Press Releases
Van Hollen, Warren Urge Department of Education to Remove Millions of Student Loan Borrowers from Default
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in sending a letter to the Department of Education urging Secretary Cardona to use his authority to automatically remove all student loan borrowers in default on federally-held loans from their default status. The Senators also called for the Department of Education to develop a policy to discharge debt for borrowers who have been in default for an extended period of time, noting that continuing to attempt to collect on … Continue Reading
November 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Sarbanes Announce $450,000 in Federal Funding to Revitalize Affordable Housing in Annapolis
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $450,000 in federal funding for the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis. These funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will help support Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants that assist communities in developing comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plans focused on redeveloping a severely distressed public housing or HUD-assisted housing project, … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $1.6 Million for Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen David Trone, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and Andy Harris, M.D. (all Md.) announced $1,648,958 in federal funding for the Maryland Department of Health's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. "We must do everything we can to end the opioid epidemic once and for all," said the lawmakers. "By tracking opioid-related data, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program … Continue Reading
November 16, 2021
Van Hollen, Huffman Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) reintroduced the IDEA Full Funding Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation to finally ensure Congress' commitment to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In 1975, Congress passed IDEA to ensure that every child with a disability has access to educational opportunity. This law was a historic step forward, but since its passage Congress has failed to provide the funding promised … Continue Reading
November 15, 2021
Van Hollen Secures Key Maryland Priorities in Infrastructure Modernization Bill Signed Into Law
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the President's signing into law of the infrastructure modernization bill, which includes over $7 billion in funding for Maryland: "Marylanders rely on our infrastructure every day. For many, it begins with a drive to school in the morning or ends with their commute home from work at night. But it's also so much more than that - it's the water our children drink, the internet our businesses rely on, and … Continue Reading
November 12, 2021
Baltimore Delegation Announces More Than $3.7 Million for At-Risk Youth Initiatives
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $3,735,333 in federal juvenile justice funding for programs based in Baltimore and Cambridge that are designed to provide vulnerable youth with life skills. "Everyone deserves a chance to succeed," the lawmakers said. "These programs will empower children through valuable experiences to help them build life skills and connect with their communities. … Continue Reading
November 12, 2021
Amid Alarming Rise in Cyberattacks, Senators Van Hollen, Hassan, Sinema, and Rosen, Call for More Aggressive Steps to Strengthen Cybersecurity at K-12 Schools
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) are calling on the Department of Education and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take more aggressive steps to strengthen cybersecurity in K-12 schools amid an alarming rise in cyberattacks on school districts across the country. Their push comes after a nonpartisan Government Accountability Office report requested by Senator Hassan revealed that the Department of … Continue Reading
November 05, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge State to Use Emergency Rental Assistance Immediately or Risk Losing Funds
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to the Maryland Department of Housing & Community Development Secretary Kenneth Holt urging the State to immediately use the federally-provided emergency rental assistance funds to assist Marylanders struggling to stay in their homes. In their letter, the Senators stress the urgency of this matter, noting that Maryland is in jeopardy of losing its funds if they are not used expeditiously. The Senators also … Continue Reading
November 05, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Sarbanes, Harris Announce Funding to Expand Prison Telehealth Services
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen John Sarbanes and Andy Harris, M.D (all Md.) today announced $16,143.76 in federal funding for Anne Arundel and Somerset Counties to bolster telehealth services for up to 7,000 individuals who are incarcerated. "Individuals who are incarcerated face unique health challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing the availability and flexibility of health care is central to ensuring that they have humane … Continue Reading
November 05, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Including Key Maryland Priorities
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the final passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill which includes key priorities for Maryland. It will now head to the President's desk for signature, having already passed the Senate: "To grow our economy and generate more good paying jobs, we've got to fix our crumbling roads and bridges, invest in transit systems across the country, modernize our infrastructure to meet the challenges of the 21st … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $17.5 Million for Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, Andy Harris, M.D., and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $17,624,885 in federal funding for the Maryland Department of Health to strengthen the prevention and control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases across the state. "The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the notion that preparedness through a robust public health … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
With Less Than 100 Days Until Student Loan Payments Resume, Van Hollen, Warren, and Colleagues Call for Exiting Servicers’ Plans to Correct Errors and Smoothly Transition The Accounts of Nearly 16 Million Borrowers
United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Robert Menendez (D- N.J.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in sending letters to the heads of Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), Granite State Management & Resources (Granite State), and the Navient Corporation (Navient) calling on them to correct past errors with borrowers' accounts and address growing … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Manchin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Designate November As National Homeless Children And Youth Awareness Month
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 2021 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month to bring attention to the children and youth experiencing homelessness across the country. In the United States, more than 1.4 million students experiencing homelessness during the 2018-2019 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded children and youth … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Kaine, Senate Colleagues Introduce Embrace Act To Improve Resilience At Military Facilities & Protect Chesapeake Bay
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), introduced the Enhancing Military Base Resilience and Conserving Ecosystems through Stormwater Management (EMBRACE) Act, legislation to authorize the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out stormwater management projects at military installations to improve resilience at the facilities while protecting waterways and stormwater impacted ecosystems, such as those that feed into the … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Letter to Hogan Details Federal Action to Replenish Victims of Crime Funds
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone wrote to Governor Larry Hogan Wednesday to set the record straight after a misleading letter and press pronouncements that publicly mischaracterized the state of Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. "Our letter today is intended to ensure that your Administration clearly understands the structure of federal … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Address Supply Chain Disruptions and Support Made In America Production
As ongoing, pandemic related supply chain disruptions impact businesses and consumers, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in introducing new legislation to help address the issue. The Supply Chain Resiliency Act will alleviate current supply chain bottlenecks and prevent future disruptions by investing in American companies to reduce our reliance on long supply chains and ensure that critical products are made in America. The Supply Chain Resiliency … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $475,000 in American Rescue Plan Funding for Maryland’s Museums and Libraries
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $474,461 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support museums and libraries as they make adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our museums and libraries serve as essential cultural and learning hubs in our … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, Cassidy Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Reform National Flood Insurance Program
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years, while implementing a series of sweeping reforms to address the waste, abuse and mismanagement plaguing the system. Over five million Americans depend upon the NFIP. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives. The National Flood Insurance … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Blumenthal, Colleagues Call On CBP To End Detention Of People Who Are Pregnant, Postpartum, Or Nursing
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in calling on Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to "direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including its component agency Border Patrol, to issue a policy prohibiting the detention of people who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing." The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Dick … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Bass Lead Bicameral Letter Urging the Administration to Provide Protections to Cameroonians Fleeing Violence, Humanitarian Crisis
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) led a bicameral letter with over 50 of their colleagues to President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Administration to provide critical protections to Cameroonians in the midst of the current humanitarian crisis facing the nation. Senator Van Hollen is the Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy … Continue Reading
