Press Releases
Van Hollen Statement on Trump’s Iran Announcement
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on President Trump's announcement that he will not certify Iran's compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA): "President Trump's decision today increases the likelihood that Iran will restart its nuclear weapons program, decreases the chances that we'll come to a diplomatic solution in the North Korea crisis, and dangerously undermines American credibility and leadership worldwide. The 2015 nuclear … Continue Reading
October 11, 2017
Van Hollen Calls for Congressional Action to Renew Career and Technical Education Programs
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a bipartisan group of 59 Senators in calling on Senate leaders to renew the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act, which provides funding for critical career and technical education. "It is crucial that the Senate work in a bipartisan effort to help our nation's students acquire the skills needed to be successful in today's work environment," wrote the Senators in a letter to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce a Half Million Dollars for University of Maryland Program to Invest in Startups, STEAM Education
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.)have announced a $500,000 grant to the University of Maryland awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. The funding will help launch the University of Maryland's Mixed/Augmented/Virtual Reality Innovation Center (MAVRIC) program, which will provide innovative resources, training, and support to students and entrepreneurs in Immersive Media (IM) technology. "This investment will continue to propel … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Van Hollen Opens Eastern Shore Office
Last night U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen hosted a grand opening event at his Eastern Shore office, which will be responsible for community outreach and constituent services. The office is located at 204 Cedar Street, Suite 200C in Cambridge, Maryland. The office will be led by Eastern Shore Regional Director Melissa Kelly. "I want to thank everyone who came to the opening of our new Eastern Shore Office in Cambridge last night. Our offices are there for people across Maryland to get help with … Continue Reading
October 10, 2017
Van Hollen, Democrats Urge NIH to Renew Funding for Firearm Violence Research
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today joined colleagues in urging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to renew a recently-lapsed funding opportunity for firearm violence research. Following the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, President Obama directed the Department of Health and Human Services to research the causes of gun violence and how it can be prevented, resulting in the creation of a new funding opportunity to support research at the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2017
Senator Van Hollen Joins Colleagues in Calling on Trump for Sustained American Diplomatic Campaign to Defuse Current Korean Crisis
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) today sent a letter with his colleagues calling on President Donald Trump to lead a vigorous, sustained American diplomatic campaign to defuse the current Korean Crisis and resolve its underlying causes without starting a war. In the letter, the Senators indicate their support for the kind of direct negotiations with North Korea that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reported during his recent trip to China. The Senators also expressed concern that the … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Van Hollen Joins in Introducing Three Pieces of Legislation to Reduce Gun Violence
This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has joined his Democratic colleagues to introduce three bills to reduce gun violence in the United States -- the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act; the Handgun Trigger Safety Act; and the Background Check Completion Act. "In the wake of the shooting in Las Vegas, our country has united to grieve the lives we've lost. But it's also time for us to work together to stop the terrible toll of gun violence in our country." said Senator Van … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Warn of Public Health Crisis in Puerto Rico, Urge Health Dept. to Take Action
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined a coalition of Senators in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide additional resources and better coordinate efforts on the ground in the face of a growing public health crisis in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following Hurricanes Irma and Maria to ensure the more than 3.5 million American citizens living there can safely access the quality health care they need. "Even before Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit … Continue Reading
October 05, 2017
Van Hollen Fights for Working Families in Budget Markup
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen offered several amendments at the Senate Budget Committee markup designed to protect working families in Maryland and across the country from the disastrous consequences of the Republican budget. "The Senate Republican Budget is a recipe for disaster for American families," said Senator Van Hollen. "This Republican budget puts Medicare, Medicaid, and education funding on the chopping block to finance windfall tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Van Hollen, Baltimore Delegation Statement on Appointment of Consent Decree Monitor Team
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and Congressmen Elijah Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, and John Sarbanes (all D-MD) in issuing the following statement after Judge James Bredar issued an order yesterday appointing the consent decree independent monitor team jointly recommended by the City of Baltimore, the Baltimore City Police Department (BDP), and the Department of Justice (DOJ): "We commend the City of Baltimore, BPD, and DOJ for coming together to advance … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Van Hollen Announce $4.1 Million Grant for Maryland Veterans Cemetery
