Jim Webb

Measure Includes Tax Credits for First-time Homebuyers, Small Businesses

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today praised the Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all 50 states. A cosponsor of the legislation, Webb has repeatedly called on his colleagues to swiftly pass the much-needed extension that would provide relief for the nearly 2 million Americans, including 13,000 Virginians, who will exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of the year.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) today announced that the Department of Energy released nearly $15.7 million to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative in Fredericksburg for upgrades and improvements to spur Virginia’s transition to a smarter, stronger, more efficient and reliable electric system. The funds were made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The funding for Fredericksburg is part of a $3.4 billion clean-energy initiative aimed at creating markets for wind and solar power. The 100 projects selected will be matched by industry funding for a total public-private investment worth over $8 billion.    » read more »

October 28, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner announced today that the U.S. Department of Treasury will award $29 million in bonds to American Municipal Power, Inc., for financing of a solar energy project in the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County. When completed, this solar project could provide up to six-megawatts of daily power for the regional transmission grid.    » read more »

Measure Allows Congress Two-Year Budget Authority to Prevent Funding Lapses

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC– With the support of Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), the Senate approved a bill on Tuesday evening to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 allows Congress two-year budget authority to prevent lapses in funding for services.

In 19 of the past 22 fiscal years, final VA appropriations have been enacted several months late and have frequently required supplemental appropriations to sustain VA health care.    » read more »

Compromise Would Provide Up to 14 Additional Weeks of Benefits to Workers in All 50 States

October 14, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today called on the Senate to pass a comprehensive proposal, which he cosponsored, to extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 additional weeks for jobless workers in all 50 states. Nearly two million out-of-work Americans face expiring benefits by the end of the year.    » read more »

October 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today called on the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete ongoing tests and evaluations concerning Chinese-imported drywall “without further delay.” The Senator wrote, “Every day that the results of these tests are delayed means more families pushed into bankruptcy and financial ruin.”    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The following is a statement from Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on the Metro tragedy in Northeast Washington, DC on Monday evening:

“The events of Monday evening draw heightened attention to safety conditions on the Capital region’s highly-utilized Metro system. With Metrorail transporting an average of one million riders each workday, we have a responsibility to ensure that vital infrastructure upgrades and safety recommendations are implemented in an appropriate time and manner.

“I intend to work closely with my colleagues in Congress and area leaders to determine how such a disaster could have occurred and what measures must be carried out in the near-term to prevent further incidents that jeopardize passenger safety.”    » read more »

Webb Calls on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to Conduct Comprehensive Test of Ethanol Blend Impact

June 9, 2009 -- Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), along with 20 other Senators, today wrote to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to request more comprehensive testing on ethanol prior to raising the ratio that can be mixed into gasoline. The letter emphasizes that air quality and technical issues should be explored, as well as potential adverse effects on consumers and livestock and poultry producers during these hard economic times.

The letter was also sent to Steven Chu, Secretary of the Department of Energy; Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture; and Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change.    » read more »

Benefits Aim to Recruit and Retain Competitive Workforce

June 4, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today joined Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and interested groups representing 2.7 million government employees in support of The Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act (FEPPLA), H.R. 626, which would provide federal employees with four weeks of paid parental leave after the birth or adoption of a child.

The bill will be debated and voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives today. On January 30, 2009, Senator Webb re-introduced the Senate version of the legislation, S.354, and currently has 16 cosponsors, including Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Joe Lieberman.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- "Less than three months ago, the U.S. Senate with my support passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to revive our struggling economy by addressing several long-standing needs throughout the country.

During the development of this crucial legislation, I worked with my colleagues to develop a recovery plan that was truly stimulative, with a set of specific guidelines and benchmarks for economic renewal. As a result, Virginia has received more than $2 billion to help maintain government services, invest in infrastructure, improve public facilities, and create or save more than 93,000 jobs in a range of industries. The Tidewater area has received a healthy percentage of these funds.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Less than three months ago, the U.S. Senate with my support passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), to revive our struggling economy by addressing several long-standing needs throughout the country.

During the development of this crucial legislation, I worked with my colleagues to develop a recovery plan that was truly stimulative, with a set of specific guidelines and benchmarks for economic renewal. As a result, Virginia has received more than $2 billion to help maintain government services, invest in infrastructure, improve public facilities, and create or save more than 93,000 jobs in a range of industries. Southwest Virginia has received a healthy percentage of these funds.    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, DC—The following is a statement from Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on President Obama’s nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court:

“It is clear that Judge Sotomayor has a compelling personal story and a life of great legal achievement, rooted in three decades of practice in nearly every area of our judicial system.

"I look forward to further reviewing her record during the confirmation process in the Senate.”

Source: Senator Jim Webb

Stimulus Funds Will Save Jobs, Drive Reform

May 26, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Senators Jim Webb and Mark R. Warner today announced that the Department of Education will release $806 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to help address the budget shortfall that Virginia’s education system is facing by saving hundreds of thousands of teaching jobs at risk of state and local budget cuts.

Of that funding, $659 million will be used to maintain state support to K-12 education and institutions of higher education and to mitigate the need to raise tuition on in-state students. The remaining $147 million will be put toward other projects, including construction at higher education facilities.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) this week sent a bipartisan letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee requesting $5 million in Impact Aid funding from the FY2010 National Defense Authorization Act to assist local school districts educating large numbers of military children with severe disabilities.    » read more »

CARD Act Cracks Down on Exorbitant Fees and Interest Rates

May 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) today supported the Senate passage of legislation to protect consumers and crack down on unfair and deceptive credit card company practices that result in undisclosed fees and rate increases. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (the “CARD Act”) passed with bipartisan Senate support.    » read more »