Mark Warner's Thanksgiving Message to Farmers

From US Senator Mark Warner (D-VA):

"

Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are looking forward to a peaceful and fun celebration with loved ones. This year and every year, I’m grateful for my wonderful family and the opportunity of a lifetime to represent Virginia in the Senate.

As some of us prepare to tuck in and eat a turkey dinner, I wanted to make sure you heard about an exciting win for Virginia’s economy and poultry producers. Now, we can sell our turkey to India, creating an enormous new market to grow our poultry exports!

Here’s how it happened. For many years, India placed extremely high tariffs on importing turkey from America. Since India has an enormous population, that cut Virginia poultry producers out of a huge potential market for their products. 

In my capacity as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus, I set to work to see if a little old fashioned diplomacy couldn’t grease the wheels for Virginia’s poultry farmers. I directly pushed on trade leadership, and after that effort, I announced a trade agreement and tariff reduction that makes it financially possible for India to import American turkey for the first time!

This is great news because we now have a huge new market for our turkey farmers to grow their businesses. It also creates more downstream business for folks that work in our ports, trade, and transportation, because we’re going to need to ship all those birds across the ocean somehow! 

I’m thrilled to fight for our turkey producers and continue to push for policy that supports farmers across Virginia. I’m keeping up my fight to pass a full, bipartisan Farm Bill too, because I know there’s a lot more work to be done for producers of all types in every corner of the Commonwealth. 

If you work in agriculture, I also want to take a moment to say thank you for the work you do to feed Virginia and the world. Your work is indispensable to keeping food on tables across the nation. Happy Thanksgiving! If you’re interested in reaching out to me about agriculture or another issue that is important to you, I encourage you to reach out to me using the form on my Senate website. You can also follow me on X, Facebook, Threads, or Bluesky. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[nice signature graphic: Mark Warner]" 

Mark Warner on Passport Delays

Editorial comment: He thinks hiring more federal employees is not a bad thing.

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA):

"

Friends,

I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to reach out and update you on some work I’ve been doing around passport delays.

Over the past couple of weeks, you may have heard about the tremendous backlog in passport processing times. Virginians are waiting twice or three times as long as usual to have their passport renewed. It’s ruining vacations and putting undue stress on many.

While I have a team in my office dedicated to helping Virginians navigate these delays, I also want to address this systemically so these issues stop happening in the first place. I anticipated these issues earlier this year, and sent a letter to the Secretary of State asking what precautions and plans were being put in place to prepare for the summer surge of applications. Despite my warning, issues have persisted, and I have continued pushing for answers. So last week, I stopped at an office that processes passports for Virginians and met with State Department leadership to discuss solutions to address the backlog.

I left with a long list of ideas for how processing centers could increase their capacity, and I’m ready to keep pushing for progress until these delays improve. I’m advocating for the State Department to hire more staff, particularly the most critically needed IT personnel, and increase the expedited processing fees to help pay for it.

While we wait for more systemic changes, I encourage you to be proactive if you’re planning international travel. Check your passport and the entry requirements of the country you want to travel to before you book your flights. Give yourself plenty of time if you need a renewal. If you’re in an emergency situation, I encourage you to reach out to my team, who may be able to help. I will absolutely be staying on top of this until this backlog is dealt with.

Sincerely,

" (that nice signature graphic Google doesn't like) Mark Warner 

Mark Warner on Broadband

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-VA:

"

Friends,

I’m just reaching out to make sure you heard the big news… Virginia is getting a HUGE investment to expand broadband!

Today, I announced almost $1.5 billion in federal funding to improve internet coverage across the Commonwealth. This is funding made possible by the bipartisan infrastructure law, seismic legislation that is making transformational investments in infrastructure of all types – roads, bridges, airports, public transit, rail projects, and today… internet!

I was a lead negotiator on this law, and I knew from the jump that funding for broadband had to be a priority. As I visit communities across the Commonwealth, I hear frustrations about lack of coverage time and time again… and if the pandemic made anything clear, it’s that high-speed internet isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a need-to-have, so families across Virginia don’t have to drive their kids to McDonald’s parking lots to do their homework.

That’s why I made sure broadband funding was in the final version of the bill, and why I worked across the aisle to get it passed. Following huge investments from the American Rescue Plan and now the bipartisan infrastructure law, it’s safe to say that if we don’t have universal coverage in the next couple years, it’ll be a failure of execution… not a failure of funding.

