Press Releases
New Third Way Report Details Importance of Van Hollen, Bera Easy Health Enrollment Bill
Today, Third Way released a new report detailing the many benefits of Senator Chris Van Hollen's (D-Md.) and Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.) Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act, legislation to simplify health care enrollment for Americans by allowing them to begin the process of enrolling in health insurance when they file their federal income tax return. As noted by the report, which can be found here, the lawmakers' bill will reduce inequities across our health care system by, … Continue Reading
June 02, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Submit Direct Funding Requests for Community Projects Supporting Economic and Small Business Development
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced their direct federal funding requests for Maryland community projects under the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee for fiscal year 2023. The Senators worked with local community leaders to identify these projects, which will support local economic development, position small businesses for future growth, and provide more opportunity for Marylanders. "Direct federal investments can … Continue Reading
June 01, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Chesapeake Bay Watershed Senators Urge Strong Funding for Bay Restoration Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and fellow Chesapeake Bay State-senators Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirstin Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) announced that they urged Senate leaders to support across-the-board funding sufficient to answer the many threats facing the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. "Our states are heavily invested in implementing a Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint designed to … Continue Reading
May 31, 2022
Van Hollen, Markey, Meng Urge Passage of More Funding to Close the Digital Divide as FCC Funding for Student Internet Access Wanes
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Grace Meng (N.Y.-06) released the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it received $2.8 billion in requests for funds from the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) in the third application window. The ECF - which the lawmakers created as part of the American Rescue Plan - has helped more than 12.5 million students connect to the internet but only has an … Continue Reading
May 31, 2022
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces Over $15 Million to Increase Capacity at Port of Baltimore through Infrastructure Improvements
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) announced $15,680,000 to improve rail infrastructure and safety at the Port of Baltimore. This federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration (DOT-FRA) will support the construction of four new working rail tracks totaling 16,000 track feet and two crane rail beams totaling 7,000 linear feet within the … Continue Reading
May 27, 2022
Prince George’s County Congressional Delegation, Alsobrooks Announce Upgraded Clinic for Area Veterans Included in Bipartisan Legislation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Anthony Brown (all D-Md.), and Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks announced that they successfully secured authorization and funding to upgrade the Prince George's County veterans clinic, operated by the Veterans Health Administration, in a bill released by the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address … Continue Reading
May 27, 2022
Baltimore Congressional Delegation, Local Leaders Announce New Clinic for Baltimore Veterans Included in Bipartisan Legislation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume, (all D-Md.), Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, and Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski, Jr. announced that they have successfully secured authorization and funding for a new Baltimore-based Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC), operated by the Veterans Health Administration, in a bill released by the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The … Continue Reading
May 26, 2022
Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce Resolution Designating World Hunger Day
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced a resolution designating May 28 as World Hunger Day. The resolution comes on the 90th anniversary of the Ukrainian Famine of 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor, and as the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to cause widespread destruction and strangles Ukraine's ability to export much-needed wheat. "This year, World Hunger Day and the remembrance of the Ukrainian … Continue Reading
May 26, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Submit Direct Funding Requests for Community Projects Supporting Public Safety, STEM Education Access, Innovation
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) submitted their direct federal funding requests for Maryland community projects under the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for fiscal year 2023. The Senators worked with local community leaders to identify these projects, which will bolster public safety, address gun violence, support STEM education and job training, and drive innovative research. "Investing federal dollars directly … Continue Reading
May 25, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Delivers More than $198 Million in Federal Funding to Help Spur Economic Growth & Support Small Businesses Recovering from the Pandemic
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.) delivered $198,404,958 to spur economic growth and support small businesses in Maryland through the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Program. This Treasury Department program was reauthorized and expanded by the American Rescue Plan which the lawmakers fought to pass. The funds will be … Continue Reading
