Press Releases
Van Hollen, Young, Congressional Soccer Caucus Urge FIFA to Recognize Afghanistan Women’s Football Team
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) and the co-chairs of the Congressional Soccer Caucus sent a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino urging official recognition of the Afghanistan Women’s Football Team (AWT). After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, the team’s players were forced to flee the nation. “The women of the AWT are in a unique situation, and we hope one day they can return to their homeland to play the sport without … Continue Reading
August 10, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces Over $6.5 Million to Enhance State, Local Cybersecurity Infrastructure
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) announced $6,514,533 in U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to help strengthen Maryland’s cybersecurity infrastructure. The federal funding, awarded to the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, comes through the FY 2023 State and Local … Continue Reading
August 09, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Whitehouse, Doggett in Urging EPA to Strengthen Ozone Smog Standards
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), and a bicameral group of their Democratic colleagues in sending a bicameral letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly finalize more robust National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, a harmful pollutant and the main ingredient of smog. “We commend EPA’s commitment to address pollution and its … Continue Reading
August 08, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Carper, Colleagues in Urging EPA to Finalize Strong Power Plant Standards
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) alongside their Senate colleagues, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan urging EPA to finalize strong and broadly applicable fossil fuel-fired power plant standards that maximize carbon pollution reductions from all polluting sources as swiftly as possible. “Section 111 of the Clean Air Act directs EPA to … Continue Reading
August 07, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Rebuild America’s Schools Act to Target Federal Funds to Local School Construction, Repairs
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.) in unveiling a bicameral proposal that would target new federal infrastructure funding to help local school districts address school building and modernization needs. The Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023 would improve public school infrastructure and environments to ensure school facilities are safe, healthy, sustainable, and offer positive learning environments … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces Nearly $70 Million in Regional Federal Emergency Preparedness Grants
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $69,722,636 in fiscal year 2023 Department of Homeland Security preparedness grants for the State of Maryland and Capital Region. State Homeland Security Program, $7,074,841 to support state and local law enforcement agencies with the implementation of state homeland security strategies to address … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Maryland Delegation Announces Over $15 Million to Strengthen Security at Houses of Worship
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced $15,910,021 in fiscal year 2023 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) preparedness grants to strengthen security at houses of worship in Maryland. The federal funds come through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which helps high-risk nonprofits, including faith-based institutions, to … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin, Raskin Announce More Than $6 Million in Federal Grants for Local Organizations to Support Maryland Underserved and Minority Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.) announced that two Maryland organizations will receive a combined $6 million in federal funding to support underserved and minority small businesses and entrepreneurs. The funds, delivered through the Capital Readiness Program, will go to the Capital Region Minority Supplier Development Council in Silver Spring and the Eastern Shore Entrepreneurship Center in Easton. In addition, the Asian/Pacific Islander … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Van Hollen, Warren, Kaine Call on Treasury to Crack Down on North Korea Crypto Threats
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs and Foreign Relations Committees, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committees, and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees sent a letter to Brian Nelson, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence at the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and National … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Van Hollen Presses State Department for Answers as Passport Application Backlog Persists
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) has written to the U.S. Department of State seeking an update on its efforts to address the backlog of passport applications and improve customer service. In his letter, the Senator urges the State Department to take action to address continued passport delays, in response to the unprecedented level of constituent concerns the Senator’s office has received. The Senator’s letter follows his earlier correspondence with the State Department on … Continue Reading
August 04, 2023
Van Hollen Statement on New BOEM Offshore Wind Map
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the new offshore wind Bureau of Ocean Energy Management map and the development of offshore wind off the coast of Maryland. “Meeting Maryland’s offshore wind energy targets is one of our top clean-energy priorities. Not only will these targets ensure Maryland is leading the way in the clean energy transition – they are also central to creating good-paying, union jobs and revitalizing … Continue Reading
August 03, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Deliver $5 Million in Inflation Reduction Act Funding for New Visitor Center at Mallows Bay
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced $5 million in federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act to support pre-construction and design requirements for a new visitor center at Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary. The lawmakers fought to pass the Inflation Reduction Act – the single largest investment in climate and clean energy in American history – nearly one year … Continue Reading
August 02, 2023
Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues: No Gambling on Elections
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) alongside Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in sending a letter to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) urging Chairman Rostin Behnam to reject a pending proposal by a private prediction market operator that could allow for legal gambling on U.S. elections and their outcomes. On June 12, 2023, Kalshi, the … Continue Reading
August 02, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Cardin, Wittman, Chesapeake Bay Colleagues in Introducing Bicameral Legislation to Help Farmers Reduce Pollution, Cut Costs and Increase Resilience
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), along with Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and House Chesapeake Bay Task Force Co-Chairs Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.-1), John Sarbanes (D-Md.-3), Bobby Scott (D-Va.-3) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.-7) to introduce a legislative package aimed at tackling the largest source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act (S. 2710), … Continue Reading
August 01, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Kaine, Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Protect Americans From Discrimination Based on Source of Income
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Tim Kaine alongside their Senate colleagues, including Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), in urging the Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA) to extend source of income (SOI) protections at multifamily properties with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In many states, landlords can deny housing to individuals based on source of … Continue Reading
August 01, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Brown, Colleagues in Urging New Protections for Multifamily Renters in Fannie Mae-, Freddie Mac-backed Properties
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in urging Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Sandra Thompson to ensure that tenants’ rights are protected in any multifamily properties with financing backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “There have been repeated reports of investors using low-cost financing from Enterprise-backed loans to buy properties and then sharply raising rents, mistreating tenants, and allowing … Continue Reading
July 31, 2023
In Response to Senators Van Hollen, Warren, Duckworth, Blumenthal, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Agrees to Convene Meeting on COVID-19 Testing Recommendation
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) released a letter from United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Chair Michael Barry, in which the Task Force agreed to convene to discuss recommending COVID-19 testing as a preventive screening tool. In his letter responding to the lawmakers’ June 2023 request, Chair Barry committed to “convening the full Task Force to discuss this … Continue Reading
July 28, 2023
Van Hollen Secures Maryland Priorities in Annual Defense Bill, Votes to Pass Legislation in the Senate
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) voted Thursday to pass the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the Senate, which includes critical investments in Maryland military installations and key legislative priorities that the Senator fought for, as well as a 5.2 percent pay raise for military and Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees. “This year’s defense bill will help keep America secure by investing in the resources necessary to deter and … Continue Reading
July 28, 2023
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer, Sarbanes Deliver Nearly $1.8 Million to Support Individuals with Disabilities and Neurodivergent Communities in Prince George’s and Howard Counties
In advance of this week’s 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act into law, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) delivered $1,759,500 in direct federal investments through Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus funding to expand resources for the disability community and expand job opportunities for neurodivergentMarylanders in Prince George’s and Howard Counties. “While there has … Continue Reading
July 28, 2023
Van Hollen Joins Fetterman, Brown in Introducing Bill Investing in Underserved Farmers, Increasing Access to Fresh Foods in Urban Communities
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa.), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) in introducing the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2023, legislation to support the growth of urban and suburban farmers through increased programmatic and research funding. For the first time, USDA Service Centers are opening in urban cities across the nation to position themselves near the … Continue Reading
