Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) have urged the Biden administration to immediately re-designate or extend Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to the maximum extent allowable under the law for all eligible countries. The senators commended President Biden’s recent action to extend status for El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan, and Ukraine, while stressing the need to extend these benefits to all remaining eligible TPS countries as the current administration winds down.

TPS provides protection to foreign nationals in the United States whose home countries are experiencing temporary and extraordinary conditions, including armed conflict, natural disasters, and other extraordinary conditions that render return unsafe. Currently, 17 countries have TPS designations, and as of September 30, 2024 nearly 1.1 million foreign nationals were protected by TPS, living in all 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia.

In the Commonwealth, 28,225 people are living under TPS: 545 individuals from Afghanistan, 95 from Burma, 95 from Cameroon, 15,485 from El Salvador, 445 from Ethiopia, 1,340 from Haiti, 2,720 from Honduras, 325 from Nepal, 60 from Nicaragua, 20 from Somalia, 25 from South Sudan, 165 from Sudan, 170 from Syria, 895 from Ukraine, 5,700 from Venezuela, and 135 individuals from Yemen.

Highlighting the importance of the TPS program in communities across the country, the senators wrote, “Many of these individuals with TPS have lived in the U.S. for decades, calling this country their home. They are contributing members of our society, including our colleagues and neighbors. The TPS program provides them a way to support themselves, contribute to the U.S. workforce and economy, and keep their families together.”

With President-elect Trump taking office in one week, the fate of this program is uncertain. Both he and Vice President-elect Vance have signaled that significant immigration policy changes could include eliminating the TPS program all together. As a result, Sens. Warner and Kaine are stressing the urgency of this request.

“Unfortunately, TPS beneficiaries are at risk of losing their legal status and could face removal proceedings to countries that have been deemed unsafe to return to and where their lives would be at grave risk,” they continued. “The incoming administration has vowed to terminate the TPS program, just as they attempted to during their first term. Within the first six months of this incoming term, six TPS designations, covering over 76,000 beneficiaries, are set to expire.”

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long-championed TPS for vulnerable migrants from countries including Haiti, Ukraine, Cameroon, Sudan, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. Last year, the senators urged the Biden administration to extend TPS for Haitians amid spiking violence. In December 2023, the senators praised a decision by the Department of Homeland Security to grant existing TPS recipients additional time to re-register for the program.  

A copy of the letter is available here and text is below:

Dear President Biden,

We thank you for your commitment to expanding Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and commend your most recent announcements to extend TPS for foreign nationals from El Salvador, Venezuela, Sudan, and Ukraine. We write to urgently request that your administration build on your recent TPS actions and issue a re-designation or extension of status, to the maximum extent possible under the law, for all TPS-eligible countries.

Through the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, has the discretion to issue a Temporary Protected Status designation and provide for temporary relief from removal and work authorization to certain foreign nationals from countries under specific circumstances, including armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary circumstances that prevent their safe return.

As of September 30, 2024, approximately 1,095,115 foreign nationals residing in all 50 states, including D.C. and U.S. territories, were protected by TPS. This includes nearly 30,000 TPS recipients in Virginia.

Many of these individuals with TPS have lived in the U.S. for decades, calling this country their home. They are contributing members of our society, including our colleagues and neighbors. The TPS program provides them a way to support themselves, contribute to the U.S. workforce and economy, and keep their families together.

Unfortunately, TPS beneficiaries are at risk of losing their legal status and could face removal proceedings to countries that have been deemed unsafe to return to and where their lives would be at grave risk. The incoming administration has vowed to terminate the TPS program, just as they attempted to during their first term. Within the first six months of this incoming term, six TPS designations, covering over 76,000 beneficiaries, are set to expire.

As such, we strongly urge your administration to re-designate or extend TPS for countries with existing designations. These actions will provide much needed clarity for current TPS holders and prevent harmful deportations to countries designated as unsafe.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $3.9 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan for the Community College Workforce Alliance in Disputanta to expand regional workforce training programs to support the Richmond-Petersburg Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) cluster and help Virginians get the skills they need for jobs in the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology industries. The APM cluster, which is led by the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, manufactures critical drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge.

“The Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster has seen tremendous growth in recent years, and I am thrilled by the innovation that has taken place,” said Warner. “This funding, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan, for the Community College Workforce Alliance will continue to build on these efforts, ensuring that we have a capable, ready workforce to step into the good-paying, skilled jobs created in the Petersburg region.” 

“As a city councilman, mayor, governor, and senator, I’ve been proud of what we’ve done to grow the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster and onshore the manufacturing of essential medicines and their ingredients. I’m thrilled the Community College Workforce Alliance in Disputanta is receiving federal funding from the American Rescue Plan we passed to help further the cluster’s innovative efforts and ensure we have the workforce needed to fill these critical roles,” said Kaine. “I will continue working to support the APM cluster and help Virginians access good-paying manufacturing jobs in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology.”

Warner and Kaine have long supported the APM cluster in Richmond/Petersburg and have supported policies to strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical medicines. In 2023, the APM cluster was designated as a Tech Hub under the CHIPS and Science Act for its innovative work in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. The senators also worked to secure $52.9 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan for the cluster. In August 2024, Kaine toured Phlow Corp., a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the Virginia APM cluster, which produces critical medicines and boosts the national supply chain. In April 2022, Kaine visited the cluster to learn more about its efforts to streamline prescription drug manufacturing. Kaine helped form and grow the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority while he was on Richmond City Council, served on the Authority’s board as Mayor of Richmond, and appointed its board members as Governor of Virginia. 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $10,797,461 in federal funding for the Virginia Department of Energy to build 392 electric vehicle (EV) charging ports at urban and rural tourism destinations across Virginia. Over half of the 392 chargers will be installed in disadvantaged communities across the Commonwealth to increase EV accessibility for all Virginians. The grant is allocated through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both senators helped pass.

