Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Seek to Preserve Baltimore’s Historic Landmarks
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have introduced legislation to preserve two of Baltimore's historic resources: President Street Station, the oldest surviving urban railroad terminal in America, and P.S. 103, the elementary school where Thurgood Marshall first learned many of the lessons that would make him a legendary lawyer and American jurist. Two bills, S. 1645 and S. 1646, respectively, instruct the Department of the Interior to conduct special resource studies … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on Sessions to Condemn Excessive Use of Force Following Trump Remarks
In response to President Trump's comments encouraging law enforcement to use excessive force, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (Both D-Md.) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week in urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate excessive use of force by federal law enforcement. The senators wrote: "The improper use of force is misconduct … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Van Hollen, Kaine, Cardin, Warner applaud final passage of Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Resolution
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA) applauded the final passage of a joint resolution to establish the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. The Commission will be empowered to adopt and enforce tough rules to improve Metro safety. The resolution, which passed the Senate unanimously, will head to the President to be signed into law. "Safety must be WMATA's first priority as the public transit system for the National … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Van Hollen Urges Verma to Reject Texas Proposal to Harm Women's Health
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with 24 Democratic senators, sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma urging her to reject a proposed Medicaid waiver from Texas that would restrict women's access to family planning and other preventative care. The Texas proposal seeks to waive Medicaid's longstanding "freedom of choice" provision that ensures that patients can see the qualified family planning provider who they … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Van Hollen Blasts FDA for “Step Backwards” On Tobacco Oversight; Calls on Agency to Get Serious About Plan to Curb Nicotine in Cigarettes
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 12 Senate Democrats sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb denouncing the agency's recent move to delay oversight of newly-regulated tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and cigars. Senate Democrats are deeply concerned this delay is a "step backwards" in FDA's commitment to safeguard public health, especially for our youth, given that many of these tobacco products contain kid-appealing flavors and are marketed to children … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on Sessions to Condemn Excessive Use of Force Following Trump Remarks
In response to President Trump's comments encouraging law enforcement to use excessive force, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (Both D-Md.) joined Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) this week in urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate excessive use of force by federal law enforcement. The senators wrote: "The improper use of force is misconduct … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $598,500 for Ocean City Municipal Airport
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) haveannounced a $598,500 U.S. Department of Transportation grant for the Ocean City Municipal Airport (KOXB) to fund an environmental assessment to evaluate potential impacts related to proposed projects in the airport's five-year development plan. "Regional and General Aviation airports serve as an important resource to communities in our state and are vital to maintaining a strong economy," said Senator Van Hollen. "I'm committed to … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1.3 Million Grant for St. Mary’s Regional Airport
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced a $1,323,906 Department of Transportation (DOT) grant for St. Mary's County Regional Airport (2W6) in Leonardtown, Md. Authorities will use the funds to construct a 1,200 foot runway extension that will help the airport meet its operational needs. "Regional and General Aviation airports serve as an important resource to communities in our state and are vital to maintaining a strong economy," said Senator Van Hollen. … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen Bill to Advance Treatments for Childhood Cancer Passes Senate
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Cory Gardner (R-CO) today applauded the passage in the U.S. Senate of the RACE for Children Act as part of the FDA User Fees reauthorization bill. In February, Senators Van Hollen, Bennet, Rubio, and Gardner, along with Representatives Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), Sean Duffy (R-WI), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY), introduced the Research to Accelerate Cures and Equity (RACE) for Children Act … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen Urges Verma to Reject Texas Proposal to Harm Women's Health
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with 24 Democratic senators, sent a letter to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma urging her to reject a proposed Medicaid waiver from Texas that would restrict women's access to family planning and other preventative care. The Texas proposal seeks to waive Medicaid's longstanding "freedom of choice" provision that ensures that patients can see the qualified family planning provider who they … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen Blasts FDA for “Step Backwards” On Tobacco Oversight; Calls on Agency to Get Serious About Plan to Curb Nicotine in Cigarettes
