WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined a group of more than 20 Democratic Senators in sending a letter sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Department of Justice (DOJ) urging them to strengthen airline requirements to ensure airline personnel protect women on board from sexual assault. The letter follows shocking media reports detailing firsthand experiences showing airlines are ill-equipped to handle accusations of sexual assault on airplanes.
“As our country continues to combat the threat of violence against women, it is critical that no space be immune to the protections and support we afford survivors of sexual assault,” the Senators wrote. “We must do all we can to ensure passengers’ rights and health are protected, flight crews are fully trained and equipped to handle sexual assaults, and that pertinent information is being reported to law enforcement to ensure justice.”
Sen. Warner also co-authored the Stop Trafficking on Planes (STOP) Act with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), which would require training for certain airline industry employees to recognize and report suspected human trafficking to law enforcement. Language from the STOP Act was included in the FAA Extension, Safety and Security Act of 2016, which was signed into law on July 15, 2016.
The full text of the letter is below.
The Honorable Loretta Lynch
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
The Honorable Michael Huerta
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20591
Dear Attorney General Lynch and Administrator Huerta:
As our country continues the fight to end violence against women, it is critical that no space be exempt from protection or devoid of support for survivors of sexual assault. We write to express our deep concern that airplanes appear to be just such a place. Specifically, we are concerned with the apparent lack of standards and support provided to airline personnel about how to address and respond to incidents of sexual harassment and assault aboard commercial aircraft. We urge you to review, clarify, and develop requirements for airlines to ensure flight attendants, crewmembers, and pilots who may have to respond to an incident while aboard the aircraft are prepared to support the survivor and take the steps necessary to hold the alleged perpetrator accountable.
Recently, one of our offices heard from an individual who was sexually assaulted on a long distance flight, and although she was provided a new seat for several hours, she was ultimately asked by the flight attendants to return to her original seat next to her attacker for landing. When she refused, they seated another male passenger next to him, offering airline miles for his inconvenience. Like many Americans, this passenger is often on long distance flights for work. Concerned with the response to her sexual assault, and under the impression that a report had been filed with the relevant authorities, she followed up with the airline. She was shocked to learn no report was filed. Unfortunately, the experience of this individual does not seem to be an isolated incident, as recent media reports have highlighted underreporting by airlines, apparent inadequacies in airline responses, and a lack of policy and guidance to address the issue.[1]
Federal law makes clear that sexual abuse offenses that are criminal under 18 U.S.C. are also criminal when committed in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.[2] Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is tasked with carrying out duties related to aviation safety, including sexual assault.[3] We believe the federal government has a role to play in the safety of passengers and crewmembers that experience sexual assault aboard commercial aircraft. The primary role of the flight attendants and crewmembers is safety, however, we understand many may not be sufficiently trained to recognize and respond appropriately to an in-flight case of sexual assault or harassment. Although the FAA has regulations that outline the required training programs for flight attendants and crewmembers, there are no explicit guidelines for handling sexual assault.
We find this troubling and unacceptable. The National Crime Victimization Survey estimates that women experience approximately 270,000 sexual assaults each year, and more than 90 percent of sexual assaults recorded are committed against women.[4] The aftermath of a violent or sexual crime can be psychologically, physically, or financially devastating for a survivor. Long distance flights often occur overnight. There are extended periods where no flight attendants walk through the aircraft cabin, and many guests sleep before landing in a different time zone. Such characteristics could make long distance flights a particularly hazardous place for travelers by presenting a prime opportunity for these crimes to occur. All passengers should be able to travel without the worry of being sexually assaulted. We must support those with authority, like flight attendants, crewmembers, and pilots, to ensure that an incident of sexual assault is halted, prevent a repeated attack, support and help the survivor, and ensure the event is documented and reported to the proper authorities.
