Press Releases

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement following reports of a breach of Microsoft email accounts at over two-dozen organizations, including government agencies, by China-based hackers:

“The Senate Intelligence Committee is closely monitoring what appears to be a significant cybersecurity breach by Chinese intelligence. It’s clear that the PRC is steadily improving its cyber collection capabilities directed against the U.S. and our allies. Close coordination between the U.S. government and the private sector will be critical to countering this threat.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $15,500,000 in federal funding for clean energy improvements for Nottoway County and Alexandria City Public Schools that will lower energy costs. The funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Renew America’s Schools Program, a first-of-its-kind program that aims to help schools make clean energy upgrades that will lower utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and foster healthier learning environments.

“After decades of politicians talking about upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, this vision is now a reality thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law we helped pass,” said the Senators. “We’re glad to see federal dollars from this law are headed to Nottoway County and Alexandria City Public Schools to help make clean energy upgrades that will save money for the schools and improve air quality for students, teachers, and staff.”

The funding will be distributed as follows:

$11,500,000 for Nottoway County Public Schools to make energy efficient improvements, including LED lighting upgrades, unit building automation upgrades, high efficiency boiler and hot water heater replacement, high efficiency window replacement, roof replacement, and installation of a Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) HVAC system with a dedicated outdoor air system.
$4,000,000 for Alexandria City Public Schools to replace aged HVAC boilers with high efficiency electric water heat pumps, replace existing lighting with LED fixtures, use thermal scanning to pinpoint areas where unconditioned air may enter the building, and purchase new efficient rooftop units and building automation controls at William Ramsey Elementary School. The building systems at the elementary school have exceeded their operational life expectancy and need to be replaced to reduce energy consumption.

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WASHINGTON – Last week, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner, Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent letters to the Air Force, Army, Navy, and to the Department of Defense (DoD) regarding their implementation of privatized housing reforms and tenant protections for servicemembers and their families. After hearing from military families in Virginia about the hazardous and unsafe living conditions in many privatized military housing units that included leaking roofs, mold, and rodents, Sens. Warner and Kaine championed housing reforms, including the “Tenant Bill of Rights” in the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and the Senators have continued to push for housing support in subsequent defense bills.

Despite passing legislation to improve these conditions, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study found that while DoD has made progress in implementing provisions, “gaps in guidance and training remain.” The Senators are urging DoD and each military branch to take a range of steps, including the necessary actions outlined in the report, to ensure that they are meeting their obligations towards servicemembers and properly implementing all necessary reforms. Specifically, the GAO focused on implementation of three reforms in order to give servicemembers and their families more leverage when dealing with unsafe and inadequate living conditions:

More detailed guidance on the formal dispute resolution process;
Improved guidance on the role of tenant advocates;
Better oversight of the condition of private housing units.

The Senators also called on DoD and the services to better incorporate resident feedback into the implementation process of the various protections, in order to inform continued progress and highlight areas for additional reform.

“Having spent years addressing privatized housing concerns from multiple fronts – hearing from families firsthand who are dealing with challenges, and helping them to address those; working with installation leadership to push for greater oversight and accountability for these housing projects; and demanding action from the privatized housing companies – we have been incredibly disturbed by some of the conditions that members of the military and their families have been subjected to,” the Senators wrote.

“The purpose of these reforms and continued Congressional oversight is to provide long-overdue improvement to the experience that military members and their families have with the privatized housing system,” they continued. “It is vital that the protections and reforms that we have put in place are implemented in a way that works for residents, and there must be a continual effort to examine the use of these reforms and processes.”

The letters include a series of questions aimed at better understanding the progress being made in implementation as well as better understanding what is causing certain delays. Among the questions are inquiries about the branches’ process when enacting these reforms as well as questions on what is being done to standardize implementation across the country so that all members of the military have access to, and can utilize, the same protections.

A copy of the letters can be found here.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine applauded $7,095,000 in federal funding for the Southern Shenandoah Borderlands Project to protect 4,364 acres of scenic, undeveloped lands adjoining Shenandoah National Park through a conservation easement. This would protect the southern tip of the National Park, which millions of passersby each year see as indistinguishable from adjoining National Park land, from impacts and potential development.

The project is a part of the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy program, which partners with state agencies to protect privately owned forest lands through conservation easements or land purchases. The funding was made possible by the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which provides funding from federal revenues on energy development for the acquisition of land, and interest in land, for the benefit of public lands and waters for all present and future generations. Warner and Kaine, both longtime supporters of LWCF, voted to permanently reauthorize and double funding for the program in 2020.

“Protecting our beautiful landscapes is critical to help ensure Virginians can enjoy them for generations to come,” said the Senators. “We’re glad this funding will preserve thousands of acres of scenic land and boost outdoor recreation, a critical part of the local economy.”

Warner & Kaine have long supported efforts to protect and preserve Virginia’s landscapes. In March, the senators introduced the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act, which would add a total of 5,600 acres to the existing Rough Mountain and Rich Hole wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County, Virginia. The senators also successfully pushed to pass legislation to assess the suitability and feasibility of designating the Great Dismal Swamp and its associated sites as a National Heritage Area, as well as legislation to establish the Northern Neck as a National Heritage Area, both of which President Biden signed into law in January.

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Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bob Casey (D-PA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement on the Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposal by its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to amend current federal standards to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust.

“We applaud the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s new proposed silica rule to enhance health protections for miners across the country. We urge swift implementation of this rule because protecting our hard-working miners from dangerous levels of silica cannot wait. After decades of declining rates of black lung deaths, we have seen the number of reported cases rapidly increase over the last 20 years - especially in Appalachia. America’s coal miners have risked their lives to power our great nation for generations, and we are committed to using every tool possible to protect miners from developing debilitating diseases that are entirely preventable.”

Earlier this month, the Senators sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, seeking additional information on the delayed announcement of a new silica standard for miners across America and urging prompt promulgation.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded $490,647 in federal funding to Virginia Tech for the planning of a project to accelerate forest farming and grow the non-timber forest product (NTFP) industry in Central Appalachia.

“We’re glad to see these federal dollars go towards supporting Appalachian Sustainable Development in its efforts to make Southwest Virginia and Central Appalachia a leader in the NTFP market. This project will cultivate a generation of new forest farmers in Southwest Virginia and help grow a sustainable stock of NTFPs – helping create new economic development opportunities for the region,” the Senators said.

