Press Releases
Van Hollen: Senate Passage of Opioid Legislation Includes Important Resources for Maryland
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the Senate’s passage of the bipartisan Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018, which will help address this public health epidemic and the ripple effects of the crisis on children, families, and communities. In addition, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Van Hollen helped secure over $3.8 billion for Fiscal Year 2019 in legislation that was passed by Congress last week. This funding will go directly to fighting … Continue Reading
September 21, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Call For DOJ To Investigate FBI Headquarters Consolidation Project
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) yesterday joined with Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, leading a group of senators in requesting that the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice investigate a decision by the General Services Administration (GSA), made at the request of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to rescind a long-studied proposal for consolidation of the FBI Headquarters. … Continue Reading
September 21, 2018
Van Hollen, Feinstein, Coons Lead Letter from 34 Senators Strongly Opposing Cuts to Aid to Palestinian People
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Chris Coons (D-Del.) led a letter of 34 Democratic Senators to President Trump to express strong opposition to his decision to cut more than $500 million in aid to the Palestinian people - funding that was passed into law to provide clean water, food, education, and critical medical services to families in the West Bank and Gaza. “We are deeply concerned that your strategy of attempting to … Continue Reading
September 18, 2018
Van Hollen, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Bill To Enforce Commerce Deal With Chinese Telecom Firm ZTE
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), James Lankford (R-OK), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced the ZTE Enforcement Review and Oversight (ZERO) Act, a bipartisan bill to enforce full compliance by ZTE, a Chinese state-directed telecommunications firm that repeatedly violated U.S. laws, with all probationary conditions in the Commerce Department’s deal to lift the denial order’s seven-year ban against the export of U.S. … Continue Reading
September 17, 2018
Van Hollen Secures Funding for Veterans’ Services and Health Care in Congress-Passed Appropriations Bill
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced the inclusion of over $86 billion for veterans services and health care as a part of the funding legislation passed by the Senate last week. Senator Van Hollen also secured language in the text of the legislation urging the Veterans Affairs (VA) Inspector General to provide rigorous oversight of the Washington, DC VA Medical Center (DC VAMC), which has been recently plagued with issues. Senator Van Hollen has written to the VA twice … Continue Reading
September 14, 2018
Van Hollen: Turkey F-35 Provision in DoD Appropriations Falls Short
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the provision in Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations bill regarding the transfer of the F-35 aircraft to Turkey, as Russia expedites the delivery of the S-400 Russian missile defense system to Turkey by mid-2019. Senator Van Hollen authored stronger language in the Senate-passed bill that would have fully barred any federal spending to transfer, or to facilitate the transfer of, F-35 aircraft to Turkey until the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Van Hollen, Rubio Statement on Election Security Executive Order
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today released a joint statement after President Trump signed an Executive Order to impose sanctions-in-waiting against foreign individuals, entities, or governments that meddle in future U.S. elections: “There is no question that protecting our elections from foreign interference is one of the most pressing issues facing our country today. Today’s announcement by the Administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Van Hollen, Baltimore’s Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $400,000 for National Aquarium Education Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with U.S. Representatives John Sarbanes, Elijah Cummings and C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), have announced $432,627 in federal funding over three years for What Lies in the Harbor, an environmental education program sponsored by a partnership between Baltimore’s National Aquarium and Baltimore City Public Schools. The program will provide the opportunity for all City Schools 6th graders to visit the National Aquarium and … Continue Reading
September 12, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Charles Rettig
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in opposition to the confirmation of Charles Rettig to become Commissioner of Internal Revenue. I opposed the confirmation of Charles Rettig to become the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, because I am concerned about the flow of secret money in our elections. Mr. Rettig refused to give a clear answer on whether the IRS would take steps to address this problem under his leadership, which is especially concerning in light of … Continue Reading
September 11, 2018
Van Hollen, Baltimore’s Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $400,000 for National Aquarium Education Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with U.S. Representatives John Sarbanes, Elijah Cummings and C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger (all D-Md.), have announced $432,627 in federal funding over three years for What Lies in the Harbor, an environmental education program sponsored by a partnership between Baltimore’s National Aquarium and Baltimore City Public Schools. The program will provide the opportunity for all City Schools 6th graders to visit the National Aquarium and … Continue Reading