I also know that broadband isn’t actually accessible if it’s physically present but tremendously expensive. That’s why I also made sure there are programs designed to cut the costs of coverage for Virginians that meet certain conditions. Read more about the Affordable Connectivity Program and check your eligibility here.

I’m going to keep working to make sure that this funding is deployed efficiently so that we can finally close the digital divide. This award is a tremendous step, but my work advocating for broadband is far from over. If you’re interested in hearing more about this announcement, I filmed a short video that you can see here.

If you want to reach out to me about broadband or another issue that’s important to you, you can send me an email any time using the form on my Senate website. You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[signature graphic: Mark R. Warner]

" 

Mark Warner's Progress Report

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA):

"

Friends,

Often, the news just shows you the flashbulb moments, like when a bill is finally signed into law. When a tragedy first begins to unfold. When a huge gaffe is made. You may not hear as much about the progressive improvements brought to you by Congress. I want to take a moment to check in with you about our bipartisan infrastructure law. Over the past year and a half, the law has paid dividends for Virginia.

For those struggling with the cost or accessibility of internet coverage, the law has lowered internet bills, and you can see if you qualify for a rebate here. It’s also expanding broadband, as Virginia is using funding to create a strategic plan to get coverage to more homes. Once that plan is completed, there’s more money available to enact it, getting more Virginians high-speed, accessible, and affordable internet.

Drank water recently? Virginia is receiving $46 million to remove lead pipes and lower lead levels in some Virginia drinking water. Virginia also got $22 million to reclaim abandoned mine lands, which will limit acid mine drainage in local water while also revitalizing mining communities.

For those that use public transit, we’ve made wide-reaching investments in transit systems across the Commonwealth. In Northern Virginia, you may have heard that the Metro recently opened seven new stops in six months… a pretty remarkable pace. This follows a guaranteed eight-year investment in WMATA. But it isn’t just NoVA that’s getting cash… smaller communities across the entire Commonwealth – from Staunton to Bristol to Lynchburg – are getting guaranteed funds to improve their systems.

For air travelers, we’ve seen scads of investments in improving airports. From smaller ones like Luray Caverns to the most busy – Dulles, Norfolk, Richmond, and more – airports across the Commonwealth are getting funds to expand and make overdue upgrades.

For those interested in equity and urban planning, the law secured grants for Richmond and Hampton Roads that will begin to reconnect two historically Black communities displaced by the development of the interstate system. You can learn more about these investments from this 13 News Now reporting.

To be frank, there’s a lot more things I could list here… huge across-the-board investments in road and bridge quality, coastal resilience and flood mitigation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and more… but I don’t want to write you too long of an email. If you’re interested in learning about more of the successes from this law, check out my webpage here, which compiles some graphics and press releases about what this landmark law has accomplished.

If you want to get in touch with me about infrastructure or another issue that is important to you, you can reach out to me using the form on my website. You can also stay in the loop by following my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[nice signature graphic Google doesn't like] Mark Warner

"

Mark Warner on the Lower Energy Costs Act

This weekend, this web site received Congressman Griffith's E-Newsletter summarizing the Lower Energy Costs Act, US HR 1. The Newsletter went live on this web site; you should see a link to it on the right side of the page. 

This web site particularly called the Newsletter to the attention of our US Senators, who are not paid to sit around reading personal blogs every day. Since they're D and our House Representative is R, we can expect some debate about the final wording from them; that's how the system is supposed to work. This web site asked them to make sure the bill supports the economy of the Ninth District of Virginia by requiring APCo to invest in harvesting our sunshine before it sinks any more money in fossil or nuclear fuel. 

(For those who don't know: Virginia already has laws authorizing anyone who has the money to put as many solar collectors as we want over our roofs, sheds, pavements, and any southwest-facing slopes that are too steep to cultivate and too rocky to support fruit trees. Stores like Gate City's Thriftway Supermarket, which died partly because its oldfashioned flat roof held water and sprung leaks, could have new, watertight, sloping roof covers that drain water and collect sunshine if their owners chose to invest in such. I could have a new, watertight, sloping roof cover if I could afford one. And yes, the technology is already workable to allow us to sell our surplus sunshine back to APCo. One of my old schoolmates claims to be collecting monthly checks for that. I am not asking for taxes to be used to make all of us equal participants in this venture, though I would emphasize that solar collectors can be installed on roof covers, outbuildings, or shelters especially over stores and parking lots, so they would actually protect rather than weigh down roofs. I would like to see a requirement that APCo install solar collectors wherever anyone they've threatened to disconnect for non-payment will allow them to install one, before APCo sinks any more money into new plants. This web site supported letting APCo build a new plant, which didn't look bad or do obvious damage to its environment, back in 2011-2012. They built it and everybody was happy. Now they're saying it's old and inadequate. Well. Let them have more sources of energy. Enough to sell to PEPCo and Dominion! And after a few years when they can balance their payments to us against payments on the equipment they install, they should start sending us monthly checks, too. It is jolly high time the Ninth District's economy was boosted by something that is clean, Green, honest, and wholesome.)