It is critical that we work together to immediately identify, understand, and address the issue of sexual harassment and assault aboard commercial aircraft. Given the broad scope of the issue, we request the FAA and U.S. Department of Justice work across the federal government and industry to:
We must do all we can to ensure passengers’ rights and health are protected, flight crews are fully trained and equipped to handle sexual assaults, and that pertinent information is being reported to law enforcement to ensure justice. We appreciate all the work you do to ensure our national airways are safe and reliable. Thank you for your consideration of our views.
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded more than $70.4 million to help finance projects to increase reliability of rural electric utility systems in Virginia. These loans, which are part of the Electric Program of the Rural Utilities Service, are targeted to rural regions where capital is limited, and will help finance infrastructure upgrades, create jobs and improve operations for rural electric customers in Virginia.
“Infrastructure investments like these will promote job growth, and many rural communities in Virginia need help bringing their utility systems to 21st century standards,” said Sen. Warner. “These low-interest loans will help improve reliability for rural residents and businesses, which in turn strengthens our entire economy.”
The $70.4 million in funding will be disbursed to the following electric cooperatives in Virginia:
Additionally, under this announcement, USDA will award a $375,000,000 loan to the National Rural Utilities Finance Corporation, which is headquartered in Sterling, VA and serves electric cooperatives across the country.
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded more than $6.6 million to promote cybersecurity readiness, unmanned aerial systems, and other workforce development programs in southwest Virginia. The funding comes as part of the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, a multi-agency effort aligning and targeting federal economic and workforce development resources to communities and workers across the Appalachian region. These funds are expected to create or retain 520 direct and indirect jobs throughout the region.
“Wise County put itself on the map in the drone world over a year ago by successfully making the first medical package delivery by drone anywhere in the United States. Today’s grant, which I was proud to strongly support, further bolsters the region as a key hub for unmanned aerial systems,” said Sen. Warner, co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus. “We need to continue working together at the federal, state, regional and local levels to build a stronger and more diverse economy, and getting southwest Virginia into the game early-on with growing industries like unmanned systems and cyber will position it to compete in the 21st century economy.”
The $6.6 million in POWER grants will be disbursed to the following four projects:
In August, Sens. Warner and Kaine each contacted ARC to strongly urge support of the grant application by the Wise Industrial Development Authority.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, is asking three federal agencies for information on the tools available—and the additional tools which might be needed—to prevent cyber criminals from compromising consumer products, such as Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The market for IoT products—such as connected refrigerators, smart thermostats, and Internet-enabled cameras—is growing exponentially. Weak security features in many of these products can enable access to user data by hackers, create easy entry points to home or work networks, and allow hackers to hijack devices into enormous botnets used to send crippling amounts of data to specific Internet sites and servers.
Botnets are frequently referred to as ‘zombie computers,’ and Sen. Warner said the metaphor is appropriate: bad actors infect unsuspecting computers and network devices with malware, sending remote commands to hordes of compromised computers to maliciously cripple parts of the Internet. Experts say that is what occurred on Friday, temporarily affecting Twitter, Netflix, PayPal and other popular sites.
“The weak security of many of the new connected consumer devices provides an attractive target for attackers, leveraging the bandwidth and processing power of millions of devices, many of them with few privacy or security measures, to swamp internet sites and servers with an overwhelming volume of traffic,” Sen. Warner said. “I am interested in a range of expert opinions and meaningful action on new and improved tools to better protect American consumers, manufacturers, retailers, Internet sites and service providers.”
The text of Sen. Warner’s letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) follows and can be found here. Similar inquiries were also sent to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC).
October 25, 2016
The Honorable Tom Wheeler
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20554
Dear Chairman Wheeler,
I have watched with growing concern over the past two months as an ever-larger network of infected devices has been leveraged to conduct the largest series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks ever recorded. According to global telecommunications provider Level 3 Communications, the ‘Mirai botnet’ has more than doubled since the source code was first made public on October 1st. The Mirai botnet functions by taking control of highly insecure devices, such as ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) products, and using them to send debilitating levels of network traffic from these compromised devices to particular sites, web-hosting servers, and internet infrastructure providers. By infecting consumer devices with this malware, attackers can hijack the communications capabilities of users’ devices, using large numbers of them to flood sites and servers with overwhelming traffic. As the co-Chair of the Senate Cybersecurity Caucus, I invite your prompt response to a number of important questions raised by these incidents.
