Press Releases
Van Hollen, Markey, and Bennet Lead Colleagues in Urging GOP to Ensure All Students Can Remotely Continue Education during Coronavirus Emergency
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) led 16 of their colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, urging them to support robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing pandemic in the next version of the coronavirus relief package. The Senators expressed their profound disappointment with the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Current Phase Three Coronavirus Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in opposition to moving forward with the current version of the phase three coronavirus package.“After claiming they wanted to put American families, workers, and small businesses first, Republicans have pulled a total U-turn, with a package that instead bails out big corporations with a slush fund without adequate safeguards to protect the public interest. I urge Republicans to come back to the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Bennet, Senate Democrats Send Letter to President Trump Demanding Answers About Testing and Equipment Shortages
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), along with every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, in sending a letter to President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence demanding answers about supplies and equipment in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) critical to addressing the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators asked the president and vice president … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown Announce Legislation to Cap Consumer Lending Rates During COVID-19 Outbreak
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) announced legislation to temporarily cap consumer lending rates, also known as usury rates, at 36 percent during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Senators also urged leadership to include this cap within the phase three coronavirus emergency package. The legislation, as described in their letter below, would amend the Military Lending Act to extend to all consumers the credit protections provided to members of the Armed Forces … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Lankford, Sinema Announce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring Federal Agencies to Maximize Telework for Employees
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) announced the Emergency Telework Act, legislation requiring federal agencies to maximize their telework policies for federal employees. During the current public health emergency, this legislation would give a clear directive to all federal agencies to allow all telework-eligible federal workers to telework full-time, unless there is a clear and compelling reason not to do so. It would further … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Brown, and Durbin Urge Congressional Negotiators to Cancel Student Loan Payments and Debt in COVID-19 Response Package
United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in sending a letter to Congressional negotiators, urging them to cancel student loan payments and debt in the COVID-19 response package. "Students and families should not have to worry that they will go into default on their student loans during or immediately after this emergency--they should be worried about keeping themselves and … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Shaheen Call for No Junk Plans Act and Enrollment Assistance in Economic Stimulus Assistance Response Legislation
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the United States, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in sending a letter to Senate leadership calling for the COVID-19 economic stimulus response legislation to include the No Junk Plans Act, as well as a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) and additional funding for outreach and enrollment. This would overturn the Trump administration’s expansion of junk health insurance plans … Continue Reading
March 21, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Bipartisan Call Urging Trump Administration to Work With Congress to Deliver Relief to U.S. Airports
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), both members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, along with a bipartisan group of 38 Senators in calling on the Trump administration to work with Congress to deliver much-needed assistance to airports across the country grappling with the urgent public health challenges posed by the coronavirus. In a letter to President Trump, the Senators wrote, “Airports play a key role in our local and regional economies and … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Urge Negotiators to Close Digital Divide, Homework Gap in Coronavirus Funding Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) led a letter with 10 of their colleagues in urging leadership to address the digital divide and the homework gap within the phase three coronavirus funding package. As more and more schools transition to online learning due to the impact of the coronavirus, students without access to internet risk falling significantly behind their classmates. The homework gap - which refers to students who do not have access to … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen Urges Increase in CDFI Fund to Support Local Communities in COVID-19 Response
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to increase funding for the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund within the phase three coronavirus package. The CDFI Fund provides financial and technical assistance grants to local financial institutions that are mission-focused and often provide financing to small businesses, non- profits, affordable housing, and community development projects in … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, King Urge Negotiators to Establish a Special Adviser to the President on Global Health Security within Phase 3 Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Angus King (I-Maine) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging them to establish a Special Adviser to the President for Global Health Security, within the negotiated phase three coronavirus package. As noted in their letter, the Special Adviser would lead a Directorate for Global Health Security at the White House National Security Council and would advise the White House on global health crises. President Obama had previously established this … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Merkley Propose Robust Rescue Plan for Small and Mid-Size Businesses and Nonprofits
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), on Friday rolled out a proposal that would provide much-needed liquidity for small and medium businesses during the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. The Main Street Emergency Grant Program would allow small businesses to apply for grants through the Treasury Department to cover fixed costs like payroll and rent. Those grants would revert to loans that would have to be paid back only if the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Urge Protections for Airline Employees and Contractors in Coronavirus Economic Stimulus Legislation
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), along with a number of their colleagues, sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for the inclusion of protections for employees and contractors in any financial assistance to the airline industry.The outbreak of the novel coronavirus has dealt a financial blow to the country’s airlines. However, the industry’s business practices over many years have exacerbated the issues they currently face. Following years of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Kaine, Colleagues Call on President Trump to End Efforts to Sabotage the Affordable Care Act Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and 18 of their colleagues in a letter calling on President Trump to reverse course on efforts to repeal, sabotage, or undermine healthcare coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act. In the letter, the Senators criticized the Administration’s efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and put millions of Americans’ health care at risk during a pandemic. The Senators also criticized the Trump Administration’s … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Push To Protect Working Families from Utility Shut Offs in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with Senate Environmental Justice Caucus co-chairs Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and eleven other Senators, today in pressing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to include protections for Americans against utility shut-offs in the next coronavirus relief package.“As closures and quarantines disrupt and eliminate income for many American … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Durbin, Harris, Pressley Press Trump Administration on Reports that DHS is Preparing Mass Deportations of Dreamers
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) today led a group of 36 Senators and 87 Representatives in pressing the Trump Administration on reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is preparing mass deportations of Dreamers, young immigrants who grew up in the United States and know no other home. Many Dreamers have reported receiving notice that their deportation cases have … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Push for Critical Support for Higher Ed Students, Schools Amid Coronavirus-Related Campus Closures
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in urging Senate leadership to include essential support provisions for students, colleges, and universities in the third coronavirus emergency relief bill.The senators explained in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader, and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee—Senators Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray—that colleges and universities across … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Markey, Brown in Telling Trump to Immediately and Fully Use All Defense Production Act Authorities to Mobilize War-Scale Manufacturing Effort of Medical Equipment
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and 17 of their colleagues today in decrying President Donald Trump’s partial invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA), which ignored other key titles in the Act that provide essential tools for rapidly scaling up our national response to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Senators are calling on Trump to immediately implement all Defense Production Act powers under Titles … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Bipartisan Call for FEMA to Help Individuals, States Handle COVID-19 Outbreak
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are urging President Trump to exercise authorities used in the wake of natural disasters to provide direct emergency assistance to individuals and families and waive local cost sharing in order to pump more federal resources into states and communities responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. “Now, as the entire nation faces the challenges of a global pandemic, we are asking that your administration unlock the full capacity of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Congress to Support Clean Energy Industry in Economic Relief Packages
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with 16 Senate colleagues in sending a letter calling on Congress to include support for the United States’ clean energy industry and workforce in any economic aid packages.“As Congress takes steps to ensure that our nation’s workforce is prepared to emerge stronger from the coronavirus health and economic crisis, we must act to shore up clean energy businesses and workers who are uniquely impacted by … Continue Reading
