WASHINGTON – Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement:

“Ukraine has been bravely fending off Vladimir Putin’s cruel and unjust invasion for over three years. U.S. assistance – supported by Congress on a bipartisan basis – has helped Ukraine resist and hold its ground against a Russian army that was supposed to take Kyiv in weeks or even days. Now President Trump threatens those hard-fought gains and imperils the lives of the Ukrainian people by unilaterally cutting off the aid that has helped Ukraine maintain its freedom in the face of aggression. Cutting off arms now only undermines the prospect of a peace deal that depends on Ukraine’s ability to negotiate from a position of strength. I call on President Trump to reverse this short-sighted decision, which weakens the United States’ credibility on the global stage.”

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement after voting to block a procedural move on legislation to prevent transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports:

“Right now, Congress should be focused on passing bills that lower grocery prices, not ones that threaten to defund public schools and gut world-class American colleges and universities. But instead, Republicans are poised to eliminate the Department of Education, while at the same time trying to dictate how individual schools should run their sports programs and subjecting children to uncomfortable scrutiny, invasive questioning, and even harassment. We will be voting to prevent this bill from moving forward and to leave the decision of how to best integrate transgender students into sports in the hands of parents, educators and state athletic associations—not the federal government.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott, Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam and Eugene Vindman (all D-VA) urged President Trump to halt any proposal that would alter the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) without congressional consultation and approval. 

“We write to express our great concern regarding reports that you intend to dissolve the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) bipartisan Board of Governors and move the independent agency under the control of the Department of Commerce. The Postal Service plays a crucial role in keeping our communities, especially in our rural areas, connected to each other and to the wider world. From delivering prescription medications and household goods, to election ballots, paychecks, and critical bills, USPS continues to be an essential part of Americans’ everyday lives. However, press reports indicate you are planning to upend over 50 years of Congressionally-mandated independence at USPS with no clear strategy for continuing essential mail delivery services or achieving financial sustainability,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President Trump. “We urge you to cease the advancement of any proposal that would alter the USPS without congressional consultation and approval.”

Since Congress passed the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, USPS has operated as an independent agency run by a bipartisan Board of Governors who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. However, press reports have recently suggested that President Trump intends to sign an executive order to dissolve the Board and move the independent agency under the control of Secretary Howard Lutnick at the Department of Commerce. Last Friday, the president confirmed these reports when he said he was considering a “form of a merger” for the Postal Service. The letter rejects this vague and unconstitutional plan.

Wrote the lawmakers, “Throughout our nation’s history, the Postal Service has been an integral function of the U.S. government, particularly in rural areas. While 63% of post offices in rural areas do not generate enough revenue to cover their costs, Congress continues to ensure changes do not disadvantage rural areas because all Americans deserve the same mail delivery service regardless of where they live. Given your reported interest in privatizing the Postal Service, the universal service obligation that binds the Postal Service to deliver to all Americans could be scrapped for a plan that risks cutting off rural delivery and worsening service for all.”

The letter also references Virginia’s mail delivery issues, raising concerns that the president’s plans could upend recent improvements in mail service.

“Virginians are unfortunately familiar with the impacts of mail delivery falling short in the Commonwealth. In late 2023, USPS chose Richmond, Virginia as the first location to implement sweeping reforms under the ‘Delivering for America’ plan, including opening the Richmond Regional Processing and Distribution Center (RPDC). Shortly after, Virginia’s on-time service performance became the worst in the country. Last year, we met with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on three occasions to push USPS to do everything in its power to improve mail service in Virginia. Throughout the year, we saw steady improvements in USPS’s mail service as we continued to press for increased transparency, greater engagement with the public, and a higher standard of service,” they wrote.

Continued the members, “While some communities in Virginia still experience service performance issues, we were pleased to see a USPS Inspector General report in January 2025 that found USPS had stabilized service at the Richmond RPDC, achieved most of the expected savings for fiscal year 2024, and returned statewide mail service to match nationwide averages. We fear such a significant upheaval of USPS’s governing structure and operations, as has been reported in the press, could reverse the improvement in mail service we have seen across Virginia.”

Lastly, the Virginia lawmakers noted dismantling or privatizing the Postal Service would jeopardize its critical facilitation of the nation’s vote by mail system. 

