Press Releases
Van Hollen, Markey, Booker, and Harris Introduce Senate Resolution to Abolish Qualified Immunity for Law Enforcement, Hold Officers Accountable for Police Brutality
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) today announced a new Senate resolution that calls for the elimination of qualified immunity for law enforcement officers. Qualified immunity is a judge-made doctrine that protects law enforcement officers from being sued in their personal capacity and being held personally liable for their excessive use of force or brutality. In its passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1871, … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce Bill to Install Statue of Justice Thurgood Marshall in U.S. Capitol
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today introduced legislation, S.3863, to replace the statue of Roger Brooke Taney, author of the infamous Dred Scott decision that ruled that African-Americans were not U.S. citizens and that Congress could not prohibit slavery, with a bust of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve on the nation’s highest court. “As our country continues to grapple with the past and future of civil rights and … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Urge Defense Department to Refrain from Using U.S. Military to Suppress Nationwide Protests
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and 15 of their colleagues in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley voicing grave concerns over President Donald Trump’s recent threat to invoke the Insurrection Act in response to nationwide protests calling for … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Van Hollen Delivers Floor Speech on the Murder of George Floyd, Need for Justice & Action on Systemic Racism
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen delivered the following speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate:Thank you, Madam President. Let me start by saying to our colleague, the Senator from New Jersey, who just spoke on the floor - that we're all thankful for his passion to make sure that this country lives up to its promise and for sharing with this body his personal testimony about the sting of racism and the need for all of us to move urgently to address the fundamental inequities at … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Heinrich, Tonko Call for Inclusion of Clean Energy Workforce Support in COVID-19 Economic Recovery Packages
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) are urging congressional leaders to prioritize a clean energy recovery plan in upcoming economic relief and recovery packages to deal with the impacts of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). The lawmakers, along with 57 members, sent a bicameral letter calling on Congress to take action to support the clean energy industry to both address the climate crisis and revitalize the American … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Sens. Van Hollen, Casey and Reps. Sarbanes, Scott Lead Bay Members in Bipartisan Letter Urging USDA to Prioritize Bay Health, Support Farmers in Reducing Pollution
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.), along with Representatives John P. Sarbanes (D-Md.) and Bobby Scott (D-Va.), led members representing the Chesapeake Bay region in a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging continued investment in the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The letter, sent to Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Chief Matthew Lohr, underscores the importance of supporting the region’s farmers in their efforts to … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Brown Announce $4.1 Million for Zero-Emission Metrobuses
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.) announced $4,162,472 for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for the expansion of its zero-emission bus fleet.Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) FY 2020 Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No). These funds, which are the first WMATA has received through this competitive program, will support the purchase of two electric buses and related … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Heinrich, Whitehouse, Colleagues Call on FERC to Reject Petition Aimed at Upending States’ Net Metering Programs
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to reject a petition by the New England Ratepayers Association (NERA) that aims to upend states’ net metering programs. Net metering allows consumers and businesses who generate some or all of their own electricity, particularly through wind and solar energy technology, to be compensated for the excess energy that they … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen Now Accepting Service Academy Applications for Class of 2025
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that his office is now accepting applications from students in Maryland for nominations to one of the Uniformed Service Academies for the class of 2025.All applications and supporting materials must be received electronically by 5:00 pm on September 30, 2020. More information, including the online application and related COVID-19 updates can be found here.Qualified applicants will interview with Senator Van Hollen’s Service Academy … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces Nearly $3 Million for Zero-Emission Buses
Members of the Baltimore congressional delegation including U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $2,949,750 for the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) to expand Baltimore’s fleet of zero-emission buses. Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) FY 2020 Low- or No-Emission Vehicle Program (Low-No). It will advance the statewide … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Maryland Delegation Members Urge Transparency from State on COVID-19 Testing Plan
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led a letter with members of the Maryland delegation, including Senator Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) urging Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to publicly release his plan on Maryland COVID-19 testing, which he is required to submit tomorrow to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As the members note in their … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan Raise Concerns Over Declining Child Immunization Rates, Calling for CDC Action
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a number of their colleagues in calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to address the declining rate of routine child immunizations for measles and other dangerous viruses amid the COVID-19 pandemic.“The administration of routine pediatric immunizations remains critical throughout the duration of this public health emergency,” wrote the Senators. “The decline in immunizations is largely … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Schatz, Senators Urge FTC to Investigate Instacart for Deceptive and Unfair Tipping Practices
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate misleading and unfair tipping practices, known as “tip baiting,” on Instacart and other online delivery services. According to recent reports, delivery workers - who are putting themselves at risk to deliver groceries during this crisis - are being baited with high tips by customers who want their order picked up, … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces $1 Million to Help Johns Hopkins Expand Telehealth Capabilities for COVID-19 Patients
Today, members of Baltimore’s congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.), announced that Johns Hopkins Health Systems (JHHS) will receive $1 million from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish a remote intensive care unit and invest in telehealth equipment to care for COVID-19 patients.This federal funding will allow JHHS to … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senate Colleagues Call for ME/CFS Medical Research Funding in Upcoming Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues in calling on Senate Leadership to prioritize medical research funding for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in any upcoming coronavirus relief package. ME/CFS is a chronic, complex, and systematic disease that limits the daily activities of up to 2.5 million Americans. Viral outbreaks, similar to the current coronavirus pandemic, have … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan Call for CDC Guidance on Reopening Long-Term Care Facilities to Visitors
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue specific guidance for when long-term care facilities can safely reopen their doors to visitors, and what steps long-term care facilities should take to ensure the safety of residents and family members when they do so. “Significant restrictions on daily group activities and on in-person contact with family and loved ones are rightfully in place to protect … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Members Announce $8 Million in Federal Funding for Amtrak
Today, the Baltimore congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $8 million in new federal funding to upgrade Amtrak’s primary line in Baltimore, a critical hub for commuters and travelers. The funding is part of a grant from the 2019 Federal-State Partnership for the State of Good Repair Program and follows a December 20, 2019 letter of support to Transportation … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Brown Praise Honorary Promotion for Murdered Bowie State ROTC Student Richard Collins III
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer and Anthony Brown today praised the Army’s decision to recognize bravery “in the face of evil” as demonstrated by Bowie State ROTC student and Second Lieutenant Richard W. Collins III, who was killed two days after his commissioning in 2017. The lawmakers were notified Wednesday of the Secretary of the Army’s decision to grant him an honorary promotion to First Lieutenant. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has concurred … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Seek Answers from Trump Administration on the Borrower Protection Program
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and 6 of their Senate colleagues in a letter requesting additional information on the Borrower Protection Program that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced in April. The agencies’ announcement stated that the CFPB and FHFA would share data under the program but did not say … Continue Reading
May 27, 2020
Van Hollen, Wyden, Harris, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on the Health and Safety of Youth in Juvenile Detention During COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) pressed the Trump administration for answers regarding the health and safety of young people detained in juvenile facilities across the country.In a letter to Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Administrator Caren Harp, the senators requested the agency make public the measures it has taken to protect incarcerated youth from COVID-19, as well as the ways OJJDP is meeting … Continue Reading
