Press Releases
Van Hollen Statement on the Senate Budget Resolution Passage
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the Senate budget resolution:“More than 450,000 of our fellow Americans have died of COVID-19. This is an unacceptable toll of suffering. And while we grapple with the human costs of this pandemic, many are facing the economic fallout as well. Main Street is struggling - we’ve seen thousands of small businesses shutter. And across our nation disparities are growing - our students are … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Applauds Biden Approval of Maryland Disaster Funding for Tropical Storm Isaias
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 (all D-Md.) today applauded President Joe Biden for granting their request to release federal funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Marylanders recover from Tropical Storm Isaias. This declaration has unlocked funding through both the Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs. … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Biden Action to Delay and Review Trump Migratory Bird Rule
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement in support of the Biden Administration’s decision to delay and further review the Trump Administration’s Department of Interior (DOI) rule weakening the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The rule would undermine a longstanding interpretation of the MBTA that holds companies responsible for oil spills that kill migratory birds.“The Trump Administration was hell-bent on gutting the historic protections of the Migratory … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Markey, Cantwell, Bennet, Hassan, and Schatz Lead Colleagues in Urging New FCC to Use its Emergency Authority to Connect Students to Online Learning
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) led 31 of their colleagues in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), urging the agency’s new leadership to take long overdue action and utilize the E-Rate Program to help close the “homework gap” during the coronavirus pandemic.As the United States approaches the … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Senators Van Hollen, Markey and Rep. Dingell Re-Introduce Legislation to Create a Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) today re-introduced legislation that would create a national climate bank or “Clean Energy and Sustainability Accelerator,” which would leverage public and private funds to invest in clean energy technologies and infrastructure. This legislation would provide financing to eligible regional, state and local green banks, make investments directly into projects that reduce carbon emissions, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Van Hollen, Smith, Colleagues Push to Ensure Stimulus Payments Reach Americans Experiencing Homelessness
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and 27 Senate Democratic colleagues in calling on the Department of the Treasury to ensure Americans receive the relief they are entitled to, including those who are experiencing homelessness.The bipartisan COVID-19 relief package enacted into law on December 27 of last year provided a round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult, and efforts are currently underway to provide additional direct payments in future … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Van Hollen Leads Maryland Delegation Members in Pressing DeJoy on USPS Delays
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen led members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) in writing to United States Postal Service Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about the severe mail delivery delays Marylanders are experiencing. The members refer to specific examples from correspondence they’ve received from … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Senators Condemn Malign Actions of the Putin Regime, Call for Release of Alexei Navalny
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced the bipartisan Holding Russia Accountable for Malign Activities Act of 2021, a targeted bill that would impose sanctions on Russian officials complicit in brazen violations of international law including the poisoning and imprisonment of opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny. The bill directs the … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Robert Hur’s Service as U.S. Attorney for District of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today released the following statement on the announcement by Robert K. Hur, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, that he would leave his position later this month.“We thank U.S. Attorney Robert Hur for his excellent service as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. Rob upheld the finest traditions of the office and the U.S. Department of Justice, and faithfully followed the facts and the law. In particular, we … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Introduce Bicameral TRUE EQUITY Act to Strengthen Federal-State-Local Educational Partnerships
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen David Trone, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony Brown and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) announced new legislation in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that would provide an additional $1.4 billion in federal grant funding for states and local communities that commit to transformative policy changes and allocate significant additional resources to address education inequities. Purposefully aligning with … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Murray, Senate Democrats Call for Continued Support of NASA Lander Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with a number of their Senate Democratic colleagues, wrote to the White House in support of continued funding for NASA’s Human Landing System (HLS) program, which is critical to the Artemis Program of returning astronauts to the moon for the first time in half a century, and landing a woman on the moon for the first time in history. In April of last year, NASA selected three U.S. companies, Blue Origin, Space X, and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen, Brown Lead Maryland Delegation Calling for a Course Correction to Maryland’s Vaccine Distribution Approach
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Congressman Anthony G. Brown led Maryland delegation members Senator Ben Cardin and Reps. Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-MD) in a letter to Governor Larry Hogan calling for his Administration to reform and improve vaccine distribution by adopting best practices from other states around the country. Maryland has consistently ranked in the bottom tier of states for vaccine distributions due … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Van Hollen Announces New Assignment to Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Today, U.S. Senator Van Hollen released the following statement regarding his Committee Assignments for the 117th Congress:“The COVID-19 pandemic — like climate change — has clearly shown that our nation is not an island. What happens in other parts of the world has a direct impact on our well-being here at home. Following four years of isolation and division, now more than ever, we must work to strengthen our democracy at home and rebuild our alliances abroad. I’m proud to join the Senate … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen Statement in Support of Alejandro Mayorkas to Serve as Secretary of Homeland Security
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote to confirm Alejandro Mayorkas to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security:“Alejandro Mayorkas is the person we need to rebuild and restore the Department of Homeland Security. Not only is he regarded as one of the most knowledgeable homeland security experts in our nation, but he also has deep understanding of our nation’s immigration system. In fact, he’s known as the architect of the Deferred … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen Statement in Support of Pete Buttigieg to Serve as Transportation Secretary
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote to confirm Pete Buttigieg to serve as the Secretary of Transportation:“Today, I was proud to vote in support of Pete Buttigieg to serve as our next Secretary of Transportation. I know he’s an innovative problem solver who will help us repair and modernize our infrastructure, invest in local projects, work with other federal partners to expand access to broadband, address the climate crisis, and … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Keep Jobs in the United States
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Removing Incentives for Outsourcing Act to close a loophole that encourages U.S. companies to move jobs and operations overseas in order to minimize their tax liability. The bill, led by Senator Klobuchar, would eliminate an unfair incentive that allows U.S. companies to use excess foreign tax credits (FTCs) to shelter profits in tax havens.“Rather than focusing on generating new job … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Colleagues Express Urgency in Working with Biden Administration to Support Efforts to Help Women Return to the Workforce
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), wrote a … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Hirono Renew Efforts to Award Fred Korematsu the Congressional Gold Medal
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.) in introducing bicameral legislation to award Fred Korematsu the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his legacy of fighting against the illegal incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and for being a staunch defender of civil rights. Senators Van Hollen and Hirono and Representative Takano first introduced legislation to award Fred Korematsu … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Seek Critical LIHEAP Utility Assistance
With temperatures dropping, gas and electricity bills mounting, and COVID-19 infection rates still out of control, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and 42 of their colleagues are seeking a significant boost for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in the next pandemic relief package. LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills by providing payment and/or energy crisis assistance. The program is … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $300,000 in Federal Funding for Water Main Replacement Project in Cumberland
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and U.S. Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $300,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to the City of Cumberland for the Decatur Street 24th Crosstown Water Main Replacement project.The project will replace 4,300 linear feet of water main in the Decatur Heights neighborhood and provide water service to the Baltimore Street and Cumberland Plaza areas of the city, improving water service to 29 … Continue Reading
