Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), and seven of their Senate colleagues urged 22 major energy, water, and broadband utility companies to avoid imposing service shutoffs and other penalties for late or missed payments from federal government employees who are not receiving pay during the government shutdown. The senators called on the companies to protect federal employees who may be facing financial hardship from utility disconnections during the shutdown, and emphasized that all federal employees are guaranteed back pay due to legislation Warner and Kaine championed during the government shutdown in 2019.

“A prolonged shutdown could make federal workers temporarily unable to pay their utility bills,” wrote the senators. “If a federal worker faces a utility shutoff, they are more likely to be exposed to dangerous conditions in their home due to a lack of safe temperature, drinking water, or broadband connectivity.”

“Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with statutory protections across the country. However, not all states or localities have such protections and federal workers impacted by the government shutdown live in every corner of our country, including in your service areas. As of July 1, 2025, there are over 2.2 million federal civilian workers, with at least 10,000 in 41 out of 50 states and at least 1,000 in each Congressional district,” noted the senators.

“Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, affected federal employees will receive backpay after the shutdown concludes and at that time will be able to address any outstanding debts. Therefore, we urge you to forbear the collection of utility payments, late fees, interest accrual, or other fee collection for federal workers until their pay resumes,” wrote the senators.

The senators concluded, “Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with. While we will continue to do everything in our power to swiftly reopen the government, we urge you to support our federal workers and their families during this challenging time.”

The senators sent letters to executives of energy companies Exelon Corporation, Duke Energy, Southern Company, FirstEnergy Corporation, American Electric Power Company, Xcel Energy, Entergy Corporation, Dominion Energy, PPL Corporation, Public Service Enterprise Group, Ameren Corporation, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy; water utility companies American Water Works Company, American States Water Company, and Essential Utilities; and broadband utility companies Comcast, Charter Communications, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Cox Communications, and Lumen Technologies.

In addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the letter is signed by Sens. Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and John Hickenlooper (D-CO).

The full text of the letter is available here and below:

We write to urge you to suspend all utility shutoffs imposed on federal workers who are involuntarily furloughed without pay due to the ongoing government shutdown. Without their paycheck, federal workers are at risk of having their electricity, water, and broadband services terminated due to temporary inability to pay. The families you serve must have uninterrupted access to these essential public utilities.

These dedicated public servants contribute to our communities daily by inspecting our food and water, discovering cures for diseases, maintaining our parks, processing retirement benefits, caring for our veterans, and so much more. These civil servants have nothing to do with the ongoing political and policy disputes that have brought us to the government shutdown, but they will feel the acute impact of the loss of their paycheck.

A prolonged shutdown could make federal workers temporarily unable to pay their utility bills. Research shows that financially strained households tend to forgo paying for other essential needs, such as food and health care, in order to avoid utility shutoffs. Moreover, if a federal worker faces a utility shutoff, they are more likely to be exposed to dangerous conditions in their home due to a lack of safe temperature, drinking water, or broadband connectivity.

Suspending utility shutoffs for federal workers during a government shutdown is in line with statutory protections across the country. Over two-thirds of the states have statutes on the books to protect vulnerable populations from utility shutoffs. In Maryland specifically, state law prohibits public utilities from shutting off service to involuntarily furloughed federal workers.

However, not all states or localities have such protections and federal workers impacted by the government shutdown live in every corner of our country, including in your service areas. As of July 1, 2025, there are over 2.2 million federal civilian workers, with at least 10,000 in 41 out of 50 states and at least 1,000 in each Congressional district.

Due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, affected federal employees will receive backpay after the shutdown concludes and at that time will be able to address any outstanding debts. Therefore, we urge you to forbear the collection of utility payments, late fees, interest accrual, or other fee collection for federal workers until their pay resumes.

When households are afforded utility disconnection protections, studies show that they are more likely to meet their basic expenses and less likely to rely on social networks and government agencies for assistance with their bills. By undertaking this small but meaningful action during a government shutdown, you can ensure that federal workers are not punished.

Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with. While we will continue to do everything in our power to swiftly reopen the government, we urge you to support our federal workers and their families during this challenging time.

Sincerely,

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined colleagues to introduce the Shutdown Guidance for Financial Institutions Act. This legislation requires federal financial industry regulators to issue guidance encouraging financial institutions to work with federal employees and small businesses impacted by a government shutdown – including offering flexible financial arrangements to prevent them from facing additional financial hardship brought on by penalties for late payments, overdraft fees, and credit damage. In addition to Sen. Warner, this bill is sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY).

“Hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors in Virginia and across the country have been furloughed or are working without pay because of a government shutdown that is out of their control,” said Sen. Warner. “This bill will protect federal workers and advise financial regulators and institutions to work with those impacted by the shutdown.”

“No federal workers or contractors deserve to face economic ruin because of a shameful Republican shutdown that they have nothing to do with. That’s why we’re pushing to ensure that they have ways to safeguard their financial futures while we work to reopen the government. And we will keep fighting for a responsible government funding agreement – one that holds this lawless president accountable and prevents a massive spike in health care costs for families across America,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“This shutdown is a tsunami of Donald Trump’s own making, and Congress must act to shield impacted federal workers, contractors, and small businesses from it,” said Sen. Booker. “Hardworking Americans shouldn’t suffer or see their credit scores impacted because of a shutdown that leaves them without paychecks through no fault of their own. This legislation would ensure that financial regulators act quickly to provide basic guidance in the event of a shutdown and would help families and small businesses stay afloat.”

“While President Trump continues his callous witch hunt against federal workers, I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen to protect our civil servants, contractors, and small businesses here in Maryland. Federal financial industry regulators must immediately issue guidance so financial institutions can work with all those impacted by this Republican Shutdown to get them the support they need. Our civil servants deserve better,” said Sen. Alsobrooks.

“Federal workers, government contractors, and small businesses are often forced to make tough decisions about their finances during a shutdown,” said Sen. Kaine. “A number of Virginian credit unions and community banks have stepped up to provide flexibility and support affected individuals and businesses. This legislation would require federal financial regulators to issue guidance to encourage this flexibility.”

“Government shutdowns exacerbate the burden on federal workers, contractors, and small businesses, making it harder for individuals who rely on federal funding to make ends meet,” said Sen. Gillibrand. “Helping these individuals navigate the uncertainty of a shutdown that is no fault of their own is the least we can do. By requiring federal financial regulators to issue guidance promptly, this commonsense legislation will do just that, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to support it.”

“Federal workers and contractors are regular, hard-working Americans who have bills to pay and financial obligations to meet,”said Rep. Kweisi Mfume. “They should not be forced into financial hardship because Republicans in the Congress refuse to take the action necessary to re-open the government while preventing American healthcare premiums from skyrocketing.”

To read the full text of the bill, click here.

