Press Releases

Sens.Warner and Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) applauded last night’s final House passage of the Government Reports Elimination Act, a bipartisan initiative to eliminate or modify more than 50 unnecessary, outdated, or duplicative federal reports required of more than a dozen federal agencies.

This is terrific news for Norfolk and the Navy. This move will bring new opportunities to Norfolk, home to the greatest naval concentration in the world.

Senator Warner and the Northern Virginia Technology Council announced today that it had delivered a final report to Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert McDonald based on its pro bono assessment of the scheduling processes and systems at VA medical centers.

"We need to lower the volume on this type of unproductive rhetoric. It clearly was inappropriate for a White House aide to use this disparaging language to describe our strongest and closest ally in the region during this fragile period."

Sens. Warner and Kaine called on the federal Ebola response coordinator to act quickly to synchronize local, state and federal efforts to respond to the Ebola emergency.

Sen. Warner met with U.S. TRANSCOM Commander General Selva to discuss the unacceptable burden thousands of service members returning from duty overseas are experiencing due to misplaced vehicles by the new DoD contractor.

Senators Warner and Kaine sent letters to Virginia Secretary of Health and Human Services William Hazel and President and CEO of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association requesting information on what is being done to ensure Virginia hospitals and health professionals have the supplies, training and information they need to effectively identify and treat any patients who present symptoms of Ebola.

“Allowing people to marry who they love is the fundamentally right thing to do, and it strengthens our families and communities. This is a remarkable and memorable day in Virginia’s march toward equality,”

Sens. Warner and Kaine yesterday joined hundreds of stakeholders in responding to dotS request for public comment on new rules it has proposed, highlighting areas to further strengthen DOT’s rules in order to ensure the safe transport of crude-by-rail.

"I am saddened by the death of my friend, longtime Delegate Vince Callahan. Over 40 years of service in the House of Delegates, Vince did so much to strengthen the quality of life and the variety of educational and cultural opportunities across Northern Virginia."

WASHINGTON – A resolution introduced by U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) that designates Sept. 30, 2014 as U.S.-India Partnership Day passed the Senate yesterday on a unanimous vote. U.S.-India Partnership Day coincides with Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House, highlighting the bilateral commitment to furthering the U.S.-India relationship. Sens. Warner and Cornyn serve as co-chairs of the U.S. Senate’s bipartisan India Caucus.

The resolution emphasizes the mutual benefits of a thriving U.S-India partnership, stressing the importance of increasing collaboration in order to promote stability, democracy, and economic prosperity in the 21^st century.

“I am proud to sponsor this resolution celebrating the partnership between the U.S. and India. We have already seen progress in the relationship in the first 100 days of Prime Minister Modi’s administration, and I believe there is an opportunity to continue making progress that will benefit both of our countries,” said Sen. Warner, who published a “First 100-Days” plan that outlined twelve recommendations for action, seven of which have already been adopted by both governments. “From energy, to defense, to counterterrorism, to trade, the United States and India have many overlapping national interests. As our trade relationship continues to grow, increasing export opportunities to India will create more jobs for Americans back here at home.”

“As the world’s two largest democracies, the U.S.-India relationship remains one of the most important partnerships in the world. We warmly welcome Prime Minister Modi to the United States and are hopeful we can work together to grow our relationship and identify areas we can strengthen in the years to come. As the co-founder and co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I look forward to continuing to help the U.S.-India partnership reach its full potential,” said Sen. Cornyn.

The resolution is available here.

SRes571 US-India Partnership Day_Sept 30 2014 by Mark Warner

Yesterday the Senate passed Sen. Warner’s initiative to eliminate or modify more than 50 unnecessary, outdated or redundant reports to Congress produced by federal agencies every year.

Sen. Warner announced that the Northern Virginia Technology Council has been selected to examine and propose improvements to the scheduling processes and systems at Department of Veteran’s Affairs medical facilities, at no cost to taxpayers.

“I am pleased to see U.S. and Indian leadership work together to make progress on concrete deliverables during these first 100 days,” said Senator Warner, co-chair of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus.

"On this 13th anniversary of 9/11, we come together again as a nation and a Commonwealth to grieve for those we lost at the Pentagon in Northern Virginia, at the Twin Towers and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania."

"I support the effort to degrade and defeat the terrorist organization ISIL, which poses a clear threat to U.S. interests. The Administration should continue to keep the American people informed, and consult regularly with their elected representatives in Congress. It is appropriate for America to be involved in this coalition effort with other nations in the civilized world, and this coalition should also include Arab and Muslim nations. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I look forward to reviewing more details of the President's strategy. Our thoughts and prayers are with our servicemen and women in harm's way."

Sen. Warner today sent a second letter to the U.S. Department of Defense Transportation Command expressing disappointment with their passive approach to rectifying a problem that thousands of servicemembers are experiencing – their personal vehicles have been misplaced or lost by the new DoD contractor responsible for moving their vehicles during permanent change of station moves to and from overseas duty stations.

