Press Releases
Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Push for Critical Support for Higher Ed Students, Schools Amid Coronavirus-Related Campus Closures
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in urging Senate leadership to include essential support provisions for students, colleges, and universities in the third coronavirus emergency relief bill.The senators explained in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader, and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee—Senators Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray—that colleges and universities across … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Markey, Brown in Telling Trump to Immediately and Fully Use All Defense Production Act Authorities to Mobilize War-Scale Manufacturing Effort of Medical Equipment
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and 17 of their colleagues today in decrying President Donald Trump’s partial invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA), which ignored other key titles in the Act that provide essential tools for rapidly scaling up our national response to the spread of the novel coronavirus. The Senators are calling on Trump to immediately implement all Defense Production Act powers under Titles … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin Join Bipartisan Call for FEMA to Help Individuals, States Handle COVID-19 Outbreak
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are urging President Trump to exercise authorities used in the wake of natural disasters to provide direct emergency assistance to individuals and families and waive local cost sharing in order to pump more federal resources into states and communities responding to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. “Now, as the entire nation faces the challenges of a global pandemic, we are asking that your administration unlock the full capacity of … Continue Reading
March 20, 2020
Van Hollen, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge Congress to Support Clean Energy Industry in Economic Relief Packages
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), along with 16 Senate colleagues in sending a letter calling on Congress to include support for the United States’ clean energy industry and workforce in any economic aid packages.“As Congress takes steps to ensure that our nation’s workforce is prepared to emerge stronger from the coronavirus health and economic crisis, we must act to shore up clean energy businesses and workers who are uniquely impacted by … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Small Business Administration Approves Federal Disaster Assistance for Maryland
In response to a letter sent earlier today from the Maryland congressional delegation to the Small Business Administration (SBA) urging approval of the state’s request for a disaster declaration from the SBA related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the request was approved. The 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 … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Extend the Tax Filing Deadline, Provide Additional Relief to Middle-Income Americans
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and Angus King (I-Maine) in introducing the Tax Filing Relief for America Act, a bill to extend the tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. This date would coincide with the Treasury Department’s previous announcement that it would extend the tax payment deadline for filers who owe the IRS for the 2019 tax year. The legislation would provide greater clarity to taxpayers … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Cardin, and Colleagues Press Coronavirus Task Force on Situation in Nursing Homes and Preparedness for Seniors, People with Disabilities
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin(both D-Md.) announced that they, along with more than 30 Democratic colleagues, pressed the Coronavirus Task Force on their preparedness and response plans for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The Senators sent three letters to the Trump Administration regarding the safety of people living in nursing homes, the ability of seniors living in the community to maintain critical services including delivered meals and home care, and ensuring … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Hassan, Colleagues Urge Department of Labor to Provide Support for Workers Who Experience Disabilities During COVID-19 Pandemic
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Maggie Hassan and a group of their colleagues in urging the Department of Labor to better support workers who experience disabilities and who may be at particular risk as a result of COVID-19. “We write to request more information about how the Department of Labor (the Department) is preparing for and responding to the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and how it impacts workers who experience disabilities, … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Menendez, Colleagues Urge Trump Admin to Protect, Guarantee Health Care Access for Americans with HIV, LGBTQ Community amidst COVID-19 Outbreak
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) along with a group of colleagues in expressing serious concerns to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar about the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV in light of the Administration’s rolling back of LGBTQ healthcare discrimination protections. COVID-19 poses a serious health risk for individuals living with immunodeficiency disorders like HIV, and … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges Swift Approval of Federal Disaster Assistance for Small Businesses Hurt by COVID-19
The Maryland congressional delegation sent a joint letter Thursday to Jovita Carranza, head of the Small Business Administration (SBA), urging approval of the state’s request for a disaster declaration from the SBA related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.“Given the various protective measures being put in place by the state, numerous businesses are reporting substantive impacts on their business operations, which is creating an immediate adverse impact on small businesses and … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen Announces New Chief of Staff