Sen. Warner also joined a group of 24 of his Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to the heads of federal financial regulatory agencies calling on them to immediately issue such guidance as federal workers, contractors, and small businesses face the prospect of struggling to make ends meet due to a crisis that was not of their doing. The letter, which was led by Sens. Van Hollen and Alsobrooks and Rep. Kweisi Mfume, called on the federal financial regulators to immediately take the steps required under the legislation, noting that similar actions were taken during past shutdowns and financial institutions need clear regulatory assurance to act swiftly. The letter was sent to Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Acting Chair Travis Hill, Federal Reserve System Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould, National Credit Union Administration Chair Kyle Hauptman, Acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Russell Vought, and Conference of State Bank Supervisors Chair Tony Salazar.

The letter is co-signed by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA); and U.S. Reps. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Don Beyer (D-VA), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Gabe Amo (D-RI), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA).

To read the full text of the letter, click here.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) introduced the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act. This legislation would protect federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown.

“Through no fault of their own, hundreds of thousands of dedicated public servants in Virginia have been furloughed or are currently working without pay. That creates real financial strain for families trying to keep up with mortgages, student loans, and other bills. This legislation will help ensure federal workers and contractors aren’t forced to bear the cost of a shutdown they didn’t cause,” said Sen. Warner.

“During a government shutdown, federal employees and contractors are forced to work without pay, leaving many trying to figure out how they’re going to pay their rent, mortgage, car payment, or other bills,” said Sen. Kaine. “That’s why I’m introducing this legislation to help protect these federal workers and contractors from losing their home or defaulting on payments during a shutdown.”

The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act would protect federal workers and contractors from:

Being evicted or foreclosed;
Having their car or other property repossessed;
Falling behind on their student loan payments;
Having negative effects on their credit history;
Falling behind on paying their bills; or
Losing their insurance because of missed premiums.

These protections would last during and 30 days following a shutdown to give workers a chance to keep up with their bills. The government shutdown, now in its second week, impacts thousands of federal workers and federal contractor employees throughout Virginia and the rest of the country.

The Federal Employee Civil Relief Act is supported by the National Treasury Employees Union, International Federal of Professional and Technical Engineers, National Federation of Federal Employees-IAM, American Federation of Government Employees, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, UNITE HERE, LIUNA (Laborers' International Union of North America), and the Transport Workers Union.

“Federal employees have student loans, mortgages, car payments, and other financial commitments just like every other American. Those obligations don’t go away during a shutdown. Thanks to the leadership of Senator Schatz, if passed, the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act will help civil servants across the nation have peace of mind when navigating the uncertainty posed when the government shuts down and their financial security is jeopardized. Federal employees serve the public daily. This legislation honors their service and ensures they aren’t penalized when circumstances arise that are no fault of their own,” said Doreen Greenwald, National President of NTEU.

“On behalf of our members, we strongly support the Federal Employees Civil Relief Act. This bill provides essential protections for federal workers who, through no fault of their own, face severe financial hardship during a government shutdown. No public servant should be at risk of eviction, repossession, or losing health insurance simply because they are working without pay or furloughed,” said Everett Kelley, President of AFGE.

Sponsors of the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act in the Senate include Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Companion legislation in the House of Representatives is set to be introduced by Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA).

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WASHINGTON – As the Trump Administration blatantly tries to weaponize federal funding and misuse official government communications channels for partisan propaganda purposes, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner and 23 Senate colleagues sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought demanding the Trump Administration immediately remove unprecedented partisan political messages from official government websites and other official communication accounts that violates federal law.

While President Trump has the same free speech rights as every other citizen and may use the ‘bully pulpit’ of the presidency to express his political views, the rules and regulations of federal agencies and federal law itself clearly restricts the political activities of civil servants using official government resources. Federal agencies have an obligation to operate and serve the American people without regard to politics. Indeed, during the first Trump Administration, the government shut down twice for a length of 3 and 35 days respectively, and agency websites followed past precedent in notifying Americans about the shutdown.

As early as September 30, 2025, in the lead up to the ongoing government shutdown, federal agencies began a seemingly coordinated effort to blast partisan political messages from official government websites, accounts, and email correspondence. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) official website is currently dominated by a misleading red banner that reads: “The Radical Left in Congress shut down the government,” while some furloughed employees in the U.S. Department of Education report that their non-partisan out-of-office messages have been modified without their consent to try and make it seem like they blame Senate Democrats for voting against Republican funding proposals.

In their letter to OMB, the senators call for the immediate removal of the illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law. The senators are also seeking to hold accountable those within the Trump Administration who have directed the behavior.

“These activities are in blatant violation of Section 715 of P.L. 118-47, which prohibits federal funds from being used for propaganda purposes ‘designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress,’” the senators wrote. “These activities also appear to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act and the Hatch Act. We urge you to immediately remove these illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law and hold accountable those who have directed this behavior.”

The letter notes a pattern of abuse and politicization of executive branch agencies that includes official sites for HUD, the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). Additionally, civil servants at the SBA, Department of Labor, Department of Education, and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) were also reportedly instructed by Trump Administration officials to improperly set automatic reply email messages containing partisan political propaganda.

Blasting the administration’s blatant attempts to mislead the American public and misuse American tax dollars, the senators also pointed out: “As you well know, these messages are misleading, given that Democrats have voted four times over the last week to fully fund the government only to be rebuffed by our Republican colleagues.”

“Spirited public debate has its place, but agency resources, including websites or emails, should not be used to send overtly political, and in this case, misleading messages, to the American people, the senators continued.

In addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Angus King (I-ME), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Violating the Hatch Act can be cause for removal from federal service, and other penalties may include grade reduction, ban from government employment for up to five years, suspension, reprimand, or a civil penalty up to $1,000. Violating the Anti-Lobbying Act can result in civil penalties of $10,000 to $100,000 per occurrence.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Director Vought,

As Congress continues to work on funding the federal government for Fiscal Year 2026, the White House and political appointees assigned to agencies within the executive branch have been engaged in a widespread campaign of partisan political activities. These activities are in blatant violation of Section 715 of P.L. 118-47, which prohibits federal funds from being used for propaganda purposes “designed to support or defeat legislation pending before the Congress.”[1] These activities also appear to violate the Anti-Lobbying Act[2] and the Hatch Act.[3] We urge you to immediately remove these illegal, partisan messages to comply with the law and hold accountable those who have directed this behavior.

As early as September 30, 2025, federal agencies began publicly posting various notices and other media from official accounts, on official websites, and in official email correspondence that violate Sec. 715’s prohibition on propaganda.

For example, beginning on September 30, 2025, the official website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development displayed a blatantly partisan political banner on their website claiming that the “Radical Left are going to ... inflict massive pain on the American people...[4]” On October 1, 2025, similar partisan political messages appeared on the websites for the Small Business Administration, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Agriculture, among others.

