Press Releases
Sens. Warner, Webb announce $26 million in grants for rural broadband expansion
Grants will provide high-speed, affordable broadband and create jobs
Aug 19 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Jim Webb announced today that Virginia has received a combined $26 million in federal grants for three regional projects that will expand rural broadband access, creating hundreds of jobs and providing a platform for additional economic activity and job creation. The U.S. Department of Commerce grants target rural and economically distressed areas with low rates of broadband accessibility.
Statement of Senator Warner on JFCOM
Aug 09 2010
The Defense Department has announced plans to shut-down one of its 10 major military commands. Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to eliminate the Joint Forces Command, a Hampton Roads-based command which trains troops from different services to fight together.
Pentagon announces plans to shut-down JFCOM
Aug 09 2010
"I can see no rational basis for dismantling JFCOM since its sole mission is to look for efficiencies and greater cost-savings by forcing more cooperation among sometimes competing military services," Senator Warner said in response to news that the Defense Department has announced plans to shut-down the Joint Forces Command, a Hampton Roads-based command which trains troops from different services to fight together.
U.S. Sen Warner: Army accepts pro-bono I-T assistance for Arlington National Cemetery from Northern Va. Technology Council
NVTC to assess I-T challenges at Arlington, digitize and protect paper records
Aug 06 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner announced today that the Army has accepted an offer from the Northern Virginia Technology Council to assess the information technology challenges at Arlington National Cemetery, where the continued use of paper records has been tied to the recent disclosure of misidentified and misplaced remains. In addition, NVTC members will immediately work to digitize the paper records and maps to protect these fragile records from damage or loss.
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.
Sens. Webb and Warner announce $3 million in Department of Transportation grants to four VA. regional airports
Grants will improve runways, promote airport safety
Aug 04 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) announced today that Virginia has received nearly $3 million in grants to upgrade runways and increase airport safety at four regional airports in Virginia.
Senate Banking Committee Passes Livable Communities Act with the Addition of Warner Amendments
Aug 03 2010
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs today passed S. 1619, the Livable Communities Act, which included two important amendments proposed by Senator Warner. The bill represents a coordinated effort of the Department of Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to better plan for future community growth while encouraging affordable housing, more accessible transit options and reduced energy use.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner issued the following statement today regarding this week’s U.S. Senate vote to fund a national settlement between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and thousands of African-American farmers who settled their discrimination law suit against the USDA in 1999.
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. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement today on the upcoming Senate confirmation vote on Elena Kagan’s nomination to serve as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. A vote on her nomination is expected next week.
Sens. Webb, Warner Question Renovation Plans for Roanoke VA Regional Office
Suggest a new facility would better serve area veterans
Jul 29 2010
Washington, DC—Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today sent a letter requesting Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki and General Services Administrator Martha Johnson re-evaluate plans to renovate the Roanoke Veterans Affairs Regional Office (VARO). The renovations, as currently planned, would likely exacerbate the VARO’s high backlog rate without solving some of its major infrastructure needs.
Sens. Webb and Warner announce $5.5 million in transportation grants to seven Va. regional airports
Grants will extend or repave runways, purchase snow removal and other safety equipment
Jul 29 2010
WASHINGTON -- Sens. Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) announced today that Virginia has received nearly $5.5 million in grants to upgrade runways and purchase safety equipment at seven regional airports in Virginia. The U.S. Department of Transportation grants are for use in projects intended to enhance safety and bring airports up to Federal Aviation Administration standards. The projects include renovating runways and, in some cases, purchasing new firefighting or snow removal equipment.
Sens. Warner, Klobuchar, LeMieux win support for measure to boost US innovation, economic competitiveness
Amendment to COMPETES Act requires 10-year competitiveness plan
Jul 22 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and George LeMieux (R-FL) successfully amended the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 during today’s Senate Commerce Committee meeting to include an amendment that will promote long-term job growth and boost the economic competitiveness of the United States. The amendment also is co-sponsored by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Mark Begich (D-AK).
Sen. Warner: Wall St. Reform protects Va. consumers, ends bailouts, sets new rules of the road to promote U.S. economy recovery
Discusses efforts to end bailouts and prevent ‘too big to fail’
Jul 21 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined President Obama and other Congressional leaders today at the bill signing ceremony for historic financial regulatory reform legislation he helped craft as a member of the Senate Banking Committee. The new law, which comes almost two years after the nation’s financial system almost collapsed, has been described as the most ambitious overhaul of financial regulation in a generation.
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.
Webb and Warner Recommend Arenda L. Wright Allen of Norfolk for Eastern District Federal Judgeship
Jun 29 2010
Washington, DC- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today recommended that President Obama nominate Arenda L. Wright Allen of Norfolk to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia.
Webb and Warner Recommend Judge Michael Urbanski of Roanoke for Western District Federal Judgeship
Jun 29 2010
Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today recommended that President Obama nominate Judge Michael Urbanski of Roanoke to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the U.S. District Court of the Western District of Virginia.
Senator Warner To Lead National Initiative to Enlist Business Community In Volunteer Service
Billion + Change offers opportunities for employers, employees to serve their communities
Jun 28 2010
NEW YORK – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today challenged America’s business leaders to become engaged in a more significant and structured way in supporting community service by their employees. Senator Warner, who has been active in non-profit and community service programs for more than 20 years, has agreed to lead the Billion + Change initiative created by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that the State of Virginia has been awarded $1,498,683 from the U.S. Department of Labor for on-the-job training programs to help Virginians get back to work. The funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, supported by both senators.
Warner works for solutions to IT challenges at Arlington National Cemetery
~ Va. Senator receives Army briefing on cemetery mismanagement ~
Jun 24 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) was briefed today by U.S. Army officials on the results of their investigation into chronic problems at Virginia’s Arlington National Cemetery and pledged to work to help correct many of systemic mismanagement issues at the cemetery, including its failure to incorporate modern information technology.
Webb, Warner & Perriello Announce $2.3 Million Infrastructure Investment, Estimated 500 Jobs for Danville
Jun 24 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner and Representative Tom Perriello today announced that a project in Danville has been selected to receive $2.28 million for infrastructure improvements to support local economic development. The Cane Creek Centre Industrial Park, a 900-acre industrial, has been awarded funds by the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce estimates the project will create 500 jobs and leverage $27 million in private investment.
Webb and Warner Announce $5.8 Million for Wastewater System Improvements in Town of St. Paul
Jun 22 2010
WASHINGTON -- Senators Jim Webb and Mark Warner today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will direct more than $5.8 million to St. Paul, Virginia for improvements to water and wastewater infrastructure and to help protect water quality. The funding is made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, supported by both senators.
Warner discusses new jobs initiative with Virginia small business owners, bankers
~Highlights efforts to boost access to capital so they can hire and grow~
Jun 18 2010
RICHMOND – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) met today with Virginia small business owners and lenders to discuss his specific efforts to help small businesses grow and put more Virginians back to work. Since last fall, Senator Warner has worked closely with the White House to design new tools to help small businesses access needed capital to help strengthen the economic recovery.
Sen. Warner Files Legislation to Cut $806M From Outdated or Duplicative Programs
~ Programs identified for elimination by both Bush & Obama Administrations ~
Jun 16 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) filed legislation today that would cancel more than $800 million in annual spending on 17 outdated, ineffective or duplicative programs in six federal agencies. These programs have been recommended for termination by the Office of Management and Budget during both the Bush and Obama administrations, yet Congress has so far refused to act on the OMB recommendations.
Warner, Webb Seek Improved Oil Spill Readiness Coordination
~ Bipartisan group of 22 senators requests communication now between federal, state response agencies ~
Jun 10 2010
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today urged federal authorities to coordinate with emergency preparedness officials in Virginia and other coastal states in the event that the BP oil spill reaches Atlantic coastal areas. Several experts have indicated it is possible that oil from the Gulf of Mexico spill could reach the Gulf Stream and be carried up the Atlantic coast to Virginia.
