WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) reported that premiums for Affordable Care Act Marketplace coverage are projected to rise by an average of 20.5% next year – a spike driven largely by the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits that have helped make health care more affordable for hundreds of thousands of Virginians:

“The news that Virginians who rely on health care coverage from the marketplace could see their premiums jump by more than 20% next year is deeply troubling. This entirely-avoidable increase is being driven by the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits that have helped hundreds of thousands of Virginians afford quality health care. While President Trump and congressional Republicans bent over backward to extend tax cuts for the uber-wealthy as part of their tax and budget bill, they chose not to renew these critical health care credits that have saved the average Virginian nearly $90 a month. Alongside our Democratic colleagues, we even forced a vote on an amendment to the bill to extend the credits, and Republicans voted it down.

“We know what’s at stake when health care becomes unaffordable: families go without coverage, people skip doctor visits and prescriptions, and small health problems turn into costly emergencies. That’s not only bad for public health, it drives up costs for everyone. We remain committed to restoring these critical tax credits and bringing down health care costs, and we call on our colleagues in Congress to put politics aside and act now to prevent this needless premium spike from hurting Virginia families.”

The enhanced premium tax credits were first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to lower monthly Affordable Care Act marketplace premiums for American families. President Trump’s tax and budget bill, passed by the Republican majority in Congress over Warner and Kaine’s strong opposition, did not extend these credits. As a result, Virginians who purchase coverage on the Virginia marketplace will see the largest share of next year’s premium hikes directly tied to the loss of these credits. Without action, more than a third of the nearly 415,000 Virginians who currently rely on this coverage could be priced out of their health insurance, according to the SCC Bureau of Insurance.

Last month, Warner and Kaine introduced legislation to repeal the health care provisions in President Trump and Republicans’ ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ and permanently extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced tax credits.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement regarding this week’s National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing about the fatal January 29 crash near DCA. Yesterday, Potomac radar facility manager Bryan Lehman testified that he voiced concern that there were too many flights departing and arriving at the airport, but was then rebuffed by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) managers who cited ongoing congressional work on the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, which ultimately—over the vocal and repeated objections of Warner and Kaine—added even more flight slots to the airport:

“We owe it to the loved ones of those we lost in the fatal mid-air collision near DCA on January 29 that we make sure another tragedy like this never happens again. In the hours, days, and months since the accident, we have engaged with the families that were directly impacted, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army. We have been following the ongoing collision investigation closely, and were struck by testimony during yesterday’s NTSB hearing from an FAA official who voiced concerns over congestion at the airport years ago and proposed reducing traffic, but was rebuffed by his managers because of conversations in Congress at the time about adding even more flights into and out of DCA. While we recognize that various factors contributed to the crash and continue to work with our colleagues to address them, this testimony underscores a clear takeaway: Congress must act to reduce dangerous congestion by removing flights into and out of DCA.”

Warner and Kaine have been closely involved with the investigation of the January 29 collision, meeting with first responders and offering condolences to the families and loved ones of the 67 lives lost immediately following the tragedy. The senators also saw through passage of legislation to remember the victims of the crash. Warner and Kaine also requested answers from FAA on its plans to protect the flying public in the wake of the January 29 collision. In March of this year, the senators responded to the preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the crash. In June, the senators introduced the Safe Operation and Shared Airspace Act of 2025 to strengthen aviation safety. Last month, Kaine successfully secured a provision in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s draft National Defense Authorization Act that would require all aircraft of the Department of Defense that operate near commercial airports be equipped with broadcast positioning technology. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined all of their Senate Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, legislation to update and reinforce safeguards in the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that have been eroded in recent years by federal court rulings. The legislation would strengthen our democracy by re-establishing preclearance for jurisdictions with a pattern of voting rights violations, protecting minority communities subject to discriminatory voting practices and defending election workers from threats and intimidation. It is named in honor of voting rights champion and former Congressman John Lewis.

This legislation is especially relevant in Texas where, following historic disapproval of congressional Republicans’ megabill, Texas state lawmakers are attempting to redistrict before the 2026 elections to pick up additional Republican House seats. The move comes in direct response to President Trump’s fears that voters may flip the House in the 2026 midterms.

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy and we have a moral obligation to ensure that every American can make their voice heard at the ballot box,” said Sens. Warner and Kaine. “In the years since the Supreme Court gutted key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, we’ve seen a wave of state-level efforts, like the one underway in Texas, designed to disenfranchise voters and rig the rules for partisan gain. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act is a critical step toward protecting access to the ballot while honoring the legacy of a civil rights hero who dedicated his life to the fight for full participation in our democracy.”

