WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus I. King (I-ME), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT) unveiled an amendment to the Laken Riley Act to improve the ability of the legislation to protect our communities.

This amendment would ensure that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers can use their limited time and detention facilities to detain truly dangerous individuals who pose an immediate risk to the public. The senators’ amendment would help improve the Laken Riley Act by ensuring that only those undocumented individuals who are found guilty of a crime—or have been charged with, or arrested for, a crime and failed to appear for court appointments—will be detained under this bill.

“Laken Riley should be here today, and my heart goes out to her family and loved ones. It’s clear that we need to take steps to reform our broken immigration system — and that includes enforcement,” said Sen. Warner. “I’m proud to introduce this amendment to help strengthen public safety and improve the Laken Riley Act to make sure we dedicate our resources to getting dangerous individuals off our streets.” 

“My thoughts are with Laken Riley’s family in the wake of her horrific murder. Americans have a right to be safe in their communities and—for many reasons—deserve commonsense steps to fix our broken immigration system,” said Sen. Kaine. “But in its current form, I have serious concerns that the Laken Riley Act—which did not receive a single hearing or vote from its committee of jurisdiction in the Senate—will burden our law enforcement officers in a way that will make it impossible to get truly dangerous individuals off the street and ultimately make Virginians less safe. I’m glad to have worked with my colleagues on this amendment to try to fix that, and urge Senate leadership to put it up for a vote.”

“The murder of Laken Riley was horrific, and my prayers are with her family and loved ones. I have always been supportive of immigration policies that are tough, fair, and keep Americans safe. It's why I voted for the bipartisan border security agreement last year,” said Sen. Luján. “But this legislation as it stands would divert resources from serious threats, risk abuse by the incoming administration, endanger DACA holders, and cost American taxpayers billions. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues to introduce this amendment to strengthen the bill, and I urge Senate leadership to consider it for a vote.”

“Mandatory lockup of adults who are convicted of a crime and pose a threat to the community or a flight risk makes a lot of sense. But mandatory lockups of children accused of minor offenses? Permanent imprisonment of kids accused of stealing lollipops? This is twisted. And super damaging to the children. The Kaine amendment strikes the right balance for community safety,” said Sen. Merkley. 

“Laken Riley’s tragic murder should never have occurred, and while our thoughts continue to be with her loved ones, the Laken Riley Act is a bipartisan attempt to help prevent future tragedies. For too long, Congress has failed to address our broken immigration system and border security. I was deeply disappointed when last year’s bipartisan border security agreement failed because it would have increased protections at the border and stemmed the flow of fentanyl into the United States. That’s why I voted to proceed with consideration of the Laken Riley Act and why I’m proud to help introduce this amendment to strengthen the bill. Our amendment would improve our enforcement mechanisms to better ensure we can keep offenders off the streets and strengthen public safety,” said Sen. Shaheen.

“We must keep our communities safe and prioritize the detention of violent offenders. I support Senator Kaine’s amendment because it directly addresses the circumstances that led to the terrible murder of Laken Riley, without creating a system that diverts resources away from the detention of violent offenders. If Republicans are serious about working with us to improve public safety, they will help ensure this amendment – which would improve the bill significantly – is considered and passed,” said Sen. Van Hollen.

“Laken Riley’s murder was heartbreaking, and my thoughts go out to her family and loved ones. Democrats believe we need serious reform on immigration, and that includes enforcement. But this bill has significant problems, and that’s why we’re partnering together to bring commonsense, pragmatic changes through the amendment process. This bill, in its current form, includes no requirement that a person be convicted of a property offense before they are held indefinitely, which diminishes due process. It grants unprecedented power to state attorneys general to control our immigration system and threatens to overwhelm our federal courts. And it also puts children in danger of mandatory detention,” said Sen. Welch. “I believe our amendment to fix the issues outlined is fair and strengthens the Laken Riley Act. It should earn quick bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues in Senate Leadership to bring it up for a vote on the Senate floor.” 

Full text of the amendment is available here. A one page summary of the amendment is available here.

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $3.9 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan for the Community College Workforce Alliance in Disputanta to expand regional workforce training programs to support the Richmond-Petersburg Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (APM) cluster and help Virginians get the skills they need for jobs in the advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology industries. The APM cluster, which is led by the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, manufactures critical drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Good Jobs Challenge.