“Electric vehicles will help create healthier communities for future generations by reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions. However, it’s critical that Virginians who choose to purchase EVs have access to charging stations so they can get where they need to go,” said the senators. “We’re glad the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we helped pass is bringing this funding to Virginia to install EV charging ports across the Commonwealth, especially in areas that receive a high volume of visitors.”

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported Virginia’s clean energy economy. Both senators were key votes in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, legislation that included tax credits for individuals who purchase electric vehicles and funding to expand access to EV technology. In 2022, Warner and Kaine announced almost $16 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding was delivered to install EV charging ports.

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $12,352,167 in federal funding for improvements for airports throughout the Commonwealth. This funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that both senators helped pass.

“Virginia’s airports are crucial for advancing our economy and connecting us to the rest of the country and the world,” the senators said. “We’re glad this funding, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make needed upgrades and expansions possible for airports throughout the Commonwealth. We will continue working to bolster Virginia’s infrastructure and economic growth.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

  • $341,477 for the Town of Leesburg to construct a new 20,000-square-yard apron at the north end of the airfield to increase aircraft parking capacity at the Leesburg Executive Airport.
  • $430,000 for the Town of Leesburg to construct a new sponsor-owned federal contract tower and acquire and install eligible equipment. Warner and Kaine, alongside then-Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), strongly backed Leesburg in its negotiations with the FAA over costs to operate a remote tower until this new brick-and-mortar tower is completed.
  • $9,662,240 for the Norfolk Airport Authority to acquire and install three new passenger boarding bridges to accommodate more aircraft operations, expand Terminal Concourse A by 25,000 square feet and three gates, reconstruct 50,000 square feet of existing Terminal Concourse A, create new restrooms, and other upgrades.
  • $1,055,800 for the Virginia Highlands Airport Commission to construct a new 12,915 square foot and a new 3,600 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage, which will boost revenue and improve the airport’s financial self-sufficiency.
  • $862,650 for the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission to construct a new 12,500 square yard apron to accommodate more aircraft operations, construct two new 12,000 square foot sponsor-owned hangars for aircraft, which will boost revenue and improve the airport’s financial self-sufficiency, and expand an existing commercial apron by an additional 1,800 square yards to accommodate more passengers and more aircraft operations.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Sens. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding to revitalize Virginia airports. In September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an updated Intelligence Community Assessment related to anomalous health incidents (AHIs):

“The Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to prioritize care and treatment for those suffering from AHIs and has consistently been clear that the intelligence community must work to identify the cause of these incidents. If in fact a foreign adversary is deemed to be responsible, it would be an unacceptable attack on U.S. personnel and their families necessitating a forceful response.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to designate a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia.

“For too long, Fairlawn has unfairly missed out on tax revenue that would otherwise fund education, public safety, and public services due to confusion regarding its ZIP code,” said the lawmakers. “Recently, we were dismayed to find that Fairlawn residents facing loss and catastrophe after Hurricane Helene could not access individual assistance through FEMA’s online portal simply because they possessed a Radford ZIP code. We are proud to introduce this legislation to give Fairlawn its own ZIP code and avoid further confusion and stress for this community.”

Fairlawn – a town in Pulaski County – is currently included in the City of Radford’s zip code (24141). For years, this has caused significant issues for Fairlawn and Pulaski County residents, including a loss of tax revenue and confusion regarding representation, jurisdiction, regulations, ordinances, services, and more. Most recently, this ZIP code created a barrier to disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene, when Fairlawn residents discovered they could not access Individual Assistance (IA) through FEMA’s online portal because the City of Radford was not part of the disaster declaration at that time.

This legislation would direct USPS to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia within 180 days. It notes that Virginia is the only state in the U.S. where all cities are independent from their surrounding counties and the impact that has on revenue collection and distribution practices related to roads, resources, and sales tax in Fairlawn/Pulaski County.

Rep. Griffith – who spoke on the House floor in support of his measure in 2024 – introduced an identical version of this bill in the 118th Congress, H.R. 169, which directed the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia. The bill was added to H.R. 8753, which passed the House on December 11, 2024.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee Mike Crapo (R-ID) urging Senate Republicans to work in a bipartisan way to reduce the deficit and protect the middle class from tax hikes.

This letter comes ahead of the upcoming expirations of the federal debt ceiling and many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). In the letter, the senators urge Republican leadership to work across the aisle to find reasonable, commonsense solutions that protect hardworking Americans by reducing unnecessary spending and reforming the tax code to protect the middle class.

“As you are well aware, Congress and the President will face a daunting budget reality in 2025,” the senators wrote. “The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated in 2024 that extending all of the expiring provisions of the TCJA would cost $4.6 trillion over ten years, once interest is included. CBO also projects that the annual budget deficit, without including any extension of the TCJA, will grow from $1.9 trillion in 2024 to $2.9 trillion in 2034.”

“We understand that the Senate Republican Conference is likely to use the budget reconciliation process to address these expirations,” they continued. “While we respect the majority’s right to do so under Senate rules, we believe a better outcome can be achieved by working in a bipartisan manner to reform the tax code and address our growing national debt through responsible spending reforms. We believe a fully deficit-financed, partisan effort could risk raising costs for families, driving up interest rates for Americans looking to purchase a home, and increasing borrowing costs for American businesses and consumers. It also risks reducing the government’s future ability to respond to national security emergencies and fund our nation’s key programs.”

“While there will certainly be challenges to finding bipartisan agreement on certain issues, we believe addressing the growing deficit and reducing unnecessary spending can serve as a basis for good faith bipartisan negotiation. We stand ready to work with you in good faith to craft legislation that can achieve 60 votes in the Senate,” the senators concluded.

A copy of the letter is available here.

