Press Releases
Van Hollen, Russia Experts Discuss the DETER Act
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) discussed the DETER Act and the need to prevent Russian interference in future U.S. elections with experts during a hearing in the Senate Banking Committee. Senator Van Hollen introduced the bipartisan DETER Act with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) to impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections. The legislation has 14 bipartisan cosponsors. A transcript of the Senator’s discussion with Michael A. … Continue Reading
August 29, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Announce $43,320 for the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad in Charles County
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a $43,320 grant to the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad (HVFDRS) in Charles County. HVFDRS will use the funding to replace its existing air compressor, which is over 30 years old and lacks modern safety features. Having an on-site air compressor allows for the refilling of air tanks for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. “This … Continue Reading
August 28, 2018
Van Hollen Urges Fed To Implement Real-Time Payments System
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wrote a letter urging Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to move forward on implementing a real-time payments system - or a method of providing faster banking transactions to consumers and small businesses in the United States. This would help Americans better manage their finances - from receiving paychecks in a timely manner to paying bills more efficiently. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen wrote, “The United States’ outdated … Continue Reading
August 25, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on the Passing of Senator John McCain
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator John McCain: “Senator John McCain was a statesman, a veteran, and an American hero. His passion and determination were unsurpassed in the U.S. Senate, and his moral compass was unfailing. The loss of Senator McCain will be felt deeply throughout the Senate and the country - where countless Americans have benefited from his service. My prayers go out to Senator McCain’s … Continue Reading
August 25, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Federal Employee Executive Order Ruling
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s ruling on the Trump Administration’s federal employee executive orders: “Today’s ruling is an important victory for the federal workers who stood up to the Trump Administration’s attack on their right to a safe and fair workplace. These civil servants are the doctors and nurses caring for our veterans at veterans’ hospitals, the researchers finding new … Continue Reading
August 23, 2018
Van Hollen Announces Senate Passage of $2 Million for Firefighter Cancer Registry
Today U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced the passage of $2 million in funding to implement the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act as part of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Senator Van Hollen was an original co-sponsor of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act, which was signed into law in July. This legislation creates a national firefighter registry of cancer incidence - … Continue Reading
August 23, 2018
Van Hollen Language to Halt the Transfer of F-35s to Turkey Until Secretary of Defense Certifies Turkey Will Not Acquire Russian S-400 Missile Defense System Passes Senate
Today the U.S. Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2019 Defense Appropriations Act, including Senator Van Hollen’s provision to expressly prohibit spending Department of Defense funds to transfer, or to facilitate the transfer of, F-35 aircraft to Turkey until the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, certifies to the appropriate Congressional committees that Turkey is not purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia and will not accept the delivery of … Continue Reading
August 07, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Call on CFIUS to Investigate ByteGrid
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who also serves as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), requesting that the Committee review the transaction between AltPoint Capital, a venture fund whose largest investor is Russian oligarch Vladimir Potanin, and ByteGrid LLC, a U.S. web hosting and data center company that is deeply involved in Maryland’s election … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Trump Administration’s Election Security Response
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement after the White House press briefing on Russian attempts to interfere in U.S. elections. Senator Van Hollen has introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Marco Rubio (D-Fla.) to deter future foreign interference in U.S. elections. The DETER Act would impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections. Senator Van Hollen also joined Senators Schumer (D-N.Y.), Durbin … Continue Reading
August 02, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Join More Than 100 Members of Congress in Demanding TPS Be Reinstated for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined a bipartisan group of 110 members of Congress in calling on the Trump Administration to reinstate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for hundreds of thousands of immigrants legally living in the United States. The letter comes after the State Department released a series of internal documents showing the Trump Administration’s overtly political decisions to terminate TPS for El Salvador, Honduras and Haiti despite warnings of … Continue Reading
August 01, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on NDAA
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding his vote in support of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2019: “The National Defense Authorization Act passed by the Senate today provides crucial resources to our Armed Forces and our national defense, including a pay increase for our men and women in uniform. In addition to providing funding for the many federal agencies in Maryland whose missions support our national defense, it … Continue Reading
July 31, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses DETER, ZTE on Senate Floor
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the Senate floor on our national security. Senator Van Hollen urged action on the DETER Act - his bipartisan legislation introduced with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) aimed at preventing future foreign interference in U.S. elections. The DETER Act would impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections. Additionally, the Senator admonished the Administration and Republican National Defense … Continue Reading
July 31, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Announce $156,101 in Federal Funding to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for Oyster Habitat Restoration in the Choptank River
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) announced today that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded a $156,101 federal grant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for a restoration project in the Choptank River Habitat Focus Area. This project includes oyster restoration efforts that will increase the population of native Eastern oysters in the Little Choptank River and Tred Avon River as well as the installation of a living shoreline in the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2018
Van Hollen, Cardin Demand Answers from SSA’s Treatment of Unions and Federal Employees
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) are raising serious concerns about the treatment of unions and federal employees at the Social Security Administration (SSA), following President Trump’s recent executive orders attacking civil servants. They have sent separate letters to SSA’s Acting Commissioner and Associate Commissioner for Labor-Management and Employee Relations [LINK], the nominee to be the Commissioner [LINK], and the nominee to be the Deputy … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Van Hollen, Casey, Senators Demand Transparency on Office of Refugee Resettlement Funding
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) led a letter with 17 Democratic Senators to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar about funding for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). ORR is responsible for overseeing the care of unaccompanied alien children and children who are being held in federal custody after being separated from their families at the border - and ultimately, reuniting them with their families. HHS has not been forthcoming … Continue Reading
July 19, 2018
Van Hollen, Rubio Announce New Cosponsors of the Bipartisan DETER Act
Today U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) announced new cosponsors of bipartisan Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act: Senators Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa). The legislation sends a powerful message to Russia and any other foreign actor seeking to disrupt our … Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Van Hollen Discusses Trump-Putin Meeting on CNN
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined CNN’s Anderson Cooper to discuss President Trump’s meeting and press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Senator Van Hollen urged action on the DETER Act - his bipartisan legislation introduced with Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) aimed at preventing future foreign interference in U.S. elections. The DETER Act would impose immediate, harsh sanctions on foreign actors who interfere in future U.S. elections. Video of the … Continue Reading
July 13, 2018
Cardin, Van Hollen Urge Action on Election Security
U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today spoke out about the revelations that a Russian oligarch close to Vladimir Putin owns ByteGrid LLC, the company that hosts Maryland’s statewide voter registration, candidacy, and election management system; the online voter registration system; online ballot delivery system; and the unofficial election night results website. “This latest news from Annapolis reinforces the reality that Russia has been systematically … Continue Reading
July 10, 2018
Van Hollen Presses Wells Fargo on Frederick Layoffs
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen has written to Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan expressing his concerns with the bank’s plan to lay off employees in Frederick, Maryland and across the country. Senator Van Hollen wrote, “It is deeply concerning that Wells Fargo is proceeding to lay off workers after receiving a $3.4 billion windfall from the tax bill signed into law last year. As a result of this law, your company’s effective tax rate will drop nearly one-third from what you paid in 2016.” … Continue Reading
July 09, 2018
Van Hollen Statement on Kavanaugh Nomination
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen released the following statement regarding President Trump’s nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court: “The person who fills Justice Kennedy's position on the Supreme Court will have a pivotal role in making decisions that will impact every American for generations to come. Tonight, President Trump had an opportunity to pick a mainstream, consensus Supreme Court nominee who could garner broad bipartisan support. Disappointingly, but not … Continue Reading
