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Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press

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1 if body text was successfully extracted
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bioguide_id
Bioguide ID of the member

345 rows where chamber = "Senate", state = "MD" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending

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  • Senate · 345 ✖
url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-hosts-real-men-real-talk-discussion-at-bowie-state-university/ SENATOR ALSOBROOKS HOSTS REAL MEN, REAL TALK DISCUSSION AT BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY 2026-09-27 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper September 27, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), along with MedStar Health and United Way of the National Capital Area, hosted “Real Men, Real Talk” at Bowie State University — a discussion and community fair dedicated to men, their health, and a stronger community. Senator Alsobrooks was joined by Bowie State University president Dr. Aminta H. Breaux; Chile Ahaghotu, MD, Vice President of Medical Affairs at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center; Gigi El-Bayoumi, MD, Founder, Rodham Institute at Georgetown School of Medicine; Brocklin Qualls, Director, Black Fatherhood Blueprint, Greater Washington Urban League; Jamal Branch, Psychotherapist, Founder, Synergy Therapeutic Services, LLC; and Stephen Conti, Founder, Tocar Spa Massage Therapy. “Our men and boys hear the world demand so much of them. Today they got to hear these important words: you are loved. We care what you’re going through. We’re concerned about your lives, and you don’t have to handle everything on your own. That is what today was all about – joining together to discuss the physical, mental, and emotional health of our men and boys, and letting them know about the resources and support systems available to them,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “United Way NCA is honored to stand alongside Senator Alsobrooks as a community partner for the ‘Real Men, Real Talk’ discussion and community fair,” said Dr. Nicole Cooper, Chief External Affairs and Transformation Officer, United Way of the National Capital Area. “The event aligns with our healthy community impact area, giving men real tools to live strong, healthy lives, from health screenings to mental health resources to a space where they feel seen and heard. It’s built on strong partnerships, and that’s how we create healthier, stronger communities throughout the National Capital Area, together.” “Student success depends on well-being,” said Dr. Aminta H. Breaux, president of Bowie State University. “Today’s conversation created an important space for men and boys to prioriti… 1 2026-09-28T11:29:07Z 2026-09-28T11:30:58Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-meets-to-discuss-critical-priorities-for-the-port-of-baltimore Maryland Congressional Delegation Meets to Discuss Critical Priorities for the Port of Baltimore 2026-09-25 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Yesterday, members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation held a meeting at the United States Capitol to discuss their work on a range of issues relating to the Port of Baltimore, including its infrastructure needs, long-term stability, and growth. During the meeting, the lawmakers heard from Port leadership and stakeholders about upcoming modernization projects, investments, general workforce updates, and more. The Port of Baltimore generates $70 billion annually in economic impacts to Maryland, and 273,000 total jobs in Maryland are connected to the Port. Video of the members’ press availability following the meeting is available here. “Maryland is a leading hub for trade and commerce – and the Port of Baltimore is a key part of our success, generating thousands of jobs and bolstering our economy. Yesterday’s meeting was a great opportunity for Team Maryland to come together with Port leadership and key stakeholders to discuss our past efforts and plan for how we will build on those efforts for the future of the Port. Working alongside state and local partners, we will keep fighting to deliver resources and support so communities across Maryland reap the benefits of a strong and vibrant Port,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The Port is more than just the pride of Baltimore. It’s a state treasure, and it’s an economic engine for the nation and the rest of the world. Our support for Baltimore and the Port remains strong, because a strong Port makes us better, makes our economy stronger, and makes us more sustainable. We have to continue looking at every opportunity to invest in this economic engine that consumers, businesses, workers, and economies worldwide depend on. And I look forward to working with Team Maryland on Capitol Hill to continue fighting for the resources that keep us on the cutting edge,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The Port of Baltimore has always been a mighty force in job creation and economic growth in our state. I was glad to meet with the Maryland Congressional Delegation, Maryland Port Adminis… 1 2026-09-26T09:43:57Z 2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-liccardo-call-on-director-pulte-to-prioritize-missing-middle-housing-funding/ ALSOBROOKS, LICCARDO CALL ON DIRECTOR PULTE TO PRIORITIZE “MISSING MIDDLE” HOUSING FUNDING 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper September 24, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – As reported today in POLITICO’s Morning Money, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.-16) are urging Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte to encourage more lending toward “missing middle” multifamily affordable housing through reforms to the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) system. “There is a clear need for more housing developments in this range (5-to-49 units) in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental properties in the 5-to-49-unit range face a financing gap: the developments are too large for conventional lending for single-family residential development, but too small to attract institutional capital,” wrote the lawmakers. The lawmakers encouraged Director Pulte to consider the following steps: Encourage FHLBanks to prioritize targeted advances and lending products aimed at 5-49-unit construction and rehabilitation to support affordable rental and homeownership opportunities; Encourage FHLBanks to build underwriting capacity and pilot programs for missing-middle lending; and Incorporate missing-middle lending data into future reports to the National Economic Council, Office of Management and Budget, and Congress. See below or here for the full letter: Dear Director Pulte: As federal agencies begin to implement the 21st Century Road to Housing Act (Public Law No: 119-101) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) responds to Executive Order 14393 (“Promoting Access to Mortgage Credit”), we urge FHFA to use its existing authority as regulator of the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) System to direct more capital toward “missing middle” housing: 5-to-49-unit multifamily housing developments for ownership and rental. There is a clear need for more housing developments in this range in urban and rural communities across the country. But too often, developers of condominiums and rental … 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-no-on-fda-commissioner/ ALSOBROOKS ‘NO’ ON FDA COMMISSIONER 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper September 24, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) questioned Dr. Heidi Overton, President Trump’s nominee to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Senator Alsobrooks questioned Dr. Heidi Overton about whether she believes that birth control contaminates our drinking water, and her awareness regarding how much money the tobacco industry has contributed to President Trump, in relation to the Administration’s rollback of e-cigarette regulations. Dr. Overton did not answer the questions. Dr. Overton will be regulating both pharmaceutical products and tobacco products if she is confirmed to lead the FDA. On birth control: Senator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that birth control contaminates our drinking water in our country? Dr. Overton: My job will be to work within the FDA statutory requirements for individual product review for safety and efficacy determination. What the EPA, to your question, the EPA is outside of the jurisdiction of the FDA. I think it’s important for all agencies to answer questions that American people might have. Senator Alsobrooks: Do you have any reason to believe that taking birth control, that women are contaminating our drinking water in our country by taking birth control? Dr. Overton: Thank you for the question. If confirmed as FDA commissioner, I will work within what the FDA is required to do for individual product review for the safety and efficacy of those applications, post-market review and of those individual products. On Big Tobacco spending: Senator Alsobrooks: I want to know whether or not you know how much money Big Tobacco has contributed to the President’s super PAC, inauguration, or to his ballroom? Dr. Overton: Those are not things that I’m familiar with. Senator Alsobrooks: I know you’ve been a senior advisor to him, but the answer is $20 million. And do you know how much the President owns in tobacco stocks? I think these are questions the American people deserve to know. The… 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-wyden-continue-to-build-the-case-against-rfk-jr-8/ Alsobrooks, Wyden Continue to Build the Case Against RFK Jr. 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper After releasing a report chronicling every day of RFK Jr.’s costly, chaotic, and corrupt reign as Secretary, Senators Alsobrooks and Wyden continue to build their case for why RFK Jr. must resign or be fired. September 24, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – RFK Jr. continues to harm the American people. On September 4, 2025, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden and Senator Angela Alsobrooksreleased a report chronicling the actions that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has taken to undermine the health and safety of the American people since becoming Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). On February 18, 2026, they released an updated report covering his first full year as Secretary. Senators Wyden and Alsobrooks continue to track the pervasive and ongoing human harmcaused by his leadership. Below are Kennedy’s latest harmful actions (May 15 – September 20): May 2026 The White House issued an executive order straight from Kennedy’s wish list: directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to “take any appropriate steps to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule” in line with the recommendations made by Kennedy’s team at HHS. Under Kennedy’s leadership, HHS has recommended reducing the number of childhood vaccinations from 17 to 11, exposing U.S. children to the serious and unnecessary risks of contracting a deadly disease. In his endless quest to find support for the conspiracy theory that vaccines cause autism, Kennedy announced his intent to tap into Americans’ private medical records and create what amounts to a national autism registry. He announced a “real-world platform” that will mine patient records from Medicare and Medicaid, which collectively cover 40% of Americans, to “uncover the root causes of autism and other chronic diseases.” Kennedy and his team did not specify what kinds of research would be conducted or what kinds of privacy protections would apply to the data. After … 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-announces-86-million-to-increase-safety-and-security-in-places-of-worship Maryland Congressional Delegation Announces $8.6 Million to Increase Safety and Security in Places of Worship 2026-09-24 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski announced $8,627,091 in federal funding to strengthen security at 49 religious institutions and community centers across Maryland. “Every Marylander deserves to be able to exercise their right to religious freedom and worship without fear for their safety. Our faith institutions also help build community in many ways, from providing spiritual services to offering youth programs to supporting local families. As that work continues, we have also seen an appalling increase in threats against faith-based organizations across the state, and we know that more federal funding and reforms are necessary to meet the growing security measures needed to keep community members safe. We will continue working to increase funds for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and to see that these investments go where they are needed most, in light of recent changes to this program,” said Senator Van Hollen. “All Marylanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, communities – and especially in places of worship. It was critical that Team Maryland fight to secure over $8 million in federal funding to strengthen security at religious centers in our state. And I won’t stop fighting until all Marylanders feel and are safe,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The Nonprofit Security Grant Program has become an essential tool for protecting our houses of worship, schools, community centers, and early-childhood programs. With the alarming rise in antisemitism and other forms of hate, it is critical that everyone feels safe when gathering with their communities and congregations. I’m proud that Team Maryland was able to secure this funding, and I will continue working with our delegation to push for further federal support for nonprofit security,” said Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. “No matter what your faith or religion is every American … 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-more-than-15-senate-democrats-push-trump-to-negotiate-ai-guardrails-with-xi Van Hollen, More than 15 Senate Democrats Push Trump to Negotiate AI Guardrails with Xi 2026-09-23 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) led more than 15 of his colleagues in calling on President Donald Trump to negotiate a formal agreement between the U.S. and China on guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of frontier Artificial Intelligence (AI) models with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The lawmakers also urged President Trump to consider enacting a mutual pause in frontier AI development to prevent potential cyberattacks, the development of biological weapons, and other dangerous activities that could threaten humanity. Senator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). The lawmakers begin, “We write concerning public reporting that your administration plans to have discussions about artificial intelligence with China during the upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping currently planned for September 24, 2026. We support this dialogue and encourage you to have those discussions at the highest level. As extraordinary as the promise of some of AI’s advanced capabilities are, safety incidents make clear that both national and international infrastructure is threatened by unregulated testing and release of AI models. It is incumbent upon both governments to discuss necessary guardrails and global standards for the development, testing, and use of AI in order to mitigate the risks of unfettered advancement. As you prepare for the upcoming summit, we urge you to engage with President Xi directly to discuss efforts to avoid the potential harms of this technology for the safety and benefit of the world. America leads in AI innovation, and we must lead the … 1 2026-09-24T09:44:48Z 2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-booker-davis-adams-introduce-bicameral-bills-to-improve-access-to-care-for-americans-with-sickle-cell-disease Van Hollen, Booker, Davis, Adams Introduce Bicameral Bills to Improve Access to Care for Americans with Sickle Cell Disease 2026-09-23 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-Ill.) and Alma Adams (D-N.C.) reintroduced two bills to improve access to care for Americans living with sickle cell disease (SCD) – the Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Centers Act, legislation to grow the national network of care for patients with sickle cell disease, and the Sickle Cell Care Expansion Act, legislation to strengthen the medical workforce that treats SCD. The members were joined in introducing both bills by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md.). In the United States, approximately 100,000 people are affected by SCD, a rare, genetically-inherited disorder that causes a person’s red blood cells to become deformed and get stuck in their veins – blocking oxygen flow throughout the body and leading to chronic pain, infections, stroke, as well as kidney, liver, and heart disease. The disease disproportionately affects Black Americans, but people from other racial and ethnic backgrounds, including Hispanic Americans, are also susceptible. Despite the prevalence of the disease and the need for consistent and coordinated treatment, SCD care is most often accessible only in specialized medical centers in metropolitan areas – resulting in few patients having access to the multidisciplinary care teams and providers they need. “Sickle cell disease has claimed the lives of too many people far too soon, including a former staff member of mine, John Amara. For Americans living with sickle cell, access to care and qualified providers can be one of the biggest challenges they face. These bills will increase the size and capacity of the medical workforce trained to treat sickle cell, give existing sickle cell centers the capacity to share resources beyond their walls, and help ensure we can more easily expand specialized care and treatment to the countless communities that don’t yet have it. We will not stop fighting to raise awareness, strengthen networks of care and support, a… 1 2026-09-25T10:04:52Z 2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-press-usda-usfs-to-make-good-on-commitment-to-keep-baltimore-urban-forestry-office-in-baltimore Maryland Delegation Members Press USDA, USFS to Make Good on Commitment to Keep Baltimore Urban Forestry Office in Baltimore 2026-09-22 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative Kweisi Mfume were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), in calling for United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden and United States Forest Service (USFS) Chief Tom Schultz to reverse course on the decision to close the USFS Baltimore Field Office and relocate staff outside of Baltimore. The USFS Baltimore Urban Field Station leads forestry-related projects that benefit the local Baltimore community and conducts important forestry and urban ecology research that informs land use decision-making throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed and beyond. The lawmakers pose several questions to USDA and USFS around the decision, which comes after Senator Van Hollen questioned Chief Tom Schultz in the Senate Appropriations Committee and received commitment to maintain presence in Baltimore. The lawmakers begin, “On April 30, 2026, during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the United States Forest Service (USFS) FY27 budget, Chief Schultz assured Senator Van Hollen that USFS would not force Baltimore Urban Field Office employees to relocate outside of the Baltimore area during the USDA reorganization. Despite this commitment, when USFS announced earlier this month that the Baltimore Urban Field Office will close, we learned that USFS intends to relocate Baltimore employees to Beltsville, Maryland – a location that is decidedly outside of the broader Baltimore area. USFS must make good on its word and keep Baltimore Urban Field Office employees in Baltimore so they can effectively continue their place-based and partnership-dependent work in the Baltimore area.” On the critical benefits for keeping the Baltimore Urban Field Office in the Baltimore area, the lawmakers write, “When Secretary Rollins announced the USDA reorganization, one of the stated pillars of the plan was to ‘bring USDA closer to it… 1 2026-09-23T09:45:16Z 2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-call-for-answers-investigation-following-alarming-ice-operation-in-frederick Maryland Delegation Members Call for Answers, Investigation Following Alarming ICE Operation in Frederick 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representative April McClain Delaney were joined by Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) – in pressing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director David Venturella for answers around Trump’s ICE operations in Frederick, Maryland on Thursday, September 3 and Friday, September 4. In their letter, the lawmakers additionally called on DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari to initiate an independent and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in Maryland. The lawmakers begin, “As members of Maryland’s Congressional Delegation, we write to express our serious concerns with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) recent operation in Frederick, Maryland. The tactics used by ICE officers detailed by eyewitnesses and exposed in videos circulating online are alarming and necessitate more information as to how the recently-merged Washington-Baltimore field office and the agency are enforcing our immigration laws. We request an immediate, independent, and transparent investigation of the tactics ICE is deploying in our state.” They continued, “Recently, ICE reportedly conducted an approximately 40-hour immigration enforcement operation in one neighborhood of Frederick, Maryland. Videos released by observers revealed that on Friday evening the operation turned violent as a dark law enforcement vehicle with flashing lights drove down the sidewalk toward observers, hitting one of them. Another video depicted ICE officers using a baton to beat a protestor and dragging another from the front steps of a home that ICE was attempting to enter. Additionally, during the operation, an ICE officer reportedly approached a local elected official and told her that ICE knew her name, license plate, and where she lived. If true, this is deeply disturbing and appears to be an attempt to int… 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-on-trump-administration-decision-rolling-back-federal-coordination-of-chesapeake-bay-restoration Maryland Delegation Members’ Statement on Trump Administration Decision Rolling Back Federal Coordination of Chesapeake Bay Restoration 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) – released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration’s decision to revoke an Executive Order declaring the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure and establishing a coordinated federal strategy for the protection and restoration of the Bay and its watershed, including by supporting state-led efforts on water quality goals, pollution limits, agricultural preservation, stormwater management, and climate resiliency. “The Chesapeake Bay and its health are vital to lives and livelihoods across our state and the greater region. Now more than ever, we need continued federal partnership and support for Chesapeake Bay restoration, not efforts to roll back all the progress we’ve made. The 2009 Executive Order that the Trump administration just revoked provided vital federal resources that support state-led efforts to improve the health and productivity of the Chesapeake Bay and its surrounding area. Removing the coordinated federal backing that advances the watershed protection and restoration goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement risks undermining the future health of the Bay along with the businesses and communities that depend on it. This decision is shortsighted and harmful to our communities. Make no mistake: the Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure. And we will continue to fight for it.” 