Press Releases
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senators to Pompeo: Call for Free & Fair Elections in Bolivia; Criticize Interim Government for Abusive Oversteps
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), urged U.S. State Department Secretary Mike Pompeo to encourage prompt, free, and fair elections in Bolivia later this year. In a letter to Pompeo, the senators expressed their increasing concern for human rights violations and curtailments of civil liberties under the guise of COVID-19 protections that are meant to … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Van Hollen, Blumenthal, Senators Demand Full Implementation & Enforcement of the Death in Custody Reporting Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), along with 15 senators, wrote Attorney General William Barr calling for the immediate, full implementation and enforcement of the Death in Custody Reporting Act.“One stark, staggering fact is that there exists no reliable metric on the number of law enforcement-related deaths that occur each year because DOJ has failed to implement and enforce the DCRA,” the senators wrote. “To be clear, the DCRA will not alone solve the … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge State Department to Ensure Americans Overseas Can Vote During Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and colleagues urged the State Department to take action to ensure that Americans overseas can vote during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators point out that travel and mail operations remain disrupted in many countries around the globe, threatening the ability of American servicemembers, diplomats, and citizens living abroad to be able to vote in the November 2020 election. They urge the … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Lankford Push DOD Head in Bipartisan Letter on Delay to Remove Turkey from F-35 Technology Supply Chain
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on the Department of Defense timeline to remove Turkey from the supply chain of the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. The senators wrote, “As you know, we have worked together in the Senate on issues of US-Turkey relations for several years and remain concerned about the direction Turkey is taking under the leadership of President Erdogan. From human rights violations in … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Announce $4.6 Million in CARES Act Funds for Affordable Housing and Community Development in Prince George’s County
The Prince George’s County Congressional Delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and Anthony G. Brown (all D-Md.), today announced $4.6 million in funding through the CARES Act to address housing and economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in Prince George’s County, Md. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) has allocated $3,036,958 through the Community Development Block … Continue Reading
July 06, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Howard County Delegation Announce More Than $1.5 Million for Flooding Recovery and Mitigation
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced a new grant award of $1,515,201 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood prevention and recovery efforts in Howard County.“Over a period of only two years, Ellicott City and surrounding communities in Howard County experienced back-to-back 1,000-year floods, which devastated local businesses and homes,” the lawmakers said. “This … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats File NDAA Amendment Prohibiting U.S. Funds from Supporting Israeli Annexation of the West Bank
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) filed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prohibit Israel from using U.S. security assistance funds to unilaterally annex … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen and Toomey’s Hong Kong Autonomy Act Headed to Trump’s Desk for Signature
Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to defend Hong Kong’s autonomy against increasingly brazen interference from the Chinese Community Party. The Hong Kong Autonomy Act now awaits President Trump’s signature. “Today’s passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act makes it clear that we will not stand by as China seeks to crush freedom, human rights, and democracy in Hong Kong. The government of … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen Speaks on Israeli Annexation
On July 2, 2020, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.Mr. President, I come to the floor today to discuss what I believe is an important and consequential matter at this moment: the way ahead for U.S. relations with our friend and partner, Israel. The pending legislation before us includes a plan to codify and extend a multiyear commitment of American security assistance to Israel. Specifically, it would codify a memorandum of understanding reached … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Request Funds for the Developmental Disabilities Network
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Tim Kaine (D-VA), in sending a letter to Senate leadership requesting $30 million in financial support for the Developmental Disabilities Network in the next COVID-19 relief package. In the letter, the Senators highlight the critical need to support the Developmental Disabilities Network as they mitigate the health and economic effects of the coronavirus on … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Demand McConnell Cancel Two-Week Senate Recess, Instead Consider Critical Coronavirus Relief Bill
As coronavirus cases nationwide surge to record levels, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with 14 colleagues, demanded Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell bring the House-passed Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act to the Senate floor before recess, saying that failing to do so would be an abdication of our most basic responsibilities.“Since the House vote on the HEROES Act, states and tribes across the country have had to … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Chicken Caucus Calls for Direct COVID-19 Relief for Chicken Farmers
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), co-chairs of the Senate Chicken Caucus, in sending a letter to Senate leadership and the Senate Committee on Agriculture highlighting the severe impacts COVID-19 is having on the U.S. chicken industry and requesting direct assistance for chicken farmers.“While we appreciate that the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act provides direct payments for … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez Introduce Bill to Ensure Seniors in Federal Housing Can Live Safely, Stay Healthy During Pandemic
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today in introducing the Emergency Housing Assistance for Older Adults Act - legislation that would provide $1.2 billion to ensure that federally-assisted senior housing facilities have the necessary resources to effectively protect residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Recent reports show that more than 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care settings. This is unacceptable - … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues File NDAA Amendment to Ensure All Students Have Access to Internet During Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) have filed an amendment (#2049) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that mirrors their Emergency Educational Connections Act as part of the larger Congressional package. This legislation aims to ensure all K-12 students have adequate home internet connectivity and devices during the coronavirus pandemic. The group of Senators previously introduced the bill with … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen Applauds House Passage of Sweeping Legislation to Invest in America’s Infrastructure, Create Jobs, and Combat Climate Change
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of H.R. 2, the Moving Forward Act, legislation to invest more than $1.5 trillion to rebuild America’s infrastructure while creating good-paying jobs, combatting the climate crisis, and addressing disparities throughout America. The legislation includes a number of priorities led by Senator Van Hollen in the Senate.“The current economic crisis demands a bold response to put our country on track for … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Toomey Issue Statement on House Passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement regarding House passage of the Hong Kong Autonomy Act: “Tens of thousands of Hongkongers are in the streets protesting and refusing to surrender their basic rights to the Chinese Communist Party. They are doing so even as CCP collaborators harshly crackdown on free speech and the right to assemble. Our bipartisan Hong Kong Autonomy Act will punish those responsible for these crackdowns and other CCP … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen Statement for the Record on Tabling Senator Paul's NDAA Amendment
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) submitted the following statement for the congressional record on the motion to table Senator Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act:"I voted against the motion to table Senator Paul’s amendment to the NDAA not because I support his amendment as written, but because I believe this Senate has a responsibility to fully debate the question of our policy, strategy and plans for Afghanistan. Tabling an … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Senate Democrats Hold Hearing on D.C. Statehood
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) hosted a virtual hearing to examine why Washington, D.C. should become the country’s 51st state. The hearing entitled “Statehood and Equality for Washington, D.C.” focused on the statehood process outlined in the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, as well as the need to provide voting representation in Congress and full local self-government … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Hassan Introduce Legislation to Increase Funding for Children with Disabilities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced legislation to increase funding for children with disabilities in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Supporting Children with Disabilities During COVID-19 Act appropriates $11 billion for state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), $1.2 billion for early childhood education programs, $55 million under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, and requires … Continue Reading
July 01, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce More Than $16 Million for Western Maryland Airports
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) today announced $16,002,938 in funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for airport infrastructure improvements in Western Maryland.Hagerstown Regional Airport-Richard A. Henson Field (HGR) will receive $6,304,480 for the rehabilitation of its main runway (more information here);Garrett County Airport (2G4) will receive $5,035,688 for the expansion of its apron (more information here); … Continue Reading