While the precise form of Mirai’s attacks is not new, the scale of these volumetric attacks is unprecedented. The weak security of many IoT devices provides an attractive target for DDoS attackers, leveraging the bandwidth and processing resources of millions of connected devices. Botnets are frequently referred to as “zombie computers” and the metaphor is fitting: bad actors infect unsuspecting computers and network devices with malware, sending remote commands to hordes of compromised computers. Analysts have also noted the dynamic nature of Mirai Command and Control (C&C) servers (platforms used by attackers to send these remote commands to the botnets), with the malicious operator or operators switching C&C servers far more rapidly than in past botnet attacks. The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) notes in its alert that the release of the Mirai source code has increased the risk of similar botnets being created, acknowledging at least one new separate malware family leveraging IoT vulnerabilities in a manner similar to Mirai.
Mirai’s efficacy depends, in large part, on the unacceptably low level of security inherent in a vast array of network devices. Attackers perform wide-ranging scans of IP addresses, searching for devices with poor security features such as factory default or hard-coded (i.e., unchangeable) passwords, publicly accessible remote administration ports (akin to open doors), and susceptibility to brute force attacks. In my June 6th letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), I raised serious concerns with the proliferation of these insecure connected consumer products, noting that the “ever-declining cost of digital storage and internet connectivity have made it possible to connect an unimaginable range of products and services to the Internet,” potentially without adequate market incentives to adopt appropriate privacy and security measures. Juniper Research has projected that by the end of 2020, the number of IoT devices will grow from 13.4 to 38.5 billion – yet there is no requirement that devices incorporate even minimal levels of security. The internet’s open architecture has been a catalyst for its growth, allowing an enormous range of devices and services to connect to a global, interoperable network. The lack of gating functions, however, has potentially created a systemic risk to the resiliency of the internet.
Additionally, the global nature of the supply chain for such devices requires attention not just to the final product integrator’s practices, but also to that of suppliers throughout the manufacturing process. In the recent Mirai botnet, researchers have identified a single software supplier as responsible for vulnerabilities in a wide range of manufacturers’ products, with Flashpoint concluding that over 500,000 connected devices were vulnerable to Mirai because of an exploitable component from a single vendor’s management software. Manufacturers today are flooding the market with cheap, insecure devices, with few market incentives to design the products with security in mind, or to provide ongoing support. And buyers seem unable to make informed decisions between products based on their competing security features, in part because there are no clear metrics. Because the producers of these insecure IoT devices currently are insulated from any standards requirements, market feedback, or liability concerns, I am deeply concerned that we are witnessing a ‘tragedy of the commons’ threat to the continued functioning of the internet, as the security so vital to all internet users remains the responsibility of none. Further, buyers have little recourse when, despite their best efforts, security failures occur.
Under the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) Open Internet rules, ISPs cannot prohibit the attachment of “non-harmful devices” to their networks. It seems entirely reasonable to conclude under the present circumstances, however, that devices with certain insecure attributes could be deemed harmful to the “network” – whether the ISP’s own network or the networks to which it is connected. While remaining vigilant to ensure that such prohibitions do not serve as a pretext for anticompetitive or exclusionary behavior, I would encourage regulators to provide greater clarity to internet service providers in this area.
DDoS attacks can be powerful tools for censorship, criminal extortion, or nation-state aggression. Tools such as Mirai source code, amplified by an embedded base of insecure devices worldwide, accomplish more than isolated nuisance; these are capabilities – weapons even – that can debilitate entire ranges of economic activity. While the internet was not designed with security in mind, its resiliency –which serves as its animating principle – is now being undermined.
I respectfully request that you respond to the following questions:
1. What types of network management practices are available for internet service providers to respond to DDoS threats? In the FCC’s Open Internet Order, the Commission suggested that ISPs could take such steps only when addressing “traffic that constitutes a denial-of-service attack on specific network infrastructure elements.” Is it your agency’s opinion that the Mirai attack has targeted “specific network infrastructure elements” to warrant a response from ISPs?
