WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ), as well as Congressmen Jim Himes (D-CT) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s artificial intelligence deals that were announced with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week:

“Democrats and Republicans have long agreed that American companies must remain the undisputed leader in AI, a rapidly developing technology critical to the future of everything from our national security to manufacturing, finance to health care. We have worked hard to ensure the most powerful AI systems are built here, and we have fought to restrict the most sophisticated chips from reaching China – or those who would grant remote access to China – given Beijing’s use of AI to strengthen its military, crack down on domestic dissent, and compete with the U.S.

“President Trump announced deals to export very large volumes of advanced AI chips to the UAE and Saudi Arabia without credible security assurances to prevent U.S. adversaries from accessing those chips. These deals pose a significant threat to U.S. national security and fundamentally undermine bipartisan efforts to ensure the United States remains the global leader in AI. Rather than putting America first, this deal puts the Gulf first.

“The volume of AI chips Trump is offering for export would deprive American AI developers of highly sought-after chips needed here and slow the U.S. AI buildout. Under this deal, data centers and AI systems that would otherwise be built in America will be built in the Middle East – at the exact time that President Trump says he wants to bring jobs and key industries back home. This deal would incentivize U.S. firms to build the factories of the future overseas, creating significant vulnerabilities in our AI supply chain. If our leading AI firms offshore their frontier computing infrastructure to the Middle East, we could become as reliant on the Middle East for AI as we are on Taiwan for advanced semiconductors – and as we used to be on the Middle East for oil. We should not foster new dependencies on foreign countries for this premier technology.

“Additionally, these deals will provide our highest end chips to G42, a company with a well-documented history of cooperation with the People’s Republic of China. We applaud the administration's efforts to limit exports of advanced AI chips to China, including recent actions to further restrict exports of Nvidia chips. However, these efforts will be for nothing if G42 or other companies with ties to China are given large quantities of our most advanced chips. 

“Proponents of the deal argue that China will fill the gap if we do not sell substantial quantities of advanced chips to these countries. This is false. China cannot and will not because China makes fewer chips as a nation than these deals offer, and each is inferior to their U.S.-designed equivalent. This is thanks to the bipartisan efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations to cut off China’s access to advanced chip manufacturing equipment. These efforts have worked, and we should double down on this success rather than squander the leverage we have won.

“If this deal succeeds, the offshoring of frontier American AI will be recorded as an historic American blunder. People around the world deserve to enjoy the benefits we will reap from AI. However, AI chips must only be exported to trusted companies, in reasonable numbers, and in concert with credible security standards and assurances. We welcome the opportunity to work with the administration to meet these objectives and urge our colleagues in Congress to do the same.”

Senator Warner is Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Senator Coons is Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. Senator Shaheen is Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Senator Reed is Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Senator Kelly is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Congressman Himes is Ranking Member of the House Intelligence Committee. Congressman Krishnamoorthi is Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-MD) and U.S. Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA-11) led their colleagues in a letter to Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Charles Ezell opposing President Trump’s move to revive ‘Schedule F.’ Schedule F, now called Schedule Policy/Career, is a policy Trump pursued during his first term to reclassify federal workers, stripping them of their protections and making it easier for the Administration to carry out politically motivated firings.

“The proposed rule will allow agencies to reclassify thousands of dedicated federal workers from the competitive service into the excepted service and therefore strip them of their civil service rights and protections,” wrote the members. “The impacts of this proposed rule will upend decades of reforms which have strengthened the federal workforce.”

The members continued, “More than 2.2 million federal employees work every day to conduct life-saving research, defend our national security, uphold food and drug standards, monitor air and water quality, ensure flight safety and so much more. Nonpartisan, career civil servants, who make up the vast majority of our federal workforce, take an oath to defend the Constitution regardless of which political party occupies the White House.”

“The Trump Administration has made clear its ambitions to undercut the nonpartisan civil service through the Schedule Policy/Career directive. Reclassifying civil service positions into the excepted service removes virtually all protections and rights currently afforded to civil servants,” the members wrote. “Coupled with the Trump Administration’s efforts to relocate and terminate wide swaths of the federal workforce, Schedule Policy/Career reclassifications will negatively affect recruitment and retention efforts for federal workers.”

“As Members of Congress, we understand the vital role of our nonpartisan, highly-skilled civil servants and strongly oppose efforts to dismantle and politicize our country’s competitive federal workforce. Civil servants remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the public interest, not political agendas and deserve the full support of their government in that effort,” the members concluded.

In addition to Sens. Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Connolly, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and U.S. Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-At-Large), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Suhas Sabramanyam (D-VA-10), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), and Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07).

Sens. Warner, Kaine, Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, and Connolly have been leading voices in Congress against efforts to dramatically reduce and politicize the federal workforce. Among other steps, Kaine and Connolly led the introduction of the Saving the Civil Service Act to protect the merit-based federal workforce system and prevent any position in the competitive service from being reclassified to Schedule F.

