Press Releases

Senator Warner and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), members of the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today called the revised cyber security legislation a step in the right direction.The Senators also welcomed a commitment from Majority Leader Harry Reid to allow an open amendment process on the floor of the Senate.

Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today cosponsored the introduction of The Offshore Petroleum Expansion Now Act of 2012, or the OPEN Act. The bipartisan legislation would expand American offshore energy production with a revised five-year leasing plan and provide revenue sharing to all participating coastal states.

Senators Warner and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) today re-introduced the Radio Spectrum Inventory Act, legislation to help make more spectrum available to meet the growing demand for wireless broadband and other radio-based services.

“Returning the F-22 to 100% mission capability and protecting our pilots has been our shared goal throughout this discussion, so it is promising that consultation with NASA and the Navy appears to be pointing the Air Force toward a potential solution to the F-22 oxygen deprivation issues."

Senators Warner and Barbara Mikulski, members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, introduced a joint resolution today that would designate July 26 as United States Intelligence Professionals Day to honor intelligence officers, past and present, for their service and professionalism.

Senator Warner today joined colleagues in approving a compromise two-year transportation package that includes more than $2 billion in federal transportation support for highway and transit projects in Virginia. The broadly bipartisan Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act reflects Sen. Warner’s successful efforts to promote transit safety and encourage more transit-friendly development.

“I am pleased the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of health reform. I have always felt the Affordable Care Act was weighted more toward the issue of coverage and not enough toward cost containment. I look forward to now moving forward in a bipartisan way on how we can further bring down the costs of health care."

A bipartisan group of senators today introduced a Senate resolution calling on the U.S. government to reinforce its commitment to Internet freedom by opposing international efforts to cede greater Internet regulatory power to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Senators Warner and Webb today voted in support of the bipartisan Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act, which will benefit Virginia farmers while continuing to provide a strong foundation for restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The 2012 Farm Bill, which saves taxpayers more than $23 billion, was approved with broad bipartisan support on a 64-35 vote today.

Senator Warner today successfully amended the 2012 Farm Bill to provide new tools to extend high-speed Internet service to rural America. The amendment effectively targets loans and grants to unserved and underserved rural communities, and it also creates new metrics to improve accountability for taxpayers.

Senator Warner and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), members of the both the Select Committee on Intelligence and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today urged the Senate Leadership to ensure transparent deliberation and a full and open debate on cyber security legislation this summer.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) today released new information from the Air Force (USAF) that reveals significantly higher rates of oxygen-deprivation incidents reported by F-22 Raptor pilots than previously disclosed, and more widespread concerns about the impact and use of a charcoal breathing filter recently ordered removed from the aircraft.

Senator Warner announced today that two of his proposals to promote more rapid and cost-effective expansion of broadband networks will be advanced through an Executive Order to be signed by the President.

Senator Warner, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, told Virginia reporters during a conference call on Wednesday that his Memorial Day recess travels to the Middle East have revealed both “dramatic transformation” and “serious challenges ” for the region.

Senators Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) today introduced bipartisan legislation, Startup Act 2.0, to help jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses and jobs. It is based upon research showing that for close to three decades, companies less than five years old have created almost all of the net new jobs in America.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta today instructed the Air Force to restrict F-22 flight activities, and to work with NASA and the Navy to find solutions to F-22 oxygen-deprivation issues. These actions were a direct result of Sen. Warner’s and Rep. Kinzinger’s continued pressure on the Secretary of the Air Force to take action.

Senator Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-11) today requested additional information from the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force to further determine the scope of safety concerns raised by several pilots of the USAF F-22 Raptor.

Postal reform legislation adopted by the Senate today included an amendment written by Senator Warner that aims to accelerate and improve a federal benefits processing system that still relies on the hand-processing of paper records. Virginia is home to an estimated 250,000 federal retirees, and hundreds of them have contacted Senator Warner about delays, sometimes as long as 12-18 months.

“Today, the House passed the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act – an important piece of legislation that will establish a new era of transparency for the federal government. I want to thank Chairman Darrell Issa and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings for their bipartisan work on this legislation."

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Senate co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, today introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution affirming the national goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.

“On this fifth anniversary, I join the entire Virginia Tech community in pausing to reflect upon and celebrate the lives that were lost and those that have been forever changed. We salute the strength and resilience of the entire Hokie community, and we celebrate Tech’s positive and continuing commitment to public service as an appropriate way to honor all of those who were touched by the April 16th tragedy."

Senator Warner led a group of 30 Senators today calling on Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Edward DeMarco to provide Congress with an accurate analysis of the effects on taxpayers of using principal forgiveness versus other mortgage modification options such as principal forbearance for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Senator Warner today urged the U.S. House to take up a bipartisan Senate transportation bill before the March 31st cut-off of federal funding impacts jobs and ongoing transportation projects across Virginia and the rest of the country. The Senate’s two-year proposal supports an estimated 39,800 highway construction and transit jobs in Virginia, and nearly two million transportation-related jobs nationwide.

Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Mark Warner (D-VA), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Tom Carper (D-DE) and Bob Corker (R-TN) today introduced bipartisan legislation that provides for the implementation of the Volcker rule after the agencies have issued their final rules, rather than two years after the date Dodd-Frank was signed into law.

Senator Warner today joined colleagues in a bipartisan 74-22 vote to adopt the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which reauthorizes highway, transit, and safety programs for two fiscal years at current funding levels. It includes several of Sen. Warner’s proposals, including improved federal safety standards for rail transit systems such as Metro, and specific programs that will enhance transit-friendly development.

Press Releases

Senators continue their call for a full and open debate on the Senate floor

Jul 27 2012

Companion Legislation to House Bill, Reopens Promising Areas, Shares Revenue with Producing States

Jul 25 2012

Jul 25 2012

~ On today’s announcements concerning the F-22 Raptor ~

Jul 24 2012

~ Legislation designates July 26 as ‘U.S. Intelligence Professionals Day’

Jul 11 2012

~ Legislation includes Sen. Warner’s proposals on Metro safety, discount bus lines~

Jun 29 2012

Jun 28 2012

Jun 27 2012

Jun 21 2012

~ Targets loans & grants to underserved regions, enacts metrics to track progress~

Jun 20 2012

Call on Senate Leadership to reach an agreement to consider bill in July

Jun 19 2012

~ Higher rate of incidents, more widespread pilot concerns than previously disclosed ~ ~ Repeat calls to protect two ‘whistleblower’ Va. pilots ~

Jun 14 2012

~ Initiatives will reduce cost of installing broadband, save taxpayer dollars, and help Virginia businesses stay competitive ~

Jun 13 2012

~ Intelligence Committee delegation visits Israel, Egypt, Djibouti ~

May 30 2012

~ Bipartisan ‘Startup Act 2.0’ addresses tax & regulatory policies, STEM visas and R&D ~

May 22 2012

~ Following meeting with Air Force officials, bipartisan duo says more work to be done ~

May 15 2012

~ Follows meeting with Virginia Air Guard pilots featured on CBS’ “60 Minutes” ~

May 10 2012

~ Amendment speeds cumbersome process with more technology, transparency, accountability ~

Apr 25 2012

Apr 25 2012

~ Supports Goal of Prevention, Treatment Plan by 2025 ~

Apr 24 2012

Apr 16 2012

Taxpayers and homeowners deserve fair and complete answers, the Senators wrote

Apr 04 2012

~ Further delays could harm Virginia road projects ~

Mar 28 2012

Links effective date to regulators completing their work

Mar 22 2012

~ Legislation includes Warner proposals ~

Mar 14 2012