Press Releases
U.S. Senator Van Hollen, Maryland State Senators Hester and Rosapepe Push for Increased Work Share Participation in Maryland and Federally
While Maryland has seen a spike in work sharing applications this year, only 1.4% of unemployment claimants are currently on the Work Sharing program. By contrast, 20 of the 24 other states with work sharing programs report higher percentages of program utilization in proportion to total UI claims, placing Maryland near the bottom of the list. For example, states such as Michigan (19.0% utilization), Washington (17.1%), Kansas (15.6%), Arkansas (14.0%) and Oregon (14.0%) have been able to … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
On Four-Year Anniversary, Van Hollen and Cardin Seek More Information on Deadly Silver Spring Gas Explosion as Baltimore Reels from Its Own Fatal Event
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are calling on federal regulators to provide more details on steps being taken to avoid a repetition of the deadly gas explosion in Silver Spring’s Flower Branch Apartments, which took place on August 10, 2016, exactly four years ago. Coincidentally, on this four-year anniversary, rescuers have been responding to a gas explosion in Baltimore that has left at least one person dead.“Although four years have passed since this accident, we … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Van Hollen: Trump’s Executive Actions are “Inadequate and Unworkable”; Americans Need Real Relief Now
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the Senate floor, where he exposed how the President’s recent executive actions were “more show than substance” and criticized Majority Leader McConnell’s irresponsible decision to send Senators back to their home states without reaching an agreement on another COVID-19 relief package. Senator Van Hollen emphasized that McConnell’s instruction for the Senate to be on “standby” is unacceptable - since neither the coronavirus nor the economic … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Announce More Than $1.1 Million for Water Infrastructure Improvement Projects on the Eastern Shore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md.) announced $1,115,000 in federal funds to support water infrastructure projects throughout Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants. “Protecting our water infrastructure is critical to public health and the safety of our citizens. By investing in these essential … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Harris Announce $250,000 for Water Infrastructure Improvement in Port Deposit
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md.) announced $250,000 in federal funds to support water infrastructure upgrades in Port Deposit, Md. The grant, awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants, will be used to construct a storm drainage system within the town of Port Deposit to control flooding around Race Street, Granite Avenue and Rock Run … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce $595,000 for Water Infrastructure Improvement Projects in Western Maryland
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $595,000 in federal funds to support a water infrastructure project in the Town of Westernport in Allegany County, Md. The grants are awarded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loans and Grants. “Protecting our water infrastructure is critical to public health and the safety of our citizens. By investing in these essential … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Van Hollen, Lankford, Sinema Announce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring Federal Agencies to Maximize Telework
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) announced the bipartisan Pandemic Federal Telework Act, legislation to require federal agencies to maximize telework for federal employees for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Senators previously introduced similar legislation, the Emergency Telework Act at the onset of this crisis, and are doubling down on their efforts as cases across the country continue to rise, … Continue Reading
August 08, 2020
Van Hollen: “If Republicans really are worried with interference in our elections they should pass the DETER Act”
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke with MSNBC’s Ali Velshi on the need for Congress to urgently pass additional COVID-19 relief and the clear threat of Russian interference in our elections. On the COVID-19 relief package, Van Hollen underscored President Trump and Republicans’ unwillingness to work with Democrats to provide American workers, small businesses, and families with the support they need during this time. On Russian interference, in response to yesterday’s Director … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen and Toomey Support U.S. Sanctions Against Hong Kong Aggressors
U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), authors of the bipartisan Hong Kong Autonomy Act, issued the following statements on the United States sanctioning 11 top Hong Kong and mainland China officials that are working to erode Hong Kong’s autonomy: “I’m glad to see the Administration using the authority provided under our Hong Kong Autonomy Act to hold Chinese officials accountable for their brutal crackdown on human rights and liberty in Hong Kong. China must face the … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Press for NIH Research Funding in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in sending a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The Senators urged that the upcoming COVID-19 relief package include $15.5 billion for the Bethesda-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to avoid significant harm to the research pipeline in the United States. The … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Rescind Proposals Leaving Workers’ Retirement Savings At Risk
U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee joined the House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, and House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters in sending a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia opposing … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Perdue Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution Designating September 2020 as "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month"
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.) reintroduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September as PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a complex hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive disorder that affects between 5 and 10 million women and girls in the United States. PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women and is … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren Introduce the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed data about the … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce Western Maryland Area Health Education Center to Receive $1 Million in Funding to Combat the Opioid Crisis
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced that Western Maryland Area Health Education Center will receive $1 million dollars in funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to help combat the worsening opioid crisis in the region.The Western Maryland Area Health Education Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to improve access and quality of care in Western Maryland, servicing Frederick, … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Reed Push Back on Trump Administration’s Attempt to Play Political Games with the Census
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging him to reverse the Trump Administration’s decision to cut Census data collection operations short by one month. The Senators stress that the misguided decision will be devastating to the accuracy of the 2020 Census and disproportionately impact hard-to-count communities. According to estimates, for every uncounted resident Maryland risks losing out on $18,000 in federal funding … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Van Hollen Releases Statement on the Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets’ Report on Chinese Companies
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the recommendations made by the presidential Working Group on Financial Markets on reporting requirements for Chinese companies: “Today’s report is an important first step. But in order to change the status quo, and hold Chinese companies to the same standards as others, we must pass the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Without the added teeth of our bill, this report alone does not implement the … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and 22 other Senators today introduced a Senate Resolution to recognize, commemorate, and celebrate the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. President Lyndon Johnson proposed the legislation just days after the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, during which the late Representative John Lewis was savagely beaten by law enforcement officers while crossing the Edmund … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Murphy, Baldwin Continue Push for Expanded Work Share Provisions in Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging the inclusion of ideas from their legislation, the Rebuilding Main Street Act, within the next relief package. The Rebuilding Main Street Act would incentivize and expand the use of the Work Share program, which allows businesses and nonprofits to bring employees back at reduced hours, while employees continue to receive unemployment … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
With In-Person Visits Suspended, Van Hollen, Klobuchar Push for Access to Free Telephone Calls and Video Conferencing for Incarcerated People in Next Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and 12 colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging Congress to include provisions in the next economic relief package to provide access to free phone and video calls for incarcerated people in state and local facilities during and after the coronavirus … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Democratic Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Defend New START Treaty, Call on Trump to Maintain Limits on New Russian Strategic Weapons
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined 15 colleagues on a Senate resolution calling on President Donald Trump to immediately extend for another five years the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia as it faces expiration on February 5, 2021, six months from yesterday. The bilateral New START Treaty places mutual, verifiable limits on strategic nuclear warheads and deployed and non-deployed strategic delivery systems of both the United … Continue Reading