Below is Senator Mark Warner's reply. From its format we may infer that it was typed, probably by a student, from a template that was probably mailed out to a lot of people who've e-mailed him about this bill. 

"

Dear Ms. King,

          Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Cost Act.  I appreciate the benefit of your views on this important issue.

          On March 30, 2023, the House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 225 - 204. The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the President before becoming law.

          You may be assured that I will keep your views in mind as this issue is considered. If you need additional information or if there’s another issue that’s important to you, please visit my website at: http://www.warner.senate.gov where you may send a message to me or sign-up for email updates to get the latest on my work in the Senate. You may also follow me at: http://www.facebook.com/MarkRWarner/ and https://twitter.com/MarkWarner.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

"

Mark Warner Brings Home the Pork

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-VA, obviously believing this will be received as good news: 

"

Friends,

We’re getting things done for Hampton Roads and Richmond!

On Monday, I was in Norfolk to celebrate an exciting investment in righting a historic wrong. Here’s the deal: when the interstate system was built in the 1950s-1970s, developers often sliced straight through Black communities. Vast concrete highways and negligent planning flattened or isolated African-American communities. In Norfolk, the development of I-264 cut off the St. Paul’s neighborhood from downtown and all of its grocery stores, schools, and jobs. That isn’t right, and sadly it’s a situation replicated across the country. That’s why when we negotiated and passed the bipartisan infrastructure law, we made sure there was funding to reconnect communities that had been impacted by historic discrimination.

I’m proud that some of this money is coming straight to Virginia. In a small classroom overlooking the tangled I-264 interchange that isolated this community, I announced $1.6 million in infrastructure law funds to make it right – money that will help create a plan to reunify Norfolk and equalize opportunity. Read more from the Virginian-Pilot or 13 News Now. 

Norfolk isn’t the only community that’s benefitting from this money – Richmond is also getting a share to reconnect Jackson Ward by creating a new bridge or freeway lid that would reunite transportation and public spaces.

Equalizing opportunity means more than just reconnecting communities – it also means expanding affordable housing for all. I’m proud to be leading on this too, and I recently announced over $50 million to expand affordable housing across the Commonwealth. On Monday, I stopped by Richmond to hear directly from local leaders about how they’ll put their share of the funding to work. I always appreciate the opportunity to hear from residents and leaders alike about how we can keep up the momentum and get folks in stable, economical homes. Read more about this in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. 

Together, we can build our cities and towns to be connected, affordable, and easily navigable. I’m ready to keep fighting for these priorities in Congress. If you want to get in touch with me about affordable housing or another issue that is important to you, you can send me an email anytime using the form on my Senate website. You can also find more updates on my Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

[that signature graphic Google doesn't like]

" 

Mark Warner on Cybersecurity

Editorial comment suspended. From U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-VA:

"

Friends, 

I wanted to make sure you heard about important national security legislation I introduced last week.

Here’s the deal: our Intelligence Community has raised important concerns about foreign tech threats that have made a foothold in U.S. markets. What exactly are these threats? These are apps already on our phones, equipment used to power the internet, and software that helps operate critical infrastructure like transportation, energy, and health care systems.

Right now, you may be hearing concerns about TikTok and its close ties to the Communist Party of China – but we’ve been fighting threats like these from various adversarial nations for decades, without a clear system to address them moving forward. We’ve taken a Whac-A-Mole approach to our national security online, and we absolutely must have a stronger strategy.

That’s why I wrote and introduced the RESTRICT Act, a completely bipartisan solution that will allow the government to address threats in a proactive, risk-based manner. Senator John Thune of South Dakota, a Republican, is co-leading the effort with me, and already we have 6 additional Democrats and 6 additional Republicans on our team – and more folks are getting on board every day.

