Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement today regarding this week’s U.S. Senate vote to fund a national settlement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and thousands of African-American farmers who settled their discrimination law suit against the USDA in 1999.

Webb, Warner and Boucher announce $1.2 million investment

In nursing, technological education in Southwest Virginia

Jul 30 2010

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that a network of three community colleges will share a $1.2 million federal grant to provide nursing education in new technologies to nursing students in Southwest Virginia. Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) in Abingdon is leading the consortium, called the Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program (VATNP), which also includes Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC) and Mountain Empire Community College (MECC). The grant money will be used to strengthen the education and preparation of the nursing workforce in Southwest Virginia leading to higher quality care for the medically underserved population of the rural Appalachia.

Sens. Webb, Warner Question Renovation Plans for Roanoke VA Regional Office

Suggest a new facility would better serve area veterans

Jul 29 2010

Washington, DC—Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today sent a letter requesting Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and General Services Administrator Martha Johnson re-evaluate plans to renovate the Roanoke Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO). The renovations, as currently planned, would likely exacerbate the VARO’s high backlog rate without solving some of its major infrastructure needs.

Sens. Webb and Warner announce $5.5 million in transportation grants to seven Va. regional airports

Grants will extend or repave runways, purchase snow removal and other safety equipment

Jul 29 2010

WASHINGTON -- Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) announced today that Virginia has received nearly $5.5 million in grants to upgrade runways and purchase safety equipment at seven regional airports in Virginia. The U.S. Department of Transportation grants are for use in projects intended to enhance safety and bring airports up to Federal Aviation Administration standards. The projects include renovating runways and, in some cases, purchasing new firefighting or snow removal equipment.

Sens. Warner, Klobuchar, LeMieux win support for measure to boost US innovation, economic competitiveness

Amendment to COMPETES Act requires 10-year competitiveness plan

Jul 22 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and George LeMieux (R-FL) successfully amended the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 during today’s Senate Commerce Committee meeting to include an amendment that will promote long-term job growth and boost the economic competitiveness of the United States. The amendment also is co-sponsored by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Begich (D-AK).
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined President Obama and other Congressional leaders today at the bill signing ceremony for historic financial regulatory reform legislation he helped craft as a member of the Senate Banking Committee. The new law, which comes almost two years after the nation’s financial system almost collapsed, has been described as the most ambitious overhaul of financial regulation in a generation.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that a network of community colleges, workforce investment boards and health care providers in 29 western Virginia localities will share a $4.7 million federal grant to provide job training in health care information technology. Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon is leading this regional effort, called the Western Virginia Health Information Technology Education (HITE) Initiative. The program will create and or expand regional training programs to provide Virginians with skills and the required credentials to be able to work in the health care industry’s transition to electronic medical records.

Senator Warner To Lead National Initiative to Enlist Business Community In Volunteer Service

Billion + Change offers opportunities for employers, employees to serve their communities

Jun 28 2010

NEW YORK – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today challenged America’s business leaders to become engaged in a more significant and structured way in supporting community service by their employees. Senator Warner, who has been active in non-profit and community service programs for more than 20 years, has agreed to lead the Billion + Change initiative created by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that the State of Virginia has been awarded $1,498,683 from the U.S. Department of Labor for on-the-job training programs to help Virginians get back to work. The funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, supported by both senators.

Warner works for solutions to IT challenges at Arlington National Cemetery

~ Va. Senator receives Army briefing on cemetery mismanagement ~

Jun 24 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) was briefed today by U.S. Army officials on the results of their investigation into chronic problems at Virginia’s Arlington National Cemetery and pledged to work to help correct many of systemic mismanagement issues at the cemetery, including its failure to incorporate modern information technology.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Representative Tom Perriello today announced that a project in Danville has been selected to receive $2.28 million for infrastructure improvements to support local economic development. The Cane Creek Centre Industrial Park, a 900-acre industrial, has been awarded funds by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce estimates the project will create 500 jobs and leverage $27 million in private investment.

Warner discusses new jobs initiative with Virginia small business owners, bankers

~Highlights efforts to boost access to capital so they can hire and grow~

Jun 18 2010

RICHMOND – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) met today with Virginia small business owners and lenders to discuss his specific efforts to help small businesses grow and put more Virginians back to work. Since last fall, Senator Warner has worked closely with the White House to design new tools to help small businesses access needed capital to help strengthen the economic recovery.

Sen. Warner Files Legislation to Cut $806M From Outdated or Duplicative Programs

~ Programs identified for elimination by both Bush & Obama Administrations ~

Jun 16 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) filed legislation today that would cancel more than $800 million in annual spending on 17 outdated, ineffective or duplicative programs in six federal agencies. These programs have been recommended for termination by the Office of Management and Budget during both the Bush and Obama administrations, yet Congress has so far refused to act on the OMB recommendations.

Warner, Webb Seek Improved Oil Spill Readiness Coordination

~ Bipartisan group of 22 senators requests communication now between federal, state response agencies ~

Jun 10 2010

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today urged federal authorities to coordinate with emergency preparedness officials in Virginia and other coastal states in the event that the BP oil spill reaches Atlantic coastal areas. Several experts have indicated it is possible that oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill could reach the Gulf Stream and be carried up the Atlantic coast to Virginia.

Webb & Warner Announce Virginia Will Receive $324M in Education Stimulus Funds

~Recovery Dollars Have Provided Funding For Nearly 8,000 Va. Education Jobs So Far~

Jun 02 2010

WASHINGTON -- U. S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner announced today that Virginia has been awarded an additional $324.6 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to support public education. To date, Virginia has received more than $2 billion in stimulus funds, and state officials report these funds have supported nearly 8,000 education jobs so far this year.

Sens. Warner, Bingaman, Graham, and Snowe Co-sponsor Bipartisan HOMESTAR Energy Legislation

~ Consumer savings and job creation through residential energy retrofits ~

May 28 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) announced today that he is the chief sponsor, along with Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), of bipartisan Senate legislation that will provide targeted incentives for homeowners who make energy efficiency investments in their homes. The Senate bill, which was introduced yesterday, is similar to legislation pending in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Warner, Kaufman Ask Dodd to Direct SEC, CFTC to Report on May 6 Market Slide

Senate should underline importance of needed elements in agencies’ review

May 07 2010

WASHINGTON, DC — Senators Ted Kaufman (D-DE) and Mark Warner (D-VA) on Friday proposed an addition to the Senate’s Wall Street reform bill that would direct the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to report to Congress on several key issues surrounding the May 6, 2010 market meltdown, which sent the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbling dramatically in minutes. High-frequency-trading algorithms have been the initial focus of questions concerning the collapse.

Bipartisan Senate Approval for Sen. Warner's Framework for Ending Taxpayer Bailouts of Wall Street Firms

~ 93-to-5 vote in support of ending bailouts, ‘too big to fail’ ~

May 05 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate voted 93-5 today to adopt provisions of the Wall Street reform bill that were crafted by U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) in partnership with Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) for the orderly liquidation of financial firms deemed “too big to fail,” and to prevent any future taxpayer-funded bailouts of large, interconnected firms that get into financial trouble.

Sen. Warner Helps Lead Effort to End "Secret Holds" on Legislation or Nominees

~ Asks for an end to practice of blocking nominees without explanation ~

Apr 22 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) organized a group of 18 other senators today in signing a letter to Senate leadership that seeks to change the way the Senate does business by putting an end to rules that allow members to secretly block legislation and nominations.