Press Releases
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce over $12 Million for Western Maryland Airports
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) have announced $12,030,000 in federal funding for the Hagerstown Regional Airport and the Garrett County Airport through the Department of Transportation (DOT). The grants will be used to fund repairs and improvements to the airports' runways, including the construction of taxiway extensions. The Hagerstown Regional Airport will receive $5,400,000, and the Garrett County Airport will receive $6,630,000. "Maryland's regional airports … Continue Reading
May 15, 2019
Van Hollen Bipartisan Senators Introduce Resolution Honoring Richard Lugar’s Legacy, Pushing to Continue Global Non-Proliferation Efforts
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen along with a group of bipartisan Senators introduced a Senate resolution honoring the legacy of the late Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). The resolution recognizes Lugar's enormous contributions to nuclear non-proliferation, and pushes for the U.S. to continue its leadership in advancing global non-proliferation efforts, including by considering extending the New START Treaty that Senator Lugar championed from his post on the Senate Foreign Relations … Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
Van Hollen, Democrats Question USDA Plans to Relocate Offices Outside the National Capital Region
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), along with several of his Senate colleagues and House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue expressing concern regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposal to move the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) out of the National Capital Region. The current headquarters facility for NIFA is in General Services Administration (GSA) leased space in … Continue Reading
May 13, 2019
Van Hollen, Rubio Urge Banking Committee to Hold Mark Up of DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) calling for the immediate mark up of the DETER Act. The Senators' bipartisan legislation would send a clear and powerful message to Russia and any other foreign actors seeking to disrupt our elections: If you attack American candidates, campaigns, or voting infrastructure, you will … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Van Hollen, Clarke Urge FCC to Support Workforce Diversity, Collect Data on Broadcast Demographics
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Ajit Pai urging the FCC to reinstate practices to collect data on broadcast workforce diversity. Currently, the FCC is required by law to collect this information yet has failed to do so. They write, "Earlier this year, the Commission decided to review certain of its equal employment opportunity (EEO) rules for the broadcasting sector. … Continue Reading
May 10, 2019
Van Hollen, Burr Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Child Care Protection
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) have introduced the 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 for families in Maryland and across the country, we must have a better system that maximizes safety and provides parents peace of mind about who is watching their … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Brunei for Barbaric Laws
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) along with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the government of Brunei for recently imposing laws that include, among other troubling things, death by stoning for adultery and homosexual relations. Their resolution also calls for the repeal of these barbaric laws and visa bans for anyone involved in their implementation. "I am … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings Announce Legislation to Promote Educational Opportunities for Americans with Criminal Records
Bills Would Reform Prison Education, Encourage Colleges and Universities To Keep Criminal Records Out Of Admissions Process This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) in the Senate and U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) in the House to announce the introduction of two bills to expand access to education for Americans with criminals records, whether they are in prison or applying to go back to school with a criminal … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on Confirmation of Janet Dhillon
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the nomination of Janet Dhillon to chair the EEOC: "I opposed the confirmation of Janet Dhillon to chair the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC is an independent federal agency with an absolutely vital mission: Enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. But Ms. Dhillon has spent her career protecting corporations that are accused of discrimination by their workers. As a … Continue Reading
May 08, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Demand Legal Justification for Expanded Militarization of the Southern Border
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined a group of Senators in writing to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan raising concerns over the expanding mission of active duty servicemembers deployed to the southern border. The senators demanded a legal justification for increased military activities at the border, including a loosening of restrictions on contact between servicemembers and migrants. According to recent reports, the Department of Defense is preparing to ease rules that … Continue Reading
May 06, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Meet with Luke, Maryland Mayor Ed Clemons and Allegany County Administrator Brandon Butler