“We are also disturbed by the notion that a USPS merger with the Department of Commerce will insert an intense partisan agenda into the distribution of millions of mail-in ballots as we approach election season. In the 2024 election, USPS processed 99.22 million ballots, with 99.88% of ballots delivered from voters to election officials within seven days and only one day on average to deliver ballots from voters to election officials. With over 2.3 million Virginians voting absentee in the 2024 general election, it is imperative that no changes are made to USPS that would undermine its ability to facilitate free and fair elections,” they wrote.

Concluded the lawmakers, “Any effort to ignore federal law and fire all members of the USPS’s Board of Governors – Republicans and Democrats who have been appointed by presidents and confirmed by the U.S. Senate – and move this independent agency under your control, will be met with fierce opposition. Furthermore, we request that you provide a full accounting of any changes that is being explored to alter USPS service, leadership, and personnel.”

A copy of the letter is available here.

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD), alongside U.S. Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) and Scott Peters (D-CA-50), introduced the Employer Participation in Repayment Act – bipartisan legislation to help Americans tackle their student loan debt by making permanent a provision that allows employers to contribute up to $5,250 tax-free to their employees’ student loans.

In 2020, Sens. Warner and Thune along with Rep. Peters negotiated the inclusion of a provision in the CARES Act that allowed these contributions temporarily. Later that year, as part of the government spending package, they secured an extension allowing this benefit until January 1, 2026. By making this tax benefit permanent, today’s legislation would provide employees with much-needed relief and employers with a unique and permanent tool to attract and retain talented employees.

“As the first in my family to graduate from college, I wouldn’t have been able to afford my tuition without the help of student loans,” said Sen. Warner. “Unfortunately as the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket, so has the rate of Americans who turn to student loans to pay for college. Today too many Americans are saddled with tough-to-manage student loan debt, with no end in sight. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Sen. Thune to create an innovative, bipartisan approach to help ease the burden of student loans. By making employer student loan repayments tax-exempt, employers will have a tool to recruit and retain a talented workforce while also helping working Americans manage their financial future.”

“Incentivizing employers to help repay their employees’ student loans was a common-sense step Congress took to address the high levels of student debt that borrowers face,” said Sen. Thune. “This bill would permanently equip employers with this unique tool to help attract and retain talented employees while protecting American taxpayers from costly burdens. This is a win-win for graduates and their employers, and I hope it will once again garner strong, bipartisan support.”

“Over the past 20 years, the cost to attend college has risen 45 percent, forcing students to choose between pursuing higher education and taking on tens of thousands of dollars in burdensome student loan debt,” said Rep. Malliotakis. “Our bipartisan legislation enables employers to contribute up to $5,250 per year, tax-free, toward their employees’ student loans—helping those entering the workforce pay down debt faster and build a stronger financial future. This tax incentive will continue to strengthen our workforce, increase our nation’s competitiveness, and provide much-needed economic relief to millions of Americans.”

“I relied on student loans to get through college when the cost of higher education was much lower than it is today. Now, the collective debt among Americans is $1.7 trillion, which limits our economic growth and the economic prospects of young adults,” said Rep. Peters. “Over the last five years, this program has been a huge success — employers have helped pay off thousands of employees’ loans and it gave employers a tool to compete for the best talent. This public-private collaboration has proven itself as a cost-effective solution to the student debt crisis and it is imperative that we make it permanent.” 

Americans owe a combined $1.77 trillion dollars in student loan debt, according to the most recent quarterly report from the Federal Reserve. This debt is a significant financial burden that not only influences the way the American workforce saves and spends, but also has a stifling effect on the economy. This legislation would update an existing federal program so that it works better for employees living with the reality of burdensome student loan debt.

The legislation has support from numerous educational organizations and business groups.

“The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) is pleased to support bipartisan legislation that would make permanent the expansion of IRC Sec. 127. This expansion to allow student loan repayment assistance should absolutely be a permanent benefit and not expire next year as currently scheduled.  This assistance helps working students, employers, and ultimately the U.S. economy. Section 127 benefits play a critical role in maintaining U.S. competitiveness and preventing the accumulation of student debt by enabling employers to fund the training, development and education of their employees, without imposing tax burdens on those employees for the education they receive.  Employees use these benefits to pursue their educational and career goals and use amounts provided by their employer to either help pay for the cost of tuition or repay student loans,” said Karin Johns, Director of Tax Policy, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

“The bipartisan and bicameral Employer Participation in Repayment Act will reduce borrowers’ student loan burdens and encourage successful repayment. In turn, it gives employers a permanent tool with which to attract a stable workforce. EFC is proud to endorse this legislation, and we look forward to collaborating with you to advance public policies that appropriately balance the interests of student loan borrowers, employers, and taxpayers,” said Gail daMota, President, Education Finance Council.

