Van Hollen, Lankford, Sinema Announce Bipartisan Legislation Requiring Federal Agencies to Maximize Telework
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) announced the bipartisan Pandemic Federal Telework Act, legislation to require federal agencies to maximize telework for federal employees for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Senators previously introduced similar legislation, the Emergency Telework Act at the onset of this crisis, and are doubling down on their efforts as cases across the country continue to rise, … Continue Reading
Van Hollen: "If Republicans really are worried with interference in our elections they should pass the DETER Act"
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke with MSNBC's Ali Velshi on the need for Congress to urgently pass additional COVID-19 relief and the clear threat of Russian interference in our elections. On the COVID-19 relief package, Van Hollen underscored President Trump and Republicans' unwillingness to work with Democrats to provide American workers, small businesses, and families with the support they need during this time. On Russian interference, in response to yesterday's Director … Continue Reading
Van Hollen and Toomey Support U.S. Sanctions Against Hong Kong Aggressors
U.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), authors of the bipartisan Hong Kong Autonomy Act, issued the following statements on the United States sanctioning 11 top Hong Kong and mainland China officials that are working to erode Hong Kong's autonomy: "I'm glad to see the Administration using the authority provided under our Hong Kong Autonomy Act to hold Chinese officials accountable for their brutal crackdown on human rights and liberty in Hong Kong. China must face the … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Cardin Press for NIH Research Funding in Next COVID-19 Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-MD) joined Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) in sending a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The Senators urged that the upcoming COVID-19 relief package include $15.5 billion for the Bethesda-based National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to avoid significant harm to the research pipeline in the United States. The … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Brown, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Rescind Proposals Leaving Workers' Retirement Savings At Risk
U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee joined the House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, and House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters in sending a letter to Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia opposing … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Warren, Perdue Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution Designating September 2020 as "Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Awareness Month"
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and David Perdue (R-Ga.) reintroduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the seriousness of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and expressing support for the designation of September as PCOS Awareness Month. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is a complex hormonal, metabolic, and reproductive disorder that affects between 5 and 10 million women and girls in the United States. PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder among women and is … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Warren Introduce the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), introduced the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed data about the … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Cardin, Trone Announce Western Maryland Area Health Education Center to Receive $1 Million in Funding to Combat the Opioid Crisis
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman David Trone (all D-Md.) announced that Western Maryland Area Health Education Center will receive $1 million dollars in funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to help combat the worsening opioid crisis in the region.The Western Maryland Area Health Education Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to improve access and quality of care in Western Maryland, servicing Frederick, … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Reed Push Back on Trump Administration's Attempt to Play Political Games with the Census
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging him to reverse the Trump Administration's decision to cut Census data collection operations short by one month. The Senators stress that the misguided decision will be devastating to the accuracy of the 2020 Census and disproportionately impact hard-to-count communities. According to estimates, for every uncounted resident Maryland risks losing out on $18,000 in federal funding … Continue Reading
Van Hollen Releases Statement on the Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets' Report on Chinese Companies
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement regarding the recommendations made by the presidential Working Group on Financial Markets on reporting requirements for Chinese companies: "Today's report is an important first step. But in order to change the status quo, and hold Chinese companies to the same standards as others, we must pass the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act. Without the added teeth of our bill, this report alone does not implement the … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Markey, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Celebrating the 55th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), and 22 other Senators today introduced a Senate Resolution to recognize, commemorate, and celebrate the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. President Lyndon Johnson proposed the legislation just days after the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, during which the late Representative John Lewis was savagely beaten by law enforcement officers while crossing the Edmund … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Merkley, Murphy, Baldwin Continue Push for Expanded Work Share Provisions in Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) sent a letter to Senate leadership urging the inclusion of ideas from their legislation, the Rebuilding Main Street Act, within the next relief package. The Rebuilding Main Street Act would incentivize and expand the use of the Work Share program, which allows businesses and nonprofits to bring employees back at reduced hours, while employees continue to receive unemployment … Continue Reading
With In-Person Visits Suspended, Van Hollen, Klobuchar Push for Access to Free Telephone Calls and Video Conferencing for Incarcerated People in Next Relief Package
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and 12 colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging Congress to include provisions in the next economic relief package to provide access to free phone and video calls for incarcerated people in state and local facilities during and after the coronavirus … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Markey, Democratic Colleagues Introduce Resolution to Defend New START Treaty, Call on Trump to Maintain Limits on New Russian Strategic Weapons
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined 15 colleagues on a Senate resolution calling on President Donald Trump to immediately extend for another five years the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia as it faces expiration on February 5, 2021, six months from yesterday. The bilateral New START Treaty places mutual, verifiable limits on strategic nuclear warheads and deployed and non-deployed strategic delivery systems of both the United … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Schatz Introduce New Bill to Create CDFI Crisis Fund
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai'i) have introduced legislation to create a new $2 billion fund for Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) that would automatically provide capital during a natural disaster or economic crisis, giving impacted communities the support they need for a faster and fuller recovery. "CDFIs are a key vehicle for funding businesses and projects in economically underserved communities, and the recession caused by the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Senators Commemorate Anniversary of 1998 Embassy Bombings in Kenya and Tanzania
U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), released the following bipartisan joint statement ahead of the 22nd anniversary of the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998. The Senators called on the Trump Administration and … Continue Reading
Baltimore Delegation Members Applaud $500,000 in Housing Assistance for Survivors of Human Trafficking
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressmen Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, and Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) applauded the award of $500,000 in federal funds for the Salvation Army's Next Step Program for Victims of Human Trafficking. Funds come from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking Program and will allow the Next Step Program to provide housing and employment assistance to survivors of human trafficking. "The … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Gillibrand Push for Job Creation Plan to Fight COVID-19 and Strengthen our Health and Service Systems in Next Relief Package
Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), as part of a working group of Senate Democrats, sent a letter to Senate and House leadership urging the inclusion of the Force to Fight COVID-19 joint proposal in the upcoming COVID-19 relief package. The proposal combines seven health and social service workforce bills - including key elements from the UNITE Act that was previously introduced by Senators Van Hollen and Markey - into one dynamic package that would … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Smith, Warren Fight to Secure Child Care Relief in Next Senate COVID-19 Stimulus Package
This week, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a large number of their Senate colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to prioritize the inclusion of their plan for a $50 billion child care bailout in the next coronavirus (COVID-19) relief package. The Child Care is Essential Act would stabilize the child care system, keep providers in business, and ensure parents are able to go back to work when it is safe to return. It was … Continue Reading
Van Hollen, Durbin Introduce Joint Resolution to Enshrine Right to Vote in U.S. Constitution
Ahead of the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the Voting Rights Act, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a joint resolution that would finally enshrine an explicit, individual right to vote in the U.S. Constitution, and protect all Americans who seek to exercise this fundamental right. Specifically, the amendment would: Provide an affirmative right to vote for every American citizen of legal voting age in any public election held in … Continue Reading