Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Historical and Conservation Priorities Pass the Senate
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) lauded today's bipartisan Senate passage of a package of conservation and natural resources bills that will help preserve Maryland's rich historic sites and protect wildlife, such as the Baltimore Oriole. The Natural Resources Management Act (S. 47) passed 92-8 and now heads to the House of Representatives. The legislative package includes measures sponsored by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen to preserve President Street Station in … Continue Reading
February 11, 2019
Van Hollen, Napolitano, Katko Introduce Legislation to Protect Transit Workers and Pedestrians
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), U.S. Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA-32), and U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY-24) introduced the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act. "The men and women who work as transit operators across our county deserve a safe work environment - but far too often, that is not guaranteed. This legislation will lay out the changes needed to make this a reality and put a down payment on making it happen. It will improve our transportation systems for both … Continue Reading
February 11, 2019
Van Hollen, Murkowski Announce Bipartisan Support for 2.6% Pay Raise for Federal Workers
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced bipartisan support for legislation to provide federal employees with a 2.6 percent cost of living increase. The House of Representatives passed companion legislation to this measure last month. "Our federal workforce protects our nation, ensures the safety of our food and medicine, delivers Social Security and veterans' benefits, and carries out countless other responsibilities on behalf of our citizens. The … Continue Reading
February 08, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of John Dingell
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued the following statement regarding the passing of former U.S. Congressman John Dingell: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and former colleague John Dingell, 'the Dean of the House.' John's long record of service to our nation speaks for itself -- he fought fiercely for civil rights, clean air and water, and his dream of universal health care, and had a wit and determination that couldn't be matched. John was one of our country's … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Fischer, Sherman, & Loudermilk Reintroduce BUILD Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) along with Representatives Brad Sherman (D-Cali.) and Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) reintroduced the Building up Independent Lives and Dreams (BUILD) Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would allow nonprofits to once again use forms that are less complex when they are issuing 0% interest loans. This will help ensure the organizations can continue to make these loans to borrowers. "Habitat for Humanity and others groups … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Van Hollen, Warren Renew Call for Senate Banking Committee to Investigate Deutsche Bank
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo urging the Committee to engage in a thorough, detailed bipartisan investigation into Deutsche Bank's compliance history, followed by a report and hearing. This letter is a follow up to one they sent in December. The full text of the letter is available below and here. Dear Chairman Crapo: We are writing to renew our request that the Committee engage in a … Continue Reading
February 06, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on S.1, Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019
Mr. President - I come to the Senate Floor today with a sense of great disappointment - disappointment in what my colleague, the senior senator from Florida and the Republican Leader have done with the bill before us today. Because they have taken a bill that had broad - maybe unanimous -- bipartisan support and tried to turn it into a political weapon. As a result, they are doing a great disservice to the American people and to all of us who value the tradition of strong bipartisan support … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on State of the Union Address
Tonight U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union address: "The White House promised this State of the Union would be one of unity and a vision for bipartisan cooperation. But most of what we heard tonight was the same division and dishonesty that sadly has become the hallmark of this presidency. The President could have used this time to offer concrete plans on bipartisan economic priorities that actually help working people. … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Van Hollen, Democratic Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Prevent Housing Discrimination
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in introducing The Home Loan Quality Transparency Act to reinstate Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Van Hollen, Rubio, Colleagues Re-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), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Doug Jones (D-AL) today re-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 July 2018 deal to lift the denial order's seven-year ban … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Van Hollen, Jones Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter on Death of CPO Shannon Kent
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congressman Walter Jones (R-N.C.) led a letter with Senators Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) and Anthony Brown (D-Md.) to the Acting Secretary of Defense Shanahan and Secretary of the Navy Spencer about the case of Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Shannon Kent, a chief cryptologic technician in the United States Navy, who was recently killed in action while … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin to Announce Legislation to Improve Student Access to Federal Financial Aid
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Congressman Elijah E. Cummings along with Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes to announce the introduction of the FAFSA Fairness Act of 2019. The legislation would simplify the process to apply for and receive federal student financial aid for students who do not have contact with their parents. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin will introduce companion legislation in the Senate. "Nobody should be denied the … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Van Hollen Announces State of the Union Guest: Federal Contract Worker Lila Johnson
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has announced that federal contract worker and Hagerstown, Md. resident Lila Johnson will join him for President Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday. Ms. Johnson has worked as a general cleaning services contractor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture for over 20 years. She is the primary breadwinner for her family and is helping to raise her two grandchildren. During the shutdown, she was told by her supervisor to use her sick leave and … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce Legislation to Support Maryland School Construction and Renovation Needs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have signed on as original cosponsors to the Rebuild America's Schools Act (S. 266), a bill that would provide $100 billion in federal resources to rebuild and modernize schools throughout the nation and Maryland. Maryland public schools have an estimated $4 billion backlog in capital improvement needs. Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) introduced the Rebuild America's Schools Act yesterday. "In order to provide a quality education to our … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Van Hollen, Democratic Colleagues Introduce Conflicts from Political Fundraising Act
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and House Ethics Committee Chair Ted Deutch (D-FL) in introducing the Conflicts from Political Fundraising Act of 2019. The bill would require Presidentially-appointed executive branch officials to disclose whether they have solicited donations for or contributed funds to political action committees (PACs), political non-profits, and industry trade associations. Such disclosure would close a glaring ethics … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1.1 Million for Baltimore Civic Works’ YouthBuild Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced $1.1 million in federal funding for the YouthBuild program at Civic Works, Inc. of Baltimore through the U.S. Department of Labor. With these funds, Civic Works will collaborate with Park Heights Renaissance to create summer employment for local youths. Of the 62 participants enrolled in the program, 50 will be trained in construction and 12 will be trained in their proposed Construction Plus Healthcare program. Upon … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Van Hollen, Toomey Pursue Administration Report on Syria Strategy
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) want the Trump administration to provide to Congress a strategy in Syria that ensures American security interests are not compromised by a troop withdrawal. "President Trump's abrupt decision for an immediate withdrawal from Syria puts at risk our mission to defeat ISIS and endangers the future of our Syrian Kurdish allies, who have been the tip of the spear in that fight," said Senator Van Hollen. "This bipartisan amendment makes … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Statement by Senator Van Hollen on S.1, Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act of 2019
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding S.1, the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019: Mr. President — I come to the Senate Floor today with a sense of great disappointment — disappointment in what my colleague, the senior senator from Florida and the Republican Leader have done with the bill before us today. Because they have taken a bill that had broad — maybe unanimous bipartisan support -- and tried to … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Introduce Pay Raise for Federal Employees
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) introduced legislation to provide federal employees with a 2.6 percent cost of living increase. Last year, President Trump announced a pay freeze for civil servants for 2019, which he can do unilaterally unless Congress acts. The House of Representatives is expected to vote on their companion legislation to this measure on Wednesday. "Our federal workforce … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Resolution Calling for Release of Imprisoned Reuters Journalists and Safe Repatriation of Rohingya
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing a new resolution calling for the immediate release of imprisoned Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, as well as for accountability and safe repatriation of refugees in the wake of Burma's atrocities against the Rohingya minority. Lone and Soe Oo were recently sentenced to seven years in prison for their work reporting on massacres that Burmese security forces carried out against the … Continue Reading