“I strongly believe that the key to transforming Appalachia’s economic vitality can be found in vision and collaboration across state lines. I’m encouraged by the way our newest ARISE grantees have come together to forge plans that will greatly increase workforce development and business ventures in ways that will positively affect the entire region,” said Gayle Manchin, the Appalachian Regional Commission’s Federal Co-Chair.

This planning grant will be utilized by Virginia Tech and its two partners – Appalachian Sustainable Development in Duffield, Va. and Mill Creek Creative in Floyd, Va. – to help jumpstart a plan to accelerate Appalachia’s forest farming industry and grow the market for non-timber forest products in Central Appalachia. This includes medicinal plants, edible products such as mushrooms and honey, ornamental products like garlands and burl, and landscape products like mulch. Funding will be used to establish a plan that examines the economic viability of individual and collective forest farming business ventures across Southwest Virginia and Central Appalachia, creating a roadmap for programs and services to deliver a broad spectrum of market-centered opportunities for Appalachian residents and localities. In addition to ARC funds, local sources will provide $327,093 in matching funds, bringing the total project funding to $817,740.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have been strong supporters of Appalachian Sustainable Development’s efforts to grow the NTFP market. Sen. Warner personally advocated for this planning grant.

This funding was awarded through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)'s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) initiative, which aims to drive large scale, regional economic transformation through multistate, collaborative investments.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) sent a letter to the CIM Group, a real estate owner and developer, highlighting the concerns of tenants at an affordable housing complex in Alexandria, who have reported declining conditions and increases in evictions and rents.

“We write to share troubling concerns we have heard from constituents regarding conditions of the Southern Towers apartment complex in Alexandria, Virginia since your firm, the CIM Group (CIM), took ownership of the property,” wrote the Senators. “Tenants have shared with our offices that, under CIM ownership, they have been subjected to eviction filings during the eviction moratorium, changes in how utilities are billed combined with rent increases that have led to substantial price hikes, and unaddressed maintenance issues that pose health and safety risks. Further, tenants have voiced that CIM issued unclear eviction notices indicating that tenants who were late on their rent payments had only five days to ‘pay rent or, alternatively, to terminate lease and vacate premises’ – only mentioning later in the notice that tenants located on a ‘covered property’ as defined by the CARES Act were entitled to a 30-day notice before vacating.”

The Senators urged CIM to quickly address these concerns directly with residents and work with tenants to resolve any outstanding concerns. The Senators highlighted the need to tackle these issues in the midst of a nationwide affordable housing crisis. Virginia alone is facing a shortage of over 170,000 units for extremely low-income households with the supply shortfall particularly pronounced in Alexandria, which lost an estimated 90 percent of its market-affordable units between 2000 and 2017.

They continued. “As a federally-backed property, it is incumbent upon CIM to manage Southern Towers in alignment with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s mission to promote quality affordable housing. At a minimum, federally-backed properties should be well-maintained and free from health and safety risks, and have a responsive management team with transparent rent and utility pricing procedures. Moving forward, we urge CIM to meet regularly with tenants to hear their concerns, clearly communicate plans regarding deferred maintenance issues or pricing changes, and work directly with tenants to address issues in a timely manner.”

Sens. Warner and Kaine, a former fair housing attorney, have long supported efforts to increase accessibility to affordable housing. Earlier this year, they announced over $98 million in federal funding for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness assistance throughout the Commonwealth. They’ve introduced legislation that would address rising home prices, assist first-generation homebuyers, and close widening wealth and homeownership gaps. Sen. Kaine has also introduced legislation that would protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination.

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

Dear Ms. Chang,

We write to share troubling concerns we have heard from constituents regarding conditions of the Southern Towers apartment complex in Alexandria, Virginia since your firm, the CIM Group (CIM), took ownership of the property. Tenants of Southern Towers have raised concerns regarding declining conditions, unresolved maintenance requests, and significant pricing changes. As such, we urge you to take immediate action to address these issues by engaging directly and frequently with the tenants and working quickly to resolve outstanding concerns.

As you know, Southern Towers is a five-building apartment complex located in Alexandria, Virginia. For years, it has been home to generations of immigrants and has become a haven of affordable housing where families can achieve economic stability. In 2020, CIM purchased the property with significant financial backing from Freddie Mac. Tenants have shared with our offices that, under CIM ownership, they have been subjected to eviction filings during the eviction moratorium, changes in how utilities are billed combined with rent increases that have led to substantial price hikes, and unaddressed maintenance issues that pose health and safety risks. Further, tenants have voiced that CIM issued unclear eviction notices indicating that tenants who were late on their rent payments had only five days to “pay rent or, alternatively, to terminate lease and vacate premises” – only mentioning later in the notice that tenants located on a “covered property” as defined by the CARES Act were entitled to a 30-day notice before vacating.

These issues are all the more staggering when considering that our nation is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis. Virginia alone is facing a shortage of over 170,000 units for extremely low-income households with the supply shortfall particularly pronounced in Alexandria, which lost an estimated 90 percent of its market-affordable units between 2000 and 2017. As the vast share of the undersupply is concentrated in low-income, high-opportunity markets, we know that the burden of this crisis is falling largely on low- and moderate-income families. It is more important than ever that our existing affordable housing stock is safe and available for those that need it most, including complexes like Southern Towers.

As a federally-backed property, it is incumbent upon CIM to manage Southern Towers in alignment with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s mission to promote quality affordable housing. At a minimum, federally-backed properties should be well-maintained and free from health and safety risks, and have a responsive management team with transparent rent and utility pricing procedures. Moving forward, we urge CIM to meet regularly with tenants to hear their concerns, clearly communicate plans regarding deferred maintenance issues or pricing changes, and work directly with tenants to address issues in a timely manner. As CIM refers to itself as a “community-focused real estate investor”, we also urge CIM to offer assistance to tenants at risk of eviction by connecting them with government resources in an effort to keep more individuals and families in their homes.

It must be a priority that our most vulnerable communities are protected from displacement and have access to safe and affordable housing. We look forward to working with you to ensure that Southern Towers is a quality, affordable community for the tenants that call it home.

Sincerely,

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO OF WARNER ON THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today announced a whopping $1,481,489,527.87 in federal funding to deploy broadband and expand access to high-speed internet in Virginia. This funding was awarded though the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – landmark legislation authored and negotiated by Sen. Warner.

