Press Releases
Sen. Warner, Rep. Wittman announce delay of rule that would have harmed VA seafood industry
~ Delay of New H-2B Visa Wage Requirements Published in Federal Register Today ~
Sep 28 2011
Senator Warner and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) announced today that a new federal H-2B visa wage requirement set to go into effect on October 1st will be delayed for 60 days. “We need to work for a longer-range solution to this issue that is both fair to workers and employers, and helps to preserve jobs not only in Virginia’s seafood industry but other industries that depend on seasonal labor,” Sen. Warner said.
Senator Warner and several other members of the Hampton Roads congressional delegation today released a letter to the new Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert, asking that he take a fresh look at the proposed homeporting of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Mayport, Florida.
Senate Approves Webb, Warner Resolution Commemorating 75th Anniversary of Shenandoah National Park
Sep 09 2011
The U.S. Senate last night unanimously approved a resolution offered by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) commemorating the 75th anniversary of Shenandoah National Park.
Sen. Warner announces $1.5M fed. Grant to provide high-speed internet service in Scott Country
~ Funds will allow free broadband services for the Flat Top/Sandy Ridge Volunteer Fire Department and a new community center ~
Aug 22 2011
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved a $1.5 million grant to the Scott County Telephone Cooperative (SCTC) to build out its network in order to provide high speed internet service in the previously unserved Flat Top/Sandy Ridge area of Scott County.
Sen Warner announces $18m in fed. support to unlock credit for Va. small business
~ Funds will support Virginia’s successful state small business programs ~
Aug 22 2011
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasury has approved Virginia’s application for up to $18 million in additional federal loan support to the Virginia Small Business Financing Authority
Senator Warner joined a bipartisan group of 11 senators today in a letter to new U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta calling for improvements to military base school facilities across the country. Many are old and in poor repair, and some have serious safety issues.
Senators Warner, Cornyn Condemn Mumbai Attacks
Jul 14 2011
“We strongly condemn the recent atrocity in Mumbai that deliberately targeted innocent and peaceful civilians. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. On behalf of the 38-member U.S. Senate India Caucus, we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Indian people and their government as they recover from this senseless act.”
Today, Representatives Jim Moran, Gerry Connolly, and Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner wrote Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta expressing their concern with the recently released occupancy plan for the implementation of BRAC Recommendation #133. The plan moves nearly 5,000 employees to the Mark Center facility by December 2011 – before vital transportation infrastructure improvements are put in place.
Senators Webb, Warner Co-Sponsor Resolution to Establish September 11th Moment of Remembrance
Jul 08 2011
Senators Webb and Warner joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to introduce a resolution that calls for a Moment of Remembrance on September 11, 2011. Marking the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, the resolution calls on all Americans to pause at 1pm EST for a minute of reflection accompanied by bells and sirens across the country.
Webb, Warner introduce legislation to open VA to offshore energy exploration
~ Bill would expand exploration area, provide royalties to Va. ~
Jul 06 2011
U.S. Senators Webb and Warner today introduced legislation that would allow oil and natural gas exploration and production off of the Virginia coast. Both senators have consistently supported safe and responsible energy exploration on Virginia’s outer continental shelf.
Senators Warner and John Kerry sent a letter today to the Federal Communications Commission urging reform of the Universal Service Fund in order to better deploy broadband service across the country.
Statement of Senators Webb and Warner on the Confirmation of Bobby Mathieson as U.S. Marshal
Jul 01 2011
Senators Warner and Webb today announced the confirmation of Robert “Bobby” Mathieson to serve as United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia. Recommended by Senators Webb and Warner last May, Mathieson was nominated by President Obama on March 9 and was unanimously confirmed last night by the U.S. Senate.
Webb, Warner file legislation creating Ft. Monroe Nat'l Park
~ Authorizes National Park Service role at historic Virginia site ~
Jun 29 2011
Senators Webb and Warner today introduced legislation that would establish a unit of the National Park Service at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia. The Fort Monroe National Historical Park Establishment Act of 2011 would authorize the Park Service to establish a national park presence at the Fort to preserve historic and natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
The settlement of this lawsuit is great news for hundreds of poultry producers and workers and very bad news for chickens.
I am extremely disappointed in FEMA’s denial of Virginia’s request for disaster assistance. It is hard to explain how Virginia families and businesses do not qualify for disaster aid when that designation was granted to similar communities in other states which saw what appears to be the same level of damage from this same storm system.
Senator Warner today introduced legislation that increases federal fiscal transparency and accountability by establishing a single web-based platform to allow taxpayers and policymakers to more easily track all federal spending. The Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA) is a Senate version of legislation introduced earlier this week in the House.
Today the full Virginia delegation applauded the announcement by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus that the USS Arlington will be commissioned at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. The announcement follows a letter sent by the delegation last week to Secretary Mabus over concerns the USS Arlington would be commissioned outside the Commonwealth.
I think we should end the subsidy for corn-based ethanol, but I could not support the way in which Senator Coburn’s amendment was brought to the floor for a vote. The Senate will have another opportunity to vote on this issue next week in a process that follows long-established procedures of the Senate, and I will vote to phase-out the ethanol subsidy.
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10) today announced a bipartisan legislative push to encourage the creation of new manufacturing jobs here in America, strengthen worker training and industry certification programs, and expand U.S. exports.
Senator Warner embeds U.S. debt clock on website
Jun 06 2011
Senator Warner, a leader in bipartisan Senate efforts to craft a comprehensive plan to reduce budget deficits and the national debt, added a clock to the homepage of his Senate website today that allows constituents to view the escalating national debt in real time.
Senator Warner is urging the Pentagon to delay the transfer of 6,400 defense workers to Alexandria’s Mark Center until traffic issues can be sorted-out. The DoD employees are being relocated from a region served by Metro to an already-congested area that has limited access to mass transit, and the additional traffic is likely to simply add to the frustrations of 200,000 daily commuters in the I395/Seminary Road area.
Moran, Connolly, Webb, Warner Urge Secretary Gates for Year Delay in Mark Center Plan
Lawmakers cite flawed Army study of transportation impacts
Jun 01 2011
Representatives Jim Moran, Gerry Connolly and Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner wrote Secretary of Defense Robert Gates expressing concern with the recently submitted Army Transportation Plan for the implementation of BRAC Recommendation #133 at Fort Belvoir-Mark Center, Virginia.
Governor Bob McDonnell, Virginia U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner, and Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-06) sent a joint letter on May 19th to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the United States Department of Justice’s antitrust lawsuit challenging George’s Inc.’s acquisition of Tyson Foods Inc.’s poultry processing facilities in Harrisonburg.
Senator Warner today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense has approved $20 million for transportation improvements around Mark Center in Alexandria, which will see an influx of an additional 6,400 civilian and military personnel as a result of the 2005 BRAC round.
Senator Warner (D-VA), a member of a group of six Senators who have been working toward a bipartisan solution to the nation’s deficits and debt, released this statement following the President’s speech today: “The only way we will move past partisanship and gridlock to solve our nation’s fiscal challenges is to leave our partisan hats behind and work in good faith to craft a responsible agreement.