“The U.S. Chamber supports the Employer Participation in Repayment Act because it allows employers voluntarily to provide a valued employee benefit that helps their employees’ financial well-being,” said Chantel Sheaks, Vice President, Retirement Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

“Candidly has facilitated more than $100M in tax-free Student Loan Employer Contributions to help employees pay down their debt faster, as a workplace benefit, resulting in a whopping 67% reduction in turnover across participating workers. Permanency is crucial to sustaining and scaling this highly efficacious new category of benefit into a new normal,” said Laurel Taylor, CEO, Candidly.

“Fidelity Investments commends the bipartisan re-introduction of the Employer Participation in Repayment Act. Permanently extending this important incentive is critical to the American workforce’s financial wellness. As a market leader for student debt workplace benefits since 2016, Fidelity has enabled hundreds of employers across a wide range of industries to seamlessly contribute to and ease the student debt burden for their employees. To date, these employers have helped more than 100k employees save more than $500mn and an average of 3-4 years in payments. The growth and popularity of these benefits have accelerated since the introduction of this provision as part of the 2020 CARES Act, and we look forward to working with Congress to enact this legislation permanently into law,” said Jesse Moore, Senior Vice President, Head of Student Debt at Fidelity Investments.

"We commend Senators Thune and Warner, along with Representatives Malliotakis and Peters, for their leadership in introducing the Employer Participation in Repayment Act. Making the student loan repayment expansion permanent is a critical step toward easing the financial burden on millions of Americans while empowering businesses to attract and retain top talent. This bipartisan, bicameral effort underscores a shared commitment to workforce development, economic growth, and financial well-being for employees nationwide. We urge Congress to pass this legislation and ensure long-term support for student loan repayment benefits,” said Chatrane Birbal, Vice President of Policy and Government Relations at the HR Policy Association. 

“SHRM strongly supports the reintroduction of the Employer Participation in Repayment Act, a bipartisan bill that would permanently allow employers to assist employees in repaying their student loans. At SHRM, we have long championed policies that empower employers to provide education assistance programs that align with the evolving needs of the workforce. This legislation is key to strengthening the education-to-employment pipeline—ensuring that individuals can pursue and complete their education without being burdened by overwhelming debt, while also helping employers build a skilled and competitive workforce. This legislation provides a commonsense solution that would benefit workers, workplaces, and the economy,” said Emily M. Dickens, Chief of Staff and Head of Government Affairs at the Society for Human Resource Management.

“We commend the introduction of bipartisan legislation to permanently extend the student loan repayment benefit under Section 127. Supporting efforts by employers to offer education or debt relief to their employees is both economically and fiscally responsible. This bill is a crucial step towards modernizing Section 127 of the tax code, addressing the evolving needs of employees, and ensuring our workforce remains competitive. InStride is dedicated to reducing the burden of student debt and expanding economic opportunities through innovative employer-sponsored education programs. This legislative effort aligns with our mission and helps create a more financially resilient workforce,” said Craig Maloney, CEO, InStride.

“The National Association of REALTORS ® (NAR) has long supported efforts to ease the burden of student loan debt. The Employer Participation in Repayment Act is a useful tool in easing the weight of student debt. NAR applauds the leadership from Representatives Peters and Malliotakis and Senators Warner and Thune in making this change permanent. This legislation creates a win-win for both employers in search of attracting and maintaining talented workers and employees who will receive relief on their debt, enabling them to save money for important life decisions like purchasing a home,” said National Association of Realtors® President Kevin Sears.

“Extending the tax exclusion for employer-provided student loan repayment assistance is crucial for today’s U.S. workforce and is 100% aligned with employer perspectives on these benefits,” said Scott Thompson, CEO of Tuition.io. “As the cost of higher education continues to skyrocket, this benefit enables companies to foster a more educated and skilled workforce, while helping their employees cover basic living expenses, a challenge for so many people today. Since Tuition.io started administering contributions in 2016, employers on our platform have helped pay down student loan debt for hundreds of thousands of employees in key sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. We at Tuition.io strongly support making these benefits under Section 127 permanent, as their removal would be a significant setback for both corporations and their employees.”

