Press Releases
Maryland, Virginia Senators Call Trump Adminstration’s Attempt to Use COVID-19 as Excuse for Funding Unsecured Downtown FBI Headquarters “Inappropriate”
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) are calling on Senate leadership to reject the Trump adminstration’s attempt to add funding for a downtown headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) into the latest COVID-19 relief package. The four senators urged that the language be removed from any COVID-19 legislation.“The United States is in the midst of a public health crisis and an economic downturn. Addressing these … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy Introduce Legislation to Prevent Health Care Providers from Seizing Bank Accounts, Wages During COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) introduced the COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act, legislation to prevent healthcare providers from taking drastic steps to collect medical debts from patients - including seizing bank accounts and garnishing wages.Nearly one in four working-age American adults report having problems paying their medical bills. As our nation battles the COVID-19 pandemic, the financial and health consequences of medical debt are … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Republican Release of COVID-19 Plan
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the COVID-19 plan released by Senate Republicans today:“It’s bad enough that Senate Republicans are allowing many important protections to expire, but it’s outrageous that - when they finally unveiled their proposals today - they fall so far short of meeting the urgent needs around the country and, in many cases, will make the situation worse. The House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act over two months ago … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce Nearly $300,000 for Blue Crab Research at the University of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) today announced $299,963 in federal funding for the University of Maryland, College Park for research into a new processing technology that could enhance the competitiveness of the domestic blue crab industry. The funding comes from the 2020 Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Grants Program through the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Few things are as iconic as the Chesapeake Bay blue … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Durbin, Schumer Again Call on Trump to Grant TPS for Venezuelans
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), as well as Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today called on President Trump to support the victims of the Maduro regime by granting Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Venezuelans fleeing the political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in their home country. “As the people of Venezuela continue to suffer political oppression and economic deprivation at the hands of … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Call on Anthony J. Tata to Withdraw Nomination as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy and Resign from the Pentagon
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to retired Brigadier General Anthony J. Tata calling on him to withdraw his nomination to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy at the Department of Defense (DoD) and resign his current position as a senior advisor to the Defense Secretary. If confirmed, Tata would become the third-highest ranking DoD official and a principal advisor to the Secretary on the Department's policies and activities. The … Continue Reading
July 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown Request Additional Supports for Community Schools in Next Covid-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) led a letter to Senate leadership requesting additional supports for community schools in the next COVID-19 package. As students, parents, and educators navigate this public health and economic crisis, it is even more essential that schools are equipped to meet the needs of the whole child and their families. The community schools strategy is an evidence-based approach that equips schools to provide integrated student supports, … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Release Statements on USCIS Furlough Postponement
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statements in response to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) decision to postpone their previously announced employee furloughs. In early July, the Senators wrote a letter to USCIS urging the Agency to reconsider the planned furloughs and to eliminate the harmful policies that have undermined its budget, threatened employees’ livelihoods, and hurt U.S. immigration services at large.“Many … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez Introduce $1B Bill to Spur Economic Activity in Communities Hit Hard by COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) have introduced legislation that would provide an additional $1 billion to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to boost local economies in low-income, rural and urban communities that were disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Senator Van Hollen also urged Senate negotiators to increase the CDFI Fund in March. “CDFIs serve as a direct financial lifeline for struggling communities that have … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez Introduce $1B Bill to Spur Economic Activity in Communities Hit Hard by COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) have introduced legislation that would provide an additional $1 billion to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to boost local economies in low-income, rural and urban communities that were disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “CDFIs serve as a direct financial lifeline for struggling communities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19, funding small businesses, non-profits, and a diverse … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Kaine and Warren Lead Colleagues to Call for Fixes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to Be Included in Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with seventeen other senators, called on Senate leadership to include fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program in the next COVID-19 relief package. In a letter, the senators called for the inclusion of components from the What You Can Do For Your Country Act - legislation introduced by Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Kaine, and Warren - in the relief package … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Attempts to Include Misguided FBI Building Policy within Next COVID Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on President Trump’s attempt to include his misguided plan for an updated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters within the next COVID-19 relief package: “The Congress has spent years working toward a new FBI building and campus that would meet the operational and security needs of the agency. Despite significant progress towards this goal, President Trump pulled the plug on the plan when he came into … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Murray, Lawmakers Urge HHS to Address the Needs of Pregnant People during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Combat Maternal Mortality Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the agency to strengthen its efforts to protect pregnant people during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressing concern over reports that the political needs of the President were being prioritized over the public health needs of vulnerable populations."We understand the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Colleagues Call for Substantial Funding to Amtrak for Critical Projects Along the Northeast Corridor in Future Covid-19 Relief Bill
Due to declining ridership and revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) calling for substantial funding for Amtrak in any future pandemic relief bill. In the letter to McConnell and Schumer, the senators noted the dire measures Amtrak would have to take, such as cessation critical NEC infrastructure … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces Nearly $775,000 for Drug Addiction Research at Johns Hopkins University
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) today announced $774,845 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University to support critical research on drug use and addiction.The funding, which comes through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), will explore innovative intervention treatment for opioid use disorders. Specifically, the funding will enable researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of new medical … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Democratic Senators Urge Significant, New Flexible Funding for State and Local Governments
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and nearly three dozen Democratic colleagues urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to support the funding amount and proposed funding flexibility for state and local governments that was included in the HEROES Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The funding includes $500 billion for states, $375 billion for local governments and $20 billion each for territories and tribal … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have joined Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, end the scourge of minority voter suppression, and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis - one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes.In 2013, the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted critical voter protections within the Voting Rights Act, crippling … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin on House Passage of Bill to Replace Roger Taney Bust at Old Supreme Court with Thurgood Marshall
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statements on House passage of replacing the bust of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger Brooke Taney with a bust of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve on the nation’s highest court. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen introduced the same legislation in the Senate.“Thurgood Marshall was an inspiration who helped tear down the walls of segregation in America. It is … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Harris, Colleagues Demand Answers on Federal Law Enforcement Presence in American Cities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and sixteen of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Matthew Albence demanding answers about the use of federal law enforcement against protestors expressing their constitutional First Amendment rights. Senator Van Hollen introduced legislation … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on House Passage of No Ban Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the House of Representatives’ passage of the No Ban Act, legislation to repeal President Trump’s Muslim Ban. Senator Van Hollen helped introduce the Senate companion legislation to the House bill and has repeatedly, and successfully, pressed the Administration to publicly release information on the ban."President Trump's Muslim Ban undermines our values and weakens our national security by playing into the hands … Continue Reading
