Press Releases
Virginia Delegation Urges Pentagon to Act to Reduce Impact of Potential Furloughs
~ Bipartisan letter recommends “full flexibility … to protect civil servants at a difficult time” ~
Apr 18 2013
Members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressing bipartisan unity for immediate action to avert furloughs to the Defense Department’s civilian workforce, citing the potentially disproportionate impact on the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Statement of Sen. Warner on Senate Gun Votes
Apr 17 2013
It’s very disappointing that we could not reach 60 votes in the Senate for the reasonable, bipartisan legislation to strengthen background checks.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement after a bipartisan group of eight senators introduced a bill to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. The bill was introduced by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
“I support the bipartisan compromise on background checks announced by Senators Manchin and Toomey today. It will strengthen our background check system, close the gun show loophole and prohibit the commercial sale of guns to those who are dangerously mentally ill or have a criminal record."
“For those of us who have been working for some time on bipartisan solutions to the debt, I am encouraged by the President’s budget proposal. It cuts the growth in federal spending, makes targeted investments to strengthen the economy, and it passes the test of fairness by including specific, phased-in reforms to entitlement programs"
Statement of Sen. Warner on GAO's Report on Program Duplication
We need a more collaborative culture," says Warner, "These silos must be broken down."
Apr 09 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on today’s report by the Government Accountability Office, which cited specific examples of duplication, overlap and other inefficiencies in programs administered across the federal government. The report identified an additional 31 areas where agencies could achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness, and identified 81 specific actions to reduce overlapping, duplicative and inefficient federal spending.
Sens. Warner & Kaine Urge Confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner as CMS Administrator
Former nurse, hospital CEO, Va. Health & Human Resources Secretary nominated at CMS
Apr 09 2013
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sens, Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today urged Senate confirmation of the Presidential nomination of Marilyn B. Tavenner of Virginia to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS is the lead federal agency responsible for health care for millions of Americans through its administration of Medicare, Medicaid and programs related to implementation of The Affordable Care Act
Sen. Warner Seeks Assurances that Military Families are Safe from Lead in Drinking Water
Letter to Secretary Hagel follows discovery of lead at 2 Navy child centers in Virginia
Apr 04 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today asked Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to take action to protect military families from unsafe levels of lead in drinking water. Recent tests at two Hampton Roads Navy child care centers found lead in drinking water that far exceeded Environmental Protection Agency safety levels.
Sen. Warner Successfully Amends Senate Budget Bill
Amendments help federal retirees, boost online transparency, and eliminate duplicate reports
Mar 15 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today successfully amended the 2014 Senate budget resolution, adding three amendments which collectively promote more effective, transparent and cost-efficient government. Each of Sen. Warner’s three proposals received unanimous bipartisan support today. The Budget Committee is scheduled to vote on the overall 2014 budget bill within the hour, and it is expected to be considered by the full Senate next week.
Sen. Warner's Remarks at Senate Budget Committee Hearing
~ at Senate Budget Committee Hearing on Release of FY2014 Budget ~
Mar 13 2013
“I share the concern of a lot of our members on both sides of the aisle. The fact is we’re $16 trillion in debt, $16.5 trillion in debt, and it goes up $3 billion every night. None of this is self-correcting. It’s going to have to be reduced and dealt with."
Sen. Warner Receives U.S. Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
~ Navy Sec’y. notes Sen. Warner’s work to ease impact of sequester ~
Mar 13 2013
Sen. Warner has been awarded the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest recognition the Navy can confer upon a civilian. In making the award, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus cited Sen. Warner’s efforts on both the Senate’s Budget and Intelligence committees to support military men and women and their families.
Sen. Warner's Campus Safety Act Passes Judiciary Committee on Bipartisan 14-4 Vote
Legislation heads to full Senate for vote
Mar 12 2013
On a strong bipartisan vote of 14-4, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today passed U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner’s bipartisan CAMPUS Safety Act, which would consolidate federal campus safety efforts into the National Center for Campus Public Safety.
