Press Releases
Van Hollen, Beyer Introduce Legislation to Improve ATF, Strengthen Gun Violence Prevention
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced legislation to improve and modernize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in order to strengthen gun safety in our communities. The legislation - which follows last week's Senate confirmation of Steve Dettelbach to serve as ATF Director - would remove irresponsible statutory restrictions that stand in the way of ATF's mission to protect the public from violent criminals, … Continue Reading
July 21, 2022
Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Protect Access to Reproductive Health Care Funding
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act. The bill would protect access to critical reproductive health care services-like birth control, cancer screenings and more-by providing a consistent and strong source of funding for the Title X Family Planning Program. The Title X Family Planning Program is the only federal program dedicated to providing … Continue Reading
July 19, 2022
Van Hollen, U.S. Department of Commerce Invest $2.4 Million in American Rescue Plan Funds to Support Waterfront Infrastructure Improvements to Boost Tourism in Cambridge, Maryland
Today, Senator Van Hollen and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.4 million grant to the Chesapeake Conservancy, Annapolis, Maryland, to support development of infrastructure that will attract tourists to Cambridge, Maryland. This grant is funded by the American Rescue Plan. This project will support redevelopment of the Cambridge waterfront through construction of a new promenade and other improvements. This EDA grant will be matched … Continue Reading
July 19, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Administration to Select State as Home for New Advanced Health Research Agency
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, Andy Harris, M.D., and David Trone, recently called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to select Maryland as the permanent home for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a new agency proposed by President Biden to improve … Continue Reading
July 15, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $95 Million in Federal Funding for Broadband Expansion
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 B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $95 million in federal funding for broadband infrastructure projects that will provide high-quality internet to areas that lack access to adequate service. This funding comes from the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund (CPF), which was established by the American Rescue Plan that the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cornyn, Wicker Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging SBA to Process All Eligible COVID EIDL Applications
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) sent a letter to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman urging the SBA to process COVID Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications that were received prior to the agency's May 6, 2022 deadline. The COVID EIDL program has provided loans to nearly four million small businesses since the beginning of the pandemic-serving as an … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Maryland Delegation Members Announce $1.25 Million to Prevent Youth Drug and Substance Use Across Maryland
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, David Trone, and Andy Harris (all Md.) announced $1,249,912 in federal funding to help prevent youth drug and substance use in communities across Maryland. This Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program continuation grant is administered by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) with support from the Centers for … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Urge MDOT to Halt Demolition of Nice Bridge, Study Recreational Reuse Options
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) urged the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to pause its plans to demolish the existing Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge until an independent review is conducted to determine the feasibility and cost of repurposing it for recreational use. The lawmakers requested an independent study to ensure that this is not a wasted opportunity to provide taxpayers with bicycling and pedestrian … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Van Hollen, Booker, Huffman, Lowenthal Raise Concerns Over Climate & Environmental Justice Risks of Chemical Recycling of Plastics
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Jared Huffman and Alan Lowenthal (both D-Calif.) in sending a letter raising concerns over chemical recycling technologies that contribute to the climate crisis and perpetuate environmental injustice in vulnerable communities. The letter comes as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers whether to remove existing Clean Air Act protections from chemical recycling processes. … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Van Hollen, Menendez, Colleagues Urge IRS to Extend Filing Deadline for ITIN Filers Affected by Processing Delays
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) called on IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to extend the filing deadline for filers with individual taxpayer identification numbers (ITIN) who have been impacted by massive processing delays at the agency. Because of these operational challenges, many eligible ITIN filers have been unable to file for the enhanced child tax credit (CTC). "We are concerned to learn that there may be numerous families that had hoped to file … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
House Passes Veterans’ Health Care Bill with Funding for Two Maryland Veterans Clinics
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) announced the House passage of legislation to open two veterans clinics in Baltimore and Prince George's County. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) which passed yesterday by a vote of 342-88, provides healthcare benefits for all generations of … Continue Reading
July 14, 2022
Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge the Biden Administration to Declare a National and Public Health Emergency on Reproductive Rights
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) in writing to President Biden and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging them to immediately declare national and public health emergencies over Americans' access to reproductive care. Millions of Americans have been endangered by the Supreme Court's reckless decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate the constitutional right … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
WATCH: Van Hollen Pushes for Chesapeake Bay Priorities in Appropriations Hearing with Interior Secretary Haaland
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) urged U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland to continue prioritizing funding and programs to protect the Chesapeake Bay and the tourism and outdoor recreation opportunities it provides. During a hearing in the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, on which the Senator serves, Senator Van Hollen discussed with Secretary Haaland the importance of providing robust funding to support areas important to … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
Van Hollen, Murray Introduce Resolution Celebrating Anniversary of the EEOC, Push to Confirm Kalpana Kotagal Without Delay
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in marking the 57th anniversary of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) with a resolution celebrating the agency's critical mission protecting workers' rights and enforcing our nation's workplace harassment and discrimination laws. The resolution commemorates the 57-year anniversary since the establishment of the EEOC in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on July 2, 1965, and recognizes … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Van Hollen, Jacobs Introduce Legislation to Expand Human Rights Vetting for Security Cooperation Programs
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.-53) introduced the Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act, legislation to close loopholes in the Leahy Laws, conduct needed oversight of Pentagon security cooperation programs, and ensure that the United States does not provide security assistance to human rights violators under two key Department of Defense funding authorities. The lawmakers' Upholding Human Rights Abroad Act would also increase transparency and expand … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Van Hollen Joins Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Protect the Right of Women to Cross State Lines to Seek Abortion Care
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in introducing the Freedom to Travel for Health Care Act of 2022. This legislation would make it crystal clear that it is illegal for anti-choice states to limit travel for abortion services and would empower the Attorney General and impacted individuals to bring civil action against those who restrict a woman's right … Continue Reading
July 12, 2022
Van Hollen, Leahy, Murphy, Durbin Press Administration for Answers on US Review into Death of American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pressing for answers regarding the United States Security Coordinator's (USSC) recent review into the shooting death of American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. In their letter, the Senators note the USSC review does not meet Blinken's call for "an independent, credible investigation" and ask that they be provided USSC's … Continue Reading
July 11, 2022
Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Big Banks on Widespread Zelle Fraud
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) alongside Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in pressing seven of the nation's largest banks regarding widespread fraud on Zelle, their online peer-to-peer money transfer program. "In 2021, consumers and businesses made 1.8 billion payments…through Zelle…[and p]ayment … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Van Hollen, Menendez Call for TPS Extension, Re-Designation for Venezuela
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) called on the Biden administration to continue to protect displaced Venezuelans by extending and re-designating Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). In a new letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators underscored the Maduro regime's crimes against humanity in addition to the uptick in armed violence in Venezuela, growing humanitarian needs, and … Continue Reading
July 08, 2022
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $320,000 to Boost Harford Co. Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) announced $319,200 to invest in Harford County's travel, tourism, and outdoor recreation. This investment through the Economic Development Administration's Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation program was funded by the American Rescue Plan which the lawmakers fought to pass. This funding will be used to construct a public boat pier and dock in Havre de Grace, purchase an electric shuttle … Continue Reading
