Press Releases

Sen. Warner, who has championed the College of William and Mary’s Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic for three years, highlighted its extraordinary success today at the clinic’s first National Conference On Law Clinics Serving Veterans.

Today, the “Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2013,” a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, was passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

Senators Mark Warner and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced the Consumer Debit Card Protection Act of 2014 (CDCPA), designed to increase consumer protections and reduce liability caps when debit cardholders are hit by fraud.

Sen. Warner called for a review of security procedures at U.S. military installations today following a recent tragic shooting at Naval Station Norfolk in which a Navy petty officer was killed by a shooter who was apparently granted an access card despite a long and violent criminal record, including a previous conviction for manslaughter.

Sen. Warner today introduced legislation that will provide Virginia families with additional health coverage choices to best meet their financial and medical needs.

Sen. Warner today signed on as a bipartisan cosponsor of Sen. Heller’s (R-NV) Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act. The bipartisan legislation will expedite access to federal parks for trained and experienced volunteer search and recovery crews after they sign a liability waiver.

A bipartisan group of senators is urging the FDA to provide further clarity and transparency in its policy regarding medical mobile apps.

As the U.S. Senate this week considers a significant Ukrainian aid package, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced on Sunday that they will introduce a bipartisan amendment creating a law enforcement partnership between the United States and Ukraine to combat cybercrime and improve cybersecurity.

Sens. Warner and Hoeven (R-ND) today urged President Obama to use next week’s U.S.-European Union summit in Brussels to propose a joint U.S.-E.U. initiative on energy security to counter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s energy influence on Ukraine and other European nations.

In response to the crisis in Ukraine, Sens. Warner and Hoeven (R-ND) today announced bipartisan proposals to expedite the U.S. Department of Energy’s review of applications to export U.S. natural gas.

Sens. Warner and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) introduced bipartisan legislation today that would eliminate or consolidate more than 300 reports produced by more than two-dozen federal agencies that have been found to be unnecessary, duplicative or outdated.

Bipartisan legislation championed by Senators Warner and Kaine to support federal funding for pediatric medical research passed the Senate today and will now go to the President for his signature.

"I applaud Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Crapo for all the work that went into this agreement. This shows that a bipartisan approach is the best way to get something this important and this complicated across the finish line,” Sen. Warner said.

I deeply respect the considerable efforts by both Sens. McCaskill and Gillibrand to work to improve the way our military responds to cases of assault and sexual misconduct. This is a serious problem which requires serious debate and I have spent several months speaking with a variety of victims, legal experts, Pentagon officials, and others, as well as Sens. Gillibrand and McCaskill.

Sens. Warner and Chambliss(R-GA)introduced bipartisan legislation to prohibit the Pentagon’s proposed funding cut for military commissaries in the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

Senators Warner and Kaine joined 19 Senators and 30 Representatives to send the following letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel regarding a change to TRICARE's reimbursement policy.

Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) renewed their bipartisan push for a national energy efficiency strategy today by reintroducing an updated version of the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC).

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a group of five Senators to write a letter urging a Chinese drywall manufacturer to pay for the damage caused by its product in the United States, including in many Virginia homes.

Senator Warner, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and JPMorgan Chase Bank today announced a new model disclosure box to help educate consumers about hidden fees often charged by issuers of prepaid cards.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner released a statement today after the Pentagon previewed its Fiscal Year 2015 budget.

The Northern Virginia congressional delegation today announced a significant step forward in securing a commitment for a low-interest, long-term federal loan to help finish constructing the Dulles Metrorail Project.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today asked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for an explanation of exceptionally long lines and wait times commonly experienced by passengers arriving on international flights at Virginia’s Dulles International Airport.

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today that Ann Edwards Rust will serve as his State Director and Lou Arnatt Kadiri will serve as his Deputy State Director.

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today sent a bipartisan letter to the head of the Federal Trade Commission requesting establishment of a Merchant and Retail Industry Information Sharing Analysis Center (MRI-ISAC), which would allow stores and retail businesses to share threats and vulnerabilities about data breaches and hacking attempts.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today sent a bipartisan letter to the head of the Federal Trade Commission requesting establishment of a Merchant and Retail Industry Information Sharing Analysis Center (MRI-ISAC), which would allow stores and retail businesses to share threats and vulnerabilities about data breaches and hacking attempts. Earlier this month, Sen. Warner led a Banking subcommittee hearing on recent data breaches impacting millions of customers at Target, Neiman Marcus and other leading national retailers.

"Establishing this center will allow the retail industry to better share information that could help prevent the types of widespread consumer data thefts we now are seeing," Senator Warner said. "’Forewarned is forearmed,’ and the private sector should consider establishing this framework so they can share up-to-date information about the serious and growing threat of hacking, cyber and identity theft.”