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 39 of their Senate colleagues, introduced the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, legislation that would establish statehood for the District of Columbia and grant D.C. citizens full congressional representation.

“All Americans deserve to have their voices fully heard in our democracy,” said the senators. “But Virginia’s neighbors in D.C. don’t have the same representation in Congress as other states and are unfairly subjected to taxation without representation—a denial of political freedom that defies the ideological framework upon which our Founding Fathers established this nation. We are proud to support this legislation to recognize D.C. as the 51st state.”

Specifically, the legislation would also ensure that the citizens and elected leaders of the District of Columbia have full authority over local affairs, including over the selection of judges to fill vacancies on D.C. courts. Additionally, the bill would designate the areas surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Mall as the national capital and seat of the federal government, and this area would remain under Congress’ jurisdiction as mandated by the Constitution.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D -D.C.-At-Large) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 2025. As the delegate for the District of Columbia, Norton is able to introduce bills, but D.C.’s lack of statehood prevents her from voting on any legislation, depriving Washingtonians the same full representation enjoyed by citizens of the 50 states.

D.C. residents have voted overwhelmingly for statehood. In November 2016, 79 percent of D.C. residents voted in favor of a referendum that petitioned Congress to admit D.C. as the 51st state.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the bill is available here.

 

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY AUDIO AND VIDEO 

BROADCASTERS: Today, following the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments regarding the divestiture of TikTok by its parent company, Chinese-based ByteDance, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, is speaking out about the impact of this case. Sen. Warner has been vocal about the national security threat that ByteDance poses, and advocated for the sale of the app to a company not beholden to a U.S. adversary.

Notably, Sen. Warner highlights that under ByteDance’s ownership, the Communist Party of China (CCP) has access to the sensitive data of more than 1 billion TikTok users worldwide, including 150 million users in the United States.

In April of last year, the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, which passed both chambers of Congress with broad bipartisan support, was signed into law to prevent foreign adversaries from targeting, surveilling, and manipulating U.S. users through the use of online applications. This legislation will require ByteDance to divest their ownership of TikTok ahead of the law’s stated January 19th deadline. To date, the company has refused. 

Transcription:

Clip 1 – 44 seconds: “Today, the Supreme Court heard arguments about whether the ownership of TikTok needs to change because of national security reasons. Many of you know my position on this issue. I think there is a lot of great creativity on TikTok, I also know people make their living as social influencers, I think that’s great. But I’ve been concerned, literally for years, that because TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese firm, and every company — based upon Chinese law — has to be first and foremost loyal to the Communist Party of China, not to their shareholders or customers, that TikTok has posed a national security concern.”

Clip 2 – 30 seconds: “The overwhelming majority of Congress agrees with this, 80 percent, it’s tough to get 80 percent of the democrats and republicans in the House and Senate to agree on anything. But they agreed that this was a national security concern. This law would not require TikTok necessarily to be shut down, just to have that ownership share sold to a non-Chinese entity. It could be sold to an American company, it could be sold to a British, a French, a Brazilian company, but something that is not at the end of the day controlled by the Communist Party of China.”

Clip 3 – 31 seconds: “The irony is, of course, that former President Trump was the first person to bring this issue to the nation’s attention back in his first term. He has a slightly different view now, but the national security concerns still remain paramount. It appears, we’ll have to wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling, that this law will be upheld. At the end of the day, I hope that will force a transaction and that people can still enjoy TikTok, but that we can also get rid of this national security issue.”

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, (both D-VA) joined a group of Senate colleagues in reintroducing the Health Care Affordability Act, legislation to lower health care costs for millions of Americans and make permanent the current enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) for Health Insurance Marketplace coverage. The PTCs were created in the Affordable Care Act and previously enhanced under the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act but are set to expire at the end of this year, increasing health insurance costs for over 20 million Americans. The Health Care Affordability Act would make the enhanced PTCs permanent, ensuring that these Americans don’t face sudden cost increases or leave almost 3.8 million Americans each year without coverage at all. Without this extension, out-of-pocket premium payments across the Commonwealth are projected to increase as much as 33%, according to the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

“For years, the ACA premium tax credits have lowered health care costs and increased access to insurance for Virginians and their families,” said the senators. And through the American Rescue Plan Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, we further lowered costs for American families. But without action, these enhanced tax credits will expire. We are proud to introduce this legislation that will ensure more than 20 million Americans don’t face unfair cost increases at the end of the year.”

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long fought to lower health care costs and increase accessibility for all Americans.

In addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the bill is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angus King (I-ME), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

In the House of Representatives, the legislation is sponsored by U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14).

Full text of the bill is available here.

 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded President Biden’s decision to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling off the coast of Virginia:

“We welcome President Biden’s action to protect Virginia’s vibrant coastal communities. We’ve heard from Virginians in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore who have expressed concerns about the risks of offshore drilling on their communities. This action is critical to protecting Virginia’s coastal waters from pollution and potential oil spills and supporting the region’s economy, which relies heavily on commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and the Port of Virginia. We’ll continue to advocate for Virginia’s coastal communities to ensure they continue to thrive.”

Nearly forty percent of Americans live in coastal counties, and nearly 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected officials have opposed the expansion of offshore drilling. Virginia banned offshore drilling in state waters in 2020, but it does not have jurisdiction over federal waters.

The senators previously called for an offshore drilling ban along Virginia’s coastline in September 2020 after the Trump Administration banned offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In January 2018, when the Trump Administration was considering a new proposal on offshore drilling, the senators sent a letter to the Department of the Interior asking the department to add public meetings in Virginia Beach and on the Eastern Shore to give local residents the opportunity to share their views.

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $10,500,000 in federal funding for the Virginia Department of Education to promote digital equity across Virginia. This funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both senators helped pass. It was awarded through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

“We are proud to have helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which continues to deliver for Virginians,” the senators said. “We are glad that this federal funding will help close the digital divide and help ensure all Virginians have the resources and digital skills to fully take advantage of the opportunities high-speed internet provides.”