Full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Acting Director Ezell:

We write in strong opposition to the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM)’s Proposed Rule – Improving Performance, Accountability, and Responsiveness in the Civil Service [OPM-2025-00041]. The proposed rule will allow agencies to reclassify thousands of dedicated federal workers from the competitive service into the excepted service and therefore strip them of their civil service rights and protections. The impacts of this proposed rule will upend decades of reforms which have strengthened the federal workforce. Rescheduling nonpartisan positions undermines the ability of federal agencies to fulfill their vital missions and ignores over 140 years of civil service precedent beginning with the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883.

More than 2.2 million federal employees work every day to conduct life-saving research, defend our national security, uphold food and drug standards, monitor air and water quality, ensure flight safety and so much more. Nonpartisan, career civil servants, who make up the vast majority of our federal workforce, take an oath to defend the Constitution regardless of which political party occupies the White House. Furthermore, these individuals have the unique credentials and institutional experience required to ensure continuity and impartiality within the federal government. The American public benefits from a strong federal workforce supported by a nonpartisan civil service to conduct their critical work.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14171 which claimed to immediately rescind regulations protecting civil servants and the merit system, reinstated Schedule F, and simultaneously directed OPM to engage in the rulemaking process to create a regulation supporting the reclassification order. Now known as Schedule Policy/Career, any positions that influence policy are directed to be reclassified into the excepted service. In accordance with EO 14171, OPM issued a proposed rule on Schedule Policy/Career which directs agencies to reclassify any position categorized as “confidential, policy-determining, policymaking or policy-advocating character” into the excepted service. 

The Trump Administration has made clear its ambitions to undercut the nonpartisan civil service through the Schedule Policy/Career directive. Reclassifying civil service positions into the excepted service removes virtually all protections and rights currently afforded to civil servants. This includes due process and appeals rights that help ensure civil servants can conduct their duties without fear of politically-motivated removal or retaliatory measures. Removing these protections will make civil servants at-will employees and more susceptible to political pressures. Coupled with the Trump Administration’s efforts to relocate and terminate wide swaths of the federal workforce, Schedule Policy/Career reclassifications will negatively affect recruitment and retention efforts for federal workers.

OPM’s directive to reschedule agency positions that have any involvement in policy will have devastating impacts not only on career civil servants and their families, but the communities that they serve. OPM estimates that 50,000 positions, which accounts for approximately 2% of the civil service, will ultimately be moved into Schedule Policy/Career. However, OPM’s failure to adequately define what factors constitute “confidential, policy-determining, policymaking or policy-advocating character” leaves interpretation largely up to each agency and risks the policy being much more broadly implemented than initially disclosed.   

Already, agencies have begun taking the broadest approach to evaluating which positions to reclassify into Schedule Policy/Career. The Social Security Administration (SSA) reportedly has directed staff to prepare for large swaths of the agency to be reclassified. Internal documentation obtained by Government Executive indicates that Acting Administrator Lee Dudek recently instructed across-the-board reclassifications for senior leaders and over a half dozen offices within SSA. These positions encompass researchers and other supporting positions that do not set or impact policy decisions. The maximalist approach outlined by SSA foreshadows the wide-reaching implications of Schedule Political/Career which will negatively alter the federal workforce for decades to come.

As Members of Congress, we understand the vital role of our nonpartisan, highly-skilled civil servants and strongly oppose efforts to dismantle and politicize our country’s competitive federal workforce. Civil servants remain steadfast in their commitment to serving the public interest, not political agendas and deserve the full support of their government in that effort. In that vein, we urge OPM to immediately rescind this proposed rule and collaborate with Congress to effectively manage government operations. 

Sincerely,

###

WASHINGTON — Today, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined 26 of his colleagues in introducing a resolution to condemn the gift of a luxury airplane, valued at $400 million, President Donald Trump announced he will receive from the government of Qatar. According to reports, Trump intends to designate the plane as Air Force One while in office and then transfer it to a foundation for personal use following the end of his term.

In addition to Sen. Warner, this resolution is sponsored by Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Gary Peters (D-MI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), and Andy Kim (D-NJ). Earlier today, the senators attempted to pass this legislation through the Senate by unanimous consent, but were blocked by Republicans.

“This is corruption plain and simple. The President of the United States accepting a $400 million plane from a foreign government is unheard of, and would require direct consent from Congress,” Sen. Warner said. “This is just the latest act by President Trump that shows his administration has no regard for the rule of law and is ripe to be exploited by foreign actors.”

“President Trump’s penchant for corruption and grift has risen to a new level with the news his presidency is for sale – if you happen to have $400 million dollars,” Leader Schumer said. “This Qatari plane deal would be the largest Presidential bribe in modern history and it’s not just naked corruption, it’s a grave national security threat. Senate Republicans may bury their heads in the sand while Trump tries to enrich himself and his billionaire buddies, but Senate Democrats are going to stand up for the American people and say enough is enough – we condemn this attempt at corruption and gross violation of the Constitution.”