“This whopping $1.4 billion investment brings us a giant step closer to achieving our goal of universal broadband coverage in Virginia,” said Sen. Warner. ”We all know that access to fast, reliable, and affordable internet is crucial to ensuring our rural communities grow and thrive, and I’m thrilled that Virginia is receiving the investment we need to deploy broadband all across the Commonwealth. This funding is in no small part thanks to the Virginians that took time out of their day to report their connectivity status. Because of these efforts, we were able to accurately report our coverage and access every cent to which Virginia was entitled.”

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), seeks to expand high-speed internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs. Specifically, today’s funding will be utilized by the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) to reach unserved and underserved locations throughout the Commonwealth – those lacking 25/3 internet speeds and 100/20 internet speeds.

Sen. Warner has long fought to expand access to broadband in Virginia, including by advocating for the accurate reporting of Virginia’s connectivity status. Last year, he called on Virginians to contact the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding internet coverage in their communities. Following the FCC’s reporting deadline, Sen. Warner called attention to a significant number of locations in Virginia that were incorrectly reported on the FCC broadband coverage map.

As an author and negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law, Sen. Warner secured $65 billion in funding to help deploy broadband and decrease costs associated with connecting to the internet. As part of that funding, Virginia received $5 million to help make a strategic plan to deploy coverage.

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded $171,555,620 in federal funding for five transit projects in Virginia. This funding was authorized by the bipartisan infrastructure law supported by both Senators and signed into law by President Joe Biden. Specifically, these federal dollars will go towards investing in bus facilities and American-built buses that will be manufactured with American parts and labor.

“We are thrilled to see the bipartisan infrastructure law continue to deliver for communities,” said the Senators. “This funding will help deliver state-of-the-art buses and bus facilities that are better for our environment and make Virginia’s transit systems more reliable and comfortable for riders. We’re proud to know that this funding will support American jobs while making our communities more accessible.”

The funding will be distributed as follows:

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) will receive $104 million to convert its Lorton, VA, bus garage to a fully electric facility, buy approximately 100 battery-electric buses, and develop a workforce training program for drivers, mechanics, and first responders to ensure safe and efficient operations of the fleet. This project will support WMATA’s plans to accelerate its transition to a 100-percent zero-emission bus fleet and create good paying construction jobs, which will be supported through a project labor agreement and registered apprenticeships.

The City of Alexandria will receive $23,984,700 to buy 13 battery-electric buses and charging equipment and perform utility upgrades to the DASH transit system. The project includes worker training to introduce new skills to the existing and future workforce to maintain the electric buses, charging infrastructure and associated technology. The buses will accelerate DASH's transition to a 100% zero-emission fleet.

Loudoun County will receive $13,880,910 to buy 37 compressed natural gas buses, build a fueling station and improve its maintenance facility, the first step in its 10-year net-zero energy strategy. The buses will anchor the agency's fleet and service the county's environmental justice communities while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads will receive $25,000,000 to replace the 39-year-old Parks Avenue Maintenance Facility in Virginia Beach to accommodate future zero-emission buses. The new Southside Bus Operating Facility will help the agency support and maintain its current fleet while preparing to support expanded regional transit service.

The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) will receive $4,690,010 to replace the oldest buses operated by 11 rural transit providers. The project includes the purchase of a few dozen replacement buses that are vital to reducing a backlog of adequate vehicles.

Funding for these projects was distributed through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)’s Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities and Low- and No-Emission (Low-No) Vehicle programs.

The Buses and Bus Facilities program provides federal funding for transit agencies to buy and rehabilitate buses and vans and build and modernize bus facilities. The bipartisan infrastructure law provides nearly $2 billion through FY 2026 for the program. The Low-No program makes funding available to help transit agencies buy or lease American-built low- or zero-emission vehicles, including buses and vans; make facility and station upgrades to accommodate low- or zero-emission vehicles; and purchase supporting equipment like chargers for battery electric vehicles. The bipartisan infrastructure law provides $5.5 billion through FY 2026 for the Low-No Program – more than six times greater than the previous five years of funding combined.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced that over $38 million in federal infrastructure investments are going to communities in Northampton, Accomack, Chesterfield, Rockingham, and Fairfax Counties through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability & Equity (RAISE) grant program, which received historic levels of support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that the senators helped pass.

“Strong infrastructure—from roads and bridges to sidewalks and shared-use paths—is critical to helping Virginians get where they need to go and enjoy the great outdoors,” said the Senators. “We’re proud to have helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that helped make these investments possible, and look forward to seeing the positive impacts they’ll have on Virginia communities.”

The funding will be allocated as follows:

$23,251,485 is headed to Northampton and Accomack Counties to support the conversion of 16.8 miles of abandoned Bay Coast Railroad into a 10-foot-wide shared-use path that will connect the Town of Nassawadox with several historic towns on the way to the Town of Olney. Senator Kaine visited the future trail last year to meet with local leaders and talk about $2.5 million in federal funding both Senators previously secured for the project via the Congressionally Directed Spending process.
$14,368,180 is headed to Harrisonburg to convert a lane of US-11 to a two-way separated bicycle area between the intersections of Main Street and Noll Drive and Grattan Street and Liberty Street. A shared use path will also be constructed along Main Street between Grattan Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The project will also include additional pedestrian, bicycle, and intersection improvements to improve safety for the community and will be transformative for the Liberty Street Corridor and Downtown.
$3,600,000 is headed to Chesterfield County to fund critical planning needed to improve access and safety for the Meadowbrook Community, including improvements to the Hopkins Road/Chippenham Parkway interchange area, and the implementation of bike, pedestrian, and curbside pickup micro-transit options. The grant funds will help the county address vehicular safety and congestion issues occurring at the Hopkins Road/Chippenham Parkway interchange area while integrating a safe route and crossings for pedestrians. This project is a continuation of the county’s success in building a strong pedestrian network to connect residents to community services in the area.
$720,000 is headed to Herndon to develop a plan to redevelop the town’s land use and development policies, transportation network, and economic and housing development policies.

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WASHINGTON — Ahead of tomorrow’s one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court’s devastating decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV) and a number of their colleagues in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act. As legislatures and governors across the country continue to target and undermine reproductive freedoms, this legislation would block anti-choice states from limiting travel for abortion services. It would also empower the Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman’s right to cross state lines to receive legal reproductive care.