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-press-trump-administration-on-need-for-dedicated-leadership-for-students-with-disabilities-after-abrupt-resignation-of-department-of-education-assistant-secretary Van Hollen, Colleagues Press Trump Administration on Need for Dedicated Leadership for Students with Disabilities After Abrupt Resignation of Department of Education Assistant Secretary 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and ten of his colleagues called on Department of Education (ED) Secretary Linda McMahon to cease further disruption of IDEA programs that support essential services for students with disabilities, families, educators, and schools following the abrupt resignation of Kelly Rogers, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS). The lawmakers stressed the urgent need for dedicated leadership to serve students with disabilities and also urged Secretary McMahon to stop the transfer of OSERS to the Department of Health and Human Services, in order to avoid further disruption to critical student services and those who support them. Senator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). The lawmakers begin, “We write to express our concern at the abrupt resignation of Acting Assistant Secretary Kelly Rogers amid the disruptive transfer of Department of Education workers who serve students with disabilities. As the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) at the Department of Education (the Department), it was Ms. Rogers’ role to oversee IDEA programs that provide essential services and supports to students, families, educators, and schools. In your Department, that meant she was tasked with executing the harmful and unnecessary transfer of these education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Ms. Rogers’ resignation was announced the day before the dedicated staff was required to show up at HHS and effective the day after. Since the Department is following through with the transfer of workers and critical programs without educational leadership, every OSERS employee will be forced to carr… 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-bennet-tillis-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-innovation-in-education Van Hollen, Bennet, Tillis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Innovation in Education 2026-09-17 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) reintroduced the New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act, which would drive evidence-based improvements and innovations for our schools, by making strategic investments in education research and development (R&D). The legislation would create a national center that advances high-risk, high-reward education research projects, similar to the model employed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). “To meet the evolving challenges our students face, our educators need access to quality data and evidence-based advancements in teaching and learning,” said Van Hollen. “This legislation would help accomplish that by investing in our students’ success to better prepare them for the future.” “As a former school superintendent, I know our teachers are doing everything they can to help students succeed,” said Bennet. “As social media and a nationwide mental health crisis reshape how students learn and engage in school, educators need better information about what works. Congress can help by investing in cutting-edge education research. This bipartisan bill will help schools, educators, and policymakers make data driven decisions that strengthen education today and in the years ahead.” “We owe it to students, parents, and teachers to pass bipartisan legislation that identifies gaps in education and better prepares students to become the next generation of the American workforce,” said Tillis. “That’s why I am proud to sponsor legislation that invests in education research and development, STEM, and innovative technologies to develop the tools needed to identify these gaps and help teachers better equip students for the future.” The NEED Act would create a National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) at the Department of Education dedicated to developing and disseminating cutting-edge practices and tools, such as voice recognition software to assess dyslexia and other emerging readiness gaps, … 1 2026-09-19T09:11:33Z 2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mfume-highlight-10-million-federal-investment-to-expand-morgan-state-universitys-research-programs-power-r1-ascent Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Mfume Highlight $10 Million Federal Investment to Expand Morgan State University’s Research Programs, Power R1 Ascent 2026-09-16 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congressman Kweisi Mfume (all D-Md.) highlighted $10 million in federal funding to support Morgan State University’s research programs, expanding opportunities for students, faculty, and the University. This investment will allow the University to establish the new Institute for Trusted Autonomous Networks (TITAN), expand research and doctoral training, and strengthen the University’s advancement toward a Carnegie R1 “very high research activity” classification – which would, in turn, further increase research and funding opportunities at Morgan State. This federal investment comes from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Pilot Program, a program proposed by Senator Van Hollen and designed to fund research and education programs at HBCUs – like Morgan State – to increase their capacity to achieve very high research activity status (R1) on the Carnegie Classification scale. Senator Van Hollen introduced the HBCU Research, Innovation, Security, and Excellence (RISE) Act to establish this program in April 2022, then worked to secure provisions of his bill in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed into law in December 2022. “Maryland is a national leader in research and innovation, and institutions like Morgan State are a prime reason for our continued success. I’ve fought for critical investments in Morgan State over the years, including through the creation of the HBCU/MI Pilot Program to support expanding its research capacity. This federal investment will help advance the University’s goal to become one of the pioneering HBCU R1 institutions, opening up greater opportunities for students, faculty, and the University as a whole – helping Maryland stay at the cutting edge of scientific research for years to come,” said Senator Van Hollen, who introduced legislation and then worked to pass the language to create the HBCU/MI Pilot Program as a provision of the FY23 n… 1 2026-09-17T09:52:05Z 2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-young-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-boost-housing-mobility-vouchers-increase-families-access-to-affordable-housing Van Hollen, Young Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Housing Mobility Vouchers, Increase Families’ Access to Affordable Housing 2026-09-16 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced their bipartisan Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act, legislation to create 250,000 housing mobility vouchers for the nation’s most vulnerable families with young children. The bill couples rental assistance vouchers, which allow families to choose eligible privately owned housing units and pay rent equal to 30 percent of their income, with evidence-based mobility support services, such as housing counselors and landlord coordination, to help families find affordable housing in high-opportunity areas. “Ensuring children grow up in a safe and secure home is one of the best ways we can support their success. That’s why we need to do more to make sure every family has access to an affordable place to live – and what’s more, we need to ensure affordable housing is available in neighborhoods with strong schools and good-paying jobs. As we work to expand affordable housing nationwide and increase economic mobility for all families, this bipartisan bill will boost access to housing vouchers that have already served as an effective and immediate solution – giving more parents the ability to afford a home in the location that best serves their family,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable home and reach their full potential,” said Senator Young. “Research has shown that children who move from high-poverty areas to neighborhoods with greater opportunity at a young age can see significantly higher earnings later in life. Our bipartisan legislation will give families facing homelessness and housing instability more choices about where they live, helping more children access strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and opportunities to succeed.” Research shows that higher opportunity areas offer children a greater chance to succeed. This bipartisan bill builds on this cutting-edge policy research to help families overcome barriers to opportunity and achieve generational economic mob… 1 2026-09-17T09:52:05Z 2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-merkley-markey-bipartisan-group-of-senators-in-pressing-trump-administration-to-release-all-documents-from-us-saudi-nuclear-deal Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Markey, Bipartisan Group of Senators in Pressing Trump Administration to Release All Documents from U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Deal 2026-09-16 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and a bipartisan group of Senators in pressing the Trump Administration to declassify and publicly release the two side letters accompanying the proposed U.S.-Saudi civil nuclear cooperation agreement, referred to as a “123 agreement.” The Trump Administration recently submitted the 123 agreement to Congress—as is required by law—but while the agreement references the side letters, the letters themselves are classified at the lowest possible level, which is unprecedented. Because the side letters affect the obligations and operation of the underlying agreement, Congress and the public cannot fully assess what the United States and Saudi Arabia have agreed to without seeing them. “Congress has a statutory responsibility under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act to review the proposed nuclear deal, which seeks to facilitate nuclear cooperation with significant implications for U.S. national security interests. Access to the full text is required for the Senate and the public to have a clear understanding of the commitments being made on the nation’s behalf and those being made by Saudi Arabia to the United States,” wrote the bipartisan group of Senators in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “The side letters affect the obligations and operations of the underlying agreement and cannot be viewed in isolation from it; the President’s own transmission letter to Congress states that the agreement ‘…was concluded with two accompanying side letters.’ Their public release would also allow civil society, independent experts, and other affected stakeholders to scrutinize the deal.” They emphasized, “Transparency and open debate are cornerstones of our democracy. Congress and the American public must have a meaningful opportunity to review and debate the key components of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal before it potentially enters into force. To that end, we c… 1 2026-09-18T09:27:43Z 2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-votes-no-on-clarity-act/ ALSOBROOKS VOTES NO ON CLARITY ACT 2026-09-15 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper September 15, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting against cloture on the CLARITY Act: “When I voted in May to advance the CLARITY Act out of the Banking Committee, I was clear that now is the time to regulate digital assets and protect consumers. I was also clear that I would not vote on the floor for a bill that doesn’t include clear ethics provisions to hold this President — and all future presidents and members of Congress — accountable. We were ready to strike a deal today and in discussions right up until the vote. Republican leadership shut it down at the very last minute after it became clear that we were on a path to a successful vote. I am proud of the progress we made, and I am determined to keep fighting to regulate this technology, protect the millions of Americans who own crypto, and ensure that communities across Maryland can harness the benefits of digital assets safely.” ### 1 2026-09-16T09:43:13Z 2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-congressional-delegation-members-announce-48-million-to-improve-ada-accessibility-at-metropolitan-grove-martin-state-airport-marc-stations Maryland Congressional Delegation Members Announce $48 Million to Improve ADA Accessibility at Metropolitan Grove, Martin State Airport MARC Stations 2026-09-15 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, and U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) announced $48,064,000 in federal funding to deliver critical accessibility upgrades at two legacy Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) stations – Martin State Airport Station on the Penn Line and the Metropolitan Grove Station on the Brunswick Line. Both stations predate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and lack the infrastructure necessary to serve all passengers safely and reliably. These upgrades will bring them into full ADA compliance. “Thousands of Marylanders rely on MARC every day to get where they need to go. We fought to pass the infrastructure modernization law to upgrade our state’s transportation systems, and this significant federal investment will help ensure the Martin State and Metropolitan Grove Stations are safer and more accessible for all users, including individuals with disabilities, families with strollers, and older adults,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The Americans with Disabilities Act changed our nation for the better–not only making our infrastructure more accessible, but also making our country more inclusive. I am proud to have partnered with my colleagues to secure over $48 million in federal funding to bring two of our MARC stations into full ADA compliance,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The Free State and the nation continue to feel the transformative effects of Democrats’ Infrastructure Law,” said Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08). “Team Maryland fought for and secured an investment of more than $48 million in federal funding to make the MARC more accessible and fully ADA compliant, so everyone can safely get where they need to go. This is a critical win that will make life easier for our people, including those with disabilities, seniors and families with small children.” “Public transportation should work for everyone. Thanks to the hard work of Team Maryland, our congressional offices secured more than $48 million… 1 2026-09-16T09:43:13Z 2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-lead-20-senators-in-introducing-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Lead 20 Senators in Introducing Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence 2026-09-15 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are leading 20 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years – and more detained – and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators’ resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children. They were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-N.J.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.). “This Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we’ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It’s past time we get answers on their deaths – and on the growing violent Israeli settler attacks and the injustices Palestinians in the West Bank face on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved on… 1 2026-09-16T09:43:13Z 2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-norton-introduce-no-fencing-at-the-united-states-capitol-complex-act Van Hollen, Norton Introduce No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act 2026-09-15 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) introduced the No Fencing at the United States Capitol Complex Act, which would prohibit the installation of permanent fencing on the grounds of the United States Capitol complex. After the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, a fence was erected around the Capitol that stayed in place for six months as officials recommended a permanent barrier. Norton criticized permanent fencing as both cosmetic and imprecise and instead called for smarter, state-of-the-art solutions. “Ours is a government of, by, and for the people – and the people should always be able to safely access our nation’s Capitol and exercise their First Amendment rights. We can protect the Capitol without walling it off to the public. This legislation would ensure this complex never becomes a fortress where the American people are left on the outside looking in,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Permanent fencing would send an un-American message to the nation and the world, transforming the Capitol from a place that's accessible to the people it serves into a fortress that locks them out,” Congresswoman Norton said. “The answer to security vulnerabilities is not a crude barrier that makes the Capitol look safer while doing little to address the threats. Instead, we should be investing in the intelligence, technology, training and security measures that actually protect the Capitol while preserving the openness that is fundamental to our democracy. At a time when trust in government is at historic lows, the last thing we should do is put another physical and psychological barrier between the people and the government that serves them.” 1 2026-09-16T09:43:13Z 2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-chu-introduce-bicameral-resolution-to-designate-community-school-coordinators-appreciation-week Van Hollen, Chu Introduce Bicameral Resolution to Designate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week 2026-09-14 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Judy Chu (D-Calif.) introduced a bicameral resolution to designate September 13 through 19, 2026 as Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week to recognize the critical work of community school coordinators in giving students and families at full-service community schools the resources they need to succeed. This resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). Community schools are public schools that provide wraparound support services, such as medical, mental, transportation, and nutrition health services, mentoring and youth development programs, expanded learning opportunities, and active family and community engagement. Community school coordinators work with the community and non-profits to identify and source additional resources to benefit students and their families. The resolution recognizes the role community school coordinators play in helping students succeed in their academic years and beyond. There are more than 1000 community schools serving students across all 24 of Maryland’s school districts. “Setting students up for success starts with making sure their needs are met – both in and out of the classroom. Our community schools are valued partners, empowering local education and community leaders to connect families with vital services while providing a top-notch education. Community school coordinators dedicate themselves to helping students and families get the support they need to succeed while serving as invaluable liaisons to community resources, which is why I’m proud to recognize their hard work with this resolution,” said Senator Van Hollen. "Community Schools partner with local organizations to provide the academic, health, and social supports students need to thrive. Research shows that addressing the needs of the whole student can reduce disparities, dec… 1 2026-09-16T09:43:13Z 2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-presses-openai-ceo-sam-altman-on-alarming-new-ai-model-claims-calls-for-risk-assessment-of-ai-capabilities Van Hollen Presses OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Alarming New AI Model Claims, Calls for Risk Assessment of AI Capabilities 2026-09-10 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to provide answers on the safety of the company’s newly released model and to reconcile concerning statements regarding its ongoing development practices. In a letter, the Senator pressed Altman to answer a series of questions around the development of OpenAI’s new model as well as recent security failures. Senator Van Hollen also urged Altman to immediately grant researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency full, transparent access to the technical information that would allow them to assess the safety and risks of OpenAI’s models. The Senator begins, “I am writing with serious concerns about the launch of OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-6 Astra, and the uncertainty surrounding its capabilities. Its release coinciding with the independent announcement of a second, previously undisclosed security incident involving OpenAI’s models raises significant safety questions about the risks that Astra poses to our digital systems and protected information. You acknowledged the need for caution upon its release when you said: ‘The next generation of models are going to be sobering for everybody. I think no one intellectually honest can look at what’s happening and not feel the weight of responsibility.’” On OpenAI’s statements that they have decreased ability to monitor their own advanced AI model, Senator Van Hollen notes, “When OpenAI or independent safety organizations attempt to investigate a rogue or intentionally harmful action, there will be less of this evidence available. While this is framed as a ‘jump in intelligence,’ you are telling the American people that your newest model offers you, the developers, less insight into its operations. As you note in your system card, this raises myriad concerns including whether Astra may be ‘sandbagging’ or intentionally reducing its performance on safety tests.” “Concerns about OpenAI’s abil… 1 2026-09-11T09:25:29Z 2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-submits-items-for-congressional-time-capsule-in-celebration-of-americas-250th-anniversary Maryland Delegation Submits Items for Congressional Time Capsule in Celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary 2026-09-04 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, this summer, the full Maryland Congressional Delegation – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Andy Harris, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all Md.) – submitted a Fort McHenry Flag and a Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal to the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule. Sealed and buried by the Architect of the Capitol, the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule contains a joint letter and items of significance from every state and territory reflecting the history and culture of our country. It will be opened by the 224th Congress in celebration of our nation's 500th anniversary on July 4, 2276. The items selected by the Maryland delegation represent Maryland’s critical role in the history of America: Fort McHenry Flag: This 15-Star Flag, also known as a Fort McHenry Flag, is a replica of the one that flew above Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore and inspired Francis Scott Key to write the United States