In addition to website updates, federal employees - including of the Small Business Administration, Department of Labor, Department of Education, and Department of Veterans Affairs - were reportedly directed to set automatic reply email messages containing partisan political propaganda which asserts that “Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations.[5]” As you well know, these messages are misleading, given that Democrats have voted four times over the last week to fully fund the government only to be rebuffed by our Republican colleagues. But more important, they are clear violations of Section 715, which prohibits the use of federal funds by an agency to publicly support or oppose legislation pending before Congress.

Spirited public debate has its place, but agency resources, including websites or emails, should not be used to send overtly political, and in this case, misleading messages, to the American people.

Congress has enacted longstanding laws to ensure that partisan political activities and propaganda do not impede the government’s ability to serve all Americans. However, given the blatant, systematic, and repeated violations of Sec. 715 of P.L. 118-47, and likely the Anti-Lobbying and Hatch Acts, over the last week, you must immediately remove these partisan messages from all executive branch agency communications and websites.

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WASHINGTON – Following the federal government shutdown, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) in introducing legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would ensure federal contract workers, including low-wage service workers providing security, food and janitorial services, are fairly compensated for the wages and benefits lost due to a lapse in appropriations, also known as a government shutdown. It is estimated that more than 327,000 federal contractors make under $15/per hour.

The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would:

Provide contract workers, including low-wage service workers, with back pay (and restored paid leave benefits, if used), after a government shutdown,
Cover costs associated with back pay for workers in an amount equal to their weekly compensation up to $1,442, (250% of the federal poverty level for a family of four), and
Require the Office of Federal Procurement Policy to submit a report on federal contractors accessing back pay.

The legislation is endorsed by the following organizations: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), AFL-CIO, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Iron Workers International, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), UNITE HERE and American Federation of Teachers (AFT).

“A government shutdown hurts every community. Federally contracted workers may never see backpay when Washington politicians turn their backs on them, including security officers protecting our monuments and janitors keeping courthouses clean,” said SEIU International President April Verrett. “Our leaders need to respect the essential workers who keep this country running in good times and bad. Congress should pass the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act of 2025 now so every government worker doesn’t have their lives turned upside down during another government shutdown.”

“The IAM Union represents tens of thousands of federal contract workers who will be furloughed or forced to work without pay in the event of a government shutdown. These men and women work side-by-side with federal workers performing jobs that are absolutely vital to the government and to the people of the United States,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “We applaud Senators Smith, Kaine, Warner, Van Hollen, and Alsobrooks for leading the Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act to ensure federal contract workers are compensated for wages lost during a shutdown. The IAM Union is proud to join the fight to ensure these contract workers are made whole should a government shutdown become a reality.”

In addition to Sens. Warner and Smith, this legislation is co-sponsored by Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Fetterman (D-PA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

A companion bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07)

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are sounding the alarm after reviewing newly-released numbers from the Commonwealth’s health insurance marketplace. These numbers paint a grim picture for Virginia, forecasting a dramatic surge in monthly insurance payments for individuals, couples, and families across a wide variety of income levels.

“It is baffling that anyone could look at these numbers and decide that the best course of action is to continue sitting idly by, but that’s the choice that Republicans in Congress continue to make every single passing day during this government shutdown,” said the senators. “Democrats have put forth legislation that would not only reopen the government, but also preserve the health care tax credits that make it possible for many Virginians to afford their health insurance. Unfortunately, these estimates are only just starting to scratch the surface. Virginians deserve to know exactly how much more they’ll have to pay for the same health insurance they currently receive, and they should know as soon as possible. If Republicans can get behind tax cuts for billionaires, they should find a way to support modest health care tax credits for working families before open enrollment starts on November 1.”

As forecasted by Virginia’s Health Benefit Exchange…

A young family of four with an income of $96,450 to $160,000 could see their monthly premiums increase by as much as $349 per month,bringing their new total monthly premium to $1,522.96 per month.
A 60-year-old couple with an income of $63,450 to $105,750 could see their monthly premiums increase by as much as $1,076 per month, bringing their new total monthly premium to $2,023.16 per month.
A 45-year-old person with an income of $31,300 to $62,600 could see their monthly premiums increase by as much as $155 per month,bringing their new total monthly premium to $372.20 per month.

Despite holding majorities in both chambers of Congress and the White House, Republicans failed to secure a funding deal to keep the government open ahead of the September 30 deadline. With the government now closed, Sens. Warner and Kaine continue to push to reopen the government and prevent the impending expiration of essential health care tax credits that many American families rely on. The effort to prevent health care premiums from skyrocketing comes just months after Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans slashed Medicaid in order to offset the cost of billionaire tax cuts in the Republican budget law.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and colleagues introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act, legislation to support federal employees who are experiencing financial hardship during a government shutdown. During past shutdowns, many federal employees turned to their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement accounts to make hardship withdrawals to cover bills. However, there are penalties for withdrawing these funds, and barriers to recontributing funds once the government reopens. This bill would allow federal employees to withdraw funds from their TSP without being penalized if the government shutdown is prolonged, while ensuring that funds could be recontributed later on.

Specifically, the Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act would:

Establish government shutdowns are financial hardships. Current law allows TSP participants to withdraw funds due to financial hardship and requires them to certify under penalties of perjury that they are facing a financial hardship and the amount of the request is not greater than the dollar amount of the financial hardship. By establishing government shutdowns that last two weeks or longer as financial hardships, it would eliminate the need for federal employees to make additional demonstrations of this hardship.
Waive the 10 percent Early Distribution Penalty for federal employees who withdraw funds under financial hardship. Under current law, federal employees who are 59 years old or younger are subject to an additional 10 percent early withdrawal penalty when they withdraw funds from their TSP. The bill would eliminate that penalty but still require them to pay taxes on the funds they withdraw.
Allow for recontribution of funds. The bill would allow federal employees who withdraw funds from their TSP to recontribute some or all of the funds they have withdrawn from their TSP in order to preserve retirement savings.
Ensure federal employees can access TSP loans. Under current law, TSP loans are not available if a shutdown is expected to last more than 30 days. This bill would ensure TSP loans will be available to affected federal employees who need to access those funds during a shutdown that causes such employees to miss a paycheck.
Suspend TSP loan payments during shutdowns and deduct outstanding loan payments from back pay provided after shutdowns. TSP loan repayments are made through payroll deductions. This bill would automatically suspend loan payments until the government reopens. Once the government reopens, the outstanding loan payments will be deducted from federal employees’ back pay.
Prohibit missed loan payments from becoming taxable distributions during shutdowns. The bill would prohibit any missed loan payments from becoming a taxable distribution that could be subject to the 10 percent withdrawal penalty.

In addition to Sen. Warner, this legislation is sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and co-sponsored by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

Full text of the bill is available here. A summary of the bill is available here.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and colleagues introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Contractors Act (ERFC), which would allow federal contractors currently working without pay to withdraw funds from their retirement savings without being penalized.

