Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Statement Ahead of Trial for Murder of Marylander Alex Villamayor in Paraguay
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following joint statement Tuesday ahead of the Paraguayan trial in the murder of Marylander Alex Villamayor: "More than two years have passed since Alex Villamayor, a U.S. citizen and Marylander,was murdered in Encarnación, Paraguay. Alex was just 16 years old.After much perseverance by his family and contributions from both countries' governments, Alex's case will finally be tried in court. As we await the upcoming trial … Continue Reading
November 21, 2017
Van Hollen Announces Full Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in Interior, Environment Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of several Maryland priorities within the Chairman's Mark of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The legislation invests in environmental protection and conservation and includes numerous programs vital to the Chesapeake Bay. Most notably, Senator Van Hollen worked to secure full funding of $73 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, … Continue Reading
November 20, 2017
Van Hollen, Colleagues Write Mnuchin on SEC Oil, Gas, Mining Transparency Rule
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and 13 of their colleagues Tuesday in a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, urging him to withdraw the Department's recent recommendation that a key extractive industry transparency provision be completely repealed by Congress. Earlier this year, Congressional Republicans halted the Securities and Exchange Commission's implementation of the rule but left the underlying rulemaking instructions in place. Section … Continue Reading
November 19, 2017
Van Hollen, Warren Seek Information from OCC on Dubious Bank of Tokyo License Conversion
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) today sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) asking a series of questions about the questionable decision to allow the Bank of Tokyo to convert its license from a New York State license to a federal license in order to bypass a state investigation into whether the bank was allowing its clients to evade sanctions on countries like Iran and North Korea. Last week, the OCC approved the Bank of … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Ask DHS Nominee to Clarify Stance on DACA, The Dream Act, and TPS
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Senate's Immigration Subcommittee, and 18 senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Kirstjen Nielsen, calling on her to answer several immigration related questions prior to consideration of her nomination by the full Senate. During her confirmation hearing, when asked whether she agrees that legislation must be passed to protect Dreamers by the end of this … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Feinstein Introduce Legislation to Protect TPS Recipients
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.), introduced the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act. This legislation would allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. "For decades, our country has welcomed and protected immigrants fleeing violence and turmoil around the world," said Senator Van Hollen. "These men and women have … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Bay Senators Introduce Bipartisan Chesapeake Restoration Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the bipartisan Chesapeake Bay Farm Bill Enhancements Act of 2017. This legislation increases mandatory funding available to the Bay, strengthens the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and provides more opportunities for effective conservation efforts. He was joined by Senators Cardin (D-Md.), Capito (R-W.Va.), Casey (D-Pa.), Kaine (D-Va.), Manchin (D-W.Va.), Warner (D-Va.), Carper (D-Del.), Coons (D-Del.), Gillibrand … Continue Reading
November 15, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $600,000 in Federal Funding for Maryland Aquaculture Research
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) have announced $642,149 in federal funding for the University of Maryland Baltimore County's (UMBC) aquaculture efforts. The funds will be issued through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), which estimates that nearly two-thirds of fish consumed globally will be produced through aquaculture farms by 2030. "Supporting sustainable agriculture will help not only America's … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Demand Better Coordination, Response to Housing Needs of Hurricane Victims
As victims in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Island (USVI) struggle to recover from damage left by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollenjoined a group of 11 other senators on Wednesday in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to work in coordination to provide housing assistance to residents of the islands who are still displaced. In a letter to FEMA Administrator Brock Long and HUD Secretary Ben … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
As NAFTA Renegotiations Move Forward, Van Hollen Joins Letter to Trump Administration Calling for Strong Protections for Workers
As negotiations over a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) resume today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined 17 of his Senate colleagues in a letter toUnited States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer calling for the Trump Administration to reverse the race to the bottom that has led to job losses and wage stagnation in the United States. The Senators wrote, "In advance of the fifth round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations in Mexico City, it is … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen Presses House Freedom Caucus on PAYGO and Republican Tax Plan
