Press Releases
Van Hollen, Manchin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Designate November As National Homeless Children And Youth Awareness Month
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) in introducing a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 2021 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month to bring attention to the children and youth experiencing homelessness across the country. In the United States, more than 1.4 million students experiencing homelessness during the 2018-2019 school year. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded children and youth … Continue Reading
November 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Kaine, Senate Colleagues Introduce Embrace Act To Improve Resilience At Military Facilities & Protect Chesapeake Bay
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), introduced the Enhancing Military Base Resilience and Conserving Ecosystems through Stormwater Management (EMBRACE) Act, legislation to authorize the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out stormwater management projects at military installations to improve resilience at the facilities while protecting waterways and stormwater impacted ecosystems, such as those that feed into the … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Letter to Hogan Details Federal Action to Replenish Victims of Crime Funds
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 wrote to Governor Larry Hogan Wednesday to set the record straight after a misleading letter and press pronouncements that publicly mischaracterized the state of Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds. "Our letter today is intended to ensure that your Administration clearly understands the structure of federal … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Baldwin Introduce Legislation to Address Supply Chain Disruptions and Support Made In America Production
As ongoing, pandemic related supply chain disruptions impact businesses and consumers, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) in introducing new legislation to help address the issue. The Supply Chain Resiliency Act will alleviate current supply chain bottlenecks and prevent future disruptions by investing in American companies to reduce our reliance on long supply chains and ensure that critical products are made in America. The Supply Chain Resiliency … Continue Reading
November 03, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $475,000 in American Rescue Plan Funding for Maryland’s Museums and Libraries
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.) today announced $474,461 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to support museums and libraries as they make adjustments related to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our museums and libraries serve as essential cultural and learning hubs in our … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, Cassidy Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Reform National Flood Insurance Program
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years, while implementing a series of sweeping reforms to address the waste, abuse and mismanagement plaguing the system. Over five million Americans depend upon the NFIP. Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives. The National Flood Insurance … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Blumenthal, Colleagues Call On CBP To End Detention Of People Who Are Pregnant, Postpartum, Or Nursing
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in calling on Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to "direct U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), including its component agency Border Patrol, to issue a policy prohibiting the detention of people who are pregnant, postpartum, and/or nursing." The letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Dick … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Bass Lead Bicameral Letter Urging the Administration to Provide Protections to Cameroonians Fleeing Violence, Humanitarian Crisis
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.) led a bicameral letter with over 50 of their colleagues to President Joe Biden and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Administration to provide critical protections to Cameroonians in the midst of the current humanitarian crisis facing the nation. Senator Van Hollen is the Chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Inclusion of Affordable Housing Provisions in Build Back Better Framework, Including Funding for Housing Mobility Vouchers & First-Time, First-Generation Home-Buying Assistance
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the inclusion of over $40 billion in affordable housing initiatives within the Build Back Better Framework, including $24 billion to support rental assistance and $300 million for wraparound services to help make it more affordable for families with young children to move to areas of greater opportunity, in line with his bipartisan Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act. The bill also expands access to homeownership with $5 billion … Continue Reading
November 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown Introduce Bill to Secure Service Academy Nominations of Congressional Districts, States Without Representation
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman Anthony Brown (both D-Md.) have introduced new bicameral legislation to secure the U.S. Service Academy nominations of states and congressional districts that lack representation in Congress due to the death, resignation, or removal from office of a sitting member of Congress. After the passing of Maryland Congressman Elijah Cummings in 2019, the delegation was dismayed to learn that the Congressional District's allotted service academy openings … Continue Reading
October 29, 2021
Van Hollen, Heinrich Applaud Inclusion of Key Provisions to Help Americans Reduce Their Energy Costs & Improve their At-Home Energy Efficiency in Build Back Better Framework
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) applauded the inclusion of their provisions to help American families reduce their energy costs and improve energy efficiency in their homes within the Build Back Better Framework. The legislation includes key provisions of Senator Van Hollen's HOPE for HOMES Act and Senator Heinrich's Zero-Emission Homes Act. "Addressing the climate emergency is not just an urgent challenge - it's also an opportunity to create jobs and … Continue Reading
October 29, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Schatz Reintroduce Legislation to Promote Educational Opportunities for Incarcerated Americans
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) reintroduced legislation to expand access to education for Americans in federal prisons. The Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act (PREP) Act would create an office within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) focused on correctional education and fund a new program to address the lack of educational opportunities currently offered. "When I visited Maryland's Jessup Correctional Institution for … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Markey, Dingell Applaud Inclusion Of Clean Energy Accelerator In Build Back Better Framework
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-12) applauded the inclusion of their Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator within the Build Back Better framework announced by President Joseph R. Biden. The Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator will leverage private money using an initial capitalization and create a new revolving financing structure for emissions-reducing projects across the country, while … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown, Thune Push Biden-Harris Administration to Adopt Bipartisan Plan to Improve Prior Authorization in Medicare Advantage Plans
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and John Thune (R-S.D.) in requesting an update on the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) efforts to streamline prior authorization protocols across programs, including Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. The senators commended the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to ensuring timely access to health care and are encouraging the administration to take additional steps to strengthen prior … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Booker, Peters Urge Interior Department to Place Emergency Protections on Gray Wolves
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) in urging the U.S. Department of Interior to issue an emergency listing to restore temporary federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections to the gray wolf in the western United States. The letter comes on the heels of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service initiation of a comprehensive status review of the gray wolf in the western United States as well as the recent enactment of … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Durbin, Feinstein Call on USDA OIG to Audit Oversight of Dog Breeders
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct a more in-depth audit to properly examine the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) oversight of dog breeders regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The request comes after the USDA OIG noted in a recent report that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered efforts to conduct … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Durbin, Feinstein Call on USDA OIG to Audit Oversight of Dog Breeders
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to conduct a more in-depth audit to properly examine the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) oversight of dog breeders regulated under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The request comes after the USDA OIG noted in a recent report that the COVID-19 pandemic hindered efforts to conduct … Continue Reading
October 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Beyer Applaud Inclusion of Millionaires Surtax in Build Back Better Framework
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) applauded the inclusion of their millionaires surtax within the Build Back Better Framework. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Beyer initially introduced this concept in their Millionaires Surtax Act in November 2019 and reintroduced this legislation in June of this year. This provision had already received broad support, having been included in the House Ways & Means Committee's reconciliation … Continue Reading
October 27, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Thanks Health Care Workers
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.) released a video thanking health care workers in Maryland and across America for their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 20 million people work in the health care industry in the United States, including health care technicians, practitioners, physicians, surgeons, registered nurses, nursing … Continue Reading
October 26, 2021
Van Hollen, Schatz Introduce Legislation To Promote Educational Opportunities for Incarcerated Americans
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) in reintroducing legislation to expand access to education for Americans in federal prisons. The Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons Act (PREP) Act would create an office within the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) focused on correctional education and fund a new program to address the lack of educational opportunities currently offered. Education programs in prison can dramatically help formerly … Continue Reading
