Press Releases
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the following statement to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Va. on August 11-12, 2017 that claimed the lives of Heather Heyer, Lt. Jay Cullen, and Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates:
“Today we remember the lives lost following the deadly rally that occurred a year ago in Charlottesville, when a group of white nationalists came to a peaceful Virginia town seeking to use hate and division to incite violence against fair-minded, innocent civilians. Their words and their actions betrayed President Lincoln’s appeal to ‘the better angels of our nature,’ forcing us to confront some of the demons that still plague our society today. These purveyors of hate and bigotry were emboldened to take their message public by a President who has refused to categorically and unequivocally condemn their message and actions in clear terms.
“Let us take a moment today to celebrate and honor the lives of Heather Heyer, Lt. Jay Cullen, and Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates. As we honor their memories, we must also continue to heal the racial wounds of our past. We must show that what sets us apart as citizens of this country are our values of respect, openness, and tolerance towards one another. Without that, we cannot fulfill the promise of a more perfect union.”
###
One Year After Deadly Charlottesville Rally, Warner & Kaine Press DOJ for Updates on Combating Racial Hate
Letter presses the Administration on carrying out actions to combat hate crimes as outlined in joint resolution led last year by Warner and Kaine
Aug 10 2018
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) wrote a letter to John Gore, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice (DOJ), pressing for more answers on how the Administration is implementing actions specifically outlined by S.J.Res.49, a joint resolution condemning racial hate and directing a coordinated federal effort to address hate violence, following the deadly protests in Charlottesville, Va. on August 11 and August 12, 2017.
The bipartisan resolution introduced by Sens. Warner and Kaine along with Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), unanimously passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law by President Trump on September 14, 2017. The resolution explicitly condemned white nationalists, white supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and other hate groups involved in prompting the deadly attack in Charlottesville, Va. that killed counter-protester Heather Heyer, injured several others, and led to the deaths of two Virginia state troopers responding to the violence. Additionally, the resolution outlined specific actions for the Administration to take to fight hate violence, including thoroughly investigating all acts of hate crimes and domestic terrorism by hate groups, and calling upon the Administration to “use all resources available to the President and the President's Cabinet to address the growing prevalence of those hate groups in the United States.”
Now, nearly one year after the bipartisan resolution was signed into law by President Trump, Sens. Warner and Kaine are pressing for answers on actions the Administration is taking - or not taking - to uphold the terms of the resolution calling for a coordinated federal effort to fight hate violence.
“We are particularly interested if you have implemented, or plan to implement, the following: the creation of a task force dedicated to addressing hate violence, sufficient funding for civil rights offices, robust data collection procedures to document the prevalence and nature of hate crimes in the U.S., a federal website on hate violence to convene resources and communicate effectively to the public, the development of incentives for participation in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hate Crime Statistics Act reports, increased training and education for jurisdictions that underreport hate crimes, and the use of grants to promote strong enforcement on these issues,” wrote the Senators.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
John M. Gore
Acting Assistant Attorney General
Civil Rights Division
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
Dear Acting Assistant Attorney General Gore:
Nearly one year has passed since the violence and domestic terrorist attack that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia between August 11 and August 12, 2017. As the one year anniversary of that tragedy approaches, we write regarding the progress made by the Department of Justice in carrying out the actions called for in S.J.Res.49, a joint resolution condemning that event.
President Trump signed the resolution into law (P.L. 115-58) on September 14, 2017. As Virginia’s Senators, we led the effort that unanimously passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law by the President. The legislation rejects White nationalists, White supremacists, the Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, and other hate groups, and urges action from the President and his administration to combat this growing threat.
Specifically, the law urges the Attorney General to work with “the Secretary of Homeland Security to investigate thoroughly all acts of violence, intimidation, and domestic terrorism by these groups to determine if any criminal laws have been violated and to prevent those groups from fomenting and facilitating additional violence.” Further, the law directs the Attorney General to collaborate with “the heads of other Federal agencies to improve the reporting of hate crimes and to emphasize the importance of the collection, and the reporting to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, of hate crime data by State and local agencies.”
More broadly, the law directs the administration to use all available resources to address the growing prevalence of hate groups.
Given the direction provided to the Department of Justice in this legislation, we request that you provide our offices an update within 30 days of receipt of this letter on activities that you have undertaken in furtherance of the provisions of S.J. Res 49, as well as a full report on the multi-agency efforts on hate crimes data collection.
As you implement this request, we are particularly interested if you have implemented, or plan to implement, the following: the creation of a task force dedicated to addressing hate violence, sufficient funding for civil rights offices, robust data collection procedures to document the prevalence and nature of hate crimes in the U.S., a federal website on hate violence to convene resources and communicate effectively to the public, the development of incentives for participation in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Hate Crime Statistics Act reports, increased training and education for jurisdictions that underreport hate crimes, and the use of grants to promote strong enforcement on these issues.
We appreciate your attention on this important matter and look forward to your response within 30 days.