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) met with Luke, Maryland Mayor Ed Clemons, Jr. and Allegany County Administrator Brandon Butler to speak about the closing of the Verso Paper Mill. "We are deeply disappointed in the decision to close the Verso paper mill and concerned about the effects this closure will have on its employees, the Town of Luke, and the regional economy. We appreciated the chance to sit down with Mayor Ed Clemons, Jr. … Continue Reading
May 03, 2019
Van Hollen, Sullivan Introduce Bill to Support Foreign Service Families
Introduction of Legislation Corresponds with Foreign Service Day - May 3rd U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), cofounders of the bipartisan Foreign Service Caucus, have introduced the Foreign Service Families Act. This legislation will help ensure that the State Department is able to attract and retain a world-class diplomatic corps by providing expanded career options and services to eligible family members. For many of these family members, the process of … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators to Facebook: Ban on Gun Sales Not Enough without Enforcement
Gun sellers exploit loopholes to get around Instagram block Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined several of his Senate colleagues in demanding Facebook do more to block gun sales facilitated on its social media networks, warning that their current efforts "fall short." "Despite Instagram's ban of gun sales on its platforms, users are nonetheless able to facilitate firearm transactions by directing potential buyers to other methods of communication," the Senators wrote. … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Expresses Ongoing Commitment to Baltimore City and Mayor Jack Young
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, along with Congressmen Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger and John P. Sarbanes released the following joint statement following the resignation of Mayor Catherine E. Pugh. "As Baltimore's federal delegation, we are focused on supporting Baltimore City and its federal priorities. We recently met with Jack Young at the U.S. Capitol and directly expressed our desire to work as a coordinated 'Team Maryland' to ensure the people of our great city … Continue Reading
May 01, 2019
Van Hollen, Delmarva Senators Call to Expand Chesapeake Bay Public Access
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ben Cardin (D-Md, Tom Carper (D-Del.) , Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) on Wednesday introduced legislation to reauthorize the highly successful Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails program run by the National Park Service. For more than 20 years, the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network has expanded public access to the Chesapeake Bay through a state, local, and federal partnership of 172 Chesapeake sites, … Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Van Hollen Statement on the Closing of Verso Paper Mill in Luke, Maryland
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the announced closure of the Verso paper mill in Luke, Maryland: "I am deeply disappointed with the Verso Corporation's decision to close the paper mill in Luke, Maryland. Given the mill's long history in the area and the years of dedicated service of its workers, this decision is even more frustrating. My office has already been in touch with local leaders, and Team Maryland is working together to … Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Van Hollen Appoints New Senate Page from Caroline County
Emily Thompson from Denton will serve in the U.S. Capitol during the Summer Session Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced the appointment of Emily Thompson from Denton, MD - a rising senior at North Caroline High School - as a Senate page for the Summer 2019 session. Emily will have the opportunity to work in the Senate chamber to assist with day-to-day operations in the Capitol from July 8th through August 2nd. Senator Van Hollen, Emily Thompson, and Caroline County School … Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Block Online E-Cigarette Sales to Minors
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas) today introduced the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act. This bipartisan bill would prevent online sales of electronic cigarettes to minors by applying the same safeguards already in place for regular cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products. "Since the introduction of e-cigarettes, we've seen their use among children and teens skyrocket. Bringing regulations for this highly … Continue Reading
April 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Senators Demand CFPB Maintain Home Mortgage Disclosure Database
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) along with eight Senators are demanding that CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger reverse her decision to remove Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Explorer and the Public Data Platform Application Programming Interface (API) from the CFPB website. HMDA data is a primary tool to measure trends and disparities in mortgage credit access, and CFPB's HMDA Explorer and API have made it easier for local organizations without sophisticated data analytics tools to … Continue Reading
April 29, 2019
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings Announce More than $1 Million in FEMA Funding for Baltimore County
Latest Federal Relief for May 2018 Flash Flooding Reimburses County for Thistle Road Repairs U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (all D-Md.) have announced more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for road repairs in Catonsville, Maryland. This funding represents the most recent portion of federal relief for the flash floods which devastated Howard County, Baltimore County, … Continue Reading
