WASHINGTON – Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint meeting of Congress, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Jack Reed (D-RI), the Chairs of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to President Biden to support a deal that ends the Gaza conflict, secures the return of all hostages, and ensures Israel’s long-term security through meaningful and tangible steps towards a two-state outcome for Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in equal measures of security, dignity, prosperity, and peace. The Chairs reiterated their commitment to Israel’s greater integration into the region, including through normalizing relations with Saudi Arabia, as part of a comprehensive plan for peace. They underscored that only a holistic approach could break the cycle of violence and counter terrorism, and erode the narrative of the Iranian regime, Hamas, and others who seek to sow chaos and despair in the Middle East. Finally, the Chairs reaffirmed the need for regional partners, with the support of allies, to be committed to and invested in such a future where security for both Israelis and Palestinians is ensured.

“We write to express our strong support for the agreement that immediately would release the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza,” wrote the Chairs. “We commend your focus on moving towards a sustainable and negotiated two-state outcome that ensures Israel’s long-term security as a Jewish and democratic state, living alongside a Palestinian state with equal measures of peace, dignity, and prosperity.”

Full text of the letter is available below:

Dear President Biden:

As the Chairs of the national security committees of the Senate, and in anticipation of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress, we write to express our strong support for the agreement that immediately would release the hostages, and end the conflict in Gaza. We commend your focus on moving towards a sustainable and negotiated two-state outcome that ensures Israel’s long-term security as a Jewish and democratic state, living alongside a Palestinian state with equal measures of peace, dignity, and prosperity. Such an outcome would be anchored in a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia and Israel’s greater regional integration. We applaud this strategic vision that seeks to counter terrorism and destabilization in the Middle East, and build a more hopeful future. Breaking the cycle of violence can only happen through a holistic approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including meaningful and tangible steps to create a viable path to a two-state outcome for both Israelis and Palestinians.

This strategy begins with an agreement to return all hostages held by Hamas and the establishment of a ceasefire in Gaza. The human cost of the October 7 attacks and the months after has been devastating for both Israelis and innocent Palestinians. While Hamas’ military capabilities have been degraded notably, lasting security rests in denying Hamas what it needs to once again govern and control Gaza. A post conflict strategy for Gaza must be comprehensive and done in cooperation with Arab and international partners to address thoroughly pressing humanitarian needs, security challenges, and governance vacuums.

Critically, to ensure lasting security for Israel and greater regional integration, the approach must include meaningful and tangible steps for a future two-state outcome. As you noted in July 2022, this includes “…two states for two peoples, both of whom have deep and ancient roots in this land, living side by side in peace and security. Both states fully respecting the equal rights of the other citizens. Both peoples enjoying equal measures of freedom and dignity.”

Israel, a reformed Palestinian Authority, and regional partners must be prepared to move the West Bank and Gaza towards a future where two peoples live without fear, and with equal measures of security, dignity, and prosperity. In Gaza, this requires a robust humanitarian, security, and governance plan with commitment and investment from the region. In the West Bank, these steps must include a reformed, capable, and accountable Palestinian Authority that can assume responsibility and security for all Palestinians and is ready and willing to fight terrorism in all its forms.

For Israel, this must include reversing the growing trend towards annexing parts of the West Bank. There are some in Israel, including members of the current government, that do not see peace, safety, and dignity for Palestinians as integral to Israel’s security, and who undermine the future of a two-state outcome. That is why any approach must also build on your Administration’s steps to lay bare the violence that targets innocent Palestinians in the West Bank, and to hold accountable those violent extremists who destroy or expropriate Palestinian land and infrastructure. We urge you to stress to Prime Minister Netanyahu the United States’ significant concerns over these trends in the West Bank. We need to make clear that such violent acts do not make Israel or Israelis safer, and that the United States will continue to address these acts, including through sanctions.

Finally, a strategy to achieve all of these objectives requires Israel’s regional integration, including normalized relations with Saudi Arabia, which in turn offers a path to broader regional security and stability with neighbors who are at peace with one another. This will require regional leaders to make difficult choices, but the alternatives are dark, dangerous, and destabilizing. The Iranian regime, through its network of proxies, destabilizes the region, harms international trade, and poses a direct threat to regional security. Failure to deepen regional integration will not only allow narratives by the Iranian regime, Hamas, and others to prevail but also enable it to dictate the pace of events in the Middle East. Broader regional integration must deal with the threat of terrorism head on. But it also must offer the prospect of hope – the hope of a political horizon towards comprehensive peace.

Regional leaders understand these threats and the potential benefits. We saw a demonstration of the threat on April 13 and 14, when Israel, along with its neighbors were the target of Iran’s attack. Regional leaders know they must step up to ensure the region – including Israel – can live in peace and security.

