Press Releases
Van Hollen, Carper, Udall, Whitehouse Demand Transparency on Pruitt’s Legal Defense Fund
Today Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to follow up on his testimony last week before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, where he confirmed to Senator Van Hollen for the first time that he has set up a legal defense fund. With legal and ethical issues mounting, Mr. Pruitt refused to … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Van Hollen: Democrats Provide a Better Deal for Our Democracy
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the Democrats’ introduction of A Better Deal for Our Democracy: “Over the past year and a half, our country has seen a Republican-controlled government that has worked to promote big banks, special interests, and massive corporations. From tax reform to the rollback of consumer protections, the American people now know where Republicans’ priorities truly lie. Today, Democrats are offering a strong rebuke to … Continue Reading
May 20, 2018
Frederick County Flood Assessment Forms
The Frederick County Division of Emergency Management is collecting information from County residents and businesses on damage and losses suffered as a result of the May 15 and 16th flooding. The information provided will compiled into a Preliminary Damage Assessment which will be used to help FEMA determine if the county is eligible for any types of federal disaster assistance.Please click on the appropriate damage assessment form link, residential or business, in the menu bar on the left.If … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Van Hollen Presses Sessions on Funding to Address Violence in Baltimore
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen is pressing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to support the City of Baltimore’s efforts to address violent crime. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Van Hollen urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider Baltimore’s exclusion from the Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Program, which was created last year to help cities address violent crime. The letter comes after Sessions expressed an openness to revisiting this issue in a hearing on April 25th with … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Twenty Senators Urge Extension of Comment Period on Pruitt Rule to Favor Industry-Backed Science
Twenty Senators are asking Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to extend the deadline for weighing in on a proposed rule that would dramatically shrink the body of scientific knowledge the EPA can use in crafting public health and environmental protections. Pruitt’s proposal would apply new “transparency” standards to block medical studies, clinical reports, and other rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific research based on health-related data that cannot be made … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Senators Call for Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza to be Addressed
Following weeks of violence in Gaza, during which roughly 100 Palestinians have been killed and some 10,000 wounded by Israeli snipers, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 10 of their Democratic Senate colleagues called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "do more to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.""The territory’s lack of power, clean water, adequate medical care and other necessities not only … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Gina Haspel
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the nomination of Gina Haspel as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: “The women and men of the Central Intelligence Agency are patriots and dedicated public servants, who work hard to detect foreign threats and protect the American people. I commend Gina Haspel for her longstanding commitment to that mission. Before making my final decision on her nomination to lead the agency, I reviewed both the public … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge FCC to Expand Rural Health Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have joined a bipartisan group of 30 U.S. Senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase the funding cap for a program aimed at improving the quality of health care available to patients in rural areas. In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the Senators highlight the need to strengthen the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to address the shortage of broadband connectivity for rural health care providers. The … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen Presses Zinke on Offshore Drilling
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen pressed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to answer for his decision to exempt Florida from offshore drilling efforts and questioned him on why Maryland has not been treated equally. Senator Van Hollen has strongly opposed the Administration’s proposal to open the Atlantic Coast to offshore drilling. A transcript of the Senator’s exchange is available below and video is available here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, D-MD: Now, a little … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Lujan Grisham Introduce Bill to Help Veteran, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) introduced legislation to improve access to assistance for certain groups of farmers. The Assist Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2018 would reauthorize, strengthen, and improve the Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Tina … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce over $90,000 for Baltimore County Veterans’ Housing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $91,415 in federal funding to the Baltimore County Office of Housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. HUD-VASH is a collaborative program that combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans and their families who are homeless find and sustain permanent housing. This is one of ten grants being announced for … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Laud New Maryland Medicare Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(D-Md.) expressed their support for the agreement between the State of Maryland and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the future of Maryland’s All-Payer Demonstration Model - Maryland’s innovative approach to hospital payments. This has been a successful statewide effort that covers 800,000 Medicare beneficiaries and 6 million Marylanders. The agreement announced today will allow Maryland’s work to … Continue Reading
May 11, 2018
Van Hollen Secures Commitment from Secretary Zinke to Resolve Glen Echo Park Issue
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen has secured a commitment from U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to address the ongoing management issue at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland. Senator Van Hollen raised his serious concerns regarding an expiring agreement between the National Park Service and Montgomery County on the management of Glen Echo Park at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing yesterday. During questioning, … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Win Hard-Fought Maryland Priorities in New Water Infrastructure Legislation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), both members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today highlighted the importance for Maryland communities of newly introduced legislation that will enable much-needed improvements to our nation’s water infrastructure. Introduced Tuesday by the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee ranking member Senator Cardin, EPW chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), committee ranking member Tom Carper (D-Del.), … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) honored the critical work of federal, state, county, and local government employees and members of the uniformed services by joining their colleagues in passing a bipartisan resolution designating this week - May 6-12, 2018 - as Public Service Recognition Week. Maryland is home to more than 136,000 federal civilian workers and 46,000 members of the armed forces.“Our public workforce is crucial to serving the American people - from … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump’s Decision to Withdraw from the Iran Deal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: “The Iran deal—forged with the world’s major powers—took us off the path of a disastrous war over Iran’s nuclear weapons program. The Iran deal has verifiably prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, imposed tough constraints on their nuclear program, and subjected Iran to the most comprehensive … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Call for Stronger Investment in Student Health and Safety
In the face of the opioid epidemic that is ravaging communities and gun violence that is endangering the health and well-being of America’s youth, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) wrote a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leadership calling for stronger federal investments that enhance student health and safety.The letter requests the highest possible funding allocation for the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant under Title IV-A of the Every Student … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Van Hollen, Colleagues Question Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians
Senator Chris Van Hollen today joined a group of U.S. Senators in calling on the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to explain what they call a “deeply troubling and potentially politically motivated” decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians in the United States. In their letter, the Senators point to an October 2017 USCIS report that described current conditions in Haiti as “vulnerable to external shocks and … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $15,000 EPA Grant for UMBC
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $15,000 in federal funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) to investigate innovative ways to tackle the issue of nutrient pollution, which impairs water and environmental quality. This new technology aims to sustainably remove nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium pollution from urine. The grant was awarded through the People, Prosperity, and the … Continue Reading
May 07, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin: Trump’s Efforts to Dismantle Health Care System Costing Maryland Families
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today issued the following on newly released initial premium rate requests filed by health insurance carriers in the individual marketplace for 2019 in Maryland. After failing to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the face of broad bipartisan support for the law, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have worked to sabotage our health care system at every turn. For those in the individual marketplace, the direct results are higher … Continue Reading
