Press Releases
Van Hollen, Markey Call for Preserving First Responders’ Access to Emergency Spectrum in Next Coronavirus Economic Relief Package
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and six of their Senate colleagues today in urging Senate leadership to include language that would preserve first responders’ access to T-band spectrum (470-512 MHz) in upcoming coronavirus economic relief legislation. The Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act repeals a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to auction off this band of … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Host Tele-Conference with Maryland Mayors and Municipal Leaders on COVID-19
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) hosted a tele-conference with Maryland mayors and municipal leaders to discuss the impacts of the coronavirus on their communities and how the recently-passed CARES Act can help. On the call, the Senators detailed federal coronavirus response efforts, including direct funding for their municipalities, and answered questions regarding current relief measures available to local governments. “Our cities and towns are facing serious … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Maryland Delegation Pushes FEMA for Urgent Medical Supplies Needed for Statewide Fight Against COVID-19
Team Maryland, the full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, continue to fight for essential resources needed in Maryland to protect the health and safety of Marylanders. The latest time-sensitive request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) comes as COVID-19 cases are on the rise … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Blumenthal, and Murphy, Colleagues Call for Strengthening Background Checks, New Federal Guidance Amidst Surge in Gun Sales
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and a number of their colleagues today in calling for strengthening background checks amidst a massive increase in gun sales during the coronavirus emergency. In a letter sent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), the Senators express serious concerns that the surge in gun sales is … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Bennet, and Schatz Lead Colleagues in Renewed Push to Ensure All Students Can Continue Education Online During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today led 31 of their colleagues in a letter to House and Senate leadership requesting robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. While funding from the recently-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act can be used towards these efforts, the … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Sen. Van Hollen, Rep. Phillips Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letters in Support of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps Volunteers
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) led two bipartisan, bicameral letters seeking clarity on unemployment benefits and work opportunities for Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other national service participants.In the first letter, the Members urge Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia to clarify that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program passed within the CARES Act covers Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, and other similarly situated national … Continue Reading
April 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Wyden, Colleagues Demand Expanded Internet Access for Low-Income Americans Throughout COVID-19 Crisis
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today, along with a group of their colleagues, to demand better mobile internet service for low-income Americans impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Improved internet access would help American families better work and learn from home and access vital telehealth resources. The federal Lifeline service program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), provides free and discounted … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Uniformed Services University Medical Students, Nurses for First-Time Virtual Commencement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) participated in the first-ever virtual graduation ceremony for the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), marking the early graduation of the Class of 2020. USU, located in Bethesda, Maryland, is the nation’s federal health professions academy, educating and developing health professionals and scientists to serve our military. Medical students and advanced practice nursing students from the USU Class of 2020 are graduating … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Call for Social Security Recipients to Get CARES Act Direct Cash Assistance Without Having to File Tax Return
While the CARES Act, signed into law last week, ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries regardless of whether they file taxes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released contradictory guidance earlier this week stating that Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns in order to receive direct payments. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Carper, Democratic Colleagues Urge Leadership to Make D.C. Whole, Increase Federal Coronavirus Relief for the District
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led a letter with over 20 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, urging leadership to make the District of Columbia whole and provide full funding to D.C. in future COVID-19 relief packages. As noted in their letter, while D.C. is typically treated as a state for budgetary purposes, the coronavirus phase 3 package categorized D.C. as a territory under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. This intentional slight blocked D.C. from … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senate Democrats to Pompeo: Contribute at Least $500 Million to United Nations' COVID-19 Efforts
In response to the United Nations’ $2 billion emergency appeal last week to help fight COVID-19, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 15 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the State Department to join the international community in funding international humanitarian assistance and protect the more than 70 million displaced people globally. Specifically, the senators urged United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to contribute at least … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Call on FCC to Evaluate How Net Neutrality Repeal Negatively Impacts Public Safety, Universal Access, and Broadband Competition
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and a number of other Senators in writing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demanding that it consider how repealing net neutrality could negatively impact public safety, universal access, and broadband competition.In October 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the Trump FCC’s repeal of the Open Internet Order as lawful but also ruled that the Commission failed to … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen Urges State of Maryland to Address Digital Divide with Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, urging the State to use funding from the recently-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to expand digital learning access for students across Maryland. The CARES Act includes new grant funds that can be used to provide web access and devices to students. As schools transition to distance learning, utilizing these funds will help ensure Maryland students are not left behind. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More than $48 Million to Support Counties and Cities in Responding to COVID-19
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today announced $48,404,965 to support counties and cities in Maryland in their response to the economic and housing impacts of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These awards come through the CARES Act, which was signed into law last week. "Local … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Colleagues Urge Administration to Address Child Care Needs of Frontline Workers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a number of their colleagues in urging the Office of Child Care at the Department of Health and Human Services to take additional steps to expand child care options for health care workers and others on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provide critical guidance to child care providers to ensure that they are taking appropriate action to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 at centers … Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone, and Raskin Applaud CDC Approval of USAMRIID’s Return to Full Operational Capacity
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin along with Representatives David Trone and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) applauded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to approve the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick to return to full operational capacity. This clearance will allow USAMRIID to resume conducting their full scope of research on infectious diseases during this crucial time.“USAMRIID conducts vital … Continue Reading
March 28, 2020
Maryland Delegation Delivers Full Federal Funding for Maryland National Guard During COVID-19 Deployment
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, announced Saturday that the federal government will be covering the full cost of deployment of the Maryland National Guard in support of public health and safety during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Team Maryland has been united in assuring … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren Lead Senators in Urging the State Department to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to the Palestinian People to Fight Coronavirus
United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo urging him to take every reasonable step to lawfully provide medicine, medical equipment, and other necessary humanitarian assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories) to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. The senators noted that President Trump has offered assistance to other countries fighting the coronavirus, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Maryland Delegation Helps Secure Major Disaster Declaration, Unlocking Additional Federal Resources to Fight COVID-19
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, announced quick approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of a major disaster declaration for the State of Maryland related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Such approval is necessary to assure Maryland’s eligibility for an … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Colleagues Urge FDA to Change Discriminatory Blood Donation Policies to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic
In the midst of a nationwide shortage of donated blood spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and a number of their colleagues in raising concerns with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) discriminatory blood donation deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM).While government health officials encourage every healthy individual to consider donating blood, the … Continue Reading
