Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce More than $750,000 for University of Maryland Biodiversity Research Project
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced the recent award of more than $762,000 in federal funding for the University of Maryland, College Park through the National Science Foundation (NSF). The project will advance scientists' understanding of how environmental factors affect where species occur, focusing on specific at-risk species. This research is important to inform biodiversity preservation efforts. "The harmful effects of climate … Continue Reading
August 19, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes Announce $898,750 to Address Lead-Based Paint in Baltimore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) have announced $898,750 in federal funding to address lead-based paint in Baltimore, Maryland. The funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will go to the Housing Authority of Baltimore City for lead-based paint risk assessments, inspections, abatement, interim controls, and clearance examinations. "No parent should … Continue Reading
August 16, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $296,071 for Atlantic Sturgeon Research in the Bay
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $296,071 in federal funding for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to study Nanticoke River Atlantic sturgeon. Atlantic sturgeon were thought to have all but disappeared from Maryland waters due to overfishing and habitat loss, until biologists in Maryland and Delaware recently found adult sturgeon in the Nanticoke River and its streams for the first time in 40 years. The funding, awarded through the … Continue Reading
August 16, 2019
Van Hollen,Cardin, Hoyer, and Sarbanes Announce More than $1 Million for Maryland Disaster Resiliency Projects
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced more than $1 million in federal funding for two disaster resiliency research projects in Maryland through the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These projects are two of twelve awarded nationwide to inform more resilient building designs, codes, and standards by improving our understanding of how earthquakes, wind and fire affect structures. The … Continue Reading
August 15, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $15,000 for Nonprofit Professional Development in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $15,000 in federal funding for the United Way of Washington County (UWWC) for its Nonprofit Professional Development Opportunities project. These funds, provided through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), will be used for conducting eight training sessions over a two-year period for approximately 200 nonprofit professionals in Western Maryland. The objective of the training programs is to … Continue Reading
August 15, 2019
AARP Endorses Plan by Senators Van Hollen and Scott to Lower Prescription Drug Costs
Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rick Scott (R-Fl.) applauded AARP's endorsement of their We Protect American Investment in Drugs (PAID) Act of 2019 to address the soaring cost of prescription drug prices. The We PAID Act prohibits pharmaceutical companies from charging American consumers unreasonable prices for life-saving drugs when the companies develop prescription drugs using federally-funded research, like NIH or CDC grants. Read AARP's endorsement letter HERE. Senators … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Press Army for Answers on Shutdown at Frederick Research Lab, Lack of Notification
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative David Trone (all D-Md.) are demanding answers from the U.S. Army about the recent cease and desist order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick, Md. The lawmakers have requested detailed information about USAMRIID's specific deficiencies and how long the Army has been aware of them. The Army never notified members … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Van Hollen,Cardin, and Cummings Announce $150,000 for Morgan State University
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (all D-Md.) have announced $150,000 in federal funding for Morgan State University. The funding will create a one-year pilot program that will help increase students' proficiency and success in programming skills with the goal to retain them as computer science majors. It is a part of a continued focus on STEM education in Maryland and across the country, and it was awarded through the National Science … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce $1.1 Million to Boost STEM Education at University of Maryland, College Park
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) have announced $1,115,270 in federal funding for the University of Maryland, College Park. The funding, awarded through the National Science Foundation (NSF), will allow the University to study how educational simulations can help undergraduate students understand and engage with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers. The project aims to enhance the career awareness and skills of students … Continue Reading
August 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Democrats Slam Trump Administration Proposal to Weaken Protections Against Discrimination in Health Care
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a group of his Senate Colleagues, submitted a comment letter for the record to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar criticizing the Trump Administration's proposed rule to weaken critical protections that help address discrimination in health care. The senators outlined several issues with the proposed rule, including how it could harm patients who already face barriers when seeking care by emboldening insurers … Continue Reading
August 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Cotton Applaud Implementation of Provision Prohibiting U.S. Government from Purchasing Huawei Equipment
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ar.) released the following statement on the implementation of their 2019 NDAA provision prohibiting the U.S. government from purchasing equipment from Huawei: "Huawei can always be used as a Trojan horse for the Chinese Communist Party, so it's vital we keep its equipment away from our government networks. Today, the administration implemented our provision prohibiting the U.S. government from purchasing equipment from Huawei. This action … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Van Hollen Seeks Answers on Safety Issues at Fort Detrick
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy seeking answers regarding the current hold on operations at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick. The text of the Senator's letter is available here and below. Dear Acting Secretary McCarthy: I write to express my deep concern regarding the indefinite cessation of activities at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce More Than $100,000 in New USDA Investments in Allegany County
Rural Business Development Grants will expand job training and startup business programs Today, U.S Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $105,775 in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding for two projects in Allegany County. Allegany College of Maryland in Cumberland, MD, received more than $61,000 in federal funding in order to expand rural learning programs that provide educational instruction and job training for adult students. … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on USDA-Union Agreement
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding USDA's agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees on behalf of the employees of ERS and NIFA. "The scientists and researchers at ERS and NIFA provide crucial services to the agriculture community, and the Trump Administration's disrespect for their expertise and disregard for their well-being has been deeply concerning. While I do not support the relocation of these agencies, I'm glad to see … Continue Reading
August 11, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $2.8 million for Coastal Management Program in Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $2.8 million in federal funding to help administer Maryland's federally approved coastal management program. This funding was provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Coastal Zone Management Program to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. This investment will create jobs and provide continued assistance on everything from coastal hazards and recurrent flooding, to … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Raskin Announce $2.7 Million for UMD/NIST Center for Neutron Research
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) have announced $2.7 million in federal funding for the University of Maryland (UMD) / National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research (NCNR) Joint Program for the Advancement of Neutron Scattering. This program brings together researchers and scientists from UMD and NCNR in order to operate and develop neutron scattering instrumentation and techniques, as well as to … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $23.8 Million in 2019 Preparedness Funding for Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) hailed the recent award of more than $23.8 million in fiscal year 2019 federal preparedness grants for Maryland. Preparedness grants are allocated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to state, local, tribal and territorial governments as well as non-government entities. Rather than reacting to a specific disaster, they support citizens and first responders in preparing for, … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Send Message to Big Tech: Close Your Gun-Shopping Loopholes
Despite policies banning their sales, gun accessory listings available on Google, Amazon and eBay in days following mass shootings U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined his Senate colleagues today in calling on the CEOs of Google, Amazon and eBay to close the gun shopping loopholes which, in the days following mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, reportedly allowed listings for the purchase of shotgun rounds, ammunition clips, assault weapon components and a drum magazine nearly … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Nearly $130,000 in USDA Rural Business Development Grants for the Eastern Shore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced the recent award of nearly $130,000 in federal funds for jurisdictions on Maryland's Eastern Shore through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant (RDBG) Program. Grants are as follows: $30,000 to Kent County for the development of job training programs to equip adult students with marketable fiber optics and cyber security skills. The County will contribute an additional $17,581, … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Nearly $500,000 for Eastern Shore Airport Improvements
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced more than $488,000 in federal funds for two airports on Maryland's Eastern Shore through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Both grants fund phases of tree obstruction removal projects. Ocean City Municipal Airport (OXB) will receive more than $173,500 to acquire land for that purpose, while Cambridge-Dorchester Regional Airport (CGE) will receive more than $315,000 for … Continue Reading