September 11, 2018
Van Hollen Seeks Update from Governor on MARC Safety Measures
This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan seeking answers on the implementation of positive train control (PTC) measures on the Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) rail system. PTC hardware helps improve railroad safety, and in 2008, Congress passed legislation requiring PTC implementation on highly-trafficked and passenger railroads across the United States. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen notes that MARC is “at risk” of missing the December … Continue Reading
September 07, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on FAA to Support Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport Effort to Retain Piedmont Airlines
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use its Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to help the Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) expand its runway to attract greater options for local residents, businesses and visitors. The AIP was created for the purpose of funding airport projects like runway extensions that improve the safety, security, capacity and environmental concerns at airports nationwide. … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Maryland Democratic Delegation Presses CSX for Update on Howard Street Tunnel
Today, the Maryland Democratic Congressional Delegation, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen, wrote a letter to CSX Corporation President and CEO James Foote requesting an update on the status of the Howard Street Tunnel Project. The project, which has been under discussion for years, would expand the tunnel, allowing for increased shipment to and from the Port of Baltimore, a regional economic hub. Senator Van Hollen was joined in sending the letter by Senator Ben Cardin and Congressmen … Continue Reading
September 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Russia Experts Discuss the DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) discussed the DETER Act and the need to prevent Russian interference in future U.S. elections with experts during a hearing in the Senate Banking Committee. Senator Van Hollen introduced the bipartisan DETER Act with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections. The legislation has 14 bipartisan cosponsors. A transcript of the Senator’s discussion with Michael A. … Continue Reading
August 29, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $43,320 for the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Charles County
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a $43,320 grant to the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad (HVFDRS) in Charles County. HVFDRS will use the funding to replace its existing air compressor, which is over 30 years old and lacks modern safety features. Having an on-site air compressor allows for the refilling of air tanks for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. “This … Continue Reading
August 28, 2018
Van Hollen Urges Fed To Implement Real-Time Payments System
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wrote a letter urging Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to move forward on implementing a real-time payments system - or a method of providing faster banking transactions to consumers and small businesses in the United States. This would help Americans better manage their finances - from receiving paychecks in a timely manner to paying bills more efficiently. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen wrote, “The United States’ outdated … Continue Reading
August 25, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Senator John McCain
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain: “Senator John McCain was a statesman, a veteran, and an American hero. His passion and determination were unsurpassed in the U.S. Senate, and his moral compass was unfailing. The loss of Senator McCain will be felt deeply throughout the Senate and the country - where countless Americans have benefited from his service. My prayers go out to Senator McCain’s … Continue Reading
August 25, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Federal Employee Executive Order Ruling
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s ruling on the Trump Administration’s federal employee executive orders: “Today’s ruling is an important victory for the federal workers who stood up to the Trump Administration’s attack on their right to a safe and fair workplace. These civil servants are the doctors and nurses caring for our veterans at veterans’ hospitals, the researchers finding new … Continue Reading
August 23, 2018
Van Hollen Announces Senate Passage of $2 Million for Firefighter Cancer Registry
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the passage of $2 million in funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act as part of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Senator Van Hollen was an original co-sponsor of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, which was signed into law in July. This legislation creates a national firefighter registry of cancer incidence - … Continue Reading
August 23, 2018
Van Hollen Language to Halt the Transfer of F-35s to Turkey Until Secretary of Defense Certifies Turkey Will Not Acquire Russian S-400 Missile Defense System Passes Senate
Today the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act, including Senator Van Hollen’s provision to expressly prohibit spending Department of Defense funds to transfer, or to facilitate the transfer of, F-35 aircraft to Turkey until the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, certifies to the appropriate Congressional committees that Turkey is not purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia and will not accept the delivery of … Continue Reading
