Press Releases
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
February 27, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $90,000 for Allegany College of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $90,000 in federal funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to support the Allegany College of Maryland's advanced manufacturing training program. These funds will allow the college to enroll an additional 17 students in its training programs and enable the college to purchase additional equipment and supplies. "The success of Maryland's economy depends on a strong, expertly-trained workforce. This … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $3 Million for Affordable Housing in Baltimore City
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $3 million in federal funding for the development of affordable housing and community facilities in low-income communities in Baltimore, Maryland. This grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and will support financing for the preservation, rehabilitation, development, or purchase of affordable housing for low-income communities; as well as … Continue Reading
February 27, 2019
Van Hollen, Fischer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Transparency in Corporate Trading
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) introduced the bipartisan Promoting Transparent Standards for Corporate Insiders Act. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prohibits the purchase or sale of securities based on non-public information. Right now, the SEC allows executives to create a trading plan that ensures trades are done without taking advantage of inside information. However, as two high-profile cases illustrate, some dishonest players may … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Kaine, and Warner Urge WMATA to Prioritize Safety in Maintenance Work
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD), along with Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA), wrote a letter to the WMATA Board of Directors in support of maintaining Metrorail's current overnight safety maintenance schedule, to ensure that critical safety work is completed as soon as possible and to prevent more daytime single-tracking. Warner, Kaine, Cardin, and Van Hollen agree with oversight officials that riders' safety should be the top priority as … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Van Hollen & Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Encourage IPOs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen financial markets by reducing the risk of companies contemplating going public. The Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2019 would encourage capital formation by making initial public offerings (IPOs) more attractive. Senators Van Hollen and Tillis introduced identical legislation in the 115th Congress. Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission released a proposal … Continue Reading
February 26, 2019
Van Hollen Helps Introduce Legislation to More Than Double Investment in Universal Flu Vaccine
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), today helped introduce the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to conduct or support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine that could protect against multiple strains of the flu virus and offer longer lasting protection. The legislation is calling for a total investment of $1 billion - $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Senator Van Hollen and his colleagues were able … Continue Reading
February 25, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $202 Million Loan to Modernize Baltimore’s Wastewater Infrastructure
WIFIA loan to help finance water infrastructure upgrades that will better protect public health and water quality for 1.8 million Baltimore residents Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to announce a $202 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to the City of Baltimore, Md., to help the city make system-wide upgrades to its aging wastewater infrastructure … Continue Reading
February 21, 2019
Van Hollen, Young Housing Bill Signed into Law
New Law Will Help Families Relocate to Greater Opportunity Areas Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) announced that the Senate voted to pass and provide funding for their housing legislation, which will incentivize greater choice and mobility in the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Housing Choice Voucher Program. The Housing Choice Voucher Mobility Demonstration Act was included in the larger government funding bill that passed the Senate … Continue Reading
February 20, 2019
Van Hollen Announces Bill to Halt Trump Administration’s Nuclear Escalation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced legislation that would prevent the Trump Administration from taking any action to escalate nuclear tensions, by unconditionally restricting the use of funds for activities prohibited under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty during the six month withdrawal period. This legislation, the Preserving Arms Control Treaties (PACT) Act, will prohibit the Administration from any near-term steps to further exacerbate the INF crisis … Continue Reading
February 16, 2019
Van Hollen to Attend Munich Security Conference, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that he would be attending the Munich Security Conference from February 16th - 17th and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting in Vienna from February 21st - 22nd as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation. The trip will also include diplomatic meetings in France and Cyprus. Senator Van Hollen is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Decision to Declare a National Emergency
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding reports of President Trump's plan to put forward a National Emergency Declaration to fund his border wall: "It is a gross abuse of power - and likely illegal - for President Trump to go around Congress to fund his border wall. Inventing an unnecessary emergency declaration to pay for his wall by redirecting funds already allocated to our military or domestic infrastructure sets a dangerous precedent. I am … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Government Funding Agreement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced his support for the bipartisan government funding agreement. The plan contains multiple priorities the Senator has fought for - including a 1.9 percent cost of living adjustment for federal employees, retroactive to January 1, 2019. Throughout the partial government shutdown and its aftermath, Senator Van Hollen has worked to ensure federal workers are held harmless, including through the introduction and passage of the Government Employee Fair … Continue Reading
February 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce over $4.5 Million for Maryland Roads Damaged by Severe Weather
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced over $4.5 million in federal funding for the Maryland State Highway Administration to repair damages caused by the heavy rains that hit Maryland in May and June 2018, including the devastating flooding in Ellicott City and Frederick and Washington Counties. Immediately following the severe weather events, the Maryland Congressional Delegation, led by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen, wrote two letters urging the President … Continue Reading
February 12, 2019
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