“Air Force One is more than just a plane — it’s a symbol of the presidency and of the United States itself,” Sen. Schatz said. “Any president who accepts this kind of gift, valued at $400 million, from a foreign government creates a clear conflict of interest, raises serious national security questions, invites foreign influence, and undermines public trust in our government. We are asking the Senate to vote to reiterate a basic principle: no president should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts.”

“We wouldn’t trust another country to decorate the Oval Office, to set up our Situation Room, or to wire the White House briefing room, so why would we let another country build Air Force One for us, which is an airborne version of all three? This isn’t just a massive act of corruption, it’s a national security risk of the highest order,” Sen. Coons said. “If President Trump is so willing to put his own administration in danger for the sake of a $400 million gift, imagine how much danger he’s willing to put the American people in.

“While Republicans plot to gut vital services like Social Security and Medicaid and unleash economic uncertainty onto hardworking Americans, Donald Trump is planning to accept a luxury jet, valued at $400 million, from a foreign government,” Sen. Booker said. “This not only creates a clear conflict of interest, raises serious national security concerns, and undermines public trust in our government, but is a slap in the face to the people across the country who are struggling to make ends meet. All Senators should be able to agree that no one should use public service for personal gain through foreign gifts. I hope my Republican colleagues will support this resolution.”

“The president doesn’t get to trade U.S. foreign policy and national security for a private jet,” Sen. Murphy said. “This resolution sends the message Trump won’t: the Oval Office is not for sale.

“No, Donald Trump cannot accept a $400 million flying palace from the royal family of Qatar. Not only is this farcically corrupt, it is blatantly unconstitutional,” Sen. Sanders said. “Congress must not allow this over-the-top kleptocracy to proceed.”

“President Trump wants to accept a $400 million private jet from a foreign government, have American taxpayers pay to retrofit it as Air Force One, and then keep it for himself to jet around the world as soon as he leaves office. It’s hard to imagine more brazen corruption or a clearer violation of our Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, and there’s no question this outlandish proposal puts our country’s national security at risk,” Sen. Murray said. “Every member of Congress should support this simple resolution condemning violations of the Emoluments Clause and making clear Trump cannot accept a $400 million private jet from Qatar without explicit consent from Congress.”

“If someone came to one of my town halls in Oregon and tried to argue that getting a $400 million jet from the government of Qatar wasn’t corruption, they would be laughed out of town,” Sen. Wyden said. “Instead of securing new allies against adversaries like China or opening new markets for American products, Trump is using America’s clout to get a private jet. It’s corruption plain and simple that fritters away American influence and leaves us weaker.” 

“While Republicans in Congress are working to gut Medicaid and Social Security, President Trump is brazenly accepting a luxury jumbo jet from Qatar — for his use during and after he leaves office,” Sen. Padilla said. “Once again, Trump is showing us that he puts his own interests above those of the American people, benefiting himself and leaving working families behind. This foreign gift reeks of corruption, is blatantly against the law, threatens our national security, and will cost taxpayers tens of millions in retrofit costs and security upgrades.”

“Donald Trump is accepting a multimillion dollar plane from a foreign government as a personal gift, while clearly ignoring the Constitution,” Sen. Rosen said. “Trump gets richer off of his position while hardworking families suffer from his reckless actions. This is corruption plain and simple, and I’m supporting this resolution to make our strong opposition clear.” 

 “Trump’s brazen willingness to accept a luxury jet from Qatar raises the dangerous prospect that the president can be bought and paid for by foreign powers — putting their interests over Americans’ and our national security. Every Senator should join us in rejecting it and blocking the sale of the presidency to the highest bidder,” Sen Van Hollen said.

“Our founding fathers knew that we must protect ourselves from corruption and foreign influence, which is exactly why we have a constitutional provision prohibiting presidents from accepting lavish gifts from foreign governments—a super luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet, reportedly valued at $400 million, is no exception,” Sen. Shaheen said. “Congress and the American public have a right to know the details of any arrangement that calls into question whether the President is acting on behalf of American interests and American interests alone. Further, the security implications of taking a foreign-owned and managed plane and outfitting it with the most sensitive U.S. technology continues to demonstrate a lack of judgement in this administration when it comes to guarding U.S. intelligence.”

“There's no such thing as a $400 million "no-strings-attached" gift,” Sen. Duckworth said. “This is the mother of all bribes. It puts our national security in jeopardy and erodes public trust—all for the President’s own personal gain. Donald Trump wants to sell our foreign policy and sell out our people.”

“Donald Trump accepting a $400 million gift from a foreign country is corruption in plain sight,” Sen. Hirono said. “Trump’s latest grift undermines our national security, flies in the face of the Constitution, and will cost American taxpayers hundreds of millions, if not billions, in retrofits.”

“The mere notion that the President would cravenly accept a $400 million attempt to win favor from a foreign power is beyond the pale and reeks of corruption.  The White House and presidency are sacred trusts from the American people, not venues for Trump to enrich himself and his family with shady deals and influence buying,” Sen. Durbin said. “Our resolution reaffirms what our Constitution makes clear – no President should receive gifts from a foreign power.”

