Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Support Improvements to Veterans’ Health Care
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statement regarding their support for the bipartisan VA Maintaining Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks (MISSION) Act today:“There are over 9 million veterans enrolled in the VA health care system who deserve access to world-class medical care. We need to keep our promises to these veterans and their families, which is why we supported the VA MISSION Act today. Like most major pieces of … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Van Hollen, Colleagues Call on CFPB to Protect Public Consumer Complaint Database
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has joined 34 of his colleagues in urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to preserve public access to the Bureau’s Consumer Complaint Database. Last month, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney stated he wanted to shut down the important consumer protection tool that allows consumers to file public complaints, resolve issues and make informed decisions when using financial services. This is one of many actions … Continue Reading
May 23, 2018
Van Hollen Presses DeVos As Dept. of Ed. Weakens Discrimination Protections
Earlier this year, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released a new Case Processing Manual that makes it easier for the Department of Education to dismiss discrimination complaints. In a bicameral letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, Senator Van Hollen and members of Congress asked for clarifications on changes in policy and reaffirmed the importance of equal protections against discrimination for all Americans. “We are writing to express our serious concerns … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Van Hollen Secures Language in Bipartisan Banking Bill to Block Trump From Walking Back ZTE Sanctions
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen secured language in the bipartisan Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2017 to expressly prohibit the President from changing the penalties on Chinese telecommunication companies — including ZTE — that have sanctions levied against them until the Administration certifies to Congress that they have met certain conditions. In light of the President’s announcement that he has directed the Department of Commerce to look at easing penalties … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
New Plan to Fund Schools Includes Van Hollen Proposal to Invest in Special Education
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced that the new Democratic proposal - “A Better Deal for Teachers and Students” - includes his plan to finally ensure Congress meets its commitment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). “While Republicans pour money into their tax plan for the rich, America’s schools remain underfunded and our teachers go without well-deserved raises. This plan underlines what families across the country know - ensuring that every … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Van Hollen, Carper, Udall, Whitehouse Demand Transparency on Pruitt’s Legal Defense Fund
Today Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) wrote to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to follow up on his testimony last week before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, where he confirmed to Senator Van Hollen for the first time that he has set up a legal defense fund. With legal and ethical issues mounting, Mr. Pruitt refused to … Continue Reading
May 21, 2018
Van Hollen: Democrats Provide a Better Deal for Our Democracy
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the Democrats’ introduction of A Better Deal for Our Democracy: “Over the past year and a half, our country has seen a Republican-controlled government that has worked to promote big banks, special interests, and massive corporations. From tax reform to the rollback of consumer protections, the American people now know where Republicans’ priorities truly lie. Today, Democrats are offering a strong rebuke to … Continue Reading
May 20, 2018
Frederick County Flood Assessment Forms
The Frederick County Division of Emergency Management is collecting information from County residents and businesses on damage and losses suffered as a result of the May 15 and 16th flooding. The information provided will compiled into a Preliminary Damage Assessment which will be used to help FEMA determine if the county is eligible for any types of federal disaster assistance.Please click on the appropriate damage assessment form link, residential or business, in the menu bar on the left.If … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Van Hollen Presses Sessions on Funding to Address Violence in Baltimore
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen is pressing Attorney General Jeff Sessions to support the City of Baltimore’s efforts to address violent crime. In a letter sent on Wednesday, Van Hollen urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to reconsider Baltimore’s exclusion from the Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Program, which was created last year to help cities address violent crime. The letter comes after Sessions expressed an openness to revisiting this issue in a hearing on April 25th with … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Twenty Senators Urge Extension of Comment Period on Pruitt Rule to Favor Industry-Backed Science
Twenty Senators are asking Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to extend the deadline for weighing in on a proposed rule that would dramatically shrink the body of scientific knowledge the EPA can use in crafting public health and environmental protections. Pruitt’s proposal would apply new “transparency” standards to block medical studies, clinical reports, and other rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific research based on health-related data that cannot be made … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Senators Call for Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza to be Addressed
Following weeks of violence in Gaza, during which roughly 100 Palestinians have been killed and some 10,000 wounded by Israeli snipers, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 10 of their Democratic Senate colleagues called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "do more to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.""The territory’s lack of power, clean water, adequate medical care and other necessities not only … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Gina Haspel
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the nomination of Gina Haspel as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: “The women and men of the Central Intelligence Agency are patriots and dedicated public servants, who work hard to detect foreign threats and protect the American people. I commend Gina Haspel for her longstanding commitment to that mission. Before making my final decision on her nomination to lead the agency, I reviewed both the public … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge FCC to Expand Rural Health Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have joined a bipartisan group of 30 U.S. Senators in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase the funding cap for a program aimed at improving the quality of health care available to patients in rural areas. In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, the Senators highlight the need to strengthen the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program to address the shortage of broadband connectivity for rural health care providers. The … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen Presses Zinke on Offshore Drilling
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen pressed U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to answer for his decision to exempt Florida from offshore drilling efforts and questioned him on why Maryland has not been treated equally. Senator Van Hollen has strongly opposed the Administration’s proposal to open the Atlantic Coast to offshore drilling. A transcript of the Senator’s exchange is available below and video is available here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, D-MD: Now, a little … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Lujan Grisham Introduce Bill to Help Veteran, Socially Disadvantaged Farmers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) introduced legislation to improve access to assistance for certain groups of farmers. The Assist Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Act of 2018 would reauthorize, strengthen, and improve the Outreach to Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program at the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The legislation was co-sponsored by Senators Tina … Continue Reading
May 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce over $90,000 for Baltimore County Veterans’ Housing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $91,415 in federal funding to the Baltimore County Office of Housing through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program. HUD-VASH is a collaborative program that combines HUD housing vouchers with VA supportive services to help veterans and their families who are homeless find and sustain permanent housing. This is one of ten grants being announced for … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Laud New Maryland Medicare Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(D-Md.) expressed their support for the agreement between the State of Maryland and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the future of Maryland’s All-Payer Demonstration Model - Maryland’s innovative approach to hospital payments. This has been a successful statewide effort that covers 800,000 Medicare beneficiaries and 6 million Marylanders. The agreement announced today will allow Maryland’s work to … Continue Reading
May 11, 2018
Van Hollen Secures Commitment from Secretary Zinke to Resolve Glen Echo Park Issue
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen has secured a commitment from U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to address the ongoing management issue at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Maryland. Senator Van Hollen raised his serious concerns regarding an expiring agreement between the National Park Service and Montgomery County on the management of Glen Echo Park at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing yesterday. During questioning, … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Win Hard-Fought Maryland Priorities in New Water Infrastructure Legislation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), both members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today highlighted the importance for Maryland communities of newly introduced legislation that will enable much-needed improvements to our nation’s water infrastructure. Introduced Tuesday by the Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Subcommittee ranking member Senator Cardin, EPW chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), committee ranking member Tom Carper (D-Del.), … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) honored the critical work of federal, state, county, and local government employees and members of the uniformed services by joining their colleagues in passing a bipartisan resolution designating this week - May 6-12, 2018 - as Public Service Recognition Week. Maryland is home to more than 136,000 federal civilian workers and 46,000 members of the armed forces.“Our public workforce is crucial to serving the American people - from … Continue Reading
