Press Releases
Maryland Congressional Delegation Discusses Status of COVID-19 Testing with State Health and Emergency Management Leaders
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, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today discussed with Maryland Secretary of Health Robert Neall, Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Fran Phillips and Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Director Russell Strickland the status of Maryland’s ability to test for … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Oppose Proposed Closure of Coast Guard Station-Oxford on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Andy Harris are urging the Coast Guard not to shutter the U.S. Coast Guard Station Oxford, which is the only Coast Guard Station on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The lawmakers have written to Coast Guard Rear Admiral Matthew Sibley to oppose the closure as part of a public comment period. Following earlier pressure, the USCG announced that the public comment period on potential action, which was originally to close on April 14, was … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Seek $8 Billion for Efficient, Coordinated Contact Tracing System
As scientists worldwide race for a cure for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), local efforts, including robust contact tracing, are key to stopping the spread of the virus and safely reopening the economy. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and a group of 12 other leading U.S. Senators in calling for Congress to include $8 billion in new funding for contact tracing initiatives in CARES Act 2 to help states and localities recruit, hire, and train contact tracers … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Bennet, Hassan, and Colleagues Plan to Introduce Legislation to Direct $4 Billion in E-Rate Funds to Close Growing Learning Gap in Coronavirus Pandemic
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today announced that they plan to increase their request in upcoming legislation aimed at ensuring all K-12 students have adequate home internet connectivity and devices during the coronavirus pandemic. The Senators previously announced their intention to introduce the Senate companion to legislation, the Emergency Educational Connections Act, recently introduced by Congresswoman … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Collins, Stabenow Urge USDA to Target Relief to Local Farmers in Finalized Coronavirus Food Assistance Program
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and a group of bipartisan senators urged the USDA to target COVID-19 relief provisions to reach local farmers in the new Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). USDA created CFAP to administer relief Congress provided in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. While the CARES Act specifically provides direct assistance to local food producers, USDA has not … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Murray, Colleagues Ask About Political Interference in COVID-19 Response Following Ouster of Vaccine Development Head
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 18 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to express their concern regarding reports of political influence at the Department, demand more information on staffing issues related to the COVID-19 response efforts, and ask whether staff turmoil and turnover is hindering the Department’s work. The Senators specifically asked about the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More than $9 Million in COVID-19 Housing Relief
The full Maryland Congressional Delegation including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today announced $9,043,232 in COVID-19 relief for tenant-based housing voucher recipients in Maryland through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).Funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act, … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Urge House and Senate Leadership to Prioritize the Needs of People with Disabilities in the Next COVID-19 Package
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) in sending a letter urging House and Senate leadership to prioritize the needs of people with disabilities as House and Senate leadership negotiates a fourth stimulus package to mitigate the health, social and economic impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.An estimated … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces New COVID-19 Emergency Nutrition Assistance For Students Missing Free or Reduced-Price Lunches at School Due to COVID-19 Closures
The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today announced approval by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of Maryland’s plan to provide new Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) assistance to all Maryland children who would receive free or reduced-price lunches if not for school closures. The Maryland … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Murphy, Colleagues Push to Strengthen Food Assistance Amid Coronavirus Crisis
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), along with a group of 21 lawmakers, sent a letter urging Senate leadership to support and strengthen SNAP—also known as food stamps—to help ensure that families across America can keep food on their tables despite the mounting economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. “SNAP is the nation’s first line of defense against hunger and is proven to help lifts millions of American families and children out … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen Presses McConnell for Safety Plan to Protect Capitol Staff as Senators Return
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressing the Majority Leader for details on how he will ensure the safety of Senate employees, contractors, and support staff - many of whom are Maryland residents - as the chamber goes into session next week. As the Senator mentions in his letter, he is prepared to return himself for much-needed work on our country’s COVID-19 response but has yet to hear a plan from Leader McConnell on … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge the CFPB to Reinstate Vital HMDA Data Collection
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with 17 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger urging her to reverse her decisions to suspend the quarterly reporting of information under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) during the COVID-19 pandemic and halt reporting of all HMDA data for lenders. Eliminating these reporting requirements could allow discrimination in mortgage lending to … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Smith, Warren, Colleagues Press to Include $50 Billion Childcare Bailout in Next Coronavirus Relief Package
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to include their plan for a $50 billion childcare bailout in the next coronavirus relief package, saying it is indispensable part of the nation’s response to the pandemic.“We write to strongly urge you to prioritize funding childcare in the next legislative package that responds to the public health and economic effects of … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes Announce $200,000 for Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Tracker
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger and John P. Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced $200,000 in federal funding to Johns Hopkins University (JHU) through the National Science Foundation (NSF) Rapid Response Research (RAPID) grant program to support the management and development of the COVID-19 online interactive dashboard hosted by the JHU Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE). The dashboard may be viewed here. Awarded through the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce Over $10 Million for Maryland Chesapeake Bay Conservation Projects
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) have announced $10,774,013 for two conservation projects in Maryland through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This first round of awards follows Senator Van Hollen’s introduction of legislation, that was cosponsored by Senator Cardin, to increase the RCPP funds available to the Bay region. Due to the Senators’ … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Sen. Van Hollen, Rep. Phillips Announce Eligibility of Peace Corps, AmeriCorps Volunteers for Unemployment Assistance
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) announced that theDepartment of Labor has put out guidance confirming the eligibility of Peace Corps and AmeriCorps participants for unemployment assistance due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In a bipartisan letter sent April 2, 2020, the Members urged Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia to clarify that the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program passed within the CARES Act covers Peace Corps and AmeriCorps … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Durbin, Colleagues Urge Bureau of Prisons to Release Critical Demographic Data as Country Confronts Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with a group of 13 colleagues, sent a letter to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal urging him to release system-wide demographic data in the BOP’s public reporting of the number of incarcerated people and staff impacted by COVID-19—including data on the age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, and disability of all incarcerated people and BOP staff who … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Efforts to Protect Federal Workers During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Gary C. Peters (D-Mich.), and 18 of their Senate colleagues wrote to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the safety of federal workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators are requesting information on the agencies' efforts to ensure that agencies maximize telework across their workforce, collect and provide data on current … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Senators Call for Robust CDC Data Modernization Initiative Funding to Ensure Public Health Preparedness
With the COVID-19 pandemic revealing dire deficiencies in the public health system, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) and a group of eight Senators in calling for increased funding for a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data modernization initiative. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the Senators stressed the need for this additional funding in … Continue Reading
April 28, 2020
Van Hollen, Schatz, Senators Call for More Funding for Social Service Nonprofits in Next Coronavirus Relief Bill
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai?i), along with a group of 26 senators, urged Senate leadership to include additional emergency funding for nonprofit organizations in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Nonprofits are an essential part of the frontline coronavirus pandemic response, providing important social services such as nutrition assistance, shelter for those experiencing homelessness, child care and education programs, and care for victims of domestic … Continue Reading
