sends a clear message that the United States won't stand quietly by as Russia or any other foreign power tries to undermine our democracy,” said Rep. Engel. “The Democrats on the Foreign Affairs Committee are speaking with a unified voice, and I hope members on both sides of the aisle will do the right thing by getting behind this legislation and other efforts and respond to this attack on the United States.”“There is a broad consensus among the U.S. intelligence community that Russia directed a deliberate effort to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. That should trouble every American," said Rep. Connolly. "One of our most cherished institutions, democratic elections free of foreign interference, has been attacked. Congress must come together in a bipartisan fashion to demonstrate that there is a cost to such attacks on American democratic institutions. I am glad to join with Ranking Member Engel to introduce legislation that would publicly identify and authorize sanctions against foreign persons and countries that unla… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=806 | Connolly Urges Russian Authorities To Drop Charges Against Ukrainian Journalist Mykola Semena | 2016-12-21 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Connolly Urges Russian Authorities To Drop Charges Against Ukrainian Journalist Mykola Semena f t # e Washington, December 21, 2016 Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) released the following statement today urging Russian authorities to drop all charges against Ukrainian journalist, Mykola Semena, and allow him to seek immediate medical attention.“Ukrainian journalist Mykola Semena was formally charged on December 7 under the Russian criminal code for allegedly violating Russia’s territorial integrity by expressing the view that Crimea is Ukrainian territory. Semena’s wrongful arrest follows Russia’s forcible and illegal annexation of Crimea and willful violation of Ukraine’s territorial integrity in 2014. Semena is currently under house arrest in Simferopol and needs urgent medical attention in Kyiv. Russian authorities should drop the charges against him and permit him to leave the peninsula in order to seek immediate medical treatment in Ukraine.”Congressman Connolly is the sponsor of the Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act. The legislation prohibits federal agencies from taking action that recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea. In July, Connolly successfully offered an amendment to the STAND for Ukraine Act, which would create only one condition under which the President can relax Crimea-related sanctions - the restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea. He also successfully amended the National Defense Authorization Act to prohibit the use of funds on any activity that recognizes Russian sovereignty over Crimea. f t # e | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1088 | Wittman Praises Navy’s Plan for USS Fort Lauderdale | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Wittman | W000804 | wittman.house.gov | legacy | Wittman Praises Navy’s Plan for USS Fort Lauderdale f t # e Washington, December 20, 2016 WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) praised the U.S. Navy's decision today to move forward with its plans for USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) by officially putting the ship under contract. As Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, Wittman has been committed to funding the LPD-28 to ensure the Marine Corps receives its next amphibious transport ship:“Today marks a major milestone for our Navy and for our Marine Corps as they look to add more capacity and capability for the amphibious fleet,” Wittman said. “The USS Fort Lauderdale contract comes at a critical time. After our 15 years valiantly serving on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, our U.S. Marine Corps has begun to refocus on its core, amphibious, fighting function using warships like USS Fort Lauderdale. In action, USS Fort Lauderdale will transport Marines, their vehicles, and their equipment to distant operating areas allowing them to conduct expeditionary operations ashore. Our Marines must be ready to ‘fight tonight,’ and ships like the USS Fort Lauderdale will get them where they need to go.”Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee. f t # e | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=463 | Beyers Science Prize Competitions Act Passes, Set To Become Law | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | As the 114th Congress drew to a close last week, the House and Senate passed the America COMPETES reauthorization which included text from Rep. Don Beyer's Science Prize Competitions Act. The measure encourages federal agencies to use prize competitions as incentives for innovation in scientific research. The President is expected to sign the larger bill, including Rep. Beyer's provision, into law before the end of the year. I'm so pleased that we ended this Congress on a bipartisan note, passing a bill which will encourage scientific research and development, said Rep. Don Beyer. Prize competitions have a centuries-old history of motivating exploration and innovation. Some of America's best moments, including the Space Race and Charles Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic, were motivated by competition. When we reach new frontiers of science and technology, all of us win. I would like to thank Senator Udall for his tremendous support and recognize his efforts to push the legislation over the finish line in the final days. Successful prize competitions attract innovators and entrepreneurs who apply American ingenuity to solve problems, said Sen. Tom Udall, sponsor of the Senate version of the bill. Past competitions hosted in New Mexico, for instance, helped develop commercial spaceflight and improve water desalination technology. Prizes are often a cost-effective way to spur innovation, and I am proud to have worked with Congressman Beyer to see this visionary measure enacted. Prize competitions date back centuries and have a successful track record accelerating technological development in many fields. Their goal is to incentivize problem solving and reward cash prizes for the best solution, often from new and unorthodox ideas. Prize competitions allow federal agencies to crowdsource creative solutions and tap into both traditional and non-traditional sources of innovation, said Chris Frangione, Vice President of Prize Development for XPRIZE. We applaud the bipartisan, bicameral effort on the Ame… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://brat.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=310 | Rep. Brat Invited as Keynote Speaker at Jerusalem Leaders Summit | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | David Brat | B001290 | brat.house.gov | legacy | JERUSALEM - Rep. Brat (R-Va.) was invited as the keynote speaker at the second annual Jerusalem Leaders Summit, an event that brings together members of Parliament from Europe and other legislative bodies from India and around the world to discuss the 21st centurys global threats and security challenges, the weakening of the rule of law, and obstacles to economic freedom and free trade.The event provides a strategic platform to affirm the foundational principles of the rule of law protecting life, liberty and private property.Speakers focused on key policy areas, including foreign policy, global security, economic growth solutions, technology and the significance of strengthening Israels security and sovereignty. The panel also highlighted the benefits of economic freedom and the contributions citizens have made to the world economy through innovation and technology."I am delighted to have been invited as the keynote speaker at yesterday's event in Jerusalem," said Rep. Dave Brat. "Three pillars made our country the greatest on earth: the Judeo-Christian tradition, the rule of law, and the free market system. These pillars are crucial to our success, fundamentally connected, and can be adopted by any nation in the world to emulate American success."The Jerusalem Leaders Summit is co-hosted by the International Leaders Summit, the Alliance for Direct Democracy in Europe (ADDE) and the Heritage Foundation. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-tours-opioid-abuse-treatment-center-in-newport-news- | Kaine Tours Opioid Abuse Treatment Center In Newport News | 2016-12-20 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Tours Opioid Abuse Treatment Center In Newport News Tuesday, December 20, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, who will join the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) next year, visited an opioid/methadone treatment facility in Newport News to discuss how recent legislation will help address the opioid epidemic hitting Virginia, which claimed more lives in the state in 2014 than vehicle crashes and has been declared a public health emergency. Kaine toured the facility, which is a residential and day treatment program for recent mothers and pregnant women dealing with substance use disorders. “The opioid addiction problem is a public health emergency in Virginia,” Kaine said. “As a member of the HELP Committee next year, with increased ability to work closely on legislation that will address this epidemic, I wanted to come to this facility today to see a unique addiction treatment program for pregnant and expecting mothers. So much of the success of this facility is about the coordination of care and being able to offer comprehensive services to mothers who come here looking for help. That is a key piece of the strategy to address this crisis that I will take back with me to Congress.” This month, Congress passed the 21st Century CURES Act with strong bipartisan support to fund critical biomedical research, including the Cancer Moonshot Initiative and research on the opioid abuse crisis. This July, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) that included several measures to curb opioid abuse authored by Kaine, became law. The bill expanded the availability of Naloxone to first responders and law enforcement. The overdose antidote has reversed more than 26,000 overdose cases between 1996 and 2014. CARA will also support additional resources to identify and treat incarcerated individuals struggling with substance use disorders, expand drug take-back efforts to promote safe disposal of unused or unwanted prescription… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=732 | Goodlatte Shepherds Important Cultural Exchange & Preservation Bills Into Law | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement upon the signing of both the Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act (H.R. 6477) and the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery (HEAR) Act (H.R. 6130) into law: “Our museums and art galleries are some of the best outlets for Americans young and old to experience not only our own culture, but the cultures of others from around the world. Many of the world’s greatest works of art and artifacts are preserved in museums around the globe, and this legislation makes these pieces more accessible to American museums and galleries. “These two bipartisan bills signed into law will not only allow for a greater exchange of culture with partners around the world, but will help preserve world cultures.“Additionally, both of these bills contain vital provisions which will help return artwork and other cultural property that was stolen by the Nazis during the Holocaust. The return of these important pieces to their rightful owners is a simple measure we can take to preserve the culture of Europe, which the Nazis attempted to destroy during the atrocities of the Holocaust.”Background: Congressman Goodlatte introduced H.R. 6130, the Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2016, which allows civil actions to recover certain artwork or other property that was lost because of Nazi persecution without regard to State statutes of limitations. H.R. 6477, the Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act, provides sovereign immunity for a foreign state for works of art that are imported into the United States from the foreign state for temporary exhibition or display. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398655 | Griffith Statement on Release of Final Stream Protection Rule | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) unfortunately released the final version of its Stream Protection Rule (SPR). The Department first revealed the proposed rule in July 2015. With today’s release, the rule will be published in the Federal Register tomorrow and would therefore take effect thirty days after publication on January 19th, 2017. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) said, “I will continue to fight this rule with every tool available, including, but not limited to, filing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution. This rule is so unpopular that there will probably be many in Congress who will wish to lead this CRA resolution and I will either join with other Members to file a resolution or I will file it myself.” “We must prevent the costly and job-killing Stream Protection Rule from going into effect. I am disappointed that OSM decided to go forward with a regulation they know kills jobs, is unpopular, and will take effect a mere day before the new President is sworn in.” “And the Democrats have the gall to accuse the incoming Republican majorities and the new President of using the lawful process to undo those Obama Administration regulations that are job-killing, unpopular, unlawful, and/or unconstitutional. They have chosen to take this action knowing that the war on jobs and coal was rejected by the voters in November.” SPR Background According to the National Mining Association, as many as 78,000 coal mining jobs will be lost if SPR is implemented, on top of thousands of jobs already lost during the Obama Administration. If jobs in fields related to coal mining are included, up to 281,000 people could be put out of work, with an estimated 190,000 lost jobs in the Appalachian region alone. CRA Background: The Congressional Review Act is a law that allows Congress to overturn rules issued by federal agencies. Once a rule is finalized, Congress has a limited period of time to pass a joint resolution of disapproval preventin… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398656 | Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.19.16 | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | A Christmas MessageThe Christmas season is a time to gather to celebrate. The Nativity story is familiar to most, whether Christian or not: Mary and Joseph with Jesus in a manger, where shepherds and kings came to honor him. For over two thousand years, we have celebrated this event and pondered its meaning. The Christmas story celebrates the promise of redemption for our world. While I respect those of all faiths, as a believer, Christmas is most important to me and to many in the Ninth Congressional District. Also, the Christmas season has a way of bringing out the best in people, even during horrific times. It is hard to imagine a bleaker place than the Western Front in World War I. For four years, the armies of Germany and the Allied Powers engaged in trench warfare. Soldiers lived in muddy trenches crawling with vermin. They were under bombardment and sniper fire constantly. When they attacked the enemy, they charged into “No Man’s Land” between the trenches, where they were unprotected from machine gun fire. Over a million died. But in many places along the Western Front on Christmas Eve 1914, the misery was put on hold. According to “The Story of the WWI Christmas Truce” by Mike Dash of Smithsonian.com, German soldiers sang “Silent Night” and the British responded with “The First Noel.” A few from both sides left their lines and met in No Man’s Land. Then, a few became hundreds. Men who had shot at each other hours before now shook hands, swapped gifts, and even played soccer. The truce lasted through Christmas Day, and then the men returned to fighting each other. World War I lasted nearly four more years. As casualties mounted and new horrors such as poison gas were introduced, people looked back on the Christmas Truce with astonishment. Decades later, the folk musician John McCutcheon wrote a song about this episode called “Christmas in the Trenches.” He sings it from the perspective of a fictional Liverpool soldier named Francis Tolliver who experiences the Christmas Truce. When McCutcheon perfor… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/provisions-congresswoman-comstock-s-research-and-development-efficiency | Provisions of Congresswoman Comstocks Research and Development Efficiency Act to Become Law | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Barbara Comstock | C001105 | comstock.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) issued the following statement after the House cleared on Friday the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, included in which are provisions from Congresswoman Comstock’s Research and Development Efficiency Act. It is expected the president will sign the legislation in the coming days: “Northern Virginia is home to many professionals who are conducting significant research in a variety of fields leading to innovative breakthroughs. Reports indicate that researchers spend on average 42 percent of their time on administrative requirements instead of conducting vital research. The provisions of my Research and Development Efficiency Act that are included in the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act will ensure that more federal research dollars will be spent directly on the important research we are funding. By limiting redundant regulations and focusing our research dollars more efficiently, the included provisions from my legislation clear the way for researchers to do their job without being bogged down under a mountain of paperwork.” Provisions from the Research and Development Efficiency Act that are in the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act require that the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish an interagency working group for the purpose of reducing administrative burdens on federally funded researchers while protecting the public interest through the transparency of and accountability for federally funded activities. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/at-roundtable-discussion-on-importance-of-protecting-the-affordable-care-act-kaine-announces-new-appointment-to-senate-help-committee | At Roundtable Discussion On Importance Of Protecting The Affordable Care Act, Kaine Announces New Appointment To Senate HELP Committee | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | At Roundtable Discussion On Importance Of Protecting The Affordable Care Act, Kaine Announces New Appointment To Senate HELP Committee Kaine to serve in key legislative role on healthcare and education issues Monday, December 19, 2016 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine announced his appointment to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) during a discussion on health care access with health care providers and advocacy groups in Richmond. “I’m excited to announce that I will be a member of the Senate HELP Committee in the next Congress and will have the chance to work on two long-time passions of mine, healthcare and education. This is a critical moment for healthcare in America and I’m motivated now more than ever to fight against harmful policy proposals that seek to reverse the progress we’ve made in increasing access to care for millions of Americans. In this new role, I will also look for ways to further address the opioid abuse epidemic that affects every corner of the Commonwealth. “From my experience growing up and working in my dad's ironworking shop and as the co-founder of the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus, I’m a strong believer that high-quality CTE programs are a proven pathway to success. Serving on the HELP Committee will allow me to continue my work in the Senate to advocate for CTE, ensure postsecondary education opportunities are affordable and high-quality early childhood education programs are accessible, and support job training initiatives to expand economic growth in the U.S. I look forward to working closely with Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray, and building relationships with other members on the HELP Committee, in order to advance commonsense legislation on issues that directly impact the Virginia economy and working families in the Commonwealth.” Today at the Daily Planet, a Richmond community health center, Kaine toured new facilities available to patients and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=570EF920-3FA8-4C70-847A-B05D00BFE8BC | Warner & Stabenow Make Friendly Wager on Bahamas Bowl | 2016-12-19 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON— U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) made a friendly wager today on the outcome of the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl between the Old Dominion University Monarchs from Norfolk, Va. and the Eastern Michigan University Eagles from Ypsilanti, Mich. Sen. Warner is wagering a case of beer from Norfolk-based brewery O’Connors against beer that Sen. Stabenow will provide from Ypsilanti’s Arbor Brewing Company Microbrewery. This is the first bowl bid for ODU (9-3, 7-1 C-USA), and only the second in program history for EMU (7-5, 4-4 MAC). “Coach Bobby Wilder and the ODU Monarchs are headed to the Bahamas after winning eight of their last nine games and finishing their season 9-3,”said Sen. Warner. “It is impressive the Monarchs are bowl-bound in just their eighth season of football, and I’m confident ODU will defeat EMU for the third time in three years.” “The mighty Eastern Michigan University Eagles are one of four talented teams from our great state headed to a bowl game this year,” said Senator Stabenow. “I have no doubt that Coach Creighton has the team focused, determined, and prepared to topple the Old Dominion Monarchs. We are all looking forward to a big win for the Eagles in Nassau.” The event, officially known as the “Popeyes Bahamas Bowl,” is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-sanctioned Division 1 college football game, which will be played in Nassau, Bahamas at the Thomas Robinson Stadium on December 23rd this year. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=731 | Goodlatte Applauds Congressman Mulvaney’s Selection as OMB Director | 2016-12-17 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement applauding President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Congressman Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) to serve as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): “Congressman Mick Mulvaney is the right choice to help bring fiscal sanity to Washington. As Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Congressman Mulvaney will have the opportunity to provide much-needed oversight of federal regulations, change the culture of rampant spending and deficits, and take hold of the massive federal debt that weighs down our economy and will be passed down to the next generation. I look forward to working with him to bring more balance to the federal budget.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-nomination-of-mick-mulvaney-as-omb-director | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Mick Mulvaney As OMB Director | 2016-12-17 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Mick Mulvaney As OMB Director Saturday, December 17, 2016 WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement following President-elect Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Rep. Mick Mulvaney to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): “I’m worried by President-elect Trump's nomination of Rep. Mike Mulvaney as Director of OMB due to his past unwillingness to support bipartisan budget compromises, his pro-shutdown record, his advocacy for slashing federal services and workers and his goal of defunding Planned Parenthood. As a member of the Budget Committee, and as a Senator who represents more than 170,000 federal employees, I intend to question Rep. Mulvaney on his approach to budgeting and vision for this important agency.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1086 | Wittman Response to Navy FSA | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Wittman | W000804 | wittman.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today on the Secretary of the Navy’s announcement of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment:“The Force Structure Assessment released today confirms what I, and many of my colleagues in Congress, have known for a while: our Navy's current size and structure doesn't fully meet America's national security needs. “In an increased threat environment where China and Russia are rapidly expanding their naval capabilities, increasing the size of the Navy's fleet must be the top priority. The FSA clearly defines the need for 18 more Virginia-class attack submarines and 12 aircraft carriers to provide increased U.S. global presence. “This vision is a critical first step, but there's a long road ahead. It's time for us to rebuild our Navy to ensure dominance of the seas deep into the 21st Century. I am committed to working with the incoming administration and my colleagues in Congress next year to shape the size and scope of the Navy to meet future threats, grow our industrial base and advance U.S. national security.” Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/rep-comstock-finding-and-funding-cures | Loudoun Times: Rep. Comstock: Finding and funding cures | 2016-12-16 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Barbara Comstock | C001105 | comstock.house.gov | legacy | On Dec. 8, I joined with a bipartisan group of House and Senate members and the Speaker of the House, as the speaker signed the 21st Century Cures Act. It was a joyful occasion as we concluded this year’s session with what I believe is one of the most important and game changing pieces of legislation passed this year. Read the rest of my op-ed in the Loudoun Times-Mirror here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=801 | Connolly Statement on Metro GM Personnel Actions Following the Falls Church Derailment | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Connolly Statement on Metro GM Personnel Actions Following the Falls Church Derailment f t # e Washington, December 15, 2016 Congressman Gerry Connolly released the following statement after Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld announced 28 personnel actions, including 6 terminations and 9 more pending: "I applaud the tough decisions and decisive personnel actions by Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. Accountability and commitment to safety must be the new standard. This should serve as a clarion call to the workforce, from top-to-bottom, that the status quo is no longer acceptable." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-introduce-bill-to-reinvigorate-coal-communities- | Warner, Kaine Introduce Bill To Reinvigorate Coal Communities | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner, Kaine Introduce Bill To Reinvigorate Coal Communities Thursday, December 15, 2016 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced the RECLAIM Act last week, legislation that will provide funds to states and Indian tribes for the purpose of promoting economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining. “We have a lot of work to do to ensure that communities that have historically relied on coal are not being left behind by rapid technological and economic shifts,” said Warner. “The RECLAIM Act will speed up the release of a billion dollars already set aside to help Appalachian communities respond to environmental damage from coal mining, and fast-track investments in projects to restore the environment, create new jobs, and diversify the economy so that more people have greater access to economic opportunities.” “Mine reclamation supports 300 to 400 Virginia jobs per year, contributes to economic revitalization, and cleans up contaminated land and water. For decades, coal companies have been paying fees per ton of coal to support reclamation projects, and today, many of those dollars sit in a federal account, unused. Senator Warner and I are proud to co-sponsor this common-sense bill, with our Democratic colleagues from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, that will turn those dollars loose to support new reclamation projects in Southwest Virginia,” Kaine said. The RECLAIM Act aims to support new economic and community development opportunities in impacted coal communities. This legislation utilizes $1 billion of existing funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to revitalize coal communities. Last week, Warner spoke on the Senate floor to push Congress to protect the health and pension benefits of retired coal miners and their families by passing the bipartisan Miners Protection Act, which … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=F0D09B9C-39C0-4FCC-9C70-FF5CCA313D32 | President Obama Signs Sen. Warner's Bill to Honor OSS Veterans | 2016-12-15 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – This morning the White House announced that President Obama has signed into law legislation authored by Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) to honor veterans of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II. “The members of the OSS were essential to the Allied forces’ victory in World War II, but for many years, their heroic contributions – which included some of the most daring covert operations of the war — remained shrouded in secrecy, their impact largely unknown to the American people. I am pleased that we are finally able to recognize them publicly with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Sen. Warner, the incoming Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “The members of the OSS are part of the proud tradition of American intelligence professionals who have worked tirelessly and quietly in defense of our nation since its founding. They serve in anonymity, knowing that their greatest contributions to our safety and security may never be made public. We seldom hear about their successes or their sacrifices, but they allow us to go about our everyday lives free from fear of those who wish to do us harm, and for that, we owe these brave men and women not only respect, but enduring gratitude.” The OSS conducted critical operations during the war including establishing intelligence networks, training resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia, and carrying out “mercy missions” at the end of the war to save the lives of thousands of Allied prisoners of war. It was created in 1942 under the leadership of General William J. Donovan to better coordinate and oversee American intelligence operations. At its peak, 13,000 members served in the OSS including notable names such as Julia Child, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., John Ford, and James Donovan, who was depicted in the 2015 movie, “Bridge of Spies.” Sen. Warner is the incoming Vice Chair of the Senate Select Com… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=461 | Beyer Assails Triumvirate of Anti-Environment Cabinet Nominees | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | Rep. Don Beyer issued the following statement today on President-elect Trump's recent nominations: The trio of Scott Pruitt for Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, and Gov. Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy confirms our worst fears about President-elect Trump's intentions on climate change and the environment. As Oklahoma's Attorney General, Scott Pruitt organized and led a national push to oppose the EPA. He made himself the mouthpiece for the fossil fuel industry as it fought protections of air and water quality. As a denier of climate science, he is unqualified to run the nation's premiere agency on the environment and the fight against climate change. At the helm of Exxon-Mobil, Rex Tillerson continued the corporation's efforts to undermine climate science as well as its unyielding insistence that fossil fuels remain the dominant, if not sole, energy source for the immediate future. Exxon-Mobil's regard for shareholders alone, and its refusal to acknowledge that stock value could be married with a wiser and more sustainable long-term world energy portfolio caused untold harm. It is appalling that the Secretary of State who negotiated the Paris Agreement, perhaps the most ambitious step towards fighting climate change in history, could be followed by this nominee. Rick Perry impressed almost no one during his presidential run, and his most famous statement was his call to abolish the very agency he has been tapped to lead, once he remembered that it is called the Department of Energy.' The notion that he will succeed the Obama-era Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winner, and incumbent Ernest Moniz, an MIT nuclear physicist, is at once saddening and frightening, as was his call to close the agency tasked with developing clean energy technologies. Climate change remains the world's greatest threat. Delaying or reversing our efforts to fight climate change will have potentially catastrophic effects on the planet. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=800 | Connolly Statement on the Nomination of Rick Perry to Lead the Department of Energy | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Connolly Statement on the Nomination of Rick Perry to Lead the Department of Energy f t # e Washington, December 13, 2016 Congressman Gerry Connolly, co-chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, released the following statement on the nomination of former Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy. Read more. share: f t Congressman Gerry Connolly, co-chair of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, released the following statement on the nomination of former Texas Governor Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy:"President-elect Trump’s selection of Rick Perry to lead the Department of Energy continues a troubling pattern of selecting individuals to head agencies they actually wish to dismantle. These are important agencies critical to the success and future of our nation. We need leaders who inspire the career civil servants that power these agencies, not someone who denigrates their service. I will continue to vigorously oppose this Cabinet of Horrors." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=830 | Connolly Calls on Trump to Immediately Act on Rampant Conflicts of Interest | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | “The tentacles of the Trump Organization run far and wide. How is the President-elect to act responsibly, ethically, and in our nation’s best interest, if he is still heavily invested in these holdings?” said Rep. Connolly share: f t In advance of tomorrow’s House Oversight and Government Reform Forum on the President-elect’s blatant conflicts of interest, Congressman Connolly called on Trump to immediately divest and place his holdings in a blind trust. “The President of the United States must avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest. Unfortunately, the President-elect’s vague, and now delayed, twitter promises of a “future plan” fall far short of past practice and our reasonable expectations,” said Connolly. “The president cannot serve himself while serving the nation, and the president is not above the law,” added Connolly. “It is important that Americans understand what is going on here and how far the President-elect’s conflicts of interest run. That demands transparency.” “The tentacles of the Trump Organization run far and wide. How is the President-elect to act responsibly, ethically, and in our nation’s best interest, if he is still heavily invested in these holdings?”“In fact, the problems of turning his business operations over to his children are made pretty obvious by the recent reports of Ivanka sitting in on his meeting with Prime Minister Abe of Japan, and by comments by some foreign dignitaries that they may opt to stay at Trump International Hotel to curry favor.”“For example, he will be making decisions about regulation of the financial sector and the potential dismantling of the Dodd-Frank banking law, as the Trump Organization, like most real estate empires, is heavily indebted to banks and other lenders.”“Even worse, if any foreign government or a company controlled by a foreign government does business with a Trump entity with his involvement, the President could be accused of accepting a payment in violation of the Emol… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/in-northern-virginia-kaine-rides-silver-line-with-metro-gm-to-assess-progress-on-extension-to-dulles-airport | In Northern Virginia, Kaine Rides Silver Line With Metro GM To Assess Progress On Extension To Dulles Airport | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | In Northern Virginia, Kaine Rides Silver Line With Metro GM To Assess Progress On Extension To Dulles Airport Tuesday, December 13, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, in an effort to assess progress on Phase II of the Silver Line, Kaine rode the Metro from Tyson’s Corner to the Wiehle-Reston stop with Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld and received a tour and briefing on construction of the extension to Dulles International Airport from Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officials. As Governor of Virginia, Kaine made securing $900 million in federal funding for Phase I of the Silver Line project a top transportation priority. “I’m a huge supporter of the Silver Line,” Kaine said. “From working on getting Phase I from the drawing board to the groundbreaking as Governor, and now seeing the progress being made on Phase II; this is exciting. It is such a necessary project to keep up with the growth of Northern Virginia, and especially to serve Dulles International Airport, which is one of the two key hubs for Virginia’s national economic reach.” Later in the day, Kaine visited Prince William Forest National Park as part of the National Park Service (NPS) centennial celebration. Kaine and his staff committed to visit every NPS unit in Virginia by the end of 2016, and the visit to Prince William Forest Park completed Kaine’s effort. He also met with a chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) in Annandale to discuss workforce development and issues affecting Virginia’s federal workers. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-nomination-of-rex-tillerson-as-secretary-of-state | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Rex Tillerson As Secretary Of State | 2016-12-13 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Rex Tillerson As Secretary Of State Tuesday, December 13, 2016 WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, released the following statement following President-elect Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State: “I have significant concerns about the nomination of Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State that I intend to explore thoroughly as part of the confirmation process. His close connection to Vladimir Putin and the Russian government raises serious questions at a time when our national intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia engaged in cyber espionage against the United States during the 2016 Presidential election. Further, the documented efforts by ExxonMobil to fund organizations denying climate science during Tillerson's tenure at the company deserve critical attention as Virginia grapples with sea level rise in Hampton Roads and other climate driven issues.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398653 | Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.12.16 | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Clearing the Air at the EPA President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is welcome news. As Oklahoma’s attorney general, Pruitt has strongly pushed back against many rules and regulations coming from Washington, DC. In particular, he has led states in suing to block the EPA’s overreaching policies. Many in the media report this news with shock. They wonder how someone “CURRENTLY SUING” the EPA could possibly be fit to lead it. I wish those stunned by this appointment would listen to or read the testimony I have heard from EPA officials in Energy and Commerce Committee hearings. What I find stunning is the logic offered by agency officials to justify actions at odds with the plain text of laws passed by Congress. Take the Clean Power Plan. I have written often in this column about the EPA’s claim that it can use the Clean Air Act to force states to create and implement a plan to reduce their carbon emissions. It is bad for coal miners and all consumers of electricity, but it is also bad for the rule of law. Under the Clean Power Plan, the EPA claims it can regulate existing power plants under Section 111(d) of the Clean Air Act, but the EPA already regulates them under Section 112. The problem is that the language of the Clean Air Act prohibits this type of dual regulation, a point that the EPA itself has conceded in the past (before changing its tune). When famed liberal legal scholar Laurence Tribe, who taught America’s first environmental law class and mentored President Obama, testified before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power, he stated: “EPA is attempting an unconstitutional trifecta: usurping the prerogatives of the States, Congress, and the Federal Courts – all at once. Much is up for grabs in this complex area. But burning the Constitution of the United States – about which I care deeply – cannot be part of our national energy policy…” The EPA cited the Clean Air Act in another power grab, this time to regulate … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398654 | Griffith Congratulates Virginia Tech on Transportation Grant Award | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) congratulates Virginia Tech Transportation Institute for being named a national safety center by the U.S. Department of Transportation, winning almost $28 million over five years to study benefits of connected and automated vehicles. The grant supports the Safety Through Disruption (SafeD): Goal Zero Center, with an overall aim to increase safety through technology on U.S. roads. Congressman Griffith said, “Virginia Tech is home to some of the strongest research and engineering programs in the United States and I congratulate them on earning this grant. I supported their efforts to secure the award and I am pleased that Virginia Tech will have the ability to contribute significantly to the research priorities set forth by the FAST Act. (H.R.22 - Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act)” Congressman Griffith is an original co-sponsor of the FAST Act. “In Southwest Virginia, we are proud of the research and development that takes place at Virginia Tech. I look forward to the potential advances made possible with this funding. It is my hope that the vehicle automation and connectivity studies and other testing will result in new breakthroughs, create opportunities for students, and expand workforce development in our area, in addition to safety advances that can benefit those across the country.