“While President Trump claims to target fraud and abuse, his actions continue to prove that his priorities are his own interests and those of his wealthy friends,” Sen. Bennet said. “His plan to accept a $400 million luxury jet from the Qatari government for use as Air Force One is an act of blatant corruption and a violation of our Constitution that poses severe counterintelligence risks, needlessly undermining U.S. national security.”

“This is corruption in plain sight. Under no circumstance should a sitting president be accepting luxury gifts from a foreign government, especially while negotiating an arms sale,” Sen. Blunt Rochester said. “This is yet another example of President Trump focusing on enriching himself rather than improving the lives of everyday Americans. I’m joining with my colleagues on this resolution to protect national security, to stand up for our constituents, and to uphold the rule of law.”

“If an ordinary government official accepted a gift even a fraction as valuable as this, there would be a full investigation, and potential firings due to concerns of foreign influence,” Sen. Slotkin said. “Now the President is taking a $400 million foreign gift. Beyond the perception of corruption, the idea that a foreign country would have access to Air Force One, as the buyer, during production, leaves it incredibly vulnerable to bugs, tracking devices, and whatever else they or other countries may attempt to manipulate.”

“This is corruption, plain and simple. The U.S. is not for sale, and we cannot allow the presidency to be bought by foreign interests,” Sen. Klobuchar said.

“Just when you think the Trump Administration can’t sink to a new low of ethical misconduct, he accepts a luxury jet from a foreign nation. Corruption on full display,” Sen. Merkley said.

“We're beyond foreign interference at this point. We're watching a President invite a foreign government to buy him off,” Sen. Alsobrooks said. “American values are actively being flushed down the toiled by this corrupt President."

The full text of the resolution is available here.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Todd Young (R-IN) wrote to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to work with President Trump to appoint a new Special Envoy for Sudan, build out key senior Africa roles at the State Department and the National Security Council, and to hold accountable both internal and foreign actors prolonging the conflict. Joining Sens. Warner and Young in the letter are U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Cory Booker (D-NJ).

The ongoing violence in Sudan has led to a massive humanitarian crisis. Since the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023, it’s estimated that the conflict has claimed the lives of tens of thousands to potentially over one hundred thousand individuals, and in the region, an estimated 30 million Sudanese are in need of immediate assistance.

Sen. Warner has led bipartisan efforts to address this crisis, including pushing the Biden administration to take steps to better address the chaos and violence displacing millions of people in Sudan and the surrounding regions. Following the senators' calls for a special envoy, President Biden appointed former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello to the position, but the position has remained vacant under the Trump administration.

The senators wrote, “Since its outbreak, this conflict has displaced more than 14 million people – an estimated 11.5 million internally, plus an additional 3 million fleeing to neighboring countries and regions. Approximately 30 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – are in urgent humanitarian need. By some estimates, the conflict has killed upwards of 150,000 people, in what the U.S. government has officially declared a genocide. Belligerents on both sides stand accused of atrocities, including killings, abductions of civilians, and horrific instances of sexual violence against women and children.”

The senators highlighted continued bipartisan efforts to respond to the crisis in Sudan and the need to fill crucial roles in countries impacted by the ongoing civil war. 

Added the senators, “We urge the Administration to fill the Special Envoy position, which would align with bipartisan Congressional intent expressed through the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions of the Response to Conflict in Sudan Act. We also strongly urge you to work with the President to nominate senior officials responsible for Africa, including the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, ambassadors to countries impacted by or otherwise implicated in the conflict, and push for the appointment of a Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council to coordinate interagency efforts.”

In addition to the need to fill these crucial roles, the senators highlighted the impact that outside influences are having on this crisis, and the need for the U.S. to hold accountable any foreign actors exacerbating the crisis. 

“To date, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added SAF and RSF members to the Specially Designated Nationals List and taken action against numerous UAE companies for potentially violating U.S. sanctions. We encourage you, alongside allies and partners, to continue to hold accountable external actors that support and/or finance the conflict, using all available tools,” they wrote. 

Sen. Warner has been a leading voice in the Senate about the need for increased diplomatic and humanitarian support for Sudan since the war erupted. Last year, Sen. Warner pushed the Biden administration take more decisive action against foreign entities fueling the ongoing civil war in Sudan. In May 2023, he and Sen. Kaine requested that the Biden administration issue a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Sudan, which was subsequently issued. Later that month, Sens. Warner and Kaine led a group of colleagues in urging the administration to offer all available support for humanitarian efforts in the region – and to be forward leaning on prioritizing local and community-based response efforts – as well as appoint a Special Envoy to Sudan tasked with coordinating and leading U.S. diplomatic efforts to address the crisis. In December 2023, the senators continued calling on the Biden administration to designate a Special Envoy to Sudan, and former U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello was subsequently appointed to the position. Sen. Warner has also continued his efforts to provide support to Sudan and the Sudanese diaspora and meeting with the Sudanese community in Virginia.  

A copy of letter is available here and text is below.

