Press Releases
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Leahy, and Colleagues Demand Answers From the State Department About Move to Designate Cuba a State Sponsor of Terrorism
On Friday, January 8, 2021, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo expressing concern over reports that the Trump Administration’s would designate Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism without formal consultation and review by Congress. The Senators also asked the State Department … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Van Hollen, Norton Demand Congress Fully Fund D.C. Emergency Planning & Security Fund After D.C. Police Department Helped End Insurrection at U.S. Capitol
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) reiterated their call for Congress to fully fund the District of Columbia emergency planning and security fund (EPSF) in the future, including the $80 million the EPSF was shortchanged in the enacted fiscal year (FY) 2021 D.C. Appropriations bill. During the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last week, U.S. Capitol Police requested the assistance of D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), and … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Van Hollen, Risch, Cardin, Colleagues Applaud Senate Passage of Their Resolution Condemning Violence in Anglophone Cameroon
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar … Continue Reading
January 08, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Press Department of Defense on Effort to Remove USU President
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Defense (DOD) Christopher Miller expressing concern over DOD’s plan to remove Dr. Richard Thomas as President of the Bethesda-based Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). In their letter, the Senators raise questions about the motivations behind DOD’s efforts to remove Dr. Thomas and ask for a review of this decision.“The fact that this action is taking … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Van Hollen, Norton, Carper Say D.C. Mayor Must Be Given Control Over D.C. National Guard and President Must Be Stripped of Authority Over D.C. Police Department
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) said that Wednesday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol demonstrated once again that local public safety in the District of Columbia (D.C.) is subject to the whim of the President and that it is past time for Congress, pending D.C. statehood, to pass legislation to give the District’s mayor control … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Barbara O’Malley
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of Barbara O’Malley, mother of former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley: “I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Barbara O’Malley. I will always remember being greeted by Mrs. O’s smile and her cheery hello as I’d come into Senator Mikulski’s office - it never failed to brighten my day. Her warmth and wit will be dearly missed by so many, and her years of dedicated public service to the people … Continue Reading
January 07, 2021
Van Hollen Calls on Trump’s Removal From Office
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement calling for President Trump’s removal from office:“Early this morning, our democracy prevailed. Despite President Trump’s calls for insurrection, his contempt for the Constitution, and his lawless conduct, our institutions and the will of the American people held firm. But every day Trump remains in office presents a grave danger to our … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Van Hollen Speaks on Senate Floor Against Dangerous and Unfounded Republican Attempts to Block Electoral College Vote Certification, Mob Violence at U.S. Capitol
Tonight, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the Senate floor against Republican lawmakers’ damaging, irresponsible, and unfounded attempts to challenge November’s election results, as certified by the electoral college. During his speech, the Senator refuted the President and these Republicans’ baseless claims of election fraud and underscored the lasting harm these challenges have inflicted upon our democracy and Americans’ trust in our democratic institutions. The Senator pointed … Continue Reading
January 05, 2021
Van Hollen, Mfume, Cardin Laud Signing of Henrietta Lacks Cancer Research Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) lauded the signing of the Henrietta Lacks Cancer Research Act into law to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks and examine access to government-funded cancer clinical trials for traditionally underrepresented groups. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin initially introduced this legislation alongside the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, and it has since been sponsored by … Continue Reading
January 05, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Chesapeake Bay Foundation's State of the Bay Report
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the release of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's 2020 State of the Bay Report: “Protecting the Chesapeake Bay is critical for the health of Maryland’s environment and the success of our Bay economy. Today's State of the Bay Report marks another disappointing D+ rating for the Chesapeake Bay after an extensive evaluation of the Bay's health. While I'm pleased with some areas where we've seen improvements, as I … Continue Reading
January 05, 2021
Van Hollen Rebukes Trump Administration’s Harmful Rollback of Migratory Bird Protections
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the finalization of the Department of Interior (DOI) rule weakening the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). Senator Van Hollen has repeatedly fought the Trump Administration’s DOI on this issue, including in a letter to then-Acting Secretary David Bernhardt and in questioning in an Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee hearing. In July, Senator Van Hollen and EPW Ranking Member Tom Carper led … Continue Reading
January 01, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Vote to Override Trump NDAA Veto
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on his vote to override Trump’s veto of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):“The National Defense Authorization Act includes vital measures to strengthen America’s security both at home and abroad. It includes a pay raise for our troops, critical investments for Maryland’s military installations, and support for key national security priorities. Additionally, I worked to secure new funds for the … Continue Reading
December 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Weigh in on Major Baltimore SCOTUS Climate Case
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a major case concerning the power of state and local governments to hold fossil fuel polluters financially liable for the damages caused by their products. In an attempt to avoid potentially massive monetary judgments against it, the fossil fuel industry … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Van Hollen Secures Key Maryland Funding Priorities in Omnibus Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding provisions to benefit Maryland within the bipartisan coronavirus relief and omnibus package passed by the House and Senate that awaits President Trump’s signature. The legislation includes all 12 Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) spending bills and roughly $900 billion in additional COVID-19 relief. Through his role on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Van Hollen … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on the President’s Signing of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the President’s signing of the Fallen Journalists Memorial Act into law:“Marylanders will never forget the lives we lost in the Capital Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018. This memorial is a fitting way to honor Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, Wendi Winters, and countless others who have lost their lives in their line of duty - reporting the facts and upholding the First Amendment,” said … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Van Hollen Brings on former City Councilwoman Shannon Sneed to Lead Baltimore Outreach
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced the hiring of former Baltimore City Councilwoman Shannon Sneed to serve as his Baltimore City Regional Director.“Representing the City of Baltimore in the United States Senate is an honor and addressing the needs of its residents - from voicing their concerns on the Senate floor, to advocating for legislation to support our city, to helping constituents access services and solve problems with federal agencies - is one of my key priorities. … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Veto of the NDAA
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on Trump’s veto of the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):“The NDAA includes a pay raise for our troops, critical investments for Maryland’s military installations, and support for key national security priorities. Trump’s veto of this legislation - which has passed Congress and been signed into law without fail every year for the last sixty years - is shameful. And he’s taking this unprecedented … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Senator Mike Miller’s Resignation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding Senator Mike Miller’s announcement that he will resign from the Maryland Senate due to his health:“Mike Miller is a student of Maryland history and his departure from its Senate marks the end of an era. Governors have come and gone, but Senator Miller, with unmatched political acumen, has steered Maryland on a progressive course and toward a more perfect union. “Senator Miller has dedicated his life to … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on the Passage of COVID-19, Government Funding Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passage of the bipartisan COVID-19 relief and omnibus funding bill: “Now more than ever, Americans are feeling the weight of the pandemic. From watching more of their neighbors and family members fall ill, to struggling to pay mounting bills and put food on the table - the costs of this virus are all too real. Today’s package - while not perfect - will provide much-needed help. This bill includes crucial … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Fischer Bipartisan BUILD Act Passes Senate
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statements after the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams (BUILD) Act passed the U.S. Senate. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would allow nonprofits to once again use forms that are less complex when they are issuing 0% interest loans. This will help ensure the organizations can continue to make these loans to borrowers.“Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit organizations offer help when … Continue Reading