A government shutdown disrupts $14.5 billion per week in federal contracts, including $3.6 billion for small businesses. Unlike directly-employed federal workers, federal contractors do not receive automatic backpay for their work during a government shutdown. The ERFC would ensure federal contractors could stay afloat with retirement savings, penalty-free, when they face a financial hardship like a government shutdown.

In addition to Sen. Warner, this legislation is sponsored by Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Read the full bill here.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and 38 of their Senate colleagues have introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn a Trump administration rule making it harder and more expensive for Americans to enroll for health care coverage on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH-13) is leading the joint resolution in the House of Representatives.

Issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 25, 2025, the Trump administration’s rule will raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs, allow insurers to scale back covered services, and impose new barriers on families who rely on the marketplaces for affordable coverage.

More than 22 million Americans count on the ACA marketplaces for their health insurance. Under the Trump administration’s so-called “Marketplace Integrity and Affordability” rule, they would face higher premiums, steeper out-of-pocket costs, and bureaucratic hurdles that make it harder to access the care they need. CMS projects that up to 1.8 million people could lose their coverage next year, while those who remain insured will pay billions more. The rule is expected to raise premiums for working families by nearly $3 billion and saddle consumers and states with an estimated 15 million hours of new administrative burdens.

“This is about protecting families from higher costs and preserving the covered services they count on,” said Sen. Warner. “At every turn, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are making it harder and more expensive for Americans to get health care. Their rule would spike costs, strip away covered services, and push families off their insurance. Our resolution will block this harmful rule and deliver relief to millions of families who need it.”

“Since entering office, Trump and Republicans seem dead set on ripping away healthcare from millions and jacking up prices for American families. Repealing this rule is about affordability and access – making sure that people aren’t paying more for less,” said Leader Schumer. “If passed, this rule repeal would provide immediate relief to the American people, eliminating premium and out-of-pocket increases. There is no reason to make families jump through additional bureaucratic hoops or pay more for the same coverage. With this CRA, the American people can see Democrats want to lower costs and make healthcare accessible, and Republicans side with special interests and health insurers.”

“Trump and Dr. Oz have already begun using smoke and mirrors to kick eligible Americans off their health coverage and raise costs,” Sen. Wyden said. “The changes proposed by the Trump administration imports the worst tactics from for-profit health insurance companies to make it harder for Americans to sign up for and keep their health care. Our legislation gives an opportunity to Republicans to roll reject these harmful changes and help Americans get affordable health care for their families.”

“I am urging Republicans to reverse course and prevent this massive increase in health insurance premiums that's coming swiftly for Georgians as a result of Trump administration policies,” Sen. Ossoff said. “This legislation will protect Georgia families from a huge increase in health insurance premiums.”

“The cost of health care, housing, gas, and groceries is going up and Republicans continue to make things worse by kicking people off their health care,” said Rep. Sykes. “The Trump administration’s rule makes it more difficult to sign up for health care through the Affordable Care Act and attempts to sabotage the marketplace by kicking two million people off their health care plans. We must repeal this rule to protect Americans’ access to affordable health care.”

Repealing the rule through the CRA resolution would bring relief to American families already facing less coverage and rising costs due to Republican health cuts by blocking the Trump administration from implementing policies that:

Raise premiums and out-of-pocket costs for consumers who receive premium tax credits with changes that allow plans to charge more and cover less;
Increase annual out-of-pocket limits for all families with ACA and employer coverage by up to $900;
Require a new re-enrollment fee for low-income workers, which could harm access to coverage for over 2.5 million people over the course of the next decade, according to CMS;
Create arbitrary red tape and verification barriers that will keep people from buying new coverage or renewing their existing coverage;
Increase the total paperwork burden for working people by millions of hours, according to CMS, and raise the administrative cost burden for ACA marketplaces by hundreds of millions of dollars; and
Shorten the annual open enrollment period and special enrollment periods that provide flexibility for working people to buy the health insurance they need.

Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can overturn federal regulations within a specified timeframe following their finalization. If passed and signed into law, this resolution would nullify the rule and prevent CMS from issuing a similar rule in the future.

In addition to Sens. Warner, Schumer, Wyden and Ossoff, the joint resolution is sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

The CRA effort has been endorsed by AiArthritis, the AIDS Institute, American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Kidney Fund, Association of American Medical Colleges, Autoimmune Association, Blood Cancer United, Cancer Nation (formerly National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, the Coalition for Hemophilia B, Community Catalyst, Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation of America, Families USA, Hemophilia Federation of America, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, Immune Deficiency Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Bleeding DIsorders Foundation, NHeLP, National Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, National Patient Advocate Foundation, Protect Our Care, Pulmonary Hypertension Association, SEIU, UnidosUS, and WomenHeart: the National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

“Donald Trump and Republicans are obsessed with ripping away coverage from Americans in every way they can. By introducing legislation to overturn Trump's health care sabotage rule, Senator Warner is standing up for hardworking families who want lower health care costs to be able to keep their coverage,” said Brad Woodhouse, President, Protect Our Care.

“We have a health care crisis in this country. And every day it is getting worse. The Trump administration’s disastrous new ACA Marketplace rules will mean that more people will be kicked off their health insurance plan, health care premiums will spike, and our nation’s medical debt crisis will worsen with health coverage becoming more unaffordable and less accessible. We applaud Senators Warner, Ossoff and Wyden for offering this critical resolution calling to undo these harmful policies. Our government should be a part of the solution to the health care crisis, not part of the problem,” said Mona Shah, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, Community Catalyst.

“Policymakers should be working to make health care more affordable and more accessible for people in this country and simply put, the administration's recent Marketplace integrity rule does the opposite. When the proposed rule was released, Families USA joined tens of thousands of commenters from a wide array of stakeholders to share our disapproval and concern. We applaud the leadership of Senators Warner, Ossoff and Wyden in leading this resolution to repeal this ill-thought out and harmful rule,” said Jen Taylor, Senior Director of Government Relations, Families USA.

“Earlier this year, the Trump administration finalized a cruel rule that kicks people when they’re down – blocking families from coverage when they need health care the most, cutting off Dreamers from the ACA marketplace, and piling on new red tape that makes it harder for working people to access the benefits they qualify for. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, this rule does real harm. UnidosUS applauds Senators Warner, Ossoff, and Wyden and all the resolution’s cosponsors for pushing to repeal it and for standing with Latinos and working families across the country,” said Susie Feliz, Senior Advisor for Legislative Affairs and Institutional Strategy, UnidosUS.

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and colleagues introduced the Help FEDS (Federal Employees During a Shutdown) Act to support federal employees who would be required to work without pay during a government shutdown.

This bill is sponsored by Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).

“Virginia is home to hundreds of thousands of dedicated federal employees who keep our government running and our communities safe. The Help FEDS Act will give essential workers some peace of mind that they can cover the basics – putting food on the table, paying for childcare, or getting to and from work – while they continue serving the American people. I’m proud to join my colleagues in standing up for these public servants,” said Sen. Warner.