Specifically, the funding will be used to support Digital Navigators, who are trained staff that work across Virginia to help individuals access the internet, find devices, and learn crucial digital skills.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long worked to expand broadband access and promote digital equity. This announcement complements $18.3 million provided to Virginia last month through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which also works to help close the digital divide and was made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $46,670,000 in federal funding to support disaster recovery efforts in Virginia following Hurricane Helene. The funding, which the senators pushed for, was part of the disaster relief package that passed to fund the government. The funding is allocated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program, which provides flexible funding to support long-term recovery efforts in impacted communities, including restoration of public infrastructure, homes, and businesses, and funding for job training, workforce development, and loans and grants to support economic revitalization and local businesses. 

“We’ve both visited Southwest Virginia in the wake of Hurricane Helene to hear directly from those impacted by the storm—and rebuilding those communities remains a top priority,” said the senators. “We were glad to secure these resources in the end-of-year package because this flexible funding is going to be critical to helping communities rebuild where it’s most needed. We will continue to support individuals across Southwest Virginia as they build back their homes, businesses, and communities.”

Warner and Kaine have been vocal advocates for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and both met with Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia to tour damage and discuss federal support. They voted to pass short-term government funding legislation that included $110 billion in disaster relief for communities impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton after repeatedly urging Congress to act. Last October, the senators successfully urged the Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton and successfully secured robust disaster relief funding for public lands and federal lands in Southwest Virginia.  

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement on the passing of Colonel W. Gerald Massengill, former Superintendent of the Virginia State Police:

“I mourn the passing of Colonel W. Gerald Massengill, a true public servant, whose dedication and commitment to the Commonwealth of Virginia left an inedible mark on us all. As the superintendent of the Virginia State Police, Colonel Massengill was a steady hand during moments of crisis. My thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him. Colonel Massengill’s service to Virginia and our country will never be forgotten, and we are all better for having known him.”

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) celebrated a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that will go into effect on January 1, 2025 to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year for Americans with Medicare Part D. The cap will apply to individuals’ combined, total costs for covered drugs—regardless of how many medications they need. Some estimates have shown that Virginians on Medicare will save an average of $440.62 on out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs thanks to this cap.

“The Inflation Reduction Act has already made a huge difference in the lives of Virginians. It’s capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors, lowered health care and energy costs, brought millions of dollars in investment to Virginia, and created manufacturing jobs—all while lowering the deficit,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that beginning in 2025, Americans on Medicare will have a $2,000 per year out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs. Many seniors currently pay thousands of dollars a year for medications they need, so this provision is crucial to saving them money. We will keep working to build on this progress and ensure that Virginia harnesses all the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.”

In 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is also expected to announce 15 more Medicare Part D drugs for negotiation. The IRA allowed CMS to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time—a move Warner and Kaine had long pushed for. This year, the Biden Administration announced negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs for patients covered by Medicare Part D. The negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs, which will go into effect in 2026, will save $1.5 billion for Americans with Medicare Part D and $6 billion in the federal budget in the first year of implementation.  

Many other provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the senators voted to pass in 2022, have already gone into effect to lower health care costs and expand clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and across the country.

Health Care:

  • Black lung benefits: The law permanently extended the black lung excise tax at a higher rate, providing more certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits. In Virginia, thousands of miners and their families have received benefits through the trust fund since it was established, including approximately 2,600 Virginians in 2021.
  • $35 cap on the cost of insulin: Out-of-pocket costs for insulin—regardless of how much a patient needs—are capped at $35 per month under Medicare. Thanks to the IRA, 36,461 Virginians on Medicare who use insulin now pay no more than $35 per month. Click here to learn how seniors like Mrs. Marguerite Bailey Young of Fredericksburg, who was Warner’s guest to the 2023 State of the Union, are benefiting from the $35 cap.
  • Free vaccines for Medicare recipients: People with Medicare no longer have to pay to receive most vaccines under Medicare Part D, which includes vaccines for shingles, HPV, MMR, diphtheria, and pertussis. In 2023, over 230,000 seniors in Virginia received a recommended vaccine free of cost.
  • Extension of ACA subsidies: During the pandemic, Congress enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help lower health care premiums for millions of Americans. The IRA extended these enhanced subsidies through 2025 to help make Virginians’ health insurance more affordable. 350,008 Virginians with ACA coverage are receiving assistance to lower the cost of their premium. In 2022, Virginians saved an average of $508 per month on their health insurance premium.
  • Lower Premiums for More Than 500,000 Virginians: There are additional provisions that went into effect to limit annual premium increases for Americans, including more than 500,000 Virginians enrolled in Medicare Part D.
  • Penalties on drug manufacturers that increase prices: Manufacturers are required to keep the increase in the cost of their drugs at or below inflation.

Clean Energy:

  • Boosts to clean energy investments: Clean energy manufacturers can apply for expanded tax credits that incentivize investment in and production of renewable energy technologies like solar power and offshore wind. The IRA set aside $4 billion in credits for businesses that make these investments in energy communities that have seen closures of coal mines or retirements of coal-fired power plants in recent years. This means that communities in Virginia, especially Southwest Virginia, are well-positioned to benefit from many of these tax credits and funding opportunities. In 2023, Kaine hosted an event at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap to discuss how Virginia can best harness the clean energy tax credits, economic development, and job creation opportunities created by the legislation.
  • Improvements to home energy efficiency: Homeowners can receive up to 30 percent back through tax credits for making energy efficiency improvements to their home—generally up to a maximum of $1,200 per year but potentially up to $3,200 if improvements include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, or biomass stoves.
  • Simplified Electric Vehicle (EV) Tax Credits: The IRA allows qualified individuals to get a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of new EVs or a tax credit of up to $4,000 for certain used EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased through a dealership. Virginians who buy an EV from a participating dealer can now choose to receive their tax credit for that purchase at the point-of-sale instead of after filing their taxes.
  • Federal funding to help low-income and disadvantaged communities more easily access solar energy: The IRA brought over $156 million in federal funding to Virginia to support solar energy development in low-income areas, which will lower energy costs for families and create good-quality jobs while tackling the effects of climate change.