Sens. Warner & Corker ask Holder to Clarify "Too Big to Jail" Comments
~ Bipartisan letter: “No institution, individual or executive should be above the law” ~
Mar 12 2013
Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Bob Corker (R-TN), members of the Senate Banking Committee, wrote to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder today asking him to clarify his "too big to jail" remarks, comments he made last week regarding enforcement actions on money laundering and terrorism financing activities based on the size of the culpable institution.
Senator Warner, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement after today’s committee vote to approve John Brennan as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner released the following statement on today’s votes in the U.S. Senate to limit sequestration:
“I voted for the Reid proposal because I favored its 50/50 blend of targeted spending cuts and new revenues, which would have avoided sequester and moved us further toward a balanced approach to fix the debt. I voted for the Republican counterproposal because it would have provided flexibility in making the required cuts. While I continue to work for a broad, balanced and bipartisan approach to deficits and debt, both of these approaches represented a less stupid approach than sequestration and its disproportionate impact on Virginia.”
Senators Warner, Carper Highlight Better Results from Federal Agencies Thanks to Landmark Law
Feb 27 2013
Today, Senate Task Force on Government Performance Chairman Mark R. Warner and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) highlighted improved performance practices and taxpayer savings realized due in part to performance management reviews put into place by the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act.
Sen. Warner to reintroduce bipartisan CAMPUS Safety Act
~ Urges DoJ to Act on Campus Safety Measures ~
Feb 21 2013
Senator Warner announced today that he will reintroduce the bipartisan CAMPUS Safety Act, which would consolidate existing federal campus safety programs into a single, National Center for Campus Public Safety, to strengthen training and research initiatives and improve collaboration.
New Analysis Forecasts Sequester's Harmful Impact on Virginia Economy
Warner: "Frustrating that more people in Washington do not share a sense of urgency"
Feb 19 2013
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today highlighted a new economic analysis revealing that Virginia would be hurt more than almost any other state from the sweeping automatic federal budget cuts scheduled to take effect in two weeks.
WASHINGTON, DC – Members of Virginia’s Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to President Barack Obama, Speaker John Boehner, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressing their unity for immediate action to avert looming cuts set to hit March 1, stressing the disproportional impact to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bicameral, bipartisan group of members also stressed the enormous impacts on the country’s national security and federal government, and the ripple effect on Virginia’s economy.
Sens. Warner, Warren Urge Action on Consumer Credit Reporting
Call for more transparency, accountability at credit reporting agencies
Feb 15 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today sent a letter to the heads of the Consumer Financial Protection Board (CFPB) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) urging them to take action to improve consumer credit reporting. Recent CFPB and FTC reports found that 20 percent of consumers could identify at least one error in a credit report issued by one of the three major credit reporting agencies and that more than five percent of consumers found significant errors. These mistakes could force consumers to pay more for insurance and loans, and could impact their access to security clearance.
Sen. Warner Introduces Startup Act 3.0
Bipartisan jobs and high-skilled immigration bill promotes creation & growth of new businesses
Feb 14 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today introduced Startup Act 3.0, an updated version of a bipartisan jobs and high-skilled immigration plan to strengthen the economic recovery through the creation and growth of new businesses. Co-sponsors of Startup Act 3.0 include Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roy Blunt (R-MO). Startup 3.0 builds upon Startup 2.0, which was introduced in the last Congress.
"I was pleased the President began his speech with a strong call for a bipartisan grand bargain to continue to address our deficits and debt. A balanced plan that includes additional revenue, smarter spending cuts and responsible entitlement reform -- and avoids the self-inflcted wounds from sequester -- is a key component of any economic growth agenda."
Statement on Senate passage of VAWA
Feb 12 2013
“I’m proud to have cosponsored the Violence Against Women Act, which passed the Senate today on a strongly bipartisan vote of 78-22. In Virginia, this Act has doubled the resources available for prevention and intervention of sexual violence in communities and on campus."
Sen. Warner Calls on President Obama to Address Entrepreneurship in State of the Union Address
Feb 08 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) urged President Obama to highlight startups and small businesses in his State of the Union address next Tuesday. In May 2012, Sens. Moran, Warner and Coons introduced legislation called the Startup Act 2.0 to jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses.
"I applaud the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Marilyn is the real deal: she began her career as a nurse and rose to become CEO of a leading healthcare company."