“President Trump, Elon Musk, and Russ Vought have shown us very clearly over the last 9 months that they do not care about our civil servants – the patriotic men and women that work on behalf of the American people under Democratic and Republican presidents alike. I will fight with all that I have to ensure our civil servants continue to be paid even if Republicans shut down the government because of their own incompetence,” said Sen. Alsobrooks.

“Our patriotic, merit-based civil servants work on behalf of the American people every day, delivering essential public services for our country. They should not have to bear the brunt of a political dispute they have nothing to do with, which is why we are fighting to provide them with an economic lifeline should Republicans force a government shutdown,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“Americans join the federal workforce because they want to help provide essential services to communities across the country,” said Sen. Kaine. “They shouldn’t be punished for that, especially in the event of a government shutdown. That’s why I’m glad to join with my colleagues in introducing this legislation to help make it easier for these patriotic workers to pay their bills as they continue to work on behalf of the American people.”

“Federal employees, through no fault of their own, are caught in the middle of a political dispute that could force them to go to work without knowing when they will be paid. The Help FEDS Act would provide these nonpartisan civil servants with vital resources to help keep gas in their cars, provide food and necessary medicines for their family and give them peace of mind as they navigate a period of immense financial uncertainty while delivering essential services Americans depend on. I applaud Senator Alsobrooks and Rep. Elfreth for their efforts to help ease the burden placed on these dedicated public servants and for their leadership on this issue,” said Doreen Greenwald, NTEU National President.

“In the event of a shutdown, excepted federal workers will be required to work without pay. The least we can do is to allow them to collect unemployment benefits,” said Andrew Stettner, Director of Economy & Jobs, the Century Foundation.

“Federal workers should not be pawns in government shutdowns, and if they are required to work without pay, then they should be at least receive unemployment insurance. We appreciate Senator Alsobrooks stepping forward as their champion and introducing this important legislation,” said Judy Conti, Government Affairs Director, National Employment Law Project.

This legislation has been endorsed by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the Century Foundation, the National Employment Law Project.

When there is a government shutdown, federal employees who are deemed “excepted” or “essential” are required to work without pay. The President and OMB Director have wide discretion over how many federal employees may be deemed essential. During the last government shutdown, when the Trump Administration was in charge, 420,000 federal employees were deemed essential, meaning that 420,000 were forced to work without pay.

The Help FEDS (Federal Employees During a Shutdown) Act ensures federal employees who are required to work during a government shutdown are eligible to apply for unemployment insurance (UI). Essential employees will receive back pay thanks to legislation that Congress passed after the 2018/2019 shutdown. Under this bill, employees would have to pay back the UI when they receive back pay, and states will be reimbursed for the additional UI they would have to pay out. Furloughed employees during a shutdown are already eligible for UI.

In the House, this legislation is sponsored by Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03) and co-sponsored by Reps. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Don Beyer (VA-08), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Danny Davis (IL-07), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Steny Hoyer (MD-05), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Eleanor Norton (DC-AL), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and George Whitesides (CA-27).

Read the full bill text here.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to Jeffrey Kessler, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security, urging the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) – which administers the nation’s export controls – to address threats to technology ecosystems posed by U.S. companies engaged in close collaboration with national champions of the People’s Republic of China, including companies on BIS’s Entity List.

“I write to express concerns with developments in critical open source ecosystems and standards development organizations – in particular, the extent to which U.S. firms may inadvertently be ceding U.S. technology advantages to firms based in, or subject to the influence and control of, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in ways that create durable strategic advantage to the PRC,” Sen. Warner wrote.

While Sen. Warner emphasized the importance of open source innovation – and open scientific collaboration – he distinguished those pursuits (which BIS has historically interpreted export controls to be inapplicable to) from the growing prominence of membership-based, corporate-led organizations that increasingly drive technical standards in a number of strategically-relevant technology ecosystems. For instance, while the open chip architecture known as “RISC-V” began as an American academic project – and grew into a collaboration with leading U.S. and Western companies mutually pursuing more open licensing models for chip IP—in recent years the project has embraced leading PRC national champions, with PRC firms comprising nearly half of the now-Swiss-based governing foundation’s board of directors, including governance roles for Entity Listed PRC firms such as Phytium and Huawei.

In recent years, PRC leadership has touted open source ecosystems have key counter-weights to U.S. technology influence, allowing PRC firms to circumvent U.S. and multilateral technology controls and more-directly shape global technology ecosystems. In particular, Reuters reported in March of this year that the PRC has identified RISC-V as a key vector to break U.S. chip dominance.

Sen. Warner noted that this dynamic has increasingly appeared across the technology stack for advanced compute and AI – with corporate-led, membership-based standards development organizations like the PyTorch Foundation and Ultra Ethernet Consortium opening up to PRC national champions, including in governance roles. He highlighted the irony of American firms “cultivating open source and open standard approaches in order to avoid paying license fees to, or reduce dependence on, other U.S. or allied countries’ firms” – which has inadvertently “catalyzed the conditions for PRC breakthroughs.”

“While the participation of PRC firms in open source communities or open-membership standards organization may be unavoidable given global information and communications technology supply chains,” Sen. Warner noted, “American policymakers have – on a bipartisan basis and spanning administrations – sought to combat efforts by PRC companies to shape and control such organizations in ways that challenge U.S. economic and national security interests.”

Sen. Warner emphasized that open source ecosystems often redound to the benefit of the United States and global well-being – with open source innovation driving technology ecosystems in internet communications and computing, as well as positioning U.S. firms for long-term technology leadership and influence – and he encouraged BIS to maintain its policy of interpreting the Export Administration Regulations to be inapplicable to most open source technologies. However, in contexts in which corporate-led membership organizations invoke open source in name only – and more closely resemble economic cartels that feature PRC companies-of-concern in governance roles – Sen. Warner encouraged BIS to utilize its deemed export authority to limit the extent to which U.S. firms may be contributing towards PRC technology advances.

Read the full letter here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after Republicans blocked passage of a bill to fund the government and protect Virginians’ access to health care:

“Once again, Republicans have rejected a commonsense funding bill that would keep the government open, protect Americans’ healthcare and bring down the crushing costs they’re facing thanks to Republican policies. As soon as tomorrow, millions of families will begin receiving notices that their health care premiums and deductibles are set to skyrocket next year – direct consequences of Republican choices.

“Donald Trump once said, ‘If there is a shutdown, I think it would be a tremendously negative mark on the president of the United States. He’s the one that has to get people together.’ By his own standard, this looming shutdown is a failure of President Trump’s leadership.

“Congress cannot afford more delay. It’s well past time for the president and congressional Republicans to stop playing games, get serious, and do their jobs – before the American people are forced to pay the price.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $700,000 in funding awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Rex Theater Revitalization project to help the City of Galax preserve and highlight its unique cultural heritage as well as improve the long-term economic impact of the theater.

