Press Releases
Van Hollen, Toomey Request Briefing from Treasury on Efforts to Sanction Banks Facilitating China’s Crackdown on Hong Kong
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen requesting an immediate briefing on the Department’s efforts to implement the Hong Kong Autonomy Act (HKAA) and sanction foreign financial institutions supporting the Government of China’s crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong. The Senators’ legislation, signed into law in July 2020, required mandatory sanctions on malign persons and entities that directly undermine Hong Kong’s … Continue Reading
June 04, 2021
As VP Travels to Mexico and Central America, Leading Senate Democrats Boost Diplomatic Efforts to Address Causes of Irregular Migration, Foster Stability in Central America
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 17 Senate colleagues in voicing support for Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership of the Biden administration’s diplomatic efforts to address and mitigate the underlying factors driving Central American migration to the United States. Sent in advance of Vice President Harris’ upcoming visit to Mexico and Guatemala, the senators’ letter reiterates … Continue Reading
June 02, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Governor Hogan to Reconsider Surprise Decision to Cut Off Federal Unemployment Assistance Early
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.) issued the following response to Governor Larry Hogan’s sudden announcement Tuesday that Maryland will stop issuing federally funded Enhanced Pandemic Unemployment Benefits earlier than required.“Unemployment benefits are helping more than 300,000 Marylanders make ends meet as our unemployment rate remains … Continue Reading
June 02, 2021
Van Hollen Joins Bennet, Crapo, Colleagues in Requesting Full Funding for the PILT Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), and a bipartisan group of Senate colleagues urged U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, to fully fund the Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for fiscal year (FY) 2022. PILT provides payments to counties with non-taxable federal land within their borders to offset the … Continue Reading
June 01, 2021
Van Hollen, Kaine, Murphy, Merkley, and Colleagues Urge Blinken to Take Immediate Steps to Address the Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a letter with over a dozen of their Senate colleagues urging U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to immediately take steps to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In their letter, the Senators urge Secretary Blinken to support immediate emergency relief and humanitarian access, robustly fund humanitarian efforts, and restore the U.S. diplomatic presence on the ground. … Continue Reading
June 01, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $28 Million in COVID-19 Relief Funding to Address Health Disparities in Minority and Rural Communities
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 Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all Md.) announced nearly $28 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding designed to reduce health disparities by strengthening health equity initiatives in high-risk and underserved communities across the state. “This new round of federal COVID-19 assistance will help address the … Continue Reading
May 29, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hirono Introduce Resolution Commemorating May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) in introducing a resolution commemorating May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The resolution highlights the contributions to our country by generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. In March, Senators Van Hollen, and Cardin also joined Senator Hirono to introduce the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation to address the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Biden Budget
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding President Biden’s proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget:“As our country works to build back from the COVID-19 pandemic, we face an opportunity to create a better, stronger, more inclusive economy. Now is the time to invest boldly in our families, workforce, and our future - while tackling the challenges our country faces ranging from our crumbling infrastructure, to our underfunded public schools system, to … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Republican Filibuster of January 6th Commission
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding Republicans’ filibuster of legislation to establish an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6th attacks on our Capitol:“Today is a dark day for the United States Senate. The American people deserve the truth about the January 6th attack on the Capitol. This bipartisan commission is the way to get that - and to prevent another assault on our democracy. But Republicans … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Velázquez Lead Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Review Countries for Temporary Protected Status
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) today led their colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in calling on President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas to use the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program broadly and boldly to safeguard vulnerable people.“We respectfully request that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the U.S. State Department and U.S. Citizenship and … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Van Hollen Introduces Legislation to Support Federal Infrastructure and Reduce Wasteful Spending
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced new legislation to improve the funding process for large federal building projects and reduce wasteful spending on expensive leases. Over the long-term, it is often less expensive for the federal government to construct or purchase a building rather than leasing it. However, since budget scorekeeping rules charge the purchase price as a lump sum within a single year, Congress and federal agencies sometimes opt for leases that spread a … Continue Reading
May 27, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $796,000 in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Mental Health Training Across State
Today, 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.) announced more than $796,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to expand mental and behavioral health training across the state. “This new funding from the American Rescue Plan will aid our public health workforce and higher education institutions in meeting the increased demand for mental health … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Senators Introduce Bipartisan ‘Bridge Investment Act’ to Provide Significant Federal Investment In Bridge Repair
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Rob Portman (R-OH), John Boozman (R-AR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced their bipartisan Bridge Investment Act ahead of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee highway markup this week. This bill would establish a competitive … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling for Freedom of the Press around the World
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and a group of 10 Senate colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution in recognition of burgeoning threats to freedoms of the press and expression around the world. The bipartisan resolution maintains the centrality of an independent press to the health of democracy and reaffirms freedom of the press as a … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Van Hollen, Warner Introduce Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Assist Chesapeake Bay Restoration Efforts
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) along with Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) today introduced the Chesapeake Bay Science, Education and Ecosystem Enhancement (SEEE) Act, which aims to restore the health of the Bay Watershed, strengthen fisheries management, and expand environmental education programs for residents across the Bay Watershed. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of … Continue Reading
May 25, 2021
Van Hollen Joins Blumenthal, Jayapal & Murphy In Introducing The Safe Gun Storage Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Ct.) and Chris Murphy (D-Ct.) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) in introducing legislation directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for firearm locks and firearm safes.An estimated 4.6 million American minors live in a household with a firearm. According to a 2018 Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health survey, 54 percent of gun owners report … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $36 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Statewide COVID-19 Response Efforts
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 $36,358,851 in American Rescue Plan funding to support our state’s pandemic response. This funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a part of the Public Health Crisis Response program, launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to expand lab … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Van Hollen, Schatz Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Census and Ensure Any Future Proposed Changes Are Studied and Tested
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) in reintroducing the Census Improving Data and Enhanced Accuracy (Census IDEA) Act, legislation that would protect the accuracy of future censuses and ensure any proposed changes to the count are properly studied, researched, and tested.Under the last administration, then-Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross proposed a new addition to the census that would have likely influenced the accuracy of the survey. Without proper … Continue Reading
May 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Applaud Deployment of Peace Corps Volunteers to Maryland to Bolster COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) applauded the Federal Emergency Manage Agency’s (FEMA) announcement that 65 Peace Corps Response volunteers will be deployed to Maryland to help with COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The volunteers, who will serve three-month assignments, will be organized by FEMA in mobile teams focusing on urgent needs and engaging in logistics, outreach, education, and language support for under-served communities across the state, removing barriers to … Continue Reading
May 20, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Seek Clarity to Ensure Agencies are Fully Implementing Biden Executive Order Restoring Federal Employees’ Collective Bargaining Rights
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to Kathleen McGettigan, Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding President Biden’s directive in an Executive Order to expand obligations for federal agencies to bargain with unions representing their workforce. The Senators’ letter requests clarity on this provision in response to concerns they’ve received from constituents who were refused the opportunity to bargain over a new … Continue Reading