The IRA has also expanded clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and brought a series of corporate investments to Virginia, including:

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter:

“Jimmy Carter blazed a trail from the peanut fields of Plains, Georgia to the Navy, the Governor’s Mansion, the White House, and to a remarkable post-presidential career – modeling leadership, philanthropy, and love of country every step of the way. We lost a giant.

“Jimmy Carter gave me my first job out of law school, and I have deeply admired his service since leaving the Oval Office. His dedication to building homes through Habitat for Humanity has always brought back warm memories of my father, who also volunteered with the organization well into his eighties. Like much of the Greatest Generation, President Carter will be remembered by what he built and left behind for us – a model of service late into life, a tireless devotion to family and philanthropy, and a more peaceful world to call home.” 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after voting to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown and extend government funding at Fiscal Year 2024 levels until March 14. The legislation also includes $110 billion in disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which the senators advocated for:

“We are relieved Congress passed legislation to avert a government shutdown, which would have had disastrous consequences for federal employees, government contractors, and millions of Americans who rely on government services. We are also glad that it included federal funding we pushed for to help communities in Southwest Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene and additional support for the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs. However, we are disappointed that Republicans turned their backs on an original bipartisan proposal that would have included provisions to lower prescription drug costs. We are also frustrated that the majority of our Republican colleagues did not want to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025 and instead kicked the deadline into the new year. Short-term continuing resolutions create unnecessary harm for federal departments and agencies—particularly those in the national security space—because they don’t allow them to meet today’s challenges and plan for the future. In the coming months, we will continue working to pass Fiscal Year 2025 government funding legislation that supports Virginians and includes funding for community projects across the Commonwealth.”

This is the second time that Congress has failed to pass a full-year government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2025. On September 25, the senators voted to pass legislation to temporarily fund the government through December 20. Warner and Kaine have previously introduced legislation to prevent government shutdowns.

The continuing resolution (CR) includes $110 billion in funding for disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Southwest Virginia. Warner and Kaine have been vocal about the need for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and have repeatedly urged Congress to pass a supplemental funding package. The disaster supplemental provides full federal funding to rebuild the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is currently estimated to cost approximately $660 million. The bill also includes full funding of $125 million to conduct necessary repairs at Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Additionally, the bill includes $2.2 billion to allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to continue paying out disaster assistance loans to small businesses, a priority that Warner long advocated for. 

In October, they successfully urged the Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The senators also successfully pushed for the disaster supplemental to include robust funding for public lands to address damage to the Creeper Trail and other federal lands in Southwest Virginia. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, they also successfully advocated for an Emergency Declaration and an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia. Warner and Kaine met with Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. 

It also includes $5.69 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program and provides the necessary incremental funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. While Congress has already invested significant federal funding in the submarine industrial base in recent years, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays brought on by residual workforce challenges and supply chain disruptions. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, through which the U.S. will sell at least two Virginia-class submarines to Australia to boost security in the Indo-Pacific. Kaine, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, has led efforts in Congress to address submarine production and other shipbuilding delays.

Finally, it includes an extension of COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 2025, ensuring that many seniors can continue receiving telehealth services. Warner and Kaine advocated for this extension.

 

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WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which the senators helped create to support lifesaving research of treatments and cures for childhood cancer since 2015. The bill was included in a draft government funding agreement that was reached earlier this week, but was later torpedoed by Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and President-elect Donald Trump.

The legislation is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, who lived in Virginia’s 10th District and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away in 2013 at the age of 10. Her passionate advocacy for lawmakers to “stop talking, start doing” led to the passage of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and creation of Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund in 2014.

“For as long as I have been serving in Congress, I’ve been fighting to pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and extend critical funding for childhood cancer research,” said Wexton. “I’m so proud that we’ve finally gotten this lifesaving bill through Congress and on its way to be signed into law. This bipartisan bill will build on the groundbreaking work of the Kids First program and deliver much-needed resources to better understand, treat, and hopefully one day cure childhood cancer. No family should have to face the fear and pain of their child’s cancer diagnosis, and I’m grateful for the partnership of Senator Tim Kaine and the remarkable advocacy of Ellyn Miller and the Miller family in honor of Gabriella and her fight, to build support for this bill.”

“Gabriella Miller was a courageous Virginian who gave her all to advocating for those whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer,” said Kaine. “I’m honored to have worked with the Miller Family and Congresswoman Wexton on this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a crucial pediatric cancer research program that was created in her honor. I’m glad the Senate passed it today and urge President Biden to sign it into law as quickly as possible.”

“By reauthorizing the research program bearing Gabriella Miller’s name, we are helping to honor her memory, giving hope to families facing devastating diagnoses, and ensuring that future generations have access to the life-saving treatments they deserve,”said Warner.

In 2014, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which the senators championed, was signed into law by President Obama, establishing the Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund and authorizing $12.6 million in annual funds for childhood disease research through Fiscal Year 2023. Since then, Kids First has taken tremendous steps towards understanding childhood cancer, such as establishing the Gabriella Kids Resource Center—a comprehensive data resource for research and patient communities meant to advance discoveries. The language included in the bill reauthorizes the Kids First program for five years.