We are under no illusion that this will be easy and we fully understand that diplomacy requires compromise. But the pre-October 7 status quo is not sustainable. In order for the region to chart a new path forward, one that chooses cooperation and partnership over endless conflict, hope must follow the darkness of October 7 and recent months.

We see an opportunity for enduring peace and security for Israel and greater economic and security integration in the Middle East. Our interests and Israel’s interests stand to be enhanced. The potential benefits are manifold, from checking Iran and its proxy militias to supporting greater regional economic, development, and security integration, and preserving our interests against geopolitical competitors in the Middle East. As you said on May 31, “We can’t lose this moment.” We therefore urge you to seize the opportunity and stand resolute in your commitment to a path that can lead to more enduring stability, prosperity, and security for the United States, Israel, and the entire Middle East.

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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) today introduced legislation to provide much-needed tax relief to working artists. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act of 2024 would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA tax deduction), which allows certain performing artists to deduct the cost of expenses incurred in the course of their employment.

The Qualified Performing Artist tax deduction has not been updated since its inception in 1986 and is currently only available to those making less than $16,000 a year, meaning that very few artists qualify. This legislation would update and increase the income ceiling to $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for married joint filers, allowing more lower- and middle-income performing artists to receive tax relief for work-related expenses.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia has a rich culture fueled by small local artists who often use their own funds to subsidize their work,” Sen. Warner said. “I am proud to introduce legislation that updates an outdated tax deduction in order to help more artists cover costs of work-related expenses.”

“I am honored to introduce this legislation in support of North Carolina’s vibrant artistic community,” Sen. Tillis said. “This bill eliminates an unnecessary burden in our tax code, simplifying the path for artists to pursue their creative endeavors.”

Sen. Warner first introduced this legislation in 2021 amid recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic that hit artists especially hard. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act is endorsed by numerous organizations advocating for the rights of emerging artists, including the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, the Actors’ Equity Association, the Theatre Communications Group, and the Recording Academy/GRAMMYs. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Judy Chu (D-CA) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL).  

“The film, television, and streaming industry supports more than 2.74 million jobs nationwide. The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) rightly supports these workers by allowing them to deduct necessary work expenses when filing their taxes. The MPA again joins others in the creative community to proudly endorse the bipartisan PATPA,” said Charles Rivkin, Chairman and CEO, Motion Picture Association.

“The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) is a needed bill that affords hardworking artists tax fairness so they can continue producing art despite the ever-increasing cost of living and supplies,” said Nina Ozlu Tunceli, Executive Director of the Americans for the Arts Action Fund.

“I want to thank Sens. Mark Warner and Thom Tillis for re-introducing this important legislation. They are great champions of the creative professionals that keep our industry successful,” said Fran Drescher, SAG-AFTRA president. “People don't realize how much performers must invest in themselves to be eligible before they secure a paying job. But our Congressional members must know that in order to protect the journeyman performer’s legitimate business deductions. We have been fighting for this legislation because it will allow working class entertainment and media professionals to cope with the escalating increase of their business expenses.”

“The Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) is a top priority for DPE and its affiliate unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries. PATPA will restore tax fairness for middle-class, union creative professionals who have faced steep tax bills since losing the ability to deduct business expenses associated with pursuing their careers. I commend Senators Warner and Tillis for reintroducing PATPA in the Senate,” said Jennifer Dorning, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE).

“The Writers Guild of America East supports the immediate passage of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act. This much-needed bipartisan legislation will reinstate workers’ ability to deduct common work expense,” said Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, President of the Writers Guild of America East.

“RIAA applauds Senators Warner and Tillis’ leadership addressing the unique challenges artists and musicians face under the tax code. We strongly support their effort to establish a more equitable performers’ deduction through their Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA). A healthy creative ecosystem – including fair tax rules – lays the groundwork for more jobs in music and for future stars to break through,” said Mitch Glazier, Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Chairman & CEO.

“Theatre artists accumulate many unique expenses in order to keep creating necessary dialogue, reflection, and art on our nation’s stages,” said Erica Lauren Ortiz, Director of Advocacy & Governance, Theatre Communications Group. “They often create art at personal financial sacrifice, and their investments bring together audiences and stimulate the economy in cities and towns across America. Theatre Communications Group is proud to support the Performing Arts Parity Tax Act, a tax correction that which will place money back into the hands of these working artists, when our field so urgently needs support.”

“I commend Senators Warner and Tillis for championing this commonsense, bipartisan legislation that will help thousands of middle class behind-the-scenes entertainment workers keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets,” said IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb. “The largely freelance nature of the arts and entertainment industry requires IATSE members to spend on necessary expenses to secure and maintain employment. The Senators recognize that entertainment workers deserve tax fairness and should be able to deduct the cost of the equipment, tools, and travel necessary to do their jobs.”

“From stage managers to actors, musicians and stagehands, the overwhelming majority of arts professionals are hardworking Americans who have been paying hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars more in taxes because of an inadvertent oversight when Congress last passed tax reform,” said Brooke Shields, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “Senators Warner and Tillis have introduced a simple bipartisan fix that will level the playing field for arts workers, many of whom spend thousands of dollars out of pocket on business expenses. We’re grateful for the leadership of Senators Warner and Tillis for reintroducing this critical legislation that has the support of workers and employers in the arts community.”

A copy of the bill text can be found here. 

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WASHINGTON –  Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $17.5 million in federal funding for restoration and resiliency projects that benefit coastal communities and tribes across the Commonwealth. The funding was awarded through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience grant program and made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act, which Sens. Warner and Kaine helped pass.

“We are fortunate to have such bountiful natural resources in Virginia, which is why we have championed efforts to protect and support Virginia’s great outdoors,” the Senators said. “This funding will help us continue combating climate change and preserve our beautiful Commonwealth.”

This funding is broken down as follows:

• Ducks Unlimited will receive $9.5 million in funding to restore Swan Cove, the southernmost impoundment at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on Assateague Island.
• The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will receive $8 million in funding to protect eroding marshes at Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area in Isle of Wight County.

NOAA Fisheries’ announcement comes as a part of $286 million soon to be deployed across the nation to support critical ecosystems that will be affected by climate change and extreme weather over the coming decades. Sens. Warner and Kaine are strong advocates for Virginia’s environment. In May, they announced another $14 million in funding for conservation projects across the Commonwealth.

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) wrote to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger to quickly develop and release mandatory minimum cyber standards for the health care sector. This letter comes as cyberattackers continue to exploit vulnerabilities in many current systems.

“I write today to urge you to prioritize the development of mandatory minimum cyber standards and to propose them as soon as possible, given the increasing severity, frequency, and sophistication of cybersecurity threats and attacks. Health care is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy, with health expenditures accounting for 17 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product in 2022, and expected to grow to nearly 20 percent by 2032. More important than the economic risks cyberattacks pose to the health care sector are the vulnerabilities to patients’ access to care and private health information. Simply put, inadequate cybersecurity practices put people’s lives at risk,” Sen. Warner wrote. 

This letter comes months after a major cybersecurity incident at Change Healthcare affected billing and care authorization portals and led to prescription backlogs and missed revenue for providers. This attack, and other similar attempts, pose a serious risk not only to regular business operations, but also to patient care. In his letter, Sen. Warner highlighted that without basic security measures, these attacks are relatively easy to carry out and will happen with more frequency.  

Sen. Warner continued, “Due to some entities failing to implement basic cybersecurity best practices, such as the lack of multi-factor authentication resulting in the successful attack on Change Healthcare, the capability required of a threat actor to carry out an operation in the sector can be quite low.”

Sen. Warner has been a leader in the cybersecurity realm throughout his time in the Senate, crafting numerous pieces of legislation aimed at addressing these threats facing our nation. Recognizing that cybersecurity is an increasingly complex issue that affects the health, economic prosperity, national security, and democratic institutions of the United States, Sen. Warner cofounded the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus in 2016.  A year later, in 2017, he authored the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act. This legislation, signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2020, requires that any IoT device purchased with federal funds meet minimum security standards. As Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Sen. Warner co-authored legislation that requires companies responsible for U.S. critical infrastructure report cybersecurity incidents to the government. This legislation was signed into law by President Joe Biden as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act in March 2022.

Sen. Warner has also examined cybersecurity in the health care sector specifically. In 2022, Sen. Warner authored “Cybersecurity is Patient Safety,” a policy options paper, outlining current cybersecurity threats facing health care providers and systems and offering for discussion a series of policy solutions to improve cybersecurity across the industry.  Since publishing, Sen. Warner has launched the Health Care Cybersecurity Working Group with a bipartisan group of colleagues to examine and propose potential legislative solutions to strengthen cybersecurity in the health care and public health sector.

A copy of the letter can be found here are below. 

Dear Secretary Becerra and Ms. Neuberger:

Thank you for your continued commitment to improving cybersecurity in America’s health care system. I write today to urge you to prioritize the development of mandatory minimum cyber standards and to propose them as soon as possible, given the increasing severity, frequency, and sophistication of cybersecurity threats and attacks. Health care is one of the largest sectors in the U.S. economy, with health expenditures accounting for 17 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product in 2022, and expected to grow to nearly 20 percent by 2032. More important than the economic risks cyberattacks pose to the health care sector are the vulnerabilities to patients’ access to care and private health information. Simply put, inadequate cybersecurity practices put people’s lives at risk.

