Rural areas frequently lack the necessary support and resources they rightfully deserve. As Governor and Senator, Tim has always been a tireless advocate so that no region of Virginia is forgotten or left behind.
In the U.S. Senate, Tim has fought to expand opportunity in rural Virginia, delivering critical funding for job training, schools, and high-speed internet. He supported the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will invest in roads, bridges, water pipes, and high-speed internet. As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Virginia received $1.8 billion in federal funding, and nearly 470,000 Virginia families are saving on their monthly internet bill because of Tim’s support of this legislation. Tim has been fighting for the Coalfields Expressway project both as Governor and Senator. Now, federal infrastructure funds he supported are finally helping this project get off the ground. Once completed, the expressway will provide an efficient transportation artery through the coalfields region and boost economic development in Southwest Virginia.
Tim has long championed Virginia’s coal miners, and it’s why he is proud to have been a deciding vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides permanent, sufficient funding to maintain the solvency of the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. It’s also why he was proud to support the bipartisan American Miners Act to make good on obligations to miner health and pension trust funds.
He has also been a tireless advocate for Virginia’s farmers through supporting the farm bill in 2014 and again in 2019. Tim has fought to level the playing field for Virginia farmers, working on efforts to lift the unfair Chinese ban on Virginia poultry, expand trade promotion programs in the farm bill, and remove barriers to farmers growing industrial hemp. Because of Tim’s support, prior farm bills and the Inflation Reduction Act are increasing farmers’ access to conservation services that improve landscape resilience.