national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, in 1814. The flag that was flying at Fort McHenry that day was sewn at 844 E. Pratt Street in Baltimore by Mary Pickersgill, members of her family, and indentured and enslaved African-American women – it is now on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. The Fort McHenry Flag has 15 stars and 15 stripes to account for Vermont and Kentucky becoming the 14th and 15th states, and was the official flag of the United States from 1795-1818. The Fort McHenry Flag included in the Congressional Time Capsule was flown over 844 E. Pratt Street, now known as the Star-Spangled Banner Flag House, on July 4, 2026, on the occasion of America’s 250th anniversary. B&O Railroad Centenary Souvenir Medal: This commemorative coin was crafted in honor of the B&O Railroad’s 100th anniversary in 1927. The B&O Souvenir Medal was selected for the Congr… 1 2026-09-05T08:49:07Z 2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-mcclain-delaney-visit-allegany-and-garrett-counties-to-highlight-over-5-million-in-federal-funding-for-western-maryland-communities Van Hollen, McClain Delaney Visit Allegany & Garrett Counties to Highlight Over $5 Million in Federal Funding for Western Maryland Communities 2026-09-03 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper On August 20, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (both D-Md.) were in Allegany and Garrett Counties to highlight $5.5 million that they, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress for Western Maryland communities. The lawmakers visited Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, Garrett Regional Medical Center, and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland. This funding is part of the $10,484,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 Congressionally Directed Spending that the Senators fought to deliver for Allegany and Garrett Counties. “Local partnerships help us identify the priorities that matter most to our communities, and through those partnerships, Team Maryland works to deliver federal investments needed to move those projects forward – just like these across the region. From expanding educational opportunities and medical services to supporting first responders and infrastructure upgrades, these federal dollars are being put to work where they can make a real difference for Western Maryland residents and communities and have the greatest impact,” said Senator Van Hollen. “What I’ve seen and heard as I’ve gone around the state – including while I was in Western and Mountain Maryland – is that residents everywhere want the same things. We all want affordable health care, the ability to buy a home, groceries we can actually afford, gas that isn’t skyrocketing out of control every single day, and the opportunity to actually create generational wealth. And while we’re currently dealing with an administration that doesn’t care about solving these issues, my focus since day one has been to deliver for Marylanders. That’s why I was so proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney to secure $5.5 million in federal investment for Western Maryland communities, including for Frostburg State University, Potomac Fire Company No. 2 in Westernport, and the Garrett Regional Medical Center and Oakland Town Hall in Oakland,” said Senator Alsobrook… 1 2026-09-05T08:49:07Z 2026-09-05T08:50:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trump-administration-refuses-to-close-tax-loophole-exploited-by-private-jet-owners Trump Administration Refuses to Close Tax Loophole Exploited by Private Jet Owners 2026-09-03 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in blasting the Treasury Department’s refusal to close the Standard Industry Fare Level (SIFL) loophole, which has long been abused by private jet owners to substantially undervalue the taxable cost of personal travel on a corporate private jet. The Trump Treasury Department’s pro-billionaire pronouncement came in a response to a July 24 request from the senators. The Treasury Department argued in its new letter that calculating the true market value for employer-provided flights taken by employees for personal purposes, rather than using the existing SIFL method, would be “administratively burdensome” for taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service. The Department also claims that the SIFL method is intended to produce consistent results – regardless of the staggering gap between the SIFL rate and the actual charter market rates. “Donald Trump’s priorities revolve around enriching himself and his billionaire friends. While working families struggle to afford groceries, housing, and gas, this Administration focuses on tax breaks for billionaires – including tax breaks for private jets. What a disgrace,” said Senator Van Hollen. “President Trump’s 2017 tax law and Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires bill handed billionaires and big corporations massive tax breaks on private jets. The Trump administration now says it would be ‘burdensome’ to close the private jet tax loophole because this is an administration hell-bent on using the powers of government to make the ultra-rich even richer, and they don’t care if middle-class taxpayers get stuck with the tab,” said Senator Whitehouse. Passage of President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ Big, Beautiful-for-Billionaires Bill made permanent an egregious tax provision allowing 100 percent bonus depreciation for the purchase of corporate aircraft, which the senators argued exacerbates the tax giveaway crea… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-250000-to-rehabilitate-boonsboros-wastewater-system Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $250,000 to Rehabilitate Boonsboro’s Wastewater System 2026-09-01 2026 2026-09 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $250,000 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the Town of Boonsboro to rehabilitate its wastewater system. The project includes inspecting 20,000 linear feet of sewer mains to identify infiltration sources and installing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining in deteriorated sections. This work will prevent overflows during rain events, reduce treatment costs, and improve wastewater service to 42 businesses and 475 households. “Upgrading aging sewage infrastructure is essential to the health and well-being of our communities and the local economy. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements in Boonsboro, help prevent costly problems in the future, and ensure the town’s wastewater system is well-equipped to serve the needs of the residents and businesses for years to come,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) makes critical investments in Western Maryland and across the Appalachian region, and that is why I am fighting so hard to protect it against cuts. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I oversee ARC and know its critical work is not just a priority for Marylanders but also to the 12 other qualified states. I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen and Congresswoman McClain Delaney in announcing that ARC is investing $250,000 in federal investment for the Town of Boonsboro to upgrade its wastewater system. Critical investments in aging infrastructure like this one help fuel our economy and keep us healthy and safe,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “Strong rural communities depend on strong, reliable infrastructure,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “This $250,000 federal investment will help Boonsboro modernize its wastewater system, lower long-term costs, and deliver more reliable service for hundreds of families and local businesses. I’m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen a… 1 2026-09-02T09:19:58Z 2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-file-amicus-brief-defending-courts-right-to-seek-answers-transparency-in-jgg-v-trump Van Hollen, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Defending Court’s Right to Seek Answers, Transparency in JGG v. Trump 2026-08-31 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), submitted an amicus brief to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in the case of In re Donald J. Trump, et. al, supporting the legal authority of the District Court to inquire whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before the Court and warning of serious consequences of permitting one branch to avoid inquiry and transparency when questioned by another co-equal branch of our federal government. The lawmakers’ amicus brief argues that Congress and the American public have an interest in knowing whether government attorneys misrepresented or concealed facts before a United States District Court, and that concerns of judicial overreach in this case are unfounded because federal courts have an inherent contempt power which includes some inquiry before a referral is made. This case arises from JGG v. Trump, one of several legal challenges to the Trump Administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. In March 2025, President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security sought to detain and remove individuals from the United States. Several of the individuals who were detained sought emergency relief under the Administrative Procedure Act and federal habeas corpus claims. Proceedings ensued before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which issued a temporary restraining order preventing further removal of individuals, an order that was then vacated by the Supreme Court. The District Court then began an investigation into potential criminal contempt against the government decisionmakers. Of particular concern to the Court was to determine whether government attorneys had misrepresented, concealed, or otherwise gave misleading information to the Court. Following the contempt inquiry, the government sought a writ of mandamus before the U.S. Court of Appeals… 1 2026-09-01T09:48:49Z 2026-09-01T09:49:51Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-240000-for-frederick-municipal-airports-air-traffic-control-tower Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce $240,000 for Frederick Municipal Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower 2026-08-28 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $240,000 in federal funding for infrastructure upgrades at Frederick Municipal Airport’s air traffic control tower. The investment will fund the rehabilitation of the tower’s HVAC system. This funding is in addition to $1.6 million in federal support that the lawmakers have secured for other infrastructure projects at Frederick Municipal Airport, which serves as a reliever airport for Baltimore Washington International Airport and supports local business and a range of community-related operations, including emergency medical needs. “As Maryland’s second busiest airport, Frederick Municipal Airport serves as a local economic hub, driving regional businesses, bringing visitors to Maryland, and supporting the surrounding community with a broad array of services. That’s why we’ve worked to support the airport’s modernization and deliver federal investments to upgrade its infrastructure. This investment will help ensure the airport’s control tower has the infrastructure it needs to continue providing safe and efficient service to all travelers,” said Senator Van Hollen. “This $1.6 million in critical federal funding will enable the Frederick Municipal Airport to continue serving Maryland—supporting small businesses, moving goods, and strengthening our health care response. This investment will improve our infrastructure, strengthen our economy, and help keep Marylanders safe,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “As Frederick County continues to grow, we need infrastructure that grows with it,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “This $240,000 federal investment will modernize Frederick Municipal Airport’s air traffic control tower, strengthen safety and reliability, and support an airport that is critical to our local economy. I’m proud to work with Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal dollars home and deliver for Frederick County.” This investment is provided through the Federal Aviatio… 1 2026-09-02T09:19:58Z 2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-3-million-in-federal-funding-to-improve-water-infrastructure-in-western-maryland Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $3 Million in Federal Funding to Improve Water Infrastructure in Western Maryland 2026-08-28 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $3,340,000 in federal funding to improve water and wastewater infrastructure across Western Maryland. This investment, comprising a $2,779,000 loan for the Town of Emmitsburg to replace a critical Main Street water line, a $465,000 grant for the Town of Luke’s replacement of its sewer collection system, and a $96,000 grant for Garrett County’s planning costs for the Friendsville and Crellin wastewater treatment upgrades, will help Western Maryland communities upgrade critical infrastructure. “Aging water systems put the health and safety of communities at risk. That’s why it’s essential we invest in modernizing community water and sewer infrastructure. This federal funding will support these much-needed improvements across Western Maryland and help prevent costly problems for communities, businesses, and residents in the future,” said Senator Van Hollen. “From Mountain Maryland to the Eastern Shore, I will always work to ensure Marylanders across our state have access to clean and safe drinking water. Investing in clean water – as we are in Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties with this over $3 million federal investment – protects public health, helps us meet our environmental goals, and ensures our infrastructure is modern and resilient,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “Every rural community deserves reliable water and wastewater infrastructure, no matter its size or ZIP code,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “This more than $3 million federal investment will help replace aging water and sewer systems and lay the groundwork for critical upgrades across Frederick, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. I’m proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to bring federal resources home and ensure our rural communities have the infrastructure they need to grow and thrive.” The federal funding has been awarded as follows: $2,779,000 loan to the Town of Emmitsburg in Frederick County … 1 2026-09-02T09:19:58Z 2026-09-02T09:20:51Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murray-colleagues-in-demanding-nih-director-restore-lifesaving-pediatric-research Van Hollen Joins Murray, Colleagues in Demanding NIH Director Restore Lifesaving Pediatric Research 2026-08-28 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in sending a letter to National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya demanding restoration of a promising clinical trial to help children that is ending because of the Trump administration’s budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities impacting pediatric research, specifically the NIH’s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). As a direct result of this administration’s actions the PTN is ending the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children. The abrupt end to this trial means that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this scientific effort will not see the trial’s goal achieved. “We write with great concern regarding the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) budget cuts for contracts and extreme delays in Notices of Funding Opportunities and their impact on pediatric research, specifically the NIH’s Pediatric Trials Network (PTN). We recently learned that, as part of these actions, the PTN is ending its promising clinical trial, the Pediatric Opportunistic Pharmacokinetic Study (POPS), which focuses on determining the right dose of dozens of medicines commonly used in children,” write the senators. “Ending the POPS study will stop enrollment in 25 states and the testing of several dozen drugs in children: including premature infants, critically ill children, and obese children. Ending this study will also mean that children and their families who have already enrolled and donated blood samples for this important scientific effort will not see the trial’s goal achieved.” “You cannot claim to be making American children healthier while shutting down the research that would do exactly that. We demand that you reverse this reckless decision immediately and explain your decisi… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-measles-crisis-directly-tied-to-rfk-jr/ ALSOBROOKS ON CNN – MEASLES CRISIS DIRECTLY TIED TO RFK JR. 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 27, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Inside Politics with Dana Bash on CNN to discuss the surge in measles cases happening now in Maryland and across the country and how this crisis is directly tied to the disinformation coming from RFK Jr. and HHS. “Well, what we know is that we’re seeing a serious surge in these measles cases. This is something I’ve been discussing since last year when we [saw] the outbreak of measles across our country, now going from 285 cases just in 2024 to over 2,777 cases. And we can tie it directly to the horrific leadership of Secretary Kennedy… And so we have a large number of unvaccinated individuals, including, as you mentioned, children who are dying from a disease that we had eliminated—we [had] an elimination status as of 2000 in our country, and now we’re seeing the resurgence of measles. No one should die of measles in 2026… It’s horrific and it’s completely preventable. It should not have happened, and it is directly tied, I believe, to the misinformation and disinformation coming out of HHS,” said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview. ### 1 2026-08-28T17:11:49Z 2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-kaine-sanders-announce-privileged-resolution-seeking-answers-on-west-bank-violence Van Hollen, Kaine, Sanders Announce Privileged Resolution Seeking Answers on West Bank Violence 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), along with eight of their colleagues, announced their intent to introduce a 502B privileged resolution requiring the Department of State to report to Congress on increasing violence in the West Bank, including the killings of Americans in the West Bank. Nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank in recent years – and more detained – and none have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. The Senators’ resolution would require the Department of State to provide information and assessments related to investigations of the killing of United States citizens by violent Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in the West Bank, as well as an assessment of the human rights situation in the West Bank, specifically related to the detention of Palestinian children. They were joined in introducing the resolution by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). “This Administration has said ensuring the safety and security of American citizens abroad is one of its highest priorities. And yet, as we’ve seen violence rise in the West Bank, American citizens have been killed time and again, and they have received no justice and no accountability. It’s past time we get answers on their deaths – and on the growing violent instability in the West Bank and the injustices facing Palestinian civilians on a daily basis. This resolution will require the State Department to begin to produce these answers, which are owed to the families of those who have lost loved ones, to the American people, and to all of those who want to ensure recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in line with our laws and our values,” said Senator Van Hollen. “The violence committed by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is reaching an unprecedented level… 1 2026-08-28T17:11:49Z 2026-08-28T17:13:14Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-cortez-masto-colleagues-in-opposing-ice-rollout-of-electric-shock-gloves Van Hollen Joins Cortez Masto, Colleagues in Opposing ICE Rollout of Electric Shock Gloves 2026-08-27 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 14 of their Senate colleagues called on the Trump Administration to abandon its reckless plan to outfit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers with gloves that deliver painful electric shocks. Their letter also demands that if ICE proceeds with this purchase, it first provides Congress with answers and documentation for over 30 questions about how these devices will be used, the protocol for using them, safety guardrails, and accountability measures. On August 10, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice concerning ICE’s planned acquisition of the CTG-5 G.L.O.V.E., a glove designed to deliver a painful electric shock. The notice estimates the potential value of the acquisition between $10 million and $20 million. “We write to express deep concern about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plans to spend up to $20 million on gloves that deliver electric shocks,” the Senators began. “…The blatant and tragic misuse of force in Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Houston, Maine, and other locations around the country raises significant skepticism about the agency’s professional capability to safely deploy a new tool that could be used to harm Americans without cause. Therefore, we urge ICE to cancel the contract and reconsider the purchase.” “The proposed acquisition raises serious questions about necessity, proportionality, medical safety, training, accountability, and constitutional rights,” the Senators continued. “Those questions are particularly important given the significant public scrutiny surrounding ICE’s excessive use of force. A device capable of delivering an electrical shock through direct contact with an individual presents substantial risks if deployed during civil arrests – even more so if it is deployed without clear limits, appropriate training, and comprehensive oversight.” “At a time when the American people have demanded de-escalation in immigration enfo… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-schiff-schumer-booker-colleagues-in-urging-netanyahu-to-immediately-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank-protect-us-citizens Van Hollen Joins Schiff, Schumer, Booker, Colleagues in Urging Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens 2026-08-26 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and over 40 of their Senate colleagues in urging Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate actions to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further incidents amidst a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years. “We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,” the Senators wrote in a letter signed by almost the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. The Senators warn that “continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address. “Like you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,” the Senators concluded. Additionally, the Senators call for those responsible for such violent acts to be held accountable and investigated. In addition to Van Hollen, Schiff, … 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-gallego-colleagues-in-sounding-alarm-on-fed-chair-warshs-plan-to-scale-back-interest-rate-meeting-schedule Van Hollen Joins Gallego, Colleagues, in Sounding Alarm on Fed Chair Warsh’s Plan to Scale Back Interest Rate Meeting Schedule 2026-08-25 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ruben Gallego (D.Ariz.) and five of their Senate colleagues in calling on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to maintain