Press Releases
Van Hollen, Duckworth, Beyer, and Ellison Introduce Legislation to Support Civic Participation and Strengthen Voting Rights
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have introduced the Pre-Registration of Voters Everywhere (PROVE) Act to expand voter registration efforts nationwide and increase American citizens' participation in their democratic process. The PROVE Act would enable citizens who are 16 and 17 to preregister to be added to voter rolls when they turn 18. Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA) and Keith Ellison (D-MN) also introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Van Hollen Fights for Maryland in Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to support the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. It rejected reckless cuts proposed by the Trump Administration to invest in critical programs that grow our economy, expand vital education and job training programs, and improve the health of American families. "Families in Maryland deserve every opportunity to achieve the … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Van Hollen Urges MDOT to Minimize Disruption to Communities During Purple Line Construction
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote today to Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Pete Rahn to urge him to minimize the disruptive impacts as construction begins on the Purple Line. Many Marylanders are concerned about how communities surrounding the project will be affected, and the Senator asked MDOT to take some clear steps to address the issue. "I recognize that the next few years will be difficult for many as this project is constructed," Senator Van Hollen wrote. … Continue Reading
September 07, 2017
Van Hollen Fights for Diplomacy, Development, and National Security in the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to support the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill. In the face of President Trump's proposed 32 percent cut to the budgets of the Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), this bill instead makes key investments in American diplomacy, development, and national security. "Diplomacy and development are critical … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $5.6 Million for Western Maryland Airports
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $5,660,000 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for two Western Maryland airports. The grants will be used the fund repairs and improvements to the airports' runways, including the construction of taxiway extensions. The Richard A Henson Field Airport (HGR) in Hagerstown will receive $260,000, while the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport (CBE) in Cumberland will receive $5,400,000. "Western … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Van Hollen, Booker, Schatz Urge Trump to Reverse Decision Revoking Safeguards for Infrastructure Projects in Floodplains
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) urged President Trump to reverse his decision made last month to revoke a safeguard that ensures federal buildings, roads, bridges, and other pieces of infrastructure are built to withstand extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Harvey. The Senators also indicated plans to introduce legislation in the coming days to codify the critical safeguard into law. The Federal Flood Risk Management Standard was … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Van Hollen Discusses North Korea and DACA on MSNBC
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell today to discuss the ongoing situation in North Korea and the President's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Below are excerpts of the interview, and the full video is available here: On North Korea - "One of the issues that we need to address here, of course, is... the Chinese continuing to be an economic lifeline to North Korea.... This has got to be an indication that the Chinese have got … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on DACA
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on President Trump's decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: "Today I think about Jorge Steven Acuña's story. In 2001, when Steven was just 8 years old, his family came to the United States after his mother began receiving death threats. For nearly 16 years since arriving from Colombia, Steven and his family have lived and worked in this country as productive, law-abiding citizens. But in … Continue Reading
September 05, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Nearly $700,000 for Eastern Shore Airports
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $669,454 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for four Eastern Shore airports. The grants will be used to fund repairs and improvements to the airports' runways, including the removal of large obstructions. Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY) in Salisbury will receive $90,000; the Easton-Newnam Field Airport (ESN) in Easton will receive $89,935; the Bay Bridge Airport (W29) in … Continue Reading
August 31, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Mnuchin Not to Abandon Plans to Put Tubman on Twenty-Dollar Bill
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) wrote to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to urge him not to abandon plans to put Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill. Earlier today on CNBC, Mnuchin refused to commit to moving forward with the plan, which was announced during the Obama Administration. "Those we honor on currency make a statement about our nation and our values," the Senators wrote. "We urge you to move forward to honor Harriet Tubman and make a … Continue Reading
August 29, 2017
Van Hollen and Toomey Statement on Urgent Need to Strengthen Sanctions on North Korea and Crack Down on Sanction Evaders
