Press

"Jim Webb served his country with distinction in many ways including protecting our freedom on the battlefield. For the past four years, Senator Webb has been a strong and effective advocate for the people of Virginia."

[T]he President charted a bold plan to win the future today by guaranteeing that the American people are able to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build competitors around the globe. President Obama will make America stronger by empowering more students to get the quality education they need to succeed in 21st century jobs; by focusing on investments that support American talent and innovation; by building up American infrastructure; and by reforming government so that it’s more responsible and responsive.

"Today we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who championed civil rights and was a 'drum major' for justice; who stated that 'nonviolence is the only path to freedom' and lived that philosophy; who showed us that the way to a better future is to bring people, without regard to their skin color, into the mainstream of American life as quickly as possible; and who forged a path toward a country where people are judged on the content of their character."

Chairman Tim Kaine commends outgoing Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her historic service to the American people as Speaker over the last four years, fighting to "to increase the minimum wage, expand college aid, enhance and improve services for veterans and boost fuel efficiency standards. Her leadership in passing the Recovery Act, Affordable Care Act, Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, expansion of health care for children, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Wall Street reform and other key legislation ensure that her term as Speaker will be remembered as a time when the foundation was established for an era of greater progress, security, justice, fairness and prosperity for the American people."

[The President's] accomplishments represent the most progressive and productive period of U.S. governance since the New Deal. The president has set a new direction, restoring our country to its true path — one that leads to a better, brighter and more prosperous future for ourselves, our children and our nation.

The Senate today ratified the New START Treaty by a vote of 71 to 26 – four more than the 67 votes needed to ratify a treaty of this kind. Ratifying this treaty was a crucial step toward keeping America safe and strengthening our global leadership on nuclear weapons issues. "The unfailing efforts of President Obama and Senate leaders to ratify the New START Treaty has made our nation stronger and more secure," said Chairman Tim Kaine.

Not only is the DREAM Act a commonsense bill that will strengthen the American military and economic security, it has the backing of leaders from both sides of the aisle, the President, Department of Defense and the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Education. I urge the Senate to follow the House of Representative’s lead in voting to give these young people the opportunity to achieve the American dream.

A majority of service members believe that those who are willing to offer their service should be able to do so without regard to their sexual orientation. And across the country, a majority of Americans believe the time has come to end ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’