Press Releases
Van Hollen,Cantwell, Menendez Offer Amendment to Ensure Tax Fairness, Protect Middle Class from Being Taxed Twice on Their Paychecks
Today, as tax reform takes center stage in Congress, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), offered a provision to keep in place the State and Local Tax (SALT) deductions, protecting taxpayers from paying taxes twice on every dollar they earn. As part of their legislation, Republicans have eliminated the SALT deductions for taxpayers to help pay for their massive tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. Currently, taxpayers pay state and … Continue Reading
November 30, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn’s Guilty Plea
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement today regarding Michael Flynn's guilty plea in Special Counsel Mueller's Russia investigation. "Michael Flynn's guilty plea today throws a dark shadow on this Administration and the Trump campaign's actions throughout the election. I am deeply disturbed by the extent to which the Trump campaign was in contact with Russia. The American people deserve the facts. This plea demonstrates why it is so important to have Special Counsel … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
Van Hollen, Senate Dems Urge Leadership to Protect Endangered Species Act in Spending Bill
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), joined 30 of his Democratic colleagues today in urging Senate leadership to protect endangered species in the end of year spending bill being negotiated ahead of next Friday's government funding deadline. The letter comes a week after the Senate Committee on Appropriations released its FY2018 recommendations for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which included a number of provisions - such as funding cuts and court … Continue Reading
November 29, 2017
Van Hollen, Toomey Urge Action on North Korea, Passage of BRINK Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following joint statement in response to North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile yesterday: "North Korea's continued provocations, including the launch of yet another ballistic missile, demand immediate action from Congress and this Administration. North Korea's nuclear ambitions threaten the United States and our allies, and their actions yesterday demonstrate we must finally put real teeth in economic sanctions … Continue Reading
November 28, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $30,000 Grant for the Sharptown Wastewater Treatment Plant in Wicomico County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced a $30,000 grant for Sharptown, Maryland through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Agency's SEARCH - Special Evaluation Assistance for Rural Communities and Households Grant Program. This grant will fund a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Report to address inflow and infiltration issues within Sharptown's wastewater system. "Maryland's success depends on the strength of every region of our … Continue Reading
November 27, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Senate Budget Committee Markup
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, submitted the following statement for the record at the Budget Committee markup of the Republican's Fiscal Year 2018 Reconciliation Legislation: "Senate Republicans are discarding even the semblance of regular order in their mad dash to pass a partisan bill that gives huge tax cuts to big corporations, raises taxes on millions of middle-class families, makes it harder for Americans to get health insurance, and opens … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Statement Ahead of Trial for Murder of Marylander Alex Villamayor in Paraguay
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following joint statement Tuesday ahead of the Paraguayan trial in the murder of Marylander Alex Villamayor: "More than two years have passed since Alex Villamayor, a U.S. citizen and Marylander,was murdered in Encarnación, Paraguay. Alex was just 16 years old.After much perseverance by his family and contributions from both countries' governments, Alex's case will finally be tried in court. As we await the upcoming trial … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Van Hollen Announces Full Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in Interior, Environment Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of several Maryland priorities within the Chairman's Mark of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The legislation invests in environmental protection and conservation and includes numerous programs vital to the Chesapeake Bay. Most notably, Senator Van Hollen worked to secure full funding of $73 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, … Continue Reading
November 20, 2017
Van Hollen, Colleagues Write Mnuchin on SEC Oil, Gas, Mining Transparency Rule
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and 13 of their colleagues Tuesday in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, urging him to withdraw the Department's recent recommendation that a key extractive industry transparency provision be completely repealed by Congress. Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans halted the Securities and Exchange Commission's implementation of the rule but left the underlying rulemaking instructions in place. Section … Continue Reading
November 19, 2017
Van Hollen, Warren Seek Information from OCC on Dubious Bank of Tokyo License Conversion
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) asking a series of questions about the questionable decision to allow the Bank of Tokyo to convert its license from a New York State license to a federal license in order to bypass a state investigation into whether the bank was allowing its clients to evade sanctions on countries like Iran and North Korea. Last week, the OCC approved the Bank of … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Ask DHS Nominee to Clarify Stance on DACA, The Dream Act, and TPS
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Senate's Immigration Subcommittee, and 18 senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Kirstjen Nielsen, calling on her to answer several immigration related questions prior to consideration of her nomination by the full Senate. During her confirmation hearing, when asked whether she agrees that legislation must be passed to protect Dreamers by the end of this … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Feinstein Introduce Legislation to Protect TPS Recipients
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act. This legislation would allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. "For decades, our country has welcomed and protected immigrants fleeing violence and turmoil around the world," said Senator Van Hollen. "These men and women have … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Bay Senators Introduce Bipartisan Chesapeake Restoration Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017. This legislation increases mandatory funding available to the Bay, strengthens the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and provides more opportunities for effective conservation efforts. He was joined by Senators Cardin (D-Md.), Capito (R-W.Va.), Casey (D-Pa.), Kaine (D-Va.), Manchin (D-W.Va.), Warner (D-Va.), Carper (D-Del.), Coons (D-Del.), Gillibrand … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $600,000 in Federal Funding for Maryland Aquaculture Research
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) have announced $642,149 in federal funding for the University of Maryland Baltimore County's (UMBC) aquaculture efforts. The funds will be issued through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which estimates that nearly two-thirds of fish consumed globally will be produced through aquaculture farms by 2030. "Supporting sustainable agriculture will help not only America's … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Demand Better Coordination, Response to Housing Needs of Hurricane Victims
As victims in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island (USVI) struggle to recover from damage left by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollenjoined a group of 11 other senators on Wednesday in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to work in coordination to provide housing assistance to residents of the islands who are still displaced. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long and HUD Secretary Ben … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
As NAFTA Renegotiations Move Forward, Van Hollen Joins Letter to Trump Administration Calling for Strong Protections for Workers
As negotiations over a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) resume today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined 17 of his Senate colleagues in a letter toUnited States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer calling for the Trump Administration to reverse the race to the bottom that has led to job losses and wage stagnation in the United States. The Senators wrote, "In advance of the fifth round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations in Mexico City, it is … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen Presses House Freedom Caucus on PAYGO and Republican Tax Plan
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, wrote to House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows about the deficit-busting Republican tax plan. If Congress does not waive Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) after passing a $1.5 trillion tax cut, the resulting sequestration would cut Medicare payments to doctors by roughly $25 billion and eliminate funding for all other non-exempt programs. The Freedom Caucus has long been committed to deficit reduction - if … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen Helps Introduce Bill to Close Loophole in Military Justice System that Enables Convicted Abusers to Buy Guns
Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Mazie Hirono today to introduce the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, legislation to close a dangerous loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that enables convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Federal civilian law mandates that those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not authorized to purchase a firearm. Under the current UCMJ, which is applied to military personnel on active duty, a … Continue Reading
November 13, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $30,000 in Rural Development Funding to Federalsburg, Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced two grants totaling $30,900 for Federalsburg, Md., through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency's Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program. Federalsburg was awarded $16,900 to purchase nine new radios for the Public Works Department to replace damaged equipment. Additionally, Federalsburg received $14,000 to purchase 139 fire hydrant adapters.The adapters will allow the Federalsburg … Continue Reading
November 13, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Delaney Laud NDAA Provision that would Forestall Closure of Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressman John K. Delaney (all D-Md.) are praising the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report approved by the House of Representatives Tuesday that would provide a thorough study of America's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) on Fort Detrick. Using language similar to Senator Cardin's amendment passed in the Senate version of NDAA, the mandated study would forestall bewildering moves by the … Continue Reading
