Sens. Mark Warner, Tim Kaine applaud confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner

Chris Graham

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine today applauded the confirmation of Marilyn Tavenner of Virginia as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by a vote of 91 to 7. Tavenner is the first Senate-confirmed CMS Administrator since 2006. CMS oversees Medicare and Medicaid and is charged with health care services for millions of Americans.

Report: Virginia farmers produce 696 million eggs a year

AFP

May is National Egg Month and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) wants to recognize Virginia’s farmers who produce 696 million eggs (58 million dozen) each year. That’s a lot of eggs: 1 billion 392 million deviled eggs, 232 million three-egg omelets or 87 million pound cakes, assuming eight large eggs per pound.

Classic & Antique Car Show showcases disability driving program

AFP

The WWRC Foundation will host a free exhibit of classic and antique cars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, on the grounds at the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. The show will feature vehicles with assistive technology for drivers with disabilities as well as more than 35 vintage cars from five local clubs, including Corvair, Corvette, Model A, Mustang, and the Waynesboro-Staunton Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America.

mark warner

Mark Warner urges Senate to consider VA clinic model adopted at William and Mary

Chris Graham

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner sent a letter to each of his Senate colleagues today encouraging them to consider an innovative program developed by the College of William & Mary Law School as a national model in efforts to reduce the processing backlog for military veterans with complicated disability claims.

Protect family farmers by responding to the Census of Agriculture

AFP

We represent thousands of African American, Hispanic and Native American farmers in the United States and we recognize the importance of as many of our farmers being counted in the agriculture census. It’s with information from the census that the nation learns about the importance of the work we do. This is why we are appealing to everyone who as not yet sent in their census form to please do so. There is still time.

mark warner

Roundtable allows farmers to weigh in on immigration reform

AFP

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va., said the so-called Gang of Eight’s current immigration bill “is the best chance in 35 years to fix a broken immigration system.” Warner announced that to a room full of farmers and agribusiness professionals during a May 3 round-table discussion about immigration reform at Virginia Farm Bureau Federation’s headquarters.

Historic Designation Project Moves Forward in Bath

AFP

Eleven large baskets have been placed in the Hot Springs BB&T Bank for a silent auction. These theme baskets are named the “Fountain of Youth” basket, “Let’s Go Gardening”, “Start Your Engines”, “Breakfast in Bed”, “Tea Time,” “Playing a Round,” “Baby Comfort Station,” “Day Spa,” “Love My Pets,” “Day at the Beach” and “Picnic Time.”

tim kaine

Tim Kaine: Stakes are ‘enormously high’ for Air Force to address sexual assault

AFP

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, pressed top United States Air Force officials in a hearing today on the issue of sexual assault in the military including the arrest of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, chief of the Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response branch, on charges of sexual battery in Arlington, Virginia. In his questioning, Kaine expressed his concern over the signal these news accounts send to current and future servicemembers, noting his recent visit with female cadets at Mary Baldwin College in Staunton.

Farm Bureau supports immigration reform bill’s guestworker program

AFP

It has a long way to go before becoming law, but the introduction of a bipartisan immigration reform bill is significant for U.S. agriculture. A group of senators has unveiled a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes provisions for a new agricultural guestworker program. American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman said that’s extremely important for the future of agriculture.