Press Releases
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Leaves Maryland’s Children Behind
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees,released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on education in Maryland: "President Trump's budget leaves Maryland's children behind," said Senator Van Hollen. "These proposals aren't just numbers, they are a statement of values - and it is clear that Donald Trump does not value public education. From afterschool programs to quality teachers to affordable higher … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Introduces Legislation to Overhaul Broken VA Appeals Process
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and a group of 16 Senators in introducing legislation to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs' broken appeals process. The process has not been updated since 1933, and more than 450,000 appeals are currently pending. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. By replacing the current process, the Department of … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Out-of-Pocket Costs for National Guard Members and Reservists Traveling to Training and Drills
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to introduce the bipartisan Savings for Servicemembers Act, which helps servicemembers save on travel expenses. "Marylanders who serve in the National Guard should be commended for their service, but too many are burdened by travel expenses to get to and from their required trainings," said Senator Van Hollen. … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Delivers Warning to Speaker Ryan, House Republicans: We're Not Going to Help You Erode Healthcare Coverage
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 41 of their colleagues in sending a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan warning that he will not have their support for further repeal legislation as outlined in the Speaker's "three phase" plan. As part of their campaign to secure votes for passage in the House, Speaker Paul Ryan and President Trump have assured certain … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to Confirmation of David Friedman
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the confirmation of David Friedman to serve as Ambassador to Israel: "Mr. President, our Ambassador to Israel is one of our most consequential diplomatic posts.Israel is our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East, and one of our closest partners in the world.The bonds between our peoples have been unbreakable from Israel's beginning.Israel is a bastion of democracy and prosperity … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Bay and Maryland’s Environment
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on the Chesapeake Bay and the environment in Maryland: "The budget cuts proposed by President Trump would seriously damage our efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and protect our environment. Its shortsighted cuts would damage Maryland's economy - from the tourism and boating industry, to watermen working on … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Delaney Introduce Resolution Honoring Henrietta Lacks
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin joined Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and John Delaney (all D-MD) in introducing a resolution honoring Henrietta Lacks for her contributions to medical research as part of Women's History Month. Lacks, an African-American woman, died of cervical cancer in 1951. For more than six decades, her cells have been used by medical researchers in some of medicine's most important breakthroughs, including the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Fight to Save Small Business Jobs in Economically Challenged Rural and Urban Areas
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) joined with Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to introduce a bill that improves the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Empowerment Contracting (HUBZone) program and helps small businesses rebuild, revitalize, and invest in distressed communities across the United States. The "HUBZone Investment Protection Act of 2017" (S. 690), acts to avert the imminent loss of jobs and certified small … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen: Trumpcare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis
With 91 Americans dying each day from an opioid overdose, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 19 colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on him not to take up any legislation that would further harm individuals struggling with an opioid use disorder. The repeal of the Affordable Care Act could strip health care coverage from 2.8 million Americans suffering from a substance use disorder. The House … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Chesapeake Bay Senators Urge Appropriators to Reject President Trump’s Dangerous Cuts to Bay Funding
U.S. Senators representing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed blasted President Trump's budget released Thursday that would zero out funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program and severely cut funding for other core programs to maintain and restore the health of the Bay, which is an economic lifeline for the region. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Manchin … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Research in Maryland
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on research institutions in Maryland: "The United States is the world leader in innovative research, and I'm proud to say much of that work takes place in our great state. The role of the federal government is to foster that research, not attack it," said Senator Van Hollen. "Whether it's finding cures for … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on SEC to End Delay in Requiring CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in sending a letter to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the Wall Street regulatory agency to cease any delay in implementing a Congressionally-mandated rule that requires publicly traded companies to disclose to investors the pay ratio between their chief executive and median employee. Last month, SEC Acting Chair Michael Piwowar unilaterally decided to reopen the public comment … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Van Hollen, Murphy, 16 Senators to GOP: Trumpcare Process Must Equal the Affordable Care Act’s
As Congressional Republicans continue their dangerous crusade to quickly force Trumpcare through Congress without sufficient hearings, amendments, or debate, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and 16 Senators are demanding Senate Republican leadership conduct an equally transparent and thorough deliberative process on Trumpcare as was conducted in drafting and passing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2009. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Maryland’s Economy
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on Maryland's economy: "President Trump's budget proposal would have deep and lasting negative consequences for Maryland's economy. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore - and everywhere in between - the federal government makes vital investments in our state that create jobs, improve infrastructure, and … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Invite President Trump to Visit NIH, Urge Him to Reverse Call for $6B in Cuts
In response to his budget blueprint, which cuts $5.8 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.) have written to President Trump inviting him to visit NIH to see for himself the life-saving working being done in nearby Bethesda. The letter, found below, urges the president to reverse his budget cuts so that the United States can maintain its global scientific dominance. Dear Mr. President: As you continue to work on the … Continue Reading
March 16, 2017
Van Hollen, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Preserve American Leadership in Biomedical and Scientific Research
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced The American Cures Act to preserve America's standing as a leader in scientific discovery and innovation. The bill would steadily increase funding for biomedical and scientific research conducted at the nation's premier federal research agencies. "Investing in biomedical and scientific research keeps jobs and innovation in America - but our nation's leadership is at risk by the dangerous budget cuts proposed by … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to the Resolution to Disapprove of the DOL Drug Testing Rule
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the Resolution to Disapprove of the DOL Drug Testing Rule: "MR. PRESIDENT, I rise in opposition to H.J.Res.42 today, a bill in search of a problem. Back in 2012, Congress passed legislation to extend temporary unemployment insurance as our country worked to recover from the recession. That legislation included a bipartisan compromise that allowed states to drug test people applying for … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following statement on President Trump's FY 2018 budget: "The President's budget is great if you're a person like Donald Trump who flies to Mar-a-Lago every weekend at taxpayer expense - but it betrays the Americans who feel left behind and forgotten. And for the people who supported him, especially in rural areas of our country, they are hit particularly hard. "This plan denies millions … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Van Hollen Calls for Partnership with Europe to Fight Russian Cyberattacks
Today at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Russian sanctions, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen called for partnership with our European allies to fight Russian cyberattacks on democratic elections. The hearing comes on the same day as the Netherlands' general election for Prime Minister. Russia reportedly hacked into the accounts of dozens of Dutch government officials to undermine the candidacy of Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who ran against the extreme right-wing candidate Geert … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
After State’s Failure to Act, Van Hollen and Berliner Seek Update on Dangerous River Road Intersection
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner and local leaders in sending a letter to the State Highway Administration requesting an update on safety improvements at the intersection of River Road and Braeburn Parkway at Walt Whitman High School. "More than a year has passed since three members of a Bethesda family were killed while turning across River Road (MD 190) onto Braeburn Parkway to access Walt Whitman High School," they wrote. "Despite … Continue Reading
