Van Hollen Sworn In as U.S. Senator for Maryland

Introduces First Bill to Combat Income Inequality

Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement after taking the oath of office to serve Maryland in the U.S. Senate:

"Today I took an oath to the serve our great nation and the values of freedom, justice, and opportunity so beautifully articulated in the Constitution. I am humbled by the confidence the people of Maryland have placed in me, and I am ready to get to work to tackle our many pressing challenges.

"People who work hard deserve every opportunity to get ahead, and we need to fix a system that is rigged in favor of the very wealthy. That is why today I introduced the CEO-Employee Paycheck Fairness Act. The idea behind it is simple: companies should not get a taxpayer-funded write-off for huge CEO bonuses if they're not also giving a raise to their rank-and-file employees.

"I will fight every day to advance the interests of Marylanders in the U.S. Senate. I am committed to providing the best possible constituent services and making sure we're living up to our promises to our seniors and veterans.

"This moment in history calls for vigilance, engagement, and mobilization for people in our state and across the country. I will work tirelessly with all those committed to move Maryland and the nation forward."

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