Press Releases
WASHINGTON. D.C. –- U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, has successfully amended the FY2011 Budget Resolution to require performance and accountability measurements to more closely monitor stimulus spending and to track the progress of the healthcare reform initiative.
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.
Sen. Warner Successfully Amends Job Legislation to Strengthen Stimulus Accountability Requirements
~ Requires Updated Agency Plans & Quarterly Reports and Puts Teeth in Enforcement of Required Reporting from Recipients ~
Mar 10 2010
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) successfully amended job creation legislation scheduled for a vote in the Senate later today to include bipartisan amendments that will strengthen the tracking and reporting requirements for recipients of stimulus funds.
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement in response to the nonbinding opinion from the Office of the Virginia Attorney General dated March 4th concerning nondiscrimination policies adopted by many of Virginia’s public colleges and universities.
Warner, Webb Announce $5M for Valley Green Jobs Program
~ New Workforce Training Program to focus on jobs in green energy sector ~
Feb 16 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb today announced that the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board (SVWIB) has received a $5 million investment from the economic stimulus package to fund a new program to train workers for jobs in the region’s emerging “green” technology manufacturing and renewable energy industries. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Labor, will provide workforce training opportunities for an estimated 1,000 Virginians across 10 counties and six cities in the Shenandoah Valley.
Warner, Webb announce $24M for Va. Health IT Projects
~ Grants will assist Va. health providers switch to electronic records, exchange health information ~
Feb 12 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb today announced $24 million in federal stimulus funding for two projects that will “jump-start” Virginia’s transition to expanded use of healthcare information technology (HIT) and electronic health records (EHR). These grants will help Virginia medical professionals as they work to implement and use HIT to lower consumer health care costs, minimize redundant paperwork and reduce medical errors.
Sen. Mark Warner Proposes Targeted Incentive to Create U.S. Jobs
~ AMERICA RECRUITS ACT will encourage companies to locate jobs here in the U.S. ~
Feb 09 2010
U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today introduced legislation that provides an additional incentive to encourage overseas employers to create and locate jobs here in the United States. The America Recruits Act of 2010 allows the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide federal loan incentives of up to $10,000 for each new job created in the advanced manufacturing and information technology industries. It would be added to existing state, regional and local economic development incentives, and it would target those projects that would locate new jobs in the nation’s economically distressed regions where unemployment is the highest.
Warner, Webb, Perriello, Boucher Announce $21M in Broadband Grants for Southern Virginia
Feb 08 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Representatives Tom Perriello and Rick Boucher today announced two grants totaling more than $21.5 million to expand broadband Internet infrastructure in Virginia. The grants, awarded through the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), will support the deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas, enhance and expand public computer centers, and encourage sustainable adoption of broadband service. These investments will help bridge the technological divide, boost economic growth and create jobs.
Senator Warner released the following statement today on the announcement by Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd on bipartisan negotiations for financial regulatory reform.
Statement on 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review
Feb 01 2010
UPDATED: U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement on Monday concerning the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review, which was presented to Congress today.
Warner, Webb Introduce Bill to Rehabilitate Nation's Historic Schools
~Provides Tax Credits for Communities to Partner with Private Developers~
Jan 29 2010
Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today introduced “The Rehabilitation of Historic Schools Act of 2010,” which provides a tax credit for communities to partner with private sector developers to rehabilitate the nation’s older school buildings.
Warner, Webb Announce $75 Million to Upgrade Va. Passenger Rail Capacity
~ Project will help facilitate high-speed passenger rail between Richmond & D.C. ~
Jan 28 2010
U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today announced that Virginia has been awarded nearly $75 million in stimulus funds to upgrade passenger rail capacity between Richmond and Washington, D.C. These funds were included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Statement on State of the Union Address
Jan 27 2010
Senator Warner released the following statement after reviewing a text of the President Obama's State of the Union remarks.