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=460 | National Capital Region Members Support Second Memorial Bridge Grant Application | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | Congressional representatives from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia urged Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to support the National Park Service's (NPS) FASTLANE grant application for $60 million to complete Arlington Memorial Bridge repairs, a project estimated to require upwards of $250 million. The letter was sent by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Representatives Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Barbara Comstock, and Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded NPS $90 million to begin necessary repairs. This grant would bring the total FASTLANE federal contribution to $150 million. The FASTLANE program requires NPS to provide 40 percent in matching funds. The lawmakers released the following joint statement today: We encourage Secretary Foxx and the Department of Transportation to support the National Park Service's FASTLANE application. Arlington Memorial Bridge is a critical multimodal link in the national capital region's transportation network. This additional federal money is necessary to avoid a costly, prolonged repair project that will add to the region's congestion problems for years. It is vital that this project is completed promptly, with federal support. Without an additional FASTLANE grant, NPS will need to complete the project in phases stretching multiple years, raising the potential for an extended construction timeline, additional traffic delays, and increased construction costs. A multi-phased rehabilitation project also increases the likelihood of additional emergency repairs. The full text of the delegation's letter follows, and the original copy can be viewed online here. The Honorable Anthony Foxx U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx: We are pleased to provide this letter in support of the National Park Service's (NPS) Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=798 | Connolly Commends President Obama's Call for Comprehensive Investigation into Cyber Attacks Related to the 2016 Election | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Today, Congressman Gerry Connolly sent a letter to President Obama commending his recent directive to U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into cyber attacks related to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. This follows a November 17 letter he led with 15 other members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee requesting hearings regarding deliberate attempts by foreign countries to interfere in U.S. elections."I welcome the broadening interest in this matter and hope Congress can work in a bipartisan fashion to examine this threat," said Connolly. "Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, Russia’s actions during the 2016 election have exposed a clear and present threat to one of our most fundamental democratic institutions – elections free of foreign interference."In his letter, Connolly wrote, "Following the USIC's assertion that "the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from U.S. persons and Institutions, including from U.S. political organizations" on October 7, 2016, the American people have been demanding a response. These actions by Russia constitute an assault on our democracy. We cannot allow Russia to undermine people's faith in our democratic institutions.""As we look into the specific circumstances of the 2016 election, Congress should develop a deterrence to attacks on the U.S. political system. There must be a cost to undermining American democracy," Connolly added."President-elect Donald Trump continues to deny any evidence of Russian interference and insults the professionalism of our intelligence community by accusing them of acting with political motivation. This is disturbing. President-elect Trump’s education on protecting our country should begin now. I encourage him to participate in his intelligence briefings and remain focused on the threats facing our nation."The full letter can be found here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/in-chesterfield-kaine-meets-with-paralyzed-veterans-discusses-healthcare- | In Chesterfield, Kaine Meets With Paralyzed Veterans, Discusses Healthcare | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | In Chesterfield, Kaine Meets With Paralyzed Veterans, Discusses Healthcare Monday, December 12, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was in Chesterfield to meet with members of Paralyzed Veterans of America and discuss veterans’ healthcare. In the Senate, Kaine has been a strong advocate for improved healthcare services at the VA. “My work on the Senate Armed Services Committee keeps me very involved in veterans’ healthcare and service reform issues, so I was glad I had the chance today to hear directly from Virginia’s veterans on how I can best represent their needs in Congress,” Kaine said. “I just co-sponsored a bill that would help speed up the process of determining disability benefits at the VA. It just takes too long and there’s now a backlog of about 450,000 cases. We need to devote more personnel, resources, and technology systems to work on this.” Last week, Kaine announced his support for a bill to reform the benefits appeals process at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and address the significant backlog of appeals at the agency. In September, Kaine and U.S. Senator Mark Warner introduced the Providing Veterans Overdue Care Act, which would authorize leases for medical facilities in 15 states, including an outpatient facility in Hampton Roads. Today kicks off three days of events that Kaine will hold across Virginia focused on issues affecting families and the economy in the Commonwealth. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=AD2D9329-B90C-475E-9CBB-D0DEFC49A1F1 | Warner Joins National Capital Region Members to Support Second Memorial Bridge Grant Application | 2016-12-12 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined congressional representatives from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia to urge Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to support the National Park Service’s (NPS) FASTLANE grant application for $60 million to complete Arlington Memorial Bridge repairs, a project estimated to require upwards of $250 million. The letter also included Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Representatives Don Beyer, Gerry Connolly, Barbara Comstock, and Sen. Tim Kaine. Earlier this year, the Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded NPS $90 million to begin necessary repairs. This grant would bring the total FASTLANE federal contribution to $150 million. The FASTLANE program requires NPS to provide 40 percent in matching funds. The lawmakers released the following joint statement today: “We encourage Secretary Foxx and the Department of Transportation to support the National Park Service’s FASTLANE application. Arlington Memorial Bridge is a critical multimodal link in the national capital region’s transportation network. This additional federal money is necessary to avoid a costly, prolonged repair project that will add to the region’s congestion problems for years. It is vital that this project is completed promptly, with federal support.” Without an additional FASTLANE grant, NPS will need to complete the project in phases stretching multiple years, raising the potential for an extended construction timeline, additional traffic delays, and increased construction costs. A multi-phased rehabilitation project also increases the likelihood of additional emergency repairs. The full text of the delegation’s letter follows, and the original copy can be viewed online here. The Honorable Anthony Foxx U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Secretary Foxx: We are pleased to provide this letter in support of the National Park Service’s (NPS) Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-praise-final-passage-of-bipartisan-water-infrastructure-bill | Warner, Kaine Praise Final Passage Of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill | 2016-12-10 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner, Kaine Praise Final Passage Of Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill Saturday, December 10, 2016 WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine applauded final passage of the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act), also known as the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which authorizes water infrastructure projects across the nation. This bill makes investments in harbor dredging, maintenance of locks and dams, flood control, ecosystem restoration and other water-related priorities. Additionally, the bill includes a package of measures to address the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan, as well as steps to lessen risks for similar communities across the country with aging drinking water infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ biennial infrastructure report card gives Virginia an overall grade of C- for the state of its water and transportation infrastructure. “We voted for this bill because it makes overdue investments in many priorities important to Virginia – dredging and port infrastructure, restoration of important ecosystems like the Chesapeake Bay, and resilience to flooding and sea level rise for large coastal communities like Hampton Roads and small rural ones like Chincoteague. This bill also devotes emergency funding to deal with lead-contaminated drinking water for the people of Flint, Michigan. We appreciate the inclusion of Virginia provisions we authored and applaud the bipartisan vote on this commonsense infrastructure bill,” the Senators said. The following list includes several provisions for which Warner and Kaine advocated that were included in the final bill: · A study of Chincoteague Island evaluating the perennial flooding and erosion challenges facing the region and examining options of how to fix these issues, how much they would cost, and how much the federal cost-share would be. With nearly 2.3 million visitors last year, Assateague Island National Seashore and the adjace… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-receives-the-restoring-the-balance-award-from-the-national | Scott Receives the Restoring the Balance award from the National Conference of State Legislatures | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 7, 2016, Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) received the “Restoring the Balance” award from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), a bipartisan national organization committed to improving the quality and effectiveness of state legislatures. Congressman Scott, the Ranking Member of House Committee on Education and the Workforce, received the award in recognition of his leadership in negotiating and advocating for the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and replaced the No Child Left Behind Act. This prestigious award also highlights Congressman Scott’s efforts to ensure that the Department of Education’s regulations adhere to the intent of Congress. “I am honored to receive the ‘Restoring the Balance’ award and grateful for the National Conference of State Legislatures’ support,” said Congressman Scott. “When I began negotiating the Every Student Succeeds Act, my goal was to protect the civil rights legacy of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. In the coming years, it will be important for state legislators across the country to continue their hard work of engaging stakeholders and protecting the civil rights of our most vulnerable students.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-vote-to-avert-a-shutdown-and-fund-government-through-april-28- | Kaine Statement On Vote To Avert A Shutdown And Fund Government Through April 28 | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Vote To Avert A Shutdown And Fund Government Through April 28 Friday, December 9, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on his vote for a spending bill to fund the government through April 28 and avert a government shutdown: “I voted in favor of this short-term spending measure because the alternative—a government shutdown—would be disastrous for Virginia. But the default to a continuing resolution rather than a long-term appropriations package is a Congressional failure that has real-world consequences across the Commonwealth. While I’m pleased the CR will allow a 2.1 percent pay raise for military servicemembers and that it contains an exception providing the necessary funding and authorities for the Ohio Replacement Submarine Program, many other important defense priorities included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act will go unfunded for months. I am particularly dismayed that this resolution will delay funding for the construction of a new aircraft carrier in Newport News and will only preserve the health benefits of retired mine workers and their families for four months. I urge my colleagues to abandon such backward-looking budgeting and commit to passing full-year appropriations bills forged by bipartisan compromise.” In recent weeks, Senator Kaine wrote to Defense appropriators to request procurement funding for the Ohio Replacement Program. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=2A874922-A935-4EBB-B99C-E3647F44AE23 | Sen. Warner Statement on Investigation of Russian Interference in 2016 Election | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued a statement after President Barack Obama announced he has directed the intelligence community to investigate the cyberattacks that plagued the 2016 election. On October 7, the U.S. intelligence community announced publicly that it is “confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails…” and that “these thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process.” “Interference in America’s democracy and our electoral process by any outside power is unacceptable. I commend the President for undertaking a comprehensive review of meddling in the election by Russia. Similarly, I strongly believe Congress must play a proactive role in this investigation,” said Sen. Warner. “As the incoming Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I know that one of the primary missions of the intelligence professionals in this country is to render their best professional judgment, regardless of political considerations. I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to ensure this matter is thoroughly investigated.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=4C3EDD3F-A4FC-4C7B-9567-269A0B6F99F7 | Sen. Warner Floor Remarks on CR & Miners | 2016-12-09 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Friday evening, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the Continuing Resolution to fund the government through April 28th and efforts to protect the health and pension benefits of retired mineworkers and their families. A transcript and a link to download video of those remarks are below. Sen. Warner and colleagues from West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania spearheaded an effort this week to extend healthcare benefits for retired mineworkers beyond the four-month extension that was included in the House-passed Continuing Resolution stopgap spending bill. Transcription: First of all, let me echo everything that Senator Casey and Senator Brown have said. But the reason why we're here, beyond the justness of our cause, is the fact that the Senator from West Virginia, Senator Manchin, has been absolutely relentless. He has not let this issue die. For 18 months he has gone through every hoop that has been put in front of him. And it's getting through. The fact is, Senator Manchin today reintroduced the Miners Protection Act. In one day -- in one day he picked up 49 cosponsors to this legislation. We're going to have a vote later tonight. Let me be clear, I’m going to join in that protest. But as somebody who's got one heck of a lot of federal employees, we are not going to shut down the government on this issue. We should not even be even thinking about choices where we have to trade off federal workers and miners. That's not what we're sent here to do. But we are going to make sure that this fight does not end tonight. And the 49 who signed up today will be in the 50's and the 60's when we come back. Let me just close before -- and I know we've got other colleagues, but others have commented. I went through these talking points at other times. But you got to hear the voices of people being affected. I got a letter recently from Sharon. Sharon has a coal miner's family from coal mines in Dickenson County, not too far from West Virginia and Kentucky. Here is … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-statement-on-no-vote-on-fy-2017-continuing-resolution | Scott Statement on No Vote on FY 2017 Continuing Resolution | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his No vote on H.R. 2028, the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017: “I am disappointed that House and Senate Republicans could not advance a more responsible bill to fund the federal government. Continuing Resolutions are inherently bad policy and hinder the work of the federal government. Considering the uncertainty that surrounds the incoming administration, I think it is more responsible for this Congress to enact a yearlong omnibus appropriations bill for the remainder of fiscal year 2017. “With that said, the bill considered in the House today is woefully inadequate. First, the legislation fails to protect health care and pension benefits for coal miners and their families. This bill simply kicks the can down the road by extending their health care benefits for a mere four months. The bill also fails to include the bipartisan Coal Health Care and Pensions Protection Act that is paid for and would fully extend coal miner health benefits and shore up their pension fund. Failure to include this legislation breaks a promise to these hard working men and women, and jeopardizes benefits for approximately 7,600 families in Virginia. “Secondly, while the bill does address funding issues for the Ohio Replacement Program, it unfortunately does not include adequate funding for the Carrier Replacement Program. The entire Virginia congressional delegation raised this issue with House and Senate appropriators earlier this month. Without necessary funding for this program, advanced procurement for the next Ford-class aircraft carrier may be unnecessarily delayed, potentially resulting in added construction costs and likely another temporary but costly reduction in the Navy’s aircraft carrier force. “We have plenty of time left in this session of Congress to responsibly address these issues and others. We should do so before returning home tomorrow.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=727 | Goodlatte & Conyers Release First Policy Proposal of Copyright Review | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | Today House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) released the first policy proposal to come out of the Committee’s review of U.S. Copyright law. This first proposal identifies important reforms to help ensure the Copyright Office keeps pace in the digital age. With the release of this document, the Committee requests written comments from interested stakeholders by January 31, 2017. These comments will be shared with members of the House Judiciary Committee as they come in and the Committee intends to make comments publicly available after the comment period closes. Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers released the following statement via video:“We would like to take a few minutes to share with you our plan for the next stage of the House Judiciary Committee’s review of our nation’s copyright laws. For years now, we have deliberately listened – through hearings, listening sessions, and site visits – to the views and concerns of stakeholders from all sides of the copyright debate. “Now, it is time to move forward into the next stage. We intend to periodically release policy proposals on select, individual issue areas within the larger copyright system that are in need of reform where there is a potential for consensus. These policy proposals are not meant to be the final word on reform in these individual issue areas, but rather a starting point for further discussion by all stakeholders, with the goal of producing legislative text within each issue area.