Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Senate Confirmation of Judge Deborah Boardman for U.S. District Court of Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Holle and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today praised the Senate's confirmation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Boardman to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland. “Judge Deborah Boardman is an incredibly qualified and experienced jurist and we look forward to her years of service as a U.S. District Judge,” the senators said after the confirmation vote. “As a sitting magistrate judge and former public defender in Maryland, we know that Judge Boardman … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Lummis introduce bill to name Cheyenne federal building after Women’s Rights Pioneer Louisa Swain
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) introduced a bill to honor Louisa Swain, a catalyst for women’s suffrage in the United States, by naming a federal building in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after her. In 1869, Wyoming became the first state or territory in the U.S. to recognize women’s voting rights as equal to the voting rights of men, and Louisa Swain was the first woman to cast the historic first vote under that law on September 6, 1870.At 70 years old, Swain - a Laramie … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Call on Biden to Extend Pause on Student Loan Payments
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Representative Joe Courtney (D-Conn.), and a number of his colleagues in a bicameral letter urging President Biden to extend the pause on federal student loan payments until at least March 31, 2022.During the coronavirus pandemic, executive actions by the Department of Education and the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief … Continue Reading
June 23, 2021
Van Hollen, Menendez, Casey Renew Push for Increased Transparency in Federal Spending on Children
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) reintroduced the Focus on Children Act and the Children’s Budget Act, a renewed legislative push to increase transparency about federal investments in children. These bills would require the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) respectively to produce annual, public reports on proposed and actual federal investments in children’s programs geared towards promoting the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Lead Watershed-Wide Push to Increase Funding for Chesapeake Bay Restoration
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) led Democratic senators from throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in urging the leadership of the Senate Committee on Appropriations to support strong funding levels for several agencies and programs vital to the recovery and stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen were joined on a recent letter by Senators Tom Carper (Del.), Bob Casey Jr. (Penn.), Mark Warner (Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.), Joe … Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
Van Hollen, Colleagues Make Bipartisan Push for Faster Relief for Struggling Live Event Venues
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and a number of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman urging the Small Business Administration (SBA) to disburse Shuttered Venue Operator Grant funding to struggling live entertainment venues as soon as possible. The legislation that created this program, the Save Our Stages Act, was signed into law more than six months ago, and event … Continue Reading
June 17, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $7.8 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Strengthen Regional Vaccination Efforts
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 $7,787,892 in American Rescue Plan funding to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines in underserved and minority communities across the region. “While the American Rescue Plan has helped accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination effort in Maryland, far too many communities - and especially … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds House Passage of Legislation to Provide Transparency on Corporate Use of Tax Havens, Offshoring of Jobs
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the House passage the Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, within the broader ESG Disclosure Simplification Act. This legislation, introduced by Senator Van Hollen and Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa) will provide investors and the public with transparency on corporations’ use of tax havens and tax incentives to outsource American jobs. The bill requires public corporations to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis so Americans … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Senate Confirmation of Judge Lydia Griggsby for U.S. District Court of Maryland Seat
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today praised the Senate’s confirmation of U.S. Court of Federal Claims Judge Lydia Griggsby to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Maryland. The Senate confirmed the nomination by a bipartisan vote of 59 to 39. Judge Griggsby, who was born in Baltimore and currently resides in Silver Spring, will be the first Black woman and first woman of color to serve as a federal district court judge in Maryland.“Today is a proud … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
On 9th Anniversary of DACA, Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Call to Fix DACA Program, Address Delays
On the 9th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program being announced, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) in calling on the Biden Administration to address the extreme backlog for DACA applicants and reduce wait times for DACA renewals. Current delays are a result of the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies and the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to negatively impact the immigrant … Continue Reading
June 16, 2021
Van Hollen Questions NASA Administrator on Investments in Wallops Flight Facility & Strengthening Partnerships with Maryland’s HBCUs and MSIs
During a hearing before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), questioned NASA Administrator Bill Nelson on the Agency’s commitment to investing in projects crucial to Maryland. Senator Van Hollen stressed Maryland’s essential role in furthering NASA’s mission, and pressed Administrator Nelson on funding for NASA Goddard and the Wallops Flight Facility, a key economic driver on the Eastern Shore. The Senator … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Van Hollen, Bass Reintroduce Community-Based Crisis Response Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) reintroduced their legislation to improve our emergency response capabilities by creating systemic alternatives to police involvement in appropriate situations. Their legislation, The Community-Based Response Act, creates a new Community-Based Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Grant Program through the Department of Health and Human Services to establish programs to encourage local governments to … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise Judiciary Committee Approval of Judges Deborah Boardman and Lydia Griggsby for Maryland U.S. District Court Seats
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today praised the Judiciary Committee's approval of Judges Deborah Boardman and Lydia Griggsby to serve as U.S. District Court Judges for the District of Maryland. “We are pleased that the Judiciary Committee approved both of our outstanding Maryland nominees today. Both have a demonstrated track record of public service, and have already accumulated significant federal judicial experience from serving as judges on their respective … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Van Hollen, Beyer Reintroduce Millionaires Surtax to Invest in Working Families
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Congressman Don Beyer (D-Va.) reintroduced their Millionaires Surtax legislation to help close the gap between the wealthy and everyday Americans and raise significant revenue to make new investments that will grow the economy and protect working families.The Millionaires Surtax would apply an additional 10-percentage point tax to incomes above $2 million for married couples or above $1 million for individuals. It would apply equally to wages … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Back Bill to Require Equal Pay for U.S. Soccer Teams
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and nearly a dozen of their colleagues introduced the Give Our Athletes Level Salaries (GOALS) Act, which would require the U.S. Soccer Federation to agree to providing equitable pay to both the women’s and men’s national teams in order to receive federal funds related to the 2026 World Cup. “Our athletes deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and they also deserve to be appropriately compensated for their … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Van Hollen Presses EPA Administrator Regan on Plans to Meet Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Goals by 2025
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, questioned Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, on his plans to meet the Chesapeake Bay 2025 cleanup goals. In April, Senator Van Hollen led several of his colleagues in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging the use of all tools available to meet these targets, including pollution reduction … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Van Hollen, Young Reintroduce Legislation to Boost Housing Mobility Vouchers, Increase Americans’ Access to Opportunity
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced their legislation to increase housing mobility vouchers, creating 500,000 new vouchers to allow families to move to areas with greater opportunity. The Senators’ Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act will help improve outcomes for families with young children by increasing access to these vouchers and providing counseling services.“Every parent knows the value in providing a safe and secure … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Chinese Competition Bill, Secures Several Provisions within Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Senate passage of the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, bipartisan legislation to address the United States’ competitiveness with China and other foreign powers. Senator Van Hollen is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, both of which had jurisdiction over portions of this legislation:“When it comes to technology, standing still … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
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