Press Releases

U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD), Angus King (I-ME), and a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) to release the maximum number of Congressionally-authorized H-2B visas for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.

The H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Visa Program allows U.S. employers to hire seasonal, non-immigrant workers during peak seasons to supplement the existing American workforce. In order to be eligible for the program, employers are required to declare that there are not enough U.S. workers available to do the temporary work, as is the case with Virginia’s seafood industry, which relies on H-2B workers for tough jobs such as shucking oysters and processing crabs. 

RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force, as called for under Executive Order 30. The Task Force includes ten of the most prominent AI experts in the Commonwealth, drawn from Virginia educational institutions, non-profits, and private corporations.

The Task Force volunteers will provide advice to policymakers as they build on Virginia’s strengths to make it a leader in the AI space while erecting appropriate guardrails to ensure responsible use of the technology. It will also offer input to state agencies on using AI to enhance their operations while ensuring that the AI solutions they adopt are cost-effective.

Equality Arlington, an LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit, applauds Arlington County Manager, Mark Schwartz, for forming an LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee to provide information and guidance to county leadership on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Equality Arlington has been working with the County Manager’s office for months to shape the structure of the committee and ensure that it represents the diversity of the county’s LGBTQ+ residents and workers.

“We are very excited for the launch of the County Manager’s LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee this month. The committee will build on the advocacy work our organization has been doing for the last year and a half to ensure that Arlington County staff and leadership have a better understanding of the needs of LGBTQ+ residents and workers and that LGBTQ+ individuals have a voice within the county government,” said Kellen MacBeth, President of Equality Arlington.

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that President Biden has granted Virginia’s request for an expedited Federal Major Disaster Declaration due to impacts from Hurricane Helene. This declaration will provide additional support to individuals and local governments impacted in Virginia.

“This is the most significant disaster in the Commonwealth since 2011, and due to the severity and magnitude of the damages, we are thankful that Virginia was able to get this expedited disaster declaration so that we can continue this long process of recovery,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This will allow us to get resources to our impacted communities and Virginians as fast as possible. We will continue to work to add jurisdictions as additional assessments occur in impacted areas.

Governor Glenn Youngkin issued the following statement on the port workers strike on the east and gulf coasts that jeopardizes the livelihoods of countless Americans and cripples supply chains nationwide:

“Every day this strike of Port Workers along the East and Gulf Coasts continues, the economic impacts intensify, affecting livelihoods, supply chains and prices. The economic fallout from the work stoppage at The Port of Virginia extends well beyond the Commonwealth, as the Port manages approximately $66 billion in essential imports, with nearly 60 percent destined for locations outside of Virginia. As a cornerstone of Virginia’s economy, the Port supports 10 percent of the gross state product and supports employment for over half a million jobs in Virginia.

Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) alongside Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) wrote a letter to President Biden formally requesting the approval of Virginia’s request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in Southwest Virginia. If approved, this request would grant emergency protective measures, including direct federal assistance under the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs for the impacted areas.

Specifically, Virginia requested Individual Assistance for the counties of Giles, Grayson, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wythe, and the City of Galax, and Public Assistance for all categories for the counties of Bedford, Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Pittsylvania, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, Wythe, and the cities of Bristol, Covington, Danville, Galax, Norton, and Radford.

September 25, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), author of the Improving Reporting to Prevent Hate Act, today issued the following statement on the FBI’s release of 2023 hate crimes statistics:

“According to the FBI’s release of 2023 hate crimes statistics, only 16,009 agencies out of out of 18,800 agencies nationwide participated in hate crimes data collection. The 2023 hate crimes statistics illustrate the urgent need to improve hate crimes reporting across the country – in particular, improving accurate hate crimes reporting from law enforcement agencies representing cities with populations of 100,000 or more.

 U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (NC-02) and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the bicameral Secure Artificial Intelligence Act, legislation to enhance the monitoring and management of security and safety incidents and risks related to artificial intelligence (AI). As AI continues to rapidly evolve, the potential for security and safety incidents that could impact organizations and the public also increases. By establishing an AI Security Center and updating cybersecurity reporting systems to include AI, the legislation would support AI research while mitigating threats posed by this emerging technology.

In May, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Secure Artificial Intelligence Act in the Senate.

Today, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell announced that the members of the Senate Democratic Workgroup on School Mobile Phone Policy have introduced legislation to enhance distraction-free learning environments for Virginia students. Senate Democrats have a strong commitment to prioritizing student success in Virginia and share the Governor’s aspiration to limit distractions in the classroom. This is best and actually accomplished through bipartisan collaboration within the legislative process, through which Senate Democrats aim to give elected school boards the ability to craft the best cell phone policies for their districts consistent with state and federal law and existing educational governance process which is not governed by Executive Orders.

In contrast to the Governor’s policy, this legislation includes the following:

Washington DC area residents are showing their love for the planet and their neighbors today by pledging to go car-free or car-lite for Car Free Day 2024. Thousands of people across the region will telework or travel by carpooling, pedaling, walking, taking public transit. Local businesses are supporting the effort to decongest the streets by offering raffle prizes for a free drawing for those who participate.

“Car Free Day presents an exciting opportunity for the region to come together and travel more sustainably,” said Daniel Sheehan, Director of Commuter Connections. “Thousands of metropolitan Washington region residents, workers, and students have made the decision to benefit their health, the community and our environment today. Together we are moving towards a brighter future.”