Tim Kaine
DFor decades, Head Start has given millions of kids the education and health care they need to thrive. This National Head Start Awareness Month, let’s continue to push back against the Trump-Vance Administration’s attacks on the program and invest in our children.
Are we really surprised? Donald Trump’s failed economic agenda, his foolish and illegal war, and his ridiculous tariffs are driving up costs and hurting American families. Virginians can’t afford more of this, and I’ll keep fighting to bring costs down.
Inflation just jumped 3.7%. Gas prices are up 9.1% from a month ago as Trump’s illegal war with Iran drags on. America can’t afford another two years of a Republican-led Congress that won’t stand up to Trump while he runs our economy into the ground. https://t.co/eXnqPf7ygR
The Chesapeake Bay—which is key to Virginia's economy and way of life—is the healthiest it has been in at least 40 years! But there's still work to do, and President Trump's repeal of an executive order to help clean it up threatens our progress. I'll keep pushing for improvement. https://t.co/uhRCbRZGMz
Happy 251st birthday to the @USNavy! Virginia is proud to have the largest naval base in the world and be home to so many Sailors and their families. As Ranking Member of the Senate Seapower Subcommittee, I will keep working to support our servicemembers and military families.
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the history and contributions of indigenous communities. It’s been an honor to get to work with Virginia’s tribes, including on federal recognition of six of them. I’ll keep working to support Virginia’s tribes.
Go Army! We’ve got some tricks up our sleeve for today’s game against Tulane. https://t.co/vnSiKpbrwq
Trump playing silly word games while wars and tariffs punish everyday folks? Plus . . . it should be “anyone WHO uses the term” not “THAT uses the term.” Unless he’s including bots and AI agents as the ENEMY now. Paranoid sad sack. https://t.co/DVpDiVEMoA
1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer during their life. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we recommit to doing more to support survivors and expand access to screenings and treatment. I encourage you to get screened!
The Virginia Department of Education posted annual school performance data this week. Very proud of great progress for many of my hometown Richmond schools. A special shoutout to Holston High in Washington County for its amazing performance. https://t.co/jGgX3DJNHH
My statement on three years since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack against Israel https://t.co/4EGoyfvHRf
During National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we raise awareness about substance use disorder and stand with those in treatment and recovery. We’ve done a lot to expand access to substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery programs, but we can do more. Virginians in need of support should call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We all have a role to play in addressing domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Coal miners make great sacrifices to keep our nation running. I was glad to host a forum with the National Black Lung Association to discuss how we can better support miners suffering from black lung disease and ensure they have protections in place to protect their safety. https://t.co/SMOmNEnFJO
Veterans deserve to know that help is there when they need it. I’m proud to have worked with @MarkWarner to secure over $4.1 million to expand suicide prevention efforts and connect Virginia veterans and their families with the support and resources they need.
80% of Americans say finding and affording child care is a major problem. This hurts families and our economy. Instead of building ballrooms and starting new wars, we should pass my Child Care for Working Families Act to cap costs and raise wages for providers. https://t.co/nhXaWcu7cl
On World Teachers’ Day, we celebrate the educators who inspire students and uplift communities. As the proud dad of an early childhood educator and husband of a professor, I know how much they do to invest in the next generation. Thank you!
What an embarrassment for a great nation to have a leader who no one would ever encourage their children to emulate. https://t.co/QaCh2KgUb5
It was great to vote early in Richmond this morning! Proud to cast my vote for my amazing wife @AnneHolton for school board and @JennMcClellanVA for VA-04. Make your plan to vote, check your registration, and make your voice heard: https://t.co/oJNZNbtzLb https://t.co/wRbux1UlFx
I’m relieved Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, who has been unjustly detained in Azerbaijan, has been permitted to receive essential medical care in Germany. I've been advocating for his release. Now, Azerbaijan must drop the charges and allow Gubad to reunite with his Virginia-based family.
Eight years ago today, the Saudi government directed the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Virginia resident and journalist dedicated to shining a light on the truth. As we honor his memory, we must remember his courage, continue to fight for accountability for those behind his murder, and recommit ourselves to defending the freedom of the press around the world.
