Press Releases
Van Hollen Statement on Legislation to Avert a National Rail Shutdown
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of legislation to avert a national rail shutdown in addition to his vote to provide rail workers with seven days of paid sick leave: "Shutting down our nation's railways would have drastic consequences for our communities - jeopardizing supply chains that stock our grocery store shelves, ensure clean drinking water for our residents, deliver gasoline to the pumps, and provide power to … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Van Hollen, Sullivan, Merkley, Colleagues Warn CCP Against Violent Crackdown on Protesters
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) in sending a bipartisan letter alongside their Senate colleagues to the Chinese ambassador to the United States warning the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime of the consequences of a violent crackdown on peaceful protesters. Demonstrations have erupted across China in response to the CCP's severe measures restricting freedoms to contain rising COVID-19 infections. The letter led by … Continue Reading
December 01, 2022
Van Hollen, Carper, Norton, Maloney, Brown Call for D.C. Mayor to be Given Control Over D.C. National Guard in Final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023
Yesterday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), and Anthony Brown (D-Md.) sent a letter urging the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees to give the District of Columbia mayor control over the D.C. National Guard in the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA). The governors of states and territories control … Continue Reading
November 30, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on President Macron Honoring Frederick County WWII Veterans with Highest French Government Award
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's declaration of Frederick County World War II Veterans Samuel Davis and Carl Felton as Knights in the Legion of Honor, the French government's highest order of merit: "Our nation and our allies are forever in debt to veterans like Samuel Davis and Carl Felton, Marylanders who served in World War II and shaped history through their valor and courage. These two men are most … Continue Reading
November 30, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on President Macron Honoring Frederick County WWII Veterans with Highest French Government Award
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's declaration of Frederick County World War II Veterans Samuel Davis and Carl Felton as Knights in the Legion of Honor, the French government's highest order of merit: "Our nation and our allies are forever in debt to veterans like Samuel Davis and Carl Felton, Marylanders who served in World War II and shaped history through their valor and courage. These two men are most … Continue Reading
November 30, 2022
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Urge Biden Admin. to Work to Improve Access to Education for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) alongside Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power to work with the Bangladesh government, NGOs, and the United Nations (UN) to ensure access to education for the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya children who have fled violence in Burma and … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Senate Passage of Respect for Marriage Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote to pass the Respect for Marriage Act: "No American should face discrimination - no matter who they love or where they live. The Respect for Marriage Act promises every legally married couple that their union will be given equal recognition and protection across the United States. It provides loving couples with the peace of mind that no court, state legislature, or local government can interfere … Continue Reading
November 29, 2022
Van Hollen, Durbin Urge USDA to Update Standards for Commercial Dog Breeding Facilities
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and their Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack urging him to update standards for commercial breeding facilities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The letter calls on Secretary Vilsack to implement the strong standards for veterinary care, housing, and breeding of dogs suggested in the Puppy Protection Act. "We write to request … Continue Reading
November 22, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce Over $400,000 to Expand Robotics and Engineering Education in Allegany County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced a total of $403,600 in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), as well as state and local governments for the REACT Institute for STEM Education (RISE) Computational Thinking Initiative. The combined funding, with $170,000 made available through ARC and $233,000 from the State of Maryland and Allegany County, will be used to renovate and develop a new robotics education … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Van Hollen, Durbin Urge OMB to Follow Through on CHIPS Act Authorizations for Department OF Energy
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) alongside their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is given the full amount of authorized funding allocated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. In their letter, the Senators emphasize that properly funding DOE will demonstrate the U.S.' commitment to remaining … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Call On Bank Regulators to Review SoFi’s Crypto Activities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) sent letters urging Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr, FDIC Acting Chair Marty Gruenberg, and Acting Comptroller Michael Hsu to review SoFi's crypto trading activities. The lawmakers highlighted the risk to consumers when banks trade volatile crypto assets and warned that SoFi's crypto trading may be in violation of regulatory requirements. "SoFi's digital … Continue Reading
November 18, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Brown Announce More Than $500,000 to Evaluate Possible Replacement of Two Prince George’s County Bridges
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) today announced $560,000 in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Prince George's County to evaluate the repair or replacement of two aging bridges. The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bridge Investment Program, which was created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that the lawmakers voted to pass last year. "The Infrastructure Investment … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Leader Hoyer Decision to Step Down from House Democratic Leadership
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's decision to step back from senior leadership of the House Democratic Caucus. "Steny Hoyer has been a lifelong champion for our families and workers, and a strong voice for American leadership in the world. As he steps away from the House Democratic Leadership team, we salute him for his exemplary service to Maryland and the nation. I look forward to continuing to partner … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Van Hollen, Portman, Davis, Schweikert Introduce Legislation to Fix American Opportunity Tax Credit Inequity
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) and David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) reintroduced their bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address systematic injustices within the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). The AOTC is the primary tax credit available to students seeking a higher education; however, students with a prior felony drug conviction are permanently ineligible from using the credit. This backwards requirement … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Speaker Pelosi Decision to Step Down
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding Speaker Nancy Pelosi's decision to step down as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after decades of strong leadership of the House Democratic Caucus. Senator Van Hollen served closely with Speaker Pelosi as a member of the House of Representatives, including on her leadership team as House Democratic Assistant to the Leader. "Not only did Speaker Pelosi make history as the first woman Speaker of … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Van Hollen, Merkley, Bonamici, Jayapal Team Up to Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers from Predatory Payday Lending Practices
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.-01) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.-07) to introduce the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act. The SAFE Lending Act will protect consumers from deceptive and predatory practices that strip wealth from working families by cracking down on some of the worst abuses stemming from the payday lending industry, particularly in online payday lending. Under the … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Senate Vote to Move Forward on Respect for Marriage Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in favor of moving forward to Senate consideration of the Respect for Marriage Act: "It is long past time for Congress to make clear that equal rights are guaranteed across America, no matter who you love, who you marry, or where you live. The Respect for Marriage Act ensures that, no matter where in America they live, all married couples are afforded equal rights, freedom, and … Continue Reading
November 15, 2022
On Anniversary of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Van Hollen, Markey, Blumenthal, Colleagues Call on NHTSA to Implement Critical Safety Provisions
On the first anniversary of the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) alongside their colleagues Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety … Continue Reading
November 14, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Reports of FBI Investigation into Shooting Death of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding reports that the FBI is investigating the shooting death of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh: "This is an overdue but necessary and important step in the pursuit of justice and accountability in the shooting death of American citizen and journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. I will continue pressing for the full facts and truth in this case." Senator Van Hollen has led two letters calling for answers on … Continue Reading
November 14, 2022
Van Hollen, Sarbanes, Members of Working Group Unveil Chesapeake National Recreation Area Draft Plan for Public Input and Review
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman John Sarbanes (both D-Md.) were joined by state and local officials, economic leaders, watermen, advocates for conservation, and others at Burtis House in Annapolis as they released draft legislation they've authored to create a unified Chesapeake National Recreation Area (CNRA). The lawmakers' proposal would unite a series of National Park Service (NPS) owned and operated park areas and visitor centers as well as iconic Bay properties … Continue Reading