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s damaging Shelby County decision in 2013 – which gutted the federal government’s ability under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to prevent discriminatory changes to voting laws and procedures – states across the country have unleashed a torrent of voter suppression schemes that have systematically disenfranchised tens of thousands of American voters. The Supreme Court’s decision in Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) delivered yet another blow to the Voting Rights Act, by making it significantly harder for plaintiffs to win lawsuits under the landmark law against discriminatory voting laws or procedures.

The John R. Lewis Voting Advancement Act is supported by 178 organizations. Text of the legislation is available here. 

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for advancing legislation to renew and expand the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant program – a community-based mental health initiative Warner co-authored with Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) that is set to expire this year without congressional action.

“This program was born out of a simple but urgent idea: that we need to meet veterans where they are, in their communities, with the support and services that could save their lives,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to see this grant program making a difference across the country, including here in Virginia, and glad that we’re one step closer to making sure it doesn’t lapse at the end of the year.”

Suicide is the 12^th-leading cause of death for veterans, and the 2^nd-leading cause for veterans under 45. Over 131,000 veterans have died by suicide since 2001, with veterans being 72% more likely than the civilian population to die by suicide. Since its original passage in 2021, the Fox Grant Program has worked to end this crisis by distributing hundreds of millions in funding to organizations that provide critical, frontline mental health services to veterans. In 2024 alone, Virginia organizations received $4.5 million from these grants. The program honors Veteran Parker Gordon Fox, a veteran and former sniper instructor at the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, GA. SSG Fox died by suicide on July 21, 2020 at the age of 25. 

The legislation advanced in committee on Wednesday would reauthorize the program before it expires on September 30 and expand its reach to ensure more veterans can access support where they live.

“Veteran suicide is a national emergency,” Sen. Warner added. “We have a responsibility to keep pushing for solutions that work. This program is one of them, and I look forward to seeing it expanded under the law.”

The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, (both D-VA) sent a letter to Secretary of the Navy John Phelan asking the U.S. Navy for answers regarding the death of Seaman Angelina P. Resendiz, who was found dead on June 9 in Norfolk after being reported missing since May 29. Resendiz was assigned to the destroyer James E. Williams at Naval Station Norfolk. In the letter, the senators request a briefing from the Navy and more information about the period of Resendiz’s disappearance and death and the Navy’s adherence to policies and procedures. They also express concerns regarding public accounts of the condition of Seaman Resendiz’s remains upon arrival in Texas.

“We write to inquire about the Navy’s handling of the tragic death of Seaman Angelina P. Resendiz,” wrote the senators. “While we acknowledge the Navy’s engagement with congressional offices to date, ongoing questions and concerns related to the period of her disappearance, the circumstances leading to her death, and the Navy’s policies and procedures throughout, demand answers.” 

The senators continued, “As the Navy continues its investigation, it is critical that you provide Congress with significantly greater detail about the circumstances of Seaman Resendiz’s disappearance and death, including a more fulsome accounting of the Navy’s engagement with Seaman Resendiz’s loved ones and fellow sailors who had raised concerns about her well-being.”

“We urge you to provide clarity around the actions taken by the Navy upon first learning of Seaman Resendiz’s absence, and Navy leaders’ adherence to a range of protocols and procedures … we ask for detail on what investigative steps were taken, and when, by the Navy and its Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as well as the interactions with local and Virginia State Police,” the senators wrote. “We have serious questions as to what policies and procedures govern dignified transfer of remains after an investigation, and whether those were followed in this instance.”

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Secretary Phelan,

We write to inquire about the Navy’s handling of the tragic death of Seaman Angelina P. Resendiz. While we acknowledge the Navy’s engagement with congressional offices to date, ongoing questions and concerns related to the period of her disappearance, the circumstances leading to her death, and the Navy’s policies and procedures throughout, demand answers. We urge the swift and thorough completion of the criminal investigation, and an associated administrative investigation as the service examines the circumstances of Seaman Resendiz’s death.

In response to our engagement, along with that of broader congressional colleagues, the Navy has provided some initial information related to this tragic case. As the Navy continues its investigation, it is critical that you provide Congress with significantly greater detail about the circumstances of Seaman Resendiz’s disappearance and death, including a more fulsome accounting of the Navy’s engagement with Seaman Resendiz’s loved ones and fellow sailors who had raised concerns about her well-being. This information is vital in helping to fully understand the response from the Navy, as well as state and local law enforcement.