Dear Secretary Rubio,

Now into the third year of destructive conflict in Sudan, with escalating violence and atrocities between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF), U.S. engagement to bring a resolution to this conflict is more critical than ever. You can send a strong signal to the region by working with the President to appoint a new Special Envoy for Sudan and holding accountable both Sudanese and foreign actors prolonging the conflict. 

Since its outbreak, this conflict has displaced more than 14 million people – an estimated 11.5 million internally, plus an additional 3 million fleeing to neighboring countries and regions. Approximately 30 million people – more than half of Sudan’s population – are in urgent humanitarian need. By some estimates, the conflict has killed upwards of 150,000 people, in what the U.S. government has officially declared a genocide. Belligerents on both sides stand accused of atrocities, including killings, abductions of civilians, and horrific instances of sexual violence against women and children.

We urge the Administration to fill the Special Envoy position, which would align with bipartisan Congressional intent expressed through the passage of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which included provisions of the Response to Conflict in Sudan Act.  We also strongly urge you to work with the President to nominate senior officials responsible for Africa, including the Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, ambassadors to countries impacted by or otherwise implicated in the conflict, and push for the appointment of a Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council to coordinate interagency efforts.

In addition to naming an envoy, we urge you to hold accountable external actors – including the UAE, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt – and foreign businesses fueling the gruesome atrocities. The recent large-scale offensive by the RSF in Darfur – which has included storming and systematically burning down the Zamzam refugee camp, killing hundreds of people in a massacre that has also forced hundreds of thousands more to flee the camp in a matter of days – exemplifies the depravity that is being enabled by these external forces.

To date, the Office of Foreign Assets Control added SAF and RSF members to the Specially Designated Nationals List and taken action against numerous UAE companies for potentially violating U.S. sanctions. We encourage you, alongside allies and partners, to continue to hold accountable external actors that support and/or finance the conflict, using all available tools.

Conflicts rarely stay localized, and the longer this horrific war drags on, the more combustible this region becomes – an outcome that creates a power vacuum that extremists, terrorists, and our foreign adversaries will only be too happy to fill. The war’s continuation not only harms millions of innocent civilians, but also poses serious risk to American security interests in the region.

We strongly support U.S. engagement and leadership in Sudan. The appointment of a new Special Envoy would send a strong signal. We look forward to working together to support your efforts to end the conflict in Sudan, address the humanitarian crisis, hold accountable those responsible for atrocities, and stop the actors fueling this crisis inside and outside Sudan.

Sincerely,

###

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) has introduced two new pieces of bipartisan legislation to encourage new development, expand supply, and make housing more affordable for Virginians.

“In communities across the Commonwealth, both rural and urban, too many families are struggling to find safe, affordable housing,” Sen. Warner said. “This crisis needs an all-hands-on-deck solution, and that’s why I am proud to continue to look for innovative solutions to help tackle this problem. These bipartisan bills offer commonsense solutions to help boost our housing supply by both protecting our current stock and supporting new investment.”

The Neighborhood Homes Investment Act, introduced with Sen. Todd Young (R-IN), would create a new tax incentive to build and preserve more than 500,000 affordable, single-family homes for homeownership over ten years in under-resourced communities. The tax credit will cover the cost between building or renovating a home in these areas and the price at which they can be sold. The credits would only be available after the homes have been completed and sold to a homeowner – ensuring the investors, not the government, bear the risk. Full text of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act is available here.

The Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act, introduced with Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), will support more investment in rural and low-income housing by clarifying the tax-exempt controlled entity rules to ensure that Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs), such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are able to participate in partnerships that are crucial for low-income housing investments. Full text of the Preserving Rural Housing Investments Act is available here.

These bills are just the latest in Sen. Warner’s longstanding efforts to expand access to homeownership and make housing more affordable for Virginians. Since January, he has introduced multiple bills to amend the federal tax code to encourage new housing construction and rehabilitation, including the 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 – all bipartisan bills to encourage redevelopment and new construction in communities across the country. He is also the lead author of the Low-Income First Time Homebuyers (LIFT) Act to help qualified, first-generation homebuyers build equity in their homes by offering a 20-year mortgage for roughly the same monthly payment as a traditional 30-year loan. Warner has also joined his colleagues in sponsoring the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, which would provide federal grants to assist first-generation homebuyers with qualifying expenses toward purchasing their first home, including down payment costs, closing costs, and costs to reduce the rates of interest.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) introduced two bills to protect wilderness in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties.

“We are lucky to have such beautiful natural resources in Virginia, and we need to do more to ensure that these lands are protected for future generations,” said the senators. “We’re proud to introduce this legislation to preserve wilderness in Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, and Bath counties, protect wildlife, and support local economies that depend on tourism and outdoor recreation.”

These additions were recommended by the U.S. Forest Service in 2014 and endorsed by members of the George Washington National Forest Stakeholder Collaborative, a group of forest users that started work together over a decade ago to agree on acceptable locations in the George Washington National Forest for wilderness, timber harvest, trails, and other uses. 

In 2023, the tourism economy directly employed 7,562 people and generated $842.5 million in expenditures in Augusta, Rockingham, Bath, and Highland counties, as well as Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Waynesboro.