“Today, we are releasing our first policy proposal, which identifies reforms to modernize the Copyright Office so that it can meet the challenges of the 21st Century. Among the reforms in this document are granting the Copyright Office autonomy with respect to the Library of Congress, requiring the Copyright Office to maintain an up-to-date digital, searchable database of all copyrighted works and associated copyright ownership information, and many others reforms. “Nothing should be read … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=728 | Goodlatte Applauds Passage of Bill to Protect Children with Autism & Those with Alzheimer’s from Wandering | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | The House of Representatives today approved Kevin and Avonte’s Law (H.R. 4919) by a vote of 346-66 to help protect children with autism and individuals with Alzheimer’s from wandering.Kevin and Avonte’s Law is named in honor of two boys with autism, Kevin Curtis and Avonte Oquendo, who both wandered away from supervision and tragically drowned. The bill reauthorizes an existing Department of Justice grant program, the “Missing Alzheimer’s Disease Patient Alert Program,” and extends the program to cover children with autism, who may be susceptible to the same type of wandering behavior as those with Alzheimer’s. It is estimated that 60 percent of the 5.3 million individuals with Alzheimer’s, and 49 percent of the 1 in 68 children with autism, have wandered.H.R. 4919 authorizes the Justice Department to make grants to law enforcement agencies, public safety agencies, and nonprofit organizations, to provide proactive, educational, voluntary wandering-prevention programming to families and caretakers of individuals who wander, as well as training to first responders and school personnel in order to recognize and respond to endangered missing individuals and facilitate their rescue and recovery. The bill contains important grant accountability and transparency requirements to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, praised today’s approval of the bill:“It’s a family’s worst nightmare when a loved one goes missing, especially if their child has autism or their parent has Alzheimer’s. Children with autism and people with Alzheimer’s are prone to wandering and the results can be devastating if they are not found immediately. “Kevin and Avonte’s Law reauthorizes a critical grant program to help prevent folks with Alzheimer’s from wandering and also extends it to children with autism. Police searches are expensive and this voluntary preventative grant program can help avoid costly searches and also spare the heartache that families and caret… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://wittman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1077 | Wittman Opposes Continuing Resolution | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Wittman | W000804 | wittman.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement today after voting against H.R. 2028, a short-term continuing resolution that would extend government operations through April 28, 2017:“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: continuing resolutions are a bad way for Washington to do business. This bill is the result of broken process and a lack of accountability. Our job is to do the people’s work and to do it on time. These last-minute, stop-gap measures create economic uncertainty and job insecurity. In the context of national security, they prevent planning, keep critical programs from moving forward, and deplete our forces. Congress needs time for measured debate. We should be making decisions about spending far in advance of December, and I promise to keep fighting for regular order in Washington.” Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=458 | Beyer Statement On His Vote Against the Continuing Resolution | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) issued the following statement today on his vote against final passage of the continuing resolution (CR): I voted today against the continuing resolution (CR), which would fund the U.S. government for four months. Although there are components of the CR that I support, such as funding for Flint, Michigan's water crisis, the CR also all-too-conveniently sets the stage for a more conservative and destructive long-term funding vehicle come April. Today's effort was a legislative maneuver designed to limit bipartisan cooperation and enact destructive Republican principles through the budget process. It was months ago that Congress began the appropriations process to adequately fund government operations, with key investments in infrastructure, technology, research and development, the middle class, and the armed services. Yet here we are, more than two months into the fiscal year, with a harmful continuing resolution with historically low non-defense discretionary spending that forces federal agencies to meet budget shortfalls by slashing programs that help those most in need. This is not regular order despite six years of promises and single party control, and I am disappointed but not surprised that a full-year funding bill continues to elude this chamber. This bill ignores the budget agreement made last winter, breaks parity between defense and non-defense discretionary programs that many Americans rely on, and fails to appropriately address the needs of our government. The bill also grants a waiver to a recently retired general to become Secretary of Defense, a waiver only extended once in history. Such a move involves questioning of one of our most important foundational doctrines --civilian control of the military -- and deserves full debate by both chambers of Congress. Attaching this waiver to a funding bill through a midnight maneuver is an attempt to sneak that waiver past the American people without any discussion, which is not a precedent we can accept, especially given th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/comstock-announces-millbrook-high-school-s-logan-apple-winner | Comstock Announces Millbrook High Schools Logan Apple As Winner Of Congressional App Challenge | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Barbara Comstock | C001105 | comstock.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC - Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement announcing that Millbrook High School’s Logan Apple is this year’s winner of the Congressional App Challenge: “Students from Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District put in countless hours of hard work to develop innovative apps for the Congressional App Challenge. I would like to congratulate Logan Apple from Millbrook High School on his victory in the 2016 Congressional App Challenge. Logan’s app, iSight, is designed to help people utilize their cell phone cameras to translate sign language in real time, helping break down speech barriers. His app can translate more than 150 signs around the world. Coding is becoming an increasingly valuable skill in today’s 21st Century economy and, after viewing these apps, I am confident the next generation in Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District will lead the charge as entrepreneurs and innovators. “Thank you to our judges who volunteered their time for the challenge: Dr. Scott Martin of the Computer Game Design Program, Troy Murphy of the Northern Virginia Technology Council, and Sandra Chin of Hyperdoc Link.” To view Logan’s app in action, click here. The Congressional App Challenge will invite winners from across the country to showcase their apps to the Members of Congress and members of the tech community at #HouseOfCode, a DC-based reception to be held in April of 2017. Their work will be featured for one year on the permanent display in the U.S. Capitol Building, and on the House.gov website. Winning students will also be awarded a portion of $50,000 in credits, generously donated by Amazon Web Services. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-nomination-of-scott-pruitt-as-epa-administrator- | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Scott Pruitt As EPA Administrator | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Scott Pruitt As EPA Administrator Thursday, December 8, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on President-elect Trump’s nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): “There are few agencies that depend more on careful review of science than the EPA. Every rule or regulation depends on an intellectually honest review of scientific consensus. And the consequences for the health and safety of the American public are critical. The nomination of an EPA Administrator who does not accept basic climate science is deeply troubling.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-passage-of-defense-bill | Kaine Statement On Passage Of Defense Bill | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Passage Of Defense Bill Thursday, December 8, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on final passage of the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which contains provisions he helped secure that will benefit Virginia’s shipbuilding industry and defense community: “Each year, I work across the aisle with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee to craft an annual defense bill that supports our military and helps our country meet today’s complex national security challenges. I was proud to support final passage of the NDAA, which contains funding and provisions to support Virginia’s defense community, ship builders constructing our Ford-class carriers and Virginia-class submarines, and public and private shipyards doing the indispensable work that keeps our nation’s strategic assets the strongest in the world. However, I am deeply disappointed that Congress has resigned itself to passing a Continuing Resolution which will threaten many of the programs we have just agreed to authorize. The inability to work in a bipartisan fashion to find compromise on a long-term appropriations bill threatens our national security, unnecessarily delays programs which increases costs, and jeopardizes the future of countless workers across the Commonwealth and the country.” The bill also included a provision, authored by Kaine, to help combat violent extremism by giving the Department of Defense (DoD) the flexibility to work cooperatively with civilian agencies like the State Department and USAID. The provision allows DoD to transfer funds to support programs at civilian agencies designed to address drivers of violent extremism. “Battlefield commanders repeatedly testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee that military force alone cannot defeat terrorist groups and eliminate the scourge of violent extremism. This provision authorizes the flex… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-more-than-176-million-in-funding-for-virginia-health-services-and-early-childhood-education | Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $17.6 Million In Funding For Virginia Health Services And Early Childhood Education | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner, Kaine Announce More Than $17.6 Million In Funding For Virginia Health Services And Early Childhood Education Thursday, December 8, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award $17,631,822 in grants for various health care organizations, medical research and Head Start programs across the Commonwealth. “This funding is an investment in the health and education of our communities,” the Senators said. “Community health centers and Head Start programs help create a strong foundation for Virginia families, and we will continue to be steadfast supporters of these critical programs and services in Congress.” The following entities will be awarded funding directed at health and social services: U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, Inc. in Arlington will receive $4,786,611 for refugee health and social services; Youth For Tomorrow - New Life Center in Bristow will receive $2,985,400 for unaccompanied migrant children services; Alexandria Neighborhood Health Services will receive $1,448,057; Johnson Health Center in Lynchburg will receive $1,285,709; Southern Dominion Health Systems in Victoria will receive $1,073,689; George Mason University will receive $197,795 for research into maternity and childhood development; Virginia Commonwealth University will receive $114,375 for research into oral diseases and disorders and $76,250 for research into maternity and childhood development; and, Old Dominion University will receive $77,500 for research into maternity and childhood development. The following entities will be awarded funding for Head Start programs: Mile High Kids and Community Development, Inc. in Virginia Beach will receive $2,479,370; People Incorporated of Virginia in Abingdon will receive $ 2,017,141; and, Augusta County School Board will receive $1,089,925. During a visit this week to Alexandria Neighborhood Health – one of t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=5051DD56-5273-4A63-857F-DCF61E102D6C | Warner Introduces the FAST Voting Act to Help States Improve Access to Voting | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation today to help states make voting faster and more accessible to all voters by making substantial improvements in the administration of their elections. The Fair, Accurate, Secure and Timely (FAST) Voting Act of 2016 would create a competitive grant program in the model of Race to the Top, encouraging states to aggressively pursue election reform. Those states that demonstrate the most comprehensive and promising reform plans will earn a greater portion of the grant funding. “The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy. But during this last election, reports indicated that computer problems, long lines, poorly trained poll workers, and outdated equipment all made it harder for voters in some places to cast their ballots,” said Sen. Warner. “The FAST Voting Act addresses these challenges by encouraging and helping states to make voting faster and more accessible through commonsense reforms like reducing long waiting times, expanding early voting opportunities, and eliminating other obstacles that prevent people from exercising their franchise." In the 2016 election, long lines and voting-machine problems were reported in well over a dozen states, including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Utah, Colorado, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Montana, Tennessee, Hawaii, Arizona, Rhode Island, and more. There were also reports of confusion over new voter ID laws in Texas and Wisconsin, improper refusals of voter registrations in West Virginia, delayed absentee ballots in Pennsylvania and Alabama, and an absence of required bilingual support in Arizona and Florida. The program tasks applicant states with creating a comprehensive and coherent plan to improve their election processes by: Providing flexible registration opportunities, including same-day registration; Providing early voti… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=972C1B0C-15D1-4788-A06A-85ED20DCC30A | Sen. Warner Statement on Passage of the Defense Authorization Bill | 2016-12-08 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), who will serve as Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee in the 115th Congress, voted today in favor of final passage for S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). After the bill passed the Senate in a 92 to 7 vote, sending the legislation to the President, Sen. Warner released the following statement: “The defense bill that I voted for today provides important support for our men and women in uniform. It includes a 2.1 percent pay raise for service members and fully funds the Navy’s shipbuilding programs, including the Ohio-class replacement program, the Ford-class carrier program, the Virginia-class submarine program, and refueling and overhaul for the Nimitz-class carriers. These programs are all essential to maintaining our nation’s security, and they support thousands of shipyard workers in Hampton Roads. “As we face the growing threat of cyberattacks, the bill also includes provisions I championed to improve technological innovation and efficiency at the Department of Defense. “I’m pleased that the NDAA includes authorization to elevate U.S. Cyber Command to its own unified command. We should give our military the tools they need to do battle in the 21st century, whether it takes place on the field or in cyberspace, and elevating CYBERCOM will improve mission outcomes and make us more agile in defending against 21st century threats. “This bill also includes my legislation to reform DoD’s criteria for purchasing cybersecurity services and products to ensure that taxpayers are getting the best long-term deal for their investment by discouraging the misapplication of Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) as a source selection method for cyber procurement. The guidance contained in the NDAA provides DoD with the necessary tools and flexibility to ensure that the United States maintains our strategic edge in using, producing, and driving innovative and cutting-edge IT and engineering. “Additionally, I’m pleased that the bill includes bi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-levin-pallone-statement-on-court-order-to-delay-house-v-burwell | Scott, Levin, Pallone Statement on Court Order to Delay House v. Burwell | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | As originally released by the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Democrats WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ranking Members Bobby Scott (D-VA), Sandy Levin (D-MI), and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) of the House Committees on Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce respectively, made the following joint statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued an order to delay the consideration of House v. Burwell: “This decision to delay the consideration of House v. Burwell until after Inauguration Day puts millions of Americans at risk of losing their health insurance coverage next year. Republicans have relentlessly attempted to repeal and undermine the Affordable Care Act since the law was enacted. If the incoming Trump Administration decides not to defend the legality of the ACA’s cost-sharing subsidies in court, the lower court ruling stands; and we would see the undermining of the insurance market as a whole – both the coverage of those American families who rely on the financial assistance, as well as those who purchase coverage on their own. President-elect Trump promised to stand up for working Americans, but this action would make people worse off, not better, and he hasn’t even taken office yet. Instead of rallying behind partisan attacks without proposing a real replacement to strengthen the law, we urge the incoming Trump Administration and Republican-led Congress to stand on the side of America’s families, students, and working people.” # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=457 | Beyer Introduces Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act To Protect Biodiversity | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | This week, Representative Don Beyer introduced the Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act of 2016 to begin reversing the tide of habitat loss and fragmentation for U.S. fish, wildlife, and plant species. Wildlife corridors are stretches of habitat that allow species to move from one area of habitat to another for such purposes as accessing resources, establishing new territories, shifting ranges, promoting gene flow, and adapting to the impacts of a changing climate. Corridors have been successfully implemented around the world and throughout the U.S., yet current law provides limited requirements for land and water managers to address species' connectivity needs. With roughly one in five animal and plant species in the U.S. at risk of extinction due to habitat loss and fragmentation, one of the simplest yet most effective things we can do is to provide them ample opportunity to move across lands and waters, said Rep. Beyer. The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act establishes a National Wildlife Corridors System to ensure that species are able to move between habitats less encumbered by obstacles. The bill directs key Federal land and water management agencies to work with each other, as well as with States, tribes, local governments, and private landowners, to develop and manage national wildlife corridors in accordance with existing laws and the habitat connectivity needs of native species. Paired with a new public-facing geographic information system (GIS) database of corridors and modest additional funding to the key agencies, the National Wildlife Corridors System promises the framework to strengthen fish, wildlife, and plant species populations, while at the same time improving recreational opportunities and roadway safety for people. The bill enjoys broad support from the scientific community and more than 60 conservation organizations, including the National Wildlife Federation. "The Wildlife Corridors Conservation Act would provide the most important step of any single piece of legislation at the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=796 | Connolly Statement on Trump EPA nominee | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Connolly Statement on Trump EPA nominee f t # e Washington, December 7, 2016 "Donald Trump’s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency is the latest in a Cabinet of Horrors." share: f t Congressman Gerry Connolly released the following statement on President-elect Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency:"Donald Trump’s selection of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency is the latest in a Cabinet of Horrors. This appointment is a devastating setback for public health and safety, addressing global climate change and is nothing more than a giveaway to the Koch Brothers and Big Oil industry. The decision to appoint an individual who has repeatedly tried to stymie and rollback important environmental regulations – and a climate change denier no less - to head the very agency charged with protecting public health and safety is reckless, cynical and must be opposed." | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=797 | Connolly Named New Dem Whip | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | Today, New Dem Chair-Elect Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04) announced that Congressman Gerry Connolly, who previously served as a Vice-chair but was term-limited, will remain in leadership and serve as the Coalition's Whip.