Press Releases
Van Hollen, Menendez, Schumer Applaud Library of Congress Decision to Recognize Armenian Genocide in Its Records
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today released the following statement applauding the Library of Congress (LOC) for making the determination that the Armenian Genocide will be categorized as “Armenian Genocide” rather than “Armenian massacres” in its catalog records. This determination follows a letter from leading Senate Democrats in support of the formal proposal to classify the Ottoman Empire’s systematic … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Democratic Colleagues Urge DeVos to Help 8.2 Million Federal Student Loan Borrowers Currently Unable to Access Relief
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and 33 Senate Democrats in sending a letter urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to ensure all struggling federal student borrowers can gain access to crucial federal relief. Since March, the CARES Act has provided forbearance, waived interest, and halted collections for borrowers whose student loans were directly held by the … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown Introduce New Legislation to Combat Discrimination in Our Nation’s Financial Services Industry
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) along with Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in introducing the Fair Access to Financial Services Act, a bill that would prohibit banks and other financial institutions from discrimination in providing goods or services on the basis of race, color, religion, national … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Van Hollen, Beyer Introduce Legislation to Improve ATF, Strengthen Gun Violence Prevention
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced new legislation to improve and modernize the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) in order to strengthen gun safety in our communities. The legislation would remove irresponsible statutory restrictions that stand in the way of ATF’s mission to protect the public from violent criminals, criminal organizations, and the illegal use and trafficking of firearms. The text of the ATF … Continue Reading
October 21, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Write to Governor Hogan Expressing Concern with COVID-19 Impacts on Latino Communities
Members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone, yesterday urged Governor Larry Hogan to increase the state’s focus on halting the disproportionate spread of COVID-19 among Maryland’s Latino communities and delivering targeted relief to Latino families.“Long-standing disparities have exacerbated the impact of … Continue Reading
October 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Young Urge Administration to Extend New START to Constrain Russia’s Nuclear Forces
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) sent a bipartisan letter to President Trump urging the Administration to extend the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia. Negotiations on the treaty’s extension are currently underway, but a deal has yet to be reached. In their letter, the Senators underscore the vital need to preserve New START - highlighting its importance to our national security and nuclear stability with Russia. “We write to … Continue Reading
October 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Connolly Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, Including for Military Members and Federal Employees
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) have formally introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. The legislation, which Senator Van Hollen announced in early October, was introduced today by Senator Van Hollen and during Friday’s pro-forma House session by Representative Connolly. … Continue Reading
October 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Lankford Release Statement on New Reports of Turkey Testing the S-400 Anti-Aircraft System
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) released the following statement regarding new reports that Turkey has tested its Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft system. Turkey’s use of the S-400 could undermine U.S. national security, allowing Russia a backdoor to spy on NATO allies. Senators Van Hollen and Lankford recently sent a bipartisan letter urging Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to sanction Turkey for the initial purchase of the S-400, as required under the … Continue Reading
October 16, 2020
Baltimore County Delegation Announces Nearly $9.9 Million for Tradepoint Atlantic Infrastructure Projects
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Congressman Dutch Ruppersburger, and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) today announced $9,880,000 in federal funding to help Baltimore County and Tradepoint Atlantic continue the redevelopment of the former Sparrows Point steel mill site with upgrades to support its operations as a shipping and logistics hub.“Expanding shipping capabilities at Sparrows Point will spur local economic development while creating thousands of … Continue Reading
October 15, 2020
Van Hollen, Carper, Feinstein Lead Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Stop Rollback of Protections for Migratory Birds
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Tom Carper (D-Del.), the Committee’s Ranking Member, and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ranking Member on the Judiciary Committee, led over 15 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt urging him to withdraw DOI’s harmful rulemaking on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which was based on an unlawful Solicitor’s Opinion. … Continue Reading
October 15, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $50,000 to Establish Agricultural Processing Study in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $50,000 in federal funding for the Western Maryland Resources Conservation & Development Council to establish a feasibility study on the industrial hemp processing industry. Funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and will benefit 100 businesses in the Western Maryland region.“Investing in Maryland agriculture is crucial to our economic success, and that includes … Continue Reading
October 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Toomey Release First Administration Report Detailing Individuals Undermining Hong Kong’s Autonomy
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the Administration’s first report required by the Senators’ recently enacted legislation, the Hong Kong Autonomy Act. The report identifies individuals undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy. “The enactment of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act has already pressured the Administration to hold responsible individuals who are actively working to take away the democratic rights of the people of Hong Kong, and it requires important … Continue Reading
October 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud USDA Decision to Continue School Nutrition Program Through End of 2020-2021 School Year
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today applauded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) decision to extend the critical school nutrition programs through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. This decision comes after extensive public pressure and multiple requests from Congress, including explicit authority grants in the recent Continuing Resolution, HR.8337, which allocated specific funding to extend the waivers. This decision will allow all students, … Continue Reading
October 13, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $1.6 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Transit Safety
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone today announced $1,675,000 in federal funding to upgrade transit bus compartments to improve bus safety and prevent hazards on rail systems in Maryland. “The safety of our regional transportation networks must be a top priority. This new federal funding will upgrade Maryland’s rail systems with warning technology to … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Urge President Trump to Stop Erdogan from Violating UN Security Council Resolutions Regarding Varosha
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined today by Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) in voicing grave concerns over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s announced intention to open the beach in Varosha, Cyprus, in violation of several United Nations Resolutions and longstanding … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Urge Administration to Preserve Health Care Providers’ Access to Pandemic Relief Funding
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN) along with more than 15 colleagues, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, expressing concerns about the recent change in reporting requirements for hospitals and health systems that receive relief funds from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). This change could force providers to return relief funding that they have already received. Rural hospitals and … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Smith Press Trump Administration For Answers Over Disturbing Whistleblower Complaint Detailing ICE’s Human Rights Violations, Medical Malpractice
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today pressed the Trump administration for critical information regarding a whistleblower complaint that warned of major human rights violations and medical malpractice—including forced sterilizations and hysterectomies—at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. The whistleblower complaint sparked national outrage and an immediate call for further investigation by Van Hollen, Merkley, Smith, … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Van Hollen Announces Legislation to Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, Including for Military Members and Federal Employees
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced legislation to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. The legislation, which can be found here, is cosponsored by over 15 of the Senator’s colleagues. “President Trump is using federal employees and our troops as pawns in his payroll tax scheme, and it’s unacceptable. During this time of heightened uncertainty, … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Cardin, Van Hollen, Trone Announce More Than $430,000 to Expand Telemedicine in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $430,124 in federal funding to establish a Virtual Cancer Care and Chronic Disease Telemedicine Program for Garrett Regional Medical Center in Oakland, Md. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program provided in part by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). “The COVID-19 pandemic has … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Maryland Lawmakers Announce More Than $280,000 in Federal Funding to Expand Digital Education Resources During the Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Andy Harris M.D (all Md.) today announced $280,450 in federal funding to expand educational resources and digital access in libraries and museums across Maryland. “Libraries and museums serve as a vehicle for educating individuals of all ages while also preserving our nation’s history,” said the lawmakers. “This federal investment will provide local institutions with the ability to ensure families and educators … Continue Reading