"The introduction of this bill is a huge step in the right direction and, when passed, will be a major win for companies, employees, and society at large. Tax-free employer contributions to student loans is a great way to help employees pay back student loans while providing a unique incentive for employees to align with company priorities. As the cost of education has and will likely continue to rise, this benefit will help alleviate the financial stress employees have incurred in order to gain employment. Permanently including employer student loan contributions under tax-free educational assistance will help pave the way for more employers to play a massive role in solving the student debt crisis,” said Mick MackLaverty, CEO of Highway Benefits.

“We are proud to support this initiative and grateful to Congressmember Peters for his dedication to San Diego’s small businesses,” said Jessica Anderson, Interim President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. “The Employer Participation in Repayment Act of 2025 will expand the benefits employers can offer by assisting with student debt repayment, in turn helping small businesses attract and retain talent in a competitive workforce. 

Full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) today contacted the commander of U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) to express concern that military families are experiencing delays and poor communication from the contractor that handles moving of household goods. In a letter to General Randall Reed, Warner urged immediate action to address the failures reported by more than 1,000 military families, including missed household goods pickups, delivery issues, and difficulties communicating with the contractor responsible for the moves, HomeSafe Alliance.

“My constituents and press reporting indicate that HomeSafe Alliance is struggling to support military moves in a timely and predictable manner, calling into question performance on the contract, and ultimately degrading the readiness of our nation’s servicemembers and their families. As the military community enters the permanent change of station (PCS) peak season, it is essential that our servicemembers and their families have the logistical support they need to meet the mission,” wrote Sen. Warner.

In the letter, Warner requested a briefing from USTRANSCOM to discuss how the command plans to resolve these issues and ensure HomeSafe Alliance fulfills its obligations in a timely and efficient manner.

“I am disappointed to once again find that intervention is necessary to ensure the military community has what they need to focus on their jobs and families. Public reporting that cites USTRANSCOM officials indicates that more than 1,000 military families have already experienced missed household goods pickup or delivery dates, contractor communication challenges, or other issues associated with this contract. Your Director of the Defense Personal Property Management Office said that failures on a program this size, in the midst of transformation, are ‘to be expected,’” Warner added. “I can assure you that the military families missing their beds, kitchen appliances, and comforts of home expect far more in terms of support.”

A copy of today’s letter is available here.

Warner has previously engaged with USTRANSCOM on behalf of military families experiencing problems with moving. In 2014, Warner was forced to step in when more than 160 Virginians reported that their personal vehicles had been significantly delayed or misplaced by the contractor responsible for moving their vehicles during permanent change of station moves to and from overseas duty stations.   

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) has joined Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in sponsoring the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act to save billions of federal dollars by curbing erroneous payments to individuals who have passed away. The legislation would make permanent the provisions from the Stopping Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, a law previously sponsored by Warner, Kennedy and Peters to stop unlawful payments to the deceased by allowing the Social Security Administration to share the Death Master File, a record of deceased individuals, with the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system, for a period of three years. 

The Treasury Department announced last month that it recovered $31 million in fraud and improper payments during the first five months of the bill’s implementation. The new bill would make the temporary provisions permanent, reining in the government’s ability to make improper payments to deceased people in the future. 

“Despite the antics we’ve seen from Elon Musk in recent weeks, there are real, serious ways to improve government efficiency. And where issues are actually identified, Congress should step in and act. That’s the right way to actually stop waste, fraud and abuse of government resources – not with chaotic firings and illegal spending cuts,” said Sen. Warner. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this commonsense measure passed into law.”

The bill would also allow Treasury’s Do Not Pay working system to compare death information from the Social Security Administration with personal information from other federal entities and to share this information with any paying or administering agency that is authorized to use the Do Not Pay system.

A former business executive, Warner has a long and successful record of working in Congress to improve government efficiency, accountability and transparency. The DATA Act, which required the government to standardize federal spending data and post it on a single website so Americans can track how their tax dollars are being spent, established usaspending.gov. It was hailed as the single most significant open-government initiative since the Freedom of Information Act of 1966. Warner also passed into law the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act, which requires federal agencies to report results quarterly on their highest priority programs, and to designate a performance improvement officer for each agency.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) led 10 of their colleagues in introducing legislation to amend the Internal Revenue Code to make certain that federal broadband deployment funding will not be considered taxable income.

