Press Releases
Van Hollen Statement on House Passage of No Ban Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the House of Representatives’ passage of the No Ban Act, legislation to repeal President Trump’s Muslim Ban. Senator Van Hollen helped introduce the Senate companion legislation to the House bill and has repeatedly, and successfully, pressed the Administration to publicly release information on the ban."President Trump's Muslim Ban undermines our values and weakens our national security by playing into the hands … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on Trump Administration to Help Secure Access to PPE to Conduct November Election Safely During Pandemic
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), along with Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor urging them to take immediate action to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitizing supplies for election and poll workers - and voters - ahead of the November 2020 election. Senators Van Hollen and Cardin have also … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen Discusses Trump Threat to Send Federal Forces to Baltimore, Legislation to Block It
Last night, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) discussed the recent deployment of unidentified federal police to American cities, as well as President Trump’s threat to bring these shadowy paramilitary forces to Baltimore. Senator Van Hollen announced legislation this week that would largely block President Trump from deploying these federal forces against Americans. Video of the interview is available here, and the transcript of the interview is available below. ALI VELSHI (MSNBC): … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Cardin Introduce Legislation to Address COVID-19 Racial Disparities
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced the COVID-19 Health Disparities Action Act to address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. The bill would require targeted testing, contract tracing, public awareness campaigns and outreach efforts specifically directed at racial and ethnic minority communities and other populations that have been made vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic.“COVID-19 has ravaged … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Booker Demand Answers from Attorney General Barr and Acting Secretary Wolf on Deployment of Anonymous Federal Agents in American Cities
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) and 22 additional Senators today sent a letter pressing Attorney General Bill Barr and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf for answers on the alarming actions taken against protesters by federal law enforcement agents deployed by the Trump Administration, as well as threats by President Trump to deploy federal officers to more American cities. These steps are all the more alarming … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Efforts to Stop Police Militarization, Limit Weapons Transfers
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the Senate’s votes on amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to address the transfer of military weapons to local police departments. Senator Van Hollen cosponsored both a bipartisan amendment and legislation, introduced by Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to significantly reduce these transfers. While this amendment did not pass, a related amendment, sponsored by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
TODAY: Senate to Vote on Schatz, Van Hollen Amendment to Stop Police Militarization, Limit Weapons Transfers
Today, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) that would limit the transfer of certain surplus military-grade equipment to local law enforcement agencies across the country. The amendment places limitations on the Department of Defense’s 1033 program which authorizes the … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Wyden Announce Legislation to Block Federal Paramilitary Occupations in American Cities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced that they are introducing the Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act, which would block the Trump administration from deploying federal forces as a shadowy paramilitary against Americans. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). The … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Opposing Russia’s Inclusion in G7
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a resolution opposing Russia’s inclusion into the Group of Seven (G7). Despite Russia’s occupation of Ukraine, its destabilizing actions against the U.S. and other democracies worldwide, and the recent reporting that Russia offered bounties to target American troops deployed to Afghanistan, President Donald Trump has repeatedly called forRussia to be readmitted to a Group of Eight or to participate in a G7 proceeding. The … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Tester, Colleagues Urge Administration to Enforce Housing Eviction Bans During Coronavirus Pandemic
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to put many Americans in danger of falling behind on monthly rent payments, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and a group of their colleagues urged the Trump Administration to enforce bans on housing evictions for the duration of the crisis. Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, has pushed for increased assistance for American families facing housing insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic - … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Rounds Make Bipartisan Push for SBA, Treasury to Provide Small Businesses, Non-Profits with Much-Needed Clarity on PPP
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) wrote a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Administrator Jovita Carranza of the Small Business Administration (SBA) urging the two agencies to provide small businesses and non-profits with much-needed guidance on the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). In their letter, the Senators specifically push SBA and Treasury to clarify whether those who have previously applied for the PPP - but returned some or … Continue Reading
July 20, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces Nearly $425,000 for COVID-19 Research at University of Maryland, Baltimore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) today announced $424,875 in federal funding for the University of Maryland Baltimore to support critical medical research in the fight against COVID-19.The funding, which comes from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, will advance studies of the virus through autophagy - the body’s natural process of breaking down damaged cells and regenerating new … Continue Reading
July 18, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Rep. John Lewis
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Representative John Lewis: “My heart is heavy with the tremendous loss our nation faces with the passing of civil rights hero and my dear friend, Congressman John Lewis. John fought his entire life for us, getting into ‘good trouble’ to make the world more just for all.“As John said, ‘the true work of social transformation starts within. It begins inside your own heart and mind.’ In that … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members, State Officials Express Continued Support for Purple Line
Members of the 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, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, David Trone and Kweisi Mfume, today released the following statement after a virtual meeting with officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the Purple Line.“The Purple Line has great potential to improve the quality of life of Marylanders and those who … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Maryland Delegation Urges Trump Administration to Extend COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Allow Critical Federal Aid to Continue Flowing to States
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) wrote to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar requesting the extension of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. The COVID-19 public health emergency declaration, set to expire on July 25, helps ensure that states like Maryland continue to receive significant federal … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration To Reverse Move Undermining COVID-19 Hospital Data Collection and Reporting
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined 45 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Vice President Mike Pence, and Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, urging the Trump Administration to reverse recent changes requiring hospitals to report data to a new system set up by the Department of Health and Human Services instead of the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) which is run by the Centers for Disease Control and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Amidst Report of Russian Hacking, Van Hollen, Sasse Urge Senate to Move Forward on Bipartisan Legislation to Punish Foreign Theft of U.S. Intellectual Property
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) urged the Senate to immediately take up consideration of their bipartisan Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, legislation to mandate strong economic penalties on foreign firms and individuals involved in stealing American intellectual property. This legislation is all the more urgent given the breaking report today that Russia has attempted to steal information from researchers involved in coronavirus vaccine … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Announce More Than $500,000 to Aid Eastern Shore’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (all Md.) announced $507,937 in federal funds to help the Eastern Shore’s local economy respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.“COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into local development plans throughout Maryland. This investment will help the Eastern Shore’s businesses and communities respond to the pandemic - because when our local economies thrive, Maryland thrives,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren Criticize Trump Administration Deal that Allowed Manufacturer of COVID-19 Antiviral Drug Remdesivir to Charge U.S. Purchasers the Highest Prices in the World
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and four of their colleagues sent a letter to Department of Secretary Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar seeking an explanation for why the "amazing deal" struck by President Trump for a large supply of remdesivir forces U.S. purchasers to pay the highest prices in the world for the drug. This extreme price discrepancy further underscores the need for Senator Van Hollen’s bipartisan legislation, the We … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Push Back on Trump Administration’s Anti-Immigrant Agenda in USCIS Funding Debate
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) —along with 13 Senate colleagues— are pushing back on the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda in advance of upcoming debate on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bailout. The Senators are pushing for any funding package to include guardrails that will ensure USCIS cannot target asylum seekers and other vulnerable immigrants with unaffordable fees, ensure that the money is not used for deportations or other … Continue Reading