Shenandoah Mountain Act

The Shenandoah Mountain Act would establish a 92,562-acre Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area (SMNSA) in Rockingham, Augusta, and Highland counties. National Scenic Areas protect the scenic, historic, recreational, and natural resources in specific areas and allow compatible uses such as outdoor recreation activities.

The SMNSA encompasses four wilderness areas—Skidmore Fork, Little River, Ramsey’s Draft, and Lynn Hollow—and establishes a wilderness area at Beech Lick Knob. It also includes headwaters for the Potomac and James Rivers and watersheds that provide municipal drinking water sources for Harrisonburg, Staunton, and other communities. The NSA designation would protect these rivers and streams from industrial development and safeguard populations of at-risk species, such as the Cow Knob and Shenandoah Mountain Salamander.

James Madison University scientists estimate that lands within the SMNSA proposal already generate $13.7 million per year in other local benefits, including the value of the water supply and energy savings, and that the designation of the SMNSA would further grow this value.

"Friends of Shenandoah Mountain is so pleased with the reintroduction of the Shenandoah Mountain Act. For decades, we've worked with folks who hunt, hike, paddle, fish, and ride mountain bikes in this landscape, and everyone agrees that a National Scenic Area designation strikes the right balance between recreation and preservation,” said Lynn Cameron, Co-Chair of Friends of Shenandoah Mountain.

Full text of the Shenandoah Mountain Act is available here.

Virginia Wilderness Additions Act

The Virginia Wilderness Additions Act would add 5,600 acres to the existing Rough Mountain and Rich Hole wilderness areas within the George Washington National Forest in Bath County.

"Expanding the Rough Mountain and Rich Hole Wilderness Areas honors decades of work by dozens of stakeholders, and results in a number of ecological, economic, and recreational benefits. The Virginia Wilderness Committee is grateful to Senators Kaine and Warner for this reintroduction,” said Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, Executive Director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee.

Full text of the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act is available here.

###

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, reintroduced the Augmenting Compatibility and Competition by Enabling Service Switching (ACCESS) Act, legislation that would encourage market-based competition between major social media platforms by requiring the largest companies make user data portable – and their services interoperable – with other platforms, and to allow users to designate a trusted third-party service to manage their privacy and account settings.

“As social media and online platforms continue to become a larger part of our society, we've seen a handful of companies completely dominate the marketplace, giving consumers no real option to shift platforms without losing years’ worth of data and interactions,” Sen. Warner said. “By making it easier for social media users to easily move their data or to continue to communicate with their friends after switching platforms, startups will be able to compete on equal terms with the biggest social media companies. Interoperability and portability are powerful tools to promote innovative new companies and limit anti-competitive behaviors. This legislation will create long-overdue requirements that will boost competition and give consumers more power.”

Joining Warner in introducing the legislation are Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT).

Online platforms have become vital to our economic and social fabric, but network effects and consumer lock-in have solidified a select number of companies’ dominance in the digital market and enhanced their control over consumer data, even as the social media landscape continues to change by the day and platforms’ user experiences become more and more unpredictable. The ACCESS Act would increase market competition, encourage innovation, and increase consumer choice by requiring large communications platforms (products or services with over 100 million monthly active users in the U.S.) to:

1. Make their services interoperable with competing communications platforms.
2. Permit users to easily port their personal data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format.
3. Allow users to delegate trusted custodial services, which are required to act in a user’s best interests through a strong duty of care, with the task of managing their account settings, content, and online interactions. 

Sen. Warner first introduced the ACCESS Act in 2019 and, as a former tech entrepreneur, has been one of Congress’s leading voices calling for accountability in Big Tech. He has introduced several pieces of legislation aimed at addressing these issues, including the SAFE TECH Act, which would reform Section 230 and allow social media companies to be held accountable for enabling cyber-stalking, online harassment, and discrimination on social media platforms; the Honest Ads Act, which would require online political advertisements to adhere to the same disclaimer requirements as TV, radio, and print ads; and legislation requiring that the prominent social media platform TikTok divest from China-owned parent company ByteDance. Sen. Warner continues to advocate for the sale of the app to a company not beholden to a U.S. adversary.

Full text of the ACCESS Act is available here. 

###

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner joined Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Angus King (I-ME) in introducing the America the Beautiful Act, legislation that builds on the senators’ landmark Great American Outdoors Act by strengthening and reauthorizing the Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) and addressing the serious maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands.

“Our Great American Outdoors Act was transformative for America’s national public lands and the many communities whose economies depend on them,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to continue this great work. Investing in our beautiful natural treasures is a not only boosts our tourism economy but preserves these landmarks for generations to come.”

