Press Releases
WASHINGTON – The Senate has approved bipartisan legislation introduced by Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) to extend Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act from its current expiration of March 31, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The provision allows a critical lifeline for federal agencies to maintain contractors, who would otherwise be at risk for layoff or furlough due to the pandemic and was approved as a bipartisan amendment offered by Sens. Warner and Rubio to H.R.1319, a bill to provide for reconciliation pursuant to title II of S.Con.Res.5. (American Rescue Plan Act of 2021).
“We are pleased that the Senate passed this bipartisan legislation to provide much-needed stability for personnel who serve a key role in protecting our national security missions and other vital programs,” said Chairman Warner and Vice Chairman Rubio.
###
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today announced that the nomination of Ambassador William Burns to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency was favorably reported out of the Committee by voice vote.
“I’m pleased to report that the Senate Intelligence Committee voted today to report out the nomination of Ambassador William Burns for CIA Director. The overwhelmingly bipartisan vote in Ambassador Burns’ favor is a testament to the nominee’s unquestioned qualifications for the role, long experience in matters of national security, and laudable commitment to public service. With our country facing so many challenges all around the globe, the men and women of the CIA deserve a Senate-confirmed director in place as soon as possible, and it is my hope that the Senate will move to confirm Ambassador Burns without any unnecessary delay,” said Chairman Warner.
###
Statement of Senate Intel Chair Mark R. Warner on Declassified Report on the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi
Feb 26 2021
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a declassified report on the killing of Jamal Khashoggi:
“For too long, the United States failed to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the brutal murder of journalist, dissident, and Virginia resident Jamal Khashoggi. I’m encouraged to see the new administration taking steps to rectify that by releasing this long-overdue congressionally mandated report into his killing.”
###
Senate Intel Leaders File Legislation, Urge Senate Leadership to Extend Sec. 3610 of Cares Act
Feb 26 2021
WASHINGTON — Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice-Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL) filed legislation (S. 640) to extend Section 3610 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act from its current expiration of March 31, 2021 to September 30, 2021. The provision allows a critical lifeline for federal agencies to maintain contractors, who would otherwise be at risk for layoff or furlough due to the pandemic. Warner and Rubio also sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) requesting that Section 3610 be extended “as freestanding legislation, as we have introduced, or as a provision on the next appropriate legislative vehicle.”
A coalition of organizations wrote in support of Warner and Rubio's efforts to extend Section 3610, highlighting that “numerous organizations representing the breadth of the government industrial base, including manufacturers and service providers, from large companies to small businesses, have emphasized the importance of the 3610 authority and the need for an extension.”
The full text of the letter is below.
Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell,
We write to ask that Section 3610 Federal Contractor Authority of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act be extended to September 30, 2021, as freestanding legislation, as we have introduced, or as a provision on the next appropriate legislative vehicle.
This authority was last extended in the omnibus appropriations act for fiscal year 2021 and is due to expire on March 31, 2021. We believe extending this authority given the prolongation of the global pandemic is critically important to the resilience of our national security industrial base. Section 3610 has proven to be an important means of providing necessary relief during the pandemic to critical Intelligence Community industry partners—and particularly to small businesses that provide highly specialized capabilities—to retain key national security capabilities.
We look forward to working with you on this important matter.
Sincerely,
###
