Press Releases
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $400 Million in Federal Support for Water Infrastructure Modernization in Baltimore City
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $396 million in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans for the City of Baltimore, Md., to help the city upgrade aging water infrastructure, including in low-income communities and communities of color. Project construction and operation are expected to create an estimated 2,700 jobs. "No Marylander should have to worry about … Continue Reading
January 18, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce Legislation Removing the Name of Segregationist from Chevy Chase Circle
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) introduced legislation to remove the name of Francis G. Newlands from Chevy Chase Circle. Newlands, a former U.S. Senator from Nevada, held racist views and worked to keep working class, Black, and Jewish families out of the Chevy Chase community but is currently memorialized on a fountain and plaque in the circle. Chevy Chase Circle is located partially in the District of Columbia and partially in Maryland but is under federal … Continue Reading
January 18, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on WMATA General Manager & CEO Paul Wiedefeld Announcing Retirement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) General Manager & CEO Paul Wiedefeld's announced retirement: "Paul Wiedefeld was dealt a difficult hand, but in his six years at WMATA he has worked hard to navigate the many challenges facing the agency. I have appreciated his efforts to collaborate with Metro's federal partners in the process as we worked to secure critical federal funding with the goal … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Over $400 Million in Infrastructure Law Funding to Improve Bridges Across the State
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced that Maryland will receive $409,507,880 over the next five years to improve bridges and create good-paying jobs across the state. This historic federal funding is one the single largest investments ever made to repair and reconstruct our state's bridges, including city and county-owned … Continue Reading
January 14, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Biden Nominations of Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson to Serve on Fed Board
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding President Biden's nomination of Sarah Bloom Raskin, Lisa Cook, and Philip Jefferson to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors: "As our nation continues to face a range of economic challenges - including the impact of COVID-19, the need to create more shared prosperity, and the accelerating financial and other threats of climate change - we need wise and strong leadership at the Federal Reserve. … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Colleagues Call on Biden Administration to Continue and Make Permanent Osha’s Emergency Covid-19 Protections for Health Care Workers; Protections have Been Allowed to Lapse
As the rise of the Omicron variant continues to threaten the safety of our nation's health care workforce, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) sent a letter calling on the Biden administration to continue and make permanent the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) emergency COVID-19 protections for health care workers. The letter addresses OSHA's announcement at the end of 2021 that it would allow the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Van Hollen Statement on Passing of Former Maryland Attorney General Stephen H. Sachs
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of Stephen H. Sachs, former Maryland Attorney General and U.S. Attorney for Maryland: "Steve Sachs loved our state and leaves a long legacy of service to Maryland and the law - as Maryland's Attorney General, U.S. Attorney, and a private citizen. Over the years I valued Steve's counsel, his commitment to our democratic system, and his friendship. His legacy lives on and serves as an example of the … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
As Threat of Russian Invasion of Ukraine Looms, Van Hollen, Menendez, Senate Democrats Introduce the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in introducing the Defending Ukraine Sovereignty Act of 2022, critical legislation to impose steep costs in the event of a renewed Kremlin invasion of Ukraine. As the Kremlin continues to engage in an unjustified military build-up along Ukraine's border, the proposal by Senate Democrats to deter a military escalation sends a clear message that the United States is prepared to impose devastating consequences for … Continue Reading
January 12, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Shares Top Environmental Priorities During Virtual Meeting with EPA Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz
Members of Maryland's congressional delegation gathered virtually Tuesday for their first official meeting with the newly appointed regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region III, Adam Ortiz. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) met with Ortiz to discuss Chesapeake Bay Program oversight, implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs … Continue Reading
January 11, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Call for TPS Designations for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today joined 31 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in formally requesting that the Biden administration grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) re-designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in addition to a new TPS designation for Guatemala. In a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators expressed their grave concern with the worsening humanitarian … Continue Reading
January 10, 2022
Maryland Delegation Members Secure Over $140 Million to Help Maryland Households Cover Energy Costs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced that $143,357,536 in federal relief has been delivered to Maryland families to help cover their energy costs for fiscal year 2022 (October 2021 to September 2022). With the winter months upon Maryland, this relief from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) - boosted by … Continue Reading
January 07, 2022
Van Hollen, Markey, Bowman, Schakowsky Urge Biden Administration to Protect Consumers from Unfair Hikes in Heating and Energy Prices This Winter
This week, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) sent a bicameral letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Richard Glick urging the agency to use its authority to protect consumers from unfairly high energy costs. "We write to express our concern in regard to the effect that anticipated increases in heating and energy costs will have on our constituents this … Continue Reading
January 07, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Sarbanes, Raskin, Trone Announce Nearly $1 Million for Montgomery College to Improve Student Success
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen John Sarbanes, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $973,741 in federal funding for Montgomery College to better serve students' needs and help improve their success in the classroom. This funding from the U.S. Department of Education's "Basic Needs - Supporting Student Success" program will assist students at Montgomery College by coordinating efforts across local government agencies and community-based … Continue Reading
January 06, 2022
Van Hollen Delivers Floor Speech on Anniversary of January 6th Insurrection
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate regarding the anniversary of the January 6thinsurrection, the continued threat to our democracy posed by Donald Trump's Big Lie, and the urgent need to pass voting rights legislation to protect every American's right to the ballot box. Below are Senator Van Hollen's remarks, which can also be viewed here. U.S. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.): "Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague from Colorado for … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Bass Urge Biden Administration to Reconsider Ethiopia’s Suspension from Critical AGOA Trade Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) have urged President Joe Biden to reconsider the Administration's November 2, 2021 decision to terminate Ethiopia's designation as a beneficiary country under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) at the end of this year. As the lawmakers note in their letter, this decision will hurt the nation's most vulnerable and reverse hard-won economic gains without reducing hostilities in the ongoing civil war. Senator … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Maryland Delegation Receive Response from USPS Showing Actions to Improve Performance Over Last Year’s Holiday Season, but Urge Further Action
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, Andy Harris, M.D., and David Trone (all Md.) announced that they received a letter from the United States Postal Service (USPS) in response to their November 22 request for an update on its readiness for the holiday mail surge. In response to the letter, the lawmakers released the following statement: "We are encouraged that … Continue Reading
December 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Reed, Clark Urge HHS to Help Protect Families This Winter During Energy Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.-5) sent a bicameral letter urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the ongoing energy crisis and its impact on families served by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 30 percent this winter, which is a level that has not been seen since 2014 and would impact 61 million households … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Ruppersberger, Mfume, Cardin Announce New USPS Audit Showing Chronic Mismanagement, Employee Vacancies at USPS Processing and Distribution Facility in Baltimore
Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced a new USPS audit showing the primary Baltimore area United States Postal Service (USPS) processing and distribution center is processing millions fewer mail items despite significant increases in work hours and overtime. The audit was self-initiated by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for USPS and comes after Office separate reviews requested by Congressmen … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $800 Million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Highway Funding for the State
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $796,122,349 in FY22 federal funding from the bipartisan infrastructure law to improve roads and bridges and create good-paying jobs across the state. These federal investments also fund critical new programs to address climate change, both through reducing carbon emissions and strengthening … Continue Reading
December 21, 2021
Maryland Delegation Announces the Howard County Economic Development Authority as a Finalist in the Build Back Better Regional Challenge to Strengthen Maryland’s Cybersecurity Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced an award of $500,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to the Howard County Economic Development Authority to continue developing its Maryland Cyber Workforce Solutions (Solutions) project on behalf of a coalition of Maryland local governments, including Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, … Continue Reading