Cancer continues to kill more children in the United States than any other disease. Over 15,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer, with that number tragically having gradually risen in recent decades. Pediatric cancers often differ from adults in the type, how they spread, and how it is treated, and many children do not respond well to conventional adult treatments, which frequently cause long term health issues and disabilities even in circumstances where the cancer is successfully cured. Yet while children face special hurdles when it comes to fighting cancer, less than 8% of current government funding for cancer is geared specifically towards developing treatments and cures for childhood cancer and other rare diseases. 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of legislation to designate the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, known as Dodona Manor, as an affiliated area under the National Park Service (NPS). The lawmakers have advocatedfor years for an official designation, which would provide new resources to preserve and celebrate General Marshall’s legacy at the site, including technical assistance to support restoration efforts, accessibility improvements, and new programming.

“Dodona Manor has a clear historic value to our nation and turning it into an affiliated area under NPS is a fitting way to honor General Marshall’s life and legacy,” said the lawmakers. “We’re glad our legislation to help make that happen was passed by the Senate today and hope to see this designation come to fruition.”

General Marshall led a lifetime of public service, serving as Chief of Staff to the Army during America’s entry into World War II, as Secretary of State where he orchestrated the historic Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe following the war, and as Secretary of Defense after the onset of the Korean War.

Dodona Manor is currently registered as a National Historic Landmark by the Department of the Interior and has been designated by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Virginia Landmark.

The Marshall House has been an integral part of the Leesburg community for over two centuries. General Marshall and his wife Katherine purchased the property in 1941 as a weekend retreat house, and regularly spent time at the property throughout General Marshall’s tenure as Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

Today, the property hosts international exchanges, historical exhibits, community events, and educational programming about the life and legacy of the Marshall family.

 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) today celebrated the Senate passage of bills they introduced to rename two United States Postal Service (USPS) offices in Loudoun County and Petersburg. 

“Madeleine Albright and John Mercer Langston were trailblazers who overcame tremendous barriers in their respective fights for human rights and social justice. We are thrilled to see these bills get full congressional approval, which brings us one step closer to enshrining these important legacies in Loudoun County and Petersburg. We look forward to seeing President Biden sign these bills into law,” said the senators.

The first bill would designate the Loudoun County post office, in Purcellville, as the "Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Post Office Building.” The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), honors Secretary Albright, the first female Secretary of State and former Ambassador to the United Nations.

The second bill would designate the Petersburg post office as the "John Mercer Langston Post Office Building." The bill, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), honors the Louisa County native and 19th century abolitionist and attorney, who served as one of the first Black Americans to hold elective office in the United States.

These post office facilities are located at 220 North Hatcher Avenue in Purcellville, Virginia and 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia.

Washington – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a former fair housing lawyer, (both D-VA) announced $29,151,778.41 in federal funding for Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity, Inc. to preserve long-term housing affordability for residents of the Southwood Mobile Park. The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Grant program, which supports communities in their efforts to maintain, protect, and stabilize manufactured housing and manufactured housing communities.

“Every Virginian deserves access to safe, affordable housing,” the senators said. “We are glad that this federal funding will help support homes and communities in Charlottesville, and we will keep working to support housing accessibility throughout the Commonwealth.”

Nationwide, over 22 million Americans live in a manufactured home—homes that are factory-built and then installed on a lot, making them a more affordable option for homeownership compared to new-construction homes. However, while residents often own the home, they typically lease the land underneath it. This can put residents at risk of losing their home if the land changes ownership. Greater Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity purchased the Southwood Mobile Park in 2007 to help prevent such displacement and has been working since then to make critical repairs and infrastructure improvements, while working to build a community where the residents ultimately own the land under their homes. This funding will help advance that goal.

Warner and Kaine have long advocated for safe, affordable housing for Virginia families. In April 2023, Kaine visited with residents of Charlottesville Habitat for Humanity builds and spoke to them about their experiences. The senators previously secured $1,015,000 to make necessary infrastructure improvements in the Southwood Mobile Park in the FY2022 Appropriations bill. Earlier this year, the senators announced over $98 million in federal funding for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness assistance and over $55 million in federal funding for improvements to affordable housing across the Commonwealth. This year they also announced over $13 million in federal funding to address lead-based paint hazards in homes across Virginia.

The senators have pushed for legislation to expand access to affordable housing. The senators have introduced the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, legislation to help first-generation homebuyers buy a home. Warner and Kaine have also introduced bicameral legislation to help first-time, first-generation homebuyers build generational wealth more rapidly by offering a 20-year mortgage for roughly the same monthly payment as a traditional 30-year loan. 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act. This bill aims to streamline processes, reduce cost-burdens to rural home owners and small developers, and provide affordable housing incentives.

“By expanding access to historic tax credits, we can preserve our nation’s rich heritage while also incentivizing the construction of more affordable housing. I’m proud to join Senator Capito in introducing this legislation to bring new life to abandoned buildings and grow the housing stock in in rural communities,” Senator Warner said.

“Being a rural state shouldn’t mean losing out on private investment incentives like tax credits to help us preserve our communities’ history and revitalize local economies,” Senator Capito said. “I have enjoyed working with the dedicated group of West Virginians who brought this issue to my attention and who provided important perspectives during the creation of this legislation. The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act will help level the playing field for communities in West Virginia by attracting investment for economic expansion and additional housing supply.”


BACKGROUND:

Currently, many historic tax projects are not economically viable in small and rural areas, giving a disproportionate advantage of the credit to large urban developments. The costs associated with the credit as-is severely limits rural areas, and especially largely rural states like West Virginia, from being able to use the credit to rehabilitate and revitalize historic properties.

Through improvements to the credit included in the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, rural Historic Tax Credit projects will be more financially feasible and will result in a higher number of these projects being completed in rural areas and states.

The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act:

  • Makes historic tax credit projects in rural areas eligible for an increased credit from the current 20% to 30%.
  • Includes an additional increase in the credit to 40% for affordable housing creation.
  • Allows the credit be used in addition to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
  • Allows small rural projects to claim the credit in the first year of use.
  • Allows transferability of the credit to a third-party.
  • Eliminates basis adjustment to simplify credit transaction.