Instead of punitively targeting one company like TikTok, the RESTRICT Act gives us a framework to address the entire next generation of threats, providing a smarter way to prepare for the ever-changing technological landscape. It’ll empower the Department of Commerce to identify and mitigate foreign threats to a range of critical communications tech.

Particularly when we’re dealing with technologies that are forums for Americans’ speech and expression, it’s vital that any action be risk-based, rule-bound, and strike a careful balance in mitigating national security threats and avoiding impacts on free speech. I’m proud to have prioritized that in my bill, and that’s why it’s already gaining tremendous momentum.

To protect our national security, our economy, and our critical infrastructure, it’s time to stop playing Whac-A-Mole and start adopting a clear, risk-based approach to foreign tech threats. I’m proud to have put forward a solution to do that.

If you want more information, check out some videos, graphics, or articles produced on this bill. If you want to share your thoughts about Big Tech or any issue that's important to you, you can send me an email any time using the form on my Senate website.

Sincerely,

[that signature graphic Google doesn't like: Mark Warner]

" 

Mark Warner Thinks Security Grants Are Good News

Official editorial comment: Bless his heart.

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-VA:

"

Friends,

I’m writing to make sure you’re aware of critical grants that are now available.

Protecting the safety of Virginians is top of mind for me, and it’s what motivates a lot of my work leading the Intelligence Committee. I’m glad to see the Department of Homeland Security continue that work by unveiling competitive grants to improve preparedness and strengthen resilience against a range of potentially catastrophic events.

I wanted to make sure you had information on these grants. Applications for all the below grants close May 18, 2023. If you are looking for a letter of support for your application, my office is eager and willing to help. Simply fill out our easy-to-use online request form here.

Read more about the specific grants below:

Transit Security Grant Program: $93 million available to public transit systems to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure. More information is available here.

Intercity Bus Security Grant Program: $2 million available to owners and operators of intercity bus systems to increase the resilience of transit infrastructure. More information is available here.

Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program: $15 million available to Tribal nations to strengthen the nation against risk associated with potential terrorist attacks and other hazards. More information is available here.

Nonprofit Security Grant Program: $305 million available to support physical security enhancements for nonprofits that are at risk of a terrorist or extremist attack. More information is available here.

Port Security Grant Program: $100 million available to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism. More information is available here.

Together, we can bring in federal money to Virginia that will help us prepare for a range of threats. The investments we make in preparing our infrastructure today will pay dividends tomorrow. I’m proud to have supported the bill that made this funding possible, and I’ll keep fighting for every dollar available for Virginia in Congress.

Sincerely

[signature graphic Google doesn't like]

"

Mark Warner on, er um, What?

This e-mail came from U.S. Senator Mark Warner,  D-VA. It is a real political masterpiece: Nothing in it actually says whether it's a reply to the petition I signed about some people upstate having a right to reject "smart meters," or to an e-mail reply to his e-mail about grants for innovative responses to the energy crisis. (The grants are coming from the U.S. Department of Transportation, whose past grants have been for building or rebuilding roads and bridges. If they were actually interested in energy projects, I said, I knew several people who'd want to work with a grant to get more solar energy collected for electric cars, and for heating apartments that can't get their own solar heat, and so on.)

"

Dear Ms. King,

          Thank you for contacting me regarding issues important to Virginia and the nation.

          The 117th Congress adjourned on January 3, 2023, and at that time all pending legislation expired.

          We began the 117th Congress in the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has taken the lives of over one million Americans, including 20,000 Virginians. As we looked for ways to meet this challenge, I was proud to join bipartisan efforts to pass several COVID relief packages that not only prevented economic disaster, but also helped protect our vital health care workers, provided for small businesses, and delivered relief to American families during those uncertain times.

          By working with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, we also made significant investments in affordable, high-speed internet, which we learned during the pandemic is not a luxury, but a necessity.

          From passing a once in a generation infrastructure bill that improves travel on our roads, rails, and waterways to increasing U.S. competitiveness in science and technology through the development of computer chip manufacturing in the U.S, I am proud of recent accomplishments that encourage American innovation, and bring high-paying jobs to Virginia, while supporting our men and women in uniform, improving healthcare for our veterans, capping the price of insulin, and making historic investments to mitigate climate change.

          I am also proud of the united and bipartisan stance taken in strong opposition to Putin’s violent invasion of Ukraine, and in support of the courageous Ukrainian people, who continue to put their lives on the line in defense of democracy – a system we too often take for granted.

