Press Releases
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Van Hollen, Rounds, Bass Legislation To Strengthen U.S. Partnership With African Nations
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Congresswoman Karen Bass applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's passage this week of their bipartisan Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Act of 2021. This legislation would make permanent the State Department's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and was passed by the House of Representatives on April 20, 2021. Senator Van Hollen and Senator Rounds are Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the U.S. … Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Markey, and Omar Lead Bicameral Letter to President Biden Urging Bold Climate Action in Budget Reconciliation
In three weeks, President Joe Biden will attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 26th Conference of Parties (COP26), where he will be expected to advocate for global climate cooperation, secure additional emission reduction commitments, and catalyze bold action from world leaders to prevent a global temperature rise greater than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Today, ahead of COP26, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) andEdward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (Minn.-05) led … Continue Reading
October 22, 2021
Maryland and Virginia Senators Call for WMATA’s Full Cooperation to Address Safety Issues
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) wrote to Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) CEO Paul Wiedefeld Thursday urging cooperation, transparency, and action to address safety concerns and restore public confidence in the transit agency. The senators called for WMATA's full cooperation with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission in the effort to identify the … Continue Reading
October 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Rubio Introduce Resolution Commemorating Operation Provide Comfort and Reiterating the Important Partnership Between the U.S. and Iraqi Kurdistan
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced a resolution commemorating Operation Provide Comfort and reiterating the partnership between the U.S. and Iraqi Kurdistan. Through Operation Provide Comfort, the largest humanitarian operation of its kind, the United States delivered key humanitarian relief and enforced a no-fly zone in order to protect the citizens of Iraqi Kurdistan from the Saddam Hussein regime. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Van Hollen, Trone Introduce the Bipartisan Fresh Start Act to Remove Barriers for Justice-Impacted Individuals
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congressman David Trone (both D-Md.) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase funding for automated record expungement processes to help justice-impacted individuals find employment opportunities. After decades of overcriminalization, between 70 million and 100 million Americans have criminal records that appear in routine background checks, preventing many individuals from obtaining jobs, housing, and educational opportunities. … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Van Hollen, Wyden, Blumenthal, Durbin and Markey Ask FCC to Act on National Security Risks from Foreign Telecommunications Services Companies
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin, (D-Ill.), and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), asked the Federal Communications Commission to take action in response to national security risks posed by foreign companies that manage and service U.S. wireless phone networks. Although the U.S. government has responded forcefully to risks from Chinese hardware manufacturers, including Huawei and ZTE, it has not yet accounted for risks from foreign … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Meeks, McCaul Support Biden’s Plans to Welcome Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Representatives Gregory W. Meeks and Michael McCaul in supporting President Biden's plans to welcome His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew this month. The bipartisan letter was addressed to the President with 180 additional co-signers. The letter can be found here and the text below: Dear President Biden,With our many constituents in the Orthodox Christian community across the country, we are looking forward to your welcome of His All … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Bera Introduce New Bicameral Bill to Make it Easier for Americans to Sign Up for Health Care, Close Massive Enrollment Gap
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (D-Calif.) introduced new legislation to simplify health care enrollment for Americans. The lawmakers' innovative new bill, The Easy Enrollment in Health Care Act, will streamline health care enrollment for uninsured families and help close the massive gap in eligible but uninsured Americans. This legislation, modeled off a program already successfully in place in Maryland, would provide Americans the opportunity to … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Van Hollen Moves New FBI Headquarters Forward in Key Senate Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) announced the inclusion of new language urging the General Services Administration (GSA) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to move forward on the proposed new FBI headquarters and requiring GSA to submit a report updating Congress on the construction of the new headquarters. "For the last four years, … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds SBA Approval of Maryland Disaster Relief for Tropical Depression Ida
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all Md.) applauded the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for approving the State of Maryland's request for a physical disaster declaration due to damage from Tropical Depression Ida. This declaration qualifies eligible homeowners, businesses, and nonprofit organizations for … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen Announces over $23 Million in Direct Investments for Baltimore Region Projects Included in Key Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of over $23 million in direct federal funding for local projects across the Baltimore region within the Committee's proposed annual funding legislation. The projects encompass a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from public safety to education to infrastructure to economic development to community health. Overall, Senator Van Hollen included over $62 million … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen Announces over $7 Million in Direct Investments for Anne Arundel County and Southern Maryland Projects Included in Key Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of over $7 million in direct federal funding for local infrastructure and public safety projects in Southern Maryland within the Committee's proposed annual funding legislation. Overall, Senator Van Hollen included over $62 million in federal dollars directly for Maryland within the Committee's proposed legislation. A full list of the funds included by Senator Van Hollen in … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen Announces over $17 Million in Direct Investments for Prince George’s and Montgomery County Projects Included in Key Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of over $17 million in direct federal funding for local projects across Prince George's and Montgomery Counties within the Committee's proposed annual funding legislation. The projects encompass a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from infrastructure improvements to economic development to supporting local schools and universities. Overall, Senator Van … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen Announces over $6 Million in Direct Investments for the Eastern Shore Projects Included in Key Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of over $6 million in direct federal funding for local projects across the Eastern Shore within the Committee's proposed annual funding legislation. The projects encompass a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from infrastructure improvements to economic development to supporting local schools and universities. Overall, Senator Van Hollen included over $62 … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen Announces over $7 Million in Direct Investments for Western Maryland Projects Included in Key Committee Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the inclusion of over $7 million in direct federal funding for local projects across Western Maryland within the Committee's proposed annual funding legislation. The projects encompass a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from infrastructure improvements to economic development. Overall, Senator Van Hollen included over $62 million in federal dollars directly for Maryland … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge SBA to Approve Disaster Declaration for Maryland Counties Affected by Hurricane Ida
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all Md.) wrote to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman urging the agency to approve the State of Maryland's request for a physical disaster … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez Urge SEC to Promote Greater Diversity Among Asset Managers, Adopt Diversity Recommendations from D&I Subcommittee of the SEC Asset Management Advisory Committee
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), sent a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler urging the Commission to expeditiously adopt the Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) of the SEC Asset Management Advisory Committee's (AMAC) July 7, 2021, recommendations to promote greater transparency and diversity among asset managers. "Women and people of color are dramatically underrepresented in the field of asset … Continue Reading
October 15, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $3.6 Million for Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Projects
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 $3,683,392 in federal funding to support habitat restoration, habitat management, planning and implementation of projects in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay watershed. Maryland received more than one-third of the $10 million in new investments announced throughout the six watershed states and the … Continue Reading
October 15, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $600,000 for Community Policing Development Programs
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 $603,327 in federal funding to bolster de-escalation and crisis intervention training for police departments across the state. "Cultivating meaningful and trusting relationships between law enforcement personnel and the communities they protect is essential," the lawmakers said. "This new … Continue Reading
October 14, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Push to Keep Major Investments in Affordable Housing in Build Back Better Package
As Maryland and many other states across the U.S. confront an unprecedented housing affordability crisis, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senator Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are working closely with their colleagues to ensure that comprehensive housing investments stay in President Biden's Build Back Better plan. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), … Continue Reading