“One year ago, we watched as the Supreme Court rolled back decades of precedent, leaving women in America with fewer rights than they were born with. Since then, we’ve seen a patchwork of statewide abortion policies and have heard horrifying stories from women who’ve had their safety and long-term health compromised by these policies. As legislatures across the country pass increasingly oppressive laws policing women’shealth, we’re introducing legislation to clarify that women cannot be prosecuted for traveling across state lines to seek the care they need,” said Sens. Warner and Kaine.

Anti-choice politicians in states like Idaho, Tennessee, Texas, and Missouri are working to punish both women for leaving their state for reproductive care and the doctors and employers who help them. The Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act underscores the Constitutional protections for interstate travel and provides redress for women whose rights are violated. The legislation would also protect health care providers in states like Virginia, where abortion is still legal in most cases, from prosecution and lawsuits for serving individuals traveling from other states.

In addition to Senators Warner, Kaine, and Cortez Masto, this legislation was cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), as well as Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD) Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

This legislation is endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Women’s Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Partnership for Women & Families, Catholics for Choice, Power to Decide, National Council of Jewish Women, and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association.

High-Quality Photo Available for Download Here

WASHINGTON — Today U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement following Prime Minister Modi’s address to a joint session of Congress:

“Prime Minister Modi’s address to Congress today emphasized the strong friendship that has been built between our two countries, fostered by a range of close economic ties and shared opportunities. I’m pleased to see President Biden and Prime Minister Modi utilize this visit to continue to deepen the bonds between our countries and expand our cooperation on defense, trade, technology, and innovation. It’s also more important than ever – in the face of rising global authoritarianism – that we respect and reaffirm the shared values that form the foundations of our respective nations, such as democracy, universal human rights, tolerance and pluralism, and equal opportunity for all citizens. As the Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, I look forward to this continued partnership because I know that the U.S.-India relationship is one that’s worth investing in.”

Earlier this week, Sen. Warner introduced legislation to streamline the United States’ ability to consider defensive military sales to India under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA). This legislation would support ongoing security cooperation between the two nations by adding India to a list of counties outlined under the AECA – like Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and South Korea – that have access to an expedited 15-day consideration and a higher financial threshold for deals that trigger Congressional review. He also joined his colleagues in introducing a resolution celebrating the relationship between the U.S. and India.

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WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their colleagues in reintroducing the Equality Act—historic, comprehensive legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination, just as religious, racial, and ethnic discrimination are already illegal everywhere in the United States. The legislation comes as over 400 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures across America this year—a new record.

“It’s disturbing to see more and more states pass regressive laws that encroach on the rights and liberties of LBGTQ+ Americans,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this comprehensive legislation to extend anti-discrimination protections to the community because nobody should face discrimination based on who they are or whom they love.”

“Americans shouldn’t be denied housing, fired from their job, or refused service at a restaurant because of who they are or whom they love,” said Sen. Kaine. “During Pride Month, I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation to protect LGBTQ+ Americans from discrimination. I’ll never stop fighting until we reach our North Star of equality.”

The Equality Act would amend federal anti-discrimination laws to explicitly ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in a host of areas, such as employment, housing, public accommodations, jury service, access to credit, federal funding, and more. It would also add protections against sex discrimination in parts of anti-discrimination laws where these protections had not been included previously, such as public accommodations and federal funding.

Warner and Kaine have long worked to protect LGBTQ+ rights. Last year, the senators helped to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law to ensure that same-sex and interracial marriages are recognized by every state, and urged the Virginia General Assembly to protect marriage equality by repealing the ban on same-sex marriage that remains in Virginia’s constitution. The senators were also previously among the 212 members of Congress who signed an amicus brief arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court that same-sex married couples should have the same legal security, rights, and responsibilities that federal law provides all other married couples.

The full text of the Equality Act can be found here as introduced in the Senate, and here as introduced in the House.

A summary of the bill can be found here .

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Sens. Senators Mark Warner and John Cornyn, Co-Chairs of the Senate India Caucus, along with Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a resolution celebrating U.S.-India relations ahead of this week’s official state visit with the Republic of India.

“It is my honor as Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus to join the Indian diaspora in Virginia and across the country in welcoming this official state visit by Prime Minister Modi," said Sen. Warner. "This visit will continue the important work of building a strong partnership between our two countries, which has now grown into one of the most consequential relationships for the United States. From strengthening defense relations to increased collaboration in the tech realm, our shared commitment to this relationship is crucial to freedom and prosperity around the globe.”

“As a Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad to welcome Prime Minister Modi to the United States once again,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This historic state visit will help expand our valuable long-term relationship and advance our shared interests, such as ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region, strengthening our economic partnership, and increasing our defense trade.”

“I would like to join the vibrant and important Indian-American community in the United States and in my home state of New Jersey in celebrating U.S.-India relations ahead of this week’s official state visit,” said Chairman Menendez. “From our people-to-people and educational exchanges to our collaboration in critical international forums such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (“the Quad”) and the G20, the growing U.S.-India relationship promises a prosperous future for our two nations and the world. This upcoming visit symbolizes the value that we place on this relationship and our mutual commitment to continue to bring our two societies closer together for the sake of promoting global prosperity in the decades to come.”

A copy of the resolution is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, introduced legislation that would streamline consideration of defensive military sales to India under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (AECA), supporting ongoing security cooperation between the two nations.

The AECA outlines requirements for Congress to be notified prior to the finalization of foreign military sales. Under standard consideration, a presidential administration is required to notify Congress 30 calendar days before any deal for defense articles, services, or training above a certain financial threshold becomes final. However, for certain countries outlined under the AECA – like Australia, Japan, Israel, New Zealand and South Korea – the law provides an expedited 15-day consideration period for Congress, and raises the financial threshold for deals that trigger that review. Sens. Warner and Cornyn’s legislation would list India as one of the countries that receives expedited consideration, reflecting the importance of this security relationship, and ultimately supporting more resilient defense supply chains. This legislation does not intend to address membership in any formal alliances, and instead addresses domestic U.S. arms export regulation.