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 12 Senate Democrats sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb denouncing the agency's recent move to delay oversight of newly-regulated tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and cigars. Senate Democrats are deeply concerned this delay is a "step backwards" in FDA's commitment to safeguard public health, especially for our youth, given that many of these tobacco products contain kid-appealing flavors and are marketed to children … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen Blasts FDA for “Step Backwards” On Tobacco Oversight; Calls on Agency to Get Serious About Plan to Curb Nicotine in Cigarettes
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 12 Senate Democrats sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb denouncing the agency's recent move to delay oversight of newly-regulated tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes and cigars. Senate Democrats are deeply concerned this delay is a "step backwards" in FDA's commitment to safeguard public health, especially for our youth, given that many of these tobacco products contain kid-appealing flavors and are marketed to children … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Baltimore Congressional Delegation Calls Sessions’ Threat to City Funding for Fighting Violent Crime “Unconscionable”
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Representatives Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) responded forcefully to a letter Attorney General Jeff Sessions sent to Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis threatening to reject the city from the Public Safety Partnership (PSP) program, run by the Department of Justice and designed to help cities combat violent crime. "The Justice Department's mission is to ensure public safety and control crime. It is … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More than $300 Million for Clean Water in Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed to help fund a $303 million clean water plan developed by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). The plan will implement 36 clean water projects, including a series of major improvements to stormwater and wastewater infrastructure in Baltimore. Taken together, these projects represent a comprehensive approach to combating water pollution and … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen, Banking Dems Demands Answers from Wells Fargo on Latest Auto Insurance Fraud Scandal
Following a request from Democratic members of the Senate Banking Committee for a September hearing with Wells Fargo leaders, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen today sent a letter to the bank's CEO Tim Sloan and Board of Directors Chairman Stephen Sanger, demanding responses to specific questions regarding reports the bank engaged in another scandal to rip off its customers - charging hundreds of thousands of auto loan customers for insurance they did not need, authorize, and that many were not … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen, Senate Banking Committee Democrats Ask Chairman Crapo for Hearing with Wells Fargo CEO and Board Chair to Discuss Bank Misconduct
Today Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Banking Committee, joined every Democrat on the Committee in asking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) for a September hearing with Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan and Board of Directors Chair Stephen Sanger, to receive testimony about new developments in the bank's fake-accounts scandal and related matters. In a letter to Chairman Crapo, Van Hollen and Senate Banking Committee Democrats noted a series of significant developments … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Support of Nomination of Christopher Wray to be FBI Director
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the Congressional record in support ofthe nomination of Christopher Wray to be Director of the FBI: "Mr. President, I rise to voice my support for Christopher Wray's nomination to become the next Director of the FBI. After meeting with Mr. Wray and reviewing his record, I believe he possesses the independence and integrity necessary to lead the Bureau through this tumultuous period. "This vacancy arose because President Trump … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen: Tax Reform Should Not Include Tax Breaks for the Wealthy
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss Democratic priorities for tax reform. An excerpt of the interview is below: "We just actually sent a letter to Mitch McConnell - we, meaning the Democrats in the Senate - saying that we're happy to work with them on genuine tax reform. We're not interested in providing another round of windfall tax breaks to very, very wealthy people. We don't think that's the priority in the country. "But we asked them to follow Senator … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Diego and Lizandro Claros
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on Diego and Lizandro Claros, two young Marylanders being targeted for deportation: "Diego and Lizandro Claros were children when they fled violence in El Salvador to seek a better life in the United States. They've been exemplary Marylanders, prioritizing their educations and giving back to their community. It's important to go after MS-13 gang members, but it is an insult to decency and common sense for Diego and Lizandro to be … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $3.56 Million for Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Services Department to Hire 27 Firefighters
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.)have announced that the Prince George's County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department has been awarded $3,567,229 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hire 27 full time firefighters. The grant will ensure adequate staffing levels to respond to fire and emergency medical service calls throughout the County. "Every day, firefighters in Prince George's County and across our state put their lives on the line to … Continue Reading
