Press Releases

“It’s sad that it’s come to this, but hundreds of thousands of people depend on the safety of the Metro system. We need to take it seriously. I’m glad that Metro’s new leadership is treating system safety with an appropriate sense of urgency.”

In response to concerns raised by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the IRS will revise its website and publications to provide more clarity to taxpayers about the permissible use of electronic records.

Sen. Warner released the following statement today on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s decision not to allow energy exploration in the Atlantic Ocean in its 2017-2022 offshore leasing plan.

Following the U.S. Navy’s announcement that the contamination of drinking water on and around Naval Air Landing Facility Fentress in Chesapeake is more widespread than previously reported, Sen. Warner and Kaine pressed the Secretary of the Navy to ensure the immediate needs of local community members are met.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced the Divided Families Reunification Act, legislation which directs the State Department to prioritize reunification efforts between Korean Americans and their relatives in North Korea, who have been divided since the Korean War.

The bill also creates a regular dialogue mechanism between the State Department and affected Korean-American families so that the federal government takes into account the views and advice of those personally affected by the decades-long separation from their loved ones.

“A lack of diplomatic relations should not stand in the way of reuniting Koreans who were separated from their families more than 60 years ago. There are tens of thousands of Koreans, many of whom living in the United States, who are still waiting to be reunited with their loved ones,” Sen. Warner said. “This bill will encourage the State Department to prioritize opening up this opportunity to Korean-Americans by requiring discussion during bilateral negotiations with South Korea. These families have waited long enough.”

Following the division of the Korean Peninsula into South Korea and North Korea, more than 10 million Koreans were separated from their family members, many of whom now live in the United States. Since the signing of the Korean War armistice agreement on July 27, 1953, there has been little to no contact between Korean Americans and their family members who remain in North Korea.

“Time is running out for these reunifications to happen and more families will have no knowledge of their loved ones’ whereabouts,” Sen. Kirk said. “We need to make sure that there is an official channel to assist in the reunification of Korean Americans, including the 60,000 Korean Americans in Illinois. This bipartisan bill gives a voice and hope to the thousands of families seeking reunification.”

In June 2015, Sens. Warner and Kirk introduced a resolution encouraging North Korea to permit reunions between Korean Americans and their relatives still living in North Korea and urging the government of South Korea to include U.S. citizens in future family reunions planned with North Korea.

Previously, Sen. Warner has worked to provide visas to Koreans with specialized skills that are lacking in the U.S. labor market and to strengthen bilateral ties between the United States and South Korea.

A copy of the legislation is available here.

The legislation, which now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives, tackles heroin and prescription drug abuse and overdose deaths, a growing epidemic in Virginia and across the country.

Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) spoke in favor of a resolution to block the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.

Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of the President’s November 2014 executive actions on immigration. The Court is slated to review the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in United States v. Texas

Sens. Warner and Kaine announced today that Hampton Roads will receive $844,847 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for adaption and management strategies to address sea level rise. Hampton Roads is one of the communities most vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise in the country, second only to New Orleans.

“I’m very pleased Virginia will receive this funding to combat homelessness in the Commonwealth,” Sen. Warner said. “This funding will help individuals and families return to self-sufficiency and strengthen our communities.”

Sens. Warner and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced legislation to combat human trafficking on commercial air flights. The Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act would require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement.

“To the tens of thousands of Virginians, DC residents and visitors who travel across the Potomac River every day, Arlington’s Memorial Bridge is a critical piece of our regional transportation system."

On the Senate floor, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to abandon their obstructionist tactics and do their jobs by committing to hold a hearing and vote on the eventual Supreme Court nominee.

Two retired coal miners from Southwest Virginia were in Washington today to call on Congress to strengthen a United Mineworkers Union health and pension fund that’s almost out of money after several recent coal company bankruptcies.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in the Senate and House today in introducing legislation to establish an independent National Commission on Security and Technology Challenges.

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined fellow members of the Senate Democratic caucus outside of the U.S. Supreme Court to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to hold a hearing and vote on President Obama’s eventual Supreme Court nominee.

Sen. Warner (D-VA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), along with Congressman Bob Latta (R-OH), today praised the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to veterans of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) “in recognition of their superior service and major contributions during World War II.”

Democrats on the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today urged Chairman Richard Shelby to stop obstructing President Obama’s nominees for critical Administration positions related to financial oversight, national security, export financing, and public transportation safety.

Sen. Warner, along with 32 Democratic Senators, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on the need to protect women’s access to affordable birth control.

“As former governors, we each recognize and value the importance of the federal, state, and local partnerships that help keep Virginians safe every day,” said Sens. Warner and Kaine.

“We’re very pleased that the Pamunkey tribe, whose federal recognition was long overdue, will receive grants to help expand affordable housing and create a safer community through crime prevention and safety programs,” said Warner, Kaine and Wittman.

Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, Congressmen Bobby Scott, Don Beyer, G. K. Butterfield, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, and Hilary Shelton, Director of the NAACP Washington Bureau introduced the 400 Years of African American History Act

Sen. Warner, Sen. Kaine & Rep. Griffith announced funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Dickenson County to offset construction costs for the new Ridgeview High School.

Sen. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement today after the Senate voted 96-0 to pass the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act, which strengthens our nation’s ability to sanction North Korea.

“We are closely watching the House’s work on FAA reauthorization. From our perspective, one way to seriously complicate this work right out of the gate is to start fooling around with the DCA perimeter rule."

Press Releases

Mar 15 2016

IRS to provide more clarity to address challenges facing on-demand workers

Mar 15 2016

Mar 15 2016

Mar 11 2016

Many Korean-Americans have not seen their relatives since they were separated by war more than 60 years ago

Mar 10 2016

Sen. Warner voted in favor of bill to combat the growing problem of prescription drug and heroin abuse in Virginia ~

Mar 10 2016

Supported holding Pakistan accountable by voting for resolution to block sales

Mar 10 2016

Mar 08 2016

Mar 08 2016

Mar 08 2016

The Stop Trafficking on Planes Act would require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report human trafficking

Mar 07 2016

Mar 03 2016

Mar 02 2016

Mar 01 2016

Will bring together tech, intel, law enforcement, global commerce and privacy experts to make recommendations to protect privacy and public safety; proposal has support from a broad range of stakeholders

Feb 29 2016

Feb 25 2016

Office of Strategic Services members conducted intelligence and espionage activities during World War II

Feb 23 2016

Feb 22 2016

Next Month, U.S. Supreme Court will hear Zubik v. Burwell, yet another challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s birth control policy

Feb 19 2016

DHS grants support local, state ability to prevent terrorism & other disasters

Feb 16 2016

Feb 16 2016

2019 marks 400 years since first documented arrival of Africans to America by way of Point Comfort, Virginia

Feb 11 2016

Feb 10 2016

On Senate passage of bipartisan legislation to strengthen North Korea sanctions

Feb 10 2016

Feb 10 2016