Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Casey Call on USDA to Target Unspent Funds Toward Helping Farmers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Reduce Runoff Pollution
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) have written to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue urging him to use his authority to transfer unspent funds to conservation programs that will help agricultural producers and landowners voluntarily improve their farms and private forests by reducing runoff pollution. The senators are asking that previously non-expended funds from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) be directed within … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Van Hollen Legislation to Reauthorize ARPA-E, Increase Funding for Advanced Energy Research and Development Passes Key Senate Committee
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced the passage of his bipartisan legislation to reauthorize funding for the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. ARPA-E works to advance high-potential, high-impact energy technologies in the early stages of development. The bill, co-authored by Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), would increase funding levels from $428 million in Fiscal Year 2020 … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Scott Urge NASEM to Study Role of NIH in Drug Development and Patient Access
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) wrote to the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) asking them to issue a report on its recent workshop examining the role of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the development of new drug treatments and the impact on patient access and pricing and issue a report. The Senators have introduced the We PAID Act, which would ensure that the prices of drugs developed using federally funded … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1.1 Million for Anti-Heroin Task Force in Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $1,100,576 in federal funding for the Maryland State Police to combat the illegal manufacturing and distribution of heroin and other opioids. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) program, will be used to conduct investigations and other activities related to the unlawful distribution of heroin and prescription opioids. "The opioid epidemic has left no Maryland … Continue Reading
November 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Democrats Slam DeVos’ Decision to Mask Educational Inequities by Halting Critical Elements of Civil Rights Data Collection
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with a group of Democratic Senators slammed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' decision to stop collecting critical civil rights data. Since 1968, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Education has conducted Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) on key civil rights issues facing our nation's schools. The DeVos administration has proposed to eliminate several critical data elements-including school discipline, harassment and bullying, … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, EPW Democrats Announce GAO Report: Climate Change Poses Real Threat To Our Nation’s Superfund Sites
Senators Van Hollen and Cardin join other Members of Congress in announcing GAO Report that finds Superfund sites across the country - including 7 in Maryland - are unprepared for climate impacts. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), both members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined EPW ranking member Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) to announce a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that concludes our nation's Superfund sites are woefully … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Baltimore Delegation Announces $2.5 Million for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $2,550,000 for the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, based in Baltimore, Md. The funding, awarded though the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Mentoring Opportunities for Youth Initiative, will go towards the Foundation's Badges for Baseball program - a nationwide youth mentorship program in which at-risk youth are paired with law enforcement, public safety, and … Continue Reading
November 18, 2019
Ahead of Chamber Meeting on Climate, Van Hollen, Schatz, Whitehouse, Senators Demand Answers from Board Members on Chamber’s Anti-climate Agenda, Funding
Member Companies Publicly Claiming to Support Climate Action Have Remained Silent on Chamber's Anti-Climate Activities U.S. Chamber of Commerce Members Set To Meet on Tuesday To Discuss Climate Policy Today, ahead of a meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce centered on climate policy, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) called on board members to explain their support for the Chamber's anti-climate agenda, how its activities to … Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
Van Hollen Names Baltimore Child Abuse Center as 2019 “Angel in Adoption”
Van Hollen meets with Adam Rosenberg, Baltimore Child Abuse Center Executive Director and their staff in his Washington, DC office U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has named the Baltimore Child Abuse Center (BCAC) as his 2019 Angels in Adoption Honoree. BCAC, one of Maryland's leading child welfare resources, was given this award as part of the annual Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) event. BCAC's Board-certified child abuse pediatricians and other medical … Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce Nearly $60,000 to Assist Low-Income Families in Charles County with Home Repair
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced the recent award of nearly $60,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program funds to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents in Charles County. Charles County will offer qualifying homeowners grants and/or low interest loans to fund critical home improvement projects. This money will also help to ensure that residents meet … Continue Reading
November 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Rubio Continue to Push for DETER Act in NDAA Negotiations
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to continue to push for their bipartisan DETER Act to be included in the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The letter follows a vote last month on the Senate floor on a motion to instruct NDAA conferees to include key elements of the DETER Act, which passed unanimously. "It is imperative that the United States … Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Van Hollen and Cardin Announce over $11,000 for Hurlock to Purchase New Police Vehicle
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $11,450 in federal funding for the Town of Hurlock to help purchase a new police vehicle. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loans and Grants program, will be provided to the Hurlock Police Department to help cover the cost of replacing an outdated vehicle. "Providing our local law enforcement officers with the resources they need is … Continue Reading
November 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Accelerate Development of Quieter Airplanes
U.S. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Angus King (I-Maine), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced legislation this week, the Cleaner, Quieter Airplanes Act (S. 2837) that would make it a priority of the U.S. Government, through the National Aeronautics & Space Administration's (NASA), to boost research into electric aircraft technology. Such authority would transform America's aviation industry to … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Baltimore Delegation Announces $250,000 for Prevention of Youth Substance Misuse in Baltimore
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representatives Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $250,000 for two Drug Free Community Coalitions in Baltimore, Md. to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. The National African American Drug Policy Coalition, as part of the South East Baltimore Drug-Free Coalition and Morgan State University, as part of the Get SMART West Baltimore Drug … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Nearly $40,000 to Assist Low-Income Families in Kent County with Home Repairs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced the recent award of nearly $40,000 in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program funds to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents in Kent County. The recipient nonprofit corporation, Rebuilding Together Kent County MD, Inc., will offer low-income homeowners grants and/or low-interest loans to fund critical home improvement projects. This money will also ensure … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Markey, Merkley, Kaine Seek Answers on Saudi Nuclear Cooperation from Secretary of Energy Nominee Brouillette
Lawmakers have repeatedly called for Congressional oversight of any 123 negotiations between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and wrote to Dan Brouillette, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of Energy, to seek answers regarding his position on a potential civil nuclear cooperation or "123" agreement with Saudi Arabia ahead of his confirmation … Continue Reading
November 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Colleagues Request Update on VA and DoD Efforts to Protect Veterans and Servicemembers from Foreign Online Disinformation
Report Finds Veterans, Servicemembers, and Their Families Remain Targets of Malign Influence Operations by Russia, China, and Other Foreign Actors Letter to VA (PDF) | Letter to DoD (PDF) U.S Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders … Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Blackburn Lead Resolution Condemning Turkey’s Crackdown on Free Speech
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution condemning Turkey's crackdown on dissent related to its incursion into northeast Syria and broader freedom of speech violations. "I'm proud to join Senator Blackburn in introducing this resolution condemning President Erdogan's torrent of human rights abuses, including detentions of citizens protesting Turkey's invasion of northern Syria. We must be holding President Erdogan accountable for … Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce Almost $60,000 to Assist Low-Income Families in Anne Arundel with Home Repair
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced $59,784 in federal funding for Rebuilding Together Anne Arundel County (RTAAC) - a nonprofit organization that repairs homes for low-income residents in need. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Housing Preservation Grants program, will be used by RTAAC to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low- and very-low-income residents in Anne Arundel County, … Continue Reading
November 12, 2019
In Honor of Veterans Day, Van Hollen Introduces Legislation to Extend Critical Financial Protections for Servicemembers to Veterans and Consumers
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced legislation to extend the protections of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which caps the interest rate on consumer loans at 36 percent, to cover veterans and other consumers. In 2006, Congress passed the MLA to rein in predatory payday lenders and other loan product providers who used abusive lending practices to target and lure American troops into vortexes of debt. … Continue Reading