Specifically, this legislation reauthorizes the LRF through 2033 and increases funding to $2 billion per year to help address the maintenance backlog in national parks and public lands. Currently, the maintenance backlog for each agency is as follows:

• U.S. Park Service: $23.26 billion
• U.S. Forest Service: $8.695 billion
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: $2.65 billion
• U.S. Bureau of Land Management: $5.72 billion
• U.S. Bureau of Indian Education: $804.5 million

Joining Sens. Warner, Daines, and King in introducing this legislation are Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The senators’ Great American Outdoors Act was one of the largest-ever investments in conservation and public lands in our nation’s history. Signed into law by President Trump in 2020, the bipartisan legislation provided billions of dollars to improve infrastructure and expand recreation opportunities in national parks and other public lands after years of underinvestment led a massive backlog in needed maintenance and repairs to Park Service sites. In Virginia alone, this historic legislation has provided over $470 million for projects at Virginia’s 22 park service units and supported thousands of jobs.

The America the Beautiful Act is supported by over 40 public lands, conservation and recreation groups.

"America's parks are our legacy to uphold — and bold action is essential to fulfill that promise. The National Park Foundation applauds Senators Daines and King for their leadership in introducing bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Legacy Restoration Fund. Since its establishment through the Great American Outdoors Act, this vital program has already delivered billions toward transformative infrastructure projects across our national parks. As we approach America's 250th anniversary, reauthorizing this investment affirms a bold democratic ideal — that every generation deserves to experience our parks as we do today. We look forward to working with Congress to ensure these magnificent landscapes and historic sites can continue welcoming visitors for generations to come,” said Jeff Reinbold, President and CEO, National Park Foundation.

“The National Forest Foundation thanks Sens. Daines, King, Cramer and Warner for their leadership in investing in the future of America’s public lands.  The investments in recreation infrastructure as outlined in the America the Beautiful Act will benefit the economies of local communities and enhance the enjoyment of the millions of visitors who hike, camp, hunt, fish, paddle, and play in our nation’s 193-million acres of National Forests and Grasslands,” said Dieter Fenkart-Froeschl, President and CEO, National Forest Foundation.

“The Appalachian Trail Conservancy is grateful for the leadership of Senators Daines, King, Cramer, and Warner for the America the Beautiful Act. Chronic underinvestment, extreme weather events, and heavy use have left our public lands in a precarious position. The Appalachian Trail relies on more than 5,000 volunteers and dozens of partners to keep it accessible to people and functional for nature. With ATC in its 100th year, the long-term care needs for the A.T. and its connected national parks and forests have never been clearer. This legislation will increase the monetary support, public awareness, and the impact of partners like the ATC in addressing critical deferred—and cyclic—maintenance needs for our public lands. We are proud to strongly endorse this legislation and will work diligently for its enactment,” said Sandra Marra, President and CEO, The Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Full text of the bill is available here. 

###

WASHINGTON – Despite significant advancements in digital technology, remote notarization has yet to be fully deployed and accepted on an interstate basis. While nearly every state allows for remote electronic notarization, regulations and recognition vary between states.

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced their bipartisan Securing and Enabling Commerce Using Remote and Electronic (SECURE) Notarization Act. This bill would permit the nationwide use of Remote Online Notarizations (RON), enabling notaries and signers to complete the process from different physical locations. It authorizes every notary in the United States to perform RON and provides certainty for interstate recognition of RON. The SECURE Notarization Act requires tamper-evident technology and fraud prevention measures through the use of multifactor authentication.

“It’s time to finally bring the notarization process into the 21st century,” said Sen. Warner. “Remote notarizations have proven to be a safe and convenient way for individuals to complete essential services such as executing wills, completing financial documents, and buying or selling a home online. This legislation would continue to modernize this system by permitting nationwide use of Remote Online Notarization to complete important documents.”

“We’ve made a lot of progress toward much more widespread use of online notarizations in the past few years, particularly through the pandemic,” said Sen. Cramer. “But this patchwork of state regulations really leaves consumers without consistent access to some notary services. Quite honestly, I think it violates, certainly, the spirit of interstate commerce. Our bill simply makes sure online notarizations are valid across [state] lines and allow every notary to perform them, and perform them in a very secure way.”

The SECURE Notarization Act will complement state regulations, including those in North Dakota, which already allow for remote notarizations.

The bill is endorsed by American Land Title Association (ALTA), Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), National Association of REALTORS (NAR), and American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI).

“Senators Cramer and Warner have been longstanding champions in recognizing the clear benefits of extending RON access to all Americans and leading this bipartisan legislation, which offers a safe and secure path to remotely close real estate and mortgage transactions,” said Diane Tomb, CEO of ALTA. “By passing the SECURE Notarization Act, Congress will embrace a proven innovation and modernize the notarization process with a secure system that meets consumer needs and expectations, including those of our military heroes overseas, the elderly, and homebuyers seeking convenience.”

"The SECURE Notarization Act would make the mortgage closing process more convenient for consumers by creating federal minimum standards to allow notaries in all states to perform remote online notarization (RON) transactions,” said Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs at MBA. “MBA appreciates Senator Cramer and Warner’s commitment to enable nationwide use of RON technology. Their continued diligence and hard work on this critical issue will greatly simplify and improve mortgage transactions for all borrowers.”

