Press Releases
"Kathleen Sebelius and I became friends when we each had the honor of serving as state governors. Secretary Sebelius accepted one of the toughest jobs in the Administration, and she has continually demonstrated grace under pressure."
Sen. Warner Statement on Bipartisan Senate Vote to Extend Unemployment Benefits
~ On bipartisan Senate vote to extend unemployment benefits for five months ~
Apr 07 2014
“I strongly urge members of the House to come to the table to find a bipartisan solution so we can get this temporary assistance into the hands of Virginia job seekers."
Sen. Warner Proposes Targeted Improvements to Health Care Reform Law
~ Warner ‘Copper Plan’ Gives Consumers Additional Lower-Cost Option ~
Mar 27 2014
Sen. Warner today introduced legislation that will provide Virginia families with additional health coverage choices to best meet their financial and medical needs.
Senators Urge Further Clarity and Transparency from FDA on Medical Mobile Apps
~ Bipartisan group seeks regulatory certainty to ensure consumer access and continued innovation ~
Mar 24 2014
A bipartisan group of senators is urging the FDA to provide further clarity and transparency in its policy regarding medical mobile apps.
Warner, Kaine Hail Passage of Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act
~ Legislation championed by Warner, Kaine & Cantor honors memory of Virginian Gabriella Miller ~
Mar 11 2014
Bipartisan legislation championed by Senators Warner and Kaine to support federal funding for pediatric medical research passed the Senate today and will now go to the President for his signature.
Senators Warner and Kaine joined 19 Senators and 30 Representatives to send the following letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel regarding a change to TRICARE's reimbursement policy.
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) today announced bipartisan, bicameral support for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act. In December, H.R. 2019, sponsored by Congressmen Gregg Harper (R-MS), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Tom Cole (R-OK) overwhelmingly passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 295-103.
Senator Warner Announces Volunteer First Responders Exempt from Healthcare Mandate
~ Volunteer firefighters across Virginia able to keep serving their communities ~
Jan 10 2014
Sen. Warner announced today that volunteer emergency service workers will not be required to be counted as full-time equivalent employees for purposes of healthcare coverage, which could have gutted the ranks of emergency first responders across the country. In a response to a letter that Sen. Warner sent in December, the U.S. Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service agreed to exempt volunteer emergency responders from the healthcare mandate.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released the following joint statement after Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that some individuals who had their health plans cancelled will be automatically eligible for a hardship exemption that allows them to purchase a catastrophic plan on the health insurance marketplace. The Senators raised the issue in a joint letter to Secretary Sebelius on Dec. 19th. In addition, Secretary Sebelius today announced that the Administration has established a dedicated hotline for consumers with cancelled plans at 1-866-837-0677:
“We are pleased that the Administration appears to have responded to the concerns we’ve raised. As a result, this clarifies an option that will help those consumers who have had their plans cancelled transition more smoothly into the marketplace. We will closely monitor how the Administration implements this option, and we remain committed to proposing responsible solutions.”
Warner Leads Bipartisan Group in Introducing Bill to Exempt Volunteer First Responders from Healthcare Mandate
Proposal designed to allow localities to retain volunteer first responders
Dec 11 2013
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) led a group of Senators in introducing bipartisan legislation to ensure volunteer firefighters and other first responders can continue protecting communities that rely on them.
Joint Statement by Sens. Warner & Kaine on SCC Finding on Transitional Health Coverage
On the SCC’s finding on continuation of existing health policies
Nov 21 2013
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) released this statement following the announcement by the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Bureau of Insurance approving renewal of existing health insurance plans in the individual and small business markets, allowing policyholders to continue existing coverage through the end of 2014.
"It is disappointing that the House majority is prepared to shut down the federal government in its continuing ideological opposition to the Affordable Care Act. This is not a responsible way to conduct our nation’s business.
Sens. Warner & Isakson Introduce Bipartisan Care Planning Act of 2013
~ Allows those with advanced illness to align care they get with care they want ~
Aug 01 2013
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced legislation today designed to give people with serious illness the freedom to make more informed choices about their care, and the power to have those choices honored.
