Press Releases
Van Hollen, Bay Members Press EPA on Enforcement of TMDL Pollution Reduction Targets
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen led a bicameral letter with 19 of his colleagues to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler urging the EPA to clarify its position on the enforcement of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) pollution reduction targets.The Members write, “We were deeply disturbed by reports that, at the January 3, 2020 meeting of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dana Aunkst reportedly … Continue Reading
January 08, 2020
Van Hollen Presses the Need for EPA to Enforce Bay Pollution Reduction Standards
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) questioned Maryland Secretary of the Environment Ben Grumbles at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing on the importance of the Chesapeake Bay TMDL pollution reduction standards. The exchange came in response to the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Director’s recent remarks calling into question their role in enforcing the TMDL standards. A transcript of their exchange is available below. VAN HOLLEN: Thank you, Mr. … Continue Reading
December 23, 2019
Van Hollen asks GAO for Independent Legal Opinion on ICA and Trump Withholding Aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) for an independent legal opinion on whether President Trump broke the law by withholding aid from Ukraine in violation of the Impoundment Control Act (ICA) - in addition to it being a flagrant abuse of power. The letter follows the Senator’s questions to GAO at the Senate Budget Committee on the same issue.“I am writing to follow up on the questions regarding the Impoundment Control … Continue Reading
December 22, 2019
Van Hollen Joins Face the Nation to Discuss Impeachment, North Korea Sanctions
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined CBS’s Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation to discuss impeachment and his recently-passed North Korea sanctions legislation. A transcript of their conversation is available below: MARGARET BRENNAN: And we now turn to the other side of the table, literally and figuratively. A Maryland Democratic senator, Chris Van Hollen. Good to have you here. SENATOR CHRIS VAN HOLLEN: It's good to be with you, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: So you … Continue Reading
December 20, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on EPA Chesapeake Bay WIP Evaluations
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s release of their evaluation of the Chesapeake Bay States’ Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans: “Protecting and preserving the Chesapeake Bay requires that every state in the watershed do its part. That’s why, in 2010, the Bay Watershed states and the EPA agreed to the landmark Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint, with a commitment and timetable to … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Appropriations Package
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the FY 2020 appropriations package: “I’m pleased that today the Senate was able to pass legislation to fund important investments throughout our state and our country. These bills include a number of key provisions for Maryland - including a historic increase in funds to protect and preserve the Chesapeake Bay. They also provide increased resources to the NIH to achieve their mission of … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Van Hollen Secures Language to Protect Alzheimer’s Stamp in Year-End Funding Agreement
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced the inclusion of his language to protect the Alzheimer’s Semipostal Stamp within the final FY 2020 appropriations package, which will be voted on this week. The stamp raises funds for Alzheimer’s research and has been in circulation since 2017, but despite its success, the USPS stopped selling it in November. In an effort to extend the sale of the stamp, Senator Van Hollen introduced an amendment within the Appropriations Committee directing USPS … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on House Vote to Pass Articles of Impeachment
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote to pass articles of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump: “Today is a somber day for our nation and for the Congress. Now that the House has completed its constitutional duty, impeachment will move to the Senate. As we go forward, it’s up to the American people to demand a fair trial. Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s conduct is already … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Van Hollen, Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Dramatically Increase Affordable Housing Vouchers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) today introduced the Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act to improve life outcomes for families with young children by providing them with housing vouchers and counseling services so that they can move to areas of greater opportunity. When a child grows up in a high opportunity area, they are more likely to have successful life outcomes. Whether it be lower-crime, better education, access to transportation, … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Van Hollen, Toomey, Brown, Portman Applaud North Korea Sanctions in Final NDAA Package
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Van Hollen (D-Md.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Rob Portman (R-Ohio) celebrated the inclusion of the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions and Enforcement Act in the final FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). They were joined at the event by Fred and Cindy Warmbier, whose son Otto died after being imprisoned in North Korea for over a year and who the bill is named for. For the full video of the event, click here. The … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on NDAA Final Passage
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the Senate passage - and his support - of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation, having passed both the full House and Senate, will now head to the President’s desk for signature. “I’m pleased that the House and Senate were able to come together on a bipartisan basis to pass this legislation to support our service members and federal employees, strengthen … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce Historic Funding for Chesapeake Bay Program in Funding Deal
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that they have secured a total of $85 million in federal funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program within the final FY 2020 omnibus appropriations package. This funding, an increase of $12 million from last year, is the largest amount the Bay Program has ever received. In addition to these funds, the Senators are also announcing the passage of several Bay priorities out of the key Environment and Public Works Committee. … Continue Reading
December 13, 2019
HELP Committee Unanimously Passes Van Hollen and Burr’s Bill to Improve Safety in Child Care Facilities
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) unanimously passed U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Richard Burr’s (R-N.C.) Child Care Protection Improvement Act. This bipartisan legislation would create a task force to assist states in the process of implementing background check requirements for child care workers. “As we work to make sure childcare is affordable, we must also ensure that it’s safe and that parents have peace of mind … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Over $550,000 in Federal Funding for Safety and Legal Support Programs on the Eastern Shore
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin have announced $550,415 in federal funding to boost safety and legal support programs on the Eastern Shore. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Justice, includes: · $14,233 for Cecil County through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. · $11,835 for the City of Cambridge through the Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Program. · $24,347 for the City of Salisbury … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Over $4 Million for Eastern Shore Airports
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $4,078,526 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation (DOT) for two airports on the Eastern Shore.The Crisfield Municipal Airport in Somerset County (W41) will receive $670,074 to remove obstructions from the field. The Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY) in Wicomico County will receive $3,408,452 to rehabilitate the taxiway and lighting, as well as the apron.“These airports are vital to … Continue Reading
December 12, 2019
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Push Internal Revenue Service to Reverse Decision that Protects Dark Money
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and others to submit a comment to the Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to reverse their decision to rollback transparency requirements for dark money groups. For decades, the IRS and the Treasury Department have required 501(c)(4) groups that engage in issue advocacy to identify, confidentially, the names of individual donors who make significant financial contributions ($5,000 or … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, and Brown Announce $225,000 for Anne Arundel County Police Department for DNA Processing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representatives Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Anthony Brown (all D-Md.) have announced $225,000 in federal funding for the Anne Arundel County Police Department to process DNA samples. The funding, awarded through the Department of Justice’s DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction (CEBR) program, will be used to increase the capacity of the Department’s Crime Laboratory processing, in … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Van Hollen Secures Maryland Priorities in Final Defense Authorization Bill
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced the inclusion of several Maryland priorities within the House and Senate-negotiated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “I’m pleased that House and Senate negotiators were able to come together on this bipartisan compromise to support our service members and federal employees, strengthen our national security, and invest in critical projects throughout Maryland,” said Senator Van Hollen. “On the home front, this legislation … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Van Hollen Applauds SFRC Vote on Sanctions on Turkey
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued the following statement applauding the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) vote in favor of sanctions against Turkey for their attacks on the Kurds in Northeast Syria. The bill, which passed on an 18-4 vote, closely aligns with the legislation Senator Van Hollen introduced with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) in October: “I applaud the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on taking bipartisan action today to advance sanctions against … Continue Reading
December 11, 2019
Van Hollen, Blunt Secure Key Provisions of Valor Medals Review Act in Defense Authorization Bill
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) announced that key provisions of the World War I Valor Medals Review Act have been included in the House and Senate-negotiated National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Senators’ provisions would require the Department of Defense to undertake a review of valor medals awarded to minority Veterans during WWI to determine whether any should receive the Medal of Honor. The language encourages the Department to conduct this … Continue Reading