Financially-motivated threat actors realize that the sector has both highly valuable data in its possession and also faces tremendous pressure to respond quickly to a ransomware demand. Health records are more valuable than credit card records on the dark market and disruptions to operations of health care providers have direct impact on the life and well-being of their patients. Due to some entities failing to implement basic cybersecurity best practices, such as the lack of multi-factor authentication resulting in the successful attack on Change Healthcare, the capability required of a threat actor to carry out an operation in the sector can be quite low.

Further, both the size and increasingly interconnected nature of the sector create a vulnerable attack surface. Not only do attacks against the sector often result in the loss of highly personal and sensitive data, those attacks have also affected the ability of providers to maintain the availability and quality of their care. We have seen devastating incidents, including the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare, that ultimately took down the ability of providers to pay their workers and prevented pharmacists from looking up patient insurance and co-pay information. The recent cyberattack on the nationwide provider, Ascension, has also resulted in delays in care. And we have a growing body of evidence that clearly demonstrates that cybersecurity is, above all else, a patient safety issue.

The health care sector must be fully engaged in developing, implementing, and maintaining a coherent and effective cybersecurity regime; accepting cyberattacks due to lack of preparedness cannot and should not be a cost of doing business. The stakes are too high, and the voluntary nature of the status quo is not working, especially regarding health care stakeholders that are systemically important nationally or regionally. Mandatory minimum cyber standards would ensure that all health care stakeholders prioritize cybersecurity in their work. 

Policymakers, cybersecurity professionals, and patients alike have long been raising the alarm that the voluntary nature of cybersecurity in health care is insufficient and dangerous. It’s critical that the Administration expeditiously act to create mandatory, enforceable policies in the health care sector.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, (both D-VA) announced $17,136,632 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Labor will be coming to Virginia to support workforce development, expand Registered Apprenticeship programming, and benefit public-private partnerships across a range of industries, including K-12 education, clean energy, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.

“Creating jobs is one of our top priorities, which is why we were proud to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act,” said the Senators. “But it’s equally important that Virginians can access the training they need to harness new opportunities, including the many jobs those bills have produced. We’re thrilled that $17 million in resources is coming to the Commonwealth to help put those kinds of high-quality training programs within reach.”

The funding coming will be allocated as follows:

• The Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement will receive two allocations of funding totaling $7,136,652 to support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship in industries such as K-12 education, transportation, clean energy, supply chain, hospitality, care economy, and other public sector occupations. The Department will distribute the funding to entities throughout Virginia.
• The Hampton Roads Workforce Council in Norfolk will receive $6,000,000 to support public-private partnerships that serve a range of industries and individuals to better workforce in in-demand fields.
• Northern Virginia Community College in Annandale will receive $3,999,980 to support public-private partnerships that serve a range of industries and individuals to better workforce in in-demand fields.

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded an announcement from the Department of Energy that Mack and Volvo Trucks will be awarded over $208 million in federal funding through the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant Program. The funding was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, which the senators voted to pass. The funding will upgrade operations, sustain 7,900 union jobs, and create 295 new jobs in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. In Virginia, it will support electric heavy-duty vehicle production at Volvo’s New River Valley (NRV) truck manufacturing facility by creating a mixed model assembly line. Warner and Kaine wrote a letter in support of Mack and Volvo Trucks’ application earlier this year.

“I am thrilled to see today’s announcement investing in the domestic manufacturing of clean vehicles. This funding, courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act I was proud to help pass, will help transform Volvo’s work in the New River Valley, bringing jobs to the region and boosting the local economy,” said Sen. Warner. “This funding will also continue to bring American manufacturing into the 21st century by boosting the production of electric heavy-duty vehicles and the necessary infrastructure to support these vehicles.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act, which we passed in the Senate by one vote, made historic investments to increase domestic manufacturing of electric vehicles to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help ensure clean air for generations to come,” said Sen. Kaine. “And now those investments are coming to Volvo Trucks to expand its operations in the New River Valley. I was glad to visit Volvo’s Dublin plant last year to see the hard work of the facility’s employees and test drive an electric truck. I’m thrilled to see how this investment will create jobs, expand the facility’s capacity and production, and boost economic growth in the region.”

NRV is the largest Volvo Trucks manufacturing facility in the world. Volvo Trucks is the second largest employer in the New River Valley, sustaining 3,600 jobs in Dublin, including 3,200 United Automobile Workers (UAW) jobs. In April 2023, Kaine toured the Volvo Trucks NRV facility in Dublin, met with employees, and drove a Volvo VNR Electric truck.

The Inflation Reduction Act provided $2 billion in grants for the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant Program to increase domestic production of efficient hybrid, plug-in electric hybrid, plug-in electric drive, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles.

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WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to advance the Reproductive Freedom for Women Act, Warner-cosponsored legislation that would affirm the Senate’s support for protecting and restoring access to abortion and reproductive health care across the country:

“In the two years since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, we have seen unprecedented attacks on women’s reproductive health care in Virginia and across the country. This legislation posed a simple question – do you support protecting access to abortion and reproductive care? I am disappointed by how many of my colleagues answered ‘no’ today, but I will continue working to ensure that women have the right to make their own decisions about their health care.”