2. Would it be a reasonable network management practice for ISPs to designate insecure network devices as “insecure” and thereby deny them connections to their networks, including by refraining from assigning devices IP addresses? Would such practices require refactoring of router software, and if so, does this complicate the feasibility of such an approach?
3. What advisories to, or direct engagement with, retailers of IoT devices have you engaged in to alert them of the risks of certain devices they sell? Going forward, what attributes would help inform your determination that a particular device poses a risk warranting notice to retailers or consumers?
4. What strategies would you pursue to take devices deemed harmful to the network out of the stream of commerce? Are there remediation procedures vendors can take, such as patching? What strategy would you pursue to deactivate or recall the embedded base of consumer devices?
5. What consumer advisories have you issued to alert consumers to the risks of particular devices?
6. Numerous reports have indicated that users often fail to install relevant updates, despite their availability. To the extent that certain device security capabilities can be improved with software or firmware updates, how will you ensure that these updates are implemented?
7. Do consumers have meaningful ability to distinguish between products based on their security features? Are formal, or third-party, metrics needed to establish a baseline for consumers to evaluate products? If so, has your agency taken steps to create or urge the creation of such a baseline?
8. Should manufacturers have to abide by minimum technical security standards? Has your agency discussed the possibility of establishing meaningful security standards with the National Institute of Standards and Technology?
9. What is the feasibility, including in terms of additional costs to manufacturers, of device security testing and certification, akin to current equipment testing and certification of technical standards conducted by the Federal Communications Commission under 47 CFR Part 2?
I look forward to your response. If you should have any questions or concerns, please contact Rafi Martina in my office at 202-224-2023.
Sincerely,
Mark R. Warner
United States Senator
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, issued the following statement in response to a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report which found that allowing Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to retain some of their profits and increase their equity capital could increase the risk to taxpayers by up to $100 billion over ten years:
“The report on recapitalizing Fannie and Freddie from the nonpartisan CBO reinforces how misguided the policy would be, adding another $100 billion to the debt without any concurrent benefits to taxpayers,” said Sen. Warner. “Congress must enact comprehensive housing finance reform that protects access to affordable housing without exposing taxpayers to inappropriate risk.”
Sen. Warner was the lead co-sponsor with U.S. Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) of the bipartisan Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act, which would have created an explicit government guarantee and preserve the 30-year mortgage, while requiring private capital to stand in front of the government to minimize taxpayer risk.
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has designated Pulaski County and Wythe County as Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), as well as Frederick County as a Washington/Baltimore HIDTA. The designations will enable each county to receive federal resources and tools to improve drug control efforts and coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement.
“The devastating effects of drug addiction continue to deeply affect Virginia families and communities. Now—more than ever—we need to provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to fight drug abuse and expand recovery treatment to those who need it,” said Sen. Warner. “While I am glad that these three counties now join others in having this support, we still have a lot of work to do to help the entire Commonwealth fight this epidemic. I look forward to continue to work with ONDCP and other local partners to help us prevent drug use and overdose deaths.”
Created by Congress in 1988, the HIDTA program serves as a catalyst for coordination among federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies operating in areas determined to be critical drug trafficking regions of the United States. Law enforcement organizations working within HIDTAs assess drug-trafficking issues and design specific initiatives to decrease the production, transportation, distribution and chronic use of drugs and money laundering.
Other counties and cities in Virginia that are a part of the HIDTA program include:
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WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $823,341 in grant funding to support community policing efforts and strategies throughout Virginia. The funding, awarded to state and national organizations headquartered in Virginia, was made available through DOJ’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services’ (COPS) Community Policing Development Awards program.
“I am pleased that Virginia has received these grants to help advance public safety and foster police-community relationships,” said Sen. Warner. “These federal funds will help ensure police departments have the tools and training they need to increase police involvement in the communities they protect, and improve public trust in law enforcement.”