“The relationship between the United States and India is a crucial one,” said Sen. Warner. “Streamlining our nation’s ability to consider defense sales to India will strengthen our defense partnership as well as our supply chains – both of which are crucial as we grapple with threats to a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

“India’s transition from Russian-made weapons to military equipment made in the U.S. and India is a step towards ensuring this critical ally has the defense capabilities it needs without enriching one of our adversaries,” said Sen. Cornyn. “By increasing investment by U.S. companies and expediting the process of purchasing military equipment, we can remove barriers to U.S.-India cooperation and increase our own national security at the same time. ”

As co-chairs of the India Caucus, protecting and advancing the partnership between the United States and India is a priority for Sens. Warner and Cornyn. The Senators have introduced a version of the legislation as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act every year since 2019.

A copy of the bill text is available here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined their colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2023 to help more Americans access telehealth services. The CONNECT for Health Act would expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent telehealth flexibilities that were enacted during COVID, make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors, and help improve health outcomes. The Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill included provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act to temporarily extend COVID-related telehealth flexibilities, but these flexibilities are set to expire in 2025.

“One of the lessons we learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that our health care system is more adaptable than we thought. Over the last three years, patients have received quality care from the comfort of their own homes through the expansion of telehealth services. I’m proud to introduce legislation that will make permanent some of these services and ensure Virginians continue to have access to the affordable health care they need when they need it,” said Warner.

“Many Americans, particularly those living in rural communities, rely on telehealth to receive health care, and we should make it as easy as possible for them to do so. This bill is critical to doing just that, and I’m proud to be joining my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation to remove the unnecessary barriers that limit Americans’ access to telehealth services,”said Kaine.

The CONNECT for Health Act was first introduced in 2016. Since 2016, several provisions of the original bill have been enacted into law or adopted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, including provisions to remove restrictions on telehealth services for mental health, stroke care, and home dialysis. Three provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act were signed into law in 2020. As a result, there was a sharp rise in use of telehealth during the COVID pandemic as patients avoided traveling to hospitals and other health care settings and instead chose to receive care at home. Data shows that telehealth provides essential access to care with nearly a quarter of Americans accessing telehealth in the past month.

The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 would build on this progress by:

Permanently removing all geographic restrictions on telehealth services and expand originating sites to include the home and other sites;
Permanently allowing health centers and rural health clinics to provide telehealth services;
Allowing more eligible health care professionals to utilize telehealth services;
Removing unnecessary in-person visit requirement for telemental health services;
Allowing for the waiver of telehealth restrictions during public health emergencies; and
Requiring more published data to learn more about how telehealth is being used, impacts of quality of care, and how it can be improved to support patients and health care providers.

The bill was led by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). The CONNECT for Health was also cosponsored by Senators Angus King (I-ME), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WW), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Tim Scott (R-SC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Thom Tillis (D-NC), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Steve Daines (R-MT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), John Hoeven (R-ND), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Boozman (R-AR), Jon Tester (D-MT), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Barrasso (R-WW), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chuck Grassley (R-IO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN). Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Roger Marshall (R-KS). Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), and Bill Johnson (R-OH-06).

The CONNECT for Health Act has the support of more than 150 organizations including AARP, America’s Essential Hospitals, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Nurse Practitioners, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Medical Group Association, American Nurses Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American Telemedicine Association, Consumer Technology Association, Federation of American Hospitals, HIMSS, Kaiser Permanente, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Community Health Centers, National Quality Forum, National Association of Rural Health Clinics, National Rural Health Association, and Teladoc Health.

Full text of the bill is available here.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine joined Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) in introducing the Working Families Tax Relief Act, legislation that would cut taxes for low- and middle-income American workers and families by expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The American Rescue Plan, which Warner and Kaine helped pass, expanded these tax credits during the pandemic, but the expansion expired in December 2021; this bill would make the expansions permanent to continue to help families.

The expanded CTC provided up to $300 in monthly tax refunds per qualifying child to help low- and middle-income families with children under 18 years old pay for basic necessities like food, housing and utility bills, education costs, and health care. It helped lift 2.1 million children out of poverty. In Virginia, the expanded CTC helped 1.7 million children— including 249,000 children living in poverty. The expanded EITC, which lowers taxes for low-income childless workers, provided up to $1,500 in annual tax relief to more than 400,000 workers without children in Virginia.

“The expansion of the CTC and EITC helped many workers and families in Virginia pay for necessities like food, housing, and health care,” said the senators. “Permanently expanding these tax credits will offer more financial stability to families, keep children out of poverty, and put money back in the pockets of millions of hardworking American families and workers.”

Specifically, the Working Families Tax Relief Act would:

Increase the annual CTC to $3,000 for low- and middle-income families with children ages 6-17 and $3,600 for low- and middle-income families with children ages 0-5, which is the rate it was in 2021. This CTC would be delivered in monthly payments as it was in 2021, providing a reliable source of financial stability.
Make the CTC “fully refundable” so that the lowest-income families can receive the credit. Under current law, many of these families are not able to benefit from the CTC.
Nearly triple the maximum value of the EITC for low-income workers without children.
Extend the EITC to workers starting at age 19 and eliminate the maximum age. The EITC can currently only be claimed if you are between 25-65 years old.

In addition to Warner, Kaine, Brown, Bennet, Booker, Warnock, Wyden, and Durbin, the legislation was cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to lower costs and improve tax fairness for Virginia workers and families. The senators helped pass the American Rescue Plan, which originally expanded the CTC and EITC. Expanding the CTC and EITC are priorities in Kaine’s Roadmap to Recovery, a legislative action plan to help America build on the progress made since the pandemic.

Full text of the bill is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $4,285,652 in federal funding to make infrastructure improvements at airports across Virginia. The funding was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) FY 2023 Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which funds airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, airport signage, airport lighting, and airport markings.

“Our local airports make it easier to travel and play an important role in our economies,” said the senators. “We’re glad this funding will make improvements at airports across the Commonwealth and help ensure Virginians and visitors can safely get where they need to go.”

The funding is distributed as follows:

$1,229,342 for the Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glenn Field in Timberlake to construct an apron.
$819,000 for the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News to reconstruct its taxiway.
$774,000 for the Farmville Regional Airport in Farmville to reconstruct its taxiway.
$501,300 for Ingalls Field in Hot Springs to update the Airport Master Plan and seal pavement surfaces and pavement joints on its runway.
$270,000 for the Dinwiddie County Airport in Sutherland to seal pavement surfaces and pavement joints on its apron and taxiway and repair signs and markings on its runway.
$270,000 for the New Kent County Airport in Quinton to seal pavement surface and pavement joints on its runway and $161,010 to mark, remove, or light non-hazardous obstructions like nearby buildings and towers in its airspace.
$261,000 for the Twin County Airport in Hillsville to rehabilitate its taxiway.

Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve airports across the Commonwealth. Earlier this year, the senators announced $29.4 million in federal funding to make improvements at three Virginia airports. The senators have also announced over $1 million in funding for the Luray Caverns Airport in Luray and over $13 million in federal funding for regional airports in Abingdon, Suffolk, Manassas, Danville, Chesapeake, & Chesterfield County.

The funding is distributed as follows:

$1,229,342 for the Lynchburg Regional Airport/Preston Glenn Field in Timberlake to construct an apron.
$819,000 for the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News to reconstruct its taxiway.
$774,000 for the Farmville Regional Airport in Farmville to reconstruct its taxiway.
$501,300 for Ingalls Field in Hot Springs to update the Airport Master Plan and seal pavement surfaces and pavement joints on its runway.
$270,000 for the Dinwiddie County Airport in Sutherland to seal pavement surfaces and pavement joints on its apron and taxiway and repair signs and markings on its runway.
$270,000 for the New Kent County Airport in Quinton to seal pavement surface and pavement joints on its runway and $161,010 to mark, remove, or light non-hazardous obstructions like nearby buildings and towers in its airspace.
$261,000 for the Twin County Airport in Hillsville to rehabilitate its taxiway.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) along with Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) issued the following statement regarding legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs:

“The three airports of the Washington metropolitan area have worked in tandem for decades to connect the nation’s capital to destinations around the world while serving as centerpieces of the region’s economy. We will strongly oppose any FAA reauthorization that destabilizes this tried-and-true equilibrium by expanding the number of flights or passengers into and out of National. Any such interference by Congress would disrupt the balance among the region’s airports, generate longer lines and more delays at DCA, create more noise for nearby residents, and hurt local economies in both of our states.”

In March, Sens. Warner, Kaine Cardin, and Van Hollen sent a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee strongly opposing any further changes at airports that serve residents of the National Capital Area. Sen. Warner, Kaine, Cardin, and Van Hollen also penned an op-ed yesterday urging their colleagues to oppose changes to the current slot and perimeter rules at DCA.

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, announced that a pair of bills that would build on the important progress that has been made to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease advanced the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee by a 20-1 vote.

More than six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s costs our nation an astonishing $345 billion per year, including $222 billion in costs to Medicare and Medicaid. If we continue along this trajectory, Alzheimer’s is projected to claim the minds of 13.8 million seniors by 2060 and nearly surpass $1 trillion in annual costs by 2050. In 2022, family caregivers provided 18 billion hours of unpaid care for loved ones with dementia.

“I lost my mother to Alzheimer’s after a courageous decade-long fight, so I understand the toll this terrible disease takes on seniors and families,” said Sen. Warner. “Today’s resounding bipartisan vote is a great step towards reauthorizing some of the most powerful tools we have to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. I look forward to getting it across the finish line.”

The NAPA Reauthorization Act—authored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and co-led by Sens. Warner, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)—would reauthorize the National Alzheimer’s Project through 2035 and modernize the legislation to reflect strides that have been made to understand the disease, such as including a new focus on promoting healthy aging and reducing risk factors. The National Alzheimer’s Project brings the whole of government together to make recommendations to improve policies and care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers and families.

The Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act—also authored by Sens. Collins, Warner, Capito, Markey, Moran, Menendez, Murkowski, and Stabenow—would continue through 2035 a requirement that the Director of the National Institutes of Health submit an annual budget to Congress estimating the funding necessary to fully implement NAPA’s research goals. Only two other areas of biomedical research – cancer and HIV/AIDS – have been the subject of special budget development aimed at speeding discovery.

The NAPA Reauthorization Act and Alzheimer’s Accountability and Investment Act are endorsed by the Alzheimer’s Association and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. The NAPA Reauthorization Act, as reported out of Committee, also includes updated language in recognition of the need to include underserved populations, including individuals with Down syndrome, who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s as they age. The reported bill is endorsed by the National Down Syndrome Society, the National Down Syndrome Congress, and LuMind IDSC Foundation.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Mike Braun (R-IN), along with U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), John Curtis (R-UT-03), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), introduced legislation to remove an unnecessary bureaucratic obstacle that currently prevents students from receiving a degree or certification they have obtained enough credits to complete. The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act of 2023 would facilitate the “reverse transferring” of college credits – the process of transferring credits from a four-year institution to a two-year institution in which a student was previously enrolled in order to identify whether they have earned enough credits to receive a degree.

Specifically, the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act would amend the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to create a new exemption for sharing student education records between higher education institutions. The bill would allow a college or university to share a student’s academic records with another institution that the student previously attended under the condition that the information is sent with the goal of conferring a degree.

The legislation is co-sponsored in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).

“We should be removing barriers to higher education, not building new ones. This commonsense legislation is a no-brainer, making sure that students are granted the degrees they have rightfully earned through their coursework – no matter where it was completed,” said Sen. Warner.

“Considering the crisis of student debt weighing on our next generations, we need to make it easier for students to seek cost-effective education choices. This bill will enable students to transfer credits from 4 year institutions to community colleges,” said Sen. Braun.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to receive a quality education and pursue their career aspirations. The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act helps to ensure that students can receive credit and earn an associate’s degree or short-term certificate regardless of where they completed their coursework, breaking down barriers to better-paying jobs for students. This is a meaningful step for the future,” said Rep. Neguse.

“I am pleased to join in introducing the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act. Utah is home to great schools with many students who begin their education at a community college and finish at a university,” said Rep. Curtis. “This bill will improve data sharing between higher education institutions by allowing a student to continue earning credits towards an Associate’s degree at community college, even after transferring to a university, boosting student earning potential and student retention.”

“Texas students shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to get the degrees they earned,” said Rep. Castro. “The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act will help community college transfer students get better jobs and career opportunities as they work toward a bachelor’s degree. Critically, the bill will also help reduce the number of Texans who leave school with debt but no degree and send a powerful message that all education is valuable, even when life circumstances put a four-year degree out of reach.”

