Press Releases
Van Hollen, Menendez Introduce $1B Bill to Spur Economic Activity in Communities Hit Hard by COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) have introduced legislation that would provide an additional $1 billion to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund to boost local economies in low-income, rural and urban communities that were disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. “CDFIs serve as a direct financial lifeline for struggling communities that have been hardest hit by COVID-19, funding small businesses, non-profits, and a diverse … Continue Reading
July 24, 2020
Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Kaine and Warren Lead Colleagues to Call for Fixes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to Be Included in Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with seventeen other senators, called on Senate leadership to include fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program in the next COVID-19 relief package. In a letter, the senators called for the inclusion of components from the What You Can Do For Your Country Act - legislation introduced by Van Hollen, Gillibrand, Kaine, and Warren - in the relief package … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Attempts to Include Misguided FBI Building Policy within Next COVID Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on President Trump’s attempt to include his misguided plan for an updated Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters within the next COVID-19 relief package: “The Congress has spent years working toward a new FBI building and campus that would meet the operational and security needs of the agency. Despite significant progress towards this goal, President Trump pulled the plug on the plan when he came into … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Murray, Lawmakers Urge HHS to Address the Needs of Pregnant People during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Combat Maternal Mortality Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging the agency to strengthen its efforts to protect pregnant people during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressing concern over reports that the political needs of the President were being prioritized over the public health needs of vulnerable populations."We understand the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Colleagues Call for Substantial Funding to Amtrak for Critical Projects Along the Northeast Corridor in Future Covid-19 Relief Bill
Due to declining ridership and revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) calling for substantial funding for Amtrak in any future pandemic relief bill. In the letter to McConnell and Schumer, the senators noted the dire measures Amtrak would have to take, such as cessation critical NEC infrastructure … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Baltimore Delegation Announces Nearly $775,000 for Drug Addiction Research at Johns Hopkins University
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.) today announced $774,845 in federal funding for Johns Hopkins University to support critical research on drug use and addiction.The funding, which comes through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), will explore innovative intervention treatment for opioid use disorders. Specifically, the funding will enable researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of new medical … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Democratic Senators Urge Significant, New Flexible Funding for State and Local Governments
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and nearly three dozen Democratic colleagues urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to support the funding amount and proposed funding flexibility for state and local governments that was included in the HEROES Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The funding includes $500 billion for states, $375 billion for local governments and $20 billion each for territories and tribal … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Introduce John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have joined Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) in introducing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, a bipartisan bill to restore the landmark Voting Rights Act, end the scourge of minority voter suppression, and help preserve the legacy of John Lewis - one of America’s greatest civil rights heroes.In 2013, the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision gutted critical voter protections within the Voting Rights Act, crippling … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin on House Passage of Bill to Replace Roger Taney Bust at Old Supreme Court with Thurgood Marshall
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) released the following statements on House passage of replacing the bust of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Roger Brooke Taney with a bust of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve on the nation’s highest court. Senators Cardin and Van Hollen introduced the same legislation in the Senate.“Thurgood Marshall was an inspiration who helped tear down the walls of segregation in America. It is … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Van Hollen, Harris, Colleagues Demand Answers on Federal Law Enforcement Presence in American Cities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and sixteen of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan, and Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Matthew Albence demanding answers about the use of federal law enforcement against protestors expressing their constitutional First Amendment rights. Senator Van Hollen introduced legislation … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
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
