Press Releases
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
March 05, 2019
Van Hollen, Toomey Introduce North Korea Sanctions Bill
Today Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) reintroduced the bipartisan Otto Warmbier Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act. The bill - which passed the Senate Banking Committee unanimously last Congress - is designed to offer foreign banks a stark choice: continue business with North Korea or maintain access to the U.S. financial system. The BRINK Act would impose mandatory sanctions on the foreign banks and companies that facilitate illicit financial … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
Van Hollen, Schatz, DeFazio Introduce New Legislation to Tax Wall Street, Address Economic Inequality
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) and U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) introduced legislation to create a new progressive tax on financial transactions that would generate billions in revenue, while addressing economic inequality and reducing high risk and volatility in the market. "Wall Street has made an art of high-speed trading and rank speculation that has fattened the wallets of a few while putting everyday Americans at risk. This tiny … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Maryland, Virginia Senators Press OMB on Implementation of Federal Pay Raise
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Tim Kaine and Mark Warner (both D-Va.) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought to request a timeline for the implementation of the 1.9 percent pay increase for federal employees that the Senators worked to pass into law earlier this year. While the pay increase was signed into law on February 15, the President has yet to sign an Executive Order to implement the increase. The … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Van Hollen, Duckworth, Beyer & Feinstein Re-introduce Legislation to Strengthen Voting Rights and Support Civic Participation
The PROVE Act would allow 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote in federal elections U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), along with a group of 15 Senators, re-introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act today to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens’ participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would allow citizens who are 16 … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Wheeler
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding his vote opposing the confirmation of Andrew Wheeler as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. The head of this Agency must fully embody these principles and support the goals that come alongside this mission - from improving water quality, to protecting America's wildlife and treasures like the Chesapeake Bay, to minimizing air … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Call on Trump to Abandon Plan to Form Anti-science Panel That Would Threaten National Security, Ignore Climate Change Facts
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined a group of 14 senators in calling on President Trump to abandon plans to form an internal group within the White House with the task of refuting the clear scientific consensus about the growing threat climate change poses to our national security and economy. "Allowing a fossil fuel industry-funded climate change denier and other climate skeptics to conduct an 'adversarial peer review' of recent climate science will create an environment of … Continue Reading
February 28, 2019
Van Hollen, Carper Reintroduce Statehood Bill to Ensure Full Representation for Over 700,000 D.C. Residents
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.), along with a group of Democratic Senators, introduced legislation that would grant Washington, D.C. full statehood, making it the 51st state and giving its citizens full representation in Congress. The Washington, D.C. Admission Act would also designate the areas surrounding the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the National Mall as the seat of the federal government. The area would inherit the name “District … Continue Reading
