Press Releases
Van Hollen, Booker, Senate Democrats Urge Congressional Leaders to Prioritize Funding for State and Local Governments to Distribute COVID-19 Vaccines
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with 16 of their Senate colleagues, have sent a letter urging Congressional leaders to provide robust funding for state and local governments to ensure the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines as a part of any upcoming legislation to address the pandemic. In light of recent news of the possibility of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available for distribution in the next few months, this crucial funding would provide local and … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces More Than $650,000 for Johns Hopkins University Research on COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $654,592 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University (JHU) to research COVID-19 testing and health disparities among women suffering from substance use disorders.“The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a harsh light on the racial and ethnic disparities that plague our communities and institutions. These disparities are especially pervasive in our health … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Federal Delegation Members Call on Trump to Overturn Denial of Maryland Disaster Funding for Tropical Storm Isaias
The members of the Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today called upon President Donald Trump to overturn the Oct. 14 decision to deny federal disaster funding to Maryland for the impacts of Tropical Storm Isaias.“On August 3 and 4, 2020, Tropical Storm Isaias impacted Maryland with … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Applaud Over $1.4 Million for Coastal Infrastructure Improvements in Talbot County
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (all Md.) applauded $1,436,701 in federal funds to support coastal infrastructure projects in Talbot County. The County will provide $1,437,959 in matching funds, bringing the project total to $2,874,660. “With rising sea levels threatening Marylanders’ homes and livelihoods, we must strengthen our shoreline infrastructure to reduce the risk of damage from natural disasters. These funds will help us address … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Manchin, Collins, Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Dedicate November as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month
This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Susan Collins (R-ME), a long with a number of their colleagues, introduced a bipartisan resolution to recognize November 2020 as National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month.The Senators’ resolution is also cosponsored by Senators Cantwell (D-WA), Murkowski (R-AK), Hirono (D-HI), Hassan (D-NH), Feinstein (D-CA), Coons (D-DE), Blumenthal (D-CT), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Wyden (D-OR), Smith (D-MN), Merkley … Continue Reading
November 20, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Applaud $500,000 Award to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences for Sustainable Agriculture Research
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris (all Md.) today applauded the announcement of a $500,000 award for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences (UMCES) to conduct research on sustainable agriculture in order to improve innovation in crop and livestock production.“Sustainable farming is the key to expanding food security, creating jobs and protecting our natural resources for our future,” said the lawmakers. “UMCES scientists and … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Peters, Colleagues Call On GSA Administrator to End Unprecedented Delay & Provide Critical Transition Resources to President-Elect Biden
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in calling on General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy to end her unprecedented delay, immediately ascertain Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and Senator Kamala Harris as Vice President-elect, and make available the transition resources that are provided by law. This delay creates unacceptable risks to national … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Blumenthal, Jayapal, Ocasio-Cortez Demand Trump Administration Halt Deportations of Victims of Medical Malpractice by ICE Doctor
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), demanded in a letter that the Trump administration halt any and all plans to deport the dozens of women who have come forward to report unnecessary and non-consensual medical procedures while detained at Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) in Ocilla, Georgia.The lawmakers were joined by 27 Senators and … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Press Pompeo on Conflict in Ethiopia
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen led over fifteen of his Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, expressing their alarm at the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and urging Pompeo to directly engage with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.“We write to express our alarm at the deteriorating political and humanitarian situation in Ethiopia. The conflict in Tigray poses serious risks to Ethiopia and the broader region. We urge you to engage directly with Prime … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Block Trump’s Effort to Strip Civil Service Employees of Critical Protections
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and nearly 40 of their colleagues in introducing legislation that would block the implementation of an October 21 Executive Order by President Trump, which created a new classification for federal employees, Schedule F. This harmful executive order would make it easier for the Administration to fire non-partisan civil … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces $100,000 for Morgan State-Led Initiative to Increase Minority Representation in Engineering
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $100,000 in federal funding to help Morgan State University lead a national initiative to boost minority representation in the engineering sector and improve workforce equity. The project will create new opportunities for Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented minority students to access Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Administration to Extend Loan Facilities to Provide Critical Economic Relief to Small Businesses, Local Governments
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committees and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, sent a letter to Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Department of Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urging them to extend the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP) and the Municipal Liquidity Facility (MLF) past the current December 31, 2020 deadline. In … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Van Hollen Presses SEC to Require Guardrails on Executive Stock Sales, Pointing to Recent Pfizer and Moderna Cash Out
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) pressed U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton on the need to create stronger guardrails against corporate executives’ potential abuse of insider information to set up stock sales, pointing to recently scheduled sales by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna. As the Senator noted, while legal, these sales undermine public confidence and allow corporate executives to potentially misuse information unavailable to the public … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Van Hollen, Norton Urge Appropriations Leadership to Replenish Funding for D.C. Emergency Planning & Security Fund
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) sent a letter yesterday to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Financial Services and General Government in support of the District of Columbia’s request for $118.3 million for the D.C. emergency planning and security fund (EPSF) in the final fiscal year 2021 D.C. Appropriations bill. The federally-funded EPSF pays for the … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Van Hollen, Hirono Call for Trump Administration to Support Nationwide Capacity for Shipping, Handling, and Distribution of COVID-19 Vaccines Requiring Ultra-Cold Storage
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii) wrote to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield, urging the agencies to work with state, Tribal, territorial, and local stakeholders to identify gaps in ultra-cold storage capability, particularly in rural and underserved communities, and use existing authority to prevent supply shortages. This information will be … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $100,000 for Health Training Equipment for Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $100,000 in federal funding to purchase training equipment for the Allegany College of Maryland Allied Health Simulation Workforce Development Program. Funding comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and will benefit hundreds of students in the Western Maryland region. Allegany College of Maryland will be matching the $100,000 federal funding award. The new technology will allow … Continue Reading
November 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Colleagues Lead Letter to McConnell In Support of TPS Holders
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), led 25 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package.Established in 1990, TPS is a renewable program that allows foreign nationals … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Nearly $2.4 Million for Maternal and Child Health Services
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $2,337,908 in federal funding to improve maternal and child health care services across the state.Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It will help the Maryland Department of Health’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau lower maternal mortality, reduce infant … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
In Senate Floor Speech, Van Hollen Slams Republican Refusal to Accept Election Results
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) delivered a speech on the Senate Floor strongly admonishing Republicans’ unprecedented and dangerous refusal to accept the presidential election results and the current Administration’s continued attempts to stonewall the Biden-Harris transition. Video of the Senator’s speech is available here and a full transcript is available below.“Yesterday, we came together as a country, not as Republicans, not as Democrats or Independents, but as Americans to … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Gillibrand, and Warren Push DHS to Investigate Allegations of Abuse of Detained Cameroonians
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have sent a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security’s Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari to immediately open an investigation into the physical abuse of Cameroonian detainees held in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Recent reports have alleged that unlawful coercion tactics are being used to force detainees to agree to deportation … Continue Reading