          I hope that as legislative business begins in the new Congress you will continue to contact me with issues that are important to you.  For more information about my work in the Senate please visit my website at: [www.warner.senate.gov.]www.warner.senate.gov.  You may also follow me at: http://www.facebook.com/MarkRWarner/ and https://twitter.com/MarkWarner.

Sincerely,
MARK R. WARNER
United States Senator

"

He seldom has represented me, but dang he's good...after his fashion.

Mark Warner on Medical Care Legislation

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner, D-VA: 

"

Friends,

As the father of a Type 1 diabetic, I know firsthand how health costs – especially those related to diabetes – can skyrocket. These bills aren’t optional, and they’re not something you can just choose to cut back on – month after month, you’re on the hook for whatever that insulin costs.

And it’s not just insulin. The costs of other prescription drugs, premiums, vaccines, and other care can really stack up. I’ve worked hard across my time in the Senate to lower health costs for all.

This year, we’re seeing some returns. I was proud to support the Inflation Reduction Act, which will cut costs where it counts. It extends expanded premium subsidies, which keep health care costs down for all covered through the Virginia marketplace. It also caps insulin at $35/month for those covered by Medicare prescription drug plans. Across Virginia, 74,425 insulin users will directly benefit from the insulin cap. (If you receive your insulin through a pump covered by Medicare’s durable medical equipment benefits, this provision will also take effect for you starting on July 1 of this year!)

It isn’t just insulin though – throughout the next several years, new provisions to prevent price gouging will go into effect. In September, Medicare will announce the first 10 prescription drugs that they’ll be able to negotiate prices on – and this program will expand over the next several years, lowering costs at the pharmacy. By 2025, seniors will also enjoy a cap of $2,000/year for all their prescription drugs – meaning folks won’t be stuck spending tens of thousands for medicines they need to survive.

Additionally, all recommended adult vaccinations are now FREE for those on Medicare, including the shingles vaccine! More than one million Virginia seniors will now be able to get vaccinated totally free of cost. Most doctors’ offices and many pharmacies offer this important vaccine, so read more about eligibility through the CDC.

If you want a full look at when all the changes we passed in the Inflation Reduction Act will take effect, find a great timeline here. A lot of work remains – I’d like to see many of these provisions extended to folks who are covered by a range of insurances, not just Medicare. I’ll keep pushing for progress.

Sincerely,

 

" 

Mark Warner Confuses Medical Insurance with Health Care Again

From U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), editorial comment below: 

"

Folks,

Just wanted to make sure you saw that it’s open enrollment season! If you want to check your options for coverage through the federal marketplace, you can do so here.

There are a few critical deadlines coming up: if you need coverage that starts Jan. 1, the deadline to enroll is Thursday, Dec. 15. Otherwise, the final deadline for open enrollment is Jan. 15.

I’ve worked hard during my time in Congress to make sure that health care is accessible and affordable. In the last year alone, I’ve been proud to work on expanding telehealth, lowering premiums, funding mobile health units, and capping prescription drug costs.

I’m also proud to announce that thanks to our work to pass the Inflation Reduction Act and state-level actiobn, Virginia has seen the biggest premium decreases for 2023 of all 33 states that participate in the federal marketplace. That means more money in your pocket, month after month.

The Inflation Reduction Act was a huge investment in keeping health care costs low. It contained seismic achievements like capping insulin at $35/month for those on Medicare starting on Jan. 1. As the father of type 1 diabetic, I know firsthand how costs have skyrocketed for this essential drug. I’m glad we got it done for our nation’s seniors, and I hope we can extend it for all who rely on insulin soon.

Ultimately, we’ve made progress towards lowering health care costs, but a lot more needs to be done. I’ll keep fighting to keep your costs low. If you ever want to share your thoughts about health care or any other issue that’s important to you, you can send me an email any time using the form on my Senate website. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

"

Editorial comment: Health care is what people do for themselves by meeting their bodies' needs for exercise, rest, the right food, staying out of traffic accidents, avoiding glyphosate, etc. When we fail to take adequate care of our own health, we turn to medical care for help, and the Senator is notifying us that he just walked into a trap designed to make the cost of medical care much more expensive by allowing medical care providers to rely on medical insurance. Because it involves spending the money of other people whom neither doctors nor patients know very well, or like very much, medical insurance makes it seem as if doctors could charge whatever fees they like and just coin their own private money supply. This is not good news for patients even if the Senator, due no doubt to reading too much material from one side, imagines that it is. He remains in my thoughts and prayers.