This bill is supported by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, The Historic Tax Credit Coalition, Main Street America, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Click here for more on what others are saying about the bill.

Click here to view a one-pager on the bill.

Click here for full bill text.

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded congressional passage of the S.4367, the Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which will help maintain clean drinking water across the country and includes key provisions to support the local oyster industry, strengthen Virginia’s coastal resiliency, improve recreational access to Virginia’s waterways, and encourage the dredging of the Chesapeake Bay to support tourism and recreation, among other Virginia priorities. The legislation now heads to President Biden to be signed into law.

“We’re proud that the legislation headed to the president’s desk provides funding and resources for water infrastructure projects across Virginia,” said the senators. “It includes key provisions to keep our communities healthy and safe and combat the effects of rising sea levels and increased flooding from significant weather events while investing in tourism, recreational development, and Virginia’s oyster industry.” 

Added the senators, “We are especially pleased that this bill will honor civil rights attorney Reuben Lawson’s legacy of social justice by renaming the federal building in Roanoke in his memory.”  

The legislation would help repair aging drinking water, wastewater, and irrigation systems across the country, in addition to supporting the following Virginia priorities:

  • Includes Warner and Kaine’s legislation to rename the federal courthouse in Roanoke the “Reuben E. Lawson Federal Building” in honor of the life and legacy of civil rights lawyer Reuben Lawson.
  • Increases the authorized funding levels for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Recovery Program from $100 million to $120 million.
  • Encourages shallow draft dredging in the Chesapeake Bay, which is critical for tourism, recreation, and the fishing industry.
  • Adds the City of Norfolk to the Temporary Relocation Assistance Pilot Program to boost the city’s climate resilience.
  • Authorizes the Army Corps to conduct a feasibility study on enhancing downstream recreation activities for Gathright Dam, Lake Moomaw, and the Jackson River in Alleghany County.
  • Authorizes $1.3 million for a wastewater infrastructure project in King William County.
  • Authorizes $1 million for wastewater infrastructure, environmental infrastructure, and water quality improvements in the vicinity of the Potomac River.
  • Greenlights proposed feasibility studies for projects at Cedarbush Creek in Gloucester County, Chickahominy River in James City County, Timberneck Creek in Gloucester County, York River in York County, and flood risk management in James City County. 
  • Expedites completion of maintenance dredging of the federally authorized navigation channels Parrotts Creek, Jackson Creek, and Horn Harbor, Va.
  • Expedites completion of a flood risk management study for the Kanawha River Basin in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina.  
  • Establishes an expedited completion track for Virginia Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management Study.
  • Establishes an expedited completion track to modify the Norfolk Harbor Deepening and Widening Project to include Anchorage F.
  • Establishes an expedited completion track for and requires the federal government to pick up 90% of the cost of conducting a feasibility study to identify a potential secondary water source for the Virginia-DC-Maryland region.

 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, applauded congressional passage of the nation’s annual defense bill, which includes key priorities for Virginia, as well as a number of Warner-championed measures. The legislation now heads to the president to be signed into law.

“I’m glad to see the Senate vote to pass our nation’s annual defense bill, which delivers critical funding to equip our nation’s military, provide for our veterans, and strengthen our national security amid a complicated landscape of emerging threats,” said Sen. Warner. “I look forward to seeing the president sign this legislation. In the meantime, I will continue to deliver for Virginia by working prevent a costly government shutdown ahead of the holiday.”

The legislation supports $895.2 billion in funding for our nation’s defense and a number of other measures supported by thesenator, including – 

Servicemembers and the civilian defense workforce: 

  • Authorizes a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted servicemembers and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other servicemembers, a move that will dramatically improve quality of life for the men and women of our armed forces and their families.
  • Contributes to better living conditions for servicemembers by broadening eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) – a supplemental monthly payment for qualifying service members on active duty – to 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
  • Improves investment in military facilities by setting a statutory minimum level of investment for each military department. This will ensure adequate maintenance, sustainment, restoration, and modernization.
  • Invests in unaccompanied military housing by adding $177 million in military construction design funds to accelerate replacement of poor and failing barracks.
  • Provides better recourse for servicemembers facing maintenance issues in barracks by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide a digital maintenance system to residents that allows them to submit maintenance work orders, similar to what is required of military family housing. It also requires DoD to develop and implement standard criteria for a digital facilities management system that will track individual facility maintenance conditions as well as required and planned maintenance actions at the individual building level.
  • Bridges the digital divide for servicemembers by requiring the Secretary of Defense to develop a policy for the military services to provide free internet to those living in barracks.
  • Fully funds childcare fee assistance programs, a move that will address wait lists for eligible families in need of fee assistance.
  • Improves access to childcare for servicemembers by authorizing $29.7 million to fund various Child Development Centers – including several across Virginia.
  • Provides additional support for the children of servicemembers in the exceptional family member program by requiring DoD to initiate a pilot program to establish inclusive playgrounds at military installations for children with special needs.

Strengthening our military:

  • Authorizes 14 military construction projects in Virginia, totaling more than $500 million. In Hampton Roads, that includes projects for the Navy at Little Creek, Oceana, Naval Station Norfolk, Yorktown, and Norfolk Naval Shipyard. It also includes a project for the Air Force at Langley-Eustis.
  • Authorizes five dedicated spending requests personally championed by Sen. Warner, which will help accelerate the construction timeline of the following projects, by moving them forward in the Navy’s annual construction plan:
    • $2.75 million for design of a Child Development Center (CDC) at JEB Little Creek-Ft Story
    • $5.68 million for design of a CDC at MCB Quantico
    • $4.08 million for design of a CDC at NAS Oceana
    • $1.2 million for design of a CDC at NS Norfolk
    • $16 million for design of unaccompanied housing at NAS Oceana.
  • Authorizes $33.5 billion in shipbuilding funding for the procurement of seven battle force ships, including one Virginia-class submarine, with incremental funding authority for a second ship and funding for additional material and support; and full funding of the Columbia class ballistic missile submarine program.