Senator Warner Encouraged by TRICARE's Clarification on Autism Coverage for Military Families
Warner asked TRICARE to reconsider coverage limits for active-duty families
Jul 19 2013
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today applauded the TRICARE military health insurance program for clarifying a controversial change in behavioral health care coverage for families with children who have developmental disabilities, including autism.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine today applauded the confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner of Virginia as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by a vote of 91 to 7. Tavenner is the first Senate-confirmed CMS Administrator since 2006. CMS oversees Medicare and Medicaid and is charged with health care services for millions of Americans.
"I applaud the nomination of Marilyn Tavenner to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Marilyn is the real deal: she began her career as a nurse and rose to become CEO of a leading healthcare company."
“I am pleased the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of health reform. I have always felt the Affordable Care Act was weighted more toward the issue of coverage and not enough toward cost containment. I look forward to now moving forward in a bipartisan way on how we can further bring down the costs of health care."
Sens. Warner, Collins introduce bipartisan Alzheimer's resolution
~ Supports Goal of Prevention, Treatment Plan by 2025 ~
Apr 24 2012
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), the Senate co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer’s Disease, today introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution affirming the national goal of preventing and treating Alzheimer’s by 2025.
Sens. Webb & Warner announce $5M grant to train healthcare workers in SE Virginia
~ Targets health jobs currently being filled by foreign H-1B visa holders ~
Oct 04 2011
Senators Warner and Jim Webb today announced the award of a $5 million federal grant to a public-private partnership of colleges, universities and hospitals in Hampton Roads and on the Peninsula to provide education, training and job placement assistance in the healthcare field.
Senate unanimously passes Senator Warner's legislation to allow President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports to solicit private funds
~ Bill passes Senate with bipartisan support; poses zero cost to taxpayers ~
Dec 10 2010
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has unanimously endorsed legislation by U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) to create a nonprofit, charitable foundation to raise private funds to support the work of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. This new public-private partnership will allow the President’s Council to leverage private contributions to expand its focus on exercise and wellness, especially among young people, at no cost to taxpayers.
Senate unanimously passes Senator Warner's legislation to allow President's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports to solicit private funds
Bill passes Senate with bipartisan support; poses zero cost to taxpayers
Dec 10 2010
The Senate has unanimously endorsed legislation by Senator Warner to create a nonprofit, charitable foundation to raise private funds to support the work of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.
Sen. Webb, Warner announce grants to five Va. community health centers
$30 million to create construction, health care jobs and increase patient capacity
Oct 08 2010
U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that Virginia has received almost $30 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to increase capacity at five community health centers serving the uninsured and underinsured.
Sens. Webb, Warner announce $5.5 million in grants to health care workforce training programs in Virginia
Grants will support geriatric health education, nurse training
Aug 05 2010
U.S. Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) announced today that Virginia has received more than $5.5 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants for health care workforce training programs.
Webb, Warner and Boucher announce $1.2 million investment
In nursing, technological education in Southwest Virginia
Jul 30 2010
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that a network of three community colleges will share a $1.2 million federal grant to provide nursing education in new technologies to nursing students in Southwest Virginia. Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) in Abingdon is leading the consortium, called the Virginia Appalachian Tricollege Nursing Program (VATNP), which also includes Southwest Virginia Community College (SVCC) and Mountain Empire Community College (MECC). The grant money will be used to strengthen the education and preparation of the nursing workforce in Southwest Virginia leading to higher quality care for the medically underserved population of the rural Appalachia.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that a network of community colleges, workforce investment boards and health care providers in 29 western Virginia localities will share a $4.7 million federal grant to provide job training in health care information technology. Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon is leading this regional effort, called the Western Virginia Health Information Technology Education (HITE) Initiative. The program will create and or expand regional training programs to provide Virginians with skills and the required credentials to be able to work in the health care industry’s transition to electronic medical records.