Grants awarded to broadband providers for the purposes of broadband deployment are currently factored into a company’s income and taxed as income. This bipartisan legislation moves to exclude broadband deployment grants awarded through certain federal programs from an organization’s income, ensuring the entirety of federal dollars awarded to companies for the purpose of deploying broadband around the country can be used for that purpose, rather than making their way back to the government through taxes.

The senators were joined by Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Angus King (I-ME), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Deb Fischer (R-NE) in introducing this legislation.    

“In order to fully reap the benefits of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the American Rescue Plan, every dollar that was set aside to fund broadband expansion and deployment should be used for that purpose,” said Sen. Warner. “Taxing these broadband investments awards is counter-productive, and will ultimately diminish efforts to give more Americans access to high-speed internet.”

“Reliable, high-speed internet is more crucial than ever for Kansans to run their businesses, access telehealth or pursue an education,” said Sen. Moran. “This commonsense legislation would make certain federal grants provided for broadband deployment are not counted as taxable income to maximize the impact and success of these resources.”

“Broadband investments that I worked hard at securing in the bipartisan infrastructure bill will continue to unlock limitless possibilities in terms of telehealth, education and small business opportunities, and importantly, allow Alaskans to connect with one another,” said Sen. Sullivan. “However, taxing these investments weakens our efforts. This legislation ensures that funds directed by Congress are spent on deploying broadband, furthering my goal of connecting every single Alaskan.”

“We made tremendous federal investments, including through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to build broadband infrastructure and help ensure Virginians can access reliable, high-speed internet, which is critical for school, work, and other opportunities,” said Sen. Kaine. “This legislation would ensure every dollar is used for this purpose by preventing broadband deployment grants from being taxed.”

“Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, and we want to ensure that Americans living in these communities have access to high-speed internet,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Taxing broadband grants would undermine federal efforts to prioritize rural broadband expansion. I am proud to support this legislation so that those living in rural America have internet needed to run their businesses, access health care, and pursue educational opportunities.”

“Taxing federal broadband grants as gross income undermines the intent for broadband deployment programs,” said Sen. Capito. “The Broadband Grant Tax Treatment Act would help make sure this doesn’t happen so we can continue our efforts to close the digital divide in the areas that need broadband connectivity the most.”

“In today’s digital age, access to high-speed, affordable broadband is critical for Maine people to live, work and stay connected with one another,” said Sen. King. “Every single dollar that is invested in broadband deployment is vital, and shouldn’t be clawed back by the government at the cost of connecting an extra community street or neighborhood that needs it. I want to thank my colleagues for coming together to help close the digital divide in rural and urban communities in Maine and across the nation.”

“It certainly won’t surprise North Dakotans to know that reliable, high-speed broadband brings our country together in many respects,” said Sen. Cramer. “Much like our integrated highway system and anchored by our interstate highway system, it connects large, rural states like ours to essential services like telemedicine, educational opportunities, and it strengthens, probably more than anything, our small businesses with e-commerce opportunities. By making every dollar for broadband expansion count, this bill really does pave the way for a much more connected future.”

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine and U.S. Reps. Bobby Scott, Gerry Connolly, Don Beyer, Jennifer McClellan, Suhas Subramanyam and Eugene Vindman (all D-VA) pushed the Trump administration to reverse staffing cuts at the National Park Service (NPS), outlining the effect directives to eliminate employees and rescind and delay job offers will have on safety at Virginia’s 22 national park units, which serve 22 million visitors and contribute $1.5 billion to local economies each year.

“We write today to express our deep concern over alarming directives issued to eliminate roughly one thousand full-time employees, rescind hundreds of offers for full-time positions, and delay thousands of offers for seasonal positions at the National Park Service (NPS). These roles are critical to protecting America’s treasured natural assets, maintaining public safety, and promoting exceptional standards expected at national parks across Virginia and the nation,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “We urge you to reverse these directives and prevent additional cuts to existing staffing going forward given the critical role that the vast majority of NPS staff play in ensuring public safety. If these directives are not reversed, we fear it will significantly undermine the Park Service’s ability to protect both visitors and park resources, particularly as we approach peak visitation season.”