“With the election of Donald Trump, the New Democrat Coalition is more important than ever before,” said Congressman Gerry Connolly. “We will be the front line in winning back disaffected working men and women while building the innovative economy of the future where millions of jobs and rich opportunity await. I look forward to continuing to be a part of the leadership team advocating this important agenda.”The New Democrat Coalition’s leadership team will take office in the 115th Congress.The New Democrat Coalition is dedicated to maintaining America’s standing as the world’s strongest, most successful nation. Founded in 1997, the New Dems believe firmly in the power of American ingenuity and innovation, and are focused on finding ways to foster and harness this creativity to grow our economy, create new American jobs, and ensure a safer and more secure future for our country. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/citing-impact-on-virginia-families-and-economy-kaine-says-affordable-care-act-repeal-would-be-malpractice | Citing Impact on Virginia Families & Economy, Kaine Says Affordable Care Act Repeal Would be ‘Malpractice’ | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Citing Impact on Virginia Families & Economy, Kaine Says Affordable Care Act Repeal Would be ‘Malpractice’ Wednesday, December 7, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine discussed the positive impacts of the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid in Virginia, and why it is critical that Congress defend these landmark health care programs going into the next administration. Repealing the Affordable Care Act, Kaine argued, would inject needless uncertainty into the economy and have a painful impact on American families. He instead urged his colleagues to meet for bipartisan discussions on how to make improvements to the law. “A repeal [of the Affordable Care Act] without a replacement would be malpractice to the health of millions of Americans, but also malpractice to the American economy,” Kaine said. “The percentage in the nation of people who were uninsured when the Affordable Care Act was passed was 16 percent - one in six Americans was uninsured. Now, it’s 8.6 percent…327,000 more Virginians have health insurance in 2015 than in 2010.” “If you tell the entire American economy that, ‘we are going to go into the largest sector of the economy and we’re going to repeal it,’…you will inject uncertainty into an economy by a degree that has never been done by this body. I think it would have catastrophic consequences, even beyond healthcare,” Kaine continued. “If this body goes down the path of repealing this important law that provides important protections to millions… it will be one of the low moments in the history of the United States Senate.” Kaine also discussed his visit to a community health center in Alexandria, Virginia on Monday where he heard directly from patients and providers about the importance of access to quality and affordable health care. Full transcript of Kaine’s remarks: I rise to discuss the Affordable Care Act and want to make the case that its repeal without a replacement being known would be… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-announces-support-for-bill-to-ease-benefits-appeals-process-for-veterans | Kaine Announces Support For Bill To Ease Benefits Appeals Process For Veterans | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Announces Support For Bill To Ease Benefits Appeals Process For Veterans Wednesday, December 7, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced co-sponsorship of legislation to reform the benefits appeals process for veterans. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. The Department of Veterans Affairs Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 would replace the current process – which today stands at over 450,000 appeals awaiting a decision – with one that is simpler, more fair, and transparent. “This bill will streamline the appeals process for veterans and make it easier for the VA to address a drastic backlog,” said Kaine. “For the nearly 800,000 veterans who call Virginia home, I am committed to supporting policies that uphold the promise of high-quality healthcare and services.” The legislation would give veterans clear options after receiving an initial decision by consolidating the current appeals process into three distinct tracks: Local Higher Level Review: This lane would provide the opportunity for a quick resolution of the claim by a higher-level adjudicator at the VA Regional Office. This lane would be a good option for veterans who are confident they have all the evidence necessary to win their claim. New Evidence: This lane would be for submitting new evidence at the VA Regional Office. This lane would serve as a good option for veterans who believe that they can succeed on their claim by providing additional evidence. Board Review: In this last lane, intermediate steps currently required by statute to receive Board review would be eliminated. Furthermore, hearing and non-hearing options at the Board would be handled on separate dockets so these distinctly different types of work can be better managed. Also co-sponsoring this bill are U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Jon Tester, Angus King, Tom Udall, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-passage-of-the-bipartisan-21st-century-cures-act | Kaine Statement On Passage Of The Bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Passage Of The Bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act Wednesday, December 7, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement on final Senate passage of the 21st Century CURES Act, which passed both chambers of Congress with strong bipartisan support and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law: “Thanks to this bipartisan legislation, our nation’s top researchers will have additional resources they need to find cures and treatments for the devastating diseases that touch us all. The bipartisan 21st Century CURES Act includes critically important funding for breakthrough biomedical research at the National Institutes of Health, including the Cancer Moonshot Initiative. The bill also includes $1 billion in funding to combat the opioid abuse crisis, which was recently declared a public health emergency in Virginia, as well as policies to improve access to mental health care.” Kaine has been a leader in Congress on efforts to address the opioid epidemic and support disease research. In July, provisions he authored to expand opioid abuse prevention and education became law with passage of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act. Kaine also partnered with former Congressman Eric Cantor to champion the Gabriella Miller Kids First Act, which authorized pediatric research within the Common Fund at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The legislation was named for 10 year-old Gabriella Miller of Loudoun County who passed away from cancer in October of 2013. During the 2015 appropriations process, Kaine secured $12.6 million in pediatric research funding for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Act. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=BF813906-99F8-45B1-8EFA-FA858616F883 | Sen. Warner Statement On Passage of 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-12-07 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Senate voted 94-5 to pass bipartisan legislation to facilitate medical research and innovation, accelerate the delivery of medical treatments to patients by advancing the drug approval process, and improve our mental health system. The legislation also creates a mechanism for providing funding to address the growing opioid epidemic, and to advance National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiatives, such as Alzheimer’s research and Vice President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot. Following the vote, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued a statement noting that a number of his priorities to expand access to chronic care and infusion treatments and provide additional Alzheimer’s research funding were included in the final bill. It now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “This bipartisan legislation will encourage biomedical innovation to target deadly diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s and help scientists and researchers deliver cures to patients. It will also expand access to critical mental health services, and provides a way to send much-needed help to hard-hit communities in Virginia and the rest of the country struggling with the devastating effects of opioid and heroin abuse,” said Sen. Warner. “I am particularly pleased that the bill also includes some of my proposed approaches to expand care for individuals suffering from chronic diseases. While the bill is not perfect, it is a balanced compromise that will help us improve our nation’s health system and enhance patient outcomes.” The 21st Century Cures Act makes significant changes to how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests and approves medical treatments that are brought to the market. It also will help NIH researchers deliver new cures by enhancing our research workforce, facilitating collaborative research, and providing a mechanism for Congress to provide nearly $3 billion in additional funding for NIH biomedical research initiatives—like the BRAIN and Precision Medicine Initiatives—over the next decade, to t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=725 | Goodlatte & Grassley Call on Obama Administration to Declassify Secret Refugee Deal | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today called on the Obama Administration to declassify its plan to admit into the United States potentially over 2,400 refugees who Australia has refused to admit. Last month, Chairmen Goodlatte and Grassley expressed concern that the Obama Administration’s secret negotiations with Australia left Americans in the dark about the full scope of its resettlement plans and requested a briefing to review the classified agreement. It is unprecedented to classify an agreement to usher in refugees to the United States and the Chairmen’s review of the agreement further confirms that it should never have been classified in the first place.In their letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and Secretary of State John Kerry, Goodlatte and Grassley call for the declassification of the agreement so the American people can review it. Full text of the Goodlatte-Grassley letter to Kerry and Johnson follows:December 6, 2016 VIA ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONThe Honorable Jeh Johnson Secretary Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528The Honorable John Kerry Secretary Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520Dear Secretaries Johnson and Kerry:We write to follow up on our November 22, 2016 letter regarding the agreement between the United States and Australia for the United States to consider for admission as refugees, potentially over 2,400 migrants currently detained in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, whom Australia has refused to admit. These migrants are nationals of countries like Somalia, Syria, Pakistan, Iran, and Sudan, as well as others. As you know, your agencies have deemed the agreement classified. This is despite the fact that classification of an agreement regarding individuals to be considered for admission by the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program is unprecedented. We appreciate your making staff available to provide us with the document i… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=726 | Goodlatte, Gowdy, Jackson Lee Introduce Bill to Help Child Pornography Trafficking Victims | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Representative Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), and Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) today introduced Justice for Child Victims Act of 2016 (H.R. 6440) to ensure child trafficking victims are able to seek and obtain the restitution that they need and deserve. Under current law, federal courts are required to award any child depicted in sexually explicit material restitution in “the full amount of the victim’s losses,” which can include medical services, physical or occupational therapy, and attorneys’ fees. However, the Supreme Court ruled in United States v. Paroline that an individual defendant who may have received, distributed, or possessed child pornography may not be held liable for a victim’s aggregate damages incurred by potentially thousands of others who have viewed her images, and that defendants may be made liable only for the harm caused by their own conduct, not the conduct of others. Because of the nature of the crime, child pornography trafficking victims are involved in countless cases across multiple jurisdictions and time. This means that in order to obtain restitution, a victim’s request must be presented in multiple cases across the country. Since the process is so lengthy and overwhelming, only about 20 out of the thousands of child pornography trafficking victims have sought restitution. The Justice for Child Victims Act remedies this problem by creating a compensation fund that is paid for by child pornography defendants as an alternative avenue for victims to obtain financial support for their losses. This simple, one-step alternative allows child pornography trafficking victims to quickly access financial support for their own recovery. Chairman Goodlatte, Representative Gowdy, and Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Jackson Lee issued the statements below on the introduction of Justice for Child Victims Act. Chairman Goodlatte: “The trafficking of child pornograph… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-president-obamas-national-security-address | Kaine Statement On President Obama's National Security Address | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On President Obama's National Security Address Tuesday, December 6, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, released the following statement on the President’s address and memorandum outlining the rules governing the use of force: “I strongly agree with the President that democracies should not operate in a state of perpetual war and that Congress has a solemn duty to authorize the current mission against ISIL. I also agree with what the President wrote in the memo released this week: Decisions as important as war and peace must be made pursuant to a legal framework and that detracting from that legal framework increases the risk of ill-considered decisions by current and future presidents. However, a presidential memorandum does not achieve these goals in the same way that an open debate in Congress about the contours of proposed military action does. In addition to avoiding dangerous precedents of unilateral executive power and overreach, an open debate in the legislative branch affords the public an opportunity to understand our military engagements and sends a message of resolve to our servicemembers who risk their lives for the sake of the mission. “In May 2013, President Obama committed to engage Congress in an effort to update the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force. More than three years later, the Administration continues to stretch the 2001 AUMF well beyond its intended scope, and Congress remains unwilling to debate, clarify, and authorize our current military actions in multiple countries. I hope that a transition to a new Administration and Congress in January will give us the opportunity to review ongoing military action against terrorist groups, redraft the 2001 AUMF, and reassert Congress’ rightful place in decisions of war and peace.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=C77DCBA9-0442-4770-BC6A-1E5B2749F24A | Warner Applauds Final Passage of Bill to Improve DNA Testing & Forensic Technology | 2016-12-06 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON –U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded a unanimous Senate vote to reauthorize Justice Department programs to support cutting-edge DNA testing and forensic technology. The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016, which was cosponsored by Sen. Warner and which originally passed the Senate last June, has been approved by the House of Representatives and now is headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The Act reauthorizes programs which have not been updated or strengthened in twelve years, since passage of the original legislation in 2004. There have been dramatic changes in forensic technology and DNA testing practices since that time. “Virginia’s DNA program has been a model for the rest of the country, showing how advances in forensic technology can have profound impacts in delivering justice to those wrongfully convicted and to victims of unsolved crimes,” said Sen. Warner. “In the 21st century, the responsible use of the latest technological advances should not only be expected -- it should be required. I am proud to see Congress embrace this same principle by authorizing support programs that invest in the modernization of the criminal justice system.” The Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2016 focuses on ensuring our criminal justice system is fair and effective. It provides resources for public forensic laboratories, which are critical to ensuring the efficient and accurate testing of evidence, and reducing the rape kit backlog. It strengthens crime victims’ rights and programs by increasing restitution for crime victims, requiring that interpreters be available to all federal crime victims who wish to participate in a court proceeding, and reauthorizing important programs used to notify crime victims of their rights and provide them with legal assistance. This legislation reauthorizes programs that directly benefit Virginia’s Department of Forensic Science by providing funding for the state’s DNA testing centers to develop strong programs and acquire neces… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398652 | Congressman Griffith's Weekly E-Newsletter 12.5.16 | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | A Date Which Will Live in Infamy? Seventy-five years ago, on the morning of December 7, 1941, the United States of America was “suddenly and deliberately attacked.” At the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes destroyed eight massive battleships and more than 300 airplanes and killed 2,000 Americans. One ship, the USS Oklahoma, was hit with torpedoes and capsized with 400 men trapped inside. In a horrifying scenario, the men trapped under the water slowly ran out of air. Rescuers heard taps from inside the ship but could only save a handful of men, and after a few days the tapping stopped. The day after the attack, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivered a moving speech to a joint session of Congress in which he declared that December 7, 1941 was “a date which will live in infamy.” In the speech, he also asked Congress to declare war on Japan, stating, “No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion... I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.” As families were receiving word of lost loved ones, Americans were reeling with the news of this horrific attack on our soil, and men on the USS Oklahoma were still trapped gasping for air, one member of Congress voted against declaring war on Japan. Jeannette Rankin was the only member of Congress to vote against declaring war on Japan and entering World War II. She had been one of a handful of members who earlier in her life had voted against entering World War I as well. While some may present an argument for the vote against WWI, there is no justifying voting against defending ourselves from the Japanese. This attack occurred seventy-five years ago this week. So imagine my surprise when, this April, the House voted to name a federal science and technology program after Congresswoman Rankin (H.R.4570). I… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-nomination-of-ben-carson-as-hud-secretary | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Ben Carson As HUD Secretary | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of Ben Carson As HUD Secretary Monday, December 5, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine released the following statement today on President-elect Trump’s nomination of Dr. Ben Carson to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): “The next HUD Secretary will lead an organization with over 8,000 employees and a budget of $47 billion that is charged with addressing the housing needs faced by our most vulnerable populations and enforcing the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination. Families face the challenge of finding an affordable and decent place to live with access to good jobs and quality schools when rents are exploding and access to the mortgage market is limited. It’s critical that Congress act to address these problems and have a strong partner at HUD to achieve results. I am interested to learn Dr. Carson’s approach to these issues.” Before serving in federal, state and local government, Kaine spent his legal career as a fair housing lawyer from 1984 to 2001. During that time, his cases were focused on implementing provisions of the Fair Housing Act throughout Virginia. As a Richmond lawyer, he represented Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc. (HOME) in its historic suit against Nationwide Mutual Insurance for industry-wide redlining practices in the issuance of homeowners insurance. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-statement-on-nomination-of-general-james-mattis-to-be-secretary-of-defense | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of General James Mattis To Be Secretary Of Defense | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Statement On Nomination Of General James Mattis To Be Secretary Of Defense Monday, December 5, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on President-elect Trump’s nomination of General James Mattis to be the next Secretary of Defense: “General Mattis has unquestionable expertise in military operations and a unique understanding of our complex security environment. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I look forward to hearing General Mattis’ plans for addressing both the security environment and organizational reforms to the Department of Defense. I would also like to hear how the Trump Administration intends to address the destabilizing role state actors like Russia have played on Western democracies, the threat to global security posed by nationalist movements, and considerations for a more effective counter-terrorism strategy. “With respect to the legal barrier to General Mattis serving as Secretary of Defense, I plan to carefully evaluate any exceptions to this law with respect to their implications for civilian control of the military.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-tours-alexandria-community-health-center-discusses-importance-of-preserving-the-affordable-care-act-and-expanding-coverage | Kaine Tours Alexandria Community Health Center, Discusses Importance Of Preserving The Affordable Care Act And Expanding Coverage | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Tours Alexandria Community Health Center, Discusses Importance Of Preserving The Affordable Care Act And Expanding Coverage Monday, December 5, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine toured a community health center in Alexandria, Virginia to discuss the importance of protecting health center funding, the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid going into the next administration. Kaine also highlighted how community health centers are critical in providing quality healthcare to underserved communities in Virginia and received an award from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association for his legislative work on behalf of community health centers in Congress. “Community health centers serve Virginians by providing a medical home through integrated care. It’s primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health care for all ages, for people of all status,” said Kaine. “These are critical services for communities in the most urban parts of the state in Northern Virginia and some of the most rural parts. “With the incoming Congress and the new Administration, I’m going to do everything I can to continue to be a strong supporter for community health centers which are an absolutely critical part of the nation’s health care system,” Kaine continued. “We’ve made a lot of advances in providing new protections and reducing the uninsured rate across the country, and we need to work to keep those in place. We have to embrace a discussion about improvements and reforms, but we need to maintain coverage, not shed coverage, and maintain great programs like community health centers.” Kaine has advocated to ensure funding for community health centers in Virginia since taking office in 2013. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=623F28B8-E9A3-4F7F-98C7-0FB30DFF3B36 | FCC Response to IoT Concerns Offers Foundation for Trump Administration to Build Upon | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) applauded the response of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to his October 25th letter raising concerns about the proliferation of insecure Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Sen. Warner, co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus and the incoming Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the FCC response, which offers a plan to reduce risks from insecure devices, provides the incoming Trump Administration with a roadmap for additional work in this area. The FCC letter resulted from Sen. Warner’s questions about the October 2016 Mirai botnet attack, which utilized vulnerable devices such as internet-connected cameras and DVRs to temporarily overwhelm popular Internet sites including Twitter, Amazon, Tumblr, Reddit, Spotify and Netflix. In the past week, a sophisticated variant of Mirai reportedly infected over one-million routers in Germany, the United Kingdom and Brazil. “The Commission’s response to my questions validates my concerns about the risk of crippling cyberattacks made easier through connected consumer appliances and wirelessly connected household devices,” Sen. Warner said. “The FCC chairman confirms that internet service providers already have the authority – if not the responsibility – to protect their networks by blocking malicious and harmful traffic. I also am pleased to learn the FCC also has been discussing improved tools, including setting security standards for IoT devices, to better protect consumers as well as the broader Internet.” “The commission’s proposal for a device certification process, either by the agency or through industry self-certification, deserves strong consideration,” Sen. Warner continued. “Similarly, the FCC’s suggestion of consumer labeling requirements echoes the call by many security experts for metrics that will empower and educate consumers. I strongly urge the incoming Trump Administration to make cybersecurity a top priority, because we simply must move forward with responsible … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=E40A4081-5E84-45DE-83FE-AEC55268F4F2 | Warner: No Special Consideration for Other Bills Until We Save Coal Miners Healthcare, Retirement | 2016-12-05 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a coalition of Senators fighting to protect the health and pensions of more than 120,000 retired coalminers nationwide announced their intent to use any means necessary to make sure that these workers and their families are protected. With 16,300 retired coal miners set to lose healthcare by Dec. 31, 2016 without Congressional action, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that they will block all attempts to pass legislation by unanimous consent in the Senate until the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) healthcare and pension shortfall is adequately addressed to give miners long-term certainty. By blocking other bills from sailing through with special privileges, the Senators hope to force House and Senate leadership to include the bipartisan mineworkers fix in the year-end spending package or allow an independent vote on the bill. The Senators released the following joint statement: “For several months, we have joined thousands of our states’ retired coal miners and their families to call for a vote on this bipartisan, paid-for bill. And for several months those calls have gone unanswered. These miners cannot wait another day and it’s up to us to protect what they’ve earned for a lifetime of dangerous, backbreaking work. We are confident this bill would pass on the floor and we demand action to provide long-term certainty for these miners.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/floor-statements/conference-report-on-s-2943-national-defense-authorization-act-for | CONFERENCE REPORT ON S. 2943, NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. Before addressing matters of concern to the Education and the Workforce Committee, I want to underscore my strong support for the shipbuilding and ship maintenance provisions. I have the honor of representing Hampton Roads, Virginia, the heart of our nation's shipbuilding industrial base. I strongly support the conference report's shipbuilding and ship maintenance provisions, specifically language urging the Secretary of the Navy to speed up the procurement schedule for aircraft carriers to ensure that our carrier fleet is not again reduced to 10 carriers. These provisions in the conference report will not only significantly benefit my region, but will be critical for our nation's security. I'd like to commend Congressman FORBES and Congressman COURTNEY for their efforts on this area. As a conferee and Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I was pleased to see that the final conference report eliminated matters of grave concern. First, the Conference Report removed Section 3512 of the House bill which redefined ``recreational vessels'' across almost all statutes. The aim of this provision was to exempt workers repairing vessels over 65 feet in length from coverage under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act (LHWCA), such as very large yachts and luxury watercraft. By stripping injured workers of the protections under LWHCA, these workers would have been shifted into coverage under state workers' compensation laws. Many state workers' compensation benefit levels are substantially inferior to LHWCA coverage, especially in states such as Florida. Earlier this year, the Florida Supreme Court found that the Florida workers' compensation law was unconstitutional because the duration of disability benefits was so truncated and the benefit levels so anemic that they did not constitute ``a system of redress'' that ``functions as a reasonable alternative to tort litigati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-floor-statement-in-support-of-final-national-defense-authorization | Scott Floor Statement in Support of Final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03) delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017. Congressman Scott, as Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, was appointed to the conference committee in July and successfully advocated for the removal of several harmful workplace provisions that were eliminated from the final bill text. “Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017. “I have the honor of representing Hampton Roads, Virginia, the heart of our nation’s shipbuilding industrial base. So I want to underscore my support for the shipbuilding and ship maintenance provisions in the bill, including the language urging the Secretary of the Navy to speed up the procurement schedule for aircraft carriers to ensure that our carrier fleet is not again reduced to 10 carriers. These provisions will not only significantly benefit my region, but will be critical to our nation’s security. I want to particularly commend my colleague from Virginia, the chair of the Seapower Subcommittee, Mr. Forbes, and the ranking member of that Subcommittee, Mr. Courtney, for their hard work on the shipbuilding aspects of the bill. “As the Ranking Member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I was pleased to see that the final conference report eliminated three matters of grave concern that would have adversely affected working conditions for shipyard workers and employees of government contractors. “The first provision eliminated from the bill would have severely undermined the workers’ compensation benefits that many shipyard workers’ now receive under the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. “The second problematic provision would have authorized taxpayer-funded employment discrimination by religious organizations. “And, a third provision would have significantly diminished the application of the Executive Order on Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces. This order … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-forbes-wittman-rigell-applauds-award-of-contract-for-new-lab-at | Scott, Forbes, Wittman & Rigell Applaud Award of Contract for New Lab at NASA Langley | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Randy Forbes (VA-04), Rob Wittman (VA-01) and Scott Rigell (VA-02) issued the following joint statement applauding today’s announcement by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) that it has awarded a $95.6 million contract to W.M. Jordan Co. of Newport News to construct the Measurement Systems Laboratory (MSL) at NASA Langley Research Center: “Today’s announcement by the General Services Administration is great news for NASA Langley and science research in Hampton Roads,” said Rep.Scott. “This project, part of NASA Langley’s 20-year revitalization plan, will expand NASA Langley’s research capabilities while saving millions of dollars in annual maintenance. As NASA Langley celebrates its 100th Anniversary next year, we look forward to continuing to work with NASA, the Virginia aerospace community, and our colleagues in Congress to ensure that NASA Langley is able to continue to implement its 20-year plan and remains an integral part of accomplishing NASA’s missions.” Rep J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) said “NASA is doing cutting-edge work and much of it is happening right here in Virginia. This contract award is part of what will enable NASA to make exciting new breakthroughs and reach new horizons – and is a sign of the bright days ahead for NASA Langley. I am proud of the bipartisan support from the Hampton Roads congressional delegation to support and advance the critical research being done there every day.” “NASA Langley is such an incredible Virginia and national asset. Construction of the MSL is a key component of NASA Langley Research Center’s long-term revitalization plan, setting course for 21st Century space and aeronautics innovation,” said Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-01) "NASA Langley has always meant a lot to me and my family," Rep.Rigell said. "I am proud that, through the bipartisan work of the delegation and others, the Research Center will be able to continue to inspire many people with the construction of the MSL, which is crucial to a path f… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-to-hold-health-care-town-hall-in-newport-news | Scott to Hold Health Care Town Hall in Newport News | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Bobby Scott will hold a health care town hall in Newport News on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. Congressman Scott will be joined by a representative from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Ashley Richard and Jamila Allen, both Navigators at ENROLL Virginia!, a nonpartisan, community-based organization dedicated to assisting Virginians with enrolling in health insurance offered by the Affordable Care Act Marketplace. The town hall will provide an overview of the Affordable Care Act, the Marketplace enrollment process, and other health care initiatives at the federal level. Open Enrollment for 2017 began on November 1, 2016. December 15, 2016 is the enrollment deadline for coverage to take effect on January 1, 2017. January 31, 2017 is the final enrollment deadline for coverage to take effect on March 1, 2017. Following this date, enrollment and changes to plans can occur only if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Constituents will also have the opportunity to ask questions and share their concerns. This event is free and open to the public. Newport News Healthcare Town Hall Monday, December 12, 2016 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center 2410 Wickham Ave Newport News, VA 23607 For more information about this town hall, please contact Congressman Scott's Newport News District Office at (757) 380-1000. # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=720 | Goodlatte Elected Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the following statement after the House Republican Conference voted to confirm the GOP Steering Committee’s recommendation that he continue to serve as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in the 115th Congress.Chairman Goodlatte: “I am honored to have been chosen to continue my service as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over some of the most important issues facing our country, including constitutional freedoms and civil liberties, legal and regulatory reform, competition and antitrust laws, terrorism and crime, immigration enforcement and reform, and intellectual property protections. “As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee I have worked with my committee members on both sides of the aisle to tackle a broad portfolio of issues and compile a strong record of bipartisan accomplishments. From banning bulk data collection and protecting Americans’ privacy in the digital age to banning Internet access taxes, the House Judiciary Committee has solved some of our nation’s most difficult issues. In the 115th Congress, we intend to build on these successes and will continue to advance an agenda focused on making America stronger and more competitive.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://goodlatte.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=721 | Judiciary Committee Uncovers that USCIS Fails to Conduct Background Checks on Immigration Applicants | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Robert Goodlatte | G000289 | goodlatte.house.gov | legacy | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) today pressed Secretary Jeh Johnson on the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) failure to ensure immigration benefits applicants have received full background checks prior to approval of their applications.The House Judiciary Committee received from a confidential source an email that the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Associate Director for the Field Operations Directorate sent to agency staff on November 29, 2016. In the email, he states that an issue had been identified with the key background system used to vet immigration benefits applicants and that proper background checks have not been run on certain applications. He further states that the agency is uncertain about the scope of the problem.In his letter to Secretary Johnson, Chairman Goodlatte demands answers from USCIS and DHS about the problems with the background check system, potential security risks, and what is being done to immediately resolve the problem.Below is Chairman Goodlatte’s letter. The signed letter can be found here.December 2, 2016Dear Secretary Johnson, I write regarding background checks for foreign nationals seeking immigration benefits and the seeming lack of ability of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to ensure the completion of such background checks prior to approval of immigration benefits applications. Specifically, on the morning of November 29, 2016, the Associate Director for the Field Operations Directorate at USCIS, sent an email to USCIS regional and district officials as well as USCIS leadership and senior officials, stating “Effective immediately offices are instructed not to approve or oath any naturalization cases in ELIS. We have identified an issue with FBI Name Checks initiated through ELIS. At this point we are not confident that proper FBI Name Checks have been run on certain ELIS cases. At this point we are uncertain of the scope of the problem….” The email went on to require that any scheduled naturalization… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-defense-bill-comstock-heller-service-member-job-training | House Passes Defense Bill with ComstockHeller Service Member Job Training Amendment | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Barbara Comstock | C001105 | comstock.