Strengthening our nation’s defense and cyber defense capabilities:

  • Requires the NSA Director to establish an Artificial Intelligence Security Center within the National Security Agency,which would promote secure artificial intelligence adoption practices for managers of national security systems and elements of the defense industrial base. It would also develop guidance to prevent or mitigate counter-artificial intelligence techniques.
  • Provides $17.5 billion for science and technology programs, including $100 million for research at HBCU and Minority Serving Institutions.
  • Requires measures to improve the cybersecurity of mobile devices used by DoD in order to mitigate cyberattack risks against mobile devices and other threats that could undermine national security and defense operations.
  • The bill includes a Warner-authored provision to require a pilot program proposal for a small modular reactor (SMR) on an installation of at least 60 megawatts of power. That proposal would be due to Congress by next June. 

Countering aggression by adversaries like Russia and China and strengthening democratic influence across the world:

  • Includes language require a multi-agency analysis of national security risks posed by CCP-linked drone companies. This language was based on legislation authored by Sen. Warner that he has pushed to restore American leadership in the drone industry and ensure that China can’t spy on Americans or otherwise disrupt key functions of drone technology.
  • Provides funding for the FCC’s Supply Chain Reimbursement Program. This program, based on Senator Warner’s United States 5G Leadership Act of 2019, provides important funding for telecommunications carriers, especially those carriers serving rural areas, to remove and replace dangerous PRC-sourced telecommunications network equipment. Sen. Warner has been a leading voice in Congress about the national security risks posed by PRC-controlled telecommunication companies. This  provision is estimated to deliver over $2.5 million in needed funding for local providers  in Virginia.
  • Authorizes a Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative, modeled after the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, to enable Taiwan to maintain sufficient self-defense capabilities consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act.
  • Requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), within 90 days of this bill’s enactment, to provide Congress with an assessment of the likely course of the war in Ukraine through December 31, 2025. The report must include information on the ability of Ukraine’s military to defend against Russian aggression if the United States continues or discontinues military and economic assistance; the ability and willingness of other countries to continue or discontinue military and economic assistance to Ukraine; and the impacts of Russia’s potential defeat of Ukraine on United States national security and foreign policy interests, including the potential for further aggression from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
  • Establishes a DNI and Secretary of Defense Working Group to identify and share lessons that the United States intelligence community has learned from the Ukraine conflict.
  • Includes a Warner and Kaine-led provision to codify the Sudan Special Envoy role for two years, and to provide additional support and resourcing for that office.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement after the Senate approved the Intelligence Authorization Act (IAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), sending the legislation to the president’s desk for his signature. The IAA authorizes funding, provides legal authorities, and enhances congressional oversight of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).

“The annual intelligence authorization bill helps ensure that intelligence agencies have the authorities and resources they need to protect against rapidly evolving conflicts and threats,” said Chairman Warner. “This year’s IAA enhances the IC’s ability to identify and counter emerging technological threats posed by adversarial nations, including foreign adversaries’ efforts to use and dominate areas like artificial intelligence and biotechnology. The IAA also improves engagement between the IC and the private sector, promotes designations of foreign ransomware organizations as hostile cyber actors and furthers the Committee’s efforts to ensure the IC can attract and expeditiously on-board a talented, diverse, and trusted workforce to meet the emerging challenges we face.”  

Background:

The IAA for Fiscal Year 2025 authorizes funding for the IC and ensures that it has the resources, personnel, and authorities it needs to protect our country and inform decision makers, while ensuring continued robust congressional oversight. The bill’s provisions focus on the following key areas:

  • Increases oversight of the national security threats posed by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including its attempts to evade sanctions, as well as its military capabilities, and investments in, and attempts to dominate, supply chains. 
  • Enhances the IC’s ability to identify and counter adversary threats relating to biotechnologies, including by improving and modernizing the roles, missions, and objectives of the National Counterproliferation and Biosecurity Center and by standardizing the IC’s processes for collecting and analyzing biological data.  
  • Improves the IC’s response to foreign ransomware organizations, including by promoting the designation of leading ransomware groups as hostile foreign cyber actors.
  • Enhances policies relating to AI, including by establishing an AI Security Center within the National Security Agency to advance AI security research.
  • Expands the IC’s ability to procure, transition, and incorporate emerging technologies, including by enhancing public-private talent exchanges.
  • Increases the IC’s focus on the growing threats to the United States by ISIS and affiliated terrorist organizations.
  • Requires the Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence of the Department of Energy to advise National Laboratories regarding visitors and assignees who pose counterintelligence risks.
  • Builds upon the Committee’s efforts relating to energy security by requiring a strategy to improve information sharing between the IC and the private sector regarding foreign adversary-based threats to U.S. critical minerals and other energy-related projects abroad.
  • Requires the IC to conduct an assessment of the likely course of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine, and the effects of Western support to Ukraine.
  • Requires the IC to conduct an assessment of the lessons learned by the IC with respect to the Israel-Hamas war.
  • Improves oversight related to the Western Hemisphere, specifically when it comes to national security implications of visa-free travel by certain foreign nationals.
  • Enhances insight into the Venezuela Maduro regime’s relationship with state sponsors of terrorism and foreign terrorist organizations.
  • Increases support for IC recruitment and integration.
  • Extends the requirement for annual reports on strikes against terrorist targets.
  • Requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena reporting and Federal agency coordination.
  • Reforms management of controlled access programs to improve congressional oversight.
  • Maintains strong congressional oversight of and enhances protections for IC whistleblowers.

 

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