“The Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster has seen tremendous growth in recent years, and I am thrilled by the innovation that has taken place,” said Warner. “This funding, courtesy of the American Rescue Plan, for the Community College Workforce Alliance will continue to build on these efforts, ensuring that we have a capable, ready workforce to step into the good-paying, skilled jobs created in the Petersburg region.” 

“As a city councilman, mayor, governor, and senator, I’ve been proud of what we’ve done to grow the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster and onshore the manufacturing of essential medicines and their ingredients. I’m thrilled the Community College Workforce Alliance in Disputanta is receiving federal funding from the American Rescue Plan we passed to help further the cluster’s innovative efforts and ensure we have the workforce needed to fill these critical roles,” said Kaine. “I will continue working to support the APM cluster and help Virginians access good-paying manufacturing jobs in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology.”

Warner and Kaine have long supported the APM cluster in Richmond/Petersburg and have supported policies to strengthen domestic manufacturing of critical medicines. In 2023, the APM cluster was designated as a Tech Hub under the CHIPS and Science Act for its innovative work in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. The senators also worked to secure $52.9 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan for the cluster. In August 2024, Kaine toured Phlow Corp., a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in the Virginia APM cluster, which produces critical medicines and boosts the national supply chain. In April 2022, Kaine visited the cluster to learn more about its efforts to streamline prescription drug manufacturing. Kaine helped form and grow the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority while he was on Richmond City Council, served on the Authority’s board as Mayor of Richmond, and appointed its board members as Governor of Virginia. 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $12,352,167 in federal funding for improvements for airports throughout the Commonwealth. This funding was awarded through the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, which was created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that both senators helped pass.

“Virginia’s airports are crucial for advancing our economy and connecting us to the rest of the country and the world,” the senators said. “We’re glad this funding, which was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help make needed upgrades and expansions possible for airports throughout the Commonwealth. We will continue working to bolster Virginia’s infrastructure and economic growth.”

The funding is broken down as follows:

• $341,477 for the Town of Leesburg to construct a new 20,000-square-yard apron at the north end of the airfield to increase aircraft parking capacity at the Leesburg Executive Airport.
• $430,000 for the Town of Leesburg to construct a new sponsor-owned federal contract tower and acquire and install eligible equipment. Warner and Kaine, alongside then-Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), strongly backed Leesburg in its negotiations with the FAA over costs to operate a remote tower until this new brick-and-mortar tower is completed.
• $9,662,240 for the Norfolk Airport Authority to acquire and install three new passenger boarding bridges to accommodate more aircraft operations, expand Terminal Concourse A by 25,000 square feet and three gates, reconstruct 50,000 square feet of existing Terminal Concourse A, create new restrooms, and other upgrades.
• $1,055,800 for the Virginia Highlands Airport Commission to construct a new 12,915 square foot and a new 3,600 square foot sponsor-owned hangar for aircraft storage, which will boost revenue and improve the airport’s financial self-sufficiency.
• $862,650 for the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport Commission to construct a new 12,500 square yard apron to accommodate more aircraft operations, construct two new 12,000 square foot sponsor-owned hangars for aircraft, which will boost revenue and improve the airport’s financial self-sufficiency, and expand an existing commercial apron by an additional 1,800 square yards to accommodate more passengers and more aircraft operations.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve Virginia’s airports. Sens. Warner and Kaine have secured millions in federal funding for airports across Virginia through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In October 2024, they announced nearly $57 million in federal funding to revitalize Virginia airports. In September 2024, they announced more than $46 million in federal funding for improvements to Virginia airports through the Airport Improvement Program. The senators have previously announced $104.6 million in combined federal funding for the new terminal building at Dulles. 

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), along with 39 of their Senate colleagues, introduced the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, legislation that would establish statehood for the District of Columbia and grant D.C. citizens full congressional representation.

“All Americans deserve to have their voices fully heard in our democracy,” said the senators. “But Virginia’s neighbors in D.C. don’t have the same representation in Congress as other states and are unfairly subjected to taxation without representation—a denial of political freedom that defies the ideological framework upon which our Founding Fathers established this nation. We are proud to support this legislation to recognize D.C. as the 51^st state.”

Specifically, the legislation would also ensure that the citizens and elected leaders of the District of Columbia have full authority over local affairs, including over the selection of judges to fill vacancies on D.C. courts. Additionally, the bill would designate the areas surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Mall as the national capital and seat of the federal government, and this area would remain under Congress’ jurisdiction as mandated by the Constitution.

Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D -D.C.-At-Large) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 7, 2025. As the delegate for the District of Columbia, Norton is able to introduce bills, but D.C.’s lack of statehood prevents her from voting on any legislation, depriving Washingtonians the same full representation enjoyed by citizens of the 50 states.

D.C. residents have voted overwhelmingly for statehood. In November 2016, 79 percent of D.C. residents voted in favor of a referendum that petitioned Congress to admit D.C. as the 51^st state.

The Washington, D.C. Admission Act is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

The full text of the bill is available here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives to designate a unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia.

“For too long, Fairlawn has unfairly missed out on tax revenue that would otherwise fund education, public safety, and public services due to confusion regarding its ZIP code,” said the lawmakers. “Recently, we were dismayed to find that Fairlawn residents facing loss and catastrophe after Hurricane Helene could not access individual assistance through FEMA’s online portal simply because they possessed a Radford ZIP code. We are proud to introduce this legislation to give Fairlawn its own ZIP code and avoid further confusion and stress for this community.”

Fairlawn – a town in Pulaski County – is currently included in the City of Radford’s zip code (24141). For years, this has caused significant issues for Fairlawn and Pulaski County residents, including a loss of tax revenue and confusion regarding representation, jurisdiction, regulations, ordinances, services, and more. Most recently, this ZIP code created a barrier to disaster assistance after Hurricane Helene, when Fairlawn residents discovered they could not access Individual Assistance (IA) through FEMA’s online portal because the City of Radford was not part of the disaster declaration at that time.

This legislation would direct USPS to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia within 180 days. It notes that Virginia is the only state in the U.S. where all cities are independent from their surrounding counties and the impact that has on revenue collection and distribution practices related to roads, resources, and sales tax in Fairlawn/Pulaski County.

Rep. Griffith – who spoke on the House floor in support of his measure in 2024 – introduced an identical version of this bill in the 118th Congress, H.R. 169, which directed the United States Postal Service to designate a single, unique ZIP code for Fairlawn, Virginia. The bill was added to H.R. 8753, which passed the House on December 11, 2024.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released a statement after the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released an updated Intelligence Community Assessment related to anomalous health incidents (AHIs):

“The Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to prioritize care and treatment for those suffering from AHIs and has consistently been clear that the intelligence community must work to identify the cause of these incidents. If in fact a foreign adversary is deemed to be responsible, it would be an unacceptable attack on U.S. personnel and their families necessitating a forceful response.”

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded President Biden’s decision to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling off the coast of Virginia:

“We welcome President Biden’s action to protect Virginia’s vibrant coastal communities. We’ve heard from Virginians in Hampton Roads and on the Eastern Shore who have expressed concerns about the risks of offshore drilling on their communities. This action is critical to protecting Virginia’s coastal waters from pollution and potential oil spills and supporting the region’s economy, which relies heavily on commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and the Port of Virginia. We’ll continue to advocate for Virginia’s coastal communities to ensure they continue to thrive.”

Nearly forty percent of Americans live in coastal counties, and nearly 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected officials have opposed the expansion of offshore drilling. Virginia banned offshore drilling in state waters in 2020, but it does not have jurisdiction over federal waters.

The senators previously called for an offshore drilling ban along Virginia’s coastline in September 2020 after the Trump Administration banned offshore drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In January 2018, when the Trump Administration was considering a new proposal on offshore drilling, the senators sent a letter to the Department of the Interior asking the department to add public meetings in Virginia Beach and on the Eastern Shore to give local residents the opportunity to share their views.

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $10,500,000 in federal funding for the Virginia Department of Education to promote digital equity across Virginia. This funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both senators helped pass. It was awarded through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program.

“We are proud to have helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which continues to deliver for Virginians,” the senators said. “We are glad that this federal funding will help close the digital divide and help ensure all Virginians have the resources and digital skills to fully take advantage of the opportunities high-speed internet provides.”

Specifically, the funding will be used to support Digital Navigators, who are trained staff that work across Virginia to help individuals access the internet, find devices, and learn crucial digital skills.

