Press Releases
Van Hollen Statement on Christchurch, New Zealand Shooting
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand: "It makes me sick to my stomach to think that we live in a world where 49 people, including several young children, can be shot to death while peacefully praying. The gruesome terrorist attack in New Zealand is not an isolated incident-the rise of Islamophobia and white supremacy must be met with strong determination to combat hate wherever it rears its ugly … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Emergency Declaration Vote
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Senate's bipartisan vote to oppose President Trump's national emergency declaration: "When I took my oath of office, I swore to support and defend the Constitution. It's the same pledge that every single Senator, all 100 of us, made when we started our jobs. And today, 59 senators held true to that promise. We stood together on a bipartisan basis to say no to this gross abuse of executive power, no to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Collins, Cardin, Rubio Introduce Protect Our Elections Act
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Protect Our Elections Act, which would prohibit foreign adversaries from owning and controlling the companies supporting American elections. Our intelligence chiefs have made it clear that hostile foreign actors continue to work to disrupt our democratic process by any means possible. This common-sense legislation - with public disclosure and annual … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Senators Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Financial Relief to Federal Employees Relocating for Work
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark R. Warner, and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) along with Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) reintroduced bipartisan legislation today to provide financial relief to certain civilian federal employees who have to relocate for work. The Relocation Expense Parity Act will ensure that all federal employees who qualify to have their moving costs reimbursed by the government are also repaid for the taxes owed on relocation … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Klobuchar Call for Mandatory Transparency for Foreign Stakes in Election Systems
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee have introduced legislation to bring greater transparency to America’s election systems in an effort to protect our country from foreign interference, as occurred in the 2016 presidential election. The “Election Systems Integrity Act,” would require disclosure of foreign ownership of election service providers. “Free and Fair elections make up the core of our … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Governor Harry Hughes
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the passing of former Maryland Governor Harry Hughes: “Former Governor Harry Hughes lived a life of service to our country and his beloved Maryland. He was a model of integrity and always fought for the public interest. As Governor, he was a great champion for protecting our natural treasure, the Chesapeake Bay, and he remained passionately dedicated to that effort after he left office. I fondly recall … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Walmart CEO To Support Workers With Disabilities
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a group of his colleagues in calling on Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to ensure that the company uphold its commitment to workers with disabilities. Recent reports of updated job requirements and the elimination of positions altogether highlight the disproportionate impact that changes in policy can have on individuals with disabilities. Specifically, the Senators inquired about the company's decision to eliminate the greeter position and its efforts to … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Van Hollen Presses CFPB’s Kraninger on Proposed Rollback of Payday Lending Consumer Protections
"You are opening the door to bad actors - it's really outrageous" Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) questioned Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger on the Bureau's recent proposal to roll back rules to protect consumers from predatory payday lending practices. Senator Van Hollen raised his concerns regarding abusive lending practices that take place in the payday lending industry at the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing. A … Continue Reading
March 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of EPW Senators Introduce Bill to Reauthorize Popular, Effective Diesel Emissions Reduction Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) joined Senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and in introducing the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) of 2019. This legislation would reauthorize DERA - one of the most cost-effective federal clean air programs - through fiscal year 2024 at its … Continue Reading
March 11, 2019
Van Hollen Joins Senators in Calling on Pompeo to Uphold the Rights of Women and Girls at Upcoming UN Commission on the Status of Women
Ahead of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a group of Senators in urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo "to constructively collaborate with international partners to shape global standards for gender equality and advance policies that promote the rights of women and girls." The Senators raised specific concerns about any effort by the United States to restrict reproductive and sexual health language. The senators also called on … Continue Reading
March 11, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, came out in strong opposition to President Trump's Fiscal Year 2020 budget request. After passing a tax plan that gives an average tax break of $70,000 to households making over $1 million per year, this budget makes huge cuts to programs that help provide a basic standard of living for working-class families. It goes against President Trump's promise not to cut Social Security, Medicare, and … Continue Reading
March 08, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Green New Deal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the Green New Deal proposal:“The Green New Deal has sparked a level of grassroots momentum that I believe will help us finally take real action, and I support the proposal as a first step toward tackling climate change. I intend to co-sponsor the bill in the coming weeks when I also introduce ‘cap and dividend’ legislation to significantly reduce carbon emissions by placing a price on carbon and providing payments … Continue Reading
March 08, 2019
Van Hollen Leads Bipartisan Group of Senators in Urging Inclusion of Contractor Back Pay in Upcoming Disaster Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and a bipartisan group of 38 Senators sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging the inclusion of back pay for federal contract workers impacted by the government shutdown within the upcoming disaster relief package. While federal workers harmed by the government shutdown have since been compensated for their lost wages, federal contract employees - including janitorial, food, and security services workers - who were furloughed or forced … Continue Reading
March 08, 2019
Van Hollen Calls for DOJ Investigation into White House Involvement in AT&T, Time Warner Merger Review
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting an investigation into the White House's involvement in the Department's review of the AT&T, Time Warner merger. Senator Van Hollen's letter follows reports that President Trump ordered White House Economic Council Gary Cohn to interfere with the DOJ's review of the proposed merger. In his letter, Senator Van Hollen writes, "I request that you open an investigation into whether White … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Bipartisan Group of Senators Press President Trump to Designate Venezuela for TPS
In light of the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla., Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and others wrote to President Donald Trump requesting that his Administration promptly designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to ensure that Venezuelan nationals … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019
Support Grows for Van Hollen’s PACT Act
Legislation to Halt Trump Administration's Nuclear Escalation Endorsed by Outside Groups Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced support for his Preserving Arms Control Treaties (PACT) Act from a wide array of outside groups. In response to the Administration's reckless and deeply short-sighted decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, this legislation would: prevent the Trump Administration from taking any action to escalate nuclear … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on DHS to Grant Sufficient H-2B Visas to Meet Maryland Businesses’ Needs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen urging her to use her existing authority to grant additional H-2B visas in order to meet the needs of American small businesses. The Senators write, "We have spoken numerous times in the past regarding the unpredictability of the guest worker visa system and the need for reform that meets the needs of American businesses and provides the necessary … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Van Hollen Announces New SEC Findings on Stock Buybacks
Data Clearly Shows Corporate Executives Can Use Buybacks to Cash Out at High Prices to the Detriment of the Company, Investors Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced new findings on stock buybacks from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Commissioner Robert Jackson showing that corporate executives can use buybacks to cash out at high prices to the detriment of their company and investors. Senator Van Hollen wrote to Commissioner Jackson in December asking for more … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Democrats in Calling on Chairman Graham to Hold Hearings on Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined a group of Democrats in signing a letter to U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday calling on him to hold hearings on universal background checks legislation, which is supported by 97% of Americans. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. The Senate counterpart bill, the Background Check Expansion Act, is currently … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $100,000 Investment in Garrett College IT Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (MD-08) today announced a $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to Garrett College. The federal funding, coupled with $50,000 in local funding, will provide $100,000 to further upgrade internet connectivity for the campus. The project will support mobile learning, research and information exchange for 5,700 students and 500 community members annually. "Increased access to the internet means … Continue Reading