Following the Dobbs decision, Sen. Warner has strongly advocated for legislation to protect Americans’ access to reproductive health care. Earlier this year, Sen. Warner cosponsored and voted to pass the Right to IVF Act, legislation that would have protected and expanded access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) services nationwide, as well as the Right to Contraception Act, legislation to codify a right to birth control. Both of these efforts were blocked by Republicans. Last year, Sen. Warner also cosponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA), federal legislation to guarantee access to abortion care across the country.

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WASHINGTON —Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA-03) applauded the announcement that LS GreenLink is investing $681 million in Chesapeake to build a state-of-the-art facility to manufacture high-voltage subsea cables used for offshore wind farms. LS GreenLink is building the facility thanks to $100 million in tax credits that were made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which incentivizes clean energy investments. The facility marks the first offshore wind cable manufacturer in the United States and is expected to create over 330 jobs.

“The Inflation Reduction Act continues to deliver. Thanks to this once-in-a-generation legislation, the clean energy industry is growing, and Virginia is benefiting,” said Sen. Warner. “This LS GreenLink facility will help support the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry, bring hundreds of jobs to Hampton Roads, and spur investment the region.”

“I’m thrilled hundreds of clean energy manufacturing jobs are headed to Virginia thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act we passed by one vote,” said Sen. Kaine. “LS GreenLink’s decision to build a facility in Chesapeake is a testament to Hampton Roads’ talented workforce and strong community. This new facility is a win for workers, our economy, and all who rely on clean energy.”  

“Hampton Roads is leading the way in offshore wind production. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s inclusion of the Offshore Wind Manufacturing Act, which I co-led with my colleagues, LS GreenLink will be able to utilize tax credits for projects that expand clean energy. Their investment in this new facility in Chesapeake will play a key role in building the domestic green energy supply chain. This investment in Hampton Roads is bringing high-paying jobs to our local economy and boosting our community's transition towards clean, affordable energy,” said Rep. Scott.

“LS GreenLink’s investment in Virginia will showcase the Commonwealth as a leader in offshore wind industry manufacturing,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin. “LS GreenLink has recognized that Virginia has the skilled talent, world-class logistics location, and business environment that will allow it to serve its growing global customers for submarine power cables.”

Sens. Warner, Kaine, and Rep. Scott wrote a letter to the Department of Energy to advocate for IRA funding for the project.

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WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced $50,591,220 in federal funding for Fairfax County to purchase new low-emission diesel-electric hybrid buses under the county’s fleet replacement plan. The funding, made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enable the Fairfax transit agency to buy and lease U.S.-built low- or no-emission vehicles, make facility and station upgrades, and buy support equipment for low- and no-emission buses.

“Robust public transit systems are vital to helping Virginians get where they need to go and investing in green infrastructure is key to our future,” said the Senators. “We’re proud to have supported the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has already brought billions to Virginia and now will invest an additional $50 million to improve public transit options in Fairfax County and boost air quality by reducing emissions.”

The Fairfax County Connector Hybrid Bus Procurement project is a part of the Low- or No-Emission grant program, which makes federal resources available to transit agencies to acquire low- and no-emission vehicles. Managed by the Federal Transit Administration, this program has funded more than 1,100 American-made buses in 47 states. These environmentally friendly buses reduce air pollution and help meet President Biden’s goal of zero emissions by the year 2050.

Sens. Warner and Kaine were proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) — landmark legislation that made this funding possible and brings critical investments to our communities to fix crumbling roadways, bolster public transit systems, bridge the broadband gap, and strengthen our coastal resiliency. As of November 2023, two years after President Biden signed the BIL into law, Virginia had received over $8.4 billion in funding to benefit Virginians across the Commonwealth.

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WASHINGTON – Today, ahead of the Fourth of July holiday, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner  and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are urging the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to work with American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) International, a nonprofit that recently released safety standards to address hazards posed by detached and flyaway beach umbrellas, to evaluate and finalize these new standards.

CPSC estimates that nearly 3,000 individuals across the country are sent to the emergency room each year due to umbrella-related accidents. This includes last week’s incident in Cocoa Beach, Florida, as well as the tragic 2016 death of Lottie Michelle Belk of Chester, Va. who was struck in the torso and killed while vacationing in Virginia Beach with her family.

“As we enter the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with millions of Americans enjoying our country’s beaches, lakes, and rivers, it is vital that beachgoers are safe from dislodged beach umbrellas. Improperly secured umbrellas can result in death or serious injury. We believe that recent actions by CPSC and the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), including the release earlier this year of the ASTM F3681-24 safety standard, are good steps forward. We urge CPSC and industry to work together quickly to finish any outstanding suggested improvements or other modifications to this standard,” the Senators wrote.

