Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Sarbanes Announce Nearly $500,000 for Towson University to Advance Bilingual Educator Development
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) announced $476,777 in federal funding for Towson University to improve educator development and increase the academic outcomes for English learners within the Anne Arundel County Public School (AACPS) system. English learners are students who are developing English language proficiency. These students are often multilingual learners who come from non-English speaking homes who require modified … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce Legislation to Improve Safety of Military Tactical Vehicles
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) introduced the 1st Lt. Hugh Conor McDowell Safety in Armed Forces Equipment Act of 2021, legislation to establish a pilot program that authorizes the use of data recorders to improve the safety and effectiveness of military tactical vehicles. This legislation, named in honor of Marine 1LT Hugh Conor McDowell, a former Chestertown, Md. resident who was a victim of a training accident at Camp Pendleton, would help supervisors … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds the Addition of Several MD Sites to the National Underground Railroad Network
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) released the following statement applauding the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom's addition of Mount Clare Station, Henry Massey Escape Site, Elkridge Furnace Ruins, and Eliza Howard Parker and Family Escape Site at Belle Vue Farm, to the Network: "Maryland is … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Bill Naming Cheyenne Federal Building After Women’s Rights Pioneer Unanimously Passes U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed by voice vote a bill by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) honoring Louisa Swain, a women's rights pioneer. This bill rededicates a federal building located at 308 W 21st Street in Cheyenne, Wyoming, in honor of Louisa Swain and her election vote. At 70 years old, Swain cast her vote in the general election of 1870, 50 years before women's voting rights were recognized in the rest … Continue Reading
October 07, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $12 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Renovate Community Health Centers
Today, 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.) announced $12,211,150 in American Rescue Plan funding to support the construction, renovation, and expansion of local community health centers across the state. "Community health centers play a vital role in delivering quality and affordable care to underserved populations, acting as essential … Continue Reading
October 06, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Statement Regarding Maryland’s $2.5B Budget Surplus
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, U.S. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) applaud Maryland's $2.5 billion budget surplus for Fiscal Year 2021. This surplus reflects the Maryland Congressional Delegation's broad success in securing a combined $11.9 billion of federal funding through the American Rescue Plan as well as billions more dollars to Maryland … Continue Reading
October 06, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $54 Million to Strengthen HIV/AIDS Research and Prevention
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and 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.) announced $54,235,170 in federal funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program to bolster the HIV/AIDS surveillance and prevention programs, reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes across Maryland. The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has been instrumental in providing a … Continue Reading
October 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Schiff, Padilla, and Colleagues Call for Improved Wages and Working Conditions for Behind-the-Scenes Entertainment Workers
Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) sent a letter to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers urging the association to negotiate collaboratively and in good faith with Hollywood craft workers advocating for improved wages and working conditions on movie and television sets. Behind-the-scenes workers such as camera operators, cinematographers, editors, and art directors - the engines of the … Continue Reading
October 04, 2021
Maryland Delegation Members Urge State Dept. of Education to Expedite Distribution of Federal Child Care Relief Funds
This afternoon, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, and Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to the Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury urging the state to expedite distribution of American Rescue Plan funds to child care providers. Of the $502 million in federal relief funds that were delivered to the state in April, to … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, and Colleagues Call to Expand Sanctions on Nicaragua to Include Daniel Ortega Himself
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, drew attention to the Ortega regime's harassment and jailing of more than 150 opposition leaders, including presidential candidates, and its ongoing authoritarian crackdown in advance of the country's November 2021 presidential election. In a bipartisan letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the senators call for increased efforts to secure the immediate … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Van Hollen, Padilla, Nadler, and Colleagues Urge Labor Department, Biden Administration to Improve Access to Paid Time Off for Vaccinations
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Martin Walsh and White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Jeffrey Zients, urging them to work with Congress, companies, and governments to ensure that employees are offered pay for any time off needed to get vaccinated and recover from any side-effects of vaccination. Voluntary payroll tax credits … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Van Hollen, Lankford Lead Bipartisan Push, Urging President Biden to Hold Erdogan Accountable for Crackdown on Turkey’s Democracy
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and James Lankford (R-Okla.) led Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Angus King (I-Maine), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in a letter urging President Biden to hold Turkey's President Erdogan accountable for his recent efforts to disenfranchise Turkey's Kurdish population, undercut political … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Maryland Delegation Calls for Federal Emergency Declaration After Ida Storm Damage
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, is urging President Joe Biden to approve the State of Maryland's request for a presidential disaster declaration due to damage from the Sept. 1 tornadoes and flash flooding from Tropical Depression Ida. Anne Arundel County, Cecil County, and the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces $7.5 Million to Establish Center of Excellence for 2D Materials Research to Support DOD at Morgan State University
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $7,500,000 in federal funding for Morgan State University, in partnership with Adelphi Laboratory Center and Aberdeen Proving Ground research centers of the U.S. Army and John's Hopkins University, to establish the Center for Advanced Electro-Photonics with 2D materials, the first of its kind at any Historically Black College or University (HBCU), that … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud Senate Confirmation of Delegate Erek Barron to be U.S. Attorney for District of Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) applauded the Senate's confirmation of Delegate Erek Barron to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. Barron will be the first Black U.S. Attorney in Maryland's history. "We are proud that the Senate has quickly confirmed Erek Barron to be the new United States Attorney for the District of Maryland," the senators said. "We recommended Erek to President Biden because we knew he would bring exceptional skills to this … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $1 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Cultural Institutions in their Economic Recovery from COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $1,048,475 in American Rescue Plan funding to assist educational institutions across Maryland in their COVID-19 economic recovery. "Our local museums, colleges, and universities play a critical role in showcasing Maryland's culture, history, and art - serving as an essential education resources … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $18.2 Million to Support Community-Based Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Services
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced more than $18.2 million in COVID-19 relief funding to increase access to mental health services and substance use disorder treatment programs across the state. "The severe lack of affordable and accessible health care and crisis intervention services can have a devastating impact on Marylanders, … Continue Reading
September 27, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Call On FAA to Reopen Funding Consideration for Salisbury Airport Runway Expansion
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (Both D-Md.) are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to increase support for a critical runway expansion at Salisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional Airport (SBY). The senators wrote to FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson Monday, detailing the urgency of the project and its role in "the airport's ability to maintain its important relationship with Piedmont Airlines, and to build on this relationship in pursuit of further economic … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown, Capito Resolution To Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week Passes Senate
This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Shelley Moore Capito's (R-Wa.V.) resolution to designate the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021, as "Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week" passed the U.S. Senate. Community schools are public schools that provide integrated student supports, well-designed and expanded learning opportunities, active family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership and practices. The resolution … Continue Reading
September 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud Judiciary Committee Approval of Delegate Erek Barron to be U.S. Attorney for District of Maryland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) applauded the Judiciary Committee's approval of Delegate ErekBarron to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. "Maryland needs a U.S. Attorney with integrity, independence, and a passion for delivering equal justice under the law to Marylanders. Erek Barron's background as both a prosecutor and state legislator committed to criminal justice reform measures makes him uniquely qualified for this position. We are … Continue Reading