Press Releases
Van Hollen Joins 25 Senate Colleagues to Urge State Department and DHS to Extend Temporary Protected Status for Individuals from 10 TPS-Designated Countries
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined 25 Senate colleagues in writing a letter to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) urging Secretaries Rex Tillerson and John Kelly to extend the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of nationals currently residing in the United States. The TPS designation is a temporary benefit aimed at providing relief to foreign nationals in the United States and countries devastated by natural disasters, armed conflict, … Continue Reading
July 18, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $143,888 Grant for Bay Bridge Airport
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today announced a $143,888 Department of Transportation (DOT) grant for the Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, Md. The funding will help repair lighting and approach surfaces on the runway. "Regional airports serve as an important resource to communities in our state and are vital to maintaining a strong economy - we must ensure their safety," said Senator Van Hollen. "I'm committed to making sure Maryland has the funding it needs to … Continue Reading
July 17, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $300,000 Grant for Western Maryland Rural Health Care Development
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded a $300,000 grant to the Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC) West in Cumberland, Maryland. AHEC West serves Appalachian counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia on health care issues. Their mission is to support healthcare practice transformation through increased collaboration among hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $175,965 for Preservation of African American History and Culture in Maryland
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) has awarded $175,965 in federal funding to two Maryland institutions. The Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center has been awarded $31,515, and the University of Maryland, David C. Driskell Center for the Study of the Visual Arts and Culture of African Americans has been awarded $144,450. The grants are available through IMLS's Museum Grants … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Revised Senate Republican Health Care Plan
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the revised health care proposal from Senate Republicans: "Senate Republicans claim they have 'fixed' their 'health care' bill - but they only made it worse. This plan guts protections for people with pre-existing conditions and leaves them with insurance so expensive they could never afford it. It kicks millions of kids, seniors, and struggling families in Maryland and across the country off of Medicaid. And it turns back … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Van Hollen Fights for Maryland in Military Construction-VA Appropriations Bill
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, voted to support the Fiscal Year 2018 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs (VA), and Related Agencies appropriations bill. It supports critical housing, infrastructure, and facilities for U.S. military forces and their families, and provides increased funding for veterans' health care and benefits. "This bill makes important investments in our service members, veterans, and infrastructure necessary to keep … Continue Reading
July 13, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on CBO Analysis of Trump Budget
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of President Trump's Fiscal Year 2018 budget: "This CBO score proves what we've suspected all along: President Trump's budget balances only if you ignore basic math. But the real problem with his budget is that it betrays his campaign promises to create an economy that helps working families, to protect vulnerable Americans, and to strengthen rural America. Marylanders would be … Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Van Hollen, Toomey Announce BRINK Act on New North Korea Sanctions
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), members of the Senate Banking Committee, announced they would soon introduce new bipartisan North Korea sanctions legislation-the Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act of 2017. With Kim Jong Un now capable of launching an intercontinental ballistic missile that could reach Alaska, the senators said the United States needed to exert maximum pressure on North Korea and its enablers. The bill is designed to offer … Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Van Hollen, Bennet, Rubio, Gardner Applaud House Passage of RACE for Children Act
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. House of Representatives 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 … Continue Reading
July 12, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1.8 million ARC Grant for Washington County
Today U.S. SenatorsChris Van Hollenand Ben Cardin? (both D-Md.) announced a $1.8 million Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grant for the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County to construct the first phase of the Halfway Boulevard Extension - extending the road west to Route 63. The project will spur commercial development in the surrounding area, alleviate traffic congestion, and improve connectivity between I-70, I-81, and existing nearby commercial and industrial … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $809,000 in Grants to Help Veterans Find Jobs
Today U.S. SenatorsChris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced two federal grants totaling $809,000 for Easter Seals serving Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia to provide comprehensive support to homeless and incarcerated veterans on their path to long-term civilian employment. "Veterans and their families sacrifice greatly for our nation, and they should have every opportunity to succeed in the workforce," said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Team Maryland Calls Trump Administration’s Decision to Cancel FBI Headquarters Consolidation Procurement Wasteful, Urges Immediate Restart
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) released the following joint statement of disapproval in response to the announcement from the Trump Administration, through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that they are canceling the current request for proposals to construct a new fully consolidated FBI headquarters. Prince George's County, Md., was home to two of the … Continue Reading
July 11, 2017
Van Hollen on FBI: This is a Reckless Decision Made by the Trump Administration
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke at a press conference about the announcement that the Trump Administration,through the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is canceling the current request for proposals to construct a new fully consolidated FBI headquarters. Prince George's County, Md., was home to two of the three finalist locations for the fully consolidated FBI headquarters. Below is a … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1 Million Grant for the American Physical Society
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen amd Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded the American Physical Society (APS) a grant to address the severe shortage of qualified science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) teachers. APS is headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland. The situation in physics is particularly alarming: fewer than half of all high school physics classrooms are led by a teacher with a degree in physics, and physics is the number … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $20,000 EPA Grant for Prince George’s County Composting Project
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Prince George's County a $20,000 grant to expand their Organics Composting Facility. This funding will help expand the County's existing food scrap composting project located in Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village and create a pilot project for the collection of residential curbside food waste in collection carts for composting. "Prince George's County is leading … Continue Reading
July 10, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $20,000 EPA Grant for Prince George’s County Composting Project
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Prince George's County a $20,000 grant to expand their Organics Composting Facility. This funding will help expand the County's existing food scrap composting project located in Carmody Hills-Pepper Mill Village and create a pilot project for the collection of residential curbside food waste in collection carts for composting. "Prince George's County is leading … Continue Reading
June 30, 2017
Maryland Senators Urge Governor Hogan to Protect Marine Mammals and Atlantic Fisheries
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have written to Governor Larry Hogan (R-Md.) urging him to protect marine mammals and Maryland's fisheries from needless seismic surveying testing. Earlier this month, NOAA proposed Incidental Harassment Authorizations (IHA), permits necessary to conduct damaging seismic surveying using airgun blasts that repeat every ten seconds, for 24 hours a day, for weeks at a time. Oil and gas companies conduct this surveying to find new oil and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2017
Van Hollen, Sullivan Convene Senate Foreign Service Caucus
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) this week were joined by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon for the inaugural meeting of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. Other members attending the meeting included Senators Hatch (R-UT), Murphy (D-CT), Risch (R-ID), and Cortez-Masto (D-NV). "As the son of a Foreign Service Officer, I know firsthand the immense impact our diplomats have on furthering American security, interests, and values abroad," … Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $87,414 for West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $87,414 in federal funding for the West Lanham Hills Volunteer Fire Department. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The money will be used to finance upgrades to critical safety and extrication equipment. The department's current hydraulic extrication tools are over 18 years old, have significant wear and tear, and do not have sufficient spreading … Continue Reading
June 29, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $346,858 for Community Fire Company of Rising Sun
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $346,858 in federal funding for the Community Fire Company of Rising Sun. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The grant will enable the purchase of 58 sets of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment and face masks. Rising Sun volunteer first responders are currently using SCBA equipment that is 17 years old - well past their useful … Continue Reading
