Press Releases
Van Hollen and Cardin Lead Effort to Honor Slain Marylander, and Add the Weight of the Full Senate to Diplomatic Push to Bring His Killers to Justice
U.S. Chris Van Hollen and Senators Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today introduced a Senate Resolution (S. Res. 410) honoring the life of Marylander Alex Villamayor, who was killed in Paraguay in June 2015. The senators have tracked this case and used all available diplomatic tools to urge Paraguayan officials to seek justice for Alex's murder. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin continue to press for transparency and the resolution of the case as the suspects prepare to finally stand trial. The … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Dem Senators Press Interior Secretary to Postpone Development of Management Plans For Bears Ears & Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and 11 Democratic senators in pressing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to postpone the development of management plans for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument areas in Utah until legal challenges regarding the President's authority to reduce the size of the monuments have been resolved. The Senators also requested that the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument management plan … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen Leads Letter with 18 Senators to Raise Concerns About State Department Vacancies
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a letter signed by 18 U.S. Senators to President Trump expressing concern about the many vacant senior positions and extensive attrition at the State Department. "As Senators who believe that diplomacy is critical to the national security and prosperity of the United States, we write once again to express our concern regarding the large number of key diplomatic positions that remain vacant and the reduction in the ranks of the Foreign Service," … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Colleagues: We Must Defend Disability Civil Rights
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 620, which would gut protections for people with disabilities. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the following statement: "The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 as the civil rights law protecting people with disabilities against discrimination and ensuring access to all parts of our … Continue Reading
February 14, 2018
Van Hollen Sworn in to Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission
Last night, on the 200th anniversary of Frederick Douglass' birthday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen was sworn in as a member of the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission. Senator Van Hollen introduced the legislation to create this Commission in the U.S. Senate, which will plan, develop, and carry out events to honor and celebrate the life of Douglass in 2018. The Commission will be only the 16thcommemorative commission created by Congress since 1989 - only six of those commemorated … Continue Reading
February 14, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Bipartisan Bill to Protect Dreamers
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the bipartisan bill to protect Dreamers: "Today, a majority of Senators voted for a bipartisan compromise that would have finally ensured that our Dreamers have security in the country they call home. It was by no means perfect, and I was particularly disappointed that it did not include protections for the many individuals with Temporary Protected Status who are living in our country legally. But it would have moved the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Press Mulvaney on Reports of Efforts to Immobilize Office of Fair Lending
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney regarding reports of recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to strip the enforcement powers of the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO). The OFLEO was created in response to discriminatory practices in lending that impacted minority homeowners and communities, especially in the lead-up to the financial crisis. This … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
Blackwill, Gordon Applaud the DETER Act
Today Robert D. Blackwill and Philip H. Gordon, senior fellows at the Council on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement in support of the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act. The legislation, introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), sends a powerful message to any foreign actor seeking to disrupt our elections: if you attack American candidates, campaigns, or voting infrastructure, you will face severe … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, came out in strong opposition to President Trump's Fiscal Year 2019 budget request. After passing a tax plan that will result in 13 million fewer Americans having health insurance, this budget would take coverage from tens of millions of additional Americans by repealing the Affordable Care Act and cutting Medicare and Medicaid. It would cut Social Security Disability Insurance - breaking President Trump's promise not … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
What They’re Saying: Russia Will Interfere In U.S. Elections Again And We Are Not Prepared
In January, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, legislation that would impose tough sanctions on Russia if it interferes in our democratic process in the future. The bill's introduction comes as top U.S. officials and experts express growing concern that Russia will again attempt to disrupt upcoming U.S. elections: "CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Russia will target U.S. mid-term … Continue Reading
February 07, 2018
Van Hollen Joins 31 Senators in Demanding Answers on Reports of CFPB’s Stalled Investigation into Equifax Breach
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of 31 senators, including every Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, in demanding answers on reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has halted its investigation into how credit reporting agency Equifax failed to protect the personal data of over 145 million Americans. "We are deeply troubled by recent news reports that, under Director Mulvaney's leadership, the CFPB has … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Perdue, Brown, Tillis Introduce Legislation to Provide Financial Flexibility to Local Land-Grant Universities
Today, in recognition of Black History Month, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) introduced legislation to overturn an outdated, biased policy and provide 1890s Land-Grant Universities with the same financial flexibility currently enjoyed by their peers. The Carryover Equity Act would fix a provision that prohibits 1890s Land-Grant Universities - all of which are Historically Black Universities - from carrying over more than 20 percent of their equity from one … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Budget Agreement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in response to the bipartisan budget agreement: "Today's budget deal represents bipartisan work that has been a long time in the making. Under this legislation, we provide increased stability and significant investments in programs that grow our economy and serve American families. We provide additional resources to protect our national security and support vital national priorities like education, life-saving medical … Continue Reading
January 31, 2018
Van Hollen, Flake Urge Administration for Clarity on Travel Ban Waivers
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) urged the Trump Administration to provide clarity on the waivers authorized in the President’s third travel ban, which prohibits entry into the United States for foreign nationals from seven countries, five of which are majority-Muslim. Per the President’s Proclamation, foreign nationals from the banned countries may apply for waivers to be admitted to the United States if a waiver is “in the national interest;” when … Continue Reading
January 29, 2018
Van Hollen, Beyer Introduce Cap and Dividend Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Don Beyer introduced the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act. This 'cap and dividend' approach is a simple, fair, and effective plan to address the dangers of climate change. It would put more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans, increasing their spending power and growing our entire economy. The introduction of the legislation came days after President Donald Trump gave an interview which again revealed his anti-science agenda … Continue Reading
January 28, 2018
Van Hollen Visits Local Manufacturing Plants
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen toured the McCormick and Company Plant and Technical Innovation Center in Hunt Valley and Goetze's Candy Company in Baltimore. During both visits, the Senator had the opportunity to meet with employees and see plant operations first-hand. The Senator also spoke with company leaders regarding issues facing the manufacturing industry and his efforts in the U.S. Senate to grow the economy, invest in job training, and bring jobs to Maryland. "Our state is … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
Van Hollen, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Encourage IPOs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen financial markets by reducing the risk of companies contemplating going public. The Encouraging Public Offerings Act of 2018 would encourage capital formation by making initial public offerings (IPOs) more attractive. "Many emerging businesses find that the process of going public is too complex and expensive. This legislation creates a streamlined process for startups … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
Van Hollen Urges Action to Prevent Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections
This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke on the floor regarding his and Senator Rubio's bipartisan legislation to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act. Today, companion legislation to the DETER Act was introduced in the U.S. House by Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Brad Schneider (D-Calif.). Former Vice President Joe Biden and former National Security Advisory Susan Rice also recently … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
Van Hollen Joins First-Ever Resolution Recognizing January 25th as Women’s Health Research Day
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), to introduce a resolution designating January 25th, 2018, as Women's Health Research Day. Women's Health Research Day recognizes the need to increase awareness of sex- and gender-based biomedical research, which the National Institutes of Health did not consider prior to 2016, the underrepresentation of women in past biomedical research and the importance of … Continue Reading
January 25, 2018
Van Hollen Presents Award to Local Maryland Hero
Yesterday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen presented the Carnegie Hero Medal to John Hollyfield of Accokeek, Maryland for his heroism in saving the life of then-6-year-old Ashley Gruwell. The Carnegie Medal is given throughout the United States and Canada to those who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. "I am honored to present this award to Mr. Hollyfield, whose actions were selfless and heroic," said Senator Van Hollen. … Continue Reading
