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Much of the time, Congress is, well, Congress. Gridlocked, combative, dysfunctional are only three of the adjectives that might be routinely applied. But some days, like Tuesday, there is a hint of a different institution – you might call it the Voltaire Congress, refusing to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Politico: Congress must back Ex-Im Bank
May 08 2012
It is not often that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, organized labor and small-business executives can agree. However, all these groups in March joined in urging the Senate to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. Unfortunately, that effort was unsuccessful — though the bank helps support nearly 300,000 U.S. jobs.
Don’t look now: bipartisanship!
Mar 15 2012
There have been some promising developments in the Senate over the past few days. First, the chamber passed a two-year federal highway bill on a lopsidedly bipartisan vote of 74-22. Shortly after that, Senate leaders reached agreement to finally move forward and confirm a bunch of noncontroversial judges whose nominations had been blocked.
Valley infrastructure & innovation
Mar 06 2012
The Virginia Inland Port in Front Royal sits near the intersection of Interstates 66 and 81 in the northern Shenandoah Valley, and it helps link truck traffic from the U.S. midwest with rail links to the Port of Hampton Roads at the coast. The VIP is a smart infrastructure investment that operates 24/7 and now supports more than 7,000 jobs in Virginia.
Sen. Mark R. Warner said Friday that the Charlottesville region would be one of the biggest beneficiaries in the state if his legislative efforts to boost startup companies are successful. “Charlottesville is going to gain more from this kind of legislative activity than almost anywhere in Virginia,” Warner said in an interview.
Charlottesville's Mikro, Inc. is a great company most people probably have never heard of: its advanced manufacturing processes allow it to produce cutting-edge, clean energy wind turbines and sophisticated medical instruments. And when foreign investors recently suggested moving the operation offshore, Mikro executives insisted on keeping the facility in Central Virginia.
The proposals borrow from past Obama initiatives and from bipartisan legislation that has either already passed in the House or is being proposed in the Senate. Obama’s package includes proposals offered in the Senate by Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware and Republican Marco Rubio of Florida, and another plan by Republican Jerry Moran of Kansas and Democrat Mark Warner of Virginia.
Clean Water in India: Drinking to Health
Jan 12 2012
Around the world, more than two-billion people are at serious health risks every day due to the lack of clean drinking water, and many of those people live in India. Senator Warner was on-hand today as the 16,000 inhabitants of the poor Indian village of Kompally got access to reliable, safe drinking water for the first time.
On the ground in India
Jan 10 2012
The billion-plus people of India are experiencing phenomenal growth in their middle class, yet millions currently live in poverty in crowded urban slums. That was a focus of Senator Mark Warner’s visit today as he continues to lead a five-member congressional trip to India.
An NBA bounce pass to India
Jan 09 2012
You don’t see this every day: a United States senator and a former NBA player, spreading the gospel of team sports and healthy lifestyles to young people – in New Delhi, India. That’s what Senator Mark Warner and former NBA star Muggsy Bogues did today on the first day of Senator Warner’s week-long congressional visit to try to increase economic and cultural ties between the United States and India.