May 25, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $1 Million to Support Conservation Efforts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $1,000,000 to help preserve and restore hundreds of acres of declining wetland habitats across Maryland's Eastern Shore, as well as in Delaware and Virginia. This Department of the Interior and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding for the Delmarva Oasis project is administered through the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission and was authorized by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The funds will … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin Submit Funding Requests for Community-based Projects
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have submitted their first requests to provide direct federal investments in our communities (Congressionally Directed Spending) for the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations process. The Senators worked hand-in-hand with local community leaders to identify these project requests, which range from helping improve energy efficiency to supporting local economic growth. These initial asks are for the fiscal year that begins October 1, 2022. … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Deliver $5 Million Direct Investment for New Southern Maryland Rapid Transit System
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) have announced a federal investment of $5 million they worked to secure for the development of the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit (SMRT), a new rapid transit system that will operate between Charles and Prince George's counties. The lawmakers worked to pass this investment in the fiscal year 2022 federal funding law enacted in March. This $5 million federal investment - which Senator Cardin and Congressman … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Calvert and St. Mary’s County Officials Laud Over $400 Million in Federal Infrastructure Funding to Fix Aging Bridges Across Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) lauded more than $400 million in federal funding coming to Maryland over the next five years to repair and replace deteriorating bridges across the state and create good paying jobs. There are currently 273 bridges in Maryland that have been rated poor or structurally deficient, including the Thomas Johnson Bridge, which Senator Cardin and Congressman Hoyer visited yesterday. The lawmakers also worked to … Continue Reading
May 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Shaheen, Colleagues Request Biden Admin to Swiftly Advance NATO Applications for Sweden & Finland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) sent a letter to President Biden urging him to expedite the Executive Branch's process to advance Sweden and Finland's applications for NATO membership and pledging to work with the Administration to ensure swift ratification of the Washington Treaty. In the letter, the Senators noted that NATO's expansion will send a clear message to Putin and authoritarian leaders across the globe that the … Continue Reading
May 20, 2022
Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Rounds Push To Fully Fund U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) in calling for $500 million to fully fund U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs in the Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2023. Israel's missile defense system is made up of four operational layers: Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2 and now Arrow 3. In addition to contributing to ballistic missile defense, the funding will support crucial work on research, … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Maryland Delegation Announces over $1.2 Million in Federal Funding for the Blackwater Loop and Appalachian Regional Heritage Trail Project
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced that Friends of Blackwater, a nonprofit citizens support group, will receive $1,226,000 in federal funding for the Blackwater Loop and Regional Heritage Trail project. "With this new funding, we are not only providing more opportunities for Marylanders to explore our state's wonderful trails and parks, but we are also increasing travel and tourism for our local economies in Western Maryland," the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2022
Update from Senator Van Hollen
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement: "I'd like to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone for the outpouring of well-wishes and kind messages. I'm on the mend and on track for a full recovery, and following my doctors' orders, I'll begin to ease back into my schedule. In the meantime, I want to make clear where I stand on two issues up for a vote today: providing additional aid to Ukraine and relief for restaurants and small businesses still weathering … Continue Reading
May 18, 2022
Van Hollen, Murray, Casey, Democrats Push Biden for White House Formula Coordinator to Lead National Strategy
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in urging President Joe Biden to immediately assign a coordinator within the White House on infant formula to address the shortage and implement a national strategy to increase the resiliency of the infant formula supply chain and protect against future contamination and shortages. "We need organized leadership and a clear plan for addressing this crisis. We cannot stop working on this issue … Continue Reading
May 17, 2022
Van Hollen, Shaheen, Tillis, Senate NATO Observer Group Issue Joint Statement of Support for Finland, Sweden Accession
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) alongside a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in a joint statement of support for Finland and Sweden's accession to NATO in response to the respective nations announcing their intent to join the transatlantic alliance: "The Senate NATO Observer Group welcomes today's announcement by Finland and Sweden that they will begin the formal application process to join the NATO Alliance in pursuit of … Continue Reading