“Southwest Virginia has a rich history worth protecting,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that this federal funding will go towards the preservation and modernization of the Rex Theater, which will strengthen the local economy by boosting tourism and increasing foot traffic to nearby businesses.”

Galax, in partnership with the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission (MRPDC), will use this funding to improve accessibility, expand capacity, and modernize the historic Rex Theater. Once completed, the theater is projected to attract over 7,000 visitors, host nearly 600 programs, and generate more than $315,000 in revenue within just three years.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to boost development in Southwest Virginia, including through strong support of the ARC, an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that innovates and invests to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 423 counties across the Appalachian region.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, (both D-VA), and 40 of their Democratic colleagues sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding an explanation regarding the State Department’s decision to suspend the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas for civilians in Gaza in need of urgent medical care—including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions—and to restrict nonimmigrant visas for all individuals who hold Palestinian passports. The senators urged Secretary Rubio to immediately reinstate the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas to ensure life-saving aid can be accessed.

“We write with grave concern regarding the State Department’s recent suspension of all visitor visas for eligible, vetted individuals from Gaza, including those in need of urgent medical care. We are also concerned by the unprecedented decision to abruptly refuse nonimmigrant visas to people with Palestinian passports. It is critical that the Department immediately reinstate temporary medical and humanitarian visas for Palestinian civilians in Gaza in order to save lives, resume nonimmigrant visas for eligible Palestinian passport holders, and double down on the work needed to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region,” the senators wrote.

“During the Biden and current Trump administrations, individuals from Gaza who met specific criteria set by the State Department have been granted temporary medical and humanitarian visas, allowing them to access life-saving medical treatment in the United States. These civilians include severely wounded children who are especially vulnerable and, through no fault of their own, have been caught in the crossfire and forced to endure horrible impacts from the war in Gaza. These children and their accompanying caretakers leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment are subject to strong vetting processes, including by the Israeli government, which look specifically at any potential security threats and known associations,” the senators continued.

This blanket decision by the State Department prevents a viable pathway to critical care for individuals who qualify for temporary medical and humanitarian visas, including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. With medical facilities in Gaza growing increasingly limited, and acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and medical professionals, particularly those with expertise in complex specialties, care is being delayed and exacerbating the suffering of those in need.

In the letter to Secretary Rubio, the senators requested a full explanation of the circumstances leading to this abrupt decision to suspend medical and humanitarian visas, as well as specific issues, instances, or concerns identified, and a list of any cases of medical treatments that have been delayed as a result. They also requested information on what specific processes and procedures are being reviewed, the criteria being used to review them, when the State Department expects the reviews to be completed, and how the Department plans to ensure that access to emergency medical care for those eligible is not disrupted going forward.

“As Secretary of State, we urge you to immediately reinstate the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas in order to provide urgently needed life-saving civilian relief, resume issuing nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals with Palestinian passports, and refocus U.S. efforts on achieving a lasting end to the conflict in Gaza that ensures security, peace, and prosperity for all in the region,” the senators concluded.

The letter was led by U.S. Sen. Cory Boker (D-NJ) and was cosigned by Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Rubio,

We write with grave concern regarding the State Department’s recent suspension of all visitor visas for eligible, vetted individuals from Gaza, including those in need of urgent medical care. We are also concerned by the unprecedented decision to abruptly refuse nonimmigrant visas to people with Palestinian passports. It is critical that the Department immediately reinstate temporary medical and humanitarian visas for Palestinian civilians in Gaza in order to save lives, resume nonimmigrant visas for eligible Palestinian passport holders, and double down on the work needed to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region.

During the Biden and current Trump administrations, individuals from Gaza who met specific criteria set by the State Department have been granted temporary medical and humanitarian visas, allowing them to access life-saving medical treatment in the United States. These civilians include severely wounded children who are especially vulnerable and, through no fault of their own, have been caught in the crossfire and forced to endure horrible impacts from the war in Gaza. These children and their accompanying caretakers leaving Gaza to receive medical treatment are subject to strong vetting processes, including by the Israeli government, which look specifically at any potential security threats and known associations. Despite this rigorous vetting and extreme need for lifesaving treatment, on August 16, the State Department announced that “all visitor visas for individuals from Gaza are being stopped” pending a “review of the processes and procedures used to issue a small number of temporary medical-humanitarian visas in recent days.” We are deeply concerned that this blanket decision prevents a viable pathway to critical care for individuals who qualify for temporary medical and humanitarian visas, including children with life-threatening injuries or conditions, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis.

Access to functioning medical facilities in Gaza has grown increasingly limited, and acute shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and medical professionals, particularly those with expertise in complex specialties, delays care and exacerbates the suffering of those in need. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that emergency rooms have been “overcrowded” and health facilities are running over capacity. The State Department’s decision to indefinitely pause the visa process places eligible and vulnerable civilians in a life-threatening position of further uncertainty, likely causing preventable deaths. Therefore, we request a full explanation of the circumstances leading to this abrupt decision, including any specific issues, instances, or concerns identified, and a list of any cases of medical treatments that have been delayed as a result. Further, we request information on what specific processes and procedures are being reviewed, the criteria being used to review them, when you expect the reviews to be completed, and how the Department plans to ensure that access to emergency medical care for those eligible is not disrupted going forward.

More recently, the State Department made another broad decision to refuse nonimmigrant visas for individuals who would otherwise be eligible but hold passports issued by the Palestinian Authority, using a mechanism that is usually applied narrowly in specific circumstances where further documentation is required from a visa applicant. Those receiving nonimmigrant visas also go through a vetting process and often travel to the U.S. for university studies, business, and visits with family and friends. The State Department has not communicated the reasoning behind the abrupt change in procedure nor a timeframe for lifting this categorical visa restriction. As a result, we also request a full explanation of the circumstances leading to the suspension of nonimmigrant visas for people with Palestinian passports, including any specific issues or concerns identified and how they are being addressed, and when the Department plans to resume processing and approving these visas.

As Secretary of State, we urge you to immediately reinstate the issuance of temporary medical and humanitarian visas in order to provide urgently needed life-saving civilian relief, resume issuing nonimmigrant visas for eligible individuals with Palestinian passports, and refocus U.S. efforts on achieving a lasting end to the conflict in Gaza that ensures security, peace, and prosperity for all in the region.

Sincerely,

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U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Co-Chair of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, issued the following statement in response to a partisan report from the Senate Commerce Committee attacking the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA):

“This new report is a cynical effort to distract from the Trump administration's ongoing unconstitutional efforts to intimidate broadcasters, social media platforms, and everyday Americans. Biden officials’ good faith efforts to tip social media platforms to foreign influence campaigns targeting our election and COVID response have no parallel in the sustained and coercive efforts of Donald Trump, JD Vance, and Brendan Carr to devastate our nation's history of independent media and free debate.”

