Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Call for Social Security Recipients to Get CARES Act Direct Cash Assistance Without Having to File Tax Return
While the CARES Act, signed into law last week, ensured that the Treasury Department had the authority to send automatic direct cash assistance to Social Security beneficiaries regardless of whether they file taxes, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released contradictory guidance earlier this week stating that Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns in order to receive direct payments. U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Carper, Democratic Colleagues Urge Leadership to Make D.C. Whole, Increase Federal Coronavirus Relief for the District
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Carper (D-Del.) led a letter with over 20 of their Democratic Senate colleagues, urging leadership to make the District of Columbia whole and provide full funding to D.C. in future COVID-19 relief packages. As noted in their letter, while D.C. is typically treated as a state for budgetary purposes, the coronavirus phase 3 package categorized D.C. as a territory under the Coronavirus Relief Fund. This intentional slight blocked D.C. from … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senate Democrats to Pompeo: Contribute at Least $500 Million to United Nations' COVID-19 Efforts
In response to the United Nations’ $2 billion emergency appeal last week to help fight COVID-19, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 15 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the State Department to join the international community in funding international humanitarian assistance and protect the more than 70 million displaced people globally. Specifically, the senators urged United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to contribute at least … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Call on FCC to Evaluate How Net Neutrality Repeal Negatively Impacts Public Safety, Universal Access, and Broadband Competition
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and a number of other Senators in writing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) demanding that it consider how repealing net neutrality could negatively impact public safety, universal access, and broadband competition.In October 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the Trump FCC’s repeal of the Open Internet Order as lawful but also ruled that the Commission failed to … Continue Reading
April 01, 2020
Van Hollen Urges State of Maryland to Address Digital Divide with Federal COVID-19 Relief Funds
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, urging the State to use funding from the recently-passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to expand digital learning access for students across Maryland. The CARES Act includes new grant funds that can be used to provide web access and devices to students. As schools transition to distance learning, utilizing these funds will help ensure Maryland students are not left behind. … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More than $48 Million to Support Counties and Cities in Responding to COVID-19
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today announced $48,404,965 to support counties and cities in Maryland in their response to the economic and housing impacts of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). These awards come through the CARES Act, which was signed into law last week.“Local … Continue Reading
March 31, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Colleagues Urge Administration to Address Child Care Needs of Frontline Workers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a number of their colleagues in urging the Office of Child Care at the Department of Health and Human Services to take additional steps to expand child care options for health care workers and others on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as provide critical guidance to child care providers to ensure that they are taking appropriate action to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19 at centers … Continue Reading
March 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone, and Raskin Applaud CDC Approval of USAMRIID’s Return to Full Operational Capacity
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin along with Representatives David Trone and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) applauded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to approve the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) at Fort Detrick to return to full operational capacity. This clearance will allow USAMRIID to resume conducting their full scope of research on infectious diseases during this crucial time.“USAMRIID conducts vital … Continue Reading
March 28, 2020
Maryland Delegation Delivers Full Federal Funding for Maryland National Guard During COVID-19 Deployment
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, announced Saturday that the federal government will be covering the full cost of deployment of the Maryland National Guard in support of public health and safety during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Team Maryland has been united in assuring … Continue Reading
March 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren Lead Senators in Urging the State Department to Provide Humanitarian Assistance to the Palestinian People to Fight Coronavirus
United States Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a letter to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo urging him to take every reasonable step to lawfully provide medicine, medical equipment, and other necessary humanitarian assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories) to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. The senators noted that President Trump has offered assistance to other countries fighting the coronavirus, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Maryland Delegation Helps Secure Major Disaster Declaration, Unlocking Additional Federal Resources to Fight COVID-19
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, announced quick approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of a major disaster declaration for the State of Maryland related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Such approval is necessary to assure Maryland’s eligibility for an … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Colleagues Urge FDA to Change Discriminatory Blood Donation Policies to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic
In the midst of a nationwide shortage of donated blood spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and a number of their colleagues in raising concerns with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) discriminatory blood donation deferral policy for men who have sex with men (MSM).While government health officials encourage every healthy individual to consider donating blood, the … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Moran, Colleagues, Urge Federal Trade Commission to Protect Seniors from Coronavirus Scams
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) in urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to protect seniors from coronavirus-related scams. In response to the recent increase in these scams the letter to FTC Chairman Joseph Simons calls on the FTC to better inform seniors about coronavirus scams and assist victims in understanding their recourse options to ensure that seniors are protected from those attempting to financially exploit them … Continue Reading
March 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy Call for Ease of U.S. Sanctions Hindering Response to COVID-19
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin calling on the United States to ease economic sanctions against countries where sanctions are hindering the humanitarian response to the COVID-19 pandemic - specifically Iran and Venezuela. The senators wrote, “As these countries struggle to respond to their domestic health crises, U.S. sanctions are hindering … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Van Hollen Secures Protections for Maryland Families, Workers, Small Businesses in Senate Phase 3 Coronavirus Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the Phase 3 coronavirus package.“Our healthcare workers on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus need our help now, as do American families, workers, and small businesses who are being hit by the economic fallout. We fought successfully to ensure this rescue package provides a surge of support to overcrowded hospitals and health centers, and throws an economic lifeline to … Continue Reading
March 25, 2020
Maryland Delegation Asks President Trump to Fast-Track Approval of Statewide Disaster Declaration for COVID-19 Pandemic
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, is urging President Donald Trump to swiftly approve Governor Larry Hogan’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Maryland as a result of the impacts of the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19). Team Maryland has been working … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Maryland Delegation Urges FEMA to Quickly Accept State Request for Field Medical Stations in Baltimore
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, has written to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) asking for immediate approval of Governor Larry Hogan’s request for two federal medical stations in Baltimore. These units would increase Maryland’s hospital capacity by 300 beds and add … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Call for Task Forces to Streamline Vaccine Development, Medical Supply Chain
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a bipartisan group of U.S. senators, led by Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Tom Carper (D-Del.), in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Trump Administration to establish two temporary task forces, one to “expedite and coordinate the development of COVID-19 vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments,” and the other to “coordinate medical supply shortages and the development of innovative solutions to address these shortages.” … Continue Reading
March 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Demand Answers to Questions About Federal Bureau of Prisons and Private Prison Company's Readiness for Coronavirus Pandemic
United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), in writing to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the large private prison company GEO Group (GEO) demanding answers to the questions they posed … Continue Reading
March 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, and Bennet Lead Colleagues in Urging GOP to Ensure All Students Can Remotely Continue Education during Coronavirus Emergency
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) led 16 of their colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Commerce Committee Chairman Roger Wicker, urging them to support robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity if their schools close due to the ongoing pandemic in the next version of the coronavirus relief package. The Senators expressed their profound disappointment with the … Continue Reading