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) urged Congress to soon consider their Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act, which is the necessary next step in tackling the crisis in North Korea and peacefully resolving this nuclear threat. "The rapidly escalating situation in North Korea demands quick action from Congress to expand and enforce sanctions against Kim Jong Un's regime, and Senator Toomey and I have introduced the BRINK Act to do just that. … Continue Reading
August 28, 2017
Team Maryland Applauds the Signing of the Full Funding Grant Agreement for the Purple Line
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD),U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), andCongressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) along with Congressmen John Sarbanes (MD-03), John K. Delaney (MD-06), Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), and Jamie Raskin (MD-08) praised action by the Federal Transit Administration to sign the Full Funding Grant Agreement (FFGA) with the Maryland Transit Administration for the Maryland National Capital Purple Line project. "I am very pleased that the Federal Transit Administration has … Continue Reading
August 24, 2017
Maryland Lawmakers Demand AG Sessions Explain Why He is Holding Funds for Fighting Violent Crime in Baltimore Hostage to Extreme Immigration Agenda
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Representatives Elijah E. Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) are among 53 members of the United States House and Senate who are demanding that Attorney General Jeff Sessions explain why he is holding critical violence prevention funds used by Baltimore, Chicago, and other American cities hostage to the Trump Administration's extreme immigration agenda. The Department of Justice has placed new and onerous conditions … Continue Reading
August 22, 2017
Van Hollen and Cardin Statement on Full Federal Funding Agreement for the Purple Line
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) issued the following statement announcing a full federal funding agreement for the Purple Line project in Maryland: “From day one, Team Maryland has been fighting to bring the Purple Line to Maryland, because we know it will strengthen our economy, help combat congestion and air pollution, and improve the lives of families in our state. We have worked with both the Obama and Trump administrations to secure federal funding for … Continue Reading
August 22, 2017
Van Hollen and Cardin Statement on Full Federal Funding Agreement for the Purple Line
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) issued the following statement announcing a full federal funding agreement for the Purple Line project in Maryland: "From day one, Team Maryland has been fighting to bring the Purple Line to Maryland, because we know it will strengthen our economy, help combat congestion and air pollution, and improve the lives of families in our state. We have worked with both the Obama and Trump administrations to secure federal funding for … Continue Reading
August 22, 2017
After Charlottesville Attack, Van Hollen, Leahy, 22 Senators Press DHS on Trump Administration’s De-emphasis of Domestic Terrorism Efforts
In the wake of the deadly attack stemming from a far-right demonstration in Charlottesville, U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) were joined by 22 Senators to press the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on questions arising from the Trump Administration's apparent de-emphasis on protecting Americans from domestic terrorism, especially the Administration's apparent decision to de-emphasize combating far-right extremism. The Senators questioned DHS Acting … Continue Reading
August 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Markey Call for Ban on Menthol Cigarettes
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined a group of U.S. Senators in calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ban menthol cigarettes. In 2011, the FDA conducted a scientific review that concluded "that menthol cigarettes pose a public health risk above that seen with non-menthol cigarettes." Despite this finding and other supporting data, the FDA has yet to take action to address the risk of menthol in cigarettes. Recently, the agency indicated … Continue Reading
August 18, 2017
Van Hollen, Maryland Congress Members Investigate Reports of Kushner Companies Engaging in Abusive Rental Practices
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin joined Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Anthony G. Brown, in sending a letter to Kushner Companies LLC requesting documents relating to multiple reports that the company and its subsidiaries may be violating the requirements of a federally funded housing program operated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development … Continue Reading
August 18, 2017
Van Hollen, Maryland Congress Members Investigate Reports of Kushner Companies Engaging in Abusive Rental Practices
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin joined Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Reps. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Anthony G. Brown, in sending a letter to Kushner Companies LLC requesting documents relating to multiple reports that the company and its subsidiaries may be violating the requirements of a federally funded housing program operated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development … Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Trump Administration to Back Off Plans to Reopen Offshore Drilling
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in urging the Trump administration to back off recently-announced plans to reopen offshore drilling leases around the U.S. This move could potentially jeopardize coastal economies and the environment along the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. On June 29, President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced that they are reopening the Interior … Continue Reading
