Press Releases
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $6.5 Million in Federal Funding for Port of Baltimore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, Steny H. Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, John P. Sarbanes, Andy P. Harris, M.D., John K. Delaney, Anthony G. Brown and Jamie B. Raskin have announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $6,554,575 in federal funding for the Maryland Port Authority. The grant will be used to construct a second berth capable of serving ultra large container ships and cargo, as part of the Port of Baltimore's … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
TROOPS AT SOUTHERN U.S. BORDER: Van Hollen and Colleagues Slam Trump Administration’s Decision to Extend Deployment Through January, Urge Secretary Mattis to Reverse Course Immediately
Senators: Trump administration's lack of transparency on troop deployment "should worry all those who are invested in the readiness of our military, its professional use, and the need to keep a bright-line distinction between military and law enforcement" Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a group of senators sent a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, urging the Department to reconsider its decision to extend the deployment of active duty servicemembers … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $20 Million for Cecil County I-95/Belvidere Road Interchange Project
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $20 million in federal funding for the I-95/Belvidere Road Interchange project in Cecil County. This funding, awarded through the Department of Transportation's Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) program, will boost economic development by attracting major new businesses to the area and addressing increased traffic volume along I-95. As a result of this project, new and existing businesses are … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Nomination of Bernard McNamee as Member of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the nomination of Bernard McNamee as a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): MR. PRESIDENT, President Trump has nominated Bernard McNamee to be a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil. FERC also reviews proposals to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Maryland Delegation Urges University System of Maryland to Ensure Health, Safety of Every Student
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes yesterday met with the University System of Maryland (USM) Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden and USM Chancellor Bob Caret. The meeting was requested in the aftermath of the Board's investigation into and recommendations regarding the football program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD). After the meeting, the members released the following joint … Continue Reading
December 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $112,000 in Funding for Chesapeake City Water Storage and Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Chris Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $112,485 in federal funding to replace Chesapeake City's undersized and antiquated water storage tanks and install 1,200 feet of new water main lines. These upgrades will dramatically improve water quality and water pressure for Chesapeake City residents, as well as expand the town's water storage capacity. "Infrastructure investments drive economic growth in our communities and improve the health of Maryland … Continue Reading
December 05, 2018
In Capitol Hill Meeting, Van Hollen, Maryland Federal Delegation Calls on GM CEO Mary Barra to Reconsider Closing White Marsh Facility
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (All D-Md.) met Wednesday evening with General Motors Chair and CEO Mary Barra in an effort to gain clarity and reverse the decision to close the GM facility at White Marsh. The lawmakers released the following joint statement on the meeting: "This evening, we met with General Motors (GM) Chair and CEO Mary Barra and again reiterated our shock and dismay at the … Continue Reading
December 05, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Huawei CFO Arrest
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on reports that Huawei's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has been arrested in Canada at the request of the U.S. government and faces extradition to the United States: "Huawei and ZTE are two sides of the same coin - Chinese telecommunications companies that represent a fundamental risk to American national security. While the Commerce Department focused its attention on ZTE, this news highlights that Huawei is also violating … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
Van Hollen Introduces Bill to Keep Our Promise to Students and Fully Fund Title I, Special Education
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, which would put Congress on a fiscally-responsible path to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis. "When our children have access to a first-rate, quality education not only do they succeed, but our economy and our entire country succeed. Congress had the right intentions when it passed Title I and IDEA, but we … Continue Reading
December 03, 2018
Van Hollen Demands Answers from Zinke on Interior’s Oil Spill Regulations
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary Ryan Zinke pushing for answers surrounding the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The Senator has repeatedly raised concerns about DOI's new guidance that oil companies responsible for oil spills would no longer have to pay penalties for massive loss of bird life under the MBTA. But Secretary Zinke, when questioned about this issue by Senator Van Hollen at a recent Senate Appropriations … Continue Reading
December 03, 2018
Maryland Lawmakers Call General Motors Closure Announcement “Poor Corporate Citizenship”
