Issue Position: Jobs and the Economy

Issue Position

Mark Warner knows that America cannot continue to lead the world without investing in our economy and our workforce. As Governor, he worked across party lines to make tough decisions that restored Virginia's fiscal integrity and balanced Virginia's budget, earning Virginia the designation of Best State for Business and Best Managed State. In the Senate, Mark has drawn upon his experience in business to craft policies that invest in U.S. manufacturing and strengthen our infrastructure, and which promote the growth of small businesses and start-up companies to drive job growth and a stronger economy.

Job Creation

As Governor, Mark helped create nearly 130,000 private sector jobs through $13 billion in new economic development investments.

Small Business Growth

As Senator, Mark has used his experience in business and his willingness to work across the aisle to push for new crowd funding tools in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act. Signed into law in 2012, the JOBS Act also eases regulations and promotes innovation and new job growth.

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Influenced by his own experience as an entrepreneur, Sen. Warner worked with Republicans and Democrats to introduce legislation that encourage the growth of startup companies through targeted tax incentives and regulatory flexibility. He has introduced the Startup Act and championed an Innovation Tax Credit to eliminate unnecessary costs for startups through pro-growth policies that invest in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Bringing Back American Jobs

Working with Republican Rep. Frank Wolf, Sen. Warner introduced the America Recruits Act to bring jobs back from overseas and increase new manufacturing jobs here in America. Sen. Warner continues to lead bipartisan efforts to expand U.S. export opportunities while strengthening worker training and American competitiveness.

Investments in Infrastructure

Sen. Warner is committed to upgrading our nation's infrastructure through the 2013 Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development (BUILD) Act. This bipartisan initiative will create thousands of jobs through innovative financing tools to help states and localities launch or rebuild bridges, rails and roads.

In the U.S. Senate, Mark has built on his work as Governor to help create and attract thousands of jobs to Virginia.

Innovative Industries

Mark has fought to put Hampton Roads at the forefront of new and growing industries. By strengthening existing relationships with the military and creating partnerships with Virginia's universities, he has helped make the area the prime location for testing and advancing Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which will help Virginia be on the cutting edge of this growing industry and create hundreds of jobs.

Reducing Red Tape

Mark worked with other members of the Virginia delegation to expedite the approval of the Commonwealth Crossing Business Center in Henry County. Working across the aisle with state and local officials to find a solution, the project is now scheduled to continue and stands to create real jobs in the area. The legislation he introduced to fix this bureaucratic quirk ensure that new infrastructure can be built across the Southside to create future jobs in places like Martinsville, Danville and Pittsylvania County.

FBI Relocation

Mark is leading a Virginia coalition of Democrats and Republicans to bring the new FBI headquarters to Northern Virginia. Currently, the FBI has facilities at Quantico and Prince William County. With the future home of the Central Records Complex to be at Winchester and the CIA and the National Counterterrorism Center already in Northern Virginia, this will make the our national security apparatus even more efficient and bring 10,000 jobs to the area.

New Training Facilities

Mark collaborate with U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, and U.S. Representatives Randy Forbes and Robert Hurt to bring the new Foreign Affairs Security Training Center (FASTC) to Fort Pickett in Nottoway County. This will not only generate new economic activity for the area but also help keep the State Department efficient. This brings yet another economic driver to the people of Southside Virginia.

Moving Jobs to Virginia

International Telecommunications Satellite Organization, or "Intelsat', the operator of the world's largest fleet of commercial satellites, decided to move it's operations from Washington, D.C., Mark visited the company's headquarters. His efforts, in tandem with state officials, helped solidify Virginia as the right place for Intelsat to relocate. Because of the move, Fairfax gained 430 well-paid employees.

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