Press Releases
Van Hollen Calls For Immediate Funding, Fixes to Small Business Relief Programs
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement calling for increased funding and legislative fixes to address the needs of small businesses impacted by the coronavirus:“Small businesses need relief and fast. I hear daily from local businesses across Maryland about roadblocks to loans and delays in receiving funds. That’s why we need to fix the problems with the Paycheck Protection Program now. Both the Congress and the Administration must immediately take … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Van Hollen, Raskin, Trone Press Administration for Urgent Fixes to PPP to Help Maryland Small Businesses
Today, U.S Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Jamie Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Small Business Administrator Jovita Carranza, pressing them to immediately update guidance to address urgent concerns expressed to the Members by Maryland small business owners. As noted in their letter, small businesses continue to face serious challenges with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), including the disbursement and use of the PPP … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Maryland Delegation Members Urge Governor to Address Rapidly Spreading COVID-19 Outbreak at State Prisons
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Jamie B. Raskin, Steny H. Hoyer, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, John P. Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, urging him to take steps to address the outbreak of COVID-19 within the State’s prisons. As the Members note, an outbreak within Maryland’s prison system threatens not only those incarcerated, but also corrections employees and the surrounding communities. … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces more than $45 Million for Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund
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 $45,657,990 for the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund through the U.S. Department of Education. Provided through the CARES Act, the $3 billion allocated nationally through this fund is intended to support school districts and … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Van Hollen, Baldwin, Murray, Colleagues Press President Trump For Answers on Mismanagement of the Strategic National Stockpile
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) and 16 Senate colleagues in calling on President Trump to provide answers on his administration’s mismanagement of the Strategic National Stockpile, which has left states without the federal assistance and supplies they need to combat this virus and save lives. “The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the overall health and safety of families across the country, in every single state. Dozens of states … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Van Hollen, Durbin, Senators Press President Trump to Automatically Extend Work Authorizations for DACA & TPS Recipients Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 36 other Senators in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to automatically extend work authorizations for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients and other impacted immigrants.More than 200,000 DACA recipients are working in occupational areas the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Cole, Finkenauer, Schneider, Colleagues Urge Administration to Increase Number of Doctors Available to Fight the Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA-01), and Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), along with colleagues in both the House and Senate wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) urging the Administration to waive restrictions that prevent doctors on certain employment-based visas - including doctors in the Conrad 30 program - from providing medical care at locations or in specialties other … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces More Than $107 Million in COVID-19 Economic Relief for State Airports
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 the award of $107,731,472 for Maryland airports through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This funding includes $87,643,261 for Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International (BWI). The … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Maryland Delegation Urges HHS to Provide Emergency COVID-19 Funds to Hospitals, Health Care Providers, and Entities that Need Them Most
The full 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 G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone, today sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging him to target future monies from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF) toward Maryland hospitals, health care providers, and other health care … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Colleagues Raise Concerns Over EPA's Refusal to Strengthen Air Quality Standards Amid COVID-19
Following the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) refusal to strengthen ambient air quality standards despite research showing its link to higher COVID-19 mortality, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and a group of their colleagues in raising concerns about the decision.“Today, EPA announced its decision to maintain current national ambient air quality standards that EPA’s own scientists say fail to protect public health - and that research links with … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Federal Delegation Offers Support, Assistance to Maryland Department of Labor to Ensure Marylanders Receive Critically Needed Unemployment Benefits
Today, the full 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 G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone, sent a letter to Maryland Secretary of Labor Tiffany Robinson to offer support and assistance in ensuring Marylanders are able to receive unemployment benefits that are critically needed by many at this time. As noted in their letter, the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Call for Boosted Lifeline Assistance Funding to Keep Americans Connected
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and a group of 26 senators in calling on Congressional leadership to commit at least $1 billion in funding for the Lifeline program in future coronavirus relief to meet the new connectivity needs of Americans. Since 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)’s Lifeline program has made basic internet and telephone service more affordable for low-income Americans.“The Coronavirus and resulting public safety measures … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Maryland Delegation Calls for NOAA to Expedite Distribution of Relief Funds for U.S. Fisheries
Team Maryland, 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, have written to Wilbur Ross, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Chris Oliver, Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), urging coordination with states to quickly allocate assistance and inclusion of Maryland’s … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, Democratic Colleagues Press Trump Administration to Ensure Workers Receive Unemployment Benefits
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today joined 32 Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing the Department of Labor to ensure workers Congress intended to be covered by the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program receive the benefits they deserve. “[P]arts of the guidance appear narrow or ambiguous, which could make states think they need to exclude workers who Congress clearly intended to receive unemployment compensation through the Pandemic Unemployment … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Brown, Murkowski, Stabenow, Colleagues Press USDA in Bipartisan Letter to Provide Relief for Local Farmers During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with a bipartisan group of senators, in urging the Trump Administration to provide relief for local farmers who are struggling as the nation works to combat the spread of COVID-19. In a letter sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, the senators urged USDA to ensure that a portion of the $9.5 billion they secured in the Coronavirus … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Murkowski, Casey, Colleagues Urge Support for Victims and Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Bob Casey (D-PA), and a bipartisan group of 37 colleagues in requesting that any future legislation to address COVID-19 includes support for victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. The senators express concern that service providers are reporting that abusers are using COVID-19 to isolate their victims, withhold financial resources, and refuse medical aid; rape crisis … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Van Hollen, Democratic Senators Push for Critical Youth Mentoring Funding in Next Coronavirus Aid Package
As Congress deliberates additional emergency aid to help Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) called on Senate leadership to ensure this includes at least $250 million in funding for youth mentoring programs. The Youth Mentoring Grant, managed by the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, provides funds for mentoring … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $170 Million in Federal Funding for Maryland Higher Education
The full 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 G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone, today announced $170,544,958 in federal funding for Maryland’s institutes of higher education under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Of this total, 50 percent of the funds are available first to provide direct assistance to students facing … Continue Reading
April 13, 2020
Senators Van Hollen and Markey Introduce Legislation to Significantly Expand National Service, Fully Utilize Peace Corps in Response to Coronavirus Crisis
Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) have announced the introduction of legislation to mobilize Americans in the fight against the coronavirus. The Undertaking National Initiatives to Tackle Epidemic Act (UNITE Act) would expand authorization of volunteer opportunities within AmeriCorps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and directs them to prioritize projects related to the pandemic in order to enhance the response on the frontlines of the … Continue Reading
April 10, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $742 Million for Hospitals and Health Care Providers to Support COVID-19 Response
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 the award of $742,225,306 for Maryland hospitals and health care providers through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund (PHSSEF). Created through the CARES Act, this program … Continue Reading
