Washington, D.C. – On October 4, 2025, the Washington-Liberty (W-L) High School Crew Boosters hosted a special event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of W-L’s s women’s rowing program. Held at the historic Potomac Boat Club in Georgetown, the celebration brought together alumni, friends, current rowers, and past and present coaches to reflect on five decades of memories, milestones, and team achievements.
The W-L women’s rowing program was founded in 1975—25 years after the launch of the school’s men’s program by legendary rower and coach Charlie Butt. The inaugural women’s coach, W-L alumnus and former rower Tom Chisnell, opened Saturday’s program by sharing reflections on the team’s early years and growth over time. Additional speakers included Leona Pulasch, a member of the original 1975 boat, along with other alumnae and coaches who offered powerful insights into the life lessons and leadership skills developed through rowing.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) introduced the Federal Employee Civil Relief Act. This legislation would protect federal workers, federal contractor employees, and their families from foreclosures, evictions, and loan defaults during a government shutdown.
“Through no fault of their own, hundreds of thousands of dedicated public servants in Virginia have been furloughed or are currently working without pay. That creates real financial strain for families trying to keep up with mortgages, student loans, and other bills. This legislation will help ensure federal workers and contractors aren’t forced to bear the cost of a shutdown they didn’t cause,” said Sen. Warner.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic members of Virginia’s congressional delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to OMB Director Russ Vought clarifying that threats to withhold or cancel back pay to furloughed federal workers would be illegal. The letter was signed by Representatives James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (VA-08), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), and Eugene Vindman (VA-07).
“We are writing in response to reports that the White House is considering guidance that would compromise back pay for thousands of federal employees furloughed during the current Republican-driven government shutdown. This proposal is both preposterous and unlawful, as it would misrepresent congressional intent and contradict established legal interpretation,” the members wrote to Vought.
October 7, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia district with one of the largest concentrations of federal employees and contractors in the U.S. House, today responded to reports that the Trump Administration may try to deny back pay to federal employees impacted by the ongoing government shutdown. Beyer was the sponsor of bipartisan House legislation, co-led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), mirroring Senate legislation enacted in 2019 that guarantees retroactive pay to federal employees impacted by any lapse in appropriations.
Beyer said:
October 3, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal workers in the U.S. House, today introduced the Emergency Relief for Federal Workers Act, legislation that would remove penalties for federal employees who wish to make hardship withdrawals from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to pay bills during a protracted government shutdown. The bill would also allow workers withdrawing such funds to restore them to their retirement accounts later.
“Government shutdowns are a disaster for federal employees and contractors, and for their families. I am working with my colleagues to do all we can to support these workers in every way we can until the shutdown ends,” said Beyer. “My bill would ensure feds can withdraw funds from their retirement accounts during a shutdown without penalties, and remove other barriers that increase financial hardship at this difficult time.”
WASHINGTON, DC – At a press conference yesterday, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.-03) released legislation, the Help FEDS (Federal Employees During a Shutdown) Act, to support federal employees who would be required to work without pay during a government shutdown.
This bill is cosponsored by Senators Van Hollen (D-Md.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Duckworth (D-Ill.), Kaine (D-Va.), Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Warner (D-Va.).
U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and U.S. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10) and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11) issued a statement:
“We take seriously our responsibility to provide oversight and ensure that all federal agencies meet their obligations under the law. Today, we visited the ICE field office in Chantilly, Va., after a month of attempting to gain access following serious reports of troubling conditions and severe overcrowding at this facility. ICE field offices are not designed or equipped to safely hold individuals for more than 12 hours, which was the long-standing policy until June, making the dangerous overcrowding both disturbing and wholly predictable. We are relieved to report that as of today, conditions appear to have improved from the horrifying reports we received just weeks ago.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) released the following statement on the memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last night regarding agency preparations for a potential government shutdown:
“America deserves a leader focused on solving problems, not someone who treats chaos and disruption as tools of governing. Instead of threatening government employees and the American public with even more mass layoffs and federal dysfunction, President Trump should come to the table and negotiate a funding bill that prevents health care premiums from skyrocketing for families and keeps the government operational. If President Trump truly cares about the American people, he will work with Congress to avoid a shutdown of his own making.”
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced that eligible taxpayers will receive tax rebates of up to $200 this fall if they filed individually, and up to $400 if they filed jointly.
“Virginia’s strong job growth, bolstered by business investment commitments of $140 billion has driven a total of $10 billion in surplus revenue and enabled a record $9 billion in tax relief,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This fall’s tax rebate reflects a simple truth: it’s your money, not the government’s. We have made record investments supporting teachers and students, law enforcement, and Virginians facing behavioral health crises, while also lowering costs for individuals, families, veterans and small businesses.”
Arlington, Va. — As it marks its 75th anniversary this fall, Marymount University is celebrating a wave of national recognition with strong showings in rankings released by U.S. News & World Report, Forbes and Niche. These results highlight Marymount’s upward momentum as one of the region’s most dynamic private universities.
In U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best Colleges Rankings, Marymount reached its highest-ever position among all National Universities, rising 15 spots to No. 273. For the first time, Marymount is ranked No. 1 among all Virginia private institutions. The University also leaped 85 spots to No. 189 in Top Performers on Social Mobility, reflecting its commitment to advancing opportunity for students from all backgrounds.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) issued the following statement following new reporting by the Washington Post on the “serious safety risks” present at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on the night of the deadly crash over the Potomac River and the “political and economic forces” that perpetuated those conditions:
“Air traffic controllers and pilots are only human – their workload and work environment should reflect that. Unfortunately, Congress added more flights into DCA’s already chaotic airspace just months before this tragic crash over the objections of the region’s Senate delegation and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, disregarding the concerns of numerous pilots, air traffic controllers, and FAA and DOT personnel.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Mark R. Warner (both D-VA) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon demanding the immediate reversal of the Department of Education’s decision to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools.
“We write to demand the immediate reversal of the Department of Education’s (Department) decision to punitively withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funds from Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools – a move that is directly contrary to the interests of students, parents, and educators,” wrote the senators.
