Press Releases
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
April 21, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Expand & Make Permanent Minority Business Development Agency
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, along with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Ben Ray Lujan … Continue Reading
April 21, 2021
Maryland Congressional Delegation Holds Virtual Meeting with Governor Hogan to Highlight the Success of the American Rescue Plan in Maryland and Discuss Opportunities to Advance the American Jobs Plan
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Ben Cardin in a virtual delegation meeting Tuesday afternoon with Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, and David Trone to discuss with Governor Larry Hogan and his cabinet their priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. Central to the conversation were the important federal resources from the American Rescue Plan and opportunities for major infrastructure investments through the … Continue Reading
April 20, 2021
Van Hollen Statement on the Chauvin Verdict
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial: “The jury has reached the right verdict. But nothing will bring George Floyd back or heal the pain that his family and loved ones continue to experience. While today’s verdict was just, we must think of the Black Americans who have never received justice. We must move with urgency to confront and defeat systemic racism in all its forms, and Congress must act … Continue Reading
April 20, 2021
As Seafood Processing Season Begins, Md. & Va. Senators Applaud Announcement By Biden Administration Releasing Additional H-2B Visas
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-Va.) applauded an announcement by the Biden administration that it will release an additional 22,000 H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas, a move that will benefit the seafood processing industries in Maryland and Virginia. The Senators had previously called on the administration to make available the maximum number of congressionally-authorized H-2B visas in order to … Continue Reading
April 20, 2021
Van Hollen, Sullivan Introduce China Reciprocity Legislation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today introduced the True Reciprocity Act of 2021, 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 Biden administration to develop an in-depth report to Congress detailing the obstacles put in place by China to obstruct the free work of U.S. … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Cardin, Carper Introduce Legislation to Reconnect and Revitalize Communities Divided by Highways
Bill Text | One-PagerToday, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing legislation to reconnect and revitalize areas that were harmed by the construction of the Interstate Highway System. The Reconnecting Communities Act would establish a grant program at the Department of Transportation to help communities identify … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Van Hollen, Blunt Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen the United States’ Global Competitive Edge
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) announced new bipartisan legislation to ensure U.S. leadership in discovery and innovation and to strengthen the United States’ competitive edge against China and across the global economy. Their legislation, the National Strategy to Ensure American Leadership (SEAL) Act, calls on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to identify the top emerging science and technology challenges and provide … Continue Reading