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Elijah Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Jamie Raskin (all D-MD) have sent a letter to General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Teresa Barra requesting a meeting to discuss the company's decision to terminate operations at its White Marsh facility, calling it an "example of extremely poor corporate citizenship." The company announced it will cease production at the transmissions plant in Maryland, which … Continue Reading
November 29, 2018
Van Hollen, CQ’s Peter Cohn Discuss Tax Policy Looking Ahead
Tuesday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined CQ's Peter Cohn, Budget and Policy Editor, to discuss tax policy and what to expect on this issue moving forward. The video of the interview is available here and a full transcript is available below. PETER COHN, TAX AND BUDGET EDITOR, CQ-ROLL CALL: Welcome, everybody. Welcome, Senator. Thanks so much for being here with us this morning. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, D-MD: Great to be here. COHN: The headline of the event is Election Impact … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Van Hollen, Rubio Urge Administration to Investigate ZTE Business with Venezuelan Government
Reports Raise Concerns that Business May Violate Commerce Department Agreement Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and Secretary of State Michael Pompeo about reports of ZTE's business with the Venezuelan government and the concern that it may violate the Commerce Department agreement reached in June. The Senators introduced legislation in September to ensure enforcement of the … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on HUD to Improve Oversight of Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-MD) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with seven of their Senate colleagues, in sending a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) urging the agency to immediately improve its oversight of lead-based paint hazards in federally-assisted housing to ensure that families and children are protected from exposure to lead. The letter comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report recommending … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY2019 Work Plan’s Focus on Critical Navigation, Restoration Projects in Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) today applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) FY2019 Work Plan, which directs the investment of more than $10 million in additional federal funding for critical navigation and ecosystem restoration projects in Maryland. The annual Army Corps Work Plan defines where project money can be spent across the country, above and beyond the itemized funding in the FY2019 appropriations bills. Every year the Army Corps clears … Continue Reading
November 27, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Nomination of Stephen Vaden for USDA General Counsel
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the nomination of Stephen Vaden as the General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture: MR. PRESIDENT, President Trump has nominated Stephen Vaden to be General Counsel for the Department of Agriculture. In that role, Mr. Vaden will oversee all of the legal services for all operations and programs of the Department, and 250 attorneys nationwide. Most of Mr. Vaden's experience is not in agriculture or natural … Continue Reading
November 21, 2018
Van Hollen Urges Sri Lankan President to Respect Democracy and Rule of Law
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wrote to Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena raising deep concerns about his decision to remove Sri Lanka's prime minister and the ensuing political crisis. Senator Van Hollen has deep connections to Sri Lanka, having lived there for a period of time when his father, Chris Van Hollen Sr., served as U.S. Ambassador to the country. He is also the former co-chair of the Sri Lanka Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. "The actions taken … Continue Reading
November 20, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise the Naming of Salisbury Post Office After Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) praised Senate-passage of H.R. 4913, designating the United Postal Service Office at 816 East Salisbury Parkway in Salisbury, Maryland, as the "Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner Post Office Building." Sgt. Maj. Wardell B. Turner admirably served multiple deployments with the U.S. Army, most notably as the senior enlisted advisor for the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan in Kabul. He was killed in 2014 after a convoy of … Continue Reading
November 19, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $144 Million for Clean Water in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $144 million in federal funding for the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. The loan will be used to make extensive repairs and upgrades to the District's aging water infrastructure, which also services Montgomery and Prince George's Counties. Funds for the project come from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (WIFIA), which established the federal loan and guarantee program under the … Continue Reading
November 19, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Brown Effort to Name Wayne K. Curry Post Office Building in Largo Heads to President’s Desk
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Anthony G. Brown praised Senate-passage late Thursday of H.R. 4890 that designates the United Postal Service Largo Post Office at 9801 Apollo Drive in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, as the "Wayne K. Curry Post Office Building." Wayne Curry was Prince George's County's first African-American County Executive and a true public servant who brought economic empowerment to the county. He passed away in 2014, at the age of 63, after a battle … Continue Reading