Additionally, we urge you to provide clarity around the actions taken by the Navy upon first learning of Seaman Resendiz’s absence, and Navy leaders’ adherence to a range of protocols and procedures, including those outlined in MILPERSMAN 1600-040, which governs absent enlisted and officer personnel. Furthermore, we ask for detail on what investigative steps were taken, and when, by the Navy and its Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), as well as the interactions with local and Virginia State Police. Finally, we reiterate our concern over the public accounts from the family about the grief and anger caused by the condition of Seaman Resendiz’s remains upon arrival in Texas. We have serious questions as to what policies and procedures govern dignified transfer of remains after an investigation, and whether those were followed in this instance.

As you must surely understand, your timely response on these matters is especially important to community advocates, Seaman Resendiz’s loved ones, the broader Navy family, and Members of Congress. As such, we request a briefing from relevant Navy and installation leadership by August 14, 2025, in order to further address a range of questions and concerns about the case – from the initial reports of Seaman Resendiz’s missing status, up to and including the return of her remains to Texas.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today joined his colleagues in introducing the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation directing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to publicly release all files relating to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. 

“President Trump promised transparency and accountability, but what we got instead was more secrecy and flimsy excuses,” said Sen. Warner. “The American people deserve to know the full truth about Jeffrey Epstein and the individuals who enabled his horrifying crimes.”

The Epstein Files Transparency Act will require the Attorney General to release all relevant Department of Justice documents and records relating to Jeffrey Epstein. This bill directs the Department of Justice, including the FBI and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, to release materials related to:

• Investigations and prosecutions of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell;
• Flight logs, travel records, and other transportation data;
• Individuals and entities connected to Epstein’s activities and immunity deals;
• Internal DOJ communications and decisions not to prosecute;
• Records surrounding Epstein’s detention and death.

Importantly, the legislation includes strong protections for victims’ privacy and national security, while explicitly prohibiting redactions based on reputational harm or political sensitivity. A copy of the legislation is available here. 

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act, bipartisan legislation to require the Department of Treasury to conduct annual “stress tests” on the federal government’s finances. This legislation would require Treasury to examine the U.S. government’s financial ability to respond to potentially catastrophic events – like an economic recession or a significant natural disaster – and put forth a report on the short- and long-term fiscal risks and impacts associated with such a response.

“The past decade has taught us the importance of bracing for the unexpected – whether that be a world-wide pandemic, a devastating weather event, or a cyberattack on major infrastructure,” said Sen. Warner. “This legislation will allow the government to take a hard look at our nation’s financial resilience in the face of various crises, disasters, and other extraordinary events, and provide Congress with critical context needed to make important financial and policy decisions.”

“The United States has faced several threats to the stability of our economy and financial systems in recent years, including the 9-11 attacks, the 2008 financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Our bill will require yearly reviews of America’s fiscal strength to ensure policymakers can properly respond to future emergencies and make informed policy decisions,” said Sen. Young.

Specifically, the Fiscal Contingency Preparedness Act would require that the Secretary of the Treasury work with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to complete these annual assessments, which would be subject to audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). This bill would assess distinct shocks to the fiscal health of the economy, including events like an economic recession or depression, a domestic energy crisis, a natural disaster, a health crisis (such as a global pandemic), a significant armed conflict or event, a significant cyber attack, or a financial crisis. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Ben Cline (R-VA) and Jared Golden (D-ME).

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

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VIDEO OF SEN. WARNER’S REMARKS AT THE COMMITTEE MARKUP IS AVAILABLE HERE 

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs unanimously voted to advance the Bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act. This legislation, which includes several provisions authored and championed by Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), will take important steps to boost the nation’s housing supply, improve housing affordability, help reduce homelessness, expand access to homeownership, and increase oversight and efficiency of federal regulators and housing programs.

“Everywhere I go in Virginia, I hear from families and local leaders who are struggling with the high cost of housing. I’m proud to see several key proposals that I have authored and championed included in this bipartisan legislation, which will help get more housing built, expand access to homeownership, and make sure federal programs are doing their job effectively. This is a strong step forward in addressing the housing crisis, and I’m glad to see it move out of committee with unanimous support,” said Sen. Warner. 

