Press Releases
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Urge President Trump to Stop Erdogan from Violating UN Security Council Resolutions Regarding Varosha
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined today by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) in voicing grave concerns over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announced intention to open the beach in Varosha, Cyprus, in violation of several United Nations Resolutions and longstanding … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Urge Administration to Preserve Health Care Providers’ Access to Pandemic Relief Funding
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN) along with more than 15 colleagues, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, expressing concerns about the recent change in reporting requirements for hospitals and health systems that receive relief funds from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). This change could force providers to return relief funding that they have already received. Rural hospitals and … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Smith Press Trump Administration For Answers Over Disturbing Whistleblower Complaint Detailing ICE’s Human Rights Violations, Medical Malpractice
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today pressed the Trump administration for critical information regarding a whistleblower complaint that warned of major human rights violations and medical malpractice—including forced sterilizations and hysterectomies—at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. The whistleblower complaint sparked national outrage and an immediate call for further investigation by Van Hollen, Merkley, Smith, … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen Announces Legislation to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, Including for Military Members and Federal Employees
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced legislation to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. The legislation, which can be found here, is cosponsored by over 15 of the Senator’s colleagues. “President Trump is using federal employees and our troops as pawns in his payroll tax scheme, and it’s unacceptable. During this time of heightened uncertainty, … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Cardin, Van Hollen, Trone Announce More Than $430,000 to Expand Telemedicine in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $430,124 in federal funding to establish a Virtual Cancer Care and Chronic Disease Telemedicine Program for Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Md. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program provided in part by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). “The COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Maryland Lawmakers Announce More Than $280,000 in Federal Funding to Expand Digital Education Resources During the Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Andy Harris M.D (all Md.) today announced $280,450 in federal funding to expand educational resources and digital access in libraries and museums across Maryland. “Libraries and museums serve as a vehicle for educating individuals of all ages while also preserving our nation’s history,” said the lawmakers. “This federal investment will provide local institutions with the ability to ensure families and educators … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce $100,000 in Federal Funding for Maryland Public Television Educational Programs
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 $100,000 in federal funding for Maryland Public Television (MPT) to develop personalized learning experiences for children, especially those in low-income communities. Funding comes from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting as part of the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready to Learn (RTL) … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Continue to Press State Leaders for Far Greater Transparency, Expediency in Unemployment Insurance Processing
Members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, during a conference call yesterday again urged Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany Robinson to redouble the agency’s efforts to improve the expediency with which Marylanders’ claims for Unemployment Insurance (UI) are processed. Following up on their … Continue Reading
October 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Lankford Make Bipartisan Push for Answers on Turkey’s Reported Use of the S-400 Anti-Aircraft System to Detect F-16s
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) sent a letter to United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressing for details on Turkey’s reported use of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft system. Turkey’s use of the S-400 could undermine U.S. national security, allowing Russia a backdoor to spy on NATO allies. In their letter, the Senators once again urge Secretary Pompeo to sanction Turkey for the initial purchase of the S-400, as required under the … Continue Reading
October 06, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $345,000 in Federal Funding to Improve Transit in Underserved Communities
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 today announced $346,500 in federal funding to upgrade transportation services and increase transit access in rural and low-income communities across Maryland. “Robust, reliable, and affordable public transit lifts up communities and increases economic opportunity. This new federal funding will help ensure Marylanders … Continue Reading
October 06, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces More Than $8.3 Million for Johns Hopkins University Research on COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $8,310,893 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to research COVID-19 health disparities among underserved populations and minority communities.“COVID-19 has exposed longstanding inequities in our health care system, making Black, Latino and Indigenous communities in Maryland and around the nation more likely to face higher rates of … Continue Reading
October 05, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce Legislation to Make Southern Maryland a New National Heritage Area
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) today announced legislation to designate Southern Maryland as a National Heritage Area (NHA) to further commemorate, conserve and promote important natural, scenic, historic, cultural and recreational resources in St. Mary’s, Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s counties. National Heritage Areas are partnerships among the National Park Service, states and local communities in which the Park Service … Continue Reading
October 05, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Applaud More Than $7.8 Million for Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery Expansion
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) applauded the recent award of $7,865,950 in federal funding for a significant expansion of the Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) National Cemetery Administration (NCA). This grant will fund the construction of 1,302 in-ground cremation sites, 450 columbarium niches, creation and maintenance of buildings, road improvements, landscaping, and supporting … Continue Reading
October 05, 2020
Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Brown Send Letter to Administration for Failure to Provide Restitution to Veteran Victims of Deceptive Marketing Practices
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), along with 13 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathleen Kraninger regarding the Bureau’s recent public enforcement actions against mortgage originators offering Veterans Administration (VA)-guaranteed loans. Between July 2020 and September 2020, the CFPB announced consent orders against eight different mortgage lenders for … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $2.6 Million for Disaster and Hazard Mitigation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, David Trone (all Md.) today announced $2,612,302 in federal funding for the Maryland Emergency Management Agency to invest in flood prevention and hazard mitigation efforts along the Eastern Shore. “Flooding and other natural disasters have a long-lasting impact on Marylanders, their homes and their businesses. These new … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Develop Vaccine Strategy That Addresses Coronavirus’ Disproportionate Impacts on Communities of Color
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and 19 of their Senate colleagues in demanding that the Trump Administration develop a national vaccine distribution strategy that both recognizes and addresses the alarming racial disparities in rates of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. In May, Senator Van Hollen, along with several other members of the Maryland congressional delegation, urged Maryland Governor Hogan to use race and ethnicity data to … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Van Hollen Doubles Down on Call for Trump Administration to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional for Military and Federal Employees
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought urging them once again to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump optional for federal employees and service members. The letter follows the Senator’s exchange with Secretary Mnuchin during a recent Banking Committee hearing, in which Mnuchin stated that it would be “reasonable” to allow federal employees and members of … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Dems Urge Pompeo to Deescalate Violence in the South Caucasus and Broker Negotiations
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 10 Senate colleagues, in raising serious concerns over escalating violence in the south Caucasus between Azerbaijan - backed by Turkey - and Armenia. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Senators called for the immediate suspension of U.S. security assistance to Azerbaijan and urged Pompeo to directly engage with leaders in Azerbaijan, … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Udall, Dingell Introduce Care Corps Demonstration Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) reintroduced the Care Corps Demonstration Act to build and strengthen America’s caregiving workforce and help meet the growing demand for caregivers working with seniors and people living with disabilities. The nation’s 65-and-older population is expected to almost double in size, from 49 million to 95 million Americans by 2060. By 2030, older Americans are expected to make up … Continue Reading
October 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Bass Introduce New Community-Based Crisis Response Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) were joined by local and national justice advocates to announce new legislation to improve our emergency response capabilities by creating systemic alternatives to police involvement, especially where it could lead to unnecessary escalation. Their new legislation, the Community-Based Response Act, creates a new Community-Based Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Grant Program through the Department of … Continue Reading