Senator Warner announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded nearly $40 million in Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants to the Virginia Port Authority and the Greater Richmond Transit Company to improve critical transportation infrastructure.

Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement on today’s verdicts in the corruption trial of Bob and Maureen McDonnell:

Senators Warner, Kaine (D-Va.), Cardin (D-Md.), and Mikulski (D-Md.), applauded the recent OPM decision to allow federal employees to carryover up to $500 in unspent Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds from one year to the next.

“Our NATO allies should not be rewarding Putin’s inexcusable behavior by providing him with assault ships and other advanced weaponry,” Sen. Warner said. “This is a good step by France, and I encourage the rest of our NATO allies to halt all defense cooperation and sales with Russia while this crisis is ongoing.”

“We are repulsed yet again by the barbaric tactics of the terrorist group ISIL, and our thoughts today are with the families of American journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley."

Sen. Warner urged the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs to authorize the nationwide expansion of the College of William & Mary pro bono veterans legal clinic model to help more military veterans get their complex V-A disability claims submitted properly and processed more quickly.

“I’m pleased to see the Governor and Virginia universities working together to put an end to sexual assault on college campuses in Virginia. We all must work together to send a clear signal that enough is enough.”

WASHINGTON – The bipartisan Northern Virginia congressional delegation today applauded news that the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) has closed on a $1.28 billion low-interest, long-term federal loan to proceed with its construction plans for phase two of the Rail to Dulles project. In May, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx signed the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program loan after the U.S. Department of Transportation Credit Council voted to approve it. Together with accompanying loans to Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, which are still working towards closing, the total $1.9 billion TIFIA loan package represents the largest loan in the TIFIA program's history.

“Today’s closing on the MWAA loan represents one of the last steps toward finalizing a complex financing package for one of the biggest transportation projects in the country,” Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) said. “This is a huge win for Virginia taxpayers and commuters, and coupled with positive reports about the first weeks of Silver Line operations, it looks like we are well on the way to reducing congestion and building a more efficient transportation network in Northern Virginia.”

“With the first phase of the Silver Line complete and in service, today’s announcement is yet another encouraging step toward the opening of Phase II, which will mark the completion of a project so many of us worked hard to get moving when it was just a model on a conference table,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA).

“No one can say the federal government hasn’t done its part to bring rail to Tysons and out the Dulles corridor to Loudoun County,” said Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10). “The federal share of Phase 1 was the second largest Full Funding Grant Agreement awarded by the Federal Transit Administration in the last 20 years for a heavy rail project and the TIFIA loan for Phase 2 is the largest amount in the history of the program.”

“Today’s announcement of the federal commitment to Phase 2 of the Dulles Metrorail Project is a significant step to securing an environmentally friendly, transit oriented development along the Dulles Corridor,” said Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA-8). “We’re already seeing the positive impact of the Silver Line on Virginia businesses. This news brings us closer to reducing congestion, commuting time, and gas consumption in a rapidly developing area of Northern Virginia.”

“Advancing this TIFIA loan will lower the overall cost of the project, and dramatically reduce toll increases on commuters in the Dulles Corridor,” said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11). “The first phase of the Silver Line has spurred new ridership and increased sales among local merchants, underscoring the regional demand for this service and the value of the investment. I thank Sec. Foxx, Gov. McAuliffe, and all our regional partners for their commitment to completing this complex loan and delivering this world-class transit project connecting Dulles Airport with our nation’s capital.”

Press Releases

~ Senators introduce new bill targeting another 67 reports for modification, elimination ~

Nov 13 2014

~ Move will bring jobs to Norfolk, Va., while saving taxpayers money ~

Nov 06 2014

Oct 30 2014

Oct 29 2014

~ With Virginia’s designation as one of the five entry points for inbound flights from Ebola-affected countries, Senators request federal support and collaboration with local and state officials ~

Oct 24 2014

~ Sen. Warner requested meeting with General Selva to express dissatisfaction with contractor’s inability to provide solutions to the on-going problem ~

Oct 21 2014

Oct 17 2014

Oct 06 2014

~ Warner, Kaine called for improved safety for rail shipments in wake of Lynchburg derailment and resulting fire in April ~

Oct 01 2014

Sep 20 2014

~ Coincides with Prime Minister Modi’s visit to White House ~

Sep 19 2014

~ Bipartisan effort eliminates or modifies 53 unnecessary or outdated reports ~

Sep 17 2014

~ NVTC chosen under Sen. Warner’s initiative to enlist the assistance of private sector technology experts at no cost to taxpayers ~

Sep 16 2014

~ Looks forward to Prime Minister Modi’s visit to U.S. ~

Sep 12 2014

Sep 11 2014

Sep 10 2014

~ Disastrous performance by contractor, unacceptable delays for military personnel ~

Sep 10 2014

Sep 09 2014

Sep 04 2014

Sep 04 2014

~ Lawmakers have called for cancellation of sale of two Mistral warships since May ~

Sep 03 2014

Sep 03 2014

~ Pro bono clinic pairs law students with veterans to speed V-A casework ~

Aug 29 2014

Aug 21 2014

Aug 20 2014