Press Releases
Van Hollen Joins Brown, Whitehouse, Schatz, and Dems in Pressing GSEs on Preparation for Climate Risks
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), along with other Senate Democrats, in pressing Fannie Mae CEO Hugh Frater and Freddie Mac CEO David Brickman for information on the steps that each of the GSEs are taking to assess and prepare for the effects of climate change on their business and on American communities, … Continue Reading
February 03, 2020
Van Hollen Presses Administration to Expedite Honorary Promotion for Col. McGee
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett urging the Air Force to quickly process the honorary promotion of Colonel (Ret.) Charles E. McGee. Colonel McGee, a resident of Bethesda, Md., served with the Tuskegee Airmen in World War II, completing 136 combat missions. Col. McGee recently celebrated his 100th birthday and was featured in last night’s coin toss at the Super Bowl. In July, Senator Van Hollen introduced legislation to … Continue Reading
February 03, 2020
Van Hollen Announces Andrea Chamblee as State of the Union Guest
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that his guest to the State of the Union will be Andrea Chamblee, a gun reform activist and the widow of John McNamara, one of the five Capital Gazette journalists killed in Annapolis on June 28, 2018.“On June 28, 2018 Maryland lost five sons and daughters - John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, Rob Hiaasen, Wendi Winters, and Gerald Fischman. Their murders broke the hearts of their friends and loved ones, the Annapolis community, and people … Continue Reading
January 30, 2020
Van Hollen Rebukes Administration’s Proposed Rollback of Protections for Migratory Birds
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the Department of Interior’s (DOI) proposed rollback of protections for migratory birds. The proposed rule would undermine a longstanding interpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) that holds companies responsible for oil spills that kill migratory birds. Under DOI’s new legal opinion, companies responsible for non-intentional oil spills would no longer have to pay penalties for the massive … Continue Reading
January 29, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on EPA’s Response Regarding its Responsibility to Enforce Chesapeake Bay Pollution Reduction
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) response to his January 8, 2020 letter urging the EPA to provide clarity on their commitment to enforcing Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution reduction targets.“I am deeply frustrated and concerned by the EPA’s lack of clarity in their response to my letter regarding their commitment to protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay. Their response ducks the … Continue Reading
January 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Reject Trump Plan, Urge Administration to Commit to a Viable Two-State Solution
Today, in response to the President’s announcement of his "deal of the century," U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a letter together with 11 of his colleagues expressing serious concerns with the Trump Middle East plan. In addition to Senator Van Hollen, the letter was signed by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Amy … Continue Reading
January 27, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Murray, Democrats in Pressing Health Department for Updates on Novel Coronavirus, Call for Continuing Robust, Science-Driven Response
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 29 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, in sending a letter to Secretary Alex Azar at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting updates on the Administration’s response to the novel coronavirus outbreak and information on the steps being taken to keep families safe. In the letter, the Senators asked the Department to keep them updated with the latest information regarding the severity … Continue Reading
January 17, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Klobuchar in Renewing Calls to Immediately Restore Quorum at the Federal Election Commission (FEC)
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with jurisdiction over federal elections, in writing a letter to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone urging the Administration to immediately nominate the bipartisan pair of candidates that have been submitted to President Donald Trump by Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to fill the current vacancies at the Federal Election Commission (FEC). As of August, … Continue Reading
January 17, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Inhofe, Menendez, Senators in Sending Letter Congratulating Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen on Reelection
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joins U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), co-chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, in sending a letter today congratulating President Tsai Ing-wen on reelection as President of Taiwan. They were also joined by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Joni Ernst … Continue Reading
January 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Leahy Urge Trump to Sanction Those Responsible for the Wrongful Detention and Death of American Citizen in Egypt
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote to President Trump urging him to immediately sanction the Egyptian government officials responsible for the wrongful detention and death of Mustafa Kassem, an American citizen. The letter follows the Senators’ work to secure language with the FY 2020 Appropriations bill requiring the Secretary of State to deny U.S. visas to foreign officials involved in the wrongful imprisonment of U.S. citizens and nationals in … Continue Reading
January 16, 2020
Van Hollen Announces Independent GAO Report Showing Trump Administration Broke Law by Illegally Withholding Ukraine Aid
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement in response to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report confirming that the Trump Administration broke the Impoundment Control Act in its withholding of aid from Ukraine. Senator Van Hollen requested GAO investigate this matter in a letter sent in December:"This bombshell legal opinion from the independent Government Accountability Office demonstrates, without a doubt, that the Trump Administration … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Murray, Democrats, in Slamming NLRB Proposal to Strip Students Employed by Private Universities of Workplace Rights
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and 12 other Democratic senators, in opposing the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) proposal to deny students employed by their private colleges and universities their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). In a letter sent yesterday, the senators urged the NLRB to withdraw the proposed rule which would strip both … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Senators Van Hollen, Markey, Rubio, and Warren Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Counter Chinese Government Policy Banning Americans from Exiting China
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation today to enhance accountability for Chinese officials involved in unjustly banning American citizens from leaving China. In recent years, officials have kept U.S. citizens - not themselves accused of committing a crime - from leaving China, often to pressure relatives wanted by the Chinese government. This unjust “exit ban” policy violates international … Continue Reading
January 15, 2020
Van Hollen Requests Unanimous Consent to Move Forward on DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen requested Unanimous Consent that the Senate take up his bipartisan legislation, the DETER Act, to prevent Russia from interfering in U.S. elections. The Senator’s remarks, as delivered on the Senate floor, are below. Video of his remarks may be found here. Thank you, Mr. President. At this particular moment in our history, we are witnessing the convergence of three events. Tomorrow, the Senate will likely be sworn in for the impeachment trial of … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Risch, Menendez, and Colleagues in Bipartisan Letter to Administration in Support of Burma's Elections
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Wyden (D-Wash.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Dan … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Carper, Feinstein, and Murray in Demanding Answers from CBP Following Reports of Delays and Enhanced Screening for Americans of Iranian Descent
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-Del), senior Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, in writing a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan with questions and concerns regarding recent reports that, earlier this month, … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren Seek Insider Trading Probe Following Report that President Trump Informed Mar-a-Lago Guests in Advance of Iran Attack that Killed Major General Qasem Soleimani
United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment; and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) requesting that the agencies open investigations into whether there may … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Murphy, Democratic Senators in Requesting Classified Briefing on Evidence Underlying "Imminent Attacks" on U.S. Embassies
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and seven other Democratic senators in requesting a briefing from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the specific evidence underlying public claims made by President Trump and U.S. State Department Secretary Mike Pompeo that former Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was planning imminent attacks on multiple U.S. embassies. The … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Successfully Fight to Make Protections for Federal Health Benefits During Government Shutdowns Law of the Land
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.) fought to secure protections for federal healthcare benefits in the event of a government shutdown, and these measures were signed into law in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Similar bipartisan legislation was introduced in the House by the late Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who fought to … Continue Reading
January 14, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Support for USMCA
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “I look at the terms of each proposed trade agreement and ask a basic question: will the agreement generate more good-paying jobs and improve the quality of life for Marylanders? The original agreement negotiated by the Administration failed that test but, as a result of changes demanded by many of us in the House … Continue Reading