Warner, Webb Urge Interior to Expedite Development of Offshore Oil & Gas Resources
~Say Revenue-Sharing Formula will Attract Jobs to Virginia, Boost Domestic Energy Production~
Jan 27 2010
Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) today called on the Secretary of the Interior to promptly commence steps to ensure that the Virginia Lease Sale, for the development of oil and gas resources off the coast of Virginia, remains on track for 2011.
Senator Warner released this statement following today’s 53-46 vote rejecting a bipartisan commission that would have made recommendations to Congress on federal budget and entitlement reforms.
VA, NC Senators to Introduce Bill to Preserve Blue Ridge Parkway
~Legislation would protect an additional 50,000 acres of land on Parkway’s 75th anniversary~
Jan 26 2010
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, U.S. Senators Kay R. Hagan (D-NC), Richard Burr (R-NC), Jim Webb (D-VA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) are today introducing legislation authorizing the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire up to 50,000 acres of land surrounding the historic roadway. Congressmen Heath Shuler (D-NC), David Price (D-NC), Rick Boucher (D-VA), and Tom Perriello (D-VA) will introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives. The Blue Ridge Parkway’s anniversary is being celebrated throughout 2010, and will culminate in September.
Statement on the re-nomination of Ben Bernanke
Jan 22 2010
U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, released the following statement today on the re-nomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term:
Statement on Massachusetts Special Election
Jan 20 2010
U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner released the following statement today on the special election result in Massachusetts.
Warner, Webb announce Labor Dept. TAA Certification for International Paper Employees
~ Program provides retraining, other assistance for employees impacted by paper mill shut-down ~
Dec 23 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Transition Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for employees of International Paper (IP) Co.’s paper mill in Franklin, Va. The mill, which employs about 1,100 people, began shutting-down operations in Franklin last month. The company has said it plans to complete its shut-down next spring.
Warner Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Fiscal Task Force Legislation
~ Legislation offers a path to bipartisan solutions to reform entitlement programs ~
Dec 10 2009
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner today signed-on as an original co-sponsor of new legislation to create a bipartisan fiscal task force to address the nation’s long-term budget crisis.
Eleven Freshman Senators Announce Health Amendments to Expand Innovation, Lower Cost
~ Package cuts red tape, speeds shift to value-over-volume ~
Dec 08 2009
WASHINGTON -- A group of eleven freshman U.S. Senators today introduced a package of amendments that will broaden and accelerate efforts to encourage innovation and lower costs for consumers across the U.S. health care system. The amendments have been endorsed by many of the nation’s leading business, consumer and health provider organizations.
Warner, Webb Announce Committee Approval of Chesapeake Bay Clean-Up Bill
~ Legislation strengthens NOAA’s data collection, resource management & public outreach ~
Nov 25 2009
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb today announced approval by the Senate's Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee of the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2009, which the Virginia lawmakers introduced earlier this year with Maryland Senators Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin to strengthen and enhance the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) role in the multi-state Chesapeake Bay clean-up effort.
Warner, Webb, Nye Urge IRS to Approve Tax Deduction for Drywall Homeowners
~ Casualty loss deduction would be significant for 80+ Virginia homeowners ~
Nov 25 2009
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Jim Webb and Rep. Glenn Nye have joined members of Congress from two other states in urging the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to approve a tax deduction known as a "casualty loss" for homeowners in Virginia, Florida and Virginia who are dealing with the structural defects and health problems associated with contaminated drywall. Casualty loss deductions allow property owners to deduct from their taxes a portion of the decrease in value of the property following sudden or unexpected damage. The joint letter to the IRS is below.
Warner, Webb Announce Labor Dept. Assistance for Ex-International Paper Employees
~ Earlier lumber mill lay-offs separate from recent paper mill closure announcement ~
Nov 25 2009
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb announced today that the U.S. Department of Labor has approved Transition Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for former employees of International Paper's (IP) lumber mill in Franklin. The mill, which employed about 120 people, closed early this summer because of a decline in product demand due to increased foreign imports. According to company officials, the mill produced pine lumber board and was not directly involved in the operations of IP's Franklin paper mill.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (VA) released the following statement today prior to tonight’s vote to move the Senate health care bill to the floor for debate: