Press Releases
Van Hollen Honors Second Lieutenant Collins on the Senate Floor
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen spoke on the Senate floor to honor the life of Second Lieutenant Richard Wilbur Collins III, who was murdered this past weekend in an incident that the FBI is investigating as a hate crime. Click here for video of the Senator's remarks. A transcript of his remarks is below: "I stand to pay tribute to a distinguished young man from the State of Maryland, Second Lieutenant Richard Wilbur Collins III - a brave, brilliant, passionate, selfless, and kind … Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Ahead Of G-7 Meeting, Van Hollen, Shaheen, Hassan Join 37 Senate Democrats in Urging President Trump Not to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement
Ahead of this week's G-7 meeting, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined 37 Senate Democrats in a letter that urged President Trump to keep the United States party to the Paris Climate Agreement. In the new letter to the President, they argued that backing out of the agreement now, after the years of negotiations and strong U.S. leadership on the issue, would be a self-inflicted injury to America's economy and leave U.S. interests … Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
As Newly Released Transcript Details Trump Praise for Philippines President Duterte, Senator Van Hollen Markey Calls on President Trump to Delay Visit of Philippine Leader, Denounce Human Rights Abuses
With release of a transcript of an April telephone call between President Donald Trump and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte during which President Trump praised his Philippine counterpart for doing an "unbelievable job on the drug problem", U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) and a group of Democratic Senators in calling on President Trump to denounce President Duterte's murderous anti-drug campaign and delay any visit from the Filipino leader … Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Updated CBO Score of Trumpcare
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the latest Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of the Republican health care repeal bill: "Today's CBO report confirms what families in Maryland and across the country already knew - this bill is rotten to the core. Congressional Republicans went back to the drawing board, but what they came up with still leaves 23 million more Americans uninsured and cuts Medicaid by $834 billion. Millions more will be left with … Continue Reading
May 23, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Budget Proposal
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget Committee, released the following statement on President Trump's Fiscal Year 2018 budget request: "This budget represents a total betrayal of President Trump's campaign promises. It afflicts the vulnerable and comforts the powerful. In short, it screams 'Millionaires First, Working People Last.' "As we learn more details about the Trump Budget, things get worse for working Americans but better for the super wealthy. The Trump budget … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Statement on Murder of Bowie State Student
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statement on the murder of Bowie State University student Richard Collins III: "Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of Richard Collins III, along with the entire Bowie State University community. By all accounts, Second Lieutenant Collins had distinguished himself academically and would have done the same in his forthcoming military service. The senselessness of this loss is deeply … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Van Hollen: President Trump is Increasing Health Care Costs for Hardworking Americans
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the Trump Administration's request for another delay in the cost-sharing reduction payments lawsuit: "Families in Maryland and across the country deserve certainty about the stability and cost of their health insurance. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans refuse to provide it. Cost-sharing subsidies lower the deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs for those who purchase plans … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $21,429 for Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), under the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded a $21,429 grant to the Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department for operations and safety. The grant will be used to buy a specially designed washer and drying cabinet for personal protective equipment, giving the department the ability to quickly remove dangerous carcinogens and hazardous materials that could pose a … Continue Reading
May 19, 2017
Van Hollen, Sullivan Launch Senate Foreign Service Caucus
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) today announced the formation of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. The caucus will provide a bipartisan forum for members to discuss the challenges facing those who serve in the U.S. Foreign Service around the world,and collaborate and develop policy recommendations on how they can best support them and the U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. "As the son of a Foreign Service Officer, I know firsthand the immense impact our diplomats … Continue Reading
May 18, 2017
Van Hollen, Whitehouse Introduce Conflicts from Political Fundraising Act
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL) to unveil legislation to close a glaring ethics loophole that allows executive branch appointees to avoid disclosing their ties to shadowy political spending groups and other interests they may oversee as federal officials. The Conflicts from Political Fundraising Act would require presidentially appointed executive branch officials to disclose whether they have solicited donations … Continue Reading
May 18, 2017
Van Hollen Signs Letter to Trump Organization Requesting Answers on President’s Compliance With Constitution
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollenand 16 of his Senate colleagues have sent a letter pressing the Trump Organization and the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust for answers about each entity's financial relationship to the President, and about the President's compliance with the Constitution. The letter comes as President Trump is set to leave on Friday for his first foreign trip, which includes stops in two countries -SaudiArabiaandIsrael- where there have been questions of possible conflicts of … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Call for Continued Funding of Land and Water Conservation Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined a bipartisan coalition of senators urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies to support the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and Forest Legacy Program, the nation's federal conservation program, as they begin considerations for the upcoming fiscal year. The LWCF and Forest Legacy Program has funded more than 40,000 state and local outdoor recreation … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Senators to Trump Administration: Do Not Hurt Workforce by Cutting NASA Education Funding
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI a group of 31 Senators in a letter urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support NASA's Office of Education in the coming fiscal year. President Trump's budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) would eliminate NASA's Office of Education, which works to inspire and educate students across the country to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). "Given the importance of STEM … Continue Reading
May 17, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Appointment of a Special Counsel in the Russia Investigation
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on the appointment of a special counsel in the Russia investigation: "Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made the right decision by appointing a special counsel. He determined that the law and circumstances demanded this action despite White House opposition. Thanks to all who called upon him to do the right thing for the country. Now, we need to make sure the special counsel has the resources to uncover the truth about … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
During National Infrastructure Week, Cardin, Van Hollen Deliver $200,000 for New Eastern Shore Sewage Lines
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $200,000 in federal funding for new Eastern Shore sewage lines and expansions. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), a program both Senators Cardin and Van Hollen have fought to continue after it was targeted for elimination in the President's recent budget outline. The new federal funds for Maryland will be used to replace and upgrade the existing well and … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Ahead of Erdogan’s Visit, Van Hollen, Menendez, Rubio Urge Trump to Raise Worsening Human Rights in Turkey
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and a group of 16 senators have sent a letter to President Donald Trump ahead of his meeting Tuesday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Citing the weakening of democratic institutions, stifling of fundamental human rights, and mass arrests and civil society restrictions, the Senators raise concerns over the worsening situation in Turkey under President Edrogan's authoritarian policies after the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Kaine, Warner Applaud Senate Passage of Washington Metrorail Safety Commission Resolution
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) applauded passage of a joint resolution to establish the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission. The Commission will be empowered to adopt and enforce tough rules to improve Metro safety. The resolution now heads to the House of Representatives for final passage. "Safety must be WMATA's first priority as the public transit system for the National Capital region. The Metro Safety … Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Van Hollen, Brown, Warren, Senate Banking Democrats Raise Concerns about Apparent Political Power Grab at OCC
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led 6 members of the Senate Banking Committee - Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) - in a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin about the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The OCC, which oversees over 2,000 national banks and is charged with protecting consumers and ensuring the safety and soundness of … Continue Reading
May 11, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen Celebrate Public Service Recognition Week
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen honored the vital work of federal, state, county, and local government employees and members of the uniformed services across the nation this week by passing a bipartisan resolution to designate May 7-13, 2017, as Public Service Recognition Week. "Maryland is home to roughly 136,000 federal civilian workers and countless more public service professionals - each of whom works tirelessly to better our communities and our country," said Senator … Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Van Hollen, Casey, Senate Democrats to Administration: Stop Sabotaging our Health Care System
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Bob Casey (D-PA), joined by 11 Democratic Senators, demanded that the Trump Administration end its sabotage of the U.S. health care system. In a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Mick Mulvaney, the Senators demanded that the Administration commit to making vital payments to ensure the viability of the health care system and to turn over documents, which the Administration … Continue Reading
