Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Ruppersberger Statement on Changed Maryland Air National Guard Mission
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (all D-Md.) today released the following joint statement on the U.S. Air Force decision to expand the cyber mission of the Maryland Air National Guard. “The expansion of Maryland Air National Guard’s cyber mission is an important investment in and recognition of the critical work that our National Guardsmen and women are doing to support our national security. Maryland is the home of our nation’s premier cyber … Continue Reading
February 29, 2024
Van Hollen Statement on Starvation in Gaza, Incident in Gaza City Today
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding starvation in Gaza and the incident in Gaza City today: “People are starving in Gaza. And civilians are dying every day - including in the horrific incident in Gaza City today. This has gone on for far too long without sufficient action. There is no excuse for this situation. President Biden must demand accountability and immediately take decisive action to ensure that large-scale deliveries of humanitarian aid … Continue Reading
February 29, 2024
Van Hollen, Luján Reintroduce Campaign Finance Reform Bills to Strengthen FEC, Revitalize Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns
Van Hollen, Luján Reintroduce Campaign Finance Reform Bills to Strengthen FEC, Revitalize Public Financing of Presidential Campaigns WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) reintroduced two campaign finance reform bills to bring dramatic and necessary change to our nation’s campaign finance system, which currently enables wealthy private interests to hold outsized influence over the American political process. The Senators’ Empowering Mass … Continue Reading
February 23, 2024
Van Hollen, Schatz, Colleagues Press Administration on Concerns with New Arms Sales to Netanyahu Government, Request Assurances Prior to Proceeding
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) as well as Senators Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) sent a letter to President Biden expressing concern around any additional transfer of U.S. weapons, including bombs, to the Netanyahu government in light of the current humanitarian disaster in Gaza and the developing crisis in Rafah. The Senators go on to press the President for specific commitments from the Netanyahu government prior to any … Continue Reading
February 22, 2024
Van Hollen, Clarke Welcome FCC’s Reinstatement of Broadcaster Workforce Diversity Reporting
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) welcomed the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) reinstatement of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Form 395-B, which requires broadcasters to collect data on the diversity of their workforces. The FCC is required by law to collect this data but for more than 20 years has failed to do so. Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman Clarke have pressed the FCC since 2019 to fulfill this mandate. … Continue Reading
February 22, 2024
Van Hollen Statement Marking Two Years Since Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement ahead of the February 24 anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. “It’s been two years since Vladimir Putin launched his unprovoked and ruthless attacks on the people of Ukraine. His war continues to threaten Ukrainian sovereignty, regional stability, and the fate of democracy around the world. If this war is not proof enough of Putin’s sinister goal of weakening these institutions, the imprisonment and … Continue Reading
February 21, 2024
Van Hollen Urges Pakistan Government to Investigate Reports of Election Fraud, Interference
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to the Pakistan Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan applauding the Pakistani people for their strong participation in the recent February 8th election, denouncing the political violence surrounding the election, and urging a full investigation into reports of electoral fraud and interference. The Senator began, “I applaud the millions of Pakistanis who voted on February 8 in your country’s elections. The significant turnout of … Continue Reading
February 21, 2024
Van Hollen, Merkley, Klobuchar, Padilla: Modernize Vote.gov, Increase Voter Access to Resources and Information
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led a group of 13 Senators in a letter to U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Robin Carnahan regarding GSA’s implementation of President Biden’s 2021 Executive Order. The letter requests updates as the agency implements the Executive Order by modernizing Vote.gov to promote and increase voting access. “The Voting Executive Order specifically instructed GSA to … Continue Reading
February 20, 2024
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $213 Million to Support Replacement of Maryland Transit Administration’s Light Rail Fleet
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $213,696,341 to the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) to complete its Light Rail Vehicle Fleet Replacement project. The federal funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Rail Vehicle Replacement (RVR) program, will support the MTA’s efforts to replace all 52 aging light rail vehicles in its … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Nearly $1 Million to Support Agriculture on the Eastern Shore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced $997,784 to support agricultural producers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The federal funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agriculture Innovation Center program, will further enable the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center (ESEC) to operate the Chesapeake Agriculture Innovation Center, which will provide local agricultural producers with the various resources and services they need to develop their … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Maryland Airports Receive Nearly $20 Million for Integral Infrastructure Improvements
