Mark R. Warner

Madame First Lady, President Steger, members of the Board of Visitors, Virginia Tech faculty and staff, parents, friends: Today, we gather to acknowledge and celebrate the success of over 5,000 college graduates – students who know that orange and maroon always look good together -- the Virginia Tech graduating class of 2012.

Mr. President, I rise today to add my voice in support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, of which I am proud to say I am a cosponsor. In Virginia, this Act has doubled the resources available for prevention and intervention of sexual violence in communities and on campus. The funding provides crisis services in nearly every locality in Virginia.

Just 72 hours ago, a bipartisan majority of the members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform endorsed a package of proposals to reposition our nation on a more responsible fiscal course. The seriousness of our nation’s fiscal challenges – the compelling need to address these issues in a responsible and bipartisan way -- did not suddenly dissipate or magically disappear over the course of the weekend that just ended.

I appreciate that the Virginia Chamber has always represented the voice of business in Virginia. The Chamber also has not been willing to be viewed as a partisan entity, and you have supported folks in both parties who are working to get the job done.

Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to join my colleague and friend, the chair of the Small Business Committee, the Senator from Louisiana, in support of this very important piece of legislation.

Senator Warner submitted a statement to the record marking the one year anniversary of the June 22, 2009, Washington Metrorail accident and highlighting the importance of addressing safety systems in our nation's public transportation.

Full text of Senator Warner's remarks on the Senate floor about his thoughts after returning from a federal job fair hosted by his office in Stafford, Va., which was attended by over 7,000 jobseekers.