Press Releases
Van Hollen, Harris, Murray, Colleagues to Barr: Reverse Anti-LGBTQ Position, Protect Transgender Workers from Discrimination
Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., which held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBTQ workers from discrimination, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), and Patty Murray (D-WA) on Tuesday sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr demanding the Department of Justice (DOJ) reverse its anti-LGBTQ position that federal law does not shield transgender workers. The senators called on Barr to … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin to Trump Administration: Don’t Rip Away Health Care for Millions During Public Health Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and more than 30 Senate colleagues in condemning the Trump Administration’s “reckless” efforts to invalidate the Affordable Care Act. The Senators demanded that the Department of Justice (DOJ) defend existing law in court and halt its efforts to repeal health care protections for millions - including 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions — in the middle of a public health emergency. This … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Bipartisan Group of Senators Call on Central Asian Leaders to Release Unjustly Detained Prisoners at High Risk of COVID-19
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and 10 of their Senate colleagues called on four Central Asian Presidents to release detainees imprisoned for peaceful activism who are also at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Citing high-profile cases of detained students, activists, and human rights defenders, the bipartisan letters were sent to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Colleagues Introduce $430 Billion Coronavirus Relief Bill to Address National Child Care and Education Crises as Democrats Urge Republicans to Act on Bold COVID-19 Relief
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act (CCCERA), a $430 billion dollar bill to address the national child care and education crises and provide relief to students, families, schools, and educators across the country during this pandemic. The legislation comes as part of a larger Senate Democratic effort to spark action on bold solutions to the COVID19 … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Urge Maryland Board of Public Works to Reconsider Severe Budget Cuts
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) sent a letter to the Maryland Board of Public Works members - Governor Larry Hogan, State Treasurer Nancy Kopp, and State Comptroller Peter Franchot - urging their reconsideration of severe budget cuts. The Members begin, “We are writing to express our concern with proposed state budget cuts under consideration by the Maryland Board of Public Works. While we understand the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the budget in Maryland … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Blast EPA’s NAAQS Proposal and Urge EPA to Set More Protective Standards
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has joined Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to pursue stronger standards to protect Americans from particulate matter (PM). PM pollution is made up of a mixture of small particles and liquid droplets, and is often created by fossil fuel combustion or industrial processes. This form of air pollution has been found to be particularly dangerous and deadly for low-income communities, communities of color and … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Brown Introduce Bill to Support Homeowners, Renters Struggling Amid COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Fallout
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced the Coronavirus Housing Counseling Improvement Act to expand access to critical information, assistance programs and services for millions of families struggling to remain in their homes because of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic fallout. “Millions of Americans continue to face financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sen. Van Hollen. “The Congress must do … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Wyden, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ensure Americans Keep Broadband Access During the Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., today introduced a bill to ensure that millions of Americans can access essential broadband access in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Emergency Broadband Connections Act - sponsored by 26 Senate Democrats - would provide a $50/month benefit to workers who have been laid off or furloughed during the pandemic, along with a range of other … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Van Hollen Presses Clayton, SEC on Fraudulent Comment Letters
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has sent a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton pressing him to report on the status of the SEC’s investigation into apparently fraudulent comment letters that Clayton cited as showing public support for the Commission’s proposed rule on proxy voting advice. Proxy Advisory firms provide services to institutional shareholders, like pension funds, so that they can make informed decisions on behalf of their investors … Continue Reading
June 29, 2020
Maryland Delegation Presses FEMA for Approval of Additional Federal Disaster Assistance Resources to Support COVID-19 Recovery
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 (all Md.) wrote to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor urging the approval of Maryland’s request for federal disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). These federal resources would support the state’s ongoing recovery from the … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin Call for HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Funding in Next COVID-19 Response Package
In recognizing and honoring the 25th anniversary of National HIV Testing Day tomorrow, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are calling on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next COVID-19 pandemic response package to continue providing life-saving services to people living with and at risk of HIV and AIDS.In their letter to Senate leadership, the Senators are urging Congressional leadership to … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on Historic House Passage of D.C. Statehood
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives’ passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, legislation granting Washington, D.C. statehood, making it the 51st state, and giving its citizens full representation in Congress. “Today is a historic day in our nation’s capital. For far too long the people of the District of Columbia have faced taxation without representation. The District has been denied the basic right of … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Sasse Push to Punish Companies, Individuals who Steal U.S. Intellectual Property
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) have filed a bipartisan amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to mandate strong economic penalties on foreign firms and individuals involved in stealing American intellectual property.The amendment mirrors the Senators’ bill, the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, which would levy sanctions on individuals and firms found to engage in, benefit from, or enable the significant and serial theft of … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge Intelligence Agencies to Take Further Action to Combat Disinformation Campaigns Aimed at Disenfranchising Voters
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the Department of Defense, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and U.S. Cyber Command urging them to take additional measures to combat influence campaigns aimed at disenfranchising voters, especially voters of color, ahead of the 2020 election. Sophisticated influence campaigns like the one the Russian … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Senate Passes Van Hollen, Durbin Resolution to Reaffirm U.S. Commitment to Global Effort to Find COVID-19 Vaccine
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 38 of their colleagues, raised the unanimous passage of their resolution encouraging U.S. engagement with the international community on the COVID-19 response to research, develop, and distribute vaccines and therapeutics. The resolution noted the historic international effort to eradicate smallpox as an example of why concerted global collaboration and coordination is needed for the COVID-19 pandemic.President Donald … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Press Pompeo to Extend Emergency Refugee Protections for Afghan Sikh, Hindu Communities Facing Persecution
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), joined by 18 of their Senate colleagues, urged the Trump Administration to grant emergency refugee protections to Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan facing persecution as religious minorities. In a bipartisan letter addressed to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the senators called on the State Department to prioritize resettlement opportunities under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program allocation ceilings for Afghan Sikh … Continue Reading
June 26, 2020
Van Hollen, Rubio Press for Action on Bipartisan DETER Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) have filed their Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act as a bipartisan amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Provisions of this bipartisan legislation were included in the Fiscal Year 2020 House-passed NDAA, and the Senate later unanimously passed a resolution urging NDAA conferees to include the DETER Act in the conference report. The DETER Act sends a clear … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Van Hollen Statement on House Passage of Justice in Policing Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the House of Representatives’ passage of the Justice in Policing Act:“Tonight the House took meaningful action to provide desperately-needed transparency and accountability in our police systems. The Justice in Policing Act holds police accountable, bans the abusive practices that led to the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, requires public reporting of misconduct, and ends immunity protections for … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Baltimore Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $450,000 to Support Minority- and Women-Owned Businesses and Underserved Community Entrepreneurs
Members of 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 $450,228 to support minority- and women-owned businesses, lift up underserved community entrepreneurs, spur economic growth and create jobs across the Baltimore metro region.Through funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) Opportunity Zones … Continue Reading
June 25, 2020
Van Hollen, Udall, Leahy Announce GAO Report Revealing Trump’s 4th of July Event Doubled Costs to Taxpayers in 2019
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), member of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Tom Udall (D-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee overseeing the Department of Interior’s budget; and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the results of an investigation they requested that that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) perform regarding the costs and impacts associated with President Trump’s decision to … Continue Reading
