Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Democrats Introduce Bills to Protect Federal Health Benefits during Government Shutdowns
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) introduced a pair of bills aimed at protecting federal healthcare benefits in the event of a government shutdown. Similar bipartisan legislation was introduced in the House yesterday, led by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). The two bills introduced would amend current law to ensure that workers who have qualifying life … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Van Hollen, Rubio Reintroduce the DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reintroduced the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act. The legislation, which gained strong momentum last Congress, sends a clear and powerful message to Russia and any other foreign actors seeking to disrupt our elections: If you attack American candidates, campaigns, or voting infrastructure, you will face swift and severe consequences. In addition to the clear interference by Moscow in … Continue Reading
April 02, 2019
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Totally Fails to Answer Van Hollen Questions about Planned Exports to Saudi Arabia
Svinivki, Commissioners Unable to Speak to Involvement Despite Legal Requirement that NRC be Consulted Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen questioned U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki on the NRC's role in the Administration's recently reported approval of the export of civil nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia. In response to Senator Van Hollen's questions, neither Chairman Svinivki nor the four other NRC Commissioners on the panel could provide answers on … Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Demand Equal Pay for U.S. Women’s Soccer Team
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined his Senate colleagues today in calling on U.S. Soccer to establish equal pay for its athletes. Despite their successes on the field, players on the U.S. Women's National Team are still paid considerably less than their male counterparts. In 2016, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution calling for U.S. Soccer to immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and treat all athletes with the same respect and dignity. Despite that resolution and other … Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Decision to Halt Transfer of F-35 Equipment to Turkey
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Pentagon's decision to halt the transfer of equipment related to the F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey as the Turkish government continues efforts to obtain the S-400 missile defense system from Russia: "I'm pleased to see that the Pentagon is heeding our calls to stop the transfer of F-35 related equipment to Turkey. Turkey operating both the S-400 missile and the F-35 is a non-starter. It puts our … Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Call on Senate Armed Services Committee to Include Legal Protections for Military Families in Privatized Housing in Defense Bill
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of Democrats in calling on the Senate Armed Services Committee to include in the upcoming National Defense Authorization Act portions of the Ensuring Safe Housing for our Military Act, the Senators' legislation to address health, safety and environmental hazards in privatized military housing. The legislation was in response to a recent Reuters investigation that found hazardous living conditions in privatized military housing … Continue Reading
April 01, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Demand Answers on CDC’s Unreliable Gun Injury Data
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and eleven other Senators have sent a letter to the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, demanding answers to a series of questions about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's nonfatal firearm injury estimates. The inquiry relies on the findings of an investigation by The Trace and FiveThirtyEight. The Trace and FiveThirtyEight first reported last year that the CDC's 2016 gun injury estimate was so uncertain that the agency … Continue Reading
March 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Urge Trump Administration to Withdraw Proposed SNAP Rule
Proposed rule would bypass the intent of Congress in the 2018 Farm Bill and take food assistance away from families Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a bipartisan letter that raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to make harmful changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to withdraw the proposal. "The proposed changes would take food assistance away from Americans struggling … Continue Reading
March 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $120 Million in Funding for Construction of Purple Line
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $120 million in federal funding through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) for the construction of the Purple Line. This grant is part of the $900 million federal grant agreement for the Maryland Purple Line Light Rail Project, $568 million of which has been appropriated through FY 2019. The funding will go towards the development of railways, stations, and storage and maintenance facilities. "I am pleased to … Continue Reading
March 29, 2019
Van Hollen Announces DHS will Allocate Additional H-2B Visas
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be allocating an additional 30,000 H-2B visas for the remainder of fiscal year 2019 to applicants who have held H-2B status in at least one of the past three fiscal years. This comes after repeated requests from Senator Van Hollen, including the most recent letter earlier this month that highlighted the disastrous impact that lack of access to visas has had on the Maryland crab industry. The … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Van Hollen Questions Bernhardt’s Efforts to Relax Migratory Bird Legal Opinion and Possible Conflict of Interest
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt about his involvement in a recent Department of the Interior (DOI) legal opinion to roll back a longstanding interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act that holds companies responsible for oil spills that kill migratory birds. Under DOI's new legal opinion, companies responsible for non-intentional oil spills would no longer have to pay penalties for the massive loss of bird life … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Van Hollen, Lankford, Shaheen, Tillis Introduce Bill to Prohibit Transfer of F-35 Aircraft to Turkey
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a bill to prohibit the transfer of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey until our government certifies that Turkey will not accept delivery of Russia's S-400 air defense system. Under the US-led, multinational Joint Strike Fighter program, Turkey is expected to accept delivery of the F-35 as early as next fall. "As a member of NATO, Turkey … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Van Hollen Offers Budget Amendments to Protect Working Families
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Budget Committee, is offering two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2020 Senate Republican budget resolution aimed at protecting working families from higher taxes and rising prescription drug costs during today's markup. "Budgets are not just a list of numbers, they are statements of our priorities. And this Republican budget - on the heels of President Trump's proposal - couldn't be worse for American families," said Senator Van Hollen. … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Maryland Congressional Delegation Secures Commitment from NPS to Quickly Repair B-W Parkway
Expedited Repair Work Comes After Sustained Pressure by Maryland Congressional Delegation Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) applauded the National Park Service's (NPS) announcement that it will immediately use emergency contracting authority to begin repairs on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. This action follows continued pressure by the Maryland Congressional Delegation, … Continue Reading
March 27, 2019
Van Hollen, Warner, Kaine Introduce Budget Amendments to Protect Federal Workers and Contractors
Amendments would protect federal retirement, prevent cuts, support back pay for contractors affected by the recent government shutdown Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.)- all members of the Senate Committee on the Budget - filed four amendments to the Fiscal Year 2020 budget resolution aimed at protecting federal employees and contractors. The amendments would put the Senate on the record in favor of preserving retirement … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Feinstein, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Protect TPS Recipients
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act. This legislation would allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. TPS is a temporary, legal status granted to foreign citizens who are endangered by conditions in their home country such … Continue Reading
March 26, 2019
Van Hollen, Roberts Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education
Today, as part of Public Schools Week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), and Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act. This bipartisan legislation would finally ensure Congress' commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to educational opportunity. This law was a historic step forward, but since its passage … Continue Reading
March 24, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Barr Summary of Mueller Report
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the summary of Special Counsel Mueller's report sent to Congress by Attorney General Barr: "The Mueller report confirms that the Russians interfered in our 2016 election, a point that President Trump continues to deny. I know our country is relieved that Mueller did not find that the President participated in a criminal conspiracy with Putin and Russia, but the President is simply wrong to claim he has … Continue Reading
March 22, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Mueller Report
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the completion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report: "Full transparency. No waiting. Attorney General Barr must immediately provide Congress and the public with Mueller's entire report and supporting material, not just his summary findings. The American people have a right to know everything." … Continue Reading
March 22, 2019
Van Hollen Announces Legislation to Protect Military Families Living In Private Housing
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced his support of legislation to address health, safety, and environmental hazards in private military housing. This legislation, the Ensuring Safe Housing for our Military Act, would enact a number of measures to hold private housing providers accountable and to ensure military housing is up to par. Serious issues - including homes with persistent mold blooms, water leaks, and rodent and insect infestations - have been reported at Maryland's … Continue Reading