Sens. Warner and Kaine have long worked to expand broadband access and promote digital equity. This announcement complements $18.3 million provided to Virginia last month through the Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, which also works to help close the digital divide and was made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) celebrated a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that will go into effect on January 1, 2025 to cap out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 per year for Americans with Medicare Part D. The cap will apply to individuals’ combined, total costs for covered drugs—regardless of how many medications they need. Some estimates have shown that Virginians on Medicare will save an average of $440.62 on out-of-pocket costs on prescription drugs thanks to this cap.

“The Inflation Reduction Act has already made a huge difference in the lives of Virginians. It’s capped the price of insulin at $35 per month for seniors, lowered health care and energy costs, brought millions of dollars in investment to Virginia, and created manufacturing jobs—all while lowering the deficit,” said the senators. “We’re thrilled that beginning in 2025, Americans on Medicare will have a $2,000 per year out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs. Many seniors currently pay thousands of dollars a year for medications they need, so this provision is crucial to saving them money. We will keep working to build on this progress and ensure that Virginia harnesses all the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act.”

In 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is also expected to announce 15 more Medicare Part D drugs for negotiation. The IRA allowed CMS to negotiate the price of prescription drugs for the first time—a move Warner and Kaine had long pushed for. This year, the Biden Administration announced negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs for patients covered by Medicare Part D. The negotiated prices for the first 10 drugs, which will go into effect in 2026, will save $1.5 billion for Americans with Medicare Part D and $6 billion in the federal budget in the first year of implementation.  

Many other provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which the senators voted to pass in 2022, have already gone into effect to lower health care costs and expand clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and across the country.

Health Care:

• Black lung benefits: The law permanently extended the black lung excise tax at a higher rate, providing more certainty for miners, miner retirees, and their families who rely on the fund to access benefits. In Virginia, thousands of miners and their families have received benefits through the trust fund since it was established, including approximately 2,600 Virginians in 2021.
• $35 cap on the cost of insulin: Out-of-pocket costs for insulin—regardless of how much a patient needs—are capped at $35 per month under Medicare. Thanks to the IRA, 36,461 Virginians on Medicare who use insulin now pay no more than $35 per month. Click here to learn how seniors like Mrs. Marguerite Bailey Young of Fredericksburg, who was Warner’s guest to the 2023 State of the Union, are benefiting from the $35 cap.
• Free vaccines for Medicare recipients: People with Medicare no longer have to pay to receive most vaccines under Medicare Part D, which includes vaccines for shingles, HPV, MMR, diphtheria, and pertussis. In 2023, over 230,000 seniors in Virginia received a recommended vaccine free of cost.
• Extension of ACA subsidies: During the pandemic, Congress enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to help lower health care premiums for millions of Americans. The IRA extended these enhanced subsidies through 2025 to help make Virginians’ health insurance more affordable. 350,008 Virginians with ACA coverage are receiving assistance to lower the cost of their premium. In 2022, Virginians saved an average of $508 per month on their health insurance premium.
• Lower Premiums for More Than 500,000 Virginians: There are additional provisions that went into effect to limit annual premium increases for Americans, including more than 500,000 Virginians enrolled in Medicare Part D.
• Penalties on drug manufacturers that increase prices: Manufacturers are required to keep the increase in the cost of their drugs at or below inflation.

Clean Energy:

• Boosts to clean energy investments: Clean energy manufacturers can apply for expanded tax credits that incentivize investment in and production of renewable energy technologies like solar power and offshore wind. The IRA set aside $4 billion in credits for businesses that make these investments in energy communities that have seen closures of coal mines or retirements of coal-fired power plants in recent years. This means that communities in Virginia, especially Southwest Virginia, are well-positioned to benefit from many of these tax credits and funding opportunities. In 2023, Kaine hosted an event at Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap to discuss how Virginia can best harness the clean energy tax credits, economic development, and job creation opportunities created by the legislation.
• Improvements to home energy efficiency: Homeowners can receive up to 30 percent back through tax credits for making energy efficiency improvements to their home—generally up to a maximum of $1,200 per year but potentially up to $3,200 if improvements include heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, or biomass stoves.
• Simplified Electric Vehicle (EV) Tax Credits: The IRA allows qualified individuals to get a tax credit of up to $7,500 for the purchase of new EVs or a tax credit of up to $4,000 for certain used EVs and plug-in hybrids purchased through a dealership. Virginians who buy an EV from a participating dealer can now choose to receive their tax credit for that purchase at the point-of-sale instead of after filing their taxes.
• Federal funding to help low-income and disadvantaged communities more easily access solar energy: The IRA brought over $156 million in federal funding to Virginia to support solar energy development in low-income areas, which will lower energy costs for families and create good-quality jobs while tackling the effects of climate change.

