Press Releases
Cardin and Van Hollen Lead Push for Answers from FBI, GSA on Changes to the Headquarters Project
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today used their positions on the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to demand answers from senior officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and General Services Administration (GSA) with specific questions on the recent, wholesale change of direction for a newly consolidated FBI headquarters that would replace the crumbling J. Edgar Hoover Building. At the EPW hearing, Cardin and Van Hollen pressed the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2018
Van Hollen Presses VA on Washington, DC Medical Center Issues
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin requesting more information regarding their recent assessment of the Washington, DC VA Medical Center as low-performing. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen asks for specific information on the current status of operations at the VA as well as plans to address these issues. "Our nation's veterans sacrifice so much for our country - we must do everything we can to support them when they … Continue Reading
February 25, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Press Newly Minted U.S. Ambassador to Fight for Justice for Alex Villamayor, Marylander Slain in Paraguay
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), as part of their continuing push to find justice for the killers of Marylander Alex Villamayor, met Monday with the recently confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Paraguay before he assumes his new post. The Senators met with Ambassador Lee McClenny, along with Kim Luk, Villamayor's aunt who still lives in Maryland. "Our goal is to bring the full resources of the U.S. government to the aid of bringing Alex's killers to justice," said the … Continue Reading
February 22, 2018
Van Hollen, Markey Introduce Bill for Enhanced Investment in Universal Flu Vaccine Development
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has joined U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) in introducing the Flu Vaccine Act, legislation to conduct or support comprehensive research for the creation of a universal influenza vaccine that could be administered once or twice and provide a lifetime of protection. The legislation is calling for a total investment of $1 billion - $200 million for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023 for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The National Institute … Continue Reading
February 21, 2018
Van Hollen Doubles Down on Efforts to Protect Consumers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Banking Committee, has joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Committee, and 50 Members of Congress to demand answers onreports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) intends to re-organize the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO) and strip OFLEO of its enforcement and supervisory role.This letter follows a letter sent by Senators Van Hollen and Cardin last week, highlighting the … Continue Reading
February 20, 2018
Van Hollen, Blunt, and 42 Senators Urge Support of US-Canada-Mexico United Bid for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) led a bipartisan letter signed by 44 Senators to President Trump expressing support for United 2026 - a bid by the United States, Canada, and Mexico to jointly host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "We believe this effort presents an exceptional opportunity to showcase our nations' shared passion for soccer and its positive impact in local communities and on the international stage," the Senators wrote. "Dozens of U.S. cities that we … Continue Reading
February 18, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses Russian Interference, DETER Act on Morning Joe
WASHINGTON - This morning, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss Russian interference in U.S. elections and his bipartisan bill, the DETER Act, which would impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections, including through the use of social media. Excerpts of the interview are below and the full video is available here. JOE SCARBOROUGH, MSNBC: So Senator, you saw the indictments on Friday, I guess that only makes your … Continue Reading
February 16, 2018
Van Hollen and Cardin Lead Effort to Honor Slain Marylander, and Add the Weight of the Full Senate to Diplomatic Push to Bring His Killers to Justice
U.S. Chris Van Hollen and Senators Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today introduced a Senate Resolution (S. Res. 410) honoring the life of Marylander Alex Villamayor, who was killed in Paraguay in June 2015. The senators have tracked this case and used all available diplomatic tools to urge Paraguayan officials to seek justice for Alex's murder. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin continue to press for transparency and the resolution of the case as the suspects prepare to finally stand trial. The … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Dem Senators Press Interior Secretary to Postpone Development of Management Plans For Bears Ears & Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and 11 Democratic senators in pressing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to postpone the development of management plans for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument areas in Utah until legal challenges regarding the President's authority to reduce the size of the monuments have been resolved. The Senators also requested that the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument management plan … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen Leads Letter with 18 Senators to Raise Concerns About State Department Vacancies
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a letter signed by 18 U.S. Senators to President Trump expressing concern about the many vacant senior positions and extensive attrition at the State Department. "As Senators who believe that diplomacy is critical to the national security and prosperity of the United States, we write once again to express our concern regarding the large number of key diplomatic positions that remain vacant and the reduction in the ranks of the Foreign Service," … Continue Reading
February 15, 2018
Van Hollen, Colleagues: We Must Defend Disability Civil Rights
Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 620, which would gut protections for people with disabilities. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released the following statement: "The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 as the civil rights law protecting people with disabilities against discrimination and ensuring access to all parts of our … Continue Reading
February 14, 2018
Van Hollen Sworn in to Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission
Last night, on the 200th anniversary of Frederick Douglass' birthday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen was sworn in as a member of the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission. Senator Van Hollen introduced the legislation to create this Commission in the U.S. Senate, which will plan, develop, and carry out events to honor and celebrate the life of Douglass in 2018. The Commission will be only the 16thcommemorative commission created by Congress since 1989 - only six of those commemorated … Continue Reading
February 14, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Bipartisan Bill to Protect Dreamers
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the bipartisan bill to protect Dreamers: "Today, a majority of Senators voted for a bipartisan compromise that would have finally ensured that our Dreamers have security in the country they call home. It was by no means perfect, and I was particularly disappointed that it did not include protections for the many individuals with Temporary Protected Status who are living in our country legally. But it would have moved the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Press Mulvaney on Reports of Efforts to Immobilize Office of Fair Lending
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney regarding reports of recent actions taken by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to strip the enforcement powers of the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity (OFLEO). The OFLEO was created in response to discriminatory practices in lending that impacted minority homeowners and communities, especially in the lead-up to the financial crisis. This … Continue Reading
February 13, 2018
Blackwill, Gordon Applaud the DETER Act
Today Robert D. Blackwill and Philip H. Gordon, senior fellows at the Council on Foreign Relations, issued the following statement in support of the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act. The legislation, introduced by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), sends a powerful message to any foreign actor seeking to disrupt our elections: if you attack American candidates, campaigns, or voting infrastructure, you will face severe … Continue Reading
February 12, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget Proposal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, came out in strong opposition to President Trump's Fiscal Year 2019 budget request. After passing a tax plan that will result in 13 million fewer Americans having health insurance, this budget would take coverage from tens of millions of additional Americans by repealing the Affordable Care Act and cutting Medicare and Medicaid. It would cut Social Security Disability Insurance - breaking President Trump's promise not … Continue Reading
February 08, 2018
What They’re Saying: Russia Will Interfere In U.S. Elections Again And We Are Not Prepared
In January, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, legislation that would impose tough sanctions on Russia if it interferes in our democratic process in the future. The bill's introduction comes as top U.S. officials and experts express growing concern that Russia will again attempt to disrupt upcoming U.S. elections: "CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Russia will target U.S. mid-term … Continue Reading
February 07, 2018
Van Hollen Joins 31 Senators in Demanding Answers on Reports of CFPB’s Stalled Investigation into Equifax Breach
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of 31 senators, including every Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, in demanding answers on reports that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has halted its investigation into how credit reporting agency Equifax failed to protect the personal data of over 145 million Americans. "We are deeply troubled by recent news reports that, under Director Mulvaney's leadership, the CFPB has … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Van Hollen, Perdue, Brown, Tillis Introduce Legislation to Provide Financial Flexibility to Local Land-Grant Universities
Today, in recognition of Black History Month, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) introduced legislation to overturn an outdated, biased policy and provide 1890s Land-Grant Universities with the same financial flexibility currently enjoyed by their peers. The Carryover Equity Act would fix a provision that prohibits 1890s Land-Grant Universities - all of which are Historically Black Universities - from carrying over more than 20 percent of their equity from one … Continue Reading
February 06, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Budget Agreement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement in response to the bipartisan budget agreement: "Today's budget deal represents bipartisan work that has been a long time in the making. Under this legislation, we provide increased stability and significant investments in programs that grow our economy and serve American families. We provide additional resources to protect our national security and support vital national priorities like education, life-saving medical … Continue Reading