the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) longstanding schedule of at least eight meetings per year. The letter was sent in response to the New York Times’ recent reporting that Warsh is considering reducing the frequency of the meetings. “Since 1981, the FOMC has held a minimum of eight regularly scheduled meetings per year. At these meetings, the Committee reviews economic and financial conditions, determines the appropriate stance of monetary policy, and assesses risks to its statutory goals of price stability and maximum employment,” wrote the senators. “This cadence has provided a predictable framework for the conduct of monetary policy for 45 years. Fewer rate-setting meetings would represent the largest scheduled cutback in the modern history of the Federal Reserve.” “The Federal Reserve’s job is to stay engaged with the economy in real time, not to check in less and hope for the best,” concluded the senators. “If the Federal Reserve continues down this increasingly opaque path, you will be putting the broader economy at risk.” In addition to Van Hollen and Gallego, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) signed onto the letter. The full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Chairman Warsh, We write regarding reports that you are considering reducing the frequency of Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings. We have serious concerns about the implications of such a change for financial markets, American consumers, and the conduct of monetary policy. Since 1981, the FOMC has held a minimum of eight regularly scheduled meetings per year. At these meetings, the Committee reviews economic and financial conditions, determines the appropriate stance of monetary policy, and assesses risks to its statutory goa… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murray-colleagues-in-slamming-the-trump-administrations-anti-women-agenda-and-threats-to-abortion-reproductive-care Van Hollen Joins Murray, Colleagues in Slamming the Trump Administration’s Anti-Women Agenda and Threats to Abortion, Reproductive Care 2026-08-25 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and their colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressing outrage over the Trump administration’s efforts to ban abortion nationwide and limit access to reproductive health care for women across the country. The senators called out this administration’s harmful restrictions on mifepristone as well as their moves to threaten access to essential preventative care, contraceptives, and abortion care. “The decades-long Republican attacks on reproductive health, rights, and justice have culminated in a nation where women today have less autonomy over their bodies and their medical care than their grandmothers did,” wrote the Senators. “And with women already suffering and dying as a result of your policies, you are doubling down with an even more aggressive and dangerous anti-women agenda.” In the letter, the Senators call out the Trump Administration’s “pro-family” claims, highlighting their hypocrisy. “Despite proclaiming to be a “pro-family” administration, the Trump administration has orchestrated a coordinated attempt to limit access to reproductive health care and move closer to a national abortion ban by whatever means necessary. From partnering with Congressional Republicans to defund clinics that provide preventive care like annual physicals and cervical cancer exams, because they also provide abortion care; terminating women’s health research at the National Institutes of Health; withholding millions in already awarded and appropriated Title X funding, the only federal stream solely dedicated to family planning; to terminating more than 50 Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grants, a program that has shown great success in lowering the teen birth rate; this administration has stopped at nothing to strip access to providers, basic services, and health information.” The Senators continue by outlining the administration’s ongoing attacks on every possible aspect of reproductive healt… 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-over-35-bicameral-colleagues-in-demanding-release-of-us-citizen-in-israeli-military-prison Van Hollen Joins Over 35 Bicameral Colleagues in Demanding Release of U.S. Citizen in Israeli Military Prison 2026-08-25 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.-12) and 39 Members of Congress, including 5 Senators, in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, demanding the immediate and permanent release of U.S. citizen Sama Safi, a 20-year-old student with a severe chronic health condition, from Israeli military prison. On June 2, in the middle of the night, Sama was torn from her family’s home in the occupied West Bank as part of a series of raids targeting Birzeit University students. “With every additional day that Sama is subjected to deprivation and abuse by Israel, our fear grows that her spark is being dimmed; that we are losing pieces of her health, her strength, and the vibrant, loving spirit that makes her who she is,” said Sama’s parents. “Every morning, we wake wishing this was only a nightmare, hoping to open our eyes to the sound of Sama playing music. Every waking moment, we cannot help but imagine what she must be facing alone. Yet we are holding on to hope through those who stand with us and are helping us bring Sama home. We are deeply grateful to Congresswoman Tlaib and all the signatories of this letter for standing with us in our urgent call to free Sama.” “Every day that Sama remains wrongfully detained in these inhumane conditions, she is at greater risk of irreversible and life-threatening repercussions,” the Members wrote to Secretary Rubio. “It is your responsibility to ensure the safety of all Americans abroad, with no exceptions. Her life is at risk on your watch. We urge you to act swiftly and use every tool at your disposal to secure the immediate release of Sama Safi so that she can receive the medical care she urgently needs and return to her family, her studies, and the life and freedom that every 20-year-old deserves.” Sama has described horrific conditions and violence by guards in Israeli military detention, including frequent physical assault, gas and stun grenades thrown in overcrowded cells, and lack of food and water. Every day, thousands … 1 2026-09-09T09:27:09Z 2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-secure-20-million-in-federal-funding-for-ocean-city-beach-replenishment Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Secure $20 Million in Federal Funding for Ocean City Beach Replenishment 2026-08-24 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper On August 14, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited Ocean City’s beachfront to highlight the $20 million federal investment he, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress to replenish the beach and protect the shoreline. This project, led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), will widen the beach and create a buffer against storms and erosion, protecting homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. “Ocean City’s beach is a destination for Marylanders and out-of-state visitors alike, making it an important economic driver for the region. It’s critical that we not only protect the beach from erosion, but that we also restore the shoreline to protect local communities from flooding and extreme weather. Businesses and livelihoods that depend on Ocean City’s beach must continue to thrive, and that’s why we worked to secure $20 million in federal funding for Ocean City’s beach replenishment. With these federal funds, we will be able to restore and expand the shoreline, helping to ensure that Ocean City can continue to be a destination point and the economic driver that it is,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We need to do all we can to protect Maryland communities, homes, and businesses from storms and erosion. That's why I am proud to partner with Senator Van Hollen in investing $20 million of federal funding to replenish Ocean City's shoreline and beaches. Replenishing this shoreline will create a critical buffer to better protect the homes and businesses of Ocean City," said Senator Alsobrooks. “More than just a location where summer memories are made, the beaches of Ocean City are also a critical line of defense for the lives and livelihood of the community. By blending vital engineering with strong federal, state, and local partnerships, this project safeguards our community and ensures Ocean City remains strong, resilient, and safe for generations to come,” said Colonel Francis B. Pera, Baltimore District Commander, U.S. Army Corps… 1 2026-08-25T05:31:37Z 2026-08-25T05:33:09Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-celebrates-office-opening-visits-health-center-meets-with-seniors-and-more-in-western-maryland/ SENATOR ALSOBROOKS CELEBRATES OFFICE OPENING, VISITS HEALTH CENTER, MEETS WITH SENIORS, AND MORE IN WESTERN MARYLAND 2026-08-20 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 20, 2026 WESTERN MARYLAND – On Wednesday, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) was in Western Maryland to celebrate her new office opening in Frederick, meet with local leaders, visit Mountain Laurel Medical Center, meet with seniors, and host a housing discussion. At the office opening celebration, Senator Alsobrooks was joined by State Senator Karen Lewis Young, Delegate Ken Kerr, Delegate Karen Simpson, Delegate Kris Fair, County Executive Jessica Fitzwater, County Council Vice President Kavonté Duckett, County Councilman Jerry Donald, County Councilwoman M.C. Keegan-Ayer, City of Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor, City Councilman Peter Brehm, City Councilman Derek Shackelford, City Councilwoman Sarah Hempel Irani, Former City Councilwoman Kelly Russell, Former County Executive Jan Gardner, Myersville Councilman Wayne Creadick, Jr., and dozens of constituents from Western Maryland. Senator Alsobrooks then stopped for lunch in Hagerstown with Hagerstown Mayor Bill McIntire, Councilwoman Caroline Anderson, City Administrator Scott Nicewarner, and Councilwoman Erika Bell. Next, Senator Alsobrooks traveled to Grantsville to visit the Federally Qualified Health Center, Mountain Laurel Medical Center. Senator Alsobrooks met with medical staff and learned about the center’s offerings, made possible in part by federal funding through the Appalachian Regional Commission. At Mountain Laurel Medical Center, Senator Alsobrooks was joined by Grantsville Mayor Emily Newman-Edwards, Mountain Laurel Medical Center CEO Michelle Dixon and the Mountain Laurel Medical Center staff. Then, the Senator spent the evening in Mountain Lake Park. First, she met with Garrett County Community Action Committee leadership, including Executive Director Chris Mullett, to discuss workforce housing and housing needs in the region. Afterwards, she met with seniors for a conversation about rising costs. “What I’ve seen and heard as I’ve gone around the state – and heard today in Western and Mountain Maryland – is that residents everywhe… 1 2026-08-21T05:30:57Z 2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-merkley-colleagues-in-calling-on-watchdog-to-probe-tax-subsidies-for-lng-exporters Van Hollen Joins Merkley, Colleagues in Calling on Watchdog to Probe Tax Subsidies for LNG Exporters 2026-08-20 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in urging the Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to launch an investigation into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) providing tax breaks for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporters and determine whether the IRS’ decision was intended to reward President Trump’s political donors. The Senators stressed that providing LNG tankers with Alternative Fuel Excise Tax (AFET) credits would favor fossil fuel companies – at an unfair cost to the average taxpayer – and do nothing to protect our environment, reduce costs for working families, or lessen America’s reliance on fossil fuels. “Despite these facts, news reports and public financial filings suggest the IRS has allowed taxpayers to claim the AFET credit for fuel used on LNG tankers, without publishing any updated guidance. Therefore, we request TIGTA investigate whether the IRS has made a determination that fuel used on LNG tankers is eligible for the AFET credit, and, if so, how the IRS made this determination and what guidance, if any, was provided to taxpayers,” wrote the Senators in a letter to the TIGTA. They emphasized, “We would further urge the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate the extent to which Secretary Bessent was involved in any decision to make LNG tankers eligible for the AFET, who Secretary Bessent may have discussed this issue with at the IRS, whether Secretary Bessent communicated with any impacted party about LNG tankers being motorboats under the AFET, and to what extent Secretary Bessent or his staff communicated with anyone in the White House, including President Trump, about a request for AFET credits for LNG tankers.” Previously, Van Hollen, Merkley, and their colleagues pressed the IRS on its decision to give Cheniere Energy – the largest LNG exporter in the United States – a questionable $370 m… 1 2026-08-21T05:30:57Z 2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-rosen-colleagues-in-demanding-answers-from-trump-administration-about-ice-conduct-tsa-cooperation-in-airports Van Hollen Joins Rosen, Colleagues in Demanding Answers from Trump Administration About ICE Conduct, TSA Cooperation in Airports 2026-08-20 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) and their Senate colleagues in demanding answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David Venturella, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Cummins about recent ICE actions at airports. Senators Van Hollen and Rosen were joined by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). This letter comes after a string of incidents nationwide, in which ICE agents – with cooperation from TSA – have acted with impunity, at times targeting people at airports. “We write to express concerns regarding recent immigration enforcement actions at airports across the nation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with the apparent assistance and support of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA),” wrote the Senators. “Such actions create fear in our communities and cause disruption and distress to the traveling public.” “Unfortunately, recent reporting by the New York Times indicates that troubling events like these are occurring frequently across the nation at America’s Airports. Such actions only served to disrupt local communities, create fear among immigrant families, and undermine the travel and tourism sector at a time when it is trying to rebound from a 5.5% decline in international tourism in 2025 that occurred due to President Trump’s misguided tariff, immigration, and foreign policies,” the Senators continued. “With all this in mind, we request your response to several questions regarding the operating relationship between ICE and TSA and the type of information that is being shared between the agencies.” The full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Secretary Mullin, Administrator Cummins, and Acting Director Venturella: We write to express o… 1 2026-09-04T09:19:37Z 2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-warnock-warren-colleagues-in-pushing-federal-reserve-chair-to-include-labor-in-new-federal-reserve-ai-task-force Van Hollen Joins Warnock, Warren, Colleagues, in Pushing Federal Reserve Chair to Include Labor in New Federal Reserve AI Task Force 2026-08-20 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), along with Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), in demanding that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh include worker perspectives as the Fed assesses the implications of new technologies for the American workers whose jobs may be displaced by artificial intelligence (AI). “AI’s potential to reshape work is significant, and the stakes for workers are high: even a partial shift in how tasks are automated could affect millions of jobs across the economy, and workers have the necessary first-hand accounting of how AI is currently reshaping day-to-day tasks,” wrote the Senators. “A task force asked to assess AI’s real economic impact on the labor force and the Fed’s mandate to promote maximum employment cannot do so accurately while excluding the very people best positioned to describe how that impact is unfolding: American workers.” The letter comes after Chairman Warsh launched the Federal Reserve’s Task Force on Productivity and Jobs last month to evaluate how AI and other emerging technologies could affect the economy and the labor market. Yet, in an alarming conflict of interest, all three advisors selected to advise the Fed on AI have financial ties to the industry. The full text of the letter is available here and below. Dear Chair Warsh: We write to request that you ensure that the Federal Reserve’s (“the Fed”) newly-announced Task Force on Productivity and Jobs includes the perspective of individuals who represents the interests of workers. Congress gave the Fed a dual mandate that includes promoting maximum employment, and Artificial Intelligence’s (AI) potential to disrupt the labor market bears directly on the Fed’s ability to fulfill that mandate. We welcome the Fed evaluating AI’s effects on productivity and jobs, but it is important that the Fed search outside of industry when appointing alternative, diverse viewpoints for this new task force. … 1 2026-09-04T09:19:37Z 2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-colleagues-press-for-transparency-on-unprecedented-exchanges-between-federal-reserve-chair-warsh-president-trump Van Hollen, Colleagues Press for Transparency on Unprecedented Exchanges Between Federal Reserve Chair Warsh, President Trump 2026-08-19 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), called on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to publicly disclose his conversations with President Donald Trump, pushing Warsh to demonstrate the Federal Reserve’s independence from the White House after he repeatedly declined to clarify his contacts with the President. The Senators begin, “We write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President “repeatedly” since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.” “As the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars,” the Senators continue. The Senators highlighted the unprecedented lack of transparency,noting “But if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date … 1 2026-08-20T05:28:41Z 2026-08-20T05:29:58Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/08/20/2026/van-hollen-colleagues-press-for-transparency-on-unprecedented-exchanges-between-federal-reserve-chair-warsh-president-trump Van Hollen, Colleagues Press for Transparency on Unprecedented Exchanges Between Federal Reserve Chair Warsh, President Trump 2026-08-19 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), called on Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh to publicly disclose his conversations with President Donald Trump, pushing Warsh to demonstrate the Federal Reserve’s independence from the White House after he repeatedly declined to clarify his contacts with the President. The Senators begin, “We write to ask for public disclosure of your conversations with President Trump. Recent press reports indicate that you have spoken with the President “repeatedly” since your confirmation in May. It is critical that the Fed be transparent about these discussions to demonstrate its independence from the White House, a norm that you have said you intend to uphold. Instead, you have declined on multiple occasions to confirm your conversations with President Trump, raising sincere doubts about the independent conduct of monetary policy and your transparency with the public.” “As the leader of an independent agency, the Fed must be forthcoming about your conversations with the President, as your predecessors have recognized. Undisclosed, frequent conversations with the President, whose family business remains very active, can create a perception that the White House is shaping monetary policy. To dispel these doubts, previous Chairs have issued statements about meetings with the President and shown meetings or calls with the President on their publicly released calendars,” the Senators continue. The Senators highlighted the unprecedented lack of transparency,noting “But if the reporting is accurate, you seem to have attempted to conceal your calls with the President. In your first press conference as Chair, you avoided a straightforward question about whether you and President Trump had spoken since your swearing-in. You likewise declined to acknowledge your conversations with the President at a Senate hearing in July. And the appointment calendars you have released to date do not show a… 1 2026-08-21T05:30:57Z 2026-08-21T05:32:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-blumenthal-wyden-and-himes-in-introducing-bicameral-bill-protecting-domestic-violence-survivors-from-gun-violence Van Hollen Joins Blumenthal, Wyden, and Himes in Introducing Bicameral Bill Protecting Domestic Violence Survivors from Gun Violence 2026-08-19 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.) in introducing the Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act, legislation to close a dangerous loophole that allows domestic abusers to legally obtain weapons. The Lori Jackson-Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act restricts those under temporary restraining orders from purchasing or possessing a firearm and extends protections to domestic violence survivors who have been abused by their dating partners. The bill is named in memory of Lori Jackson, a Connecticut mother who was tragically shot and killed by her estranged husband who had legally obtained a handgun even though he was subject to a temporary restraining order, and Nicolette Elias, a Connecticut mother who, despite securing restraining orders and temporary stalking orders against her estranged and abusive ex-husband, was murdered by her former spouse in front of their children with a handgun that he refused to relinquish. The legislation is cosponsored in the U.S. Senate by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). The legislation is supported by a number of organizations, including Brady, Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, GIFFORDS, Newtown Action Alliance, Everytown, Jewish Women International, March for Our Lives, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, and CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence. 1 2026-09-04T09:19:37Z 2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-secure-14-million-in-federal-funding-for-berlins-community-center-at-historic-flower-street-school-site Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Secure $1.4 Million in Federal Funding for Berlin’s Community Center at Historic Flower Street School Site 2026-08-18 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper On Thursday, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited the location of the historic Flower Street School in Berlin to highlight the $1.4 million federal investment that he, along with Senator Angela Alsobrooks, secured in Congress to help transform the site into a new community center. The future building will house the SHORE UP! Head Start Center, Worcester Youth and Family Counseling Services summer camp and after-school programs, computer labs, recreational spaces, and a museum honoring the history of the Flower Street School and the neighborhood. “For the Town of Berlin, this new community center will be a place for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together. With federal funding we fought to secure, Berlin will transform the site of the historic Flower Street School into a hub with educational and recreational services for residents. This initiative will honor the Town’s history while creating new opportunities and building a better future for the community,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our communities need spaces where people can go to learn, socialize, and better their community. The Community Center on Flower Street in Berlin will soon become a space of fellowship, friendship, history, and advocacy where children and seniors alike can grow. I am proud that the funding Senator Van Hollen and I worked to secure will launch this terrific project,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks. 1 2026-08-19T05:29:02Z 2026-08-19T05:30:24Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-delegation-members-statement-on-states-victory-in-lawsuit-to-restore-greenbelt-fbi-headquarters Maryland Delegation Members’ Statement on State’s Victory in Lawsuit to Restore Greenbelt FBI Headquarters 2026-08-17 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, members of Maryland’s Congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Representatives Steny Hoyer, Glenn Ivey, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Sarah Elfreth, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.), released the following statement regarding the State of Maryland’s victory in its lawsuit to restore the FBI headquarters project to Greenbelt, Maryland: “For years, Team Maryland has fought to bring the men and women of the FBI a headquarters that meets their mission and their needs. After a years-long, competitive, and transparent process, Greenbelt, Maryland, was selected as the site for that new headquarters, based on its merits – including its ability to provide a secure space for the Bureau while ensuring the cost-effective use of taxpayer dollars. The Trump Administration had no grounds to ignore this selection, or redirect even one penny that Congress specifically appropriated for construction of the competitively selected site. We’re glad to see the Court acknowledge this fact, ruling that the Trump Administration’s actions are unlawful and void. This is an important step forward for the rule of law. This process began in 2009, and it’s past time it was concluded. Hopefully, the Trump Administration will agree with the conclusion that the Congress, the General Services Administration, and the District Court have all found, which is that Greenbelt is the proper home of the FBI. We will not stop fighting to fulfill our promise to the men and women of the Bureau to deliver a new, secure headquarters in Maryland so they can do their work without compromising their safety or our national security.” 