The NPS  workforce plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of our nation’s parks and the safety of the millions of visitors who explore them each year, and are also responsible for protecting the priceless natural, historic, and cultural resources that belong to the American people. However, recent staffing directives from the Trump administration – which included the dismissal of probationary employees and the rescinding of job offers at NPS with no input from park superintendents – are expected to make it significantly more difficult for NPS to carry out its mission, especially as peak visitor season approaches. Staff positions affected by the administration’s unilateral staffing directives include frontline park rangers responsible for ensuring visitor safety and protecting park assets, maintenance staff tasked with addressing the deferred maintenance backlog and reducing the risk of wildland fires, and support staff responsible for raising revenue for NPS through fee collections.

“It has been reported that the only exemptions offered were for positions that respond to public safety incidents, including law enforcement rangers, public safety dispatchers, and wildland firefighters. However, public safety response is just part of the work that goes into protecting the public,” wrote the lawmakers. “Countless other positions from rangers to natural resource specialists to wastewater specialists to maintenance mechanics that are not covered under the exemptions have wide-ranging responsibilities for preventing public safety incidents in the first place. Eliminating these positions put our parks at greater risk of damage and make them less safe for visitors. We are particularly concerned about reports that NPS rescinded offers for positions directly responsible for fire safety at Shenandoah National Park – coinciding with the start of wildfire season.”

Continued the members, “While it is encouraging that NPS recently walked back its decision to rescind offers for nearly 5,000 seasonal positions, park superintendents have received no guidance as to the next steps they can take to move forward with seasonal hiring. The late winter and early spring months are critical for ramping up seasonal staff in preparation for the summer visitation surge. Without clear guidance for superintendents on seasonal hiring, the continued delay in hiring could jeopardize the ability of these parks to safely accommodate millions of visitors this summer.”

In the letter, the Virginia lawmakers also noted that the staffing directives threaten to undermine the progress Congress has made in recent years to invest in repairing and restoring our national parks.

“For over one hundred years, NPS has been charged with safeguarding millions of acres of America’s irreplaceable natural, historic, and cultural resources. However, persistent underfunding of NPS resulted in the Service’s inability to properly staff park units and the growth of a multi-billion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance projects. In recognition of the worsening situation at our national parks, bipartisan majorities in Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 (GAOA), one of the largest ever investments in conservation and public lands in our nation’s history. The GAOA gave NPS the resources it needed to dedicate billions of dollars for addressing deferred maintenance across the country, including over $470 million for projects in Virginia. As a result of these staffing directives, units will be forced to reallocate remaining staff to support regular operations at the expense of staff hours dedicated to reducing the deferred maintenance backlog,” they wrote.

Concluded the lawmakers, “Significant disruptions to NPS staffing during the critical months prior to peak season threaten to harm the tourism economy associated with Virginia’s national parks that supports hundreds of small businesses and thousands of jobs. We urge you to swiftly reverse these directives and communicate clear guidance to park superintendents to ensure that NPS units in Virginia and across the country can move forward with hiring both seasonal and permanent positions that are critical to ensuring the safety of millions of park-goers.”

A copy of the letter is available here.

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WASHINGTON –  As the Senate prepares for an all-night vote-a-rama on the Republican reconciliation budget bill agenda that will cut taxes for the ultra-wealthy at the expense of Virginia families, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, filed 21 amendments to the GOP budget proposal to address the needs of working Americans and taking aim at the Trump administration’s lawlessness.

“As President Trump and Senate Republicans try to move a budget resolution clearing the way to cut taxes for the richest Americans at the expense of the programs working families depend on, it’s important to understand what we’re talking about here: the GOP plans to provide tax breaks for billionaires while slashing health care, education and public safety and doing nothing about the really big problems most Americans are facing, like the rising costs of housing and child care,” said Sen. Warner. “I hope some of my Republican friends will think twice about supporting a budget plan that cuts taxes for the richest and doubles down on the chaos of the Trump-Musk administration.”