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.)announced a $4,145,539 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs grant for the expansion of the Rocky Gap State Veterans Cemetery in Flintstone, Maryland. The expansion of the cemetery will help lay to rest additional men and women who have served in our armed forces, impacting 37,000 veterans and their families. "Veterans and their families sacrifice greatly for our nation, and they are owed a final resting place of honor," said … Continue Reading
October 04, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $3.1 Million Grant for BWI Airport
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.)announced a $3,100,297 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) Airport. This investment will fund the addition of six additional boarding bridges to allow for the efficient movement of passengers and baggage. "BWI Airport is central to Maryland's thriving tourism and economy - and as that continues to expand, our transportation centers must do the same," said … Continue Reading
October 03, 2017
Van Hollen Takes on Wells Fargo CEO on Forced Arbitration
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen raised the issue of forced arbitration - which denies consumers the right to sue a company - with Tim Sloan, the CEO of Wells Fargo. A transcript of their exchange is below. Senator Van Hollen also talked about a Maryland resident who was impacted by the bank's auto insurance scandal. To watch the full video of the Senator's questions, click here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): I was listening to your response to Senator Tester about the issue of forced … Continue Reading
September 29, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Senate Republican Budget
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Senate Republican Budget: "The Senate Republican Budget is a recipe for galloping debt, slower long-term growth, and widening economic inequality. Instead of investing in areas vital to our success - a strong middle class with expanding opportunities, the best schools, and world class research - it commits to windfall tax breaks for the very wealthy and powerful special interests. Adding mountains of new debt to our … Continue Reading
September 28, 2017
Van Hollen, Colleagues To President Trump: We Must Do More For Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined a group of Senators in sending aletter to President Trumpto express deep concern about the situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. "We write to express deep concern about the dire humanitarian situation in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria recently knocked out the entire island's electric grid leaving at least 3.4 million Americans with no power, decimated countless structures, and claimed … Continue Reading
September 28, 2017
Van Hollen Urges FCC Chairman Pai to Keep Internet Free and Open
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai opposing the roll back of the 2015 Open Internet Order and stressing the need for fair and equal internet access. Senator Van Hollen wrote, "As technology develops and consumers become even more dependent upon internet access, it is imperative that the FCC ensures that the internet is not divided between the have and the have-nots. I trust that you keep in mind the millions of … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Welcome Designation of Dorchester County as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today lauded the announcement that Dorchester County on Maryland's Eastern Shore has been added to the counties designated as part of the Washington/Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs). The designation will enable Dorchester County to receive federal resources to address the severe heroin and opioid threat facing the community. Public health-public safety partnerships will help further the coordination and … Continue Reading
September 27, 2017
Van Hollen, Colleagues in Seek Safety and Accountability for Burmese Rohingya People
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined abipartisan group of Senators in a letter to senior Trump Administration officials Thursday, urging them to apply the full weight of American diplomatic influence to help resolve the Rohingya crisis in Burma and Bangladesh. The Senators specifically called for providing additional humanitarian aid to those who have fled their homes and are struggling to survive. Approximately 500,000 people have fled from Burma to Bangladesh amidst the violence. "The … Continue Reading
September 26, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Tax Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's release of their tax reform plan. "President Trump has finally released his long-awaited tax plan. But for all the waiting, this plan is just more of the same - a windfall tax giveaway for the very wealthy and special interests, with working Americans footing the bill. It leaves behind Maryland families and millions of others across the country. And just like the Republican efforts to blow up … Continue Reading
September 25, 2017
Van Hollen, Senators Urge Release of Full Department of Health and Human Services Study Examining Economic Impact of Admitting Refugees to the United States
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a group of eight senators have urged the release of the full Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) study examining the economic impact of admitting refugees to the United States. The New York Times reported that the study found that refugees "contributed an estimated $269.1 billion in revenues to all levels of government" between 2005 and 2014 through the payment of federal, state, and local taxes. According to the news report, a White House … Continue Reading