Sincerely,
###
Warner & Kaine Announce More Than $43 Million for Housing & Infrastructure Projects Across Virginia
May 22 2018
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $43,246,753 in federal funding to support affordable housing development across Virginia. The funding, which will go to 26 municipalities across the Commonwealth, has been awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Public Housing Capital Fund.
“Families all across the Commonwealth should have access to safe and affordable housing,” the Senators said. “We are pleased that these federal dollars will help support the health and safety of Virginia communities.”
President Trump’s FY 2019 budget eliminates funding for the Public Housing Capital Fund. The Capital Fund provides critical federal dollars to Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in Virginia for the development, financing, and modernization of public housing developments and for managementimprovements. In March, Sens. Warner and Kaine voted in favor of the omnibus bill that provides more than $2.75 billion in funding to the Capital Fund program.
The selected Virginia housing authorities and funding amounts are listed below:
Virginia Housing Authority Recipient |
City |
Amount |
Portsmouth Redev. & Housing Authority |
PORTSMOUTH |
$2,184,978.00 |
Bristol Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
BRISTOL |
$803,731.00 |
Newport News Redev. & Housing Authority |
NEWPORT NEWS |
$4,021,967.00 |
Alexandria Redev. & Housing Authority |
ALEXANDRIA |
$1,957,491.00 |
Hopewell Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
HOPEWELL |
$800,481.00 |
Norfolk Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
NORFOLK |
$8,576,413.00 |
Richmond Redev. & Housing Authority |
RICHMOND |
$10,911,250.00 |
Danville Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
DANVILLE |
$1,056,943.00 |
Roanoke Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
ROANOKE |
$3,265,133.00 |
Chesapeake Redev. & Housing Authority |
CHESAPEAKE |
$1,037,894.00 |
Lynchburg Redev. & Housing Authority |
LYNCHBURG |
$820,492.00 |
Norton Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
NORTON |
$460,027.00 |
Charlottesville Redev. & Housing Authority |
CHARLOTTESVILLE |
$832,974.00 |
Hampton Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
HAMPTON |
$1,306,266.00 |
Franklin Redev. & Housing Authority |
FRANKLIN |
$147,828.00 |
Petersburg Redev. & Housing Authority |
PETERSBURG |
$1,025,085.00 |
Wytheville Redev. & Housing Authority |
WYTHEVILLE |
$462,256.00 |
Waynesboro Redev. & Housing Authority |
WAYNESBORO |
$390,498.00 |
Wise County Redev. & Housing Authority |
COEBURN |
$409,332.00 |
Suffolk Redev. & Housing Authority |
SUFFOLK |
$1,024,358.00 |
Williamsburg Redev. & Housing Authority |
WILLIAMSBURG |
$258,697.00 |
Cumberland Plateau Reg. Housing Authority |
LEBANANON |
$548,009.00 |
Marion Redevelopment & Housing Authority |
MARION |
$536,689.00 |
Scott County Redev. & Housing Authority |
DUFFIELD |
$210,200.00 |
Abingdon Redev. & Housing Authority |
ABINGDON |
$63,093.00 |
Lee County Redev. & Housing Authority |
JONESVILLE |
$134,668.00 |
###
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine joined a bipartisan letter calling on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to support long-term funding that would make broadband and voice services more accessible and affordable in rural communities. In the letter, the Senators thank the FCC for its work to support rural broadband and request that it prevent upcoming funding cuts to smaller operators that deliver broadband to the country’s most rural communities, which would otherwise go into effect on July 1.
“These recurring budget shortfalls result in lower speeds, more unserved locations, and higher prices for rural consumers and businesses,” the Senators said. “We share your goal of eliminating the digital divide and look forward to working with you to maintain accessible, affordable broadband for rural American consumers and businesses.”
The FCC fixed the budget shortfall for the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) High-Cost program for the current Fiscal Year, but has not addressed long term funding for the program. The USF program helps to ensure that consumers in rural areas pay comparable rates to those in urban areas by helping rural carriers cover some of their costs. The Senators make the case that funding the program encourages businesses to invest in broadband networks in regions of the country where service is needed, but where deploying broadband is difficult and costly.
Warner and Kaine have been strong supporters of expanding broadband to rural communities in Virginia as Governors and Senators. Last year, Warner and Kaine joined a bipartisan group of colleagues to urge President Trump to include broadband in an infrastructure initiative. In October, Warner and Kainepraised a Senate Democratic proposal to invest $40 billion to build broadband infrastructure necessary to connect over 34 million Americans to high-speed internet. In November, Warner and Kaine announced $6 million in federal funding to construct broadband infrastructure in Buchanan and Scott Counties.
The full text of the Senators’ letter to Chairman Pai is available here and below:
May 15, 2018
The Honorable Ajit Pai
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Pai:
We write to express our strong support and sincere gratitude for the recent Order addressing budget shortfalls in the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) High-Cost program. The Order is an essential, immediate step in the right direction, and we now encourage the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to continue down this path by acting quickly on the notice of proposed rulemaking to provide long-term, predictable support. Such additional steps are necessary to ensure rural Americans have access to high quality voice and broadband services.