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced that Tricia “Trish” Russell will be joining his office as his Chief of Staff.“Trish has a long and outstanding record of serving the American people in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, and I know she will serve my office and the people of Maryland well. I’m glad to have her on board as we continue working to support Marylanders during this difficult time,” said … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen Urges Pompeo to Take Immediate Action to Help Americans Abroad
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging the State Department to provide immediate assistance and guidance to Americans abroad. As the Senator notes in his letter, his office has received hundreds of inquiries from constituents on this matter, many of whom have received no help from the State Department. The Senator writes, “As the Department of State prepares to release an advisory instructing all Americans abroad to return to the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senate Democrats to Major Health Insurers: Fully Cover Testing, Treatment for COVID-19 Without Cost-Sharing Requirements
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 15 Senate Democrats on Thursday in calling on the health insurance companies to remove barriers to care for Americans who find themselves diagnosed with COVID-19. In a letter to CEOs for Kaiser Permanente, Aetna, Humana, Cigna Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Anthem, and UnitedHealth Group, the senators specifically asked the insurers to cover all COVID-19 related treatment and services without cost sharing … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Colleagues Push OPM and OMB to Publish Federal Workforce Guidance, Plan for Continued Services Amid Coronavirus Response
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and six of their Senate colleagues in a letter to the Acting Directors of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) calling on the agencies to post department and agency contingency plans amid the COVID-19 outbreak so that Americans know what services to expect as more federal agencies begin to ramp up teleworking capabilities to mitigate the spread of the virus. In their … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Murphy, Senate Democrats Ask IRS to Extend Tax Filing Deadline Until July Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday, along with 20 Senate Democrats, in calling on the U.S. Department of Treasury to formally extend the deadline until July 15 for individuals and businesses to file their 2019 taxes. In a letter to U.S Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin, the senators expressed their worry that the existing plan allowing for extensions just for payments and not filings is unduly cumbersome to Americans already faced with … Continue Reading
March 19, 2020
Van Hollen, Booker, Jones Press for $1.5 Billion in Immediate Assistance to Minority-Serving Institutions Amidst COVID-19 Fallout
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Doug Jones (D-AL) urged Senate Leaders Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate appropriators to direct $1.5 billion in emergency funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) to support urgent COVID-19 related costs. Over the past month, MSIs have had to cover substantial emergency expenses for students from low-income families, yet these colleges … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Van Hollen Joins Bipartisan Group of Senate Colleagues in Urging Federal Government To Expand Access To Telehealth Services For Rural Communities During Coronavirus Outbreak
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), along with a bipartisan group of 25 senators, in urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to increase subsidies to health care providers through the Rural Health Care Program. The additional funding would ensure that providers have the resources they need to deliver and expand telehealth services for rural communities during the coronavirus (COVID-19) … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Van Hollen, Klobuchar, Wyden Introduce Bill to Ensure Americans Can Still Vote Amidst Coronavirus
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) has joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in introducing legislation that would ensure Americans are still able to vote by expanding early in-person voting and no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail to all states and allowing voters who did not receive an absentee ballot to use a printable ballot currently only provided for military and overseas voters.“We are facing a serious public health crisis that has prompted confusion and delay in our … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Van Hollen, National Capital Region Members of Congress Call on President Trump to Prioritize Testing Locations Locally
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and lawmakers from across the National Capital Region have written to President Donald Trump urging that that the region be prioritized for early locations of federally-supported COVID-19 testing sites. The joint letter reinforces the regional cooperation shown by Governors Larry Hogan and Ralph Northam and Mayor Muriel Bowser asking for federal testing.“[T]he National Capital Region is home to over six million residents and the seat of the federal … Continue Reading
March 18, 2020
Van Hollen, Harris, Colleagues Seek Answers on Coronavirus Preparedness in Immigration Detention Facilities
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) joined Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday, along with a number of their colleagues, in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew T. Albence, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan requesting information about the policies and procedures their respective agencies have in place to prepare … Continue Reading