The IRA has also expanded clean energy manufacturing in Virginia and brought a series of corporate investments to Virginia, including:

• A $681 million investment by LS GreenLink to build a state-of-the-art facility in Chesapeake to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. This will create over 330 jobs.
• An over $400 million investment by Topsoe to build a new manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County that will manufacture solid oxide electrolyzer cells (SOEC), a crucial component for producing clean hydrogen. This will create at least 150 new jobs in Virginia.
• An investment of over $208 million by Mack and Volvo Trucks and a federal grant award of over $208 million to sustain 7,900 union jobs and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Volvo Trucks is the second largest employer in the New River Valley, sustaining 3,600 jobs in Dublin, including 3,200 United Automobile Workers (UAW) jobs. In September 2024, Warner and Kaine visited Volvo’s New River Valley plant to celebrate the investment.

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WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10) and Senators Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0. The bill reauthorizes federal funding for the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program (Kids First), which the senators helped create to support lifesaving research of treatments and cures for childhood cancer since 2015. The bill was included in a draft government funding agreement that was reached earlier this week, but was later torpedoed by Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and President-elect Donald Trump.

The legislation is named in honor of Gabriella Miller, who lived in Virginia’s 10th District and was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and passed away in 2013 at the age of 10. Her passionate advocacy for lawmakers to “stop talking, start doing” led to the passage of the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act and creation of Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund in 2014.

“For as long as I have been serving in Congress, I’ve been fighting to pass the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and extend critical funding for childhood cancer research,” said Wexton. “I’m so proud that we’ve finally gotten this lifesaving bill through Congress and on its way to be signed into law. This bipartisan bill will build on the groundbreaking work of the Kids First program and deliver much-needed resources to better understand, treat, and hopefully one day cure childhood cancer. No family should have to face the fear and pain of their child’s cancer diagnosis, and I’m grateful for the partnership of Senator Tim Kaine and the remarkable advocacy of Ellyn Miller and the Miller family in honor of Gabriella and her fight, to build support for this bill.”

“Gabriella Miller was a courageous Virginian who gave her all to advocating for those whose lives have been touched by childhood cancer,” said Kaine. “I’m honored to have worked with the Miller Family and Congresswoman Wexton on this bipartisan legislation to reauthorize a crucial pediatric cancer research program that was created in her honor. I’m glad the Senate passed it today and urge President Biden to sign it into law as quickly as possible.”

“By reauthorizing the research program bearing Gabriella Miller’s name, we are helping to honor her memory, giving hope to families facing devastating diagnoses, and ensuring that future generations have access to the life-saving treatments they deserve,”said Warner.

In 2014, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which the senators championed, was signed into law by President Obama, establishing the Ten-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund and authorizing $12.6 million in annual funds for childhood disease research through Fiscal Year 2023. Since then, Kids First has taken tremendous steps towards understanding childhood cancer, such as establishing the Gabriella Kids Resource Center—a comprehensive data resource for research and patient communities meant to advance discoveries. The language included in the bill reauthorizes the Kids First program for five years.

Cancer continues to kill more children in the United States than any other disease. Over 15,000 children a year are diagnosed with cancer, with that number tragically having gradually risen in recent decades. Pediatric cancers often differ from adults in the type, how they spread, and how it is treated, and many children do not respond well to conventional adult treatments, which frequently cause long term health issues and disabilities even in circumstances where the cancer is successfully cured. Yet while children face special hurdles when it comes to fighting cancer, less than 8% of current government funding for cancer is geared specifically towards developing treatments and cures for childhood cancer and other rare diseases. 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement after voting to pass legislation to prevent a government shutdown and extend government funding at Fiscal Year 2024 levels until March 14. The legislation also includes $110 billion in disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which the senators advocated for:

“We are relieved Congress passed legislation to avert a government shutdown, which would have had disastrous consequences for federal employees, government contractors, and millions of Americans who rely on government services. We are also glad that it included federal funding we pushed for to help communities in Southwest Virginia recover from Hurricane Helene and additional support for the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs. However, we are disappointed that Republicans turned their backs on an original bipartisan proposal that would have included provisions to lower prescription drug costs. We are also frustrated that the majority of our Republican colleagues did not want to fully fund the government for Fiscal Year 2025 and instead kicked the deadline into the new year. Short-term continuing resolutions create unnecessary harm for federal departments and agencies—particularly those in the national security space—because they don’t allow them to meet today’s challenges and plan for the future. In the coming months, we will continue working to pass Fiscal Year 2025 government funding legislation that supports Virginians and includes funding for community projects across the Commonwealth.”