The legislation includes several Warner-authored or championed provisions, including:

• The RESIDE Act, legislation drafted by Sen. Warner and Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) to create a new pilot program to help communities convert vacant buildings – such as abandoned hotels, warehouses, and strip malls – into affordable homes. The program would operate within the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s HOME Investment Partnerships Program, the nation’s largest federal block grant dedicated to affordable housing. It would provide grants to local governments for acquisition, site prep, and rehabilitation of vacant properties, with priority given to communities that reduce regulatory barriers to housing conversion. Since its inception in 1992, the HOME program has invested over $788 million into communities across Virginia – helping build and preserve over 31,000 homes, create over 37,000 jobs and generate $2.4 billion in local income. The RESIDE pilot will allow communities to scale new housing development and test innovative strategies that could ultimately be adopted more broadly within the HOME program. 
• The Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which directs HUD to develop best-practice zoning and land-use frameworks to help localities overcome barriers to new housing development.
• The Whole-Home Repairs Act, which establishes a five-year pilot program offering grants and forgivable loans to help low- and moderate-income homeowners and qualifying small landlords address critical home repairs and health hazards, preserving affordable units and stabilizing aging housing stock.
• The Innovation Fund, which would authorize $800 million to support locally-driven initiatives that expand housing supply and reduce costs.
• The HOME Investment Partnerships Reauthorization and Improvement Act, which reauthorizes and modernizes HUD’s HOME Investments Partnerships Program and makes critical updates to improve the program and facilitate the construction of more affordable housing. 
• The Housing Supply Expansion Act and Modular Housing Production Act, which would expand access to manufactured and modular housing by reducing barriers to construction and financing.
• The Streamlining Rural Housing Act, which directs HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to coordinate on joint environmental reviews for housing projects funded by both agencies – helping reduce delays and improve efficiency for rural housing development.
• The Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which enacts critical reforms to the USDA’s Rural Housing Service, including decoupling rental assistance from maturing mortgages to preserve affordable housing in rural areas. If fully implemented, this reform would preserve 243 affordable properties serving more than 10,000 low-income Virginians.
• The Build More Housing Near Transit Act, which amends the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program to allow the agency to give transit projects a higher rating if they are located in areas that adopt policies to encourage more housing construction near public transportation hubs.
• The VA Home Loan Awareness Act and Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure (VALID) Act to improve financing transparency for veteran homebuyers and help them access potentially more affordable mortgage options.
• The Community Investment and Prosperity Act, which makes some regulatory changes to give banks greater flexibility to invest in affordable housing and community development projects.
• The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, which permanently authorizes the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and establishes a dedicated Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency within HUD to oversee and streamline disaster housing recovery efforts. 

Today’s committee action builds on Sen. Warner’s longstanding commitment to expanding access to affordable housing and homeownership. In recent months, he has introduced and supported a range of bipartisan bills to spur new housing construction and redevelopment, including theNeighborhood Homes Investment Act, Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act, Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act, New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act, the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, and the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act. He is also the lead author of the Low-Income First Time Homebuyers (LIFT) Act, which would help qualified first-generation homebuyers build equity in their homes by offering a 20-year mortgage with monthly payments comparable to a traditional 30-year loan. Additionally, Sen. Warner is a cosponsor of theDownpayment Toward Equity Act, which would provide federal grants to help first-generation homebuyers cover down payments, closing costs, and other upfront expenses.

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WASHINGTON —Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) joined with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Defense Appropriator Chris Coons (D-DE), and Ranking State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to release the following statement urging the Trump Administration to press Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to immediately change course in its war in Gaza:

“Humanitarian conditions in Gaza are appalling and unconscionable. This week, more than 100 NGOs—including Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam—warned of mass starvation spreading across Gaza. Following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s nearly 3-month blockade of humanitarian assistance, three-quarters of the population is facing emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger. 

“The handful of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) sites are wholly inadequate to meet the needs of this starving population. Widespread problems have made GHF aid delivery chaotic and dangerous, leading to the deaths of an estimated 700 people. Yet the Trump Administration recently approved $30 million for GHF, overriding established procedures and waiving consultation with Congress.  

“While some established humanitarian organizations have been allowed to resume very limited operations, a number of restrictions and security challenges prevent them from fully functioning. To make matters worse, this week’s expansion of Israel’s military operation into central Gaza for the first time in the conflict has put at risk these few remaining operations. Moreover, the UN estimates that nearly 88 percent of Gaza is no longer accessible to civilians, leaving approximately two million people confined to a troublingly small remaining area.    

“Meanwhile, hostages remain in captivity in Gaza, including American citizens, and three out of four Israelis are calling for an end to this war. Last September, the IDF assessed that Hamas had been largely defeated militarily from its peak strength when it heinously attacked Israeli civilians on October 7, 2023 and is now effectively a “guerilla terror group.” As we know from our own experience following the attacks of September 11, 2001, there is no solely military solution to defeating a terrorist group. Continuing this war with no discernable end is not in Israel’s national security interest, and the lack of a viable “day after” plan has been a glaring mistake. 

