Press Releases
Van Hollen, Markey, and Senate Colleagues Back President Biden’s Return to Nuclear Diplomacy with Iran
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined 9 of their colleagues in the reintroduction of the Iran Diplomacy Act. The legislation supports President Joseph Biden’s diplomatic effort to return all sides to full-compliance with their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal. Last week, the Biden administration formally accepted an invitation by the … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce More Than $200,000 for Affordable Housing in Salisbury
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $230,000 for Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. The funding will help develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods, and create local jobs. “Many Marylanders struggled with housing insecurity before the pandemic, but are in even more desperate straits now. These funds will help Salisbury Neighborhood Housing Services provide affordable housing and counseling assistance to … Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Van Hollen Introduces Merrick Garland at Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced Judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee as the Committee considers Garland’s nomination by President Joe Biden to serve as the Attorney General. During his introduction, Senator Van Hollen underscored Judge Garland’s immense qualifications to be the next Attorney General and highlighted his strength of character that will allow him to serve our nation with distinction at this challenging time. The Senator touched on … Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Van Hollen Reintroduces Legislation to Prevent Seizure of Patients’ Bank Accounts, Wages During COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) reintroduced the COVID-19 Medical Debt Collection Relief Act, legislation to prevent healthcare providers from taking drastic steps to collect medical debts from patients - including seizing bank accounts and garnishing wages. According to research conducted by National Nurses United, between 2009 and 2018 Maryland hospitals filed over 140,000 lawsuits against former patients to collect debt. Recent polling also shows widespread support in Maryland … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
As WMATA Struggles Amid Covid-19 Crisis, Md. & Va. Senators Announce Bill to Renew Federal Funding for Next Ten Years
Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) and Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) announced a bill to renew the federal funding commitment to Metro for the next ten years - legislation that comes at a critical time for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), which continues to provide critical service to essential frontline and federal workers despite the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.“WMATA provides a vital network that keeps our region connected … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $750,000 for Affordable City Housing
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $754,500 to help develop and preserve affordable housing, revitalize and sustain neighborhoods and create local good-paying jobs across the City of Baltimore.This latest round of federal funding includes $495,000 for Neighborhood Housing Services of Baltimore and $259,500 for St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center.“We must help Maryland families weather the … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Fully Fund Community Development Block Grant Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in calling on the Biden administration to prioritize funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which funds local community development initiatives that support jobs, housing, infrastructure, and economic development for millions of Americans, in his upcoming budget proposal.The Trump administration repeatedly tried to eliminate the CDBG program, but Senator Baldwin worked to reverse Trump’s cuts … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the introduction of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021:“Immigrants are essential to our communities, contributing to our economy as a whole, and often working on the front lines to defeat COVID-19. The U.S. Citizenship Act marks an important step forward to reform the immigration process for our country. I’m pleased to see this sweeping plan to reverse the Trump administration’s backward immigration policies … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
In Wake of U.S. Capitol Insurrection and Inauguration Security Threats, Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges President Biden to Approve Reimbursement for Emergency Inaugural Security
Members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.), are urging President Joe Biden to approve Maryland’s appeal for an emergency declaration in support of the state’s efforts to improve safety and security across the National Capital Region for the 59th Presidential Inauguration.The state’s … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Van Hollen Leads Senate Democrats in Urging Biden Administration to Prioritize ATF Leadership and Gun Violence Prevention
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led 11 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to quickly nominate a permanent Director to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) who iscommitted to increasing public safety and addressing the gun violence epidemic in our country. In their letter, the Senators highlight a number of priorities that the new ATF Director must work to immediately address, including public transparency, … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $5.5 Million for Community Health Centers Across the State
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone announced $5,515,055 in federal funding to strengthen Community Health Centers (CHCs) across Maryland.“This new round of federal funding will provide our Community Health Centers with additional supplies and resources to improve the delivery of critical health care services to underserved Marylanders - … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Van Hollen Meets with Baltimore County Council to Discuss Federal and Local Efforts to Fight COVID-19
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined the Baltimore County Council for a virtual meeting this week to discuss key priorities for the County and new efforts in Congress to provide more support for Marylanders. Senator Van Hollen provided an update on ongoing discussions with the Biden Administration to deliver additional relief for Maryland families, workers, and small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. During the meeting, the Senator heard from the Councilmembers on the … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Van Hollen, Hassan, Casey, Duckworth Urge Home and Community-Based Care Funding in Upcoming COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and a group of their colleagues today in supporting an increase in funding that would support Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package that Congress is developing.The House of Representatives has proposed a 7.35 percent increase to Federal Medical Assistance Percentages for HCBS in the next package, and Senator Hassan and … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Sen. Van Hollen, Rep. Brown Lead New Bicameral Push to Protect Cameroonians in the Face of Mounting Violence
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Representative Anthony Brown (both D-Md.) led a bicameral group of lawmakers in a letter urging President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to designate Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) due to ongoing armed conflicts and increasingly severe violence in the country. As the members note in their letter, deteriorating conditions and the humanitarian crisis in … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Van Hollen, Inhofe, Leahy and 24 Colleagues Urge Biden to Reverse Misguided Western Sahara Decision
U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and 25 of their Senate colleagues today in sending a letter urging President Biden to reverse the previous misguided decision to officially recognize the Kingdom of Morocco’s illegitimate claims of sovereignty over Western Sahara and recommit the United States to the pursuit of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people of Western Sahara.The senators wrote: “The abrupt decision by the previous … Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Arne Sorenson
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the passing of Arne Sorenson, President, and CEO of Bethesda-based Marriott International:“I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Arne Sorenson. Arne was not only a great leader for Marriott, he was a compassionate and caring leader in our community and country. Every time I spoke with Arne, he was focused on supporting the entire team of employees at Marriott and setting a standard of excellence by … Continue Reading
February 13, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Vote to Convict Trump
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on his vote to convict Donald Trump:“The evidence is clear. Donald Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors against our nation in his incitement of the insurrection on our Capitol on January 6th. He violated his duty and oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution - and in fact, his actions flew directly in the face of this most sacred responsibility. The overwhelming documentation provided … Continue Reading
February 12, 2021
Van Hollen, Warren, and Brown Urge SEC to Strengthen and Enforce Insider Trading Rule
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the agency to review and consider reforming policies regarding 10b5-1 plans, which are designed to prevent insider trading. Their letter raises new evidence indicating that executives are abusing these plans to obtain huge windfalls at the expense of ordinary … Continue Reading
February 12, 2021
Senate Unanimously Passes Legislation Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to USCP Officer Eugene Goodman
Today, the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation to award U.S. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal. The legislation was introduced in January by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Goodman, a Marylander, confronted rioters in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, delaying their access to the Senate chamber and protecting the lives of those inside.“By redirecting … Continue Reading
February 12, 2021
Van Hollen Announced Chairman of Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was announced the Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. The Senator will also serve on the Appropriations Subcommittees for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Transportation, Housing, Urban Development, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. The Senator released the following statement:“As a member of the … Continue Reading
