Sen. Kaine to visit Pulaski, Wytheville, Blacksburg to talk education, economic development and combating the drug addiction crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine will travel to Southwest Virginia to discuss education, economic development, and combating the drug addiction crisis. Kaine’s role on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee gives him a platform to carry the conversations he has around the Commonwealth with him as he works to reform America’s education system, improve health care, and strengthen the economy.

On Thursday, April 25, Kaine will visit Wytheville Community College (WCC) to hold a roundtable discussion on the upcoming reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) with leaders from Southwest Virginia’s colleges and universities. As a member of the HELP Committee, Kaine is working to ensure the HEA better meets the needs of Virginia’s students. As the HELP Committee rewrites the HEA, Senator Kaine is working to include his bipartisan bill – called the JOBS Act – to help workers access Pell Grants for job training for in-demand career fields.

Following his visit to WCC, Kaine will meet with CEO of Carbon Research and Development Co. Steve Hooper to tour a research facility and learn more about the company’s work to turn coal into graphene for industrial use and bring jobs to the region. Later in the day, Kaine will visit Sugar Hill Brewing Company to sit down with local leaders from Russell and Wise Counties.

On Friday, April 26, Kaine will hold a roundtable discussion in Lebanon with Virginia health care professionals on the comprehensive opioid legislation that was signed into law last year and current efforts underway to combat the drug addiction crisis. The final legislation included proposals from three of Kaine’s bills to give states the resources to ensure recovery homes are effectively helping residents sustain recovery from opioid and substance use disorders, incorporate job training into drug addiction recovery programs, and allow schools to apply for grants to directly offer trauma support services to students impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Kaine will then visit the Student and Community Career Fair at Virginia Highlands Community College, where 40 local employers will recruit for over 1,000 job openings. At the job fair, Kaine will speak with prospective employees and employers. Later, he will attend a Washington County Drug Court graduation ceremony. Kaine has long been an advocate of drug courts and believes they are one of the most effective tools in combating drug abuse and reducing recidivism.

Later in the day, Kaine will tour an economic revitalization project in Pulaski with President of MOVA Technologies and 2018 Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council Entrepreneur of the Year Steve Critchfield and local officials. Kaine will end the day in Blacksburg, where he will meet with Virginia Tech student leaders to discuss financial aid, campus safety, and other issues affecting students.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Kaine To Hold Roundtable In Wytheville On Higher Education

2:00 PM

Wytheville Community College – Grayson Hall, Johnson Lobby

1000 E Main St

Wytheville, VA

Kaine To Tour Carbon Research and Development Co. In Wise

6:00 PM

Lonesome Pine Regional Business and Technology Park

5934 Windswept Boulevard

Wise, VA

Kaine To Hold Meet & Greet At Sugar Hill Brewing Company

7:00 PM

Sugar Hill Brewing Company

16622 Broad Street

St. Paul, VA

Friday, April 26, 2019 

Kaine To Hold Roundtable In Lebanon On The Drug Addiction Crisis

9:00 AM

Russell County Government Center – Conference Center

139 Highland Drive

Lebanon, VA

Kaine To Visit VHCC Student and Community Job Fair In Abingdon

11:00 AM

Virginia Highlands Community College, ISC Student Center

100 VHCC Drive

Abingdon, VA

Kaine To Attend Washington County Drug Court Graduation In Abingdon

1:30 PM

Washington County Courthouse

189 East Main Street

Abingdon, VA

Kaine To Tour Economic Revitalization Project In Pulaski

4:30 PM

29 West Main Street

Pulaski, VA

Kaine To Meet With Virginia Tech Student Leaders In Blacksburg

6:30 PM

Virginia Tech, Goodwin Hall

635 Prices Fork Road

Blacksburg, VA