Press Releases
Van Hollen, Senate Dems to President Trump: Abandon ACA Repeal Efforts, Stop Undermining Health Care System, and Work in Bipartisan Fashion to Improve the Law and Lower Health Care Costs For All Americans
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Senate Democrats released a new letter to President Trump urging him and his administration to abandon their efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and undermine the United States health care system so they can work in a bipartisan fashion to improve the law and lower the costs of health care for all Americans. The letter, signed by 44 Senate Democrats, also requests - as a first step - that the Trump Administration rescind the executive order signed … Continue Reading
March 29, 2017
Van Hollen and Senate Colleagues Lead Milestone Effort to Bring Down Prescription Drug Prices
In the wake of Congressional Republicans' failed attempt to rip health coverage away from millions of Americans, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and a key group of Senate Democrats launched a major push to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by bringing down the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, one of the main reasons why health care costs are rising. "The Affordable Care Act has markedly improved our healthcare system, but we must constantly fight to … Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Van Hollen Announces Plan to Re-Introduce Carbon ‘Cap and Dividend’ Plan as Trump Signs Executive Order to Poison Atmosphere
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced plans to re-introduce carbon 'cap and dividend' legislation as President Trump signs an executive order rolling back climate and environmental protections: "Climate change is an economic, public health, and environmental crisis - but the Trump Administration is turning a blind eye to the clear and present danger it poses. President Trump is either ignorant to the basic facts of climate change, or he is willfully poisoning our atmosphere to benefit … Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Van Hollen to Oppose Gorsuch Nomination
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen announced he will oppose Judge Neil Gorsuch to be the next Supreme Court Justice: "The responsibility to provide advice and consent on Supreme Court nominees is one of the most important constitutional powers granted to the U.S. Senate. After carefully evaluating Neil Gorsuch's record and his testimony before the Judiciary Committee, I have concluded that he applies a cramped reading of the law and consistently sides with powerful special interests against … Continue Reading
March 27, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on Sessions to Recuse Himself if Trump-Deutsche Bank Investigations Are Not Impartial
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote to Attorney General Jeff Sessions about the ongoing investigations into Deutsche Bank's relationship with President Donald Trump, which one legal expert called "the biggest conflict that we know about in terms of dollar amounts and the scale of legal exposures." "As the Attorney General with direct oversight of this investigation, I urge you to ensure that any investigations or negotiations with Deutsche Bank be done with complete impartiality," … Continue Reading
March 24, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Leaves Maryland’s Children Behind
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees,released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on education in Maryland: "President Trump's budget leaves Maryland's children behind," said Senator Van Hollen. "These proposals aren't just numbers, they are a statement of values - and it is clear that Donald Trump does not value public education. From afterschool programs to quality teachers to affordable higher … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Introduces Legislation to Overhaul Broken VA Appeals Process
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jon Tester (D-MT), and a group of 16 Senators in introducing legislation to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs' broken appeals process. The process has not been updated since 1933, and more than 450,000 appeals are currently pending. Because of redundancies and inefficiencies in the current process, most veterans wait years for a decision on their appeals. By replacing the current process, the Department of … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Out-of-Pocket Costs for National Guard Members and Reservists Traveling to Training and Drills
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to introduce the bipartisan Savings for Servicemembers Act, which helps servicemembers save on travel expenses. "Marylanders who serve in the National Guard should be commended for their service, but too many are burdened by travel expenses to get to and from their required trainings," said Senator Van Hollen. … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Delivers Warning to Speaker Ryan, House Republicans: We're Not Going to Help You Erode Healthcare Coverage
As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD, Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and 41 of their colleagues in sending a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan warning that he will not have their support for further repeal legislation as outlined in the Speaker's "three phase" plan. As part of their campaign to secure votes for passage in the House, Speaker Paul Ryan and President Trump have assured certain … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Van Hollen Statement in Opposition to Confirmation of David Friedman