"There has been a 30-percent increase in data breaches from 2012 to 2013, with more than 100 million people affected by the recent Target and Neiman Marcus data breaches," Senator Kirk said. "That is why we are calling for Target and other large retailers that handle sensitive personal information to establish an MRI-ISAC, which will enable stores and businesses to share threats and vulnerabilities before these hackers strike again. The more information that is shared amongst these retailers, the safer American consumers will be."

A number of industries utilize ISACs, due to the sensitive nature of the information they handle. There are currently 16 other existing ISACs, which represent critical industries in our country. Cyber threats and hackers are often discovered through these centers, and the information is then shared with the institutions in order to combat these attacks.

Text of the letter is below:

February 11, 2014

Chairman Edith Ramirez

Federal Trade Commission

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20580

Dear Chairwoman Ramirez:

In light of the recent data breaches that occurred at the end of 2013 and early 2014 at a number of merchants, and to follow up on information we received at our hearing on February 3, we write to urge the Federal Trade Commission to support the establishment of a Merchant and Retail Industry Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC), or “MRI-ISAC”.

Similar to other sixteen existing ISACs, such as the Financial Institutions ISAC (“FI-ISAC”), representing critical infrastructure industries of our country, the MRI-ISAC could receive alerts and information from a number of sources, including government agencies and law enforcement, and provide valuable information regarding emerging cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and risk information about cyber and physical security risks faced by the merchant and retail industry. The MRI-ISAC could then provide education to ISAC members on best practices and the most effective security measures. The MRI-ISAC could also be used to quickly disseminate information about suspected malware and cyber crime activity throughout the industry to better protect the systems, to mitigate the damage spread to other merchants and retailers, and ultimately to mitigate the damage to the number of consumers impacted.

The MRI-ISAC would also establish a database to collect information on the thousands of threats and vulnerabilities for years of data to be used in investigations by members. Further, the database will further the analysis efforts to establish trends, do research and conduct investigations.

A number of industries have utilized ISACs because of the sensitive information their industry either stores or handles. It is logical for these firms to take these additional security measures and safeguards, and as the payment systems evolve it is becoming more evident that others that store and/or handle similar sensitive information could also benefit from the formation of an ISAC for their industry.

Several industry ISACs, including the financial services ISAC, have official government sponsors. As the government agency responsible for responding when a merchant breach occurs, we urge the FTC to become the official government sponsor for an MRI-ISAC and assist industry coordinate efforts to establish an MRI-ISAC.

Sincerely,

Press Releases

~ Puller Clinic has been certified by the V-A as national “best practice” program ~ ~ W&M law students help veterans access their benefits ~

Apr 03 2014

Apr 02 2014

Apr 02 2014

~ In letter to Secretaries of the Navy & Homeland Security, Warner asks for briefing on security issues ~

Mar 28 2014

~ Warner ‘Copper Plan’ Gives Consumers Additional Lower-Cost Option ~

Mar 27 2014

~ Will Reduce Federal Red Tape, Liability Issues ~

Mar 26 2014

~ Bipartisan group seeks regulatory certainty to ensure consumer access and continued innovation ~

Mar 24 2014

~ Ukraine Known to be Haven for Hackers, Cybercriminals ~

Mar 23 2014

~ Also recommend expedited review of U.S. natural gas export applications ~

Mar 21 2014

~ Propose Specific Ideas to Counter Vladimir Putin’s Energy Influence in Ukraine, Europe ~

Mar 18 2014

~ Legislation would eliminate, modify or consolidate more than 300 reports identified as outdated or duplicative ~

Mar 11 2014

~ Legislation championed by Warner, Kaine & Cantor honors memory of Virginian Gabriella Miller ~

Mar 11 2014

Mar 11 2014

Mar 05 2014

~ Legislation prohibits cuts to commissaries until nonpartisan review issues recommendations in 2015 ~

Mar 05 2014

Mar 04 2014

~ Updated legislation creates jobs by promoting energy efficiency ~

Feb 27 2014

Feb 27 2014

~ Chase to be first prepaid card issuer to adopt new model disclosure box ~

Feb 26 2014

Feb 24 2014

USDOT invites Va. to submit formal application for $1.9 Billion TIFIA Loan

Feb 21 2014

“This is not the way to welcome tourists, business people arriving in Va.”

Feb 21 2014

~ Ann Edwards Rust to serve as State Director, Lou Arnatt Kadiri to serve as Deputy ~

Feb 18 2014

Feb 12 2014

Feb 12 2014