The National Student Clearinghouse, an educational nonprofit that verifies enrollment data, has identified over four million individuals that have completed enough credit hours at a four-year institution to be eligible for an associate’s degree, but instead withdrew without a degree or certificate. In the Commonwealth of Virginia alone, this is about 87,528 students.

The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act has the support of numerous organizations, including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers, Virginia Community College System, American Association of Community Colleges, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and the Institute for Higher Education Policy, among others. For a complete list, click here.

“This legislation is an important step that will enable institutions to increase learner attainment of a quality credential, which translates into better paying jobs, for millions of in individuals,” said Melanie Gottlieb, Executive Director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO). “The additional FERPA exception proposed represents a responsible means of sharing student information between a student's 4-year and 2-year institutions in a way that both protects student privacy and supports the completion agenda.”

“Virginia’s community colleges prepare students for in-demand jobs that respond to the marketplace and employers,” said David Dore, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “The Reverse Transfer Act is a welcome approach that will benefit students from every race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic group. Communication will be facilitated, obstacles removed, and processes improved between community colleges and four-year institutions. I applaud Senator Warner and Senator Braun for their bipartisan approach in working across the aisle to advance this legislation that will increase affordability, accelerate degree completion, and lead students to upward mobility.”

Today, over 4 million students transfer from community colleges to universities but never earn a degree from either, leaving them without a credential critical to their economic futures. The Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act streamlines the transfer of university credits back to community colleges,” said Anne M. Kress, PhD, President of Northern Virginia Community College. “A common-sense approach, it counts all credits earned by students, enabling them to earn valuable associate degrees that can transform their lives and advance opportunity in their communities. Northern Virginia Community College is thankful to Senator Warner for this innovative legislation that will connect millions, including over 87,000 Virginians, to college degrees and the pathway to prosperity.

“Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) enthusiastically endorses the ‘Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act.’ This act will allow students to easily earn degrees and other credentials at community colleges by transferring credits earned at four-year institutions. Earning additional credentials makes individuals more competitive in the modern workforce,” said Dr. John A. Downey, President of Blue Ridge Community College. “Many students transfer to four-year institutions without completing their associate degrees or certificates. Offering a reverse transfer option allows us to recognize credits earned that did not initially lead to a degree, and encourage those students to become graduates of their community college. Completion will show employers that these students are lifelong learners who continue to improve their education. BRCC encourages all parties to support this important piece of legislation to improve our workforce.”

“Workforce shortages surround us, and Virginia Western Community College seeks to be a bridge between employers and our students. We encourage passage of the bipartisan Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act, which will help colleges make the process of credential attainment more accessible. By clearing a path for students to receive a college degree through reverse transfer, more people will gain the credentials required to improve their economic opportunities and simultaneously help fill their community’s workforce needs,” said Dr. Robert Sandel, President of Virginia Western Community College.

“At Germanna Community College, we believe that a skilled workforce is the cornerstone of our current and future economy,” said Dr. Shashuna Gray, Acting President, Germanna Community College. “We support the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act to ensure that students have opportunities to earn meaningful and recognized credentials that can lead to high-demand jobs or career advancement. Additionally, we know that degree attainment is good for our communities. Students with associate’s degrees are more likely to complete bachelor’s degrees. This benefits all of us.”

“Today approximately 40 million people nationwide have earned some college credits, but no degree or credential. That’s a missed opportunity for these students to boost their earnings and secure economic mobility, as well as a missed opportunity for our communities who stand to benefit from a more educated workforce and citizenry,” said Institute for Higher Education Policy President and CEO Mamie Voight. “IHEP research shows how strong partnerships between two-year and four-year colleges can help students begin their studies at one institution, then go on to earn a degree or credential at another. Innovative solutions like the Reverse Transfer Efficiency Act would facilitate the scaling of reverse credit transfer between institutions and help more colleges identify degree-eligible students so they can get the credentials they have earned.”

A copy of the bill text is available here.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement ahead of a Senate Commerce Committee markup on legislation to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs:

“The single runway at DCA is already the most congested in the country. Ahead of the Senate Commerce Committee markup this morning, we want to be clear that we will strongly oppose any FAA reauthorization that expands the number of flights or passengers into and out of National. Any such expansion would disrupt the balance among the region’s airports and create additional delays and problems at National, an airport just one-fourteenth the size of Dulles.”

Acknowledging the physical limitations at Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA), Congress has since 1986 restricted the number of nonstop flights that can originate out of DCA to airports outside of a 1,250-mile perimeter, while Washington Dulles International (IAD) was planned as the growth airport for the region’s aviation needs. However, in past FAA reauthorization bills, Congress has made changes to these rules that have disrupted the balance in this two-airport system by adding additional flights from Reagan to destinations outside the 1,250-mile perimeter. These changes in flight activity have produced significant stress on DCA’s facilities, from strained roadways and limited parking availability to overburdened baggage systems, and created frustrations for travelers, businesses, and local residents. Those changes have also prevented Dulles, whose size allows for larger planes to land and take off, from realizing its full potential as the primary long-haul flight destination for the Washington metropolitan area. In March, Sens. Warner and Kaine were joined by the two senators from Maryland in sending a letter to the Senate Commerce Committee, which has responsibility for drafting legislation to reauthorize the FAA, strongly opposing any further changes at airports that serve residents of the National Capital Area. Sen. Warner, Kaine, Cardin, and Van Hollen also penned an op-ed yesterday urging their colleagues to oppose changes to the current slot and perimeter rules at DCA.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) joined by U.S. Reps. Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), Chairman of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), and Terri Sewell (D-AL-07) today reintroduced legislation that will ensure patients maintain access to home infusion therapy. The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act protects access to Medicare’s home infusion benefit by making clear that pharmacy services for home infusion therapy can be reimbursed and sets an appropriate rate for such services.

“We have seen for years that patients are better off when they can receive quality care from the comfort of their own homes,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation would ensure that millions of Americans who suffer from life threatening conditions such as immune diseases, cancer, serious infections, and heart failure can receive the care they need without having to make frequent, sometimes costly trips to the hospital.”

“High-risk patients who are more susceptible to contracting disease shouldn’t have to visit a hospital and further risk their health to receive life-saving treatment,” said Sen. Scott. “This commonsense legislation ensures that millions of Americans have the option to receive the care they need in the comfort and safety of their own homes.”