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen submitted the following statement to the congressional record in opposition to the confirmation of David Friedman to serve as Ambassador to Israel: "Mr. President, our Ambassador to Israel is one of our most consequential diplomatic posts.Israel is our greatest friend and ally in the Middle East, and one of our closest partners in the world.The bonds between our peoples have been unbreakable from Israel's beginning.Israel is a bastion of democracy and prosperity … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Bay and Maryland’s Environment
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on the Chesapeake Bay and the environment in Maryland: "The budget cuts proposed by President Trump would seriously damage our efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and protect our environment. Its shortsighted cuts would damage Maryland's economy - from the tourism and boating industry, to watermen working on … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin, Cummings, Ruppersberger, Sarbanes, Delaney Introduce Resolution Honoring Henrietta Lacks
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin joined Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and John Delaney (all D-MD) in introducing a resolution honoring Henrietta Lacks for her contributions to medical research as part of Women's History Month. Lacks, an African-American woman, died of cervical cancer in 1951. For more than six decades, her cells have been used by medical researchers in some of medicine's most important breakthroughs, including the … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Fight to Save Small Business Jobs in Economically Challenged Rural and Urban Areas
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) joined with Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) to introduce a bill that improves the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Empowerment Contracting (HUBZone) program and helps small businesses rebuild, revitalize, and invest in distressed communities across the United States. The "HUBZone Investment Protection Act of 2017" (S. 690), acts to avert the imminent loss of jobs and certified small … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Van Hollen: Trumpcare Disastrous for Battle Against Opioid Crisis
With 91 Americans dying each day from an opioid overdose, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and 19 colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on him not to take up any legislation that would further harm individuals struggling with an opioid use disorder. The repeal of the Affordable Care Act could strip health care coverage from 2.8 million Americans suffering from a substance use disorder. The House … Continue Reading
March 22, 2017
Chesapeake Bay Senators Urge Appropriators to Reject President Trump’s Dangerous Cuts to Bay Funding
U.S. Senators representing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed blasted President Trump's budget released Thursday that would zero out funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program and severely cut funding for other core programs to maintain and restore the health of the Bay, which is an economic lifeline for the region. Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Bob Casey, Jr. (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Joe Manchin … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Research in Maryland
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on research institutions in Maryland: "The United States is the world leader in innovative research, and I'm proud to say much of that work takes place in our great state. The role of the federal government is to foster that research, not attack it," said Senator Van Hollen. "Whether it's finding cures for … Continue Reading
March 21, 2017
Van Hollen Calls on SEC to End Delay in Requiring CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) in sending a letter to the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) urging the Wall Street regulatory agency to cease any delay in implementing a Congressionally-mandated rule that requires publicly traded companies to disclose to investors the pay ratio between their chief executive and median employee. Last month, SEC Acting Chair Michael Piwowar unilaterally decided to reopen the public comment … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Van Hollen, Murphy, 16 Senators to GOP: Trumpcare Process Must Equal the Affordable Care Act’s
As Congressional Republicans continue their dangerous crusade to quickly force Trumpcare through Congress without sufficient hearings, amendments, or debate, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and 16 Senators are demanding Senate Republican leadership conduct an equally transparent and thorough deliberative process on Trumpcare as was conducted in drafting and passing the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2009. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell … Continue Reading
March 20, 2017
Van Hollen: Trump’s Budget Would Hurt Maryland’s Economy
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committees, released the following analysis of some of the impacts that the Trump budget would have on Maryland's economy: "President Trump's budget proposal would have deep and lasting negative consequences for Maryland's economy. From Western Maryland to the Eastern Shore - and everywhere in between - the federal government makes vital investments in our state that create jobs, improve infrastructure, and … Continue Reading
March 17, 2017
Van Hollen, Cardin Invite President Trump to Visit NIH, Urge Him to Reverse Call for $6B in Cuts
In response to his budget blueprint, which cuts $5.8 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.) have written to President Trump inviting him to visit NIH to see for himself the life-saving working being done in nearby Bethesda. The letter, found below, urges the president to reverse his budget cuts so that the United States can maintain its global scientific dominance. Dear Mr. President: As you continue to work on the … Continue Reading