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $19,974,160 in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for projects at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport, the base of operations for Maryland’s Air National Guard. The awards were distributed under the FY2024 Airport Terminal Program, authorized … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Van Hollen, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Expand Student Debt Relief for Parent Borrowers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led several of his democratic colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging the department to provide additional student debt relief to parent borrowers. In their letter, the Senators express appreciation for the Biden Administration’s historic actions to alleviate the growing student debt crisis, but note concern that borrowers in the Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Parent PLUS) program have largely been excluded from … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Van Hollen Joins Ossoff, Rev. Warnock, Senators in Support of Ongoing U.S. Diplomacy to Free Hostages, Restore Mutual Ceasefire Agreement in Gaza
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Jon Ossoff and Reverend Raphael Warnock (both D-Ga.) alongside their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden supporting ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to secure the release of Israeli hostages in tandem with the restoration of a mutual ceasefire agreement in Gaza. In addition to Senator Van Hollen, the letter led by Senators Ossoff and Rev. Warnock, was signed by Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Patty Murray … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Maryland Delegation Congratulates University System of Maryland on Their Selection as a 2023 Help America Vote College Program Award Recipient
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) congratulated the University System of Maryland on their selection as one of 21 national award recipients for the Help America Vote College Program (HAVCP). The University System of Maryland will receive $78,521 in federal funding from the 2023 Help America Vote College Program which provides grants to encourage … Continue Reading
February 13, 2024
Van Hollen Statement on Senate Passage of the National Security Supplemental
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on his vote in support of the National Security Act: “As our nation and our allies face a host of challenges across the globe, it’s critical that we deploy the necessary resources to support democracy and humanitarian aid abroad. For Ukraine, especially, this assistance could not come at a more crucial time. While Putin continues to wage his war of aggression against the Ukrainian people and on democracy itself, … Continue Reading
February 11, 2024
Van Hollen Joins Welch, Colleagues in Urging USDA, USTR, and State Department to Address Illegal Deforestation Linked to Avocados Produced in Mexico
Ahead of the Super Bowl, which marks the largest day of consumption of avocados in America, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) alongside their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Katherine Tai requesting more information about the Administration’s efforts to address illegal deforestation and unsustainable water use linked to avocados … Continue Reading
February 10, 2024
Following Amendment Push, Van Hollen, Durbin, Kaine, Schatz & Colleagues Welcome New National Security Memorandum to Ensure U.S. Security Assistance is Used in Line with International Law
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and their colleagues welcomed a new National Security Memorandum (NSM) released by the Biden Administration Thursday aimed at ensuring all U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law, including international humanitarian law. The NSM is modeled off of the Senators’ amendment to ensure U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law. Additional cosponsors … Continue Reading
February 09, 2024
Van Hollen Joins Welch in Calling for Delivery of Urgently Needed Humanitarian Aid to Civilians in Gaza
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) alongside their colleagues in introducing a resolution calling on the Administration to work with allies and partners within the international community to dramatically increase humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to prevent further spread of disease and starvation. Senator Welch was joined by Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Michael … Continue Reading
February 09, 2024
Van Hollen, Warren, Senators Propose Amendment to Monitor and Reduce Harm to Civilians from U.S.-Origin Weapons
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), introduced an amendment to the National Security Act of 2024 that would require the State Department to review the use of U.S. weapons over the past year in conflicts around the world, including by Israel in Gaza, and to ensure that any use of U.S. weapons is in accordance with U.S. policy and international law. Specifically, the amendment would provide $10 … Continue Reading
February 08, 2024
Alongside Biden Administration, Van Hollen Announces National Security Memorandum to Ensure U.S. Security Assistance is Used in Line with International Law
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced alongside the Biden Administration a new National Security Memorandum (NSM) aimed at ensuring all U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law, including international humanitarian law. The NSM - which Senator Van Hollen worked closely with the Administration to develop following the release of his amendment - will for the first time require that, prior to the transfer of U.S. security assistance, recipient countries … Continue Reading