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Washington – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) released the following statement ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu:

“As President Trump prepares to welcome Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House for the fourth time in the last 10 months, we urge the President to finally reach agreement to end the war in Gaza, end the suffering, and bring the hostages held by Hamas home.

“Monday’s meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu is a critical opportunity for the President to stand by his statements that “a deal is close” to end the war in Gaza. Importantly, President Trump must press Prime Minister Netanyahu to accept a hostage ceasefire framework proposed by the United States and its partners and ensure Hamas accepts it. It is long past time to secure an agreement that brings home the hostages, includes military withdrawals of the IDF from Gaza, that allow unhindered and overwhelming flows of humanitarian aid, and leads to the complete and permanent cessation of hostilities. As we approach the two-year anniversary of the October 7^th attack, it is clear that only a hostage ceasefire agreement can bring home all the hostages –including American Itay Chen and Omer Neutra—and ensure Israel’s long-term security, not the ongoing and increasing large-scale military operations in Gaza. Any long-term plan for Gaza must both ensure Israel's security and meet the desperately-needed large-scale humanitarian, reconstruction, and governance needs in Gaza, deny Hamas a role in Gaza’s future, reject plans of displacement of Palestinians and provide dignity for Palestinians. We welcome the active role of Arab and regional leaders in this effort.

“This meeting also comes at a critical time for the West Bank amid Prime Minister Netanyahu’s irresponsible threats of potential annexation and prevention of a future Palestinian state as a part of a negotiated two-state solution. We commend President Trump’s statement that he will “not allow annexation” of the West Bank and urge him to use this meeting to get tangible commitments that take annexation off the table. This statement underscores the long-standing policy of Republicans and Democrats alike to reject unilateral steps in the West Bank that undermine the prospects for peace. Such steps include unilateral annexation, continued settlement activity that is illegal under international and Israeli law, construction in the E1 settlement block around Jerusalem, forced displacement of Palestinians, violations of the status quo, and other steps that make impossible a future where Israelis and Palestinians, along with the rest of the region's citizens, can live in equal measures of peace, security, dignity, prosperity, and mutual recognition.

“Now is the time to finally end this war. President Trump must secure a ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza, bring home the hostages, surge humanitarian aid to Gaza, take the dangerous step of annexation off the table, and begin the path to lasting peace.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) issued a statement:

“We take seriously our responsibility to provide oversight and ensure that all federal agencies meet their obligations under the law. Today, we visited the ICE field office in Chantilly, Va., after a month of attempting to gain access following serious reports of troubling conditions and severe overcrowding at this facility. ICE field offices are not designed or equipped to safely hold individuals for more than 12 hours, which was the long-standing policy until June, making the dangerous overcrowding both disturbing and wholly predictable. We are relieved to report that as of today, conditions appear to have improved from the horrifying reports we received just weeks ago.

“It should not have taken this long for members of Congress to gain access to a federal facility to conduct lawful oversight. The pervasive overcrowding and unsafe conditions that occurred are the direct consequences of the Trump administration’s mass detention policies and ICE has a legal obligation to ensure that anyone in its custody is treated safely, humanely, and in accordance with federal law. With its budget now tripled in size to unprecedented levels, ICE has no excuse for failing to plan ahead: it must put in place a clear policy to ensure that when a field office reaches capacity, the burden is relieved immediately and not allowed to spiral into a humanitarian crisis. We will continue pressing for accountability and transparency to make certain those obligations are met, not temporarily or on the administration’s delayed timeline, but every single day.

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WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), alongside U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), called on Senate appropriators to block any federal funding from being used to relocate Space Shuttle Discovery from its home at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Virginia to Space Center Houston in Texas. In a letter, the senators warned that such a move would waste taxpayer dollars, risk permanent damage to the shuttle, and mean fewer visitors would be able to visit it.

The senators noted that transporting Discovery could cost more than $375 million in taxpayer money, far exceeding available appropriations, writing: “The Smithsonian estimates that transporting Discovery from Virginia to Houston could cost more than $50 million, with another $325 million needed for planning, exhibit reconstruction, and new facilities. These costs far exceed the $85 million appropriated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Dedicating hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to move an artifact that is already housed, displayed, and preserved in a world-class facility is both inefficient and unjustifiable.”

They also warned that moving the shuttle would expose it to significant risk, citing past incidents when other shuttles were damaged during transport. The senators wrote, “Moving Discovery by barge or road would be far more complex, exposing it to saltwater, weather, and collision risks across a journey several times longer. As a one-of-a-kind artifact that has already endured the stresses of spaceflight, Discovery is uniquely vulnerable to these hazards. The heat tiles that enabled repeated shuttle missions become more fragile with age, and they are irreplaceable. Moving the shuttle would inevitably and irreparably compromise the artifact and render it unusable as a museum-quality collection item, permanently diminishing its historical and cultural value for future generations.”

The letter also highlighted the importance of maintaining broad public access to Discovery at the Udvar-Hazy Center, where millions of visitors each year including students and veterans can view it for free: “From a public access standpoint, the Udvar-Hazy Center, located in the Washington, D.C. region, offers free public admission and draws millions of visitors annually, including students, veterans, and international tourists. The Smithsonian provides Discovery with professional stewardship and global visibility. The Smithsonian is unique among museums for providing access without placing economic barriers on visitors to a national treasure meant to inspire the American public.”

Read the full letter here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement:

“Donald Trump has made clear that he intends to turn our justice system into a weapon for punishing and silencing his critics. After prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia reviewed the facts and recommended against charges for James Comey, Trump forced out Erik Siebert – a highly qualified U.S. Attorney with an outstanding record – because he refused to deliver the outcome Trump demanded. In his place, Trump installed one of his personal lawyers, a political loyalist with zero experience prosecuting cases anywhere, to bring the charges that career professionals had already rejected.

“This kind of interference is a dangerous abuse of power. Our system depends on prosecutors making decisions based on evidence and the law, not on the personal grudges of a politician determined to settle scores. By ousting a respected, independent prosecutor and replacing him with a partisan loyalist, Trump is undermining one of the most important U.S. Attorney’s offices in the country and eroding the rule of law itself.”

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $3.2 million in funding for the Lee County Sewer Improvement Project, which will provide wastewater service to hundreds of households and over 1,000 residents and businesses not currently being served by a public wastewater system.

“High-quality water infrastructure is critical to the health and wellbeing of all Virginians,” said the senators. “We are thrilled to be announcing further funding for this project so that Lee County residents may soon transition from individual septic tanks and straight pipes into Indian Creek to public wastewater systems.”

In addition to providing wastewater service to Lee County, the Sewer Improvement Project will act as the basis for expansion of Lincoln Memorial University, which is an integral driver of the region’s economy.

