Press Releases
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
November 08, 2019
Van Hollen, Booker Urge Administration to Stop Federal Use of Private Prisons
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr urging the Department of Justice to end the federal government's use of for-profit private prisons. It follows their efforts to push former-Attorney General Sessions on the same issue, which he refused to address. The Senator underline, "While the United States is home to less than 5 percent of the world's population, we incarcerate close to 25 percent of the world's … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Brown Announce $125,000 for Prevention of Youth Substance Misuse in Prince George’s County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) announced $125,000 in federal funding for Access to Wholistic and Productive Learning Institute, Inc. in Prince George's County to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. The funding was awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Drug Free Communities Program (DFC). This funding … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Trone Announce Nearly $85,000 for Garrett County Low Income Housing Improvements
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced the recent award of nearly $85,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Housing Preservation Grant Program funds to repair and rehabilitate the homes of low-income residents in Garrett County. The nonprofit corporation Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc. will offer low income homeowners grants and/or low interest loans to fund critical home improvement … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on the Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act
Following passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act in the Senate Budget Committee, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement for inclusion in the committee report accompanying the bill: I supported advancing the Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act in the Senate Budget Committee to move the process forward on the impoundment control measures adopted by the committee on a bipartisan basis, but I have strong reservations about other aspects of this … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Beyer Introduce New Millionaires Surtax to Invest in Working Families
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced a new tax proposal to help close the gap between the wealthy and everyone else, and raise significant revenue to make new investments that will grow the economy and protect working families. Their "Millionaires Surtax" would apply an additional 10-percentage point tax to incomes above $2 million for married couples or above $1 million for individuals. It would apply equally to wages and salaries as well … Continue Reading
November 07, 2019
Van Hollen Amendment to Reinstate Congressional ‘Power of the Purse’ Passes Budget Committee in Bipartisan Vote
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced that yesterday the Senate Budget Committee passed his amendment to ensure that no president can refuse to carry out programs funded by the Congress. The amendment, applied to the Impoundment Control Act (ICA), would prevent any administration from permanently withholding funds for Congressionally-mandated programs, such as foreign aid to Ukraine. "The Constitution makes clear - the Congress holds the power of the purse. However, this … Continue Reading
November 06, 2019
Van Hollen, Graham Lead Bipartisan Letter on Turkey’s Violations of Ceasefire Agreement
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about reports of ongoing attacks against the Syrian Kurds by Turkey and its proxies outside of the designated safe zone. These attacks, if true, would violate the ceasefire agreements and should prompt immediate action from the Administration. The Senators write, "Given the stakes, time is of the … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Resolution Congratulating Nationals on World Series Unanimously Passes Senate
Md. & Va. Senators celebrate the Nationals' first-ever World Series championship Today the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) and Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) officially congratulating the Washington Nationals on winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history. "The Washington Nationals worked hard, played with heart and had fun while they were at it. What a great … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Van Hollen Joins Senate Colleagues in New Push to Renew Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions of Higher Education
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined a group of his Senate colleagues in a new push to pass funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senators called for the immediate passage of Senator Jones' bipartisan FUTURE Act legislation, which would reauthorize $255 million per year in mandatory federal funding - … Continue Reading
November 01, 2019
Van Hollen, Senate Colleagues Urge the Administration to Reverse Decision to Restrict U.S. Commercial Air Travel to Cuba
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a group of Senators in urging U.S. Department of State Secretary Mike Pompeo and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to reverse the Administration's decision to prohibit U.S. commercial air travel from the United States to Cuban cities other than Havana. Van Hollen was joined on the letter by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (I-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Advance Maryland Priorities in Senate-Passed Spending Bill
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin lauded Senate passage Thursday of the Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations for Agriculture & the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Commerce, Justice & Science; Interior and Environment; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. The package, which provides funding for the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program and safe drinking water, funding for Mallows Bay, the first designated National Marine Sanctuary in 20 years, WMATA/Metro and the Purple … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Secure Senate Passage of Increased Funds for Chesapeake Bay Program
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced that they have secured an additional 3 percent increase in the Environment Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program. This will provide $2.28 million more to the Bay Program, in addition to the $3 million increase that the Senators worked to secure within the Senate Appropriations Committee process. The Bay will receive a total of $78.28 million in funding, an increase of $5.28 million from Fiscal Year 2019. This … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Murphy, Hyde-smith, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Designating October as Health Literacy Month
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.), on Thursday introduced a bipartisan resolution designating October as "Health Literacy Month." "Ensuring Americans have the ability to access and understand basic health information will help patients and caretakers better understand their options and make more informed decisions. What's more, increasing health literacy can lower healthcare costs for … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen and Cardin Announce $125,000 for Prevention of Youth Substance Misuse in Cecil County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $125,000 for Cecil County, Md. to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance misuse. The funding was awarded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Drug Free Communities Program (DFC). This funding will support the Cecil County Drug-Free Communities Coalition's work to increase youth engagement, implement social … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Demand CFPB Investigate Mismanagement of Student Loan Forgiveness Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with a group of Democratic Senators are demanding Consumer Financial Protect Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger investigate student loan servicer Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) for mismanagement of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. "We write to request that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) immediately open an enforcement investigation into the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency's … Continue Reading
October 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Warner, Cardin, Kaine, Norton Celebrate Washington Nationals, Will Introduce Resolution Honoring World Series Win
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced they will introduce a resolution honoring the Washington Nationals' first World Series title in franchise history. Beating the Houston Astros in Game 7 last night, the Nationals won all four away games to clinch the series. "A huge congratulations to the Nationals, our 2019 World Champs! The Nats beat all the odds for this hard-fought win," … Continue Reading
October 30, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Seek Information about State Department Policies to Protect Journalists
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a group of Senators in writing the State Department to seek additional information about what practices and policies are in place to assist journalists who face threats to their personal safety while reporting overseas and "to encourage the Department of State to actively protect reporters from retaliation they may experience in the countries where they work." In the letter, the Senators share their concern for the growing danger to journalists … Continue Reading
