Press Releases
Van Hollen, Senators to Defense Department: Reinstate Funding for Stars & Stripes
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), along with a bipartisan group of senators, today called on the Defense Department to reinstate funding for the Stars and Stripes newspaper. The Defense Department currently plans to stop publishing the newspaper at the end of this month and dissolve the organization by January 31, 2021.“Stars and Stripes is an essential part of our nation’s freedom of the press that serves the very population charged with defending that … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Maryland Delegation Members Push for DOD to Reconsider Changes to Military Base Clinics
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined by Senator Ben Cardin and Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone urged House and Senate Armed Services Committee leaders to include a provision within the final defense authorization bill to require the Department of Defense (DOD) to closely examine recently proposed changes to military medical treatment facilities (MTFs). The members note … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Democratic Senators Urge School Nutrition Program Extension for 2020-2021 School Year
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and 27 colleagues are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to fully extend school meal waivers through the end of the 2020-2021 school year so that schools have the flexibility to fully serve students whether or not they are attending school in person. The senators initially made this request in July, and the USDA recently announced that it will agree to extend some of the school meal waivers. The USDA extended until … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Demand the Office of Special Counsel Investigate HUD Secretary Ben Carson for Possible Hatch Act Violation
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today in demanding the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) investigate whether Secretary Ben Carson of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), violated the Hatch Act. The Hatch Act limits the use of federal resources for certain political activities … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Applaud $4.5 Million in Federal Funding to Combat Opioid Crisis
Today, 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, and David Trone (all Md.) applauded the award of $4,589,064 in federal funds to the Maryland Department of Labor as part of a pilot program to combat the opioid crisis through job training and recovery services.“This pilot program will help improve long-term economic and public health outcomes for communities across … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces More Than $904,000 in Federal Funding for Baltimore Firefighters
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) today announced $904,545.45 in federal funding for firefighters and first responders in Baltimore, Md. through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant - COVID-19 Supplemental Program (AFG-S) program. The funding will help purchase new personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies for Baltimore City firefighters as they … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Inhofe Lead Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Expand Aviation Workforce Training
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) led a bipartisan group of over 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) urging them to fully implement two aviation workforce grant programs authorized in the 2018 FAA Reauthorization bill that invest in and expand the development of the next generation of aircraft pilots and maintenance technicians. As the Senators note in their … Continue Reading
August 31, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces More Than $1.6 Million for Johns Hopkins University STEM Programs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $1,650,000 in federal funding for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education programs at Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Funding comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF). It will help strengthen JHU’s foundations in data science, mathematics and statistics. Importantly, the funding will help diversify the STEM workforce by … Continue Reading
August 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Schumer Blast Trump Administration’s Dangerous Political Interference in COVID-19 Response
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter on Friday to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar criticizing the Trump Administration for their continued political interference in the COVID-19 response. Along with 30 of their colleagues, the Senators warned that decisions to pressure and overrule public health experts will erode public trust and hamper efforts to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.“The timing of this interference is … Continue Reading
August 28, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $3.4 Million in Funding for Small Businesses Impacted by the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $3.4 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act Recovery Assistance to support Maryland small businesses and entrepreneurs harmed by the … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $580,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighters in Southern Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) today announced an award of $576,562.77 in federal funding for firefighters and first responders in Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties.“Maryland’s firefighters risk life and limb for our local communities. This funding means Southern Maryland firefighters can buy equipment to better protect themselves and the communities they serve,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I will keep fighting to ensure that … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More than $115,000 in Federal Funding for Carroll County Fire Fighters and First Responders
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) today announced an award of $115,660.75 in federal funding for firefighters and first responders in Carroll County.“Maryland’s firefighters risk life and limb for our local communities. This funding means Carroll County firefighters can buy equipment to better protect themselves and the communities they serve,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I will keep fighting to ensure that Maryland’s first responders have … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Release Statements on USCIS Decision to Reverse Course, Cancel Furloughs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statements in response to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) decision to cancel its previously announced employee furloughs. In early July, the Senators wrote a letter to USCIS urging the Agency to reconsider the planned furloughs and to eliminate the harmful policies that have undermined its budget, threatened employees’ livelihoods, and hurt U.S. immigration services at large.“I’m … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $800,000 in Federal Funding for Western Maryland Fire Fighters
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced an award of $811,625.20 in federal funding for firefighters and first responders in Garrett and Allegany Counties.“Maryland’s firefighters risk life and limb for our local communities. This funding means Western Maryland firefighters can buy equipment to better protect themselves and the communities they serve,” said Senator Van Hollen. “I will keep fighting to ensure that Maryland’s first … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $500,000 for Calvert County Firefighters
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced $493,500 in federal funding for Calvert County firefighters through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.“Every minute counts in an emergency. This funding will help ensure that our fire departments have the staffing levels necessary to protect Maryland families and … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce Nearly $400,000 for Owings Mills Firefighters
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen John Sarbanes and Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) announced $390,910 in federal funding for Owings Mills’ Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Company through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.“Every minute counts in an emergency. This funding will help ensure that our fire departments have the staffing levels … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $1 Million for Fire Departments in Prince George’s, Montgomery Counties
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Anthony G. Brown, and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) announced $1,142,500 in federal funding for Prince George’s and Montgomery County firefighters through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program.Awards were allocated as follows:$448,500 to the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department$226,000 to the … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
In Response to Van Hollen-Led Letter, Social Security Administration Reveals Devastating Impact of Permanently Eliminating Payroll Tax
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) released the letter they received from the Social Security Administration (SSA) Chief Actuary Stephen Goss in response to their request for an analysis on the impact of eliminating the payroll tax that funds Social Security’s Old Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund and Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund. In recent remarks, … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Hirono, Capito, Whitehouse Call on CMS to Make All Recommended Vaccines Accessible to Medicare Beneficiaries
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma requesting CMS make all recommended vaccines accessible to Medicare beneficiaries. Under current law, Medicare immunization coverage varies by vaccine. Some vaccines, like those that protect against influenza and pneumococcal infection, are available with no additional … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Senators Submit Amicus Brief on Ending Discrimination in Foster Care and Adoption
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) submitted an amicus brief in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, an impending Supreme Court case focused on anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the foster care and adoption system. In March 2018, the City of Philadelphia learned that two of the agencies it partners with to provide foster care services to children in the public child welfare system would not allow same-sex couples to be foster parents, based on the agencies’ religious … Continue Reading
