Press Releases
Sens. Van Hollen, Portman, Merkley and Reps. Davis, Schweikert Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Fix AOTC Inequity
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) announced new bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address a systematic injustice within the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The AOTC is the primary tax credit available to students seeking a higher education; however, students with a prior felony drug conviction are permanently ineligible from using the credit. This … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Van Hollen Announces Support of House Impeachment Inquiry
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement announcing his support for the U.S. House of Representatives to begin an impeachment inquiry into President Trump. “President Trump’s actions are a threat to our democracy. His continued disregard for our Constitution and the democratic norms that guide our nation have caused grave harm to our country, our standing in the world, and to the Office of the Presidency. These issues must be fully investigated to the … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Van Hollen Announces Increase in Bay Funding in Key Senate Bill
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that he has secured $76 million in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program within the Senate Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations FY 2020 funding bill. Following President Trump's efforts to slash funding for the Bay Program to a mere $7.3 million, Senator Van Hollen fought for this increase in funds - the first since FY 2015 - to support Bay conservation and restoration efforts. "The … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Sarbanes Announce more than $238,000 for Odenton Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced more than $238,400 in federal funds for the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant. Through this four year award, the Department will work to attract new firefighters and retain existing ones, building upon the progress made through a … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
Van Hollen Announces $2.7 Million for Baltimore County Fire Department to Hire New Firefighters
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski announced $2.7 million in federal funding for Baltimore County to hire 28 new firefighters in 2020. The funding, awarded through Federal Emergency Management Agency's Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, will support the department's expansion of services in Sparrows Point to support the growth at Tradepoint Atlantic. The county will provide $1.7 million in matching … Continue Reading
September 20, 2019
Van Hollen Secures $75 Million Increase in Program to Support B-W Parkway Repairs
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced that he secured a $75 million increase in a program that can be used to support Baltimore-Washington Parkway repairs. Earlier this year, the National Park Service (NPS) struggled with timely repairs of the Parkway - creating pothole issues and poor driving conditions - due to a lack of funds in this account. Following Senator Van Hollen's efforts to address this issue, the Park Service began emergency repairs of the roadway. This new funding … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Raskin, Trone Announce nearly $5.6 Million for Firefighters in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representatives Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced more than $5,585,000 in federal funds for Western Maryland through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. Frederick County will receive $5,498,500 for additional staffing, while the Community Volunteer Fire Company of District No. 12 in Fairplay will also … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud new Federal Resources for Support Worcester County's Fight on Drug Trafficking
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) applauded the announcement that Worcester County, Md. has been added to the counties designated as part of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs). The designation will enable the County to receive federal resources to address the severe heroin and opioid threat facing the community. Additionally, the designation will allow further coordination and development of drug control efforts among federal, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen Talks with CNBC’s Joe Kernen on Trade, Huawei, and the 8-K Trading Gap
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke to CNBC’s Joe Kernen on trade, Huawei and protecting U.S. technology from China, and eliminating unfair corporate stock sales. Van Hollen and Kernen discussed two pieces of legislation the Senator is working on - 8-K Trading Gap Act and the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. The Senator’s 8-K Trading Gap Act, which is being marked-up in the House Financial Services Committee today, would prevent executives and other corporate insiders … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Senate Colleagues Urge FCC to Reject Plans that Imperil the Universal Service Fund
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-M.D.), today joined his Democratic colleagues in calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to discard its proposed cap on the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF supports four communications programs: E-Rate, Lifeline, the Rural Health Care Fund, and the Connect America Fund. Each of these programs is designed to target separate areas of need, providing broadband to schools and libraries or improving health in rural communities. All of the USF … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen Secures Key Committee Support for Funding to Help Local Flood Mitigation Efforts
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced the passage of funding to support local flood mitigation efforts within legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. Senator Van Hollen, as a member of the Appropriations Committee, fought to include this funding which Maryland communities, such as Ellicott City, can apply for. "Across our state, we've seen homes damaged, roads ruined, and businesses shuttered due to flooding. These severe weather events continue to hurt … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen Secures $150 million for WMATA in Senate Appropriations Bill
Legislation Includes Statement in Support of WMATA's Importance to the National Capital Region Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that he has secured $150 million for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) capital funding, as part of the Senate Appropriations Committee's FY 2020 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies funding bill. The legislation also includes clear instructions that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation must … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Administration’s Attack on Maryland Emissions Standards
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's decision to revoke California's authority to set its own emissions standards - which 13 other states, including Maryland, follow - and require weaker standards across the board. "The Trump Administration's attack on our states' efforts to clean up our air and combat climate change is deeply disturbing. The threat of climate change is becoming all the more present in our … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Van Hollen and Cardin Applaud $50,000 for American Legion Dorchester Post 91
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) applauded the awarding of $50,000 in federal funds for the American Legion Dorchester Post No. 91 in Cambridge, Md. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Impact Initiative Grants program, will be used to purchase new furnishings and equipment for the Post, to replace those damaged by a fire in 2016. "Post 91 serves as a great resource to local Veterans and the greater Cambridge … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Van Hollen, Hassan, Kaine Introduce Legislation to Address Eviction Crisis
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) introduced legislation to address the eviction crisis. The Prevent Evictions Act - which is backed by Matthew Desmond, author of the Pulitzer Prize winning book Evicted - would support cost-effective solutions to keep families in their homes, including through landlord-tenant mediation programs and rent insurance programs. "Far too many families across the country face financial instability and the … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Van Hollen, Banking Committee Senators Urge CFPB to Protect Consumers’ Access to Safe, Affordable Mortgages
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined the Senate Banking Committee Democrats in urging that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) maintain strong consumer protections and access to credit as it revises the Qualified Mortgage (QM) and Ability to Repay (ATR) rules under the Truth in Lending Act. The Dodd-Frank Act created the Ability to Repay and Qualified Mortgage standards to address predatory lenders' underwriting failures that devastated consumers and communities during the … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Van Hollen Introduces Bill to Prevent Unfair Corporate Insider Advantage in Stock Sales
Legislation Closes 8-K Trading Gap, Prevent Executives from Profiting Before Significant Problems are Disclosed to SEC Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the 8-K Trading Gap Act of 2019 to prevent executives and other corporate insiders from profiting off the gap between the occurrence of a significant event, such as bankruptcy or an acquisition, and its legally mandated disclosure to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Right now, companies have four days to … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Maryland Delegation Urges USDA to Reconsider Food and Nutrition Benefit Changes
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to reconsider a recently proposed change to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would hurt Maryland families. Under the proposed rule, an estimated 50,000 Marylanders could lose their SNAP … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Call on CSX to Prioritize Repairs to Cumberland Bridges
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) are asking CSX to take responsibility for repairs to bridges in Cumberland that have created safety risks and impeded traffic. "Cumberland and CSX share a close and interconnected history that includes the city's bridges. Unfortunately, for the past two years, residents of Cumberland have endured the impacts of closed bridges impeding access to the west side of the city, preventing the efficient flow of … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Van Hollen Secures Funding for Poplar Island, Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands, and Baltimore Harbor Projects out of Key Senate Committee
Funding Included in Legislation Passed by Senate Appropriations Committee U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced the passage of language to support and fund the Poplar Island, Mid-Chesapeake Bay Islands, and Baltimore Harbor projects within legislation approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. "The projects to restore Poplar Island and the Mid-Bay Islands and maintain Baltimore Harbor are crucial to our economy and the Bay ecosystem. That's why I've fought to ensure the … Continue Reading