This is the second time that Congress has failed to pass a full-year government funding bill for Fiscal Year 2025. On September 25, the senators voted to pass legislation to temporarily fund the government through December 20. Warner and Kaine have previously introduced legislation to prevent government shutdowns.

The continuing resolution (CR) includes $110 billion in funding for disaster relief to support communities recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, including Southwest Virginia. Warner and Kaine have been vocal about the need for significant federal resources to support Virginia’s recovery from Hurricane Helene and have repeatedly urged Congress to pass a supplemental funding package. The disaster supplemental provides full federal funding to rebuild the Virginia Creeper Trail, which is currently estimated to cost approximately $660 million. The bill also includes full funding of $125 million to conduct necessary repairs at Radford Army Ammunition Plant. Additionally, the bill includes $2.2 billion to allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to continue paying out disaster assistance loans to small businesses, a priority that Warner long advocated for. 

In October, they successfully urged the Biden Administration to submit a supplemental funding request to cover the costs associated with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The senators also successfully pushed for the disaster supplemental to include robust funding for public lands to address damage to the Creeper Trail and other federal lands in Southwest Virginia. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, they also successfully advocated for an Emergency Declaration and an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for Virginia. Warner and Kaine met with Virginians impacted by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. 

It also includes $5.69 billion in funding for the Virginia-class submarine program and provides the necessary incremental funding for the Columbia-class submarine program. While Congress has already invested significant federal funding in the submarine industrial base in recent years, the Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs face significant delays brought on by residual workforce challenges and supply chain disruptions. The on-time completion of Virginia-class submarines, which are built in Virginia and Connecticut, is critical to the fulfillment of the Australia-U.K.-U.S. (AUKUS) partnership, through which the U.S. will sell at least two Virginia-class submarines to Australia to boost security in the Indo-Pacific. Kaine, Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, has led efforts in Congress to address submarine production and other shipbuilding delays.

Finally, it includes an extension of COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 2025, ensuring that many seniors can continue receiving telehealth services. Warner and Kaine advocated for this extension.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act. This bill aims to streamline processes, reduce cost-burdens to rural home owners and small developers, and provide affordable housing incentives.

“By expanding access to historic tax credits, we can preserve our nation’s rich heritage while also incentivizing the construction of more affordable housing. I’m proud to join Senator Capito in introducing this legislation to bring new life to abandoned buildings and grow the housing stock in in rural communities,” Senator Warner said.

“Being a rural state shouldn’t mean losing out on private investment incentives like tax credits to help us preserve our communities’ history and revitalize local economies,” Senator Capito said. “I have enjoyed working with the dedicated group of West Virginians who brought this issue to my attention and who provided important perspectives during the creation of this legislation. The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act will help level the playing field for communities in West Virginia by attracting investment for economic expansion and additional housing supply.”


BACKGROUND:

Currently, many historic tax projects are not economically viable in small and rural areas, giving a disproportionate advantage of the credit to large urban developments. The costs associated with the credit as-is severely limits rural areas, and especially largely rural states like West Virginia, from being able to use the credit to rehabilitate and revitalize historic properties.

Through improvements to the credit included in the Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act, rural Historic Tax Credit projects will be more financially feasible and will result in a higher number of these projects being completed in rural areas and states.

The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act:

• Makes historic tax credit projects in rural areas eligible for an increased credit from the current 20% to 30%.
• Includes an additional increase in the credit to 40% for affordable housing creation.
• Allows the credit be used in addition to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
• Allows small rural projects to claim the credit in the first year of use.
• Allows transferability of the credit to a third-party.
• Eliminates basis adjustment to simplify credit transaction.

This bill is supported by the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia, The Historic Tax Credit Coalition, Main Street America, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Click here for more on what others are saying about the bill.

Click here to view a one-pager on the bill.

Click here for full bill text.

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