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) and Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) released the below statement after the House passed a conference report to accompany S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 by a bipartisan vote of 375-34. The legislation included two of the Congresswoman’s amendments including one that she worked on with Senator Heller. “This bipartisan NDAA includes an amendment that I worked on with Nevada Senator Dean Heller to support service members who are transitioning out of the military by providing better access to job training programs. These initiatives foster a smoother transition for outgoing members of our military as they look to build a new career,” said Congresswoman Barbara Comstock. “Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed much for us, and this is just one of the ways we can repay them for their service to our country. I look forward to seeing this provision go to work for our veterans. I have numerous businesses and groups in my district, including the Northern Virginia Technology Council’s Veteran Employment Initiative and this provision can assist them.” “As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I remain focused on ensuring our nation’s members of the military returning from duty receive the access to resources they need to transition smoothly into civilian life. This means allowing service members to participate in civilian job and employment training, including apprenticeships and internships. These important opportunities can be seized before members leave the military so they are able to be fully-trained and equipped with skillsets employers are seeking,” said Senator Dean Heller. Congresswoman Comstock went on to say: “Our troops make sacrifices daily so that we may remain safe, and this legislation gives them more certainty with the largest boost in pay in six years at 2.1 percent. For over 50 years, Congress has worked across the aisle to annually reauthorize this important legislation, ensuring a strong nati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=4A369F83-0039-409E-B75E-701607555EDD | Warner Introduces Bill to Help Wells Fargo Victims Get Their Day in Court | 2016-12-02 | 2016 | 2016-12 | 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 Banking Committee, introduced legislation to give Wells Fargo customers who were victims of a fraudulent account scheme their day in court. The bank was involved in a scandal this year after it was revealed that Wells Fargo employees secretly opened roughly 1.5 million bank accounts and issued 565,000 credit cards without customers’ consent. Wells Fargo is using the forced arbitration clauses it tucked away in the fine print of contracts customers signed when they opened legitimate accounts to block them from suing over the fraudulent accounts. “Wells Fargo should not be able to take advantage of arbitration agreements customers signed when they opened legitimate accounts in order to avoid answering for the fakes ones bank employees created without customers’ knowledge,” said Sen. Warner. “Consumers who were defrauded by Wells Fargo in one of the most outrageous examples of misconduct since the financial crisis deserve their day in court.” The Justice for Victims of Fraud Act of 2016 will work hand-in-hand with a new oversight rule that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) put out in May to strengthen protections for consumers. Whereas the CFPB proposal would apply only to contracts signed after the rule is final – this bill would allow victims of Wells Fargo’s fraud to seek their day in court even if they signed contracts that included arbitration for their legitimate accounts in the past. The bill has been endorsed by The American Association for Justice, Consumers Union, the National Association of Consumer Advocates, the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low income clients), Americans for Financial Reform, the Center for Responsible Lending, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Media Voices for Children, Allied Progress, the Woodstock Institute, the Franciscan Action Network, the Economic Policy Institute Center, California Reinvestment Coalition, Consumers for Auto Reliability and … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/floor-statements/honoring-the-life-of-debra-saunders-white | HONORING THE LIFE OF DEBRA SAUNDERS-WHITE | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mourn the loss of one of our nation's finest public servants, Dr. Debra Saunders-White. She was a good friend and a tireless advocate for increasing access to higher education for all students. This past Saturday, Debra Saunders-White passed away, and I would like to take a brief moment to celebrate her life and legacy. For many years, Debra Saunders-White was a leading voice in education as she fought to strengthen historical black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions. As a first generation college graduate, Debra understood both the opportunities afforded by higher education and the many challenges that accompany students as they attempt to access and afford a higher education. A native of Hampton, Virginia, she attended the University of Virginia before receiving her Masters of Business Administration from the College of William and Mary and her Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from George Washington University. After completing her education, Mrs. Saunders-White spent 15 years in the private sector, working for IBM as a systems engineer before transitioning to marketing. From 1999 until 2006, Dr. Saunders-White served as the Assistant Provost of Technology at Hampton University. While at Hampton, she designed and implemented the university's first information technology organization. Her efforts made Hampton University the first HBCU in the nation to join the Internet2 community, where they earned the ``most wired university'' title by Forbes Magazine and the Princeton Review. Ultimately, Dr. Saunders-White left Hampton University and spent some time at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) as the Vice Chancellor and later served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Department of Education in President Obama's administration. In 2011, Mrs. Saunders-White became the 11th chancellor of North Carolina Central University. During her tenure, Dr. Saunders-White was held in high regard by all of her colleagu… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398651 | Griffith Statement on Roe Chairmanship | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: “Today, my friend and colleague, Congressman Phil Roe, who represents the 1st Congressional District of Tennessee, was recommended by the House Republican Steering Committee to serve as the new Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.” “Congressman Roe and I share a large portion of the Virginia-Tennessee border, and it has always been a pleasure working with him on so many issues. I look forward to supporting Congressman Roe on this critical post at tomorrow’s Conference meeting and subsequently working with him in his new role as Chairman on important Veterans’ Affairs issues.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=444 | Beyer Seeks Answers In Hearing On Skyrocketing Rates For Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | Congressman Beyer demanded answers at a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the rapidly rising rates for policy holders of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). He expressed the anguish of constituents who contacted him about their premium increases, some of which went up by as much as 126 percent, in an exchange with the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The sudden FLTCIP rate increases shocked and upset many of my constituents, said Rep. Don Beyer. Unfortunately many of their questions remain unanswered. We need to continue to push OPM to fully explain why so little information was communicated to policy-holders sooner, especially when OPM knew years in advance that premium increases would be expected.We need tangible adjustments to ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of this program. Rep. Beyer does not sit on the Oversight Committee, but asked to take part in the hearing because of its significance to his constituents. Fellow Virginia Representative Gerry Connolly, who sits on the Oversight Committee, initially requested the hearing. Beyer added, Congress held a hearing in 2009 and nothing improved. Insurers again issued a contract with even worse price shock to beneficiaries. The conversation cannot end with this hearing. Northern Virginia is home to the largest concentration of federal employees in the nation, many of whom purchase through FLTCIP. Video of Rep. Beyer's exchanges at the hearing can be viewed here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/feinstein-kaine-statement-on-clean-extension-of-the-iran-sanctions-act | Feinstein, Kaine Statement On Clean Extension Of The Iran Sanctions Act | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Feinstein, Kaine Statement On Clean Extension Of The Iran Sanctions Act Thursday, December 1, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations & Armed Services Committees and co-author of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, released the following statement on the unanimous vote to extend the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA), a critical component of the U.S. sanctions architecture against Iran: “We voted today to extend ISA because it is consistent with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which we strongly support. In line with the agreement, the President is currently waiving sanctions as Iranian compliance with the deal is tested over the next eight years. Until then, sanctions legislation must remain in place to allow an immediate ‘snap-back’ should Iran violate the JCPOA. This is not a new sanction, but signals the continued commitment of Congress to vigorously enforce Iran’s compliance with the JCPOA and to make clear that there will be immediate consequences should Iran break the terms of the agreement, including the re-imposition of sanctions. “Today’s vote is in support of the agreement. All parties to the JCPOA contemplated that sanction statutes would remain in place until the IAEA reaches the conclusion that all nuclear material in Iran remains for peaceful purposes. At that time, Congress is to seek termination of statutory sanctions and Iran will permanently ratify the Additional Protocol. Today, the U.S. and Iran are honoring the agreement, and it would be a significant error for the U.S. to walk away from the agreement in the future.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-and-kaine-announce-legislation-to-expand_petersburg-national-battlefield-expected-to-become-law | Warner & Kaine Announce Legislation to Expand Petersburg National Battlefield Expected to Become Law | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner & Kaine Announce Legislation to Expand Petersburg National Battlefield Expected to Become Law Thursday, December 1, 2016 WASHINGTON – Today U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that legislation to add more than 7,000 acres to the Petersburg National Battlefield is on track to be approved by Congress as soon as next week. Text of the annual defense authorization bill released by a congressional conference committee includes legislation sponsored by the two Virginia Senators authorizing the National Park Service to acquire additional historic land sites related to the Siege of Petersburg, the longest military event of the Civil War. The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to pass the House of Representatives on Friday, with the Senate projected to follow suit early next week. “The Petersburg National Battlefield bore witness to the longest sustained siege in our nation’s military history and draws visitors from all across the country, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy every year,” said Sen. Warner. “Expanding the park will encourage tourism to the region while preserving this important piece of American history for future generations. After working on this legislation for several years now, it’s great news that we are so close to seeing it a reality.” “The NDAA ensures that the Petersburg National Battlefield will become the nation's largest protected battlefield,” Sen. Kaine said. “This hallowed ground bears witness to one of the longest, hardest and most decisive contests of the Civil War. The stories of all the combatants--including more than 16,000 African-American troops--will now be more accessible to the current generation. I thank my colleagues for their support and acknowledge the work of my predecessor Jim Webb in getting us to this day.” “After working for years with my colleagues to secure the expansion of the Petersburg National Battlefield Park, I am proud to be able to say that we have prot… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-urge-action-to-authorize-delayed-v-a-medical-leases-before-the-end-of-the-year- | Warner, Kaine Urge Action To Authorize Delayed V-A Medical Leases Before The End Of The Year | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner, Kaine Urge Action To Authorize Delayed V-A Medical Leases Before The End Of The Year Thursday, December 1, 2016 WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined 16 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging Congressional leaders to authorize leases for 24 Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) medical facilities before the end of the 114th Congress. Congress has not authorized major medical facility leases since 2014, which are necessary to enable the department to deliver vital care and services to veterans in Virginia and across the country. Most of these leases have been pending congressional approval for more than a year. “Veterans in each of these states deserve the timely and quality health care benefits they have earned through their service. As such, we ask that you work to include authorization for these leases in the December funding bill, or another appropriate vehicle, to be signed into law this year,” the Senators wrote. Under law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) must receive specific legislative authorization to lease medical facilities with average annual rental payments in excess of $1 million. However, Congress has not, through a regular process, recently authorized any V-A major medical facility leases, hampering the ability of the V-A to provide much-needed health care and services to veterans around the country. Among the leases that are pending is a 155,000 square foot outpatient facility in Hampton Roads, Va., which has one of the fastest-growing veterans populations in the country. Patient visits in Hampton Roads’ service area increased by 30.5 percent from 2011 to September 2014, while the national average across the V-A system was 8.6 percent. Full list of leases pending authorization include: Ann Arbor, MI - Outpatient Clinic Birmingham, AL - Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Birmingham, AL - Outpatient Specialty Clinic Boston, MA – Research Space Charleston, SC – Research Space … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=84F6FB22-938A-4C79-9F90-97254109A25B | Sen. Warner, Intelligence Committee Colleagues Urge the President to Declassify Information on Russia and the U.S. Election | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | Washington – Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), incoming Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and co-founder of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, joined a group of committee members in asking President Obama to declassify information relating to the Russian government and the U.S. election. Intelligence Committee members Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King, (I-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and ex-officio member Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) signed the letter. “We believe there is additional information concerning the Russian Government and the U.S. election that should be declassified and released to the public. We are conveying specifics through classified channels,” the members wrote. ### Letter on Russia & U.S. Election by MarkWarner on Scribd | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=C045989B-33A2-4B73-A15B-8E54BA2AE481 | Sen. Warner Statement on Congressional renewal of U.S. sanctions on Iran | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON—Today U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), incoming Vice Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement on Senate passage of legislation which imposes a 10-year extension of sanctions on Iran. The Iran Sanctions Act, which Sen. Warner co-sponsored, now heads to the President: “Today I voted to extend the Iran Sanctions Act for another decade. Last renewed in 2006, this Act imposes sanctions on U.S. and foreign companies investing in Iran’s energy sector—a major component of its economy—but allows the President to waive sanctions on a case-by-case basis. Many of the Act’s sanctions, including those targeting investment in Iran’s oil and gas sector, have been waived as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that the United States and five other countries have signed with Iran to rein in Tehran’s nuclear program. I firmly believe the continuation of these sanctions is prudent to preserve America’s ability to re-impose sanctions should Iran violate that agreement and to signal to Tehran that its continued threatening and aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. In the last year alone, Iran has conducted at least four ballistic missile tests, illegally detained U.S. sailors in the Persian Gulf, threatened to shoot down U.S. Navy planes, and continued to support terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and dictators like Syria’s President Assad. I will continue to support efforts to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and encourage Tehran to abide by international law and norms of behavior.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=EA679E20-6669-4201-BDE4-59C3FC75910B | Warner Applauds House Passage of Bill to Honor OSS Veterans | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Last evening, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) to honor veterans of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) with a Congressional Gold Medal. The bill recognizes the members of the intelligence agency for their “superior service and major contributions during World War II.” It now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “For many years, the heroic contributions of the OSS – which included some of the most daring covert operations of World War II — remained shrouded in secrecy, their impact largely unknown to the American public. Today, Congress is able to publicly recognize the members of the OSS for their remarkable heroism and many sacrifices,” said Sen. Warner. “As the predecessor to the modern CIA, other elements of the U.S. intelligence community, and U.S. special operations forces, the OSS once boasted nearly 13,000 members, but more than 70 years after they won the war, fewer than 100 are still with us. I know how much it means to the veterans of the OSS, as well as their families, that this legislation is finally making its way to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Congress has now ensured that their courage of spirit and their love of country will long live on in our nation’s memory.” The OSS conducted critical operations during the war including establishing intelligence networks, training resistance organizations throughout Europe and Asia, and carrying out “mercy missions” at the end of the war to save the lives of thousands of Allied prisoners of war. It was created in 1942 under the leadership of General William J. Donovan to better coordinate and oversee American intelligence operations. At its peak, 13,000 members served in the OSS including notable names such as Julia Child, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., John Ford, and James Donovan, who was depicted in the 2015 movie, “Bridge of Spies.” A number of OSS veterans were present in the House gallery when the legislation was approved. Sen. Warner is t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=EBDAEDB2-FFC7-4D2C-95E3-9E49E1D07CA7 | Legislation to Expand Petersburg National Battlefield on Track to Become Law | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | 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 that legislation to add more than 7,000 acres to the Petersburg National Battlefield is on track to be approved by Congress as soon as next week. Text of the annual defense authorization bill released by a congressional conference committee includes legislation sponsored by the two Virginia Senators authorizing the National Park Service to acquire additional historic land sites related to the Siege of Petersburg, the longest military event of the Civil War. The National Defense Authorization Act is expected to pass the House of Representatives on Friday, with the Senate projected to follow suit early next week. “The Petersburg National Battlefield bore witness to the longest sustained siege in our nation’s military history and draws visitors from all across the country, injecting millions of dollars into the local economy every year,” said Sen. Warner. “Expanding the park will encourage tourism to the region while preserving this important piece of American history for future generations. After working on this legislation for several years now, it’s great news that we are so close to seeing it a reality.” “The NDAA ensures that the Petersburg National Battlefield will become the nation's largest protected battlefield,” Sen. Kaine said. “This hallowed ground bears witness to one of the longest, hardest and most decisive contests of the Civil War. The stories of all the combatants--including more than 16,000 African-American troops--will now be more accessible to the current generation. I thank my colleagues for their support and acknowledge the work of my predecessor Jim Webb in getting us to this day.” “After working for years with my colleagues to secure the expansion of the Petersburg National Battlefield Park, I am proud to be able to say that we have protected these hallowed grounds and ensured that the lands and history of this battlefield will be preserved for future generations,” said Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), who introd… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ContentRecord_id=F60FCA4F-CA96-4018-922C-F05C34143441 | Warner, Kaine Urge Action to Authorize Delayed V-A Leases | 2016-12-01 | 2016 | 2016-12 | Democrat | House | VA | Mark Warner | W000805 | www.warner.senate.