President Trump canceled over $800 million in funding that Congress approved and he signed into law. What was the funding for? Education, housing, small businesses, and health research. He wants ballrooms and arches for himself and cuts for everyone else. https://t.co/RNDjxsW96x
Americans pay into Social Security their entire working lives. They need to understand what benefits they’re entitled to so they can make informed decisions about retirement. I’m glad that my bipartisan bill to make that information clearer is going to the President's desk.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) introduced the Support for Universities and Colleges to Champion the Educational Success of Survivors (SUCCESS) Act and the Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act—bicameral legislation to prevent campus sexual assault and improve support for student survivors. The SUCCESS Act, which is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and John Fetterman (D-PA) would help improve academic outcomes for student survivors and ensure colleges and universities have the resources to support them. The Survivor Outreach and Support on Campus Act, or S.O.S. Campus Act, would require every college and university that receives federal funding to have an independent advocate dedicated to campus sexual assault prevention and response. This legislation is also cosponsored by Senators Booker and Fetterman. “Every student deserves to live and learn in a healthy and safe environment. We must do everything we can to prevent sexual assault on college campuses and provide comprehensive support to survivors,” said Kaine. “I’m proud to introduce these bills to help ensure survivors can access medical care, counseling, and the academic support they need to heal and continue pursuing their educational and professional goals.” “Every student deserves to feel safe on their college campus and to know that if they experience sexual violence, they will be supported and taken seriously. The urgency to act has been put into sharp relief as we learn more about the horrific allegations coming out of Cornell,” said Dingell. “These bills will give colleges and universities more tools to prevent sexual violence, support survivors, and help ensure students can continue their education in a safe and supportive environment. No student should ever have to choose between their safety and their education.” “Colleges have a responsibility to help survivors of sexual violence cope with the trauma of an assault. Yet colleges expect survivors to seek out medical and mental health services on their own, stay on track academically, and feel safe in the same environment where the violence occurred,” said Booker. “It’s unfair to make survivors carry this weight. Every institution of higher education should provide the support survivors need.” “Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that their college campuses stand with them. No student should have to choose between their education and getting the support they need after experiencing sexual assault,” said Durbin. “The SUCCESS Act ensures that students have access to the resources and support networks they need to continue their education and achieve their goals.” “What kind of message does it send to survivors of sexual violence on our campuses if we hear their stories and don’t do anything to help prevent it from happening again? I can’t imagine that kind of unimaginable pain,” said Fetterman. “Today, my colleagues and I are doing something about it. These bills will not only help in the prevention of this violence, but it will help survivors with the resources they need and to continue pursuing their dreams.” Sexual violence can impact student survivors physically, psychologically, emotionally, and academically. Survivors may face difficulty learning and retaining information, lower grade point averages, and a greater risk of dropping out of school. College and university students deserve the ability to learn without fear of sexual violence, and higher education institutions have an obligation to do everything they can to provide a safe learning environment for their students. The legislation would help colleges and universities provide comprehensive guidance, resources, and support for survivors to make campuses a safer place to learn. The S.O.S. Campus Act would require campuses to have an independent advocate to conduct public information campaigns on sexual assault prevention and ensure that survivors of sexual assault have access to: Emergency and follow-up medical care, Guidance on reporting assaults to law enforcement Medical forensic or evidentiary exams, Crisis intervention, ongoing counseling, and assistance throughout the process, and Information on their legal rights. The legislation would also require universities to consult with or partner with local rape crisis centers and other community-based organizations to ensure survivors can access the services they need. The SUCCESS Act would provide funding for universities and colleges to: Provide higher education re-entry assistance for student survivors of sexual assault and other forms of violence; Increase training for faculty and administrators on patient-centered care and recognizing signs of trauma; Provide patient-centered professional development training for academic advisors and counselors; Provide academic accommodations for students experiencing trauma, such as patient-centered training for tutors or the establishment of a confidential tutoring program specifically designed to assist student survivors of sexual assault and other violence; Increase mental health services for student survivors of sexual assault and other violence; and Create or enhance a fund for survivors of sexual assault and other violence to use for wrap-around services like housing, health care, and mental health treatment. The S.O.S. Campus Act and the SUCCESS Act are endorsed by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN). Full text of the S.O.S. Campus Act is available here. Full text of the SUCCESS Act is available here. ###
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) celebrated Senate passage of the Claiming Age Clarity Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced with U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME), to help Americans make better-informed decisions that help them live a more financially-secure retirement. Specifically, it would change language to make it clearer to Americans about the impact that claiming Social Security benefits at different ages would have on their benefit amounts. “Americans pay into Social Security their entire working lives, and it’s important that they understand what benefits they’re entitled to so they can make informed decisions about their retirement,” said Kaine. “This bipartisan legislation will make that vital information clearer. I’m glad that both chambers have now passed this bill, and I urge the President to sign it.” Social Security benefits are available to Americans starting at age 62, but those who choose to receive their benefits later receive greater monthly payments, with the highest payments available to those who wait until age 70 to begin claiming benefits. Many Americans do not begin claiming benefits at the age that will maximize their total income in retirement, and research has shown that the terminology the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses often leads to confusion. To take steps toward alleviating this problem, this legislation would clarify the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) terminology, ending the use of the confusing terms “early eligibility age,” “full retirement age,” and “delayed retirement credits,” and replacing them with “minimum monthly benefit age,” “standard monthly benefit age,” and “maximum monthly benefit age,” respectively. Full text of the legislation is available here. ###