Press Releases
Van Hollen, Coons, Wicker reintroduce bipartisan bill targeting debt-based driver’s license suspensions
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) in reintroducing the bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act to create incentives to stop debt-based driver’s license suspensions. It has been estimated that nationwide at least 11 million people have their driver’s licenses suspended because they cannot pay fines or fees, not for any public safety reasons. This makes it harder for Americans to go to work to pay off their debts and places an … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Senators Van Hollen, Blunt and Congresswoman Norton Introduce Legislation to Prohibit Permanent Fencing Around Capitol Complex
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, introduced the No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) previously introduced the legislation in the House. Their bipartisan, bicameral bill prohibits funding for permanent fencing around the U.S. Capitol complex.“The Capitol is the citadel of our democracy, and we should not … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Coons, Murphy push for $55B in capital investments for Northeast Corridor passenger rail
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and a group of 11 other senators from states along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in a letter urging President Biden to support $55 billion in long-term funding for passenger rail infrastructure in order to repair the NEC rail network. The letter also calls for robust support to expand Amtrak passenger rail service nationwide. The NEC network alone runs 457 miles from Washington, D.C. to … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown, Garcia Announce Congressional Review Act Legislation to Repeal Trump-era “Rent-A-Bank” Rule
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Congressman Chuy Garcia (D-IL4) announced legislation to repeal the Trump Administration’s so-called True Lender Rule through the use of the Congressional Review Act. This regulation, finalized in the last months of the prior Administration, allows predatory lenders to skirt state laws meant to curb interest rates on loans … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Sanders, and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to End Rigged Tax Code as Inequality Increases
In a continued effort to combat rising economic inequality, Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Thursday in introducing two pieces of legislation to end our rigged tax code and ensure the wealthiest people and largest corporations pay their fair share - the For the 99.5% Act and the Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act.Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) are joining Sens. Van Hollen and Sanders as … Continue Reading
March 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Duckworth, Murray, Hirono, Lee Reintroduce EACH Act to Guarantee Abortion Coverage Regardless of A Patient’s Insurance
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13), in reintroducing the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Care (EACH) Act, a bicameral bill to guarantee abortion coverage—regardless of how a patient gets their health insurance. The EACH Act ends the Hyde Amendment and lifts unjust abortion coverage … Continue Reading
March 24, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Join Colleagues in Introducing Resolution Condemning Anti-Asian Hatred, Discrimination Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and 35 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution to condemn all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism, and discrimination, and call on federal officials, in collaboration with state and local agencies and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community organizations, to address the rise in COVID-19-related hate crimes. The resolution was introduced in the … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Help Protect People's Personal Data Online
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of 17 senators in reintroducing legislation to protect people’s personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take responsible steps to safeguard personal information and stop the misuse of users’ data. Doctors, lawyers, and bankers are legally required to exercise special care to protect their clients and not misuse their information. While online companies also hold … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Presses USPS Officials for Answers on Mail Delivery Problems, Postal Backlog and Lost Letters and Packages
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone released the following statement after a virtual meeting held on Monday by the Congressional delegation with U.S. Postal Service (USPS) officials about the major mail delivery problems affecting Maryland communities throughout the state. The Congressional delegation requested the meeting to shed light on the lost … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
To Address Housing Crisis, Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge Appropriators to Provide Robust Funding for NeighborWorks America
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined 41 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to provide at least $185 million in funding for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation (NeighborWorks America) in order to address the nation’s affordable housing crisis, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the letter, the Senators state that additional funding … Continue Reading
March 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Baltimore Delegation Announce More Than $18 Million for Essential Goods and Services Provided to Seniors During the COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $18,395,149.50 in emergency federal funding to deliver essential goods, services, and resources to seniors across the city amid the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis.“This federal funding will allow the Salvation Army and Meals-On-Wheels to continue providing Baltimore seniors with critical goods and services - including groceries, household … Continue Reading
March 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senate Dems Urge Department of Education to Issue Guidance for Summer Enrichment Programs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Monday joined nine other Senate Democrats in urging the U.S. Department of Education to issue guidance for how to use funding from the American Rescue Plan to provide summer enrichment programming for children and families. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, the senators stressed the importance of the Department’s leadership … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Renew Push to Make Southern Maryland a New National Heritage Area
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) today filed updated legislation to designate Southern Maryland as a National Heritage Area (NHA) to further commemorate, conserve and promote important natural, scenic, historic, cultural and recreational resources in St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties.National Heritage Areas are partnerships among the National Park Service, states and local communities in which the Park Service … Continue Reading
March 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, Colleagues Call on President Biden to Become First U.S. President to Officially Recognize the Armenian Genocide
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and 36 of their Senate colleagues in requesting the Biden administration join the U.S. Congress in officially recognizing the Ottoman Empire's genocide against the Armenian people. To date, no U.S. president has made it U.S. policy to affirm the historical facts of the Armenian Genocide, which lasted from 1915 to 1923 and resulted in the … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $3.1 Million for Early Childhood Education Programs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced $3,145,447 in federal funding to expand early childhood education programs and family health services at the YMCA of Central Maryland and the Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, Inc.“This new federal funding will help strengthen early learning opportunities and enhance development programs for children in Maryland’s low-income families,” the lawmakers … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Slam Senate Republicans for Blocking Bill to Protect Relief Checks from Debt Collectors
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs joined Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in slamming Senate Republicans for blocking their legislation to protect relief checks provided in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan from garnishment by private debt collectors.“While families struggle to put food on the table and pay their bills, … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Sens. Van Hollen, Carper, Collins, Tester & Rep. Sarbanes Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Support Federal Firefighters
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, along with Fire Services Caucus Co-Chairs Tom Carper (D-Del.), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to support our federal firefighters. Their legislation, the Federal Firefighter Flexibility and Fairness Act, would allow federal firefighters to engage in trade time, enabling two firefighters to trade … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown, Wyden, Menendez Introduce Bill to Protect Stimulus Checks from Debt Collectors
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced a bill to protect the stimulus checks provided in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan from garnishment by private debt collectors. “The direct payments included in the American Rescue Plan are meant to help families put food on the table and pay their bills. They are not intended to provide a windfall to private debt collectors or predatory lenders. This legislation will … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Capito Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Support National Children’s Museum
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) introduced legislation to provide measured fiscal relief to the National Children’s Museum, through a GSA agreement to pay the Museum’s leasing fee. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) introduced the House version, H.R. 1703, on March 10, 2021.Founded as the Capital Children’s Museum in 1974, the Museum served children and families in the Washington region for thirty … Continue Reading
March 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Senate Democrats Introduce For the People Act to Strengthen Democracy, Put Power Back in the Hands of the American People
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with a number of their colleagues, have introduced S.1., the For the People Act—a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would end special interest corruption of our politics and make government work for the people. The introduction comes as Republican lawmakers in 43 states continue to use unfounded election … Continue Reading