Sens. Warner and Kaine requested funding for this project as part of FY2025 appropriations process. In January, they again advocated for this modernization project by writing to the Office of Management and Budget as well as the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works to request support. Later that month, the senators announced that they obtained over $26 million in federal funding to update and expand Lee County’s wastewater system.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to boost development in Southwest Virginia, including through strong support of the Appalachian Regional Commission, an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that innovates and invests to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 423 counties across the Appalachian region.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) reintroduced the bipartisan Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act, which would increase the permitted size of angel funds to allow for a higher number of investors in start-up companies. By allowing more individual investors per angel fund and raising the fund’s cap, more investors will be able to invest at a lower rate. This will allow new investors who have less access to capital to invest in start-ups, expanding the funding base for early-stage startups.

“Long before I entered politics, I was in business. I know first-hand how important early investments are for start-ups and small business owners,” said Sen. Warner. “This bipartisan legislation will allow entrepreneurs to raise more funds with more contributors, enable small start-ups to expand, and give individuals with less access to capital more opportunities to invest at lower rates.”

“Entrepreneurship is the bedrock of the American economy and the backbone of communities across our nation,” said Sen. Moran. “Expanding access to angel funds gives Main Street more opportunities to invest in startups while supporting the growth of American small businesses. This legislation represents a much needed change that encourages more companies to go public.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, and every entrepreneur deserves the chance to turn their dreams into reality,” said Sen. Scott, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. “Unfortunately, access to capital, especially in early-stage investment, has too often been limited to a select few. By opening the door to more investors, this legislation helps local business owners and entrepreneurs turn ideas into thriving companies, create good-paying jobs, and strengthen communities in South Carolina and across our nation.”

“Too many promising start-ups hit a wall because they just can’t raise enough money to get their business off the ground,” said Sen. Gallego. “By raising the number of investors and the max these funds are able to receive, we can help more start-ups get the money they need to grow, create jobs, and strengthen our economy. I’m proud to help lead this bill to give more entrepreneurs a shot at the American Dream.”

This legislation expands on the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, which was signed into law in 2018.

The Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act would:

Increase the max number of permitted angel investors from 250 to 500
Raise the cap on angel funds from $10 million to $50 million

“Entrepreneurship is the driving force of economic growth and job creation in America, and capital is a critical resource entrepreneurs need to turn their innovative ideas into thriving businesses,” said John Dearie, President of the Center for American Entrepreneurship. “Many new businesses – particularly those that have the potential to grow very quickly – rely on investors who provide early-stage capital in exchange for an equity stake in the company. The bipartisan Expanding American Entrepreneurship Act addresses this problem by expanding parameters of section 3(c)(1) of the Investment Company Act to permit emerging fund managers to raise larger funds with a higher number of permitted investors. CAE thanks Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tim Scott (R-SC), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) for their leadership and looks forward to working with them and their Senate and House colleagues to see the bill swiftly enacted into law.”

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement on the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last night regarding agency preparations for a potential government shutdown:

“America deserves a leader focused on solving problems, not someone who treats chaos and disruption as tools of governing. Instead of threatening government employees and the American public with even more mass layoffs and federal dysfunction, President Trump should come to the table and negotiate a funding bill that prevents health care premiums from skyrocketing for families and keeps the government operational. If President Trump truly cares about the American people, he will work with Congress to avoid a shutdown of his own making.”

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced almost $600,000 in funding to address substance use disorder in Southwest Virginia by expanding recovery resources and promoting workforce entry. The funding was awarded by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)’s Investments Supporting Partnerships In Recovery Ecosystems (INSPIRE) Initiative, which seeks to address the substance use disorder (SUD) crisis across Appalachia.

“Our country’s substance use crisis disproportionately impacts Virginians in Appalachian communities who already face barriers to accessing substance use education and treatment, as well as reliable transportation and housing,” said the senators. “We are proud to be long-time supporters of the Appalachian Regional Commission, which is helping make this funding possible, and to empower two organizations that are addressing these challenges, providing care to Virginians, and strengthening the Commonwealth’s workforce.”

The grants will be awarded as below:

Mountain Empire Community College will receive over $490,000 for its Project Southwest Virginia Opioid Abuse Recovery Initiative, which prepares participants for careers in skilled trades and other in-demand jobs.
Appalachian Center for HOPE (ACH) will receive $100,000 for its Stage 2 planning project, which consists of a 12-month intensive process to determine service and resource gaps in the substance use disorder support community, identifies viable funding sources to expand services, and outlines concrete actions ACH can take to overcome the stigma-related obstacles that have hindered previous project achievement.

The senators have been longtime supporters of the Appalachian Center for HOPE, having secured $650,000 in the FY2023 Government Funding Bill to help provide residential treatment for individuals experiencing substance use disorder in Smyth County. Last year, Sen. Warner visited an ACH facility for the launch of its residential treatment center in Marion, which was a direct result of the funding that the senators secured.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to boost economic development in Southwest Virginia, including through strong support of the ARC, an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments that innovates and invests to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 423 counties across the Appalachian region.

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* High-quality photographs of Sen. Mark R. Warner are available for download here *

Photos may be used online and in print, and can be attributed to ‘The Office of Sen. Mark R. Warner’

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after President Donald Trump canceled a meeting with Democratic leadership on government funding:

“President Trump instructed Republicans to craft a budget bill without dealing with Democrats. Now he’s canceled a negotiation meeting with Democratic leadership that he just agreed to Sunday. President Trump’s unwillingness to engage with Democrats on a path forward underscores how little he cares about the American people. Republicans cannot continue to hide in the tall grass and pretend that government funding doesn’t require bipartisanship. And Republicans know that the health care mess they made must be urgently fixed before millions are forced off their health insurance, more rural hospitals close, and health care costs skyrocket for millions of Americans, including those with employer-sponsored insurance. They must come to the table.”

Last week, Senate Republicans blocked passage of a continuing resolution proposed by Democrats to fund the government, protect Virginians’ access to health care, and prohibit the Trump Administration from illegally withholding funding appropriated by Congress. Specifically, the Democratic legislation would reverse Republican cuts to Medicaid and extend premium enhanced tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, which are set to expire at the end of the year. It’s critical that Congress act before open enrollment begins on November 1 to prevent Americans from paying more in health care premiums and help ensure people have access to affordable health care.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after Republicans voted down legislation to fund the government, protect Virginians’ access to health care, and prohibit the Trump administration from illegally withholding funding appropriated by Congress:

“While Republicans may have acted unilaterally when they passed their Big Ugly Bill, keeping the government open is not something they’re going to be able to do on their own. Today, we voted in favor of a funding bill that would not only keep the government from shutting down in 12 days, but would also prevent the expiration of essential health care tax credits and reverse the Trump cuts to Medicaid and hospitals that will raise health care costs for all Americans. Unfortunately, the same Republicans who had no problem extending billionaire tax cuts earlier this year are now drawing the line at tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for so many Americans. Republicans have control of the House, Senate, and White House – it’s time for them to act like it and come to the negotiating table to prevent a shutdown and protect Americans’ health care.”

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