Press Releases
Maryland Delegation Members Announce an Additional $2.6 Million to Support Mercy Health Services’ COVID-19 Response
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced an additional $2,655,327 in emergency federal funding to help Mercy Health Services continue to care for COVID-19 patients and effectively fight the virus. “As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations rise at an alarming rate in Maryland and across the country, the healthcare professionals … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Van Hollen Congratulates New Baltimore Mayor, Brandon Scott
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement congratulating Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott:“Congratulations to Brandon Scott on his swearing in to serve as the Mayor of Baltimore City. Brandon brings an inspiring new vision of hope and unity to our great city at a difficult time, and I know as Mayor he will fight for the best interests of its residents. As a son of Baltimore, Brandon understands the need to truly invest in the City’s potential and ensure … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Van Hollen Urges Army Secretary to Recognize Maryland Veteran with POW Medal
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has sent a letter to U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy urging him to award the Prisoner of War (POW) Medal to Marylander Ronald Dolecki for his military service in Ethiopia in 1965. Mr. Dolecki has been denied the POW Medal recognizing his service for over a decade on the grounds that his captivity did not fit an unduly restrictive definition of “prisoner of war.” While on a mission in Ethiopia, Mr. Dolecki was captured by armed, uniformed members of the … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Van Hollen, Bennet, Colleagues Call on EEOC to Clarify Authority to Investigate Bias in AI-Driven Hiring Technologies
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), along with eight of their Senate colleagues, requested clarification from Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Chair Janet Dhillon regarding the Commission’s authority to investigate bias in Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven hiring technologies. As businesses prepare to re-open according to guidelines for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, some companies will turn to hiring technology to manage and … Continue Reading
December 08, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Colleagues Encourage National Institute of Mental Health to Prioritize Study of Mental Health of Children and Young Adults During Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 13 of their Senate colleagues urged the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to prioritize efforts to study and understand the impact of the pandemic on the mental health of children and young adults. Recent reports have highlighted a substantial increase in anxiety and depression among children and young adults since the beginning of the pandemic—with one study finding that nearly one-third of high school students … Continue Reading
December 07, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Passing of U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-Md.): “Today we mourn the loss of the son of Greek immigrants who rose from humble roots on Maryland’s Eastern Shore to make an important and lasting impact on our entire country and help millions of his fellow Americans - Paul Sarbanes. Both during his time serving in the House of Delegates and as our state’s second-longest serving United States Senator, Paul Sarbanes … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $8 Million to Support Community Health Centers
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 Raskin, and David Trone (all Md.) today announced nearly $8.2 million in federal funding to bolster Community Health Centers (CHC) across Maryland. “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, community health centers in Maryland and across the country have played a vital role in providing quality and affordable care to American … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Brown Announce Provision in NDAA Conference Report for the Family of Lt. Richard W. Collins, III
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) announced that they secured provisions in the NDAA Conference Report to provide the family of Lt. Richard W. Collins, III with the benefits they are due following his death. Lt. Collins was a Bowie State University ROTC Graduate when he was murdered in May 2017. Both the House and Senate are expected to pass the NDAA Conference Report in the coming days.Since his death, the Maryland … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Congress to Invest $6 Billion To Meet Growing Nutrition Needs
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) called on Congress to invest $6 billion in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in next year’s spending bill. Nationwide, 1 in 5 parents do not have enough to feed their children. Millions of Americans, especially women, continue to be affected by widespread business closures and subsequent job loss and more low-income households are relying on social safety nets to feed themselves … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Inclusion of Turkey Sanctions in NDAA
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the inclusion of mandatory sanctions against Turkey within the NDAA in response to Turkey’s recent use of the S-400 Russian-made missile defense system, which undermines our national security and the security of our NATO allies.“It’s about time. I’m glad to see Congress do what the Administration would not - and show President Erdogan that we will not back down when it comes to protecting our security and that of … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Cardin, Portman in Lauding Senate Passage of Legislation to Construct National Memorial to Fallen Journalists
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) in lauding the Senate’s passage of legislation to authorize the development and construction of a national monument to fallen journalists. The privately-funded memorial would be constructed on federal lands within the District of Columbia and would honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters killed in the line of duty. Senator Chris Van Hollen is an original cosponsor of the Senate … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Applauds $150,000 for Light Rail Technology Enhancement
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) applauded the award of $150,000 for the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) to improve the state’s light rail system with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. The federal funding will allow MDOT MTA to monitor light rail infrastructure in real-time by using LiDAR to identify potential rail defects and … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Van Hollen Slams Republican Refusal to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement after Republicans blocked his attempt to pass his bipartisan, bicameral legislation to let employees - including members of the military and federal workers - choose whether or not to participate in President Trump’s payroll tax deferral. Senator Van Hollen’s legislation, the Preventing Employees from Surprise Taxes Act, was introduced in October and would make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump … Continue Reading
December 03, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce More Than $1.4 Million to Support Baltimore County’s COVID-19 Emergency Response
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $1,407,882 in federal funding to support Baltimore County’s COVID-19 emergency response efforts at schools. The funding, authorized under Section 403 of the Stafford Act, comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It will help disinfect buses and facilities at 175 schools countywide.“Our delegation remains committed to supporting state and … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Clay Propose Constitutional Amendment to Close Slavery Loophole in 13th Amendment
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative William Lacy Clay (D-MO-1) introduced the Abolition Amendment, which would strike the ‘Punishment Clause’ of the 13th Amendment in order to finally abolish slavery in the United States.The 13th Amendment abolished most—but not all—slavery, permitting slavery or involuntary servitude “as a punishment for crime.” The Abolition Amendment would finally finish the job started by the Civil War, Emancipation … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
House Passes Van Hollen, Kennedy Bill to Protect Americans from Fraudulent Foreign Companies
Today, the House of Representatives passed U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Kennedy’s (R-La.) bill to protect American investors and their savings from foreign companies that operate on U.S. stock exchanges while refusing to submit to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversight. The Senate passed the bill unanimously in May.“Millions of American families rely on modest investments to retire, send their kids to college, and weather financial emergencies. But many have been … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Following Adoption of Van Hollen Amendment, Senate Committee Passes Bipartisan American Nuclear Infrastructure Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Committee on Environment and Public Works’ passage of the American Nuclear Infrastructure Act and the adoption of the Senator’s amendment to the legislation:“Modernizing our nation’s nuclear energy infrastructure and export controls has important benefits at home and abroad. That’s why I’m glad that the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today came together on a bipartisan basis to improve … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Van Hollen Presses Mnuchin, Powell on the Dire Need for More COVID-19 Relief
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pressed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on the dire need for more COVID-19 relief, during a hearing in front of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. A full transcript of the Senator’s exchange during the hearing is available below and video is available here.U.S. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-Md.): Thank you, Chairman Powell, Secretary Mnuchin for your testimony. And listening to both … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $10 Million to Expand Mercy Medical Center’s COVID-19 Treatment Capability
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 today announced more than $10.4 million in emergency federal funding to help Mercy Health Services treat more COVID-19 patients.“We are forever indebted to the devoted healthcare workers who have risked and given their lives - including Mercy Medical Center’s Dr. Joseph Costa - in the fight … Continue Reading
November 25, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Pocan, Colleagues Call on President of Egypt to Immediately Release Wrongfully Detained Human Rights Advocates
Following the baseless detainment of human rights advocates by security forces in Egypt, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), along with a number of their colleagues, are calling on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to unconditionally release the detained human rights advocates, immediately cease other arrests and end the smear campaign against civil rights organizations in Egypt. During the week of November 15, … Continue Reading
