Press Releases
Van Hollen, Murray, Democrats Push Departments of Education and Labor to Withdraw Rules Allowing for Federally Sanctioned Discrimination
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Patty Murray (D-WA) and other Democratic senators in urging the Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia to withdraw proposed rules that would expand federally funded discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community and women. The Senators sent two separate letters to the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. Both rules would eliminate crucial protections that would leave eligible people at risk of … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Introduce Legislation to Counteract Trump Exit from Iran Deal
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have introduced S.3314, the Iran Diplomacy Act, which calls upon the United States and Iran to return to no less than their commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal. On January 14, 2020, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom triggered the JCPOA’s … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Leahy, Murphy, Wyden Urge Secretary Pompeo to Address Saudis’ Detention of American Doctor while in Riyadh
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today in sending a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, urging him to seek a resolution of the case against Dr. Walid Fitaihi, a Saudi-American physician detained without charge by the Saudi government for nearly two years. The senators’ letter calls upon Secretary Pompeo to raise the case with Saudi officials during his visit to the Riyadh … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Call for Attorney General Barr's Resignation After "Corrupt" Intervention in Roger Stone Case
United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawai'i), today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General William Barr expressing alarm at, and opposition to, unethical political intervention of senior Department of Justice (DOJ) officials in the case of Roger Stone, a former … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen to Attend Munich Security Conference
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that he will be attending the Munich Security Conference from February 14th - 16th as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation. Senator Van Hollen is a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs and also serves on the Senate NATO Observer Group and as Co-Chair of the Senate Foreign Service Caucus. During the Conference, the Senator will speak at a session titled “Partner, … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Praise FY2020 Army Corps of Engineers Work Plan for Maryland Projects
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) lauded the release today of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) FY2020 work plan that increases available funding for regional projects by more than $18 million. The Army Corps plan boosts resources for oyster restoration and Chesapeake Bay ecosystems and ensures the continued safety and efficiency of the Port of Baltimore and its shipping channels. “From protecting Maryland’s oyster population, to revitalizing the Poplar … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on War Powers Resolution
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote of support for the War Powers Resolution (S. J. Res 68) to prevent the President from starting a war with Iran without Congressional authorization.“A few weeks ago, we almost stumbled into war with Iran. The Constitution gives Congress - and Congress only - the power to declare war. Today, a bipartisan majority of Senators sent a clear and important reminder to President Trump of this uncontestable … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Cotton Praise Huawei Charges, Urge Further Action
Following reports that the U.S. Department of Justice brought charges of racketeering and stealing trade secrets against the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) released the following statement:“The Huawei indictment exposes its plot to undermine America’s economy and security on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party. We commend the Justice Department for bringing these charges, but more should be done to stop … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley Introduce Legislation Requiring Witnesses and Documents for Future Impeachment Trials
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) today introduced new legislation that would require the Senate to consider evidence and hear from witnesses in future impeachment trials. The Senators’ resolution follows the conclusion last week of the first-ever Senate impeachment trial that did not include any witness testimony. The Merkley-Van Hollen resolution would ensure the rights of both sides to call relevant witnesses and introduce relevant evidence in any future … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce the Medical License Verification Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) , John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced the Medical License Verification Act to prevent fraud in the healthcare system by requiring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to verify that an applicant’s medical license is valid and in good standing prior to issuing them a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number, which is required by healthcare providers to bill for insurance. … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Young, Durbin, & Graham Request State Department Assessment of Situation in Kashmir and of Religious Minorities in India
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting an assessment of the human rights situation in Kashmir and of the rights of religious minorities in India. The Senators begin, “We write as longtime friends of India regarding some of the troubling actions taken by the current government. More than six months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Sullivan Introduce China Reciprocity Legislation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Security, today introduced the True Reciprocity Act of 2020, legislation to address the substantial imbalance in the relationship between the United States and China across a number of sectors, including diplomacy, trade, communications, and education. Specifically, the legislation directs the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Van Hollen Vows to Once Again Fight Back Against President’s Proposed Cuts to Bay Funding
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is vowing to once again fight back against President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program. As in previous years, the President’s Budget proposal includes drastic cuts to the Bay program, funding it at only $7.3 million, which is less than a tenth of what the program received last year. “A clean Chesapeake Bay is crucial to the health and success of Maryland’s Bay economy. President Trump’s … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Democrats Request Action on Energy Tax Policy
To help address the growing threat of climate change, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and 26 other Democratic senators in requesting that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) take action on languishing energy tax policy priorities. The letter is signed by Senators Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Seek Probe into Whether Trump Administration's Delay of Puerto Rico Disaster Recovery Funds Violated Same Law as Delay of Ukraine Security Aid
United States Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Representatives Joaquín Castro (D-Texas), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), James P. McGovern (D-Mass.), Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), and José E. Serrano (D-N.Y.), in writing to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD OIG) requesting an inquiry into whether the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Achieve Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S. by No Later Than 2050
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), joined Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) along with 31 other Senators in introducing legislation that would put the United States on a path to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2050.This net-zero legislation is supported collectively by major environmental groups, business groups and organized labor.The world’s leading scientists have warned that humanity … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Sanders, Baldwin Demand Answers from Amazon as Work-Related Injuries Continue to Rise
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are demanding answers from Amazon as work-related injuries at the company’s facilities continued to rise over the holidays, and recent reports indicate poor and unsafe working conditions. In a letter sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, the Senators urged the company to put worker safety ahead of profits, and to do more to prevent and protect workers from work-related injuries.The Senators’ … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on President’s Proposed Budget
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s Fiscal Year 2021 budget proposal:“President Trump’s proposed budget is an assault on hard-working middle-class families, senior citizens, and those struggling to get by. It guts healthcare programs, slashes educational programs and student loans, and shreds the social safety net - all to pay for his tax cuts for … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Murray, Feinstein, Senate Democrats in Letter Requesting Answers on ICE Treatment of Transgender Detainees
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), as well as Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in sending a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew T. Albence, demanding to know whether ICE is taking the necessary steps to accommodate transgender migrants in their … Continue Reading
February 07, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Duckworth, Bustos, Colleagues in Sending a Letter to PJM Advocating for Affordable Clean Energy
This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and 18 Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Manu Asthana, President and CEO of PJM Interconnection, to urge a delay in PJM’s annual capacity auctions so states can mitigate the expansion of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)’s Minimum Offer Price Rule (MOPR) and understand how this decision will impact consumers. FERC’s recent decision directs … Continue Reading
