WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following floor statement on July 28, 2021: * * * U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger today urged the U.S. State Department to protect U.S. personnel following a series of mysterious incidents directed against U.S. diplomats and federal employees -- often called "Havana Syndrome" attacks. "Havana Syndrome" describes reports of abnormal health conditions that first surfaced among more than 40 U.S. Embassy staff in Havana, Cuba in 2016. Since then, reports have identifi more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Don Beyer, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today introduced the Digital Asset Market Structure and Investor Protection Act, legislation that would protect consumers and promote innovation by incorporating digital assets into existing financial regulatory structures. "Innovation in the digital asset sector is creating new goods and services every day as well as many new, high-quality jobs. The United States should provide a legal and regulatory environment which  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Bob Good, R-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Bob Good (VA-05) testified to the House Rules Committee on an amendment he offered on H.R. 4502 that would strike a provision that prohibits federal funds from being used to implement any limitation on federal employees' telework or union activities performed on official time or in federal office space. Congressman Good's amendment comes after unprecedented backlogs at the U.S. State Department of over 2 million passport applications as fe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 27, 2021: Congresswoman Elaine Luria today participated in the first hearing of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol. In her questions to four law enforcement officers who were on the frontlines of the attack, Congresswoman Luria invoked the oath she first swore as a 17-year-old at the U.S. Naval Academy, many times during the course of her 20 years of military service, and twice as a member of Congress. "O more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. A. Donald McEachin, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) announced two grants, totaling $445,350, from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to fund health-related research. One grant will go to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) for $199,850 to research improvements for inhalers. The second grant will go to the Virginia Department of Health to research injury prevention for $245,500. "This wide range of research is crucial to the hea more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. David McKinley, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: Congressman McKinley released draft legislation to remove liability protections for social media and hold them accountable for the sale of illegal drugs on their sites. It is part of a comprehensive package of bills released by Energy and Commerce Republicans that are focused on holding Big Tech accountable by improving transparency and content moderation accountability, reforming Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, promo more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Carol Miller, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 4502, which includes the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for the Fiscal Year 2022. The amendment would increase funding for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) research by $1 million at the Centers for Disease Control, bringing the total amount of funding to $3.25 million. Congresswoman Miller's amendment passe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-Virginia, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on July 28, 2021: * * * Chairman Bobby Scott released the following statement in response to Governor Ralph Northam's proposal to dedicate $500 million in American Rescue Plan funding to help schools repair and upgrade ventilation systems, or complete other air quality projects. "I applaud Governor Northam's proposal to dedicate additional American Rescue Plan funding to helping schools reopen safely a more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Solving an Overlooked Loophole in Votes for Executives (SOLVE) Act, which would establish a panel of constitutional experts to recommend to Congress an appropriate process in case there is a death of a candidate in a contingent presidential or vice-presidential election. The Constitution establishes that if no candidate wins a majority of the electoral votes for president, t more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Virginia, ranking Republican member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following opening statement on July 28, 2021, at a subcommittee markup for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2022 (H.R. 4350): * * * I continue to be perplexed as to our nation's approach to deterring maritime conflict. Last year, after intense deliberation about how quickly to grow our maritime forces, the Trump Administration responded with an aggressive plan to deliver the future fleet that was fu more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA-01) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-05), co-chairs of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, announced the introduction of the bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act. This legislation grants authority to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to collect civil damages to repair and restored damaged wildlife refuges. "The First District of Virginia is home to unique and special ecosystems. As a former state  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery, on July 28, 2021, at a hearing to examine the potential benefits of investing in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water infrastructure projects: * * * "It is that time again when this committee begins the biennial process of crafting water resources legislation. "As the chairman said, WRDA, The Water Resources Development Act, authorizes water res more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, issued the following statement on July 28, 2021: * * * U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the below statement on her intention to support proceeding to consideration of the bipartisan infrastructure legislation: "As I said when I began negotiations with President Biden, I have been and continue to be committe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced $3,743,199 from the American Rescue Plan to help West Virginia schools identify and support students experiencing homelessness. West Virginia has received nearly $5 million from the $800 million Senator Manchin fought to include in the American Rescue Plan to help students experiencing homelessness. "Every child across America and West Virginia should have a roof over their head every single night," said Senat more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following joint statement: * * * U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and 20 other bipartisan Senators released the following statement on the bipartisan infrastructure agreement. "We are proud to announce we have reached a bipartisan agreement on our proposal to make the strongest investment in America's critical infrastructure in a generation. Our plan will create good-paying jobs in communities across our country without raising taxes. "Reaching this agreement was no easy t more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on his support for the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which includes $521 million to reimburse the National Guard who responded to the January 6th attack who paid for the deployment from annual budgets. "In the days, weeks and months following the January 6th attack, our brave  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (IAA) today on a bipartisan 16-0 vote. The bill authorizes funding, provides legal authorities, and enhances congressional oversight for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). "The Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 authorizes the funding for America's intelligence agencies, and ensures they have the resources, personn more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following joint statement: * * * U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-A more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release: The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) unanimously passed the VA Provider Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME) and John Boozman (R-AR). "West Virginia Veterans have experienced firsthand the negative impacts of the VA not properly vetting healthcare providers, which resulted in the death of seven Veterans at the Clarksburg VA Medic more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-West Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $402,000 from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for economic development district planning for six regions across West Virginia. These investments will help identify specific economic factors and help planning councils create individual plans to further development in each of the designated areas.  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: Senators Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia) introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act to prohibit federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act from being used to purchase Chinese telecommunications equipment, including from Huawei and ZTE. "American tax dollars should not be sent to Chinese spy companies like Huawei that undermine our national security. The U.S government must take strong action to cut the Chinese Commun more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) -- both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department and USAID Management, International Operations, and Bilateral International Development -- introduced bipartisan legislation to authorize the New Partnerships Initiative (NPI) at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and require the USAID Administrator to meet certain criteria when implementing the program. NP more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, issued the following news release on July 28, 2021: U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced $402,500 from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for economic development district planning for six regions across West Virginia. These investments will help identify specific economic factors and help planning councils create individual plans to further development in each of the designated areas more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: Senators Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the American Telecommunications Security Act to prohibit federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act from being used to purchase Chinese telecommunications equipment, including from Huawei and ZTE. "With states across the country mapping out their plans for quality and affordable high-speed internet as a result of historic funding from the American Rescue Plan, we've got to make more PR

WASHINGTON, July 29 -- Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following after the Biden administration unveiled its National Security Memorandum to safeguard U.S. critical infrastructure from cyberattacks: "I applaud the Biden administration for taking additional steps to secure our critical infrastructure and bolster our cybersecurity standards after a wave of cyberattacks. As the administration noted, we know  more PR