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON – Today, Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined 16 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging Congressional leaders to authorize leases for 24 Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) medical facilities before the end of the 114th Congress. Congress has not authorized major medical facility leases since 2014, which are necessary to enable the department to deliver vital care and services to veterans in Virginia and across the country. Most of these leases have been pending congressional approval for more than a year. “Veterans in each of these states deserve the timely and quality health care benefits they have earned through their service. As such, we ask that you work to include authorization for these leases in the December funding bill, or another appropriate vehicle, to be signed into law this year,” the Senators wrote. Under law, the Department of Veterans Affairs (V-A) must receive specific legislative authorization to lease medical facilities with average annual rental payments in excess of $1 million. However, Congress has not, through a regular process, recently authorized any V-A major medical facility leases, hampering the ability of the V-A to provide much-needed health care and services to veterans around the country. Among the leases that are pending is a 155,000 square foot outpatient facility in Hampton Roads, Va., which has one of the fastest-growing veterans populations in the country. Patient visits in Hampton Roads’ service area increased by 30.5 percent from 2011 to September 2014, while the national average across the V-A system was 8.6 percent. Full list of leases pending authorization include: Ann Arbor, MI - Outpatient Clinic Birmingham, AL - Outpatient Mental Health Clinic Birmingham, AL - Outpatient Specialty Clinic Boston, MA – Research Space Charleston, SC – Research Space Daytona Beach, FL - Outpatient Clinic Denver, CO - Chief Business Office Purchased Care Gainesville, FL - Outpatient Clinic Hampton Roads, VA - Outpatient … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/floor-statements/filipino-veterans-of-world-war-ii-congressional-gold-medal-act-of-2015 | FILIPINO VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT OF 2015 | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1555, the Filipino Veterans of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015. Filipino Americans have contributed to American life and culture in countless ways, and one of the most noble is through military service. Over 200,000 Filipino soldiers and guerrilla fighters served with the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Their invaluable service helped provide the necessary support to defeat the Japanese in the Pacific. For over 60 years, Filipino veterans and community advocates have fought to obtain benefits and recognition that they were promised. In 2009, Congress created the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, where eligible veterans who are U.S. citizens could receive a one-time payment of $15,000; eligible veterans who are not U.S. citizens could receive a one-time payment of $9,000. While this fund has allowed many of them to receive some compensation, in Congress we are still working to make sure these families get all of the benefits they earned, they deserved and were promised. Another way that we can recognize these heroes is by awarding them the Congressional Gold Medal. The Senate unanimously passed the Filipino World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act in July. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of the House version of the bill and co-chair of the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation so that approximately 18,000 surviving Filipino veterans of World War II may be recognized for their service to our Nation. We are forever indebted to these brave soldiers, and it is important that we appropriately express our gratitude for that service. Mr. Speaker, I therefore urge my colleagues to support the bill. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://bobbyscott.house.gov/media-center/floor-statements/recognizing-retiring-members-of-the-virginia-delegation | RECOGNIZING RETIRING MEMBERS OF THE VIRGINIA DELEGATION | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Robert Scott | S000185 | bobbyscott.house.gov | legacy | Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia for yielding and for organizing tonight's Special Order. Tonight, we honor three retiring members from the Virginia delegation to Congress: Congressmen Randy Forbes, Robert Hurt, and Scott Rigell. Despite our differences from time to time on national policy, the Virginia delegation has a long history of being able to constructively work together on issues of importance to the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Former-Senator John Warner, the longtime dean of our delegation, embodied this bipartisan work ethic, and we have already heard it referred to as the Virginia way of doing things. During their service in Congress, RANDY, ROBERT, and SCOTT have each put their mark on this institution and on national policy. Robert Hurt has been a leader on the Financial Services Committee and focused on policies to expand economic opportunity in south side Virginia and communities around the Nation. A strong advocate for community banks and credit unions over his three terms in Congress, ROBERT has also worked to ensure that consumers are financially literate with the necessary information to make the best financial choices for their families. ROBERT has always fought for what he believed to be the best interest of his constituents, and so I wish him and his family well as he returns to his home in Chatham. I have come to know SCOTT and RANDY very well as our congressional districts are adjacent to one another in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Along with our colleague, Rob Wittman, we have participated in countless joint appearances and events across Hampton Roads. In both the private and public sector, Scott Rigell has dedicated his life to serving the Hampton Roads community. In his three terms in Congress, he has developed a well-deserved reputation as a pragmatic, bipartisan leader as he addresses the Nation's fiscal issues and reforming how Congress operates. We have been working together on many issues, but I especiall… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://brat.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=299 | Rep. Brat on Passage of 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | VA | David Brat | B001290 | brat.house.gov | legacy | WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Brat (R-Va.) issued the following statement after the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act H.R. 34, which funds the National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiatives and the fight against opioid abuse: “I represent all my constituents and their interests in Washington, and I am particularly sensitive to their needs when I am called to vote. While this bill helps fund cures for thousands of diseases including cancer and Alzheimer’s, and provides funds to fight the opioid epidemic, it leaves members with a Faustian bargain. This 996 page bill is a cynical ploy engineered by D.C. lobbyists to pit very serious diseases and concerns, some of which do have legitimate need for Federal funds, against fiscal responsibility and sanity. Over the past several months, I have met with many parents who have lost their children to the ravages of vicious diseases and to the nightmare of the heroin epidemic. I have heroic sheriffs in my district who are creating programs to rehabilitate addicts in their prisons virtually out of thin air and lack the Federal help they need. All my constituents deserve their interests heard in Washington, and there is no question that funds are needed for the fight. At the same time, those funds should have flowed through the regular order process. Despite my persistent advocacy, we did not pass a budget this year, and failed to pass all the spending bills. Last year when this legislation was brought up for a floor vote, it was set on auto-pilot spending. I introduced an amendment to move funding for this legislation back into the budget and subject to appropriations , according to regular order. This bill does that; but it authorizes $6 billion in discretionary spending that will not be subject to scoring by the Congressional Budget Office. The Cures Act also creates a spending account for the FDA and NIH that is not subject to the budgetary caps. Its spending is structured in a convoluted and disingenuous way, relying on bogus savings that do not exist. For instance, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| http://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398650 | Griffith Statement on 21st Century Cures Act | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | VA | Morgan Griffith | G000568 | morgangriffith.house.gov | legacy | Today the House of Representatives voted on the revised 21st Century Cures Act (House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 34 ), which passed 392-26. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) is a co-sponsor of the original bill (H.R. 6) that passed the House in July, 2015. Congressman Griffith issued the following statement: “The 21st Century Cures Act facilitates the discovery of new treatments for patients with rare diseases that currently have no cure. Further, the bill cuts out bureaucratic red tape in order to help speed up the approval of these medical breakthroughs, new discoveries, and biological treatments.” “In addition, the bill has several aspects that are important to patients and families in the Ninth District, including grants to the states to help combat the opioid epidemic and reforms to improve our mental health system.” “I am pleased with provisions that allow the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to streamline the approval of regenerative therapeutic products and encourage the FDA to identify opportunities for accelerated approval without lowering the current standards of evidence. Regenerative medicine involves cutting-edge technology that has the ability to repair tissues and organs, or regenerate cells. If a drug shows potential to treat or cure a serious or life-threatening disease, the bill facilitates a program for expedited review.” “The bill requires new federal spending, but Congress has identified ways to fund the research. Although this means the money can’t be spent in other ways, research to cure rare diseases that currently have no cure, I believe, is an appropriate use of federal funding.” “While the private sector does undertake their own medical research and development, they focus on treatments and cures that can be sold on a large scale. The federal government must spearhead the research for treatments for rare conditions or cures for diseases that may only affect a few thousand people.” Background: 21st Century Cures brings our health ca… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://beyer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=443 | Beyer Presents Congressional Badge of Bravery Award to U.S. Park Police Officer Carl Hiott, Constituent Who Saved Lives During the 2013 Navy Yard Shooting | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Donald Beyer | B001292 | beyer.house.gov | legacy | November 30, 2016 (Washington, DC) Rep. Don Beyer yesterday presented U.S. Park Police Officer Carl Hiott the Congressional Badge of Bravery, an award recognizing law enforcement officers for exceptional acts of bravery in the face of great personal risk. Officer Hiott, who lives in Alexandria, was part of a team which saved the lives of workers at the Washington Navy Yard in 2013, during the shooting there which claimed the lives of twelve people. Officer Hiott did a tremendous service to his community and his country, and I'm thrilled to be able to recognize him for his courageous actions during the Washington Navy Yard shooting, said Rep. Don Beyer. He put his life at risk to protect others, and undoubtedly saved lives that day. His service represents the finest example of law enforcement, and I am so proud to present him with the Congressional Badge of Bravery. The presentation was made at a ceremony in Rep. Beyer's Washington office, and attendees included Interior Secretary Sally Jewel, Jonathan Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service, and Robert Maclean, Chief of U.S. Park Police. The Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery is presented to individuals who sustain injury or put their lives at risk to perform an act characterized as bravery by the agency head who makes the nomination that placed the individual at risk of serious physical injury or death. On September 16, 2013, a lone gunman entered the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, DC, and began killing people. The suspect entered the building with a disassembled shotgun, assembled the shotgun in a fourth-floor bathroom, and then proceeded to make his way through the building shooting civilians and staff. At one point, he shot a security officer and took his pistol. Following 911 calls, multiple agencies, including the United States Park Police and the District's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), began arriving and searching the building for the active shooter. United States Pa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://comstock.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/landmark-21st-century-cures-act-passes-house | Landmark 21st Century Cures Act Passes House | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Republican | House | VA | Barbara Comstock | C001105 | comstock.house.gov | legacy | Washington, DC – Congresswoman Barbara Comstock (R-VA) released the following statement after voting in favor of the House-Senate negotiated 21st Century Cures Act, which passed the House by a vote of 392 to 26. The legislation will now go to the Senate for final approval before being sent to the president for signature: “The 21st Century Cures Act is a game changer in medical innovation in the fight for cures of chronic diseases. This legislation will help the United States lead the way in medical research and brings hope to patients with cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions as we fight to find new cures. The 21st Century Cures Act brings together both public and private investment toward medical research, while streamlining the testing and approval process that will lead to new lifesaving treatments getting to patients faster. We must unleash medical innovation across the country to save lives, and this bill does just that. Northern Virginia is home to the Inova Schar Cancer Institute which is ranked in the nation’s top ten percent of cancer centers and the world class research being done there will be helped by the passage of this legislation. “Childhood cancer has devastated families throughout the country and the 21st Century Cures Act includes $1.8 billion for cancer research, $1 billion of which will support the Cancer Moonshot over the next three years. Two families I know in the Tenth District have been personally touched by childhood cancer, having lost children to cancer. The Miller family, who lost their daughter Gabriella, and the Giordano family, who lost their son Mathias, have made it their mission to bring awareness and research dollars to the types of cancers that took their own children and this legislation is a big step forward for more resources to stamp out childhood cancers. “Another issue that our community sees the effects of daily is opioid abuse. $1 billion in the 21st Century Cures Act will be used to fight this disease that has taken so many vic… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://connolly.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=786 | Top Oversight and Transportation Committee Dems Request Briefing and Documents from GSA on President-Elect Trump's D.C. Hotel Lease | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Gerald Connolly | C001078 | connolly.house.gov | legacy | "This is not a hypothetical conflict—there is a clear and very real conflict that will be triggered the moment Mr. Trump is sworn in as President of the United States unless concrete steps are taken now to avert it." share: f t Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Ranking Member of the and House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, and Rep. André Carson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, sent a letter to the General Services Administration requesting information about the “imminent breach-of-lease and conflict of interest issues created by President-elect Donald Trump’s lease with the U.S. Government for the Trump International Hotel building in Washington, D.C.” The lease bars any “elected official of the Government of the United States” from deriving “any benefit” from the agreement. Click here and see below to read the letter: November 30, 2016 The Honorable Denise Turner Roth Administrator U.S. General Services Administration 1800 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20405 Dear Administrator Roth: We write to request information about how the General Services Administration (GSA) plans to address the imminent breach-of-lease and conflict of interest issues created by President-elect Donald Trump’s lease with the U.S. Government for the Trump International Hotel building in Washington, D.C. Mr. Trump’s lease contains a provision specifically barring any “elected official of the Government of the United States” from deriving “any benefit” from the agreement. We do not see this as an ambiguous provision, but as a strict and categorical ban. The contractual breach threatened by Mr. Trump’s swearing-in is compounded by the general and egregious conflict of interest posed by his appointing the GSA … | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/kaine-renews-call-for-congress-to-vote-on-war-against-isil-encourages-new-debate-on-changing-security-challenges | Kaine Renews Call For Congress To Vote On War Against ISIL, Encourages New Debate On Changing Security Challenges | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Kaine Renews Call For Congress To Vote On War Against ISIL, Encourages New Debate On Changing Security Challenges Wednesday, November 30, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – In remarks on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, renewed his call for Congress to vote on an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to the terrorist group ISIL. He also paid tribute to Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott C. Dayton of Woodbridge, Virginia who was killed in combat in Syria last week, highlighting the costs of two and a half years of war against ISIL. “I continue to believe, and I will say this in a very personal way as a military dad, that the troops we have deployed overseas deserve to know that Congress is behind this mission,” Kaine said. “As this war has expanded into two-plus years … more and more of our troops are risking and losing their lives far from home, I am concerned and raise again something I’ve raised often on this floor – that there is a tacit agreement to avoid debating this war in the one place it ought to be debated: in the halls of Congress.” “Two and a half years of war against the Islamic State and 15 years now after the passage of the authorization in September of 2001, we see that that authorization has been stretched way beyond what it was intended to do,” Kaine continued. “President Obama recently announced that the authorization is now going to be expanded to allow use of military action against al-Shabaab, the African terrorist group - a dangerous terrorist group to be sure - but al-Shabab did not begin until 2007. So an original authorization that was very specific by this body to allow action against the perpetrators of the 9/11 attacks is now being used all over the globe against organizations that didn't even exist when the 9/11 attack occurred.” As President-elect Trump prepares to take office and a new Congress will be sworn-in in January 2017, Kaine urged members of Congre… | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | ||
| https://www.kaine.senate.gov/press-releases/warner-kaine-announce-175-million-in-federal-grants-for-virginia-preschools | Warner, Kaine Announce $17.5 Million In Federal Grants For Virginia Preschools | 2016-11-30 | 2016 | 2016-11 | Democrat | House | VA | Tim Kaine | K000384 | www.kaine.senate.gov | legacy | Warner, Kaine Announce $17.5 Million In Federal Grants For Virginia Preschools Wednesday, November 30, 2016 WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced that Virginia preschools have been awarded $17.5 million in grants from the U.S. Departments of Education (ED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) to continue their work expanding access to high-quality preschool for children from low- to moderate-income families in the communities of Brunswick, Chesterfield, Fairfax, Giles, Henrico, Norfolk, Petersburg, Prince William, Richmond, Sussex, and Winchester. Both Senators have advocated for quality early childhood education since their days as governor. Kaine expanded the Virginia Preschool Initiative by increasing Pre-K enrollment by 40 percent in the Commonwealth. Warner helped secure funding for Virginia’s Smart Beginnings program, an initiative that helps local communities deliver on ensuring conditions for a strong, healthy start for young children and their families. “During each of our governorships, we worked tirelessly to improve and expand quality education to more Virginians,” said the Senators. “These continued federal grants are a testament to our Commonwealth’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality preschool, as it is a key to a promising economic future.” In the Senate, they have both supported the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 and backed continued Preschool Development Grant funding as well as authorizing the Grants in the Every Student Succeeds Act. The grants comprise the third year of awards to states that are working with local communities to prepare the nation’s most vulnerable children for success in school and beyond. This year ED recognized Virginia for serving more children under the grant than originally planned. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |
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