Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Brown Press Social Security Administration on Telework Policies
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) urged Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Andrew Saul to expand telework availability at SSA and provide clear communication to their employees on these policies. In December of last year, the Senators wrote to SSA conveying their concerns about SSA’s decision to end telework for nearly 12,000 employees. This year, SSA made further cuts to telework in other divisions, … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Smith Introduce Bill to Protect Quarantined Workers from Being Fired or Punished by Employers Amid Coronavirus
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing legislation to prohibit employers from firing, punishing or otherwise discriminating against a worker who is quarantined or isolated - or who is caring for a family member in quarantine or isolation - amid the coronavirus pandemic.“Employees should not be fired for being in quarantine or medical isolation,” said Senator Van Hollen. “As the nation confronts a public health emergency, we must give … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Peters, Colleagues in Introducing Bill with Colleagues to Provide Unemployment Assistance to Those Affected by Coronavirus
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has joined Senate Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) and 22 colleagues in introducing the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act to provide federally-funded unemployment assistance to individuals affected by the coronavirus outbreak.“The coronavirus has already taken a serious toll on American jobs and our economy. We must immediately ensure help for those who have been impacted, so they can make rent, feed their families, and … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen Asks OMB General Counsel to Recuse Himself in GAO Inquiry, Resign as Designated Ethics Official
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) General Counsel Mark Paoletta asking that he recuse himself from ongoing inquiries regarding the Administration’s withholding of aid to Ukraine, due to Mr. Paoletta’s highly misleading statement to the Government Accountability Office (GAO). In his letter, the Senator also requests that Paoletta step down as the Designated Agency Ethics Official at OMB. Paoletta’s statement to the GAO came in … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, DeLauro Introduce New Emergency Paid Sick Days Legislation
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), to introduce new, emergency paid sick leave legislation, building off the Healthy Families Act (HFA), to provide paid sick days immediately to workers in light of the coronavirus crisis, and in preparation for future public health emergencies. This legislation is included in the Families First … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Rubio, McGovern, Colleagues Introduce Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Todd Young (R-IN), Dick Durbin (D- IL), and Ted Cruz (R-TX) in introducing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill will ensure that goods made in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) imported into the United States are not made with forced labor. U.S. Representatives James P. … Continue Reading
March 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Gallagher, Cotton, and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Freeze Huawei from U.S. Financial System
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), along with a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Neutralizing Emerging Threats from Wireless OEMs Receiving direction from Kleptocracies and Surveillance states (NETWORKS) Act, companion bills that would add foreign companies producing 5G technology, like Huawei, to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List should they engage in economic or … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Request the IRS Extend Tax-Filing Deadline for Individual Taxpayers
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, and Ben Cardin (D-Md,), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, joined a group of Senate colleagues in urging Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig to extend the April 15, 2020 tax-filing deadline to provide taxpayers greater flexibility amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus. Currently, there are more than 1,000 cases of coronavirus in 38 states, with 35 deaths so far. … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Van Hollen Presses EPA on Bay Enforcement Authority, Telework Policies
Today, during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pressed Douglas Benevento, nominee to be Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Agency’s authority to enforce the Chesapeake Bay Agreement TMDL pollution reduction targets. The Senator also questioned Benevento, who currently serves as the EPA’s Associate Deputy Administrator, on the Agency’s recent reduction of telework policies. Lastly, the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
In Letter to President, Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Call for Coronavirus Economic Response Focused on Helping Those Workers & Families Most Harmed
Today in a letter to President Trump, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA), and 32 other Senate Democrats called for an economic stimulus package focused on helping working Americans and their families who will be most harmed by the outbreak and spread of COVID-19, the novel coronavirus in the United States.“The spread of COVID-19 will create economic ramifications that will affect individuals, families, and regions differently. While following social distancing … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Democrats Push Scalia to Advocate for Workers, Question DOL’s Absence from Task Force
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 20 other Democratic Senators in demanding that Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia ensure the federal government’s response to coronavirus address the immediate and long-term needs of workers. The Democrats expressed concern regarding the Department of Labor’s (DOL) continued absence or exclusion from the President’s Coronavirus Task Force. Senator Murray has been leading the effort to protect workers and last week … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Hirono, Cardin, Introduce Bill to Expand Telework Opportunities for Federal Employees
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced S. 3428, the Telework Metrics and Cost Savings Act - legislation that requires federal agencies to expand teleworking after years of attacks by the Trump Administration. Expanding telework options for federal employees is particularly urgent as the growing coronavirus epidemic places greater strain on federal workers. “As the private sector embraces new and innovative work practices, … Continue Reading
March 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Democrats Push DeVos to Issue Clear Guidance for Schools and Families, Following Widespread School Closures
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and 31 other Democratic Senators in urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to provide clarity and guidance for school districts and institutions of higher education, as well as families and students, following widespread school closures across the country due to the spread of the coronavirus. In a letter to Secretary DeVos, the senators stressed that it is crucial that the Department of Education provide direction as … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Receives Coronavirus Update from Maryland Health Secretary
Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone, heard from Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall and Deputy Secretary, Public Health Services Frances B. Phillips, R.N., Tuesday for an update on Maryland’s readiness and response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The discussion, which took place via … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Question Bureau of Prisons and Private Prison Contractors About Plans to Prepare for and Manage Coronavirus at Federal Prisons
United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai'i), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), in sending letters to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey File Amendment to Bipartisan Energy Package to Create a National Climate Bank
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) have filed an amendment authorizing a study on the creation of a National Climate Bank to leverage public and private funds to invest in clean energy technologies and infrastructure. Their proposal - which would constitute a first step towards the Senators’ National Climate Bank legislation - would amend the bipartisan energy package being considered on the Senate floor this week. "Increasing our investment in renewable energy … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Klobuchar Reintroduce Legislation to Bring Harriet Tubman Statue to U.S. Capitol
In recognition of Harriet Tubman Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) are announcing the reintroduction of their legislation to honor Harriet Tubman with a statue in the United States Capitol. "Harriet Tubman is an American hero. Born in Maryland, she became a conductor on the Underground Railroad where she led slaves to freedom. During the Civil War, she served as a Union nurse and spy, and later in life, she was a strong advocate for … Continue Reading
March 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Hogan to Enlist Federal Resources to Help Maryland Small Businesses with Coronavirus Preparedness & Response
Following final passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan urging him to make use of the federal resources available for coronavirus preparedness and response related to public health, as well as affected small businesses. The senators’ letter follows recent announcements that five Maryland residents have tested positive for the virus, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Celebrate 30th Anniversary of Restoration of Independence of Baltic States
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), co-chairs of the Senate Baltic Caucus, as well as 22 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The resolution also reaffirms the United States’ commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) amid Russian aggression. The House Baltic … Continue Reading
March 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Warner, Banking Democrats Urge Regulators to Provide Guidance to Financial Institutions about Forbearance Due to Coronavirus Impacts
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and several other members of the Senate Banking Committee in a pair of letters to financial regulators and trade groups urging our nation’s financial sector to prepare for the likely impacts of the coronavirus and take steps to protect consumers who may suffer financially as a result of a coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to leaders of the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), National … Continue Reading