“The coronavirus pandemic taught us that home health services are invaluable for seniors in my district and across the country,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The aptly-named Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act will ensure that Medicare recipients can continue to receive life-saving drugs in a safe and effective way from the comfort and convenience of their own home.”

“We know that the majority of people would prefer to receive care in the home when possible, and over the last few years, we have seen the effective expansion of many home care services, which can result in significant savings for patients and providers” said Rep. Dingell. “The legislation’s commonsense reforms will expand access to home infusion services for Medicare beneficiaries, saving the Medicare program millions of dollars, cutting patient costs, and ensuring people receive safe and adequate care in the comfort of their own home. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move this bipartisan legislation forward so we can effectively care for people and save money by doing so in a home setting.”

“For Medicare patients living in rural areas, regular visits to healthcare providers to receive infusion services often prove to be costly and burdensome,” said Rep. Harshbarger. “It is critical that common-sense reforms are passed to address CMS’ flawed implementation of home-based care for Medicare patients, which is why I am proud to co-sponsor the Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act. This legislation is vital to our many seniors who receive infusion treatments, ensuring patients have access to effective therapies from the safety and comfort of their homes, while producing cost-savings for both the Medicare program and patient.”

“Countless Alabamians, especially those in rural communities, rely on home infusion services for life-saving care,” said Rep. Sewell. “It has never been more critical to ensure that patients continue to receive this care safely in their homes. I’m so proud to introduce this bipartisan bill and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give it their full support.”

Sen. Warner originally included provisions in the 21st Century Cures Act and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 to create a professional services benefit for Medicare Part B home infusion drugs in order to maintain patient access to home infusion by covering professional services including assessments, education on administration and access device care, monitoring and remote monitoring, coordination with the patient, caregivers and other health care providers, and nursing visits.

Despite Congress’ intent, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) improperly implemented the benefit by requiring a nurse to be physically present in the patient’s home in order for providers to be reimbursed. As a result, provider participation in Medicare’s home infusion benefit has dropped sharply and beneficiaries have experienced reduced access to home infusion over the last several years.

The Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act provides technical clarifications that will remove the physical presence requirement, ensuring payment regardless of whether a health care professional is present in the patient’s home. The legislation also acknowledges the full scope of professional services provided in home infusion — including essential pharmacist services — into the reimbursement structure.

Specifically the legislation would:

include pharmacy services as part of covered home infusion therapy under Medicare, encompassing assessments, drug preparation and compounding, and care coordination and documentation;
direct CMS to pay 50% of the nursing rate on home infusion days when a nurse is not present;
allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants to establish and review the plan of care for home infusion therapy.

“The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) applauds Senator Warner and Senator Scott for their leadership on common sense legislation that will ensure Medicare patients have access to home infusion therapy,” said Connie Sullivan, NHIA’s President and CEO. “Americans have overwhelmingly demonstrated they prefer to receive medical treatments at home when given the option — and this legislation marks an important step in making that option available to our Medicare beneficiaries.”

A copy of the bill text is available here.

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WASHINGTON – The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (IAA) today by a unanimous 17-0 vote. The bill authorizes funding, provides legal authorities, and enhances congressional oversight for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).

“The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 reflects the Senate Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan commitment to ensuring America’s intelligence agencies have the resources they need to protect our country,” said Committee Chairman Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA). “This year’s bill increases the IC’s ability to track threats posed by adversarial nations, including technological and economic competition with China. It also promotes a reform of the nation’s security classification system, strengthens the security of our election systems, and furthers the Committee’s efforts to reform the security clearance process, so that the IC can attract and expeditiously on-board a talented, diverse, and trusted workforce to meet the emerging challenges we face.”

“The United States is in a moment of great power conflict where our adversaries—namely China and Russia —are colluding to destroy the international ruled-based system while undermining the United States and our alliances,” said Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). “The Intelligence Community (IC) must rapidly adapt and work aggressively to position the United States to focus on and counter the unprecedented global threats we face. This year’s IAA begins to equip the IC with the tools needed to enhance intelligence collection and improve objective intelligence analysis. Importantly, the committee-passed IAA also includes a prohibition DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis from collecting information on U.S Persons. This IAA further enables the IC to provide support to policymakers to make the right decisions that protect our national security, promote economic prosperity for all Americans, and uphold our values.”

Background:

The IAA for Fiscal Year 2024 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, including its predatory economic practices, political influence operations, military capabilities, and investments in, and attempts to dominate the supply chains of artificial intelligence (AI), next-generation energy technologies, and biotechnology, among many others.
Establishes a new IC atrocities coordinator to increase collection, analysis, and intelligence support to government-wide efforts to hold China accountable for its egregious human rights abuses.
Promotes reform of the nation’s security classification system, including by reducing overclassification; establishing a new system of interagency governance and accountability; preventing mishandling of classified information; and promoting better use of technology to facilitate declassification and enhance public trust.
Strengthens the security of America’s voting systems by requiring that they undergo simulated attacks as part of their standard certification process, allowing for the discovery of potential vulnerabilities before these can be exploited by adversaries.
Requires the IC to conduct a “lessons-learned” assessment of Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine and the long-term implications for United States national security and the NATO alliance.
Improves the IC’s procurement, adoption, and integration of emerging technologies by requiring the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to establish policies for the IC’s acquisition, adoption, development, and use of AI.
Protects against foreign counterintelligence risks at Department of Energy National Labs.
Enhances insight into the Venezuela Maduro regime’s imprisonment of United States persons.

Ensures the IC has a workforce that is second-to-none, by instituting improved IC workforce recruitment through education-based assistance; improving workforce mobility among IC agencies to meet national security needs; increasing recruitment priorities for candidates with financial intelligence and technical expertise; and requiring a standard procedure for investigating CIA sexual misconduct complaints, among other measures.

Increases transparency by strengthening Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) funding and reporting requirements.
Builds upon the Committee’s work in reforming the nation’s outdated security clearance system by requiring the codification of new timeliness standards for processing personnel vetting determinations.
Prohibits the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis from collecting information or intelligence on U.S. persons.
Maintains strong congressional oversight of and protections for whistleblowers who come forward to report fraud, waste, or abuse.
Ensures continued support to the victims of anomalous health incidents (AHIs or “Havana Syndrome”) by improving the CIA’s funding flexibility for payments to qualified victims; and requiring each IC element to issue regulations and procedures for implementing HAVANA Act of 2021 authorities.

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