They continued, “As the Beach Umbrellas Task Group continues to consider additional guidance and safety improvements to the ASTM F3681-24 standard, it is important that the group move swiftly and with thoroughness. We encourage the group to evaluate the full scope and harm of unsecured beach umbrellas to maximize safety for beachgoers.”

This letter is the latest push by Sens. Warner and Kaine to ensure the safety and wellbeing of beachgoers. In 2019 letter to CPSC, they drew attention to the unexpected danger of flying beach umbrellas to beachgoers, and in 2021 the Senators pushed ASTM International for increased safety measures. These efforts culminated in ASTM’s release of new safety standards earlier this year.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Chair Hoen-Saric:

We write today requesting swift action by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ensure that beach umbrellas sold in the United States are safe for consumers and the public. To achieve this goal, we urge the Beach Umbrella Task Group within CPSC to finalize strong and clear consumer safety guidance for the design, manufacture, and use of beach umbrellas and anchor devices.

As we enter the Fourth of July holiday weekend, with millions of Americans enjoying our country’s beaches, lakes, and rivers, it is vital that beachgoers are safe from dislodged beach umbrellas. Improperly secured umbrellas can result in death^[3] or serious injury.^[4] We believe that recent actions by CPSC and the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), including the release earlier this year of the ASTM F3681-24 safety standard, are good steps forward. We urge CPSC and industry to work together quickly to finish any outstanding suggested improvements or other modifications to this standard.

Following our sustained engagement on this issue over the last several years, the CPSC has worked with ASTM and other industry stakeholders to develop the ASTM F3681-24 safety standard and released it in April 2024. ASTM F3681-24 establishes minimum requirements for the safe anchoring of beach umbrellas, which should protect beachgoers from dislodged and airborne umbrellas.

As the Beach Umbrellas Task Group continues to consider additional guidance and safety improvements to the ASTM F3681-24 standard, it is important that the group move swiftly and with thoroughness. We encourage the group to evaluate the full scope and harm of unsecured beach umbrellas to maximize safety for beachgoers.

We appreciate your attention to this critical and timely matter and urge CPSC to work with industry stakeholders to strengthen protections for consumers across the Commonwealth and nation.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON – Following significant problems with the rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) this year, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) are urging the Department of Education Office of Inspector General (OIG) to issue a quick review of problems with the form’s rollout and provide a course for corrective action. This move by Sens. Warner and Kaine comes as incoming high school seniors across the country prepare to fill out the FAFSA form as part of the college application process that typically begins in the late summer and early fall.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is currently investigating a broader and full-scale review of the 2024-2025 FAFSA rollout. While GAO and the IG are working together on this review, it is on a longer timeline and likely will not be complete when the FAFSA reopens this fall. The faster “management alert” review being requested by the Senators would focus on the immediate problems that need to be resolved ahead of relaunching the application.

In highlighting the need for a faster review to address urgent problems ahead of next school year, the Senators pointed to the cost that these problems had on students.

“In particular, issues with the form leading to long periods of uncertainty have had a major ripple effect on students and colleges alike,” the Senators wrote. “Students experienced delayed access to the application, technical glitches impacting timely submission, and processing errors. As a result of these setbacks, higher education institutions received student financial data months later than expected, causing slowdowns in the process of providing prospective students with complete financial aid packages ahead of college enrollment deadlines. Many colleges and universities pushed their enrollment deadlines, leading to fragmentation in the college decision timeline.”

And while significant progress has been made to address these issues, the Senators highlighted that lingering issues are still plaguing many who rely on financial aid to make their college decision.

They continued, “And, while most problems have been fully resolved or provided temporary fixes, we remain concerned about continuing challenges, including that students from a mixed immigration status family and whose contributors do not have a Social Security Number are still unable to successfully submit the FAFSA form. Such FAFSA hurdles particularly impact individuals who need financial aid the most, including low-income, first-generation, and traditionally underserved students. For many of these students, the biggest consideration in committing to a college is deciding how to finance it.”

In their letter the Senators also specifically asked that the OIG, in working with GAO, ensure that the broader FAFSA review includes a full assessment of the following:

• A detailed chronology of the development, implementation, and management of the form;
• Contributing factors to the form delay, technical malfunctions and backend complications, formula miscalculations, data and processing errors, and other issues;
• The role of contractors in the launch of the FAFSA form;
• The Department’s oversight, performance standards, and review of contractors;
• The Department’s communication and information sharing with impacted communities, including students and higher education institutions;
• The impact of funding and other competing priorities on implementation;
• The deadline for implementation, which was pushed from July 1, 2023 to July, 1, 2024;[10]
• Potential challenges that the Department will need to anticipate ahead of the coming academic year and beyond; and
• Recommendations for corrective action.