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, wrote to House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows about the deficit-busting Republican tax plan. If Congress does not waive Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) after passing a $1.5 trillion tax cut, the resulting sequestration would cut Medicare payments to doctors by roughly $25 billion and eliminate funding for all other non-exempt programs. The Freedom Caucus has long been committed to deficit reduction - if … Continue Reading
November 14, 2017
Van Hollen Helps Introduce Bill to Close Loophole in Military Justice System that Enables Convicted Abusers to Buy Guns
Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Mazie Hirono today to introduce the Military Domestic Violence Reporting Enhancement Act, legislation to close a dangerous loophole in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) that enables convicted abusers to purchase firearms. Federal civilian law mandates that those convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence are not authorized to purchase a firearm. Under the current UCMJ, which is applied to military personnel on active duty, a … Continue Reading
November 13, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $30,000 in Rural Development Funding to Federalsburg, Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced two grants totaling $30,900 for Federalsburg, Md., through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Development Agency's Community Facilities Grant and Loan Program. Federalsburg was awarded $16,900 to purchase nine new radios for the Public Works Department to replace damaged equipment. Additionally, Federalsburg received $14,000 to purchase 139 fire hydrant adapters.The adapters will allow the Federalsburg … Continue Reading
November 13, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Delaney Laud NDAA Provision that would Forestall Closure of Ft. Detrick Biodefense Lab
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressman John K. Delaney (all D-Md.) are praising the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report approved by the House of Representatives Tuesday that would provide a thorough study of America's National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC) on Fort Detrick. Using language similar to Senator Cardin's amendment passed in the Senate version of NDAA, the mandated study would forestall bewildering moves by the … Continue Reading
November 09, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Reintroduce Military and Veterans Education Protection Act with Groundbreaking Support from Veterans Service Organizations
In advance of Veterans Day, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined 28of their Democratic colleagues in reintroducing the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act, legislation that would close a loophole that allows for-profit schools to avoid having to secure at least 10 percent of their revenue from non-federal sources. More than two decades ago, Republican President George H.W. Bush signed a bipartisan law that limited how much federal funding for-profit … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Senate GOP Tax Plan
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement today after Senate Republicans released the framework of their tax plan: "After House Republicans rolled out a tax plan that puts millionaires and big multi-national corporations first, I didn't think it could get worse. Yet Senate Republicans have put together a plan that hits millions of working families in Maryland and across the country even harder. The GOP wants people to think this plan will help folks in the middle, … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on DOJ to Provide Guidance on Boosting Support for Forensic Labs In Efforts to Combat Opioid Epidemic
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John Cornyn (R-TX) ina letterto U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, asking him to provide Congress with information detailing how the Department of Justice (DOJ) is supporting and prioritizing forensic science service providers across the nation as a part of a broader approach to combat the opioid epidemic. "The opioid crisis knows no boundaries; it reaches into homes in every community in every region of … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Van Hollen, Lawmakers Call For Reversal Of Administration Decision To Expose Thousands To Dangerous Deportations
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Immigration Subcommittee, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) today in a letter, calling on the Trump Administration to reverse its recent decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of Nicaragua and Sudan, which will remove their legal protection, tear families apart, and expose them to potential deportation to unsafe … Continue Reading
November 08, 2017
Van Hollen, Warren, Merkley, Cortez Masto, Schatz Object to Rushed Confirmation of Comptroller of the Currency
United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.),Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today issued a joint statement objecting to the rushed confirmation ofPresident Trump's nomineefor Comptroller of the Currency, Mr. Joseph Otting: "We object to rushing the confirmation of Joseph Otting to lead the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency through the Senate. Mr. Otting may be buddies with the Treasury Secretary from … Continue Reading
November 07, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Democratic Senators to Introduce Assault Weapons Ban
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.) joined Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) to introduce the Assault Weapons Ban of 2017. This legislation would ban the sale, transfer, manufacturing, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. "Congress must act to confront the rising death toll from gun violence - from the day-to-day crime in our neighborhoods, to mass-shootings like those we've seen in Las Vegas and Sutherland … Continue Reading
