Our second day of travel in the Shenandoah Valley began in Hot Springs, where Senator Warner delivered the keynote address for the Virginia Association of Counties annual conference. Senator Warner praised the hundreds of local elected officials for their continued hard work before taking questions from the crowd.

"We all in Washington have to pass difficult legislation, “ the Senator said, "But you know, you all have the really difficult job: actually implementing that legislation."

After a quick drive over to Buena Vista, the Senator got a briefing from the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board at the Dabney S. Lancaster Community College’s Rockbridge Regional Center.  The Senator was updated on the status of a $5 million investment in green jobs  issued in February which will provide green job training for one-thousand people in the area. The Senator told Joe Dashiell of WDBJ 7: 

"I think over the next 25 years there's going to be more jobs and wealth created around the world in the energy sector than any other sector," Warner said, "and it would be a shame if America ceded that leadership in areas like renewable energies … to other countries like China."

Our last stop of the trip was at the Poff Building in Roanoke, where the Senator toured the Veterans Affairs Regional Office and spoke with leadership about efforts to address a backlog in processing VA claims.  

On Thursday and Friday, Senator Warner will honor military families and veterans at a series of events across Hampton Roads. Check back here for updates.