“We call on the Trump Administration to use its considerable leverage to press Prime Minister Netanyahu to:

• Reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that releases the hostages as soon as possible.
• Support a surge in humanitarian assistance that provides both a sufficient amount of humanitarian aid and credible mechanisms for effective distribution, including the verification and monitoring of assistance to ensure equitable distribution and to prevent Hamas from diverting assistance. Established humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme have the experience and ability to renew their delivery of assistance without civil unrest. We must allow them to do their jobs. 
• Dramatically reform or shut down the Gaza Humanitarian Fund and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms in Gaza with enhanced oversight to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need.
• Establish a “day after” plan for Gaza where Hamas does not retain power, Israel disavows annexation of the West Bank and further integrates into the region, a reformed Palestinian Authority is fostered and empowered, and regional partners are included in rebuilding.
• Create a framework for a viable path back to a two-state solution that will allow the Israeli and Palestinian people to live side by side in security, dignity, and prosperity.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a reorganization of the department that would shut down several facilities in the National Capital Region and relocate thousands of employees across the country. U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) along with his colleagues, U.S. Reps. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA-08), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-03), Glenn Ivey (D-MD-4), Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Eugene Vindman (D-VA-07) and Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following statement:

“This is a betrayal of American farmers, and an attack on the federal workforce that will severely damage services that the American people depend on. We are disappointed but not surprised that the Trump administration is continuing its attacks on the federal workforce, this time through wasting taxpayer dollars to relocate key USDA facilities. Let us be clear: these haphazard, unlawful relocations do not save taxpayer dollars or improve agency efficiency. We’ve seen this tactic before, and we know that it only results in brain drain, crushed morale, and cuts to vital programs American farmers depend on. We will continue to stand up for the dedicated federal workers who provide critical services to our nation as they navigate these relocations, mass firings, and the administration’s continued attacks on the civil service.”

During the first Trump administration, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) relocated both the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) from Washington, DC to Kansas City, MO. A GAO study of these relocations found that these relocations had significant impacts on both agencies’ staffing and productivity, including:

1. The loss of over a third of each agency’s permanent full-time staff following the announcement of the relocation in 2018.
2. A significant loss of experience, with staff with more than two years of experience declining from 83% of both agencies’ combined workforces in 2018 to 27% in 2021.
3. Declines in productivity, with ERS issuing fewer key reports and NIFA taking over a month longer to process and fund competitive grants in 2019.

GAO also found that USDA did not follow many leading practices for agency relocations, including a failure to consult with its employees at any point during the process and the exclusion of several key variables, including employee attrition, in its economic analysis to support the relocations. Both agencies have made positive improvements in these areas under the Biden administration, but the damage has already been done and many experienced, dedicated federal workers were essentially removed from their jobs.

In March 2025, the members introduced the COST of Relocations Act, led by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), to fight back against President Trump’s relentless effort to relocate federal agencies and decimate their workforces. The legislation would require a cost-benefit analysis to be submitted to Congress in order to ensure that any attempt to move federal agencies is appropriately analyzed to guarantee it is in the best interest of the taxpayer and the agency’s mission.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the bipartisan Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, which would allow American taxpayers who have their paper checks from the U.S. Department of Treasury lost or stolen in the mail to receive their payment by electronic deposit:

“An outdated IRS policy is leaving Tennesseans vulnerable to having their tax refund checks repeatedly lost or stolen in the mail,” said Senator Blackburn. “When those refunds don’t arrive on time, it puts real strain on hardworking families. The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would allow taxpayers to receive a direct deposit from the Treasury Department rather than another check a criminal could intercept.”

“With check fraud costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, it makes no sense for the federal government to keep reissuing vulnerable paper checks after they have already been stolen or gone missing,” said Senator Warner. “This bipartisan bill offers a smart, secure fix by letting taxpayers opt for direct deposit so they can get their money faster and more safely.” 

The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Jon Husted (R-Ohio), and Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.). 

This legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is sponsored by Representatives David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.).

BACKGROUND: 

• Tax refund theft is on the rise, with two postal workers charged in May in connection to a $63 million scheme to steal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refund checks. 

• Criminals take stolen IRS refund checks and sell them on the dark web. One investigation found 4,000 to 5,000 stolen checks for sale every month. 

• The total loss for American taxpayers for stolen mail is hundreds of millions of dollars.

• Currently, if an IRS refund check is stolen, a taxpayer can only be issued a replacement paper check. This leaves the taxpayer vulnerable to having their refund check stolen again.

THE RECOVERY OF STOLEN CHECKS ACT

• The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act would require Department of the Treasury to establish a secure, streamlined process that allows eligible taxpayers to receive their replacement refunds electronically via direct deposit, helping reduce the risk of theft, delays, and fraud.

Click here for bill text.