Friends —

We hope this email finds you and your loved ones safe and healthy. Our team is committed to sending these weekly updates to keep folks around Virginia up to date with what Mark Warner is focused on in the Senate.

Here’s what Mark is working on right now:

• Our nation’s parks will get some much-needed relief for crucial repairs thanks to the passage of Mark's Great American Outdoors Act, which was signed into law earlier this week. Now that this bill is the law of the land, our national treasures will receive funds for repairs that have been put off for years and will provide hundreds of thousands of jobs for Americans.


• Mark spoke with military spouses about the issues they face during these challenging times. Many of our military families face uncertainty when it comes to employment, and Mark will fight to ensure that active duty military and their families are protected by making a plan to increase testing and tracing of the coronavirus.


• Mark expressed his concerns about data privacy for a contact tracing app expected to launch in Virginia this month. The app uses Bluetooth technology to notify other devices that have also downloaded the app of a potential exposure to the coronavirus. Mark has been a leader in the Senate on coronavirus-related data privacy issues, sponsoring the Public Health Emergency Privacy Act, a bill to ensure the collection, retention, and use of data from screening tools is limited to combatting COVID-19.


• Mark voted for the annual defense authorization bill, known as the NDAA, which passed with strong bi-partisan support. The NDAA guarantees funds for the construction of two Virginia submarines, which will support shipyards in Hampton Roads and boost the local economy.


• Mark and Senator Tim Kaine cosponsored the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act this week. This bill will give $120 billion to restaurants that are struggling due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It will also help with the re-employment of 11 million restaurant workers.


• Mark continues to push for safe and healthy conditions in privatized military housing. Last year, his Ensuring Safe Housing for our Military Act was signed into law as part of the annual defense bill. That bill also included legislation Sen. Warner supported creating the first-ever “tenants bill of rights” for military families. Earlier this year, he traveled to Fort Lee to meet with military families and keep the pressure on the military and private contractors to implement these reforms. Mark will continue working to make sure military families live in safe homes, free from mold, pests, and other hazards.


• Mark joined his Senate colleagues to push for an extension of paid and sick leave for federal contractors and subcontractors until December 2021.


• Mark is fighting for gig economy workers with the Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act of 2020 that he introduced with Senator Tina Smith (D-MN). This legislation will make sure that Americans who rely on a mix of traditional (W-2) and independent employment income receive financial relief made available under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) Program.

Just because we’re physically distancing from one another doesn’t mean we can’t connect with our elected officials! Sen. Warner is hosting a conversation about the Great American Outdoors Act for his constituents around the Commonwealth on Saturday, August 8th at 2:15 PM. Sign up here.

Thank you for your support.

— Team Warner