1 2026-08-18T05:27:41Z 2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/following-approval-of-trump-crypto-company-bank-application-van-hollen-warren-colleagues-introduce-the-ending-presidential-corruption-in-banking-act Following Approval of Trump Crypto Company Bank Application, Van Hollen, Warren, Colleagues Introduce the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act 2026-08-15 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Immediately following the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) approval of the Trump crypto company bank charter, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) in introducing the Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act. The bill would ensure that no President, Vice President, their immediate families, or other senior government officials can exploit their positions to own or control a bank, which could serve as a major vehicle for corrupt dealings. On January 5, 2026, the Trump Family crypto company World Liberty Financial (WLF) applied to the OCC for a national bank charter. President Trump, through EO 14215, had previously asserted control of the OCC. “Our banking regulators should work to protect consumers and the integrity of our financial system, not enrich their bosses. President Trump and his family have raked in billions of dollars through corrupt deals and are now attempting to get the President’s own administration to approve a bank for his family’s crypto business. It is critical that Congress stand up against this corruption and protect consumers, safeguard our financial system, and prevent politicians from abusing these assets for their own personal gain,” said Senator Van Hollen. “President Trump is now the first President in history to approve, operate, and supervise his own bank,” said Ranking Member Warren. “This is the most brazen act of self-dealing our financial system has ever seen — and Congress cannot allow it to stand. The Ending Presidential Corruption in Banking Act will close the door on this kind of unprecedented corruption.” “This President's corruption knows no bounds. For the first time in our history, a President is now chartering and overseeing … 1 2026-08-18T05:27:41Z 2026-08-18T05:29:06Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hirono-colleagues-in-raising-alarms-about-increased-naturalization-fees Van Hollen Joins Hirono, Colleagues, in Raising Alarms About Increased Naturalization Fees 2026-08-13 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), a senior member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary who is a Naturalized Citizen, and 10 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in pressing the Trump Administration on their recent proposed rule to increase naturalization fees and remove reduced fee options and fee waivers for those attempting to become citizens. In a letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph B. Edlow, the senators raised alarms about how the proposed fee increases would limit citizenship for thousands of immigrants. “USCIS’s actions have repeatedly increased the burden of and difficulty in obtaining U.S. citizenship,” wrote the senators. “Naturalization is a critical pathway to immigrant integration, civic engagement, and democratic participation, yet your agency’s actions represent a significant departure from these values.” Under the Trump Administration’s proposed rule, immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship would face hundreds of dollars of fee increases, up to 80 percent more. Immigrants seeking a hearing on naturalization proceedings would also face an up to 83 percent fee increase. Additionally, the proposed rule eliminates preexisting reduced-fee options and fee waivers, designed to help immigrants achieve citizenship no matter their financial status. In their letter, the senators highlighted how the proposed rule burdens the pathway to citizenship without providing clear guidance about how access will be preserved for immigrants who are unable to meet the increased financial threshold. “While your agency asserts that the increased fees are necessary to recover the full cost of adjudicating naturalization applications and to support enhanced screening and vetting measures, it fails to address the increased fees’ deterrent effect on eligible applicants, particularly those from low-income communities,” the senators continued. Despite the Trump Administration’s consistent claims that it supports legal immigration, t… 1 2026-08-15T05:23:20Z 2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-blumenthal-baldwin-colleagues-in-demanding-hhs-rescind-cancellation-of-lifesaving-research-grants-that-improve-patient-safety-and-care Van Hollen Joins Blumenthal, Baldwin Colleagues in Demanding HHS Rescind Cancellation of Lifesaving Research Grants that Improve Patient Safety & Care 2026-08-12 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and over 20 of their Democratic colleagues in the Senate in demanding that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reverse the Department’s destructive cancelations of lifesaving health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Congressionally appropriated funding for AHRQ grants benefitted critical research and initiatives to advance effective healthcare delivery, such as training for rural healthcare workers, testing the use of artificial intelligence in hospitals, improving autism screening and services for Black children, and equipping primary care providers with effective chronic pain treatment. In a letter sent today to Kennedy, the Senators raised concerns about the impact of HHS’s mass cancelations of these research grants, writing, “This unprecedented action, which has led to the disruption of nearly 200 different research programs across nearly 30 states, undermines decades of taxpayer investments to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, and health outcomes for all Americans. We demand that you immediately rescind these cancelations and ensure that the funding Congress appropriates to AHRQ is invested in health research in accordance with the law.” The Senators continued, “We want to be clear: Democrats and Republicans did not work together to appropriate funds for AHRQ as a gentle suggestion for the Department to follow at their discretion or leisure. We provided this money with the explicit instruction that the Department faithfully support life-saving research to improve access and health outcomes for Americans. We did not appropriate these funds so that money could remain unspent while Americans suffer and our healthcare system struggles.” The Senators continued, “The agency’s actions over the last year are an outrageous abuse of administrative power that will leave Americans sicker, poorer, … 1 2026-08-15T05:23:20Z 2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-shaheen-booker-merkley-issue-statement-ahead-of-elections-in-zambia Van Hollen, Shaheen, Booker, Merkley, Issue Statement Ahead of Elections in Zambia 2026-08-12 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement calling for peaceful, fair elections ahead of the August 13th elections in Zambia. “The United States values its long-standing partnership with Zambia. Over the last two decades, the United States and Zambia have partnered on peacekeeping, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programming and democracy initiatives that have improved global health, stability and social mobility. Although this partnership has been strained by the Trump Administration’s attempts to link lifesaving health assistance with critical minerals access through the Global Health Memorandum of Understanding, close cooperation between our countries remains more important than ever. “This is why we are especially concerned by the Zambian ruling party’s attempts to undermine the country’s electoral environment ahead of its August 13th elections. The ruling party’s recent actions are reminiscent of previous elections where political opponents – including current President Hakainde Hichilema – were arrested in an effort to silence opposition. President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) appear to be using the same laws that once victimized and imprisoned political figures like Hichilema to propel him to a second term. Laws governing political campaign gatherings are selectively enforced to stifle opposition rallies, and Zambia’s Constitution and electoral framework were hastily reformed without meaningful civil society consultation. “We urge all parties and candidates to commit to peaceful elections and to ensure laws are enforced consistently and fairly, regardless of party affiliation. We also call on the Department of State to increase its engagement with Zambian civil society, consistent with its longstanding efforts, to help Zambia and other important international partners uphold … 1 2026-08-15T05:23:20Z 2026-08-15T05:24:50Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-marylanders-cant-afford-life-under-president-trump/ ALSOBROOKS: MARYLANDERS CAN’T AFFORD LIFE UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP 2026-08-11 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 11,2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after the Joint Economic Committee released a report finding that Marylanders are having to spend over $3,000 more under President Trump. “Gas prices are skyrocketing, groceries are still unaffordable, and millions have been kicked off their health care because of this President’s actions. Marylanders can’t afford life under President Trump.” $455 more on gas The average family in Maryland has spent $455 more on gas since the start of Trump’s Iran War. $310 more on groceries Americans paid $310 more for groceries in President Trump’s first year than in 2024. Grocery prices are now more than 4% higher than when Trump took office. Since the President took office, the average price of ground beef has risen almost every month to a record high of more than $7 per pound. Coffee prices also spiked and are now nearly $10 per pound. $230 more on electricity Families in Maryland paid $230 more for electricity in 2025 under President Trump than they did in 2024. And, in just the first six months of 2026, Maryland families are expected to spend an estimated $266 more for electricity than they did in the first half of 2024. $666 more on housing Maryland families have had to spend $666 more on housing costs such as rent and mortgage payments since President Trump took office. $1,000+ more on health care Monthly premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans rose over 50% on average in 2026 compared to last year. Meanwhile, deductibles surged to record highs, increasing by more than $1,000 on average because of Republicans’ refusal to extend the ACA tax cuts that help people afford their health insurance. ### 1 2026-08-12T06:18:38Z 2026-08-12T06:20:33Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-padilla-colleagues-in-demanding-state-department-process-student-visas-without-delays Van Hollen Joins Padilla, Colleagues in Demanding State Department Process Student Visas Without Delays 2026-08-11 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and 28 of their Senate colleagues in expressing concern about the unavailability of student and exchange visitor visa appointments in time for the start of the academic year and demanding answers regarding delays in processing of these applications at U.S. embassies and consulates. “We urge the State Department to ensure timely processing of F, M, and J student and exchange visitor nonimmigrant visas, consistent with the approach taken by administrations of both parties in the past, and to implement other measures to avoid diminishing U.S. competitiveness,” wrote the Senators. “Specifically, we are hearing from constituents and stakeholders that no timely visa appointments are available for students at some embassies and consulates. This only exacerbates uncertainty about whether students’ visas will be processed in time for them to travel to the United States to begin their studies.” The Senators highlighted the vital contributions international students make to universities and communities nationwide, including expanding opportunities for American students, generating economic activity, strengthening the U.S. workforce, and building international partnerships. “International students are critical to the success of our universities, including contributing nearly $43 billion annually to local communities and supporting more than 355,000 American jobs during the 2024-2025 academic year. Even though international students make up only six percent of the total higher education population, their enrollment creates opportunities for American students,” continued the Senators. “International students also improve our national security by fostering global relationships, cross cultural understanding, and long-lasting diplomatic ties. These benefits are at risk if visa processing delays persist.” The Senators urged the State Department to ensure the timely review and processing of student and exchange visitor visas, extend interview waivers f… 1 2026-09-04T09:19:37Z 2026-09-04T09:20:58Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-leads-senators-in-introducing-bill-to-end-tariffs-on-back-to-school-supplies/ ALSOBROOKS LEADS SENATORS IN INTRODUCING BILL TO END TARIFFS ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL SUPPLIES 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 6, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – As reported in The Hill, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) introduced the Back-to-School Supplies Affordability Act, legislation that would exempt school supplies and educational materials from tariffs, helping reduce costs for families, teachers, schools, and local governments. According to Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, the cost of back-to-school supplies has increased by nearly 11% this year, driven in part by President Trump’s tariffs, including the latest Section 301 tariffs affecting imports from much of the global economy. According to the study, lunch boxes are up nearly 27%, notebooks are up nearly 23%, and nearly every school item, from pens to paper, is higher than it was before the Trump Tariffs. “Families and teachers should be focused on preparing children for a successful school year–not worrying about whether they can afford the supplies students need to learn. As parents and teachers continue to feel the strain of rising costs, this legislation provides targeted relief by eliminating tariffs on essential classroom supplies. Every child deserves the opportunity to start the school year with the tools they need to succeed,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The Trump Administration’s sweeping global tariffs are raising prices for working families across the country, and our students, teachers, and schools are caught right in the middle of it. This legislation will lower back-to-school costs for families and help students start the year with the tools they need to learn and succeed,” said Senator Van Hollen. “As school districts across Nevada begin the new school year, parents are being squeezed by the high cost of school supplies thanks to Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs,” said Senator Rosen. “I am proud to help introduce this bill to repeal tariffs on school supplies and provide some financi… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-our-country-is-in-a-race-to-the-bottom-with-republicans-at-the-helm/ ALSOBROOKS ON CNN: OUR COUNTRY IS IN A RACE TO THE BOTTOM WITH REPUBLICANS AT THE HELM 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined CNN News Central with Kate Bolduan to discuss the unserious witch hunt against Dr. Fauci, this President’s disastrous and costly war, and how Democrats will win back the Senate in the midterm elections. “These Republicans have now become the masters of the Jedi mind trick. They prefer for us to focus on Anthony Fauci at a time when Cyclospora is spreading through our communities; it is surging. Where we see measles at the highest rates that we’ve seen in 35 years, where RFK Jr. has lied every single time that I have been in a hearing with him…These Republicans are so unserious,” said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview. ### 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-on-cnn-rfk-jr-is-making-americans-sicker-and-poorer/ ALSOBROOKS ON CNN – RFK JR. IS MAKING AMERICANS SICKER AND POORER 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 6, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined The Lead with Jake Tapper on CNN to discuss RFK Jr.’s continued lies and how his actions and rhetoric are endangering American families. “[RFK Jr.] is presently causing harm to Americans. Where we see Cyclospora. People are asking why they’re in the emergency rooms. Measles [cases] are at the highest rates that we’ve seen in 35 years. The fact that we have canceled important research. And instead of focusing on what is causing harm right this second – what is making Americans sicker, and by the way, poorer – they decide instead to do the Jedi mind trick and to focus on Dr. Fauci. So these people are so unserious. This clown show today was disgraceful, and I think Americans are going to be able to see through it,” said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview. ### 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-curtis-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-combat-affordable-housing-crisis-strengthen-usps Van Hollen, Curtis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Combat Affordable Housing Crisis, Strengthen USPS 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Curtis (R-Utah) introduced bipartisan legislation to confront the shortage of affordable housing across the country while simultaneously helping to address funding shortfalls at the United States Postal Service (USPS). Amid record-breaking housing costs, the Senators’ new bill, the Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act, would allow local communities to lease Postal Service property rights for new affordable housing construction. At the same time, this legislation protects against the sale of Postal Service assets, supports the rehabilitation and new construction of Postal facilities, and eases the Postal Service’s critical financial constraints. “Far too many working Americans are faced with housing costs they simply cannot afford. At the same time, the Postal Service faces financial struggles that, if left unaddressed, will result in USPS running out of money to operate. With this legislation, we’re not only bringing new, affordable homes to communities across the country, we’re also working to shore up the Postal Service so that it can continue serving Americans for generations to come. It’s a win-win,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Utah desperately needs more housing, and the Postal Service needs new sources of revenue; this commonsense legislation helps accomplish both,” said Senator Curtis. “By giving USPS the authority to lease underutilized property for housing development, we can put unused land to work, expand the housing supply, and strengthen an institution that millions of Americans rely on every day.” Currently, the Postal Service owns about 8,500 properties around the United States, many of which are located in places suitable for housing construction and in areas with high housing demand. According to a recent analysis from Brookings, housing construction on postal property could build over 200,000 new homes and bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Postal Service each year. The Delivering Americans Affordable Homes Act would set gua… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-secures-committee-passage-of-bill-to-rename-post-office-in-olney-after-beloved-employee-edward-ramsey Van Hollen Secures Committee Passage of Bill to Rename Post Office in Olney After Beloved Employee, Edward Ramsey 2026-08-06 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) to name the U.S. Post Office located at 3570 Olney Laytonsville Road in Olney, Maryland, after Sergeant Edward Lawrence Ramsey unanimously passed the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee. Ed Ramsey was an Army veteran and employee of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) until his passing in 2022. Ramsey served honorably in the United States Army for over 20 years, serving in Panama, Louisiana, Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. During his 27-year USPS career, he served as a clerk at the Olney Post Office, where he became a beloved fixture of the Olney community. Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) introduced companion legislation, which passed the House of Representatives earlier this year. Following this key Committee passage, the bill is eligible for consideration by the full Senate. “Sergeant Ed Ramsey lived a life of public service – joining the Army to defend our nation, then going on to serve his community in his local post office for nearly three decades. During those years, his unstinting kindness made such an impression on his neighbors that they launched a grassroots effort to rename the Olney Post Office in his memory after his passing. I have been honored to stand with them and lead this charge in the Senate. Today’s Committee passage is an important step forward, and I will continue working to pass this legislation in the Senate to honor Ed’s legacy as a committed public servant and beloved member of the community,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Sergeant Ed Ramsey spent 20 years serving our country in the Army followed by another 27 years working for USPS. He is a patriot and a public servant who served with courage, kindness, and conviction. At the Olney Post Office, every member of our community became a quick friend of Ed’s. It is fitting that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has passed our bill to rename the O… 1 2026-08-07T06:11:19Z 2026-08-07T06:12:42Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-560000-for-workforce-development-supportive-housing-in-western-maryland Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $560,000 for Workforce Development, Supportive Housing in Western Maryland 2026-08-05 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $562,851 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for education, workforce development, and supportive housing for adults recovering from mental illness or with developmental disabilities in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties. “When we invest in opportunities for education, workforce training, and supportive housing, we invest in the long-term success of our communities. These federal dollars from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help create educational opportunities, open pathways to good-paying jobs, and strengthen the financial stability of Marylanders,” said Senator Van Hollen. “When we invest in Western Maryland, our entire state benefits. This federal investment will support research at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg, create more opportunities for Marylanders developing their careers at Garrett College’s Career Technology Training Center, and renovate critical housing for adults recovering from mental illness or developmental disabilities. This isn’t just an investment in Marylanders; it’s an investment in our economy and our future,”said Senator Alsobrooks. “Western Maryland is full of talent and potential, and these federal investments will help turn that potential into opportunity,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. “This funding will expand research and student training at Frostburg’s Appalachian Lab, prepare Garrett College students for good-paying welding jobs, and provide stable housing and employment support through Archway Station. I’ll keep fighting to bring home resources that strengthen our rural communities.” The federal grants have been awarded as follows: $312,851 to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Appalachian Lab in Frostburg to acquire advanced scientific equipment and computing infrastructure, including atmospheric gas analyzers, upgr… 1 2026-08-06T07:37:31Z 2026-08-06T07:38:34Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-alsobrooks-on-ms-now-americans-are-done-settling-for-the-status-quo/ ICYMI – ALSOBROOKS ON MS NOW: AMERICANS ARE DONE SETTLING FOR THE STATUS QUO 2026-08-04 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 4, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined MS NOW’s The Beat with Melissa Murray to discuss the Trump Administration’s continued attacks on the American people, this President’s disastrous war, and how Democrats plan to win back the Senate in the midterms. “The truth is this president took our country into a war without a strategic aim, and he had no idea how to get our country out of this war. We voted here 13 different times to end the war. And what we know, as a matter of fact, is while this war is going on, our kids are dying at the same time that this President’s children are getting rich. The cost of the war is being borne by working-class people in our country, the ones who are not only being killed but those who are injured. We see the gas prices, the utility prices, the grocery prices. The cost of the war is being borne by working-class people in our country, and so it’s beyond a point of being concerned; it absolutely must end,” said Senator Alsobrooks during the interview. “Fighting for the status quo is over. Nobody wants the status quo. I think that everyone is hungry at this point for tremendous change… we need a change in our country for everyday hardworking people who do everything right and still cannot make it. That’s the message,” continued Senator Alsobrooks. ### 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-warren-pressley-colleagues-in-probing-insurance-companies-on-usage-of-credit-based-insurance-scores-as-costs-rise Van Hollen Joins Warren, Pressley, Colleagues in Probing Insurance Companies on Usage of Credit-Based Insurance Scores As Costs Rise 2026-08-04 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and 17 other members of Congress in a set of letters to USAA, State Farm, Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Farmers, and Allstate requesting information on the usage of credit-based insurance scores in homeowners insurance underwriting and pricing. In the letters, the lawmakers underscored concerns that insurance companies are unfairly jacking up rates based on customer credit history, “Property and casualty insurance products price the risk of loss due to damage to a property and its contents; and unlike debt, these products do not hinge on a customer’s ability to repay or carry the risk of defaulting on a loan. Despite this, recent reporting indicates that Americans with weaker credit history pay significantly more for homeowners insurance, all other characteristics of the policyholder and property held equal.” “Insurers have cited increasing climate-related disasters – along with rising building and reinsurance costs – as the key sources behind rising homeowners insurance premiums. Yet recent research shows that credit scores impact homeowners insurance premiums as much, if not more than, disaster risk in many parts of the country,” continued the lawmakers. “Insurers should not charge consumers higher premiums simply because of their personal credit history, which could have been impacted by job loss, a surprise medical bill, predatory lending, or simply inaccurate information, rather than an actual risk associated with a home,” the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers called on the insurance companies to provide information on how they use credit-based scoring when offering or pricing homeowners insurance policies, requesting responses from the companies by August 17. The letters are cosigned by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Representatives André Carson (D-Ind.), Sean Casten (D-… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-gillibrand-introduce-new-tax-credit-for-seniors/ ALSOBROOKS, GILLIBRAND INTRODUCE NEW TAX CREDIT FOR SENIORS TO INSTALL AGING-RELATED MODIFICATIONS TO THEIR HOMES 2026-08-03 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper August 3, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – As reported in Politico’s Morning Tax, Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), both members of the Senate Aging Committee, introduced the Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act of 2026 which would create a new tax credit for seniors to install essential, aging-related modifications to their homes. Similar to legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. George Latimer (D-N.Y.), this legislation would help older adults age in place by making their homes safer. “We have a responsibility to care for our seniors. This critical legislation allows for seniors to stay in their homes – for many that means homes they love and have been in for decades – and install essential, aging related modifications. Caring for our seniors isn’t just our duty–it is a privilege, and we should treat it as such by passing this bill,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “A safe, accessible place for seniors to live should be a right, not a privilege,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act would help our nation’s older adults age with dignity by assisting with the cost of home modifications that meet their mobility needs. As the top Democrat on the Senate Aging Committee, I am committed to getting this bill passed to remove barriers to accessible housing for older Americans.” “Homeownership should support Americans through every stage of life. The Senior Accessible Housing Tax Credit Act recognizes that simple home modifications can help older adults remain safe, independent, and connected to the communities they call home. By helping offset the cost of accessibility improvements, this legislation gives more seniors the opportunity to age in place with dignity while preserving the stability that homeownership provides. The National Association of REALTORS® is grateful for Senator Alsobrooks’ and Senator Gillibrand’s leadership on this bill and is proud to support this commonsense legislation,” said Shannon McGahn, Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice Presiden… 1 2026-08-04T07:35:49Z 2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-leads-20-colleagues-in-urging-trump-administration-to-use-leverage-to-prevent-further-atrocities-in-sudan Van Hollen Leads 20 Colleagues in Urging Trump Administration to Use Leverage to Prevent Further Atrocities in Sudan 2026-08-03 2026 2026-08 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 20 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in pressing the State Department to use its leverage to prevent further atrocities in Sudan and help bring the war to an end. To do so, the Senators urge the State Department to cease certain U.S. arms sales to external actors like the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which continues to arm the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) in Sudan. The Senators’ letter notes the immediate need for the State Department to take action in light of the impending siege of the city of El Obeid and following the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher last year. Senator Van Hollen was joined in sending this letter by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). “We write with alarm regarding the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) impending siege of the city of El Obeid in Sudan, which threatens a repeat of the mass atrocities and bloodshed that occurred in El Fasher this past October. While we welcome the State Department’s expression of concern about the escalating situation in El Obeid, words are not enough. The United States must use the leverage and influence at our disposal to prevent further atrocities in El Obeid and help bring this brutal war in Sudan to an end. These actions should include ceasing certain U.S. arms sales to external actors that are fueling this war, including the United Arab Emirates, which continues to arm the RSF,” the Senators begin. They continue, “We have already witnessed what happens when the international community fai… 1 2026-08-04T07:35:49Z 2026-08-04T07:37:27Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-warren-and-senators-investigate-rfk-jr-s-unresolved-financial-conflicts-question-whether-his-family-is-profiting-from-bogus-vaccine/ ALSOBROOKS, WARREN, AND SENATORS INVESTIGATE RFK JR.’S UNRESOLVED FINANCIAL CONFLICTS, QUESTION WHETHER HIS FAMILY IS PROFITING FROM BOGUS VACCINE LAWSUITS 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 30, 2026 Text of Letter (PDF) WASHINGTON, DC — As reported in The Hill, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.) opened a new investigation into whether Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s family may be financially benefiting from a $50 million anti-vaccine settlement that his actions as Secretary could have influenced. In June, Merck & Co., Inc. (Merck) announced that the company would pay $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits regarding the use of Gardasil, a safe, effective vaccine that prevents multiple types of cancer. The settlement covers lawsuits for which Secretary Kennedy was listed as the attorney of record and cases represented by Secretary Kennedy’s former employer, Wisner Baum. Secretary Kennedy’s son is currently employed at the same firm. “This settlement appears to reinforce a lucrative and dangerous playbook – litigators with ties to anti-vaccine organizations sue drug companies with scientifically dubious claims and undermine trust in vaccines and America’s public health as a result,” wrote the senators. During his confirmation process last year, Secretary Kennedy revealed he was entitled to — and initially planned to keep — a 10 percent fee from settlements tied to cases he referred to Wisner Baum for the Gardasil lawsuit. “This arrangement was alarming,” said the lawmakers, warning that Secretary Kennedy could influence public perception of Gardasil’s safety and, in turn, the outcome of the lawsuits “by publishing unfounded anti-vaccine information, influencing Merck’s interest in a settlement, or adding unproven injuries to the vaccine injury table.” After significant pressure from lawmakers, Secretary Kennedy agreed to transfer his stake in the Gardasil cases to his son, a move legal experts have called “a loophole” in federal ethics law. Secretary Kennedy refused to take any further steps to divest the Gardasil stake from his family. “Now, it appears that your… 1 2026-07-31T07:49:23Z 2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-votes-yes-again-to-advance-iran-war-powers-resolution-3/ Senator Alsobrooks Votes Yes AGAIN to Advance Iran War Powers Resolution 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 30, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-N.Y.) Iran War Powers Resolution. The resolution was not agreed to 49-50. “For the eleventh time, Republicans have voted against the will of the American people. “This war needs to end, but Republicans continue to enable this President. Grocery prices keep rising, gas is above $4 a gallon, and more American servicemembers have died. “Here is my message to my Republican colleagues: you don’t need to pray for this war to end—vote to end it.” 1 2026-07-31T07:49:23Z 2026-07-31T07:50:48Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/federal-workforce-caucus-co-chairs-file-amicus-brief-defending-civil-service-protections-for-federal-workers Federal Workforce Caucus Co-Chairs File Amicus Brief Defending Civil Service Protections for Federal Workers 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Congressman James R. Walkinshaw (D-Va.-11), and Congressman Steny Hoyer (D-Md.-05), co-chairs of the Federal Workforce Caucus, led 43 Members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in Jackler and Jaroch v. Department of Justice. The brief urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to reverse a Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decision that would weaken longstanding civil-service protections for immigration judges and potentially jeopardize due-process rights across the federal workforce. The filing comes after the Federal Circuit granted an en banc hearing in the case, following an earlier amicus brief led by Senators Van Hollen, Mark Warner (D-Va.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.). The MSPB ruled that the Attorney General has constitutional authority under Article II to remove immigration judges at will, despite protections established by Congress through the Civil Service Reform Act. The brief argues that Congress has the constitutional authority to set protections for federal employees, including notice, an opportunity to respond, and the right to appeal adverse personnel actions. If upheld, the decision could allow agencies to argue that other federal employees deemed “inferior officers” are not entitled to traditional civil-service protections. As the Members write in their brief, “Millions of federal workers would become removable at will—the civil service merit system would functionally cease to exist.” The brief warns that the ruling could undermine the merit-based civil service, expose career public servants to arbitrary removal, and erode Congress’s constitutional authority to govern the federal workforce. The brief was joined by U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.), as well as Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.-At Large), Lloyd Doggett… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-bennet-colleagues-in-demanding-trump-administration-crack-down-on-russian-crypto-sanctions-evasion-network Van Hollen Joins Bennet, Colleagues in Demanding Trump Administration Crack Down on Russian Crypto Sanctions Evasion Network 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chirs Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Senate Finance Committee, and seven colleagues in a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent urging the Trump Administration to crack down on A7 LLC, a Russian state-backed cryptocurrency sanctions evasion network supporting Russia’s unprovoked full-scale war against Ukraine. Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) also signed the letter. “We write to urge the Trump Administration to immediately investigate and address Russia’s ongoing, widespread evasion of U.S. and allied sanctions through the A7 LLC (A7) network. Doing so is crucial to limit the revenue Russian President Vladimir Putin has available to wage his unjustified war against Ukraine, threaten our NATO allies, and help Iran target U.S. troops, according to public reporting,” began the senators. The Russian state-owned bank Promsvyazbank and a Moldovan oligarch convicted of stealing from Moldova’s banking system launched A7 in late 2024. The revenue Moscow accrues through the A7 network – with the A7A5 stablecoin as its backbone – directly supports the Russian military-industrial complex and thus Putin’s war on Ukraine. Even after the United States imposed sanctions on a small number of A7 entities in 2025, the network openly claimed to have over 30 shell companies enabling around 1,500 daily transactions with over 10,000 customers. As of January 2026, the A7A5 stablecoin had reportedly processed over $100 billion in transactions, accounting for nearly 19 percent of the total volume of Russian businesses’ foreign trade operations. “Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has largely stood by and watched the growth of this large-scale evasion enterprise. Under previous … 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-shaheen-call-on-treasury-secretary-bessent-to-explain-inaction-on-long-overdue-harriet-tubman-20-bill-redesign Van Hollen, Shaheen Call on Treasury Secretary Bessent to Explain Inaction on Long Overdue Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Redesign 2026-07-30 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) led eight of their Senate colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of the Treasury to explain why it is no longer planning to redesign the $20 bill to depict Harriet Tubman’s likeness – as indicated in recent comments from Treasury Secretary Bessent – and urging the Department to resume plans for the new bill. The Senators note that the Department has put this long-standing effort on hold while also devoting resources towards circulating multiple coins with President Trump’s likeness and plans for an illegal $250 bill depicting the President. The Senators begin, “We write to express our deep frustration that the Department of the Treasury is ‘not at present’ planning to move forward with the long-standing effort to place Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill. The process to celebrate Tubman through our currency included extensive public engagement and bipartisan recognition of her extraordinary contributions to our nation, but your recent decision ignores that and abandons years of work at Treasury to honor her legacy. We urge you to immediately reconsider and resume plans to create the new bill without further delay.” “While we acknowledge the creation of a new currency note is a multi-year process involving design, counterfeit protection and implementation into our financial system, the administration has released plans for a $250 bill depicting President Trump to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, a currency that would be illegal for the Treasury Department to issue under current law. You also released plans for multiple coins featuring President Trump’s likeness for the semiquincentennial. Meanwhile, a woman has not been featured on modern American currency in over a century and recognition for their contributions to our nation are long overdue. If the administration is actively working on new currency notes, the administration should focus on the long-standing plan to feature Harriet Tubman rather than develop a new design,” th… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-ossoff-colleagues-in-pressuring-trump-administration-to-release-hiv/aids-prevention-funding-to-cdc Van Hollen Joins Ossoff, Colleagues in Pressuring Trump Administration to Release HIV/AIDS Prevention Funding to CDC 2026-07-29 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) and over 10 Senate colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to approve the transfer of $2 billion in funds meant for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to the CDC. This inquiry comes as new internal guidance by the State Department would end the transfer of PEPFAR funds to the CDC. According to former CDC Directors, without this dedicated funding stream, more than 18 CDC outposts could close before the end of the year, reducing the ability for the agency to launch timely and sufficient global health responses to disease outbreaks. Senators Van Hollen and Ossoff are joined by Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.). “The rushed abandonment of a proven and effective structure threatens to increase the risk of future global health pandemics and disease outbreaks,” the Senators wrote. “Countries are struggling to maintain the programs set up by USAID and PEPFAR funding, facing more new infections and more deaths.” “We urge you to immediately rescind any guidance suggesting that State will no longer honor the transfer of $2 billion to CDC and commit to upholding this long-standing transfer that keeps Americans safe,” the Senators continued. The full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Secretary Rubio, We write to you with alarm at the Administration’s cut to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s global HIV/AIDs program. This decision is particularly troubling as these funds allow CDC to implement the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and support CDC’s critical global health operations that have provided the backbone for PEPFAR and other U.S. global health programs for decades.1 The rushed abandonment of a prove… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-markey-schumer-peters-colleagues-in-raising-alarm-about-trumps-threats-to-send-armed-federal-agents-to-polling-sites-to-intimidate-voters-during-november-elections Van Hollen Joins Markey, Schumer, Peters, Colleagues in Raising Alarm About Trump’s Threats to Send Armed Federal Agents to Polling Sites to Intimidate Voters During November Elections 2026-07-28 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and 10 Senate colleagues in writing to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth demanding to know whether the Trump administration plans to deploy armed federal law enforcement officers at polling sites during the November 2026 elections, an escalation of the Administration’s assault on free and fair elections that is clearly meant to intimidate voters. The letter was signed by Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.). Beginning in October 2025, the Democratic National Committee submitted eleven Freedom of Information Act requests seeking records concerning the possible deployment of federal law enforcement officers to polling places, ballot-drop locations, and election offices. During ensuing litigation, ICE first represented that it had located no responsive records. But earlier this month, after its searches were challenged, ICE acknowledged finding more than 11,000 potentially responsive pages and U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it had turned up almost 117,000 records. These belated disclosures reinforce the fear that the Administration is planning a potentially unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional intrusion into the November election. In the letter, the senators wrote, “In May, when President Trump was asked whether he would send the National Guard or ICE to polling places in November, he refused to rule it out, responding: ‘I’d do anything necessary to make sure we have honest elections.’ And earlier this month, President Trump delivered a prime-time address to the nation in which he repeated outlandish falsehoo… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-klobuchar-welch-colleagues-in-raising-concerns-about-usda-rural-development-reorganization Van Hollen Joins Klobuchar, Welch, Colleagues in Raising Concerns About USDA Rural Development Reorganization 2026-07-27 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and 19 of their colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “We write with significant concern regarding the reorganization of the Rural Development mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” wrote the Senators. “Rural communities, small businesses, and families will lose access to important services if the proposed reorganization plan moves forward. Rural Development is a unique division within the Department, supporting agriculture and ensuring that rural communities prosper by administering grants and loans to support rural businesses, providing financial support for rural housing, financing the construction of rural health clinics and daycare centers, and championing critical infrastructure projects for water, electric, or broadband.” “In order for rural communities to benefit from these projects, the Rural Development agency must have the capacity to process applications and disburse funds,” the Senators continued. “Rural Development’s depletion of staff has already left rural America without the support it needs as the prices of gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs are skyrocketing as a result of tariffs and foreign conflicts. Without adequate and expert staff, the money that Congress has appropriated to help rural communities will not reach its intended beneficiaries.” Along with Van Hollen, Klobuchar and Welch, the letter was signed by Senators Angus King (I-Maine), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). … 1 2026-08-01T07:27:26Z 2026-08-01T07:28:22Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-democrats-urge-ferc-to-protect-marylanders-from-rising-electricity-costs-due-to-out-of-state-data-centers Maryland Democrats Urge FERC to Protect Marylanders from Rising Electricity Costs Due to Out-of-State Data Centers 2026-07-27 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, Maryland Congressional Delegation members – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) – are calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to take action to ensure Marylanders are not forced to bear skyrocketing electricity costs due to increasing energy demand from data centers located outside of the state. The lawmakers urged FERC to require PJM Interconnection (PJM) to implement strong protections that would ensure fair energy costs for Marylanders after PJM, the grid operator responsible for coordinating electricity transmission in the region, assigned roughly $2 billion in costs to Maryland ratepayers for infrastructure that is needed primarily to serve out-of-state data centers. The lawmakers’ letter supports a complaint at FERC filed by the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel challenging PJM’s existing transmission cost allocation rules. “As members of the Maryland Congressional Delegation, we write regarding a pressing matter that has the potential to significantly raise energy costs for our constituents. PJM Interconnection LLC’s (PJM) existing transmission cost allocation rules result in the unjust assignment of billions of dollars in costs to Marylanders, contributing to unaffordable electricity bills,” the lawmakers begin. On the rising costs of electricity due to data centers outside of Maryland, the lawmakers write, “Data centers being built outside of Maryland are driving one of the largest transmission expansions in PJM’s history. Across its three most recent regional transmission planning rounds, PJM has advanced $22 billion in projects needed principally to serve data centers. Under PJM’s current cost allocation rules, roughly $2 billion of those costs have been assigned to Maryland ratepayers rather than the data centers that are driving the demand.” “Marylanders are already shouldering the immense burden of skyrock… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-alsobrooks-votes-yes-again-to-advance-iran-war-powers-resolution-2/ Senator Alsobrooks Votes Yes AGAIN on Iran War Powers Resolution 2026-07-23 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 23, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement after voting for Senator Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Md.) Iran War Powers Resolution. The resolution was not agreed to 47-49. “Congress voted in a bipartisan, bicameral way to end this war. The President won’t end the war, prices continue to rise, and more American servicemembers have died. “I have heard from my colleagues across the aisle saying they are praying for an end to this war. I urge them to vote for that too.” 1 2026-07-24T07:30:11Z 2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-puts-forward-war-powers-resolution-to-stop-iran-war Van Hollen Puts Forward War Powers Resolution to Stop Iran War 2026-07-23 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) spoke on the Senate floor urging his Senate colleagues to vote in favor of his war powers resolution, which would require an end to the illegal Iran war that President Trump launched over 140 days ago. A video of the Senator’s remarks is available here, and a transcript is available below: Mr. President, I want to start by thanking Senator Sheehy for his service to our country in our armed forces – and thank every single soldier who serves our country in uniform – and mourn the deaths of every single American service member who has been lost in this war and any other war. I listened carefully to the Senator from Montana. He's right that the Iranian regime doesn't care about what's happening in the United States – doesn't care about politics in the United States. You know what else they don't care about? They don't care about the Constitution of the United States of America. They don't care about that either. But we, we in the Senate, we should care about the Constitution of the United States of America, because the framers of our Constitution deliberately vested the power to declare war in Congress, because they understood the enormous consequences of sending Americans into harm's way. So, if our Republican colleagues have the strength of their convictions, they should bring an authorization to use military force in Iran to this floor. We've not seen that in 140 days. We've seen nothing. If you want to be true to the Constitution of the United States, that's what Republicans would do. And the Iranians don't give a damn about our Constitution. But I would hope that those in this body who've been sworn to uphold it would give a damn about our Constitution. Because the framers understood – they understood that decisions involving war and peace should not rest with any one individual. You can glorify President Trump all you want, but the founders, the founders, those who helped write the Constitution, understood that that power should not vest with one person, whoeve… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-barragan-introduce-three-bills-to-close-gaps-in-dental-coverage/ ALSOBROOKS, BARRAGÁN INTRODUCE THREE BILLS TO CLOSE GAPS IN DENTAL COVERAGE 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 22, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.-44) introduced three bills that will close historical gaps in dental coverage across the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, and Medicare. These bills will ensure that children, low-income adults, and seniors can access necessary dental care without facing the barriers of caps and optional benefits. The Ensuring Kids Have Access to Medically Necessary Dental Care Act strengthens CHIP by banning annual and lifetime dollar limits in children’s dental benefits and requiring wraparound coverage where it is currently optional. The Medicaid Dental Benefit Act of 2026 makes adult dental care a mandatory Medicaid benefit rather than a state-by-state option with full federal funding for the first three years. The Medicare Dental Benefit Act of 2026 would add routine, basic, major, and emergency dental coverage to Medicare Part B, reducing the disparities that leave half of all Medicare beneficiaries without dental coverage today. 18 years ago, a young Marylander named Deamonte Driver died of complications from a tooth infection because his family was kicked off Medicaid and could not afford the care they needed. He was only 12 years old. Senator Cardin worked tirelessly throughout his career to ensure that no child should ever suffer Deamonte’s fate, and Senator Alsobrooks is continuing to carry on that legacy. “No one. No child, adult, or senior should have to choose between affording groceries or being able to have access to dental treatment. I am so proud to be introducing three bills to address this issue and to finally ensure quality, affordable access to dental care for Marylanders – and all Americans. In Maryland, we know all too well that access to dental care is literally a matter of life and death. In 2007, we lost 12-year-old Deamonte Driver because of a toothache. That should have never happened. And while Republicans seem hellbent on kicking as many people off their heal… 1 2026-07-23T07:31:02Z 2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-cramer-introduce-legislation-to-ease-federal-permitting-process-for-transit/ ALSOBROOKS, CRAMER INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EASE FEDERAL PERMITTING PROCESS FOR TRANSIT 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 22, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, introduced the Modal Parity in Permitting Act, legislation that would allow transit and passenger rail project sponsors to acquire ‘real property interest’ and parity during the federal permitting process. Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Nev.-01) and Congressman Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.-08) introduced this bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds may only be used for acquisition of rights-of-way such as rail assignments, guideways, and associated easements, before a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is completed. This limits transit agencies’ ability to secure other property needed for projects like station sites, maintenance facilities, and parking areas. This bill would expand eligibility by allowing FTA funds to be used for a wider range of real property interests, giving transit agencies more flexibility to acquire land and facilities needed to move projects forward. “I am proud to partner with Senator Cramer in introducing the Modal Parity in Permitting Act. This bipartisan bill will allow transit and passenger rail projects to have the same flexibility as highway projects when it comes to securing the property they need while their environmental reviews move forward. It just makes sense, let’s get this done,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “Every time we cut red tape and get the federal government out of the way, infrastructure projects move faster and more efficiently,” said Senator Cramer. “The Modal Parity in Permitting Act removes unnecessary permitting hurdles, allowing local agencies to spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time delivering transportation improvements for their communities. It’s a simple change with a significant impac… 1 2026-07-23T07:31:02Z 2026-07-23T07:32:26Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-presses-supreme-court-to-make-good-on-commitment-to-prevent-abuse-of-prediction-markets-by-justices-staff Van Hollen Presses Supreme Court to Make Good on Commitment to Prevent Abuse of Prediction Markets by Justices, Staff 2026-07-22 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) called on the Supreme Court of the United States to fulfil the commitment Justices Barrett and Kagan made in response to his questioning at the July 14, 2026, Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee hearing requesting that the Court review its codes of conduct to ensure there is a prohibition against participation in prediction markets both for justices and for staff of the Supreme Court, as well as for lower court judges and their staff. In the letter, Senator Van Hollen also requests that the Court announce any resulting changes to ensure public transparency on these policies. Senator Van Hollen begins, “At the July 14, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, I asked Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett if the Court would adopt a prohibition against participation in prediction markets both for justices and for the staff of the Supreme Court. They responded that their understanding is that it is already covered by the ‘prohibition on using information that you know within the court to make financial gain,’ but Justice Kagan also said the Court would ‘willingly take on’ the charge to ‘go back and look for any loopholes.’ I write in the spirit of that commitment and the Supreme Court’s responsibility to avoid both impropriety and the appearance of impropriety to encourage you to take action that will bolster public trust.” “As I noted in my questioning of Justice Kagan and Justice Barrett, the use of prediction markets by judges and judicial personnel can raise significant concerns. These instruments create new opportunities for conflicts of interest if judges or staff make wagers about ongoing litigation or matters that are likely to come before the courts. And I am concerned that prediction markets can compromise the judiciary’s independence from other branches of government were judges or their clerk permitted to place bets on official action from Congress or the Executiv… 1 2026-07-24T07:30:11Z 2026-07-24T07:31:13Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-joins-60-colleagues-in-cosponsoring-legislation-to-hold-purchasers-of-russian-oil-accountable/ ALSOBROOKS JOINS 60+ COLLEAGUES IN COSPONSORING LEGISLATION TO HOLD PURCHASERS OF RUSSIAN OIL ACCOUNTABLE 2026-07-17 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 17, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Darline Graham (R-SC), and over 60 members of the Senate in introducing the Senator Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026, legislation to hold major purchasers of Russian oil and gas accountable for supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss the effort last week and secured an agreement with the White House on Friday, before his death. “Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine has raged on for too long and cost countless innocent lives. This critical legislation will hold the enablers of Putin’s war machine accountable and represents one of the most consequential Congressional efforts to promote peace in Europe. Let’s get this done,” said Alsobrooks. The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD); U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL); U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE); U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO); U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), Chair of the Senate Banking Committee; U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME); U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), Majority Whip; U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA); U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY); U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ); U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC); U… 1 2026-07-18T06:58:50Z 2026-07-18T07:00:34Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-keith-sonderling-is-the-wrong-pick-to-be-labor-sec/ ALSOBROOKS: KEITH SONDERLING IS THE WRONG PICK TO BE LABOR SEC 2026-07-16 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 16, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), questioned Keith Sonderling, nominee for Secretary of Labor. “When we last met and had our last exchange, it was in February, and it was at that time that I asked you a question about whether collective bargaining agreements were legally enforceable. You shared with me that you were unfamiliar with the collective bargaining process, and in fact, went on to say this was basically above your pay grade and outside your area of expertise, and that you would ‘rely on career experts’ to work on those issues. And in the weeks that followed our exchange, I was horrified to see this Administration took successive action and steps to undermine the [collective bargaining agreement]’s and to hurt federal workers, and it started with the Executive Order removing collective bargaining rights for large portions of the federal workforce. It is so disturbing to me and really a horrible twist of fate that we are now faced with your nomination, a person who I have seen aid and abet this President’s protracted campaign against federal workers’ rights,” said Senator Alsobrooks. ### 1 2026-07-17T07:15:58Z 2026-07-17T07:17:05Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-russell-vought-has-traumatized-our-civil-servants-and-destroyed-the-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/ ALSOBROOKS: RUSSELL VOUGHT HAS TRAUMATIZED OUR CIVIL SERVANTS AND DESTROYED THE CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU 2026-07-16 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 16, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, questioned Russell Vought, Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) during the hearing “The CFPB Semi-Annual Report: A New Day at the CFPB Through Reform.” “The 160,000 federal employees in my state – these are the patriots of our country who have worked for decades. They did not care whether the president is a Democrat or Republican. They are here to serve the American people, and they will not forget how they were treated, and neither will I. In fact, one Marylander who lost his federal job said the following, ‘I can’t tell you how terrifying it is to be a parent of two children faced with the thought that you cannot provide for your family.’ So, I ask you, is that the kind of trauma you were talking about? Did you intend to sow terror for parents who need to provide for their families?” said Senator Alsobrooks. ### 1 2026-07-17T07:15:58Z 2026-07-17T07:17:05Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-pettersen-lead-lawmakers-in-introducing-legislation-to-bring-transparency-to-corporate-abuse-of-tax-havens-job-offshoring Van Hollen, Pettersen Lead Lawmakers in Introducing Legislation to Bring Transparency to Corporate Abuse of Tax Havens, Job Offshoring 2026-07-16 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.-07) led their colleagues in reintroducing the Disclosure of Tax Havens and Offshoring Act, legislation to provide transparency around corporations’ use of tax havens and incentives to offshore jobs. This bill would require public companies to disclose their financial reporting on a country-by-country basis. Ensuring public access to this information would both provide investors the tools they need to understand the tax structures and risks of the businesses in which they invest and give Americans insight into the extent to which the tax system is incentivizing the outsourcing of American jobs or enabling corporations to dodge U.S. taxes. Senator Van Hollen and Representative Pettersen were joined in introducing this legislation by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). “While working Americans struggle to get by, large corporations continue to ship jobs overseas and take advantage of tax loopholes to hide their profits. This bill will provide critical transparency to both the American public and investors as to how these corporations abuse our broken tax system and the risks they are taking in the use of offshore tax havens. We must stand up for American workers, end incentives for big corporations to offshore jobs, and unrig our broken corporate tax code. Sunlight is the best disinfectant – shining a light on this issue is the first step,” said Senator Van Hollen. “As everyday families struggle to find jobs and pay for basic necessities, corporations are dodging taxes by shifting profits outside the country and making the rest of us pay. I'm proud to support this legislation that will require companies to disclose foreign operations, and ensure cor… 1 2026-07-17T07:15:58Z 2026-07-17T07:17:05Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-votes-to-advance-water-resources-development-act-of-2026/ ALSOBROOKS VOTES TO ADVANCE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026 2026-07-15 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 15, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works’ (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, attended the EPW’s Committee markup of the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. After the markup, Senator Alsobrooks voted “yes” along with Committee colleagues to unanimously advance the Water Resources Development Act of 2026. WATCH ALSOBROOKS’ FULL QUESTIONING HERE “Every family, every business, every school, and every community depends on safe, abundant, reliable water—and on the partnerships that cross municipal lines and unite rural and urban communities to manage flood risk and harness the economic opportunities afforded to us by our waterways. In Maryland—whether you’re from the Eastern Shore or Mountain Maryland, Baltimore or the suburbs, we are all connected by the same rivers, the same streams, and the Chesapeake Bay,” said Senator Alsobrooks. Senator Alsobrooks is proud of the real results for Maryland included in this legislation: Environmental Infrastructure Implementation Amends Section 219, which authorizes the Army Corps to assist non-federal partners with local environmental infrastructure and water-related projects, to allow non-federal interests to lead design and construction and receive reimbursement for the federal share of costs, which will streamline implementation and lower costs. Potomac River Basin Water Supply Study Much of Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Washington, DC, and parts of Northern Virginia rely on the Potomac River for drinking water. If the river were contaminated by a chemical spill, major infrastructure failure, or other emergency, there is only a limited amount of stored treated water available. The Army Corps has noted that some systems have only 24 to 48 hours of supply if the Potomac became unusable. This study will evaluate long-term and large-scale secondary water supply options in the Potomac River Basin, primarily for Montgomery County, Pr… 1 2026-07-16T07:21:44Z 2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-lujan-beyer-schrier-van-drew-reintroduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-to-help-reduce-medical-misdiagnosis Van Hollen, Luján, Beyer, Schrier, Van Drew Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Reduce Medical Misdiagnosis 2026-07-15 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-Va.), Kim Schrier (D-Wash), and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) announced their reintroduction of the Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act – bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address the alarming rate of medical diagnostic error in our country. The lawmakers’ legislation aims to prevent and mitigate the devastating impacts these errors can have, including misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, permanent disability, and death. Recent research published in March 2025 estimates that across health care settings, over 900,000 Americans a year suffer permanent disability or death because of diagnostic error. These findings build on a 2015 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that concluded most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, and it’s estimated that 80% of all harm caused by diagnostic error is preventable. This legislation would create an Interagency Council on Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, as well as a new grant program for the establishment and maintenance of Research Centers of Diagnostic Excellence – such as the Armstrong Institute Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins – that advance research and progress in diagnostic quality, safety, and health care value. “Far too many Americans have experienced the loss, pain, and hardship that come with a misdiagnosed medical condition – and for many, these errors cause permanent disability or death. Medical diagnostic errors not only impact patients’ lives – they also cost patients and our nation billions of dollars each year. This legislation will invest in efforts to prevent and reduce diagnostic errors, giving medical experts, patients, and their families the research and resources they need to better treat patients and save lives,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Every year, millions of Americans suffer the consequences of diagnostic erro… 1 2026-07-16T07:21:44Z 2026-07-16T07:23:13Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-murphy-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-block-trump-from-taking-qatari-jet-with-him-when-he-leaves-office Van Hollen Joins Murphy, Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Block Trump from Taking Qatari Jet with Him When He Leaves Office 2026-07-15 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), in introducing legislation to block President Trump from taking the luxury jumbo jet gifted by the Qatari government with him for his own personal use after he leaves office. The Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act would bar Trump from transferring the jet away from the U.S. Air Force to his personal control – in line with the brazenly corrupt plan he, his administration, and his family cling to. The bill would also require an independent GAO review of the cost of the jet’s retrofit and the potential conflicts of interest and national security impacts of the president accepting a $400 million plane from a foreign country. “We cannot allow this brazen corruption to stand. American foreign policy decisions must be made based on the interests of our national security – not based on the highest bidder. Since the President wouldn’t reject the gift of a $400 million luxury jet, Congress must step in and prohibit Trump from transferring the jet away from the U.S. Air Force to his own personal control,” said Senator Van Hollen. “It’s hard to decide what’s worse: accepting a $400 million bribe from a foreign government or spending a billion dollars in American taxpayer money to put gold plating on that bribe,” said Senator Murphy. “For Donald Trump, it’s not enough to sell our national security to enrich himself. He also has to steal from American taxpayers.” “Jumbo jet, jumbo corruption,” said Senator Markey. “So let’s 86 this 747 transfer to Trump after he leaves office, and pass the Luxury Jet Ethics and Transparency Act.” "This President and his family are the most corrupt we’ve ever seen in the White House. And we know he will be corrupt as the day is long—planes, pardons, falsifying business records, and the list goes on. It is my resp… 1 2026-08-05T07:37:37Z 2026-08-05T07:38:44Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-joins-epw-committee-leadership-in-introducing-the-water-resources-development-act-of-2026/ ALSOBROOKS JOINS EPW COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP IN INTRODUCING THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2026 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 14, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, joined U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the EPW Committee, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee, Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chairman of the EPW Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the EPW Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife Subcommittee in introducing the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026). The Water Resources Development Act is biennial legislation that authorizes flood risk management, navigation, and ecosystem restoration projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). WRDA 2026 also reauthorizes the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs, including the State Revolving Funds (SRFs). Senator Alsobrooks is proud of the real results for Maryland included in this legislation: Environmental Infrastructure Implementation Amends Section 219, which authorizes the Army Corps to assist non-federal partners with local environmental infrastructure and water-related projects, to allow non-federal interests to lead design and construction and receive reimbursement for the federal share of costs, which will streamline implementation and lower costs. Potomac River Basin Water Supply Study Much of Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Washington, DC, and parts of Northern Virginia rely on the Potomac River for drinking water. If the river were contaminated by a chemical spill, major infrastructure failure, or other emergency, there is only a limited amount of stored treated water available. The Army Corps has noted that some systems have only 24 to 48 hours of supply if the Potomac became unusable. This study will evaluate long-term and large-scale secondary water supply options in the Potomac River Basin, primarily for Montgomery County, Prince George… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-to-vote-no-on-advancing-2027-ndaa/ ALSOBROOKS TO VOTE NO ON ADVANCING 2027 NDAA 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 14, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) released the following statement ahead of voting “No” on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. “Maryland is home to thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and civilians who work every day to protect our nation’s national security. I am proud of the wins I secured in this legislation for them and their service to this nation. However, I cannot overlook that this bill authorizes over $1 trillion, which will continue to enable this President to take America deeper into a war with Iran that Congress has voted in a bipartisan and bicameral way to end. This war continues to rage on against the will of Congress and the American People. It remains clear this President has no plan to get us out of this war. All the while, hardworking Americans are paying for it at the gas pump and at their grocery stores. “I am voting no on the National Defense Authorization Act today. War is always paid for by hardworking Americans. We cannot afford this.” ### 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/maryland-democrats-urge-omb-to-rescind-rule-politicizing-federal-grant-decision-making Maryland Democrats Urge OMB to Rescind Rule Politicizing Federal Grant Decision-Making 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Maryland Congressional Delegation members – U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, Glenn Ivey, Sarah Elfreth, April McClain Delaney, and Johnny Olszewski (all D-Md.) – are calling out the Trump Administration’s attempts to undermine and politicize the federal grant-making process. In a letter to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, the lawmakers press OMB to rescind a new proposed rule that would overhaul the grantmaking and cooperative agreement processes across the entire federal government, centralizing power within OMB, reducing transparency and accountability, undermining Congress, and clearing the path for the Trump Administration to continue weaponizing and politicizing the federal grantmaking process. “We write to express strong opposition to the Office of Management and Budget’s sweeping proposed “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” rule that would completely overhaul and politicize the grantmaking and cooperative agreement processes across the entire federal government,” the lawmakers begin. They go on to stress the importance of federal grants, noting, “Across the state, federal investment supports research into our ocean and waterways as well as our air, crops, livestock and soil. Federal grants support advancements in health and medicine including research into the treatment of diseases such as pediatric cancer and sickle cell disease and drive the development of new technologies that will keep Americans healthy. Grant-funded childcare through Head Start and Early Head Start serves families from the Eastern Shore to Garrett County. These dollars power cutting-edge developments in space technology, satellites, AI, and quantum computing. Federal funds also allow organizations to support victims of sexual assault, violence, and other crimes. The proposed Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance represents a threat to every one of those efforts to better American lives, strengthen our e… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-highlight-2-million-in-federal-funding-to-support-veteran-owned-small-businesses Van Hollen, Alsobrooks Highlight $2 Million in Federal Funding to Support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (both D-Md.) joined the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) at their annual INTERNATIONAL training program to present the organization and leaders from the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation (MCCCF) with a $2,000,000 federal investment to expand VIP and provide more resources to veteran-owned small businesses in Maryland and across the country. The Senators fought to secure this investment in Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations. “We can never fully repay our veterans for their sacrifice in serving our country. But we have a duty to support them when they return home – and that includes ensuring they have every opportunity to succeed. That’s why we fought to secure this $2 million in federal funds to build on our investments over the years and continue expanding the Veteran Institute for Procurement’s small-business and workforce training programs. I’ve been proud to partner with VIP to support their critical work over the years, and with these funds, the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation and VIP will continue to support veteran entrepreneurs and help veteran-owned small businesses continue to grow,” said U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “We have an obligation to do more than say thank you to those who served our country. We must ensure veterans have the health care they need, housing that is affordable and safe, and opportunities to generate wealth and truly thrive. I am proud to have partnered with Senator Van Hollen to secure $2 million to support veteran-owned businesses and veteran entrepreneurs. Small businesses are the backbone of Maryland and our nation. Veteran-owned small businesses help fuel our economy while supporting those who served,” said Senator Angela Alsobrooks. VIP delivers training programs that support small businesses owned by veterans – including those with service-connected disabilities – and help them secure federal small business contracts, pursue entrepreneursh… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-markey-garcia-fitzpatrick-in-reintroducing-legislation-to-strengthen-supports-for-airport-service-workers Van Hollen Joins Markey, García, Fitzpatrick in Reintroducing Legislation to Strengthen Supports for Airport Service Workers 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and and Representatives Chuy García (D-Ill.-04) and Brian Fitzpatrick (D-Pa.-01) in reintroducing the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation that would improve wages and working conditions for airport service workers. The legislation would also support working families and help stabilize the air travel industry as airlines pocket record profits while airport service workers remain stuck at minimum wage. “Our airports – and the workers that keep them running – are critical to our economy, moving millions of people and goods throughout our country every day. It’s past time these workers see the pay, benefits, and working conditions that they deserve. I am proud to fight for the Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, legislation to provide improved wages, benefits, and labor standards to this vital workforce,” said Senator Van Hollen. “These workers serve through extreme temperatures, holiday travel surges, and even pandemics — yet too many still struggle with low pay, unaffordable care, and rising costs,” said Senator Markey. “Because airports are the gateway to the world for travelers, they must also be the gateway to stable, middle-class jobs for workers. I am proud to partner with Congressmen Garcia and Fitzpatrick to lead this bipartisan, pro-worker legislation.” “America’s airports support millions of jobs and move hundreds of millions of travelers each year. While U.S. airlines generated $6 billion in profit last year, airport frontline workers, who are predominantly Latino, Black and immigrant, are barely making ends meet. In fact 7 per cent of them live under the poverty level,” said Congressman Chuy García. “The Good Jobs for Good Airports Act, seeks to ensure airport workers, who make our air travel possible, get the dignity and compensation they deserve for their hard work.” “Airport service workers are entrusted every day with the safety, order, and reliability of one of the most complex transportation systems in the wor… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-murray-call-out-blanche-for-failing-to-meet-with-epstein-survivors-press-him-to-make-good-on-his-commitment Van Hollen, Murray Call Out Blanche for Failing to Meet with Epstein Survivors, Press Him to Make Good on His Commitment 2026-07-14 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS), and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on Acting United States Attorney General Todd Blanche to fulfill the commitment he made at the May 19, 2026, CJS Appropriations hearing to meet with Epstein survivors. The Senators’ letter comes nearly two months after Acting AG Blanche committed to meet with the survivors in response to the Senators’ questioning at the hearing and nearly seven months after the first tranche of Epstein files were released by DOJ in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Despite repeated attempts from the Senators’ offices to facilitate a meeting, Blanche has still not done so. The senators begin, “At the May 19, 2026, hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, we asked whether you would meet with Epstein survivors if we connected you with them. You responded, ‘Absolutely.’ It has been nearly two months since then, and even though we provided the Department of Justice (the Department) with the point of contact for the Epstein survivors—and have followed up on this request multiple times—the survivors have not received the promised outreach.” “Recently, reporting revealed that you were present at several meetings last summer in the White House Situation Room with the President’s closest advisors, confirming that the White House and the Department have been more interested in minimizing damage to the President relating to his personal friendship with Jeffrey Epstein than providing transparency to survivors and holding accountable those who may be implicated in Epstein’s crimes,” they note. “Your responsibility as Acting Attorney General is to pursue justice, not to shield the President. We therefore expect a response no later than July 28, 2026, confirming a date for the meeting with survivors you committed… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-mcclain-delaney-announce-over-800000-for-infrastructure-workforce-development-in-washington-allegany-counties Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, McClain Delaney Announce Over $800,000 for Infrastructure, Workforce Development in Washington, Allegany Counties 2026-07-13 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks and Congresswoman April McClain Delaney (all D-Md.) announced $802,731 in federal funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for infrastructure and workforce development in Washington and Allegany Counties. These investments will support water infrastructure upgrades, improve the Evergreen Heritage Center, and expand job training opportunities for local students. “From upgrading water infrastructure and expanding access to our natural resources to creating more workforce training opportunities for good-paying jobs, these investments will directly support Western Maryland communities and contribute to Mountain Maryland’s economy and growth,” said Senator Van Hollen. “Western Maryland has so much to offer our state and our entire nation, that’s why it is so critical that we improve our infrastructure, make sure young people have access to apprenticeship and trade programs, and maintain all the recreation opportunities Mountain Maryland has to offer – fueling our tourism economy,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “When we invest in our communities, we invest in our people. I'm committed to bringing federal resources home to Western Maryland to help lower costs and expand opportunity. These investments will modernize critical infrastructure, strengthen workforce development, and support local organizations that make our communities stronger. I'm proud to work alongside Senators Van Hollen and Alsobrooks to ensure Western Maryland receives the federal support it deserves,” said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. The federal grants have been awarded as follows: $577,000 to the Town of Keedysville to replace approximately 2,600 linear feet of aging ductile iron water lines in the Bedrock and Coffman Farms neighborhoods with high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lines. The water infrastructure upgrades will provide improved service to 129 businesses and 1,826 households connected to the system. $197,331 to Hagerstown Community College (HCC) to expand apprentice… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-gillibrand-colleagues-in-demanding-pentagon-release-long-awaited-report-on-us-bombing-of-iranian-elementary-school Van Hollen Joins Gillibrand, Colleagues in Demanding Pentagon Release Long-Awaited Report on U.S. Bombing of Iranian Elementary School 2026-07-13 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and 23 of their Senate colleagues in continuing to demand answers from the Department of Defense (DoD) over the U.S.’ bombing of an Iranian elementary school in February. The strike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab, which reportedly killed approximately 120 children and at least 175 people in total, represented the worst civilian casualty incident caused by the U.S. military in decades. In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper, the senators called for the swift completion and release of the Pentagon’s investigation into the school strike, which was reportedly submitted in April, but remains under review by senior military officials. They also requested that the Pentagon provide Congress with a comprehensive plan to ensure that this type of incident does not happen again. “More than four months after the strike, and after the reported submission of the investigation in April, Congress and the American people still have not received the Department’s investigation and findings,” the senators wrote. “There is no justification for withholding an unclassified accounting of what happened, what went wrong, and what the Department is doing to prevent recurrence.” In early March, Reuters first reported that U.S. military investigators believed U.S. forces were likely responsible for the Minab strike. Days later, Pentagon officials reportedly concluded through their preliminary investigation that a U.S. Tomahawk missile had struck the school. Investigators have also reportedly found that multiple failures led the school to be targeted in error, including missed 2019 remarks by an intelligence analyst indicating that the site had changed from a naval facility to a school. The analyst had entered the remarks into a digital system that was not connected to the authoritative targeting database, and officials planning the attack used imagery that ha… 1 2026-07-15T07:12:08Z 2026-07-15T07:13:45Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-statement-on-passing-of-senator-lindsey-graham Van Hollen Statement on Passing of Senator Lindsey Graham 2026-07-12 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) released the following statement on the passing of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham. “I’m deeply saddened by Senator Lindsey Graham’s sudden passing. While Lindsey and I disagreed on many, many things, we always had an open line of communication and honest conversation. Whenever possible, we worked together to find common ground, including our joint efforts to support our Syrian Kurdish partners and the SDF, who have been our main allies in the fight against ISIS. “My heart goes out to Lindsey’s loved ones during this difficult time.” 1 2026-07-14T07:08:55Z 2026-07-14T07:10:52Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-road-to-housing-becomes-law/ ALSOBROOKS: ROAD TO HOUSING BECOMES LAW 2026-07-11 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, released the following statement after the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act officially became law, without the President’s signature. “Marylanders across our state tell me the same thing: housing costs too much. “At midnight, the ROAD to Housing Act became law without President Trump’s signature. His priorities are clear – he doesn’t care to lower the cost of housing. He only cares about himself and his billionaire friends. What a shame. “I am proud I worked across the aisle with colleagues in the Senate to ensure this legislation became law – the most comprehensive housing legislation in over 30 years. This bill will lower costs, cut red tape, increase the housing supply, and help make the dream of homeownership more affordable.” ### 1 2026-07-12T07:28:31Z 2026-07-12T07:30:18Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-breaks-ground-on-new-springhill-lake-elementary-school-built-through-p3-she-spearheaded/ ALSOBROOKS BREAKS GROUND ON NEW SPRINGHILL LAKE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILT THROUGH P3 SHE SPEARHEADED 2026-07-09 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 9, 2026 GREENBELT, MD – Today, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy to break ground on the new 103,000-square-foot Springhill Lake Elementary School, which will accommodate up to 850 prekindergarten through 5th grade students. When she served as County Executive of Prince George’s County, Senator Alsobrooks worked with former PGCPS CEO Dr. Monica Goldson to create a Public Private Partnership (P3) school construction model that they worked to pass through the Maryland General Assembly. Under the continued guidance and leadership of the Progressive Education Partners (PEP), county students will see a total of 14 new P3 schools in 6 years – 18 schools in all including traditional school construction. Senator Alsobrooks released the following statement following the groundbreaking: “