“The National Association of REALTORS applauds Senators Cramer and Warner for reintroducing the SECURE Notarization Act,” said Shannon McGhan, EVP & Chief Advocacy Officer for the National Association of REALTORS. “This commonsense, bipartisan bill will modernize an essential part of real estate transactions by allowing nationwide use of secure, remote online notarization. Reliable, accessible notarized records are the bedrock of real estate, and this technology ensures Americans can continue to buy, sell, and finance property with confidence in today’s digital age.”

“Senators Cramer and Warner understand that families need practical, modern tools to plan for their financial futures,” said David Chavern, President and CEO of the ACLI. “During COVID, life insurers demonstrated how well remote online notarization works for consumers. Allowing its use nationwide is a smart, commonsense step to bring the notarization process into the 21st century.”

###

WASHINGTON —Today U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner joined Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in introducing legislation to help build nearly 1.6 million new affordable homes over the next decade. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would lead to more affordable housing options for families and workers by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, our country’s most successful affordable housing program.

Currently, nearly one-in-four renters, over 11 million families, spend more than half of their household income on rent, cutting into other essential expenses like child care, medication, groceries, and transportation. At the same time, over 600,000 Americans are experiencing homelessness on any given day, an increase over pre-COVID levels.

Since its creation, the Housing Credit has built or restored more than 4 million affordable housing units, nearly 90 percent of all federally funded affordable housing during that time. Roughly nine million American households have benefitted from the credit, and the economic activity that it generated has supported 6.6 million jobs and spurred more than $746 billion in wages.

“The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is one of the most successful tools our country has to address the affordable housing crisis our communities are facing,” Sen. Warner said. “I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to update and modernize this credit in order to build more homes, bring down costs, and tackle the growing demand for housing across the Commonwealth and the country.”

More specifically, the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act would:

• Increase the number of credits available to states by 50 percent for the next two years and make the temporary 12.5 percent increase secured in 2018 permanent—which has already helped build more than 59,000 additional affordable housing units nationwide;
• Stabilize financing for workforce housing projects built using private activity bonds by decreasing the amount of private activity bonds needed to secure Housing Credit funding. As a result, projects would have to carry less debt, and more projects would be eligible to receive funding; and
• Improve the Housing Credit program to better serve veterans, victims of domestic violence, formerly homeless students, Native American communities, and rural Americans.

Joining Sens. Warner, Young, and Cantwell in introducing this legislation are Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act was also recently introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19).

The ACTION Campaign and the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition endorsed the bill.

“The reintroduction of the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act is a vital step toward addressing our nation’s housing crisis. Expanding the Housing Credit is the most effective way to increase the supply of affordable housing, leveraging public-private partnerships to build and preserve homes for working families, seniors, and vulnerable communities. At a time when rents are rising and supply is lagging, strengthening the Housing Credit will ensure that more Americans have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing,” said co-chairs of the ACTION Campaign Ayrianne Parks and Jennifer Schwartz. “The ACTION Campaign thanks Senators Todd Young, Maria Cantwell, Marsha Blackburn, and Ron Wyden for their leadership.”

“The overwhelming bipartisan support for the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025 underscores the critical need to increase the supply of affordable rental homes,” said Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition Chief Executive Officer Emily Cadik. “We thank Senator Todd Young, Senator Maria Cantwell, Senator Marsha Blackburn, and Senator Ron Wyden for their leadership and the 30 bipartisan cosponsors for supporting this commonsense solution to expand and strengthen the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, a proven, pro-growth tool with a nearly 40-year record of leveraging private investment to fill a critical need.”

This is the latest action in Sen. Warner’s longstanding efforts to make housing more affordable for Virginians. So far this year, he has already introduced the New Markets Tax Credit Extension Act, the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, and the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act – all bipartisan bills to encourage redevelopment and new construction in communities across the country. He is also the lead sponsor of the Neighborhood Homes Investment Act – which would create a new tax incentive to build and preserve more than 500,000 affordable, single-family homes over ten years – and the lead author of the Low-Income First Time Homebuyers (LIFT) Act to help qualified, first-generation homebuyers build equity in their homes by offering a 20-year mortgage for roughly the same monthly payment as a traditional 30-year loan. Warner has also joined his colleagues in sponsoring the Downpayment Toward Equity Act, which would provide federal grants to assist first-generation homebuyers with qualifying expenses toward purchasing their first home, including down payment costs, closing costs, and costs to reduce the rates of interest.

Full text of the bill is available here.

###

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the below statement:

“Throughout his career, Gerry Connolly has exemplified the very best of public service — fiercely intelligent, deeply principled, and relentlessly committed to the people of Northern Virginia and our nation. Whether it’s standing up for federal workers, advocating for good governance, or now confronting cancer with the same resilience and grit that have defined his life of public service, Gerry is one of the toughest fighters I know. I have no doubt that Gerry will continue to fight — for his health, for his community, and for the causes he believes in.

“I am proud to call Gerry a friend. Lisa and I are keeping him in our hearts and prayers, and we stand with him every step of the way.”

###