Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Improve Student Access to Federal Financial Aid
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, introduced the FAFSA Fairness Act of 2018 to simplify the process for students to apply for and receive federal student financial aid when they do not have contact with their parents. "Financial difficulties should never prevent a student from getting a good education. Yet for many young people, the financial aid … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Van Hollen Fights for Maryland Priorities in Spending Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced funding for several key Maryland projects as part of the Fiscal Year 2018 Omnibus Appropriations Bill. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Van Hollen advocated for increased investments for critical programs across our state. "There is no question that this legislation represents compromise - but it includes many hard-fought Maryland priorities that boost jobs, infrastructure, research, and education in our state," said … Continue Reading
March 21, 2018
Statement for the Record on S.J.Res. 54
Mr. President, the brutal war in Yemen has raged for three years. At least ten thousand civilians have lost their lives in this conflict. More than eight million Yemenis are on the brink of starvation. The worst cholera outbreak in modern history has afflicted over one million people, including over 600,000 children. Millions more are displaced from their homes. As the years wear on - the cycle of desperation, destruction, and death continues unabated.Make no mistake: the Houthis and their … Continue Reading
March 20, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Great Mills High School Shooting
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Great Mills High School shooting:“Today I joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff and School Superintendent at a briefing to show solidarity with the Great Mills High School community and to express gratitude to the first responders. No student should go to class fearing that they will be killed and no parent should live in fear that their children will never return from school. No one should be afraid that they will … Continue Reading
March 19, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses Russia, DETER Act on MSNBC
Last night, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen discussed Russia and the bipartisan Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act on MSNBC with Kasie Hunt. Below is a partial transcript, and the full interview is available here:KASIE HUNT, MSNBC: Speaking of Putin, you are working with some of your colleagues on measures to try and avoid Russian meddling again in the 2018 elections. What do you think that the country should be doing at this stage? And is the President doing … Continue Reading
March 14, 2018
Van Hollen Joins Maryland Students at Rally to Stop Gun Violence
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke to students from Maryland and across the area who marched to the U.S. Capitol as part of the national school walk out against gun violence. Below is a transcript of his remarks:“To the students of Maryland, to the students of this region, to students all over America - we have a simple message to all of you, which is: know your power. You can change the direction of America. You are not only the future of America, you are the conscious of … Continue Reading
March 13, 2018
Van Hollen, Tester Introduce Legislation to Fully Fund Special Education
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act. This legislation would 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 legislation was a historic step forward,butsince its passage Congress has failed to provide the funding promised under this bill. "All schools … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Van Hollen, Hirono Introduce Legislation to Clear Maintenance Backlog, Improve Agricultural Research Facilities
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) have introduced legislation to address the significant modernization needs in schools of agriculture and the Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS)facilities. Agriculture schools across the country face a combined $8.4 billion maintenance backlog. In Maryland, a number of universities would be eligible for funding made available in this legislation, including the University of Maryland College Park, the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Announce Infrastructure Investment Proposal
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced his support of the Senate Democrats' new $1 trillion infrastructure investment proposal. The plan would create more than 15 million jobs, and it would be paid for by ending massive tax giveaways to the very wealthy and big corporations. It stands in stark contrast to the infrastructure outline from the Trump Administration, which claims to invest $200 billion in our crumbling roads and bridges, but actually cuts overall infrastructure spending … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen, Ruppersberger Announce $20 Million in Funding for Baltimore County, TradePoint Atlantic Project
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today announced that Baltimore County will receive $20 million in federal funding through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant program to help TradePoint Atlantic redevelop the former Sparrows Point steel mill site in southeastern Baltimore County. This project is expected to bring over 21,000 jobs to the Baltimore area and will create even greater economic … Continue Reading
March 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Rasmussen Discuss DETER Act, Need to Coordinate on Russian Election Interference
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Secretary General of NATO and Prime Minister of Denmark, met to discuss the DETER Act and the need for the United States and the European Union to coordinateefforts to counter Russian interference in elections. "Across the globe, democratic elections are under attack from Russian interference. The DETER Act sends an unequivocal message to the Kremlin and any other foreign actor who may follow its example: if you attack us, … Continue Reading
February 28, 2018
Van Hollen-Sponsored Bipartisan Bill to Help Childhood Cancer Patients & Survivors Advances in U.S. Senate
Legislation to help thousands of children who undergo cancer treatment each year took an important step forward today when the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee unanimously passed the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act (S. 292). The bipartisan bill was written by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and was introduced last February with critical support from Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Johnny … Continue Reading
February 28, 2018
Cardin and Van Hollen Lead Push for Answers from FBI, GSA on Changes to the Headquarters Project
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today used their positions on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to demand answers from senior officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and General Services Administration (GSA) with specific questions on the recent, wholesale change of direction for a newly consolidated FBI headquarters that would replace the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building. At the EPW hearing, Cardin and Van Hollen pressed the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2018
Van Hollen Presses VA on Washington, DC Medical Center Issues
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin requesting more information regarding their recent assessment of the Washington, DC VA Medical Center as low-performing. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen asks for specific information on the current status of operations at the VA as well as plans to address these issues. "Our nation's veterans sacrifice so much for our country - we must do everything we can to support them when they … Continue Reading
February 25, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Press Newly Minted U.S. Ambassador to Fight for Justice for Alex Villamayor, Marylander Slain in Paraguay
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), as part of their continuing push to find justice for the killers of Marylander Alex Villamayor, met Monday with the recently confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay before he assumes his new post. The Senators met with Ambassador Lee McClenny, along with Kim Luk, Villamayor's aunt who still lives in Maryland. "Our goal is to bring the full resources of the U.S. government to the aid of bringing Alex's killers to justice," said the … Continue Reading
February 22, 2018
Van Hollen, Markey Introduce Bill for Enhanced Investment in Universal Flu Vaccine Development
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has joined U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in introducing the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to conduct or support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine that could be administered once or twice and provide a lifetime of protection. The legislation is calling for a total investment of $1 billion - $200 million for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Institute … Continue Reading
February 21, 2018
Van Hollen Doubles Down on Efforts to Protect Consumers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Banking Committee, has joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Committee, and 50 Members of Congress to demand answers onreports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) intends to re-organize the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO) and strip OFLEO of its enforcement and supervisory role.This letter follows a letter sent by Senators Van Hollen and Cardin last week, highlighting the … Continue Reading
February 20, 2018
Van Hollen, Blunt, and 42 Senators Urge Support of US-Canada-Mexico United Bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) led a bipartisan letter signed by 44 Senators to President Trump expressing support for United 2026 - a bid by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "We believe this effort presents an exceptional opportunity to showcase our nations' shared passion for soccer and its positive impact in local communities and on the international stage," the Senators wrote. "Dozens of U.S. cities that we … Continue Reading
February 18, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses Russian Interference, DETER Act on Morning Joe
WASHINGTON - This morning, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss Russian interference in U.S. elections and his bipartisan bill, the DETER Act, which would impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections, including through the use of social media. Excerpts of the interview are below and the full video is available here. JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC: So Senator, you saw the indictments on Friday, I guess that only makes your … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
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