Specifically, Warner’s amendments would:

Put senators on the record for raising costs, gutting programs American families rely on

• Create a point of order against any reconciliation bill that would not decrease the cost of housing for American families. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to providing benefits to survivors of miners who died due to pneumoconiosis. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation that would increase monthly student loan costs for borrowers of Federal student loans. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to preserving funding and current staffing levels at the Department of Education. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to providing affordable health care for American families, which may include making permanent the extended and expanded advance premium tax credits. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation that would increase the cost of child care for United State families. Text
• Create a point of order against any reconciliation legislation that would increase health care costs for children receiving Medicaid. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to prohibiting cuts to critical health programs, which may include preventing the institution of a Medicaid per capita cap policy. Text

Put senators on the record on combating Trump-Musk lawlessness and corruption

• Establish a deficit-neutral fund relating to protecting the American people from the People's Republic of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, transnational organized crime, and terrorism by prohibiting the mass termination of critical employees in the intelligence community. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation if certain Federal civil service laws are being violated. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to ensuring that employees of the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and elements of the intelligence community are not subject to retaliation and firing due to political preferences of any Presidential administration. Text
• Create a point of order against consideration of reconciliation legislation until the Congressional Budget Office certifies that health, education, research, law enforcement, and foreign aid funding authorized by Congress is not subject to programmatic funding delays, deferrals, or rescissions. Text
• Create a point of order against considering funding legislation for the Office of the President while there is pending litigation alleging a violation of the Take Care Clause. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation that would rescind obligated or awarded amount made available under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Text
• Create a point of order against considering reconciliation legislation during a period during which there is an ongoing violation of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Act of 1974, as determined by the Comptroller General of the United States. Text
• Create a point of order against consideration of spending or revenue legislation during any period during which there is an ongoing violation of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, as determined by the Comptroller General of the United States. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting duly-enacted appropriations from unconstitutional cancellation by the President. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation during any year in which an employee has been placed in administrative leave for more than a total of 10 work days. Text
• Create a point of order against reconciliation legislation during any period in which there is litigation pending against the President or another Federal officer alleging a violation of certain provisions of title 5, United States Code. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to protecting classified and sensitive information on programs and individuals of the United States from being accessed by DOGE employees. Text
• Establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to prohibiting the closure or relocation of Federal agencies without congressional authorization. Text

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in writing to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, urging the administration to explore all available mitigation and prevention options to address the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).

“The United States is now entering the fourth year of an outbreak of HPAI that has devastated farms, required the depopulation of more than 136 million birds on commercial poultry operations, and infected a small but growing number of farm workers. A new urgency is required from the USDA to address the evolving situation,” the lawmakers wrote. “We stand ready to work with you as you provide leadership on this vitally important issue, the largest animal health outbreak that the department has ever dealt with.”

“The ongoing HPAI outbreak continues to wreak havoc on turkey producers across the country, underscoring the need for decisive action and proactive solutions. We appreciate Senator Warner joining his Senate colleagues in urging USDA to explore every available tool to mitigate this threat. A comprehensive strategy — including global coordination on a vaccination strategy to ensure minimal trade impact — is critical to protecting poultry health, stabilizing our industry and ensuring consumers have access to safe, affordable turkey products for years to come,” said Leslee Oden, President and CEO, National Turkey Federation.

In the letter, the senators proposed:

• A forward-looking strategy for vaccination in affected laying hens and turkeys;
• Outreach to partners overseas to protect and maintain international trade;
• The establishment of an HPAI Strategic Initiative to engage with industry experts and develop methods for prevention and response;
• Support for states using the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy;
• Ensuring auditors are both in place and qualified to carry out biosecurity assessments; and
• Revising indemnity rates for laying hens and pullets to accurately compensate impacted producers.

In addition to Sen. Warner, the letter was signed by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tedd Budd (R-NC), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Todd Young (R-IN), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), David McCormick (R-PA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS).

A copy of the letter is available here.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in introducing the Antisemitism Awareness Act, legislation to address antisemitic sentiment and actions on college campuses.

In the year following the October 7^th attack, the Anti-Defamation League reported 1,400 antisemitic incidents on campuses across the nation, all-time high, with 73 percent of Jewish students reporting they had witnessed or experienced some form of antisemitism.

“In the wake of the horrific October 7^th terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas, we have seen growing rates religious discrimination across the country. This legislation aims to address the alarming rise of antisemitism on college campuses, and help investigate these reprehensible acts.” Sen. Warner said.

The Antisemitism Awareness Act would require the Department of Education to take into consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The IHRA definition has been used to clarify and identify the various manifestations of antisemitism. Since 2018, the Department of Education has used the IHRA definition when investigating Title VI violations.

In addition to Sens. Warner, Rosen, and Tim Scott, the Antisemitism Awareness Act is sponsored by U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), James Lankford (R-OK), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chris Coons (D-DE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), John Boozman (R-AR), John Fetterman (D-PA), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Gary Peters (D-MI), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Steve Daines (R-MT).

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