Press Releases
Photos and Video: Van Hollen, Kaine Host State Department, Members of Virginia and Maryland's African Diaspora for Discussion on U.S.-Africa Policy
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) released the following statements after welcoming members of Maryland and Virginia's African diaspora community to the U.S. Senate for a briefing and panel discussion by the U.S. Department of State and other key stakeholders. Senators Van Hollen and Kaine both serve on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and on the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, which is chaired by Senator Van Hollen. "The United States has a … Continue Reading
November 09, 2022
Maryland Police Departments Receive Nearly $380,000 for Mental Health Support Services and Community Policing Training
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) today announced $378,538 to promote community policing and provide mental health support to Maryland police departments. This federal funding comes through the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Community Policing Development (CPD) program and the Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act (LEMHWA) … Continue Reading
November 07, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce an Additional $170,000 in Support of Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure in the Town of Luke
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $170,000 in federal funding to support the replacement of the entire sewer system in the Town of Luke. This funding is in addition to the $802,000 in federal funds that the lawmakers announced last year for the town to replace its water distribution lines following the closure of the Verso Paper Mill that threatened the wellbeing and livelihood of Luke residents. The funding is administered … Continue Reading
November 04, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Urges State Action on Innovative Health Care Model
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, M.D., Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone today wrote to Gov. Larry Hogan urging the state to work with stakeholders to protect Maryland's unique, innovative and effective health care model. The Members of Congress underscored that the state is at risk of failing to meet its contractual obligations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services … Continue Reading
November 02, 2022
Van Hollen, Blumenthal, Colleagues Urge DOJ & ATF to Clarify & Enforce Ghost Guns Rule
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) along with a group of senators in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to issue enforcement guidance and clarify the recently finalized Ghost Gun Rule. The rule regulates unfinished frames and receivers that are the core components used to construct ghost guns, which have become the preferred instruments for criminals and violent extremists and pose … Continue Reading
November 02, 2022
Van Hollen, Murphy, Merkley, Cicilline, Keating, Colleagues Call on Administration to Center Human Rights Ahead of COP27 in Egypt
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.-01) and Bill Keating (D-Mass.-09) in sending a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to raise human rights concerns with the Egyptian government ahead of COP27. "We are therefore deeply troubled by the message it sends to the world that the Egyptian government is hosting COP27 while imprisoning tens of thousands of political prisoners - … Continue Reading
November 02, 2022
Van Hollen Applauds Administration Action on Provisions to Lower Energy Costs for Americans
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement applauding the Biden-Harris Administration's action to move forward on provisions he authored within the Inflation Reduction Act to lower energy costs for American families while tackling the climate crisis: "For Americans working to make ends meet, saving money on their energy bills is a big win. Through my HOPE for HOMES provision in the Inflation Reduction Act, homeowners will soon have the opportunity to receive … Continue Reading
November 01, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces Over $1 Million to Support Mental Health Services Across the State
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $1,295,259 for the Maryland Department of Health to provide community mental health services for adults and children across Maryland. "We need a strong network of mental health services to ensure all Marylanders can access the care they need to lead healthy lives. This funding is critical … Continue Reading
October 31, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce Over $10 Million for Enhanced Security Measures at Houses of Worship Across the State
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $10,691,398 to enhance security measures at local religious and nonprofit community organizations across the state. This federal funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which the lawmakers fought to deliver a $70 … Continue Reading
October 28, 2022
Van Hollen, Norton, Raskin, and Cardin Urge National Park Service to Remove Name of Segregationist Newlands from Chevy Chase Circle
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), and Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) wrote the Director of the National Park Service (NPS) requesting permanent removal of the name Francis Griffith Newlands in Chevy Chase Circle, a federal park located both in D.C. and Maryland. The lawmakers have introduced legislation in the House and Senate, respectively, to remove the name. "We urge you to permanently remove or conceal the … Continue Reading
October 27, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin and Biden-Harris Administration Announce $9.4 Million from EPA’s Clean School Bus Program for Baltimore City Schools
On Wednesday U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) and the Biden-Harris administration announced the Fiscal Year 2022 recipients of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program rebate competition, awarding over $9.4 million from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Baltimore City Public School System. The grant will help the school district purchase 25 electric school buses that will accelerate the transition to zero emissions … Continue Reading
October 26, 2022
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Urge TPS Extension and Redesignation for Haiti as Gang Violence, Civil Unrest Force Thousands to Leave
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in urging the Biden administration to immediately extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, which would authorize Haitian nationals in the United States to remain in the country until conditions improve in Haiti. The island nation continues to face compounding crises - escalating gang violence, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, reports of cholera deaths for the first time in three … Continue Reading
October 26, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Welcome Johns Hopkins-CareFirst Contract Resolution
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) welcomed the contract agreement between Johns Hopkins Medicine and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. The deal comes after the lawmakers sent a letter to the two parties last week calling on them to come to an agreement before the upcoming health insurance enrollment deadline, and it ensures Johns … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
Van Hollen, Risch, Colleagues on Sham Conviction of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) in the following statement on the sham trial and conviction of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong: "Jimmy … Continue Reading
October 25, 2022
Maryland Delegation Announces More Than $3 Million for Rural Health Care Facilities
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin and David Trone (all D-Md.) announced $3,079,600 in U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding for six Maryland health and wellness-based facilities to improve and modernize their services. "The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Maryland families in every corner of our state, exacerbating challenges that have … Continue Reading
October 24, 2022
Baltimore Delegation Members Announce $900,000 for Black Women’s Workforce Reentry and Development in Baltimore
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) announced $900,000 for PIVOT, a workforce reentry and development nonprofit in Baltimore that connects formerly incarcerated Black women with critical resources as they prepare to return to their communities. This project will work in partnership with PREPARE, a parole preparation nonprofit that provides pre-release services and reentry planning as part of the … Continue Reading
October 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Merkley, Menendez, Risch, Colleagues Urge Cessation of Hostilities in Ethiopia Ahead of Peace Talks in South Africa
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), and Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), in sending a letter to Ethiopia's Prime Minister ahead of planned peace talks led by the African Union set to begin tomorrow. In their bipartisan letter, the Senators welcome … Continue Reading
October 24, 2022
Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce NASA Proposal to Continue University of Maryland-led GEDI Mission for Climate Change Research
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) announced that, following their efforts, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) has put forth a proposal for the continuation of the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission on the International Space Station (ISS). The continuation of the mission will ensure it can finish collecting critical data on the role of the world's forests in our fight against climate … Continue Reading
October 21, 2022
Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Urge Administration to Fund Baltimore City Efforts Towards Reconnecting Communities Divided by Highway to Nowhere
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Kweisi Mfume, Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, and David Trone (all D-Md.) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of Baltimore City's Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program grant application to fund the planning of the redevelopment of the Highway to Nowhere in West Baltimore, a highway project that displaced hundreds of residents … Continue Reading
October 21, 2022
Relaying Constituent Concerns, Maryland’s Full Congressional Delegation Asks for an End to Troubling Issues with Routine Immigration Services in Baltimore
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Anthony Brown, Jamie Raskin and David Trone Thursday wrote to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Baltimore District Director Greg Collett urging him to address concerning trends in the delivery of routine services at the USCIS Baltimore Field Office. The lack of responsiveness from the USCIS Baltimore Field Office "frustrates our constituents and … Continue Reading
