Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $490,300 for University of Maryland Sea Grant Program
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today announced $490,300 in federal funding through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Sea Grant Program. Maryland Sea Grant (MDSG) projects have produced significant results that aided fishers, businesses, policy makers, and conservation volunteers in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen fought for and secured … Continue Reading
April 12, 2018
Van Hollen Announces Opposition to Pompeo
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in opposition to the nomination of Mike Pompeo to serve as the Secretary of State: "Mike Pompeo's positions on countless issues stand in direct contrast to the very mission of the State Department. Instead of embracing diplomacy, he has a shoot first, ask questions later attitude on the use of force, and I'm concerned he will reinforce, not check, President Trump's worst instincts. At a time when our nation … Continue Reading
April 12, 2018
Van Hollen, Esty, Murphy, Blumenthal, Kelly, Adams to Introduce Handgun Purchaser Licensing Act
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), along with Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-2), and Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced the Handgun Purchaser Licensing Act. The bill would incentivize states and local governments through federal grants to enact laws requiring individuals to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun. To qualify, a state’s permit to purchase law must … Continue Reading
April 11, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Commend Alex Villamayor Verdict
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin released the following statement in response to the guilty verdicts handed down against Rene Hofstetter and Mathias Wilbs in the case of Alex Villamayor, a 16-year old U.S. citizen and Marylander who was brutally murdered in Encarnación, Obligado, Paraguay in 2015: "Alex Villamayor's murderers have finally been brought to justice thanks to the tireless work of his family, the efforts of Paraguayan judicial officials, and vigilance … Continue Reading
April 10, 2018
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Introduce Legislation to Put the Brakes on Trump Admin. Efforts to Roll Back Fuel Economy Emissions Standards
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the Greener Air Standards Mean Our National Security, Environment, and Youth (GAS MONEY) Saved Act, legislation that would block Trump administration efforts to roll back the historic 54.5 fuel economy emissions standards. The legislation reaffirms the Final Determination made by the Environmental … Continue Reading
April 09, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on New CBO Budget and Economic Outlook
Today Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) Budget and Economic Outlook and the upcoming vote in the House of Representatives on a Balanced Budget Amendment: "Today's CBO report underscores the reality that the Republicans' $1.5 trillion tax plan will increase our already large national debt. President Trump has given a huge windfall to the very rich and special interests - and put it on the nation's credit card, asking working … Continue Reading
April 09, 2018
Van Hollen, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urge Gov. Hogan to Take Necessary Steps to Secure State Election Security
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Ben Cardin along with Congressmen John Sarbanes, Steny Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Delaney, Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.), in sending a letter to Governor Larry Hogan, pressing him to allocate the required state matching funds to improve Maryland's election infrastructure ahead of the 2018 midterms. "As you know, the Maryland State election system was the target of an attempted intrusion by hostile … Continue Reading
April 05, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $50,000 Grant for Hagerstown Community College
Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced $50,000 in federal funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for Hagerstown Community College's Electronic Health Records Technician certificate program and its Health Information Management degree program. "Our economy runs on our commitment to educating and training our workforce," said Senator Cardin, a member of the Senate Finance Health Care Subcommittee. "This federal investment will help … Continue Reading
March 30, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses DETER Act, Russian Move to Oust Diplomats
Yesterday U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined CNN's Wolf Blitzer to discuss the DETER Act, bipartisan legislation that he and Senator Rubio introduced aimed at preventing future foreign interference in U.S. elections. Highlights of his interview are below and video of the full interview is available here: WOLF BLITZER, CNN: Let me bring in Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who's on top of all of this. Not a huge surprise. We always anticipated the Russians would … Continue Reading
March 23, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Improve Student Access to Federal Financial Aid
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced the FAFSA Fairness Act of 2018 to simplify the process for students to apply for and receive federal student financial aid when they do not have contact with their parents. "Financial difficulties should never prevent a student from getting a good education. Yet for many young people, the financial aid … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Van Hollen Fights for Maryland Priorities in Spending Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced funding for several key Maryland projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Van Hollen advocated for increased investments for critical programs across our state. "There is no question that this legislation represents compromise - but it includes many hard-fought Maryland priorities that boost jobs, infrastructure, research, and education in our state," said … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Statement for the Record on S.J.Res. 54
Mr. President, the brutal war in Yemen has raged for three years. At least ten thousand civilians have lost their lives in this conflict. More than eight million Yemenis are on the brink of starvation. The worst cholera outbreak in modern history has afflicted over one million people, including over 600,000 children. Millions more are displaced from their homes. As the years wear on - the cycle of desperation, destruction, and death continues unabated.Make no mistake: the Houthis and their … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Great Mills High School Shooting
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Great Mills High School shooting:“Today I joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff and School Superintendent at a briefing to show solidarity with the Great Mills High School community and to express gratitude to the first responders. No student should go to class fearing that they will be killed and no parent should live in fear that their children will never return from school. No one should be afraid that they will … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses Russia, DETER Act on MSNBC
Last night, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen discussed Russia and the bipartisan Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act on MSNBC with Kasie Hunt. Below is a partial transcript, and the full interview is available here:KASIE HUNT, MSNBC: Speaking of Putin, you are working with some of your colleagues on measures to try and avoid Russian meddling again in the 2018 elections. What do you think that the country should be doing at this stage? And is the President doing … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Van Hollen Joins Maryland Students at Rally to Stop Gun Violence
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke to students from Maryland and across the area who marched to the U.S. Capitol as part of the national school walk out against gun violence. Below is a transcript of his remarks:“To the students of Maryland, to the students of this region, to students all over America - we have a simple message to all of you, which is: know your power. You can change the direction of America. You are not only the future of America, you are the conscious of … Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Van Hollen, Tester Introduce Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act. This legislation would finally ensure Congress' commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to educational opportunity.This legislation was a historic step forward,butsince its passage Congress has failed to provide the funding promised under this bill. "All schools … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Van Hollen, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Clear Maintenance Backlog, Improve Agricultural Research Facilities
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) have introduced legislation to address the significant modernization needs in schools of agriculture and the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS)facilities. Agriculture schools across the country face a combined $8.4 billion maintenance backlog. In Maryland, a number of universities would be eligible for funding made available in this legislation, including the University of Maryland College Park, the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Announce Infrastructure Investment Proposal
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced his support of the Senate Democrats' new $1 trillion infrastructure investment proposal. The plan would create more than 15 million jobs, and it would be paid for by ending massive tax giveaways to the very wealthy and big corporations. It stands in stark contrast to the infrastructure outline from the Trump Administration, which claims to invest $200 billion in our crumbling roads and bridges, but actually cuts overall infrastructure spending … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen, Ruppersberger Announce $20 Million in Funding for Baltimore County, TradePoint Atlantic Project
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today announced that Baltimore County will receive $20 million in federal funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program to help TradePoint Atlantic redevelop the former Sparrows Point steel mill site in southeastern Baltimore County. This project is expected to bring over 21,000 jobs to the Baltimore area and will create even greater economic … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Rasmussen Discuss DETER Act, Need to Coordinate on Russian Election Interference
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Secretary General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark, met to discuss the DETER Act and the need for the United States and the European Union to coordinateefforts to counter Russian interference in elections. "Across the globe, democratic elections are under attack from Russian interference. The DETER Act sends an unequivocal message to the Kremlin and any other foreign actor who may follow its example: if you attack us, … Continue Reading
