Press Releases
Van Hollen, Markey, Meng Statement on Expansion of E-Rate Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06) issued the following statement today after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed expanding the E-Rate program to allow schools and libraries to loan out Wi-Fi hotspots to students and educators: “The … Continue Reading
November 08, 2023
Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, and Reed Lead Majority of Democratic Caucus in Push for More Information around Strategy to Defeat Hamas, Protect Civilians in Gaza
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) led the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to President Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediate funding to replenish Israel’s defensive systems, and seeking information on two clear U.S. priorities: supporting an Israeli strategy that will effectively degrade and defeat the threat from Hamas and taking all … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces $47 Million for Baltimore County Manufacturing
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) announced $47,392,500 from the Port Infrastructure Development Program of the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration to further develop the Baltimore County Offshore Wind Manufacturing Hub at Tradepoint Atlantic. The federal dollars will be used to prepare the former site of the Bethlehem Steel shipyard and the future site of … Continue Reading
November 06, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Colleagues in Bipartisan Vote to Confirm Judge Matthew Maddox for the U.S. District Court of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) praised confirmation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew Maddox to serve as U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland. The bipartisan vote Tuesday was 55-42. Earlier this month, the Senate confirmed Marylander Brendan Hurson to fill the other opening on the federal district court. “Judge Maddox has a proven commitment to upholding the highest standards of equal justice under the law. With his confirmation to the U.S. … Continue Reading
November 06, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $7 Billion for Major Northeast Corridor Rail Infrastructure Improvement Projects
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $6,967,506,656 for six passenger rail projects in Maryland. These major investments will support the construction of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel - which will replace the 150-year-old B&P Tunnel in Baltimore City - as well as the replacement of the Bush River, Gunpowder River, and Susquehanna River … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Van Hollen, Senators Release Statement Regarding Humanitarian Aid to Civilians in Gaza
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), released the following statement: “The tragic war in Gaza, initiated by Hamas terrorist attacks on innocent civilians on October 7, is causing heartbreaking suffering among Israelis, … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Van Hollen, Luján, Merkley Urge Biden Administration to Protect Palestinian Communities in the West Bank
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) wrote to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to urge the Israeli government to uphold the rule of law in the West Bank and discourage extremist settlers from violent attacks against Palestinian communities. The destabilizing impact of such violence and the displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank further threatens stability in the region, including by strengthening Hamas, undermining the … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Over $5 Million to Strengthen Maternal Health Care Across Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $5,230,218 to support better access to maternal health care across Maryland. This federal funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Maternal Health Awards, will provide five maternal health programs … Continue Reading
November 01, 2023
Van Hollen, Sanders, Padilla Introduce Legislation to Extend Social Security Benefits for Students
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) introduced legislation to extend Social Security benefits to age 26 for students who are survivors, children of disabled workers, and eligible grandchildren of retired workers. The Senators’ legislation, the Helping Students Successfully Overcome Adversity and Rise (SOAR) with Social Security Act, would restore critical support for families enduring financial struggle and bolster the future … Continue Reading
October 31, 2023
VAN HOLLEN QUESTIONS BLINKEN AND AUSTIN ON HAMAS ATTACK, ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES, STATUS OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AND EXTREMIST SETTLER VIOLENCE IN THE WEST BANK AT NATIONAL SECURITY SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING HEARING
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) questioned Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III during a hearing on President Biden’s proposed national security supplemental request. A transcript of his questions and Secretary Blinken’s and Secretary Austin’s responses is available below and video is available here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.): Thank you, Madam Chair. Mr. Secretary, in the aftermath of the horror visited upon Israel … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Murray, Sanders, Wyden, Baldwin, Senators in Urging the Biden Administration to Require Insurers to Fully Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control, With No Out-of-Pocket Costs or Prescription Barrier
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and their Senate colleagues in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill—the first-ever FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill, which will become available in early 2024—with no copays or out of pocket costs, … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Ossoff, Senators in Urging Access for Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and their colleagues in warning a humanitarian collapse in Gaza would threaten regional stability and jointly issued the following statement: “We urge the swift implementation of sustained access for humanitarian aid, including water and medical supplies, to save civilian lives in Gaza,” the group wrote. In addition to Senator Van Hollen, Senator Ossoff is joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), John Hickenlooper … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Van Hollen, Murphy, Schatz, Welch, Merkley Lead 20 Senate Colleagues Calling for Fuel Deliveries to Hospitals and Water Treatment Centers in Gaza
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led 20 of their Senate colleagues in releasing the following statement: “We condemn Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, for which Israel must hold Hamas accountable. In the course of that endeavor, every effort must be made to protect innocent civilians. Right now, hospitals in Gaza are hours away from running out of fuel that powers … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Van Hollen, Warren, Senators Call for Humanitarian Pauses and Hostage Releases in Israel-Hamas War, Echoing United States Resolution at United Nations
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) released the following statement on the Israel-Hamas War: “Israel has a right to defend its citizens after Hamas’s terrorist attacks, which have driven the region into turmoil and cost thousands of lives. The war in Gaza has become a … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Van Hollen, Blackburn, Rosen, Lankford Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Antisemitism Passes Senate Unanimously
Today, the bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism led by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) passed the Senate unanimously. The Senators’ resolution condemned cases of antisemitism at institutions of higher education and encouraged college and university leaders to speak out against antisemitism. “There is no place in America for antisemitism. I was proud to join Senators Blackburn, Rosen, and Lankford … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Van Hollen, Rounds, Kamlager-Dove, Kim Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Africa Ties
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the bipartisan Young African Leaders Initiative Act to make permanent the State Department’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). U.S. Representatives Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.) introduced the companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. YALI is the United … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Senate Approves Van Hollen, Cardin Amendment to Fund Invasive Catfish Control Measures
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) praised the unanimous approval by the Senate this week of their amendment to provide targeted resources to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS), to help the State of Maryland control the population of invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. The measure was adopted as an amendment to a package of spending bills for Fiscal Year 2024 that includes Military Construction, Veterans … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $74 Million in Energy Assistance for Low-Income Families
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $74,410,147 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services funding for Maryland’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The federal dollars, made possible in part by the lawmakers’ efforts to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will help reduce costs associated with home energy … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Blackburn, Rosen, Lankford in Introducing Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Antisemitism
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Jacky Rosen (D-N.V.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) in introducing a bipartisan resolution condemning antisemitism at institutions of higher education and encouraging college and university leaders to speak out against antisemitism. The text of the resolution is as follows: Whereas, in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, there has been a rise in incidents of … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Biden-Harris Administration in Announcing Nearly $3.2 Million for Environmental Justice Projects in Communities Across Maryland as Part of Investing in America Agenda
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in announcing nearly $3.2 million to fund 5 projects in Maryland that advance environmental justice as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The organizations, selected through the Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem Solving Cooperative Agreement and Environmental Justice Government-to-Government programs, will use the funds to ensure disadvantaged … Continue Reading
