Press Releases
Van Hollen Leads Senate Democrats in Announcing New Legislation to Make Polluters Pay for Climate Damage
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) - joined by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) - announced new legislation to require the biggest polluters to begin paying their fair share for a just clean energy transition. The legislation, titled the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act, requires the largest U.S.-based fossil fuel extractors and oil refiners and foreign-owned companies doing business … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Senate Passes Van Hollen Amendment to Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to Ensure Secure Financing of Public-Private Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the Senate passage of his bipartisan amendment to ensure sound financial footing of public-private partnership projects using Federal Transportation Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (TIFIA) financing. The amendment was cosponsored by Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). This provision was initially included in the bipartisan Promoting Infrastructure by Protecting Our Subcontractors and Taxpayers Act … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Warren, Gillibrand Urge Head of Treasury’s New Climate Hub to Implement a Bold Agenda to Tackle Climate Crisis
Text of Letter (PDF)United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to John Morton - the first Climate Counselor at the new Climate Hub at the U.S. Department of the Treasury - urging swift and aggressive action to tackle the climate crisis, a major threat to the country’s health, security, and financial system.“We are seeking information on how you plan to fulfill this role in the months ahead, including how you intend … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Brown Announce Nearly $2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Strengthen Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services in Anne Arundel County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) announced $1,999,983 in American Rescue Plan funding for Arundel Lodge, Inc., located in Edgewater, to boost their mental health and substance use disorder treatment services. Funding comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of individuals, … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Raskin, Trone Announce Nearly $2 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Services
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,915,270 in American Rescue Plan funding to increase access to mental and behavioral health and substance use rehabilitation services in Montgomery County. The funding comes from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.“The pandemic has taken an undeniable toll on the mental health of many … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Van Hollen Secures Maryland Wins in Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the newly-released text of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal: “Our nation is at a critical juncture. As we work to beat this pandemic and build a stronger and more inclusive economy, we must seize this opportunity to generate more good-paying jobs, tackle the climate crisis, and ensure that every American has a chance for a bright future. While we already provided emergency relief to our families, small … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Revive Federal Support for Baltimore’s Red Line Transit Project
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) announced today that they secured language in the bipartisan infrastructure legislation currently being considered by the Senate that would expedite the Red Line rail project in Baltimore, should state and local leaders choose to restart it. In 2015, after federal lawmakers secured $900 million in federal investment for the East-West Red Line transit project for Baltimore City, Gov. Larry Hogan canceled it, rejecting the jobs, … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Van Hollen, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Partnership with African Nations
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, introduced the bipartisan Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Act of 2021. This legislation, initially introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Karen Bass, would make permanent the State Department’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). The House of … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Senate Passes Van Hollen-Backed Legislation to Reimburse MD National Guard, MPD & Fund Capitol Police
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the Senate passage of an emergency security supplemental package to fund the U.S. Capitol Police and reimburse Maryland’s National Guard and D.C. Metropolitan Police for their assistance on and following January 6th: “While our democracy was under attack, members of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, the National Guard, and the D.C. Metropolitan Police … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Seek to Cap Consumer Loans at 36%
WASHINGTON - In an effort to put a stop to abusive and predatory lending practices that target vulnerable consumers, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), led the reintroduction of legislation that would extend the protections of the Military Lending Act (MLA), which caps the annual percentage rate (APR) on consumer loans at 36 percent, to cover veterans and other consumers.In 2006, Congress passed the MLA to rein in … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Inclusion of Initiative to Reconnect Communities, Remove Harmful Infrastructure Like Baltimore’s Highway to Nowhere within Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced the inclusion of provisions from their Reconnecting Communities Act, legislation the two Senators introduced alongside Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) to help remove harmful infrastructure that divides communities, such as the Baltimore Highway to Nowhere. In March 2019, a pilot program mirroring this proposal was originally authored by Senator Van Hollen, and included within the Environment and Public Works Committee’s … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Van Hollen Joins Bipartisan Colleagues in Statement on Breakdown of Georgian April 19 Agreement
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers issued a joint statement in response to the breakdown of the April 19th agreement reached earlier this year to address the political crisis in Georgia. “We are very discouraged by recent developments in Georgia, which undermine the reform efforts agreed to in the April 19 agreement. The United States, in partnership with the European Union, worked closely with Georgian political parties to deliver a strong, multiparty … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Senators Van Hollen, Markey, Carper, Whitehouse, Cardin Reintroduce Legislation to Magnify Offshore Wind Workforce Training
Today, Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) reintroduced legislation that aims to address the needs of the offshore wind industry and train new and incumbent workers through a new grant program. The legislation first directs the Department of Energy to identify the offshore wind industry’s needs by engaging with stakeholders including labor, institutions of higher education, industry, ports, and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Clarke Applaud FCC Decision to Move Forward on Workforce Diversity Initiative
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) applauded the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to move forward on reinstating practices to collect data on broadcast workforce diversity. The FCC is required by law to collect this information, but failed to do so under the Trump Administration and former Chairman Ajit Pai. The decision to move forward follows a letter sent by Senator Van Hollen and Representative Clarke to Chairman … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Proposed Security Supplemental with Funding for U.S. Capitol Police, Maryland National Guard, D.C. Police
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the agreement reached by Appropriations Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) on an emergency security supplemental funding package: “As we witnessed in great detail today, on January 6th, and throughout the subsequent weeks, members of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, the National Guard, and D.C. … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
In Letter to Secretary of State Blinken, Senators Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Urge the United States to Press the Philippine Government on Human Rights Violations
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, and their colleagues Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-Ore.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Richard J Durbin (D-Ill.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony J. … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Van Hollen, Markey, and Rep. Meng Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Close the Homework Gap, Get More Students Online
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06), along with 15 additional senators and 25 House members, have introduced the Securing Universal Communications Connectivity to Ensure Students Succeed (SUCCESS) Act. This legislation will build on the Emergency Connectivity Fund that the Senators pushed to create under the American Rescue Plan and provide schools and libraries with $8 billion a year over five years - for a total of … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Praise Biden Nominee Erek Barron for U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) praised President Joe Biden’s nomination of Delegate Erek Barron to be the new U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. If confirmed by the Senate, Delegate Barron (District 24, Prince George County) would be the first Black U.S. Attorney in Maryland’s history.“Our state must have a U.S. attorney who is fiercely committed to delivering equal justice under the law to every Marylander. Erek Barron’s tireless … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Submit Appropriations Requests Supporting Local Workforce Training, Health Care, and Education Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have released their requests for Congressionally Directed Spending for projects under the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2022. The senators’ requests will help strengthen local health care infrastructure, expand educational and economic opportunities, provide diverse resources for those struggling with addiction issues and solidify … Continue Reading
July 23, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Selection of Tom Manger to Head U.S. Capitol Police
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the selection of former Montgomery County, Maryland Police Chief Tom Manger to lead the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP): “As our Capitol Police face a time of great difficulty and transition, strong leadership is vital to the success of the officers and to the force as a whole. Tom served Marylanders with distinction - protecting our communities and leading by example in his efforts to improve police trust … Continue Reading
