Kaine Makes Stops In Culpeper And Centreville

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tim Kaine today traveled to Culpeper to join Amtrak representatives for a tour of the Amtrak station and learn about the positive impact it has had on commuters and the region’s economy. The station, which saw 12,608 boardings and alightings in 2012, was built in 1904 and is a part of the Lynchburg route that has operated since 2009 and was one of Amtrak’s most profitable lines last year. In Virginia alone, Amtrak supports 864 jobs and $100 million in goods and services.

“I was excited to come to Culpeper today to receive an update on the great service Amtrak is providing to visitors and commuters,” said Kaine. “After working on the Amtrak expansion project as Governor it's been really heartening to see how well the expansion has worked.”

After leaving the station, Kaine joined local community leaders to visit businesses in downtown Culpeper, including Raven's Nest Coffee House, Green Roost, Pepperberries, The Cameleer, the newly renovated State Theatre, and spoke about the appeal for entrepreneurs to start new businesses in Virginia. Kaine, who voted in May to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act to level the playing field and revitalize small businesses, also discussed the importance of developing the competitive and talented student pool and workforce to continue attracting businesses and stimulating regional economies. Following the stop in Culpeper, Kaine toured Camber Corporation in Centreville and spoke with employees about the need to replace sequester cuts and pass full appropriations bills by the end of the year to enable businesses and federal contractors like Camber to operate with budget certainty.

"The effects of sequester are known more and more each day and we're seeing significant effects of furloughs, including contracting opportunities shrinking, said Kaine. "This accumulating set of cuts is causing challenges to our workforce and our preparedness. We have to tell these stories and inspire congressional action."

Kaine will resume his Virginia travels on Friday in Topping where he will visit Rappahannock River Oysters.