"Dear Priscilla,
As 2014 comes to an end, we finally saw some signs of bipartisanship in Congress: majorities in both the House and the Senate approved an 11th hour spending agreement and a number of bipartisan bills were approved. While the House and Senate budget agreement was far from perfect, it did honor last year’s bipartisan agreement to limit federal spending and we have reduced our federal deficit. It also removed the danger of another disruptive government shutdown, which would have hit Virginia harder than any other state.
As 2014 comes to an end, we finally saw some signs of bipartisanship in Congress: majorities in both the House and the Senate approved an 11th hour spending agreement and a number of bipartisan bills were approved. While the House and Senate budget agreement was far from perfect, it did honor last year’s bipartisan agreement to limit federal spending and we have reduced our federal deficit. It also removed the danger of another disruptive government shutdown, which would have hit Virginia harder than any other state.
Additionally, the Virginia delegation worked together to
make sure the spending agreement protected many of our shared priorities:
We supported our nation’s security and protected thousands of Virginia shipyard jobs by getting
funds for the overhaul of the Navy aircraft carrier George Washington.
We protected funding for capital improvements to the aging
METRO transit system.
And we strengthened the federal partnership to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. I also was proud to partner on successful
legislation to increase transparency and accountability to help us defend what
we’re already spending to clean-up the Bay.
During the 113th Congress, I also successfully enacted into
law some commonsense legislation to make government work better for you.
Our DATA Act will make it possible for you to track every dollar of federal spending on a single website.
We also got a law passed to begin eliminating dozens of outdated and redundant federal reports – reports that
employees and agencies produce every year, but which nobody ever reads.
I’m also proud we approved reforms at the Veterans Administration, including my
proposal to have leading Virginia technology companies provide a blueprint to
improve customer and patient service at the V-A. I’ll stay on top of this to
see that our veterans receive the services and respect they deserve.
When the Senate reconvenes in the new year under new
management, I remain hopeful we will focus on ways we can work together to
strengthen the economic recovery and create jobs.
We should take advantage of low interest rates to jumpstart infrastructure investments, creating jobs by partnering
with the private sector to repair our crumbling roads, bridges, and airports.
I have a series of ideas and several bipartisan partners
lined-up to push to make college more affordable, and make student debts more
manageable, because no one should go broke going to college.
We also need to look for ways to cut the red tape and lower
the barriers for folks to launch their own businesses. Most of our country’s new jobs
come from start-up ventures, and we should do all we can to promote innovators
and entrepreneurs.
It is the honor of my life to represent Virginia, first as
your Governor and now in the Senate, and if I can ever be of help to you and
your family, please contact me.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday season.
Respectfully,
[nice signature graphic]
I hope you and your family have a wonderful, safe, and happy holiday season.
Respectfully,
[nice signature graphic]
Mark R. Warner
"
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