This letter comes after Sen. Warner met with Virginia students to discuss the problems with this year’s rollout of the new FAFSA form and hear how the botched process impacted their college decision process. Earlier this year, the Senators also pushed the Department of Education to quickly address the problems for current students.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Inspector General Bruce:

We write to you regarding the launch of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which was unveiled on December 31, 2023. In 2020, Congress passed the FAFSA Simplification Act1 , intending to streamline and demystify the federal financial aid process, redesign the FAFSA, and increase access to grants, student loans, and work-study opportunities. 

The “Better FAFSA” form impressively simplified the federal financial aid application from over 100 questions to as few as 18, allowing many students to retrieve income data directly from the Internal Revenue Service and apply for aid in less than thirty minutes. According to the Department of Education, the updated student aid determination formula, as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act, is expected to provide an additional 665,000 students from low-income backgrounds with access to federal grants and more than 1.7 million students with the maximum grant amount. This includes 16,626 Virginia students who will have new access to the Pell Grant and an additional 37,916 Virginians who will go from partial Pell Grant funding to full, expanding affordability and paving paths towards higher education.

Despite this progress, we are disappointed to report that we have heard from countless students, parents, educators, high school counselors, financial aid administrators, and higher education institutions sharing their experiences and expressing great worry with the implications of the 2024-2025 FAFSA rollout.

In particular, issues with the form leading to long periods of uncertainty have had a major ripple effect on students and colleges alike. Students experienced delayed access to the application, technical glitches impacting timely submission, and processing errors. As a result of these setbacks, higher education institutions received student financial data months later than expected, causing slowdowns in the process of providing prospective students with complete financial aid packages ahead of college enrollment deadlines. Many colleges and universities pushed their enrollment deadlines, leading to fragmentation in the college decision timeline.

We welcomed the Department’s efforts over the last few months to provide workarounds to some of aforementioned issues and new steps to support schools and students,6 which has resulted in the successful submission of 8.95 million forms.7 However, the FAFSA impediments and other persisting obstacles have, unfortunately, left prospective students with inadequate time to consider financial aid packages prior to college decision day. In some cases, students have had to commit to a school without a complete understanding of their aid or forgo enrolling in school altogether – the exact opposite of what the new form was intended to achieve.

And, while most problems have been fully resolved or provided temporary fixes, we remain concerned about continuing challenges, including that students from a mixed immigration status family and whose contributors do not have a Social Security Number are still unable to successfully submit the FAFSA form. Such FAFSA hurdles particularly impact individuals who need financial aid the most, including low-income, first-generation, and traditionally underserved students. For many of these students, the biggest consideration in committing to a college is deciding how to finance it.

Further, recent data demonstrates that current national and state-level FAFSA completion rates are lower than last year. According to the National College Attainment Network, as of May 17, only 41.5% of the high school class of 2024 completed the FAFSA – a 15.5% drop from the previous class.8 We are greatly concerned that, as a result of FAFSA related issues and the continuation of such issues, more students will consider opting out of pursuing higher education in the coming years.

We recognize that the Department of Education, and in particular, the Office of Federal Student Aid, was under a difficult implementation timeline while managing limited funding and resources for an extensive financial aid portfolio. We also want to highlight that the contractors responsible for overseeing the implementation played a leading role in the deployment of the form and ensuing complications.

As such, we express great concern with the deployment of the 2024-2025 FAFSA form and the potential consequences it will have on students seeking federal financial aid and pursuing higher education in the fall and the academic years after. We also are concerned about the potential for continued disruptions for the 2025-2026 FAFSA. That is why, we respectfully request that the Office of the Inspector General review and assess the development, implementation, and management of the “Better FAFSA” and swiftly provide direction for corrective action to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted application process for the upcoming academic year and beyond.

We are cognizant of the existing investigations currently open by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). We ask the Office of the Investigative General (OIG) work to ensure that both entities are working in coordination and that investigative efforts are not duplicative. We also understand that GAO investigations operate on a long-term scale and that the current issues regarding the 2024-2025 FAFSA are time sensitive because of the expected to roll out on October 1, 2024. Notwithstanding the GAO investigations, we ask that the OIG consider issuing a separate “management alert” that identifies that current issues with the FAFSA form, potential issues that may arise ahead of October 1, and recommendations to ensure a smooth application period.

Additionally, we ask that your larger and full review of the “Better FAFSA” form and the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act include, along with any other topics you find appropriate, include a full assessment of the following:

• A detailed chronology of the development, implementation, and management of the form;
• Contributing factors to the form delay, technical malfunctions and backend complications, formula miscalculations, data and processing errors, and other issues;
• The role of contractors in the launch of the FAFSA form;
• The Department’s oversight, performance standards, and review of contractors;
• The Department’s communication and information sharing with impacted communities, including students and higher education institutions;
• The impact of funding and other competing priorities on implementation;
• The deadline for implementation, which was pushed from July 1, 2023 to July, 1, 2024;[10]
• Potential challenges that the Department will need to anticipate ahead of the coming academic year and beyond; and
• Recommendations for corrective action.