Under today’s announcement, the following organizations will receive funding:
The COPS Office is responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. Since 1995, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies. COPS grants fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 129,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products, including publications, training and technical assistance. For additional information about COPS, please visit www.cops.usdoj.gov.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) released the following statement on the passing of Lynchburg civil rights leader Walter Fore:
“Walter Fore was a champion for working people and an advocate for social justice when those issues weren’t always popular. He was well-respected in Lynchburg, and Walter was someone I was proud to call a friend for more than two decades. I can say with confidence that there are very few people who I have met during my public service career that were as good and decent as he was, and he will be greatly missed.”
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Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) released the following statement after the Senate voted to override President Barack Obama’s veto of S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA):
“Today I voted to override the President’s veto of S.2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA). I chose to support the motion to override after hearing from supporters of this bill, including the families of the 9/11 victims, and considering the concerns that have been raised by the Administration about the bill’s potential unintended consequences on our national security and foreign policy.
Ultimately I believe that the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 should have their day in court. Although I supported passage of the bill, I have grave concerns about the dangerous precedent of opening foreign sovereign immunity. I believe our national security and foreign policy could be put in jeopardy if reciprocal laws are enacted in other countries, with the potential to open U.S. citizens, officials, and service members to foreign lawsuits in which they could be required to disclose classified or sensitive information as part of court proceedings in other countries.
I have joined 27 of my colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to the bills authors, Sens Schumer and Cornyn laying out our concerns about the legislation and seeking their commitment to work with us to mitigate any potential consequences of enacting this legislation.”
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WASHINGTON—Today, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, and Rep. Richard E. Neal (D-MA), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, introduced legislation to close the affiliate reinsurance tax loophole, which currently allows foreign insurance groups to shift their U.S. reserves into low or no tax jurisdictions overseas through the use of related-party reinsurance transactions, thereby avoiding U.S. tax on their investment income. This provides an unfair competitive advantage over U.S.-based companies in attracting capital to write U.S. business.
“As we continue to face a growing budget deficit, I am increasingly worried about the erosion of our U.S. tax base. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that over the next 10 years, corporate income tax receipts will fall by roughly 5 percent – with half of that difference attributable to the shifting of additional income out of the United States. This legislation will help stem the flight of capital and tax revenue abroad, and put all insurers on a level playing field. I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congressman Neal, who has championed this issue for many years,” said Senator Warner.
“I am pleased to introduce legislation to close a loophole that allows foreign insurance groups to strip their U.S. income into tax havens to avoid U.S. tax and gain a competitive advantage over American companies. It is illogical that we continue to allow many foreign-based insurance companies to shift their U.S. income into tax havens to avoiding paying U.S. taxes. By closing this loophole, we not only preserve our US tax base, we will stop an unfair competitive advantage for our U.S.-based companies. I look forward to working with Senator Warner to get this bill enacted into law to which will help bring down the deficit, and restoring a level-playing field for U.S. businesses,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.
Since 1996, the amount of reinsurance sent to offshore affiliates has grown more than ten-fold from a total of $4 billion ceded in 1996 to nearly $42 billion in 2014, over 90 percent of which went to Bermuda, Swiss and Cayman affiliates.
Under this bill, the deduction for premiums paid to the offshore affiliate is deferred until the insured event occurs. By deferring this deduction, any tax benefit from shifting reserves and associated investment income overseas is effectively recaptured. This is another way of addressing inversions and base erosion, as several U.S. companies have “inverted” into tax havens and numerous other companies have been formed—or been acquired and taken—offshore to take advantage of this tax-avoidance strategy.
The bill allows foreign groups to avoid the deduction disallowance by electing to be subject to U.S. tax with respect to the premiums and net investment income from affiliate reinsurance of U.S. risk. Special rules are provided to allow for foreign tax credits to avoid double taxation. Both the deferral disallowance, and this election would ensure a level-playing field, treating U.S. insurers and foreign-based insurers alike.
For more information on this bill, click here. The full text of this legislation can also be found here.
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