Press Releases
Van Hollen, Brown Introduce Bill to Get Wells Fargo’s Victims Their Day in Court
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, has joined Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) to introduce legislation that will give Wells Fargo customers who were victims of a fraudulent account scheme their day in court. From at least 2011 to 2015 Wells Fargo opened millions of fraudulent accounts - two million bank accounts and 565,000 credit card accounts - in its customers' names. Now Wells Fargo is using the … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on DHS and DOJ to Address Threats to Jewish Institutions Across the Country
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) in urging the Trump Administration to take action in response to the recent anonymous bomb threats made against Jewish Community Centers (JCC's), Jewish Day Schools, and Synagogues. In a bipartisan letter signed by all 100 U.S. Senators that will be sent to Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and FBI Director James … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on Trump Administration to Protect Strong Auto Emissions Standards
In response to media reports that the Trump administration plans to roll-back vehicle emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022-2025, today Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and a group of Senators in calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect the strong standards that enhance national security, benefit consumers and help reduce carbon pollution. In the letter the senators point to EPA analysis that the auto … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Van Hollen Statement at the Nomination Hearing of Rod Rosenstein
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen introduced Rod Rosenstein at his Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearing for Deputy Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery: "Thank you Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein for the opportunity to join Senator Cardin in supporting Rod Rosenstein's nomination to become Deputy Attorney General. Throughout his 27-year career, Rod has earned a reputation as a fair and focused … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Republican Health Care Plan
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement on the Republicans' American Health Care Act: "Now we know why Washington Republicans kept their plan secret for weeks -- the long awaited Trumpcare is a disaster for everyone except the wealthy. On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised his health care plan would 'take care of everybody' - but Trumpcare would tear coverage away from millions while making it more expensive for millions more. He promised that Americans 'can have … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Trump’s Revised Travel Ban
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement on President Trump's revised travel ban: "The revised executive order will weaken, not strengthen, the security of Americans by playing into the hands of our enemies. President Trump has engaged in fear-mongering about visitors and refugees from these six countries, and this executive order is now a fake solution to the real security issues we face. We do face real threats from ISIS and need to redouble our efforts to destroy … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Grant to Upgrade STEM Lab in Bishop Walsh High School
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced new federal funding for Bishop Walsh High School in Cumberland. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will proved $13,250 to the Bishop Walsh School to help upgrade their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Lab. Bishop Walsh School will match the funding, bringing the total project funding to $26,500. Every student in the school will benefit from the updated lab. "STEM jobs are among the most secure … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
As Concerns with Secrecy Mount, Senators Call on Trump to Release White House Visitor Logs
The President and the Secret Service should continue the previous administration's policy of releasing White House complex visitor logs so that the American people can know who is influencing their government, write Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a group of Senators in a pair of letters sent Monday to President Donald Trump and the head of the Secret Service. Under the policy established by President Barack Obama, the White House and the Secret Service released visitor logs 90 to 120 days … Continue Reading
March 06, 2017
Van Hollen Statement on Resolution To Disapprove of the Fair Pay Rule
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the Resolution to Disapprove of the Fair Pay Rule: "Mr. President, over the years, Congress has enacted laws to make workplaces safer and fairer and to raise wages for American workers. These laws protect American workers. These laws make America more productive. And these laws help to preserve good, safe, middle-class jobs. "The Fair Labor Standards Act introduced the 40-hour … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $200,000 in Grants and Funding for Frostburg State University’s Nursing Skills Lab
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced new federal funding for the Nursing Skills Lab and Simulation Center at Frostburg State University. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide $100,000 for the project and that will be matched by local sources, bringing the total funding to $200,000. "This grant is a win-win for Maryland families. The men and women looking to looking to enter the nursing field will have a strong training program at … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Offer Resolution Urging Trump to Comply with Constitution by Severing Relationship with Private Business
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have joined 31 Senators to introduce a resolution calling upon President Trump to follow the precedent established by prior Presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustee with no relationship to the President or his businesses, or take other equivalent measures in order to avoid a potential violation of the Constitution of the United States. Article I, Section … Continue Reading
March 03, 2017
Van Hollen Urges Trump Administration to Make Fighting Hate Crimes a Major Priority
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of Senators in sending a letter to the Trump Administration, urging Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make combating hate crimes a major focus at the Department of Justice and request full funding for the Justice Department's Community Relations Service and Civil Rights Division. "We write to urge you to make combatting hate crimes a major focus at the … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Van Hollen Calls for Sessions to Resign
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement calling on Attorney General Sessions to resign: "The Attorney General holds a special position as top law enforcement officer in our country. Anyone serving in that position must have the confidence of the American people to be an honest and independent broker who protects the fundamentals of our democracy. In failing to tell the truth - under oath - about his conversations with Russia at a time when so many questions surround … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Delaney Welcome Fanta Jawara Home to Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen andBen Cardin(both D-Md.) and Representative John K. Delaney (D-Md.-06) released the following joint statement Thursday after their constituent, Fanta Jawara, arrived in the United States following imprisonment in The Gambia during political unrest in that country last year. As her Federal elected officials, the Senators and Congressman had consistently advocated for her release from prison: "Fanta's return home to Maryland today closes a difficult, almost … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Team Maryland Works to Defend Marylanders from the Repercussions of Repealing the Affordable Care Act
As Republicans continue to flounder publicly and behind closed doors in their attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, members of Maryland's Congressional delegation gathered Wednesday to hear from state officials and health care experts how Marylanders would be affected. U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Anthony Brown, John K. Delaney, Jamie Raskin, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John P. Sarbanes held an in-depth discussion with Maryland … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to Confirmation of Dr. Ben Carson
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the confirmation of Dr.Ben Carson to be Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: "Mr. President, Congress created the Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1965 to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all Americans. During last year's Presidential campaign, however, President Trump often called into question … Continue Reading
March 02, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to Confirmation of Gov. Rick Perry to be Energy Secretary
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the confirmation ofGovernor Rick Perry to be Secretary of the Department of Energy: "Mr. President, I oppose the nomination of Governor Rick Perry to be Secretary of the Department of Energy, a Department that he called for eliminating in 2011. After briefings on the Department's mission and programs, Governor Perry came to "regret" that position. But his short education on his … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Team Maryland Calls on U.S. Attorney, FBI to Investigate Hate Crimes in Maryland, Following Local and National Anti-Semitic Threats and Incidents
Maryland's bipartisan Congressional delegation, led by Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Anthony Brown, Elijah E. Cummings, John K. Delaney, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and John P. Sarbanes have written to Rod Rosenstein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, and his counterpart at the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), Gordon B. Johnson, Special Agent in Charge, Baltimore, to use "the full resources of the Justice … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $450,000 Infrastructure Grant for Frostburg
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced new federal funding for the City of Frostburg. The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) will provide $450,000 to make infrastructure improvements to Frostburg Gateway at the terminus of Braddock Road. It will create approximately 64 new jobs, retain 40 existing jobs, and ultimately improve connections between Interstate 68, Frostburg State University, and the city center. "Investing in our nation's infrastructure is a … Continue Reading
March 01, 2017
Cardin, Van Hollen and Fellow Senators Call On Mitch McConnell to Drop Republican Efforts to Gut Family Planning Centers
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) and fellow senators today sent a letter to Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on him to "protect the health and wellbeing of millions of women" by committing not to bring to the Senate floor legislation passed by House Republicans seeking to overturn rules protecting Title X health centers. "For women in every U.S. state and especially in rural and struggling communities, Title X health centers are a vital resource for … Continue Reading