The FAFSA form is a gateway to college accessibility and affordability and through this review and recommendations for improvement, we aim to ensure that doors to postsecondary institutions remain open to interested students.

We appreciate your prompt attention to this request.

Sincerely,

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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act, legislation that will renew critical grant programs that fund essential equipment and resources for fire stations, and also help hire, train, and retain new firefighters. Originally passed by the Senate in 2023, today’s final passage also includes Warner-supported provisions that will promote nuclear energy deployment across the country.

“During my visits to fire stations across the Commonwealth, I’ve seen firsthand how these grant programs help stations hire and retain firefighters and secure important equipment upgrades. Firefighters put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our communities safe – the least we can do is make sure they have the equipment and the personnel they need to do their jobs safely. I’m glad we finally got this legislation across the finish line, and I’m also happy to see it take important steps forward in another critical arena – improving the nuclear regulatory space. This legislation invests in our clean energy future by cutting senseless red tape, promoting American energy independence, and paving the way to bring more green jobs and infrastructure to communities across Virginia,” said Sen. Warner. 

Specifically, this legislation would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which provides funding to help firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. It would also reauthorize the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, which provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "frontline" firefighters available in their communities. Finally, it would reauthorize and increase funding for the United States Fire Administration (USFA), the lead federal agency for fire data collection, fire research, and fire service training.

Since 2015, 273 AFG grants and 77 SAFER grants have been awarded to communities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2023, 37 awards were made to localities and fire departments across Virginia totaling over $25 million in funding.

In 2023, the following entities in Virginia received 26 awards totaling over $6 million in funding through the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant program:

• Isle of Wight County received $959,020
• The City of Lynchburg received $830,636
• The City of Alexandria received $600,000
• Frederick County received $463,450
• Franklin County received $438,238
• Chesterfield County received $313,880
• City of Hopewell received $294,645
• Loudoun County Fire & Rescue received $278,345
• Virginia Department of Fire received $203,736
• Patrick-Henry Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. received $186,857
• City of Portsmouth received $177,272
• Poquoson Fire/Rescue received $172,095
• The Bland County Volunteer Fire Department received $163,476
• Prince Edward County received $162,585
• Buena Vista Firefighters received $158,914
• Bloxom Volunteer Fire Co received $150,000
• Couple District Volunteer Fire Department received $130,144
• The Courtland Volunteer Fire Department received $130,144
• Dolphin Volunteer Fire Department received $126,433
• Brumley Gap Vol. Fire Department received $102,857
• City of Danville Municipal Building received $83,740
• Forest Volunteer Fire Co Foundation received $83,515
• The Scruggs Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Franklin County received $66,666
• Brookville-Timberville Volunteer Fire Department received $53,181
• Natural Bridge Volunteer Fire Department received $33,034
• Woodstock Fire Department received $19,047

In 2023, the following entities in Virginia received 11 awards totaling over $19 million in funding through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program:

• The County of Albemarle received $7,146,642
• The City of Suffolk received $4,115,448
• The City of Manassas Park received $3,582,866
• International Association of Fire Chiefs received $2,667,697
• Rappahannock County received $561,617
• Goochland County received $556,972
• The Town of Chatham received $204,804
• Greene County received $176,445

• The Woodstock Fire Department received $133,043
• Hanover County received $41,800
• Stephens City Fire and Rescue Company in Frederick County received $21,068

The Fire Grants and Safety Act also contains provisions from the Warner-supported ADVANCE Act, bipartisan legislation that would make it easier to build nuclear power infrastructure. More specifically, the Fire Grants and Safety Act will facilitate American leadership in nuclear energy, reduce regulatory costs associated with licensing nuclear reactors, incentivize the development of next-generation reactors, strengthen the nuclear fuel supply chain, and allow the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to modernize and address staffing issues. Sen. Warner, a strong supporter of nuclear energy, recently launched the Senate Advanced Nuclear Caucus and has pushed directly on the Department of Defense to ensure consistent, reliable power sources for critical missions, including through the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactors.  

Sen. Warner is a strong supporter of our firefighters across the Commonwealth, and previously voted to pass the Fire Grants and Safety Act in April 2023. Since then, he has visited fire stations in Richmond and Suffolk to highlight the urgent need to secure final passage of this legislation. Following wildfires across the Shenandoah Valley earlier this year, Sen. Warner met with first responders in Harrisonburg to discuss federal resources for firefighters.

This legislation recently passed with a huge bipartisan margin in the House of Representatives. It now heads to President Biden’s desk.

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