The FCC’s recent Order approving an infusion of funds into the USF is greatly welcomed, and will provide needed support for small, rural carriers that rely on the High-Cost USF program. Despite this, persistent limitations on resources can affect the ability of smaller broadband providers to deliver services in our country’s most rural communities. The FCC’s cost model for smaller operators electing model-based USF support is not yet funded at the designed levels, and carriers not receiving model-based support will once again face significant funding cuts when the program’s new fiscal year takes effect on July 1, 2018. These recurring budget shortfalls result in lower speeds, more unserved locations, and higher prices for rural consumers and businesses.
Congress has expressed consistent, bipartisan support for addressing shortfalls in the USF program. In April 2017, 58 Senators called on the FCC to provide adequate resources for broadband delivery services to rural consumers in areas that are the hardest and costliest to serve. In May 2017, 102 Representatives wrote to the FCC, expressing similar concerns about the impacts of insufficient USF resources on rural consumers.
We commend the FCC’s actions thus far to address and modernize USF support. Taking action on the notice of proposed rulemaking and establishing lasting solutions that allow the reformed High-Cost mechanism to work as designed would enable many smaller operators to offer high quality, affordable broadband to consumers across rural America. It is important to consider any modifications needed to meet the program’s objectives of ensuring consistent network build-out and strengthening ongoing service, for locations otherwise unserved, in our nation’s high-cost rural areas.
Thank you for the actions you have undertaken thus far to support the USF and for considering this request. We share your goal of eliminating the digital divide and look forward to working with you to maintain accessible, affordable broadband for rural American consumers and businesses.
Sincerely,
###
Warner & Kaine Announce $94.8 Million in Grants for Housing & Infrastructure Projects Across Virginia
May 09 2018
WARNER & KAINE ANNOUNCE $94.8 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR HOUSING & INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $94,819,202 in federal funding to help Virginia communities with housing and infrastructure projects. The funding, which will go to more than 30 locations across Virginia, will be awarded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), HOME, and Housing Trust Fund (HTF) programs.
“We are pleased to announce funding that will help provide many Virginia families with the safe and affordable housing they need,” the Senators said. “These grants will help strengthen the well-being of communities throughout our Commonwealth.”
President Trump’s FY 2019 budget proposes eliminating the Community Development Block Grant, HOME, and Housing Trust Fund programs. The budget also proposes cutting ESG by 5.6% and cutting HOPWA by 12%. Warner and Kaine have opposed President Trump’s budget cuts to Virginia priorities and will continue fighting for this important HUD funding in Congress.
The $94,819,202 in funding will be awarded through HUD grants as follows:
Recipient |
CDBG18 |
HOME18 |
ESG18 |
HOPWA18 |
HTF18 |
Total |
Alexandria |
$941,853 |
$536,873 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,478,726 |
Blacksburg |
$482,932 |
$672,718 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,155,650 |
Bristol |
$254,487 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$254,487 |
Charlottesville |
$408,417 |
$624,013 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,032,430 |
Chesapeake |
$1,182,627 |
$550,827 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,733,454 |
Christiansburg |
$111,703 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$111,703 |
Colonial Heights |
$94,495 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$94,495 |
Danville |
$865,416 |
$270,868 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,136,284 |
Fredericksburg |
$186,790 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$186,790 |
Hampton |
$1,156,814 |
$557,513 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,714,327 |
Harrisonburg |
$559,588 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$559,588 |
Hopewell |
$177,848 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$177,848 |
Lynchburg |
$733,913 |
$438,772 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,172,685 |
Newport News |
$1,257,434 |
$786,711 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$2,044,145 |
Norfolk |
$4,323,842 |
$1,278,608 |
$351,181 |
$0 |
$0 |
$5,953,631 |
Petersburg |
$624,601 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$624,601 |
Portsmouth |
$1,557,075 |
$452,783 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$2,009,858 |
Radford |
$165,992 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$165,992 |
Richmond |
$4,442,476 |
$1,500,301 |
$366,794 |
$1,050,009 |
$0 |
$7,359,580 |
Roanoke |
$1,732,287 |
$606,064 |
$139,611 |
$0 |
$0 |
$2,477,962 |
Suffolk |
$466,234 |
$377,689 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$843,923 |
Virginia Beach |
$2,000,832 |
$1,122,655 |
$164,230 |
$1,524,127 |
$0 |
$4,811,844 |
Waynesboro |
$193,586 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$193,586 |
Winchester |
$231,081 |
$615,483 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$846,564 |
Arlington County |
$1,363,320 |
$762,215 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$2,125,535 |
Chesterfield County |
$1,390,089 |
$558,425 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,948,514 |
Fairfax County |
$5,574,509 |
$2,103,044 |
$447,834 |
$0 |
$0 |
$8,125,387 |
Henrico County |
$1,692,829 |
$897,341 |
$138,560 |
$0 |
$0 |
$2,728,730 |
Loudoun County |
$1,334,299 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
$1,334,299 |
Prince William County |
$2,504,696 |
$919,946 |
$201,653 |
$0 |
$0 |
$3,626,295 |
Funds for Virginia to administer to lower population areas |
$18,289,253 |
$10,094,628 |
$2,771,457 |
$962,389 |
$4,672,562 |
$36,790,289 |
Total |
$56,301,318 |
$25,727,477 |
$4,581,320 |
$3,536,525 |
$4,672,562 |
$94,819,202 |
Additional details on each program from HUD:
The Community Development Block (CDBG) Grants program provides annual grants to states and local units of government to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.
The HOME program helps to expand the supply of decent, affordable housing to low- and very low-income families by providing grants to states and local governments to fund housing programs that meet local needs and priorities.
The Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program provides funding to engage homeless individuals and families living on the street; improve the number, quality, and operations of emergency shelters for homeless individuals and families; provide essential services to shelter residents, rapidly re-house homeless individuals, and families, and prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.
The Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program provides housing assistance and related supportive services to local units of government, states and non-profit organizations for projects that benefit low-income persons medically diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and their families.
The Housing Trust Fund (HTF) is a new affordable housing production program that will complement existing Federal, State and local efforts to increase and preserve the supply of decent, safe, and sanitary affordable housing for extremely low- and very low-income households, including homeless families.
###
Warner & Kaine: Escalating Trump Trade War Would Hurt Va. Soybean Production, Jeopardize Jobs
Apr 18 2018
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) expressed increased concern over how President Trump’s trade war would hurt Virginia’s soybean production, which is the Commonwealth’s number one cash crop. China’s Ministry of Commerce has recently announced they will begin proactively taxing Chinese companies that import some American agricultural products at 178.6% to discourage imports. The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) has confirmed that China is the Commonwealth’s biggest export market for agricultural goods and suggestedPresident Trump’s tariffs could hurt Virginia businesses and employees. Soybean production in Virginia accounts for roughly $187 million in economic output, which helps supports thousands of jobs in the Commonwealth. Amid escalating rhetoric by the Trump Administration, China announced that it is considering raising tariffs on soybeans, beef, and other critical agriculture commodities produced in Virginia.
“Virginia’s soybean producers should not be held hostage to the uncertainty of President Trump’s trade games,” said Sen. Warner. “While China should be held accountable for its unfair trade practices, this should not be done at the expense of the hardworking soybean farmers in this country. President Trump needs to work with us to find the best way to resolve these disputes and avoid threatening an industry that creates thousands of new jobs and brings millions of dollars to rural communities in Virginia.”
“Clearly China is not taking President Trump’s threats lightly and we’re going to start feeling the pain of his rash actions. Our farmers deserve better than this,” said Sen. Kaine. “President Trump says he wants to create jobs and stimulate the economy yet his actions will have the opposite effect. His inflammatory, bullying tactics are going to hurt Virginians.”
“Exports are a vital source of income for Virginia’s farmers and here in the Commonwealth we have worked hard to open new markets around the world for our agriculture and forestry exporters. However, these efforts are jeopardized by threats of tariffs and trade wars at the national level,” said Bettina Ring, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. “I hope that our trade negotiators will keep our hardworking farmers and agribusinesses front of mind when working with their Chinese counterparts to solve this trade dispute.”
“The Virginia Soybean Association is concerned with the potential of trade wars within the global marketplace, including China. International trade is vital for the economic viability of the soybean industry,” said Nick Moody, President of the Virginia Soybean Association. “Uncertainty in trade agreements directly affect the stability of markets and price, which is a major concern for producers in a business that is already largely dependent on weather. Our hope is for the administration to work with leaders in international markets to create solid solutions to these trade disputes, which will not continue to disrupt soybean markets.”
According to VDACS, agriculture is Virginia’s largest private industry, with an economic impact of $70 billion annually that provides more than 334,000 jobs.The agriculture and forestry industries combined have a total economic impact of over $91 billion and provide more than 442,000 jobs in the Commonwealth. Every job in agriculture and forestry supports 1.7 jobs elsewhere in Virginia’s economy. Production agriculture alone employs 54,000 Virginians and accounts for more than $3.8 billion in economic output. Almost 10 percent of Virginia’s gross domestic product (GDP) is directly tied to agriculture and forestry.
Sens. Warner and Kaine previously raised concerns about how President Trump’s trade war with China could hurt Virginia businesses and employees, listing the set of products grown and made in Virginia that have been targeted by the Chinese for duties. They also wrote to the Administration last week warning that withdrawing from the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)—another significant source of agricultural exports for Virginia—would negatively impact Virginia’s agricultural industry.
Below is a detailed list of soybean producing areas in Virginia as of 2017. A comprehensive list can be found here.
COUNTY |
PRODUCTION (Bushels) |
NORTHERN VA/VALLEY |
|
Culpeper |
524,000 |
Fauquier |
642,000 |
Frederick |
68,500 |
Loudoun |
301,000 |
Madison |
384,000 |
Page |
25,400 |
Rockingham |
405,000 |
Shenandoah |
259,000 |
Other NOVA counties |
314,100 |
|
|
CENTRAL VIRGINIA |
|
Amelia |
429,000 |
Bedford |
20,300 |
Campbell |
162,000 |
Caroline |
1,056,000 |
Chesterfield |
66,000 |
Cumberland |
134,000 |
Goochland |
183,000 |
Louisa |
224,000 |
Orange |
380,000 |
Prince Edward |
48,400 |
Spotsylvania |
180,000 |
Other Central Counties |
1,413,300 |
|
|
EASTERN SHORE |
|
Accomack |
1,577,000 |
Charles City |
434,000 |
Essex |
971,000 |
Gloucester |
284,000 |
King and Queen |
718,000 |
King George |
222,000 |
King William |
740,000 |
Northampton |
937,000 |
Northumberland |
767,000 |
Richmond |
779,000 |
Westmoreland |
895,000 |
Other Eastern Counties |
1,041,000 |
|
|
SOUTHSIDE |
|
Charlotte |
240,000 |
Halifax |
299,000 |
Lunenburg |
148,000 |
Nottoway |
128,000 |
Pittsylvania |
193,000 |
Other Southside Counties |
253,000 |
|
|
HAMPTON ROADS |
|
Brunswick |
364,000 |
Dinwiddie |
553,000 |
Greensville |
353,000 |
Isle of Wight |
728,000 |
Prince George |
437,000 |
Southampton |
992,000 |
Surry |
592,000 |
Chesapeake |
887,000 |
Suffolk City |
898,000 |
Virginia Beach |
454,000 |
Other HRVA Counties |
1,459,000 |
|
|
TOTAL |
25,960,000 |
###
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced today that Virginia localities and organizations in Alexandria, Danville, Chesapeake and Harrisonburg will receive $2,301,433 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grants will help these entities hire or retain service coordinators to assist public housing residents in finding jobs and educational opportunities, and achieving economic and housing independence.
“These funds will strengthen Virginia communities and improve quality of life for public housing residents,” said the Senators. “This investment will help residents obtain higher paying jobs so they can be self-sufficient and regain financial independence.”
The funding, provided through HUD’s Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency – Service Coordinators Program (ROSS-SC) helps grantees hire or retain "service coordinators" who work directly with residents to assess their needs and connect them with education, job training and placement programs, and/or computer and financial literacy services available in their community to promote self-sufficiency.
A list of grant recipients and amounts is included below:
- Can I Live, Inc. (Alexandria) - $940,033
- Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority - $246,000
- Cardinal Village Tenant Association, Inc. (Danville) - $231,000
- Pleasant View Tenant Association, Inc. (Danville) - $231,000
- Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority - $231,000
- Chesapeake Redevelopment & Housing Authority - $246,000
- Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority - $176,400
The purpose of HUD’s ROSS-SC program is to encourage innovative and locally driven strategies that link public housing assistance with public and private resources to enable HUD-assisted families to increase earned income; reduce or eliminate their need for welfare assistance; and promote economic independence and housing self-sufficiency. These grants provide funding to hire and retain Service Coordinators who will assess the needs of residents of conventional Public Housing or Indian housing and coordinate available resources in the community to meet those needs. In addition, ROSS-SC grants help improve living conditions for seniors, enabling them to age-in-place.
###
Warner & Kaine Praise Nomination of Thomas Cullen for U.S. Attorney for Western District of Virginia
Feb 16 2018
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released a statement on today’s White House nomination of Thomas T. Cullen to serve as United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia:
“Tom Cullen is an experienced federal prosecutor who has practiced in North Carolina and Virginia. He will make an excellent U.S. Attorney, and we are proud to support his nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Western District,” said the Senators.
Cullen was one of two candidates recommended to the White House by Sens. Warner and Kaine in July. Cullen’s nomination was supported by a panel of attorneys from across the Commonwealth selected by Sens. Warner and Kaine to interview all candidates who applied for the position.
Mr. Cullen is currently a Principal/Partner at Woods Rogers PLC in Roanoke, where his practice focuses on white-collar defense and government investigations. He entered the private sector following a career with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District, where he served as Deputy Criminal Chief at the request of former U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy. Mr. Cullen previously served in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, North Carolina. He also served as an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force prosecutor during his time in Charlotte. Mr. Cullen began his legal career as a clerk for U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne in the Eastern District, followed by a clerkship with Circuit Judge Roger L. Gregory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Mr. Cullen received his law degree from William and Mary School of Law in 2004 where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and a B.A. cum laude from Furman University.
The Western District of Virginia has offices in Roanoke, Charlottesville, Abingdon, Lynchburg, Danville, Big Stone Gap and Harrisonburg.
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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Chicken Caucus, joined a bipartisan group of Senators to introduce theFair Agricultural Reporting Method (FARM) Act. The bill would protect farmers, cattlemen, and livestock markets from burdensome EPA reporting requirements for animal waste emissions. These requirements were not intended to affect animal agriculture and instead were meant to address dangerous industrial pollution, chemical plant explosions, and the release of hazardous materials into the environment.
“Virginia cattlemen and farmers should not be burdened by regulations that were designed to apply to industrial pollution and toxic chemicals – not farms and production facilities,” said Sen. Warner. “Our local agricultural industry is an economic driver and job creator in the Commonwealth and this commonsense fix balances strong environmental protections with the needs of these hardworking livestock producers.”
“On behalf poultry farmers in Virginia, we greatly appreciate Senator Warner for his leadership on the FARM Act. This bill will ease the burden of Virginia turkey and chicken farmers from having to report low-level ammonia emissions from the natural decomposition of animal manure,” said Hobey Bauhan, President, Virginia Poultry Federation.
“The Virginia Cattlemen's Association is pleased that Senator Warner joined in patronizing the FARM Act and supporting a common sense approach to deregulation when unintentional targets like livestock production are included in a rule written for other industries. We appreciate Senator Warner and others who signed on showing their commitment to making sure regulation is efficient and supportive of results over unnecessary bureaucracy,” said Jason H. Carter, Executive Director, Virginia Cattlemen's Association & Virginia Beef Industry Council.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) are laws on the books that require entities to notify authorities when they release large quantities of hazardous materials. In 2008, the EPA published a final rule exempting most livestock operations from the laws’ reporting requirements.
In April 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled EPA did not have the authority to create this exemption for agriculture, creating confusion and uncertainty for America’s Ag producers.
The FARM Act would:
- Maintain the exemption for certain federally registered pesticides from reporting requirements within CERCLA.
- Exempt air emissions from animal waste on a farm from reporting requirements under CERCLA.
- Provide agriculture producers with greater certainty by reinstating the status quo producers have been operating under since EPA’s 2008 final rule.
The full text of the bill can be found here.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $350,000 in federal funds towards the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy for rural communities across Virginia. The funds will be awarded to planning district commissions in Accomack County, Smyth County, Russell County, Scott County, and Augusta County. The funding will be used to establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in each region.
“These grant awards provide an opportunity for long-term economic planning, supporting growth and development in rural counties,” the Senators said. “These are important investments to promote job creation and draw in new business in these communities.”
- The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission in Accomack County will receive $70,000 for economic development planning.
- The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission in Smyth County will receive $70,000 for economic development planning.
- The Cumberland Plateau Planning District Commission in Russell County will receive $70,000 for economic development planning.
- The Lenowisco Planning District Commission in Scott County will receive $70,000 for economic development planning.
- The Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission in Augusta County will receive $70,000 for economic development planning.
This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration’s Economic Development District Planning Awards. The Trump Administration’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposed to eliminate funding for the Economic Development Administration. Warner and Kaine wrote to the Senate Appropriations Committee requesting that this proposal be overruled.
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Warner & Kaine: Republican Tax Plan Would Hurt Virginia Communities by Eliminating Historic Tax Credit
Nov 14 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine expressed their concern over the House Republicans’ tax plan that would eliminate the Federal Historic Tax Credit, which communities across Virginia use to draw in new business, create jobs, and revitalize cities and towns. The Federal Historic Tax Credit, a critical component of public-private partnerships, helps to attract development projects by providing a tax credit to developers after the restoration of a qualifying historic building. Virginia has been a top recipient of this federal funding, which has been used to redevelop more than one thousand buildings across the Commonwealth since 2002, including affordable housing, office space, restaurants, hotels, retirement homes, child care centers and shopping centers. Notable projects that have used these funds include the Wayne Theatre in Waynesboro, the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, and the Bolling Wilson (George Wythe) Hotel in Wytheville.
“This tool has helped Virginia communities preserve historically significant buildings while creating quality jobs and stimulating long-term economic growth,” said Warner. “We should not be targeting this proven economic engine, which would leave many localities hanging while some companies and high income earners receive a tax break.”
“I’ve heard from mayors and local leaders across Virginia who agree it would be a short-sighted mistake to eliminate a successful program that’s strengthened local economies in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Kaine. “We should be helping Virginia’s rural communities get ahead, but instead this cut in the Republican tax plan hurts their ability to succeed and redirects funds toward tax cuts for those at the very top.”
Between Fiscal Years 2002 and 2016, developers completed more than one thousand projects in Virginia using the Federal Historic Tax Credit. Elected officials have also voiced concern that eliminating this credit may impact the completion of buildings that are part of existing projects, which localities have already invested in.
The Senate version of the Republican tax plan similarly aims to limit the Federal Historic Tax Credit. Warner, a member of the Senate Finance Committee that is debating the Republican plan this week, has cosponsored a measure that would amend the legislation to protect and expand this tax tool.
Below is a list highlighting some of these notable projects throughout Virginia. For a more comprehensive list please click here.
City |
Original Name |
Address |
Year |
Use |
Current Use |
Bristol |
Bristol Warehouse Company |
221 Moore St |
2016 |
Commercial |
Studio Brew |
Bristol |
Bristol Building Supply Company Building |
220 Lee Street |
2012 |
Office |
Bristol School Board Offices |
Buena Vista |
Peoples Bank Of Buena Vista |
128 21St Street |
2010 |
Library |
Bank |
Charlottesville |
The Paramount Theater |
215 East Main Street |
2005 |
Other |
The Paramount Theater |
Danville |
John W. Ferrell & Company Furniture Store |
533-535 Main Street |
2012 |
Multi-Use |
Retail |
Danville |
North Theater |
629 North Main Street |
2005 |
Housing |
The Historic North Theatre Performing Arcts Center |
Danville |
Continental Tobacco Company |
610 Craghead St |
2015 |
Housing |
The Continental Lofts complex |
Galax |
Ye Ole Galax Post Office |
201 N. Main |
2003 |
Restaurant |
Macado's |
Harrisonburg |
Cassco Ice House |
217 S. Liberty Street |
2015 |
Commercial |
Harrisonburg Ice House |
Hillsville |
Nuckolls Drug Store |
510 North Main Street |
2008 |
Other |
Pizza Perfect On Main |
Lexington |
McCampbell Inn |
11 N Main St |
2015 |
Multi-Use |
The Georges Inn |
Lynchburg |
Craddock Terry Shoe Corp. Southland |
1326-1328 Commerce Street |
2007 |
Hotel |
Craddock Terry Hotel |
Marion |
Marion High School Building |
203 N Church St |
2015 |
Theater |
Wayne C. Henderson School for the Arts |
Marion |
Lincoln Theatre |
117 E. Main Street |
2006 |
Hotel |
General Francis Marion Hotel |
Norfolk |
Portlock Building |
241 Granby Street |
2003 |
Multi-Use |
Brick Anchor Brew-House |
Richmond |
Maggie L. Walker High School |
1000 N. Lombardy Street |
2002 |
School |
Maggie Walker School |
Richmond |
Lady Byrd Hat Company Building |
140 Virginia Street |
2009 |
Multi-Use |
Retail |
Roanoke |
Patrick Henry Hotel |
617 South Jefferson Street |
2011 |
Multi-Use |
The Patrick Henry Ballroom & Conference Center |
Roanoke |
Jefferson Center Auditorium |
550 West Campbell Avenue |
2001 |
Theater |
Jefferson Center |
Roanoke |
Burrell Memorial Hospital |
611 Mcdowell Avenue SW |
2004 |
Multi-Use |
Blueridge Behavioral Healthcare |
South Boston |
Taylor Tobacco Prizery |
340 Ferry Street |
2009 |
Housing |
Taylor Lofts Apartments |
South Boston |
The Prizery-R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Warehouse |
900 Bruce Street (Previously 716 Seymour Drive) |
2005 |
Theater |
Performing arts venue called the Prizery |
Staunton |
Stonewall Jackson Hotel And The Blackfriars Playhouse |
24 S. Market Street |
2006 |
Hotel |
Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center |
Waynesboro |
Wayne Theatre |
521 W Main St |
2016 |
Theater |
Wayne Theatre - Ross Performing Arts Center |
Winchester |
The Old Star Building |
29-31 33-35 East Boscawen Street |
2013 |
Multi-Use |
Commercial/Office space and apartments |
Wytheville |
George Wythe Hotel |
170 East Main Street |
2015 |
Hotel |
Bolling Wilson Hotel |
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined a bipartisan coalition of 16 Senators to introduce the Sugar Policy Modernization Act, which will make commonsense reforms to the federal sugar support program that will save money for a variety of manufacturers that support jobs in Virginia and across the nation.
The Sugar Policy Modernization Act would repeal domestic supply restrictions, reduce market distortions caused by sugar import quotas, and ensure taxpayers don’t foot the bill for bailouts of the sugar industry. The Sugar Policy Modernization Act has a broad coalition of support from consumer, business and environmental groups. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the House of Representatives.
Virginia is home to the U.S. headquarters of both Mars and Nestle and has manufacturing and distribution facilities across the state – such as the McKee Foods plant in Stuarts Draft, Nestle packaging plant in Danville, Purina pet food plant in King William County, Frito-Lay plant in Lynchburg, Gatorade bottling facility in Wytheville, Sabra plant in Colonial Heights, and others – comprising thousands of jobs in industries whose growth is determined in part by sugar prices.
“This bill would make reasonable, commonsense reforms to federal sugar policies that artificially raise costs for consumers and American taxpayers,” said Sen. Warner. “These changes will save taxpayers money and protect thousands of manufacturing jobs in Virginia.”
“Senators from the right, left, and everywhere in between support this bill because it’s good for the economy,” said Sen. Kaine. “Manufacturing is driven by a variety of input costs, and this is an opportunity to reduce one of those costs, which is not only good policy generally but will also make Virginia even more competitive in attracting these manufacturing plants and the jobs that go with them.”
Sugar is the only commodity whose federal support program was not reformed by the most recent five-year reauthorization of agricultural programs in 2014.
The Sugar Policy Modernization Act would repeal U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sugar marketing allotments, which restrict the amount of sugar each domestic processing company can sell. No other U.S. commodity is under similar government supply controls. The bill would also repeal a program that requires the government to buy surplus sugar and sell it to ethanol companies at a loss.
The legislation would also direct the Secretary of Agriculture to manage the nation’s sugar program to ensure sugar is distributed in adequate amounts and reasonable prices, and it would repeal laws that arbitrarily restrict USDA’s authority to administer import quotas during certain times of the year. This bill would also express that it is the sense of Congress that U.S. trade policy goals should include elimination of sugar subsidies and pursuit of trade agreements that liberalize sugar trade.
In addition to Sens. Warner and Kaine, the bill is sponsored by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Pat Toomey (R-PA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Ed Markey (D-MA), John McCain (R-AZ), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine announced $1,357,959 in federal funding for nine Virginia fire departments through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funding for nine fire departments in Concord, Chilhowie, Fairfax, Gasburg, Glade Spring, Kenbridge, Lovingston, Newport News, and Norton will be awarded through FEMA’s Assistant to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.
“This federal funding will provide fire departments with critical support to enhance training operations and purchase life-saving equipment that will help keep Virginians safe,” the Senators said.
The following Virginia fire departments will receive funding under the AFG program:
- The Concord Volunteer Fire Department will receive $64,762 to purchase vehicle extrication equipment;
- The Town of Chilhowie Fire & EMS Department will receive $60, 313 to purchase portable and mobile radios;
- The City of Fairfax Fire Department will receive $136, 182 to support training operations for firefighters;
- The Gasburg Volunteer Fire Department will receive $46,116 to purchase an air compressor and fill station equipment;
- The Glade Spring Volunteer Fire Department will receive $38,096 to purchase an air compressor and fill station equipment.
- The Kenbridge Fire Department will receive $54,739 to update its source capture exhaust system technology;
- The Lovingston Volunteer Fire Department will receive $142,381 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus equipment;
- The City of Newport News Fire Department will receive $404,600 to purchase power lift cots and stretchers and;
- The City of Norton Fire Department will receive $320,358 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus equipment and face pieces.
The primary goal of FEMA’s AFG program is to enhance the safety of the public and firefighters by providing direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated Emergency Medical Services organizations and State Fire Training Academies for critically-needed resources.
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Warner, Kaine Announce $100,000 to Promote Unmanned Systems Industry in Alleghany County
Funds will support local businesses and create new jobs in this emerging industry
Aug 29 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced today that nine Virginia airports will receive $18,826,746 in funds from the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to help enhance new and existing infrastructure. The airports receiving funding serve the following Virginia counties: Accomack, Brunswick, Campbell, Franklin, Frederick, Hanover, Mecklenburg, Suffolk, Washington, and Wise.
“This funding is essential to help Virginia’s airports make necessary upgrades to infrastructure,” said the Senators. “These grants will help our local airports improve travel and plan for future operations and growth.”
Airports and grant amounts are listed below:
- Virginia Highlands Airport (Washington County) - $5,924,328. This grant will help construct a 1,029 foot runway extension to allow Runway 06/24 to meet the operational needs of the airport, specifically funding drainage improvements necessary to adequately handle storm water runoff associated with the extension of Runway 06/24.
- Suffolk Executive Airport - $3,756,000.This grant will fund the rehabilitation of the runway’s lighting.
- Hanover County Municipal Airport - $2,773,436. This grant will help construct a 29,200 square yard apron on the east side of the airport. The new apron will increase parking capacity for transient and based aircraft.
- Mecklenburg-Brunswick Regional Airport- $2,666,151. This grant will fund the rehabilitation of 1,200 feet of the existing t-hangar taxiway pavement that requires rehabilitation to ensure safe airfield operations and the rehabilitation of 8,000 square yards of the existing terminal apron to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement.
- Franklin Municipal-John Beverly Rose Airport - $1,736,100. This grant will help fund a 1,250 foot extension of the parallel taxiway and an additional 570 feet for the connector taxiways. This project will enhance safety by eliminating the need for aircraft to back-taxi on the runway.
- Lynchburg Regional Airport - $1,111,500.00. This grant will fund the partial rehabilitation of the current Taxiway B and Taxiway G lighting system that has reached the end of its useful life and requires rehabilitation to enhance safe airfield operations during low visibility conditions.
- Accomack County Airport - $376,131. This grant will help fund the rehabilitation of 5,000 feet of Runway 3/21 to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object debris and will fund the rehabilitation of the current Runway 3/21 lighting system that has reached the end of its useful life and requires rehabilitation to meet FAA standards.
- Winchester Regional Airport - $316,600.This grant will help fund the relocation of 5,500 feet of Taxiway A to assist the airport in meeting design standards, will provide funding for the acquisition of 0.52 acres of land adjacent to the existing airport property, will fund the removal of tree obstructions in the Runway 14 approach surface, and will provide funding for the removal of 6 acres of tree obstructions.
- Lonesome Pine Airport (Wise County) - $166,500. This grant will fund an update to the existing airport master plan study to show current and future needs of the airport.
This funding was granted through the FAA’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP), a program that provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports that are significant to national air transportation.
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