Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $260,000 in AmeriCorps Funding to Support Seniors in Frederick
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $260,000 in federal funding to the Asian American Center of Frederick. Funding comes from FY21 AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program and will provide social support for low-income individuals 55 and older.“For more than 25 years, AmeriCorps volunteers have been doing crucial work in Maryland - including providing top-notch assistance and care in our communities. This new funding will … Continue Reading
May 05, 2021
Van Hollen, Hirono, Schatz, Brown, Blumenthal, Menendez, Booker Call for United Airlines to Stop Outsourcing 2,500 Catering Jobs
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) along with their colleagues Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) sent letters yesterday to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby about United Airlines’ intention to outsource inflight catering jobs for thousands of workers based in Honolulu, Cleveland, Denver, Houston, and Newark.In the letter to … Continue Reading
May 03, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Secures Additional $727 Million for Students Missing Meals Due to COVID-19 School Closures
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.) today announced that Maryland can extend its Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) nutrition and meals assistance program for eligible Maryland children through June 2021. From August 2020 and with the June extension, the State will issue an estimated $727 million in benefits to help families purchase food … Continue Reading
April 30, 2021
Van Hollen, Young, Cantwell Introduce Bipartisan Pakistan-Afghanistan Economic Package to Promote Stability in the Region As U.S. Military Plans Afghanistan Exit
With the U.S.-announced troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, it is vital that we use all the tools at our disposal to promote lasting peace and economic opportunity and to achieve other vital political objectives in the region. Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) introduced the bipartisan Pakistan-Afghanistan Economic Development Act, legislation to establish Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in Afghanistan and Pakistan’s border … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Biden Joint Address to Congress
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden’s Joint Address to Congress:“Tonight President Biden spoke to the country with confidence and conviction; seriousness and resolve; realism about the challenges we face; and optimism about America’s future. It’s been just under 100 days since President Joe Biden took office and the Democratic party gained leadership in the Senate. In this span, we have put our all into building a stronger … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Biden Use of Stepped-Up Basis, IRS Enforcement to Pay for Investments in the Prosperity of Everyday Americans
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen applauded President Joe Biden’s inclusion of measures to close the stepped-up basis loophole and increase resources for Internal Revenue Service (IRS) enforcement in order to fund the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan. The Senator also announced his intent to Chair his first Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on IRS enforcement.“President Biden’s American Families Plan and American Jobs Plan will … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge President Biden To Increase Refugee Admissions Target
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) joined Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and a group of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to issue an updated presidential determination with an increased refugee admissions target for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 as soon as possible. The Senators also urged President Biden to set a target of at least 125,000 refugee admissions in FY 2022 and to set the refugee admissions target at 62,500 … Continue Reading
April 28, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Vote to Confirm Samantha Power to Lead USAID
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) entered the following statement into the Congressional Record on his vote to confirm Samantha Power to be the next Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development:“Madam President, I rise to voice my strong support for the confirmation of Ambassador Samantha Power to be the next Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. I am confident that she brings the talent, skill, and experience required of … Continue Reading
April 27, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on Meeting with Biden GSA Administrator Nominee Robin Carnahan
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement after meeting Friday with Robin Carnahan, President Biden’s nominee to serve as Administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA): “Maryland is proud to serve as the home of many of our federal employees and to house many of our federal agencies. The U.S. General Services Administration is crucial to the success of these agencies, and I appreciated the opportunity to discuss its role with Ms. … Continue Reading
April 27, 2021
Van Hollen joins Blumenthal & Smith in Introducing Legislation to Stop Sexual Harassment in Stem
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) in introducing the Combating Sexual Harassment in Science Act today to improve the understanding of factors contributing to sexual harassment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, examine impacts of harassment on individuals and policies to reduce it, and spur interagency efforts to mitigate this harassment.“The ongoing culture of sexual harassment in STEM … Continue Reading
April 26, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $12.8 Million from American Rescue Plan Funding to Support Homeless Students
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone (all Md.) today announced more than $12.8 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to meet the academic, emotional, social and mental health needs of homeless students across the state.“The COVID-19 pandemic took a massive toll on children and families, with vulnerable communities, such as … Continue Reading
April 26, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce More Than $800,000 for New Luke Water Distribution Lines
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $802,000 in federal funding to replace the water distribution lines in the Town of Luke. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development mission area as a part of the Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants Program.“The safety of a community’s drinking water should never be in question. With the closing of the mill, the Town of Luke is working to provide local … Continue Reading
April 23, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $2.8 Million to Strengthen Rural Water Infrastructure
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Andy Harris, M.D., (all Md.) today announced more than $2.8 million in federal funding to modernize critical water infrastructure across the state.“As we redouble our efforts to strengthen our nation’s critical infrastructure, this new round of federal funding will revitalize water distribution lines and expand water treatment facilities, providing affordable and clean drinking water and sanitation for thousands … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Van Hollen Applauds Reports of Biden’s Intent to Tackle Stepped-Up Basis Loophole
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding reports that President Biden intends to propose closing the stepped-up basis loophole - which allows heirs to inherit huge fortunes on which the original owner never paid income taxes - in order to fund priorities that will bring greater prosperity to all Americans. Last month, Senator Van Hollen released a discussion draft of his Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion (STEP) Act, legislation to eliminate … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge President Biden to Nominate Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) and a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to expeditiously nominate a qualified Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism in order to confront the rising level of anti-Semitism worldwide.“Tragically, 76 years after the end of the Holocaust, anti-Semitism remains a serious and growing danger for Jews in … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Van Hollen, Levin Introduce Bicameral Subsidized Jobs Legislation
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Andy Levin (D-Mich.) introduced the Long-Term Unemployment Elimination Act, bicameral legislation to create a subsidized jobs program in order to combat the long-term unemployment crisis in the United States. Senator Van Hollen initially introduced this legislation in June 2019 and discussed the need to tackle this issue with several members of President Biden’s economic team early this year. President Biden’s American Jobs … Continue Reading
April 22, 2021
Senators Van Hollen, Markey and Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works Announce Subcommittee Legislative Hearing on National Climate Bank Act
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and the Committee on Environment on Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate, and Nuclear Safety announced today that it will hold a subcommittee hearing entitled, “Legislative Hearing on S.283, National Climate Bank Act” on Tuesday, April 27 at 2:30 p.m. The National Climate Bank Act was introduced in the 117th Congress and is cosponsored by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Van Hollen Secures Key Priorities in Foreign Relations Committee Passage of Bipartisan Bill on China
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced the inclusion of two key priorities he put forward within the Strategic Competition Act - bipartisan, comprehensive legislation on China passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today. Senator Van Hollen is an original cosponsor of the legislation and of the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act, introduced by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).The Senator’s first amendment would address the substantial imbalance in the relationship … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Sasse Reintroduce Bill to Punish Foreign Companies, Individuals for IP Theft
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) reintroduced the bipartisan Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, legislation to mandate strong economic penalties on firms and individuals involved in stealing American intellectual property. The Senators’ bill requires sanctions on individuals and firms found to engage in, benefit from, or enable the significant and serial theft of U.S. intellectual property. The Senators’ legislation was passed unanimously by the … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Schatz Introduce New Legislation To Provide Family And Medical Paid Leave For Federal Employees
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) have introduced legislation to expand federal paid leave to include 12 weeks of family and medical leave.“All workers deserve paid family and medical leave. As we work to make this necessity a reality, the federal government should continue to lead by example and provide this leave to our nation’s dedicated civil servants. I was proud to help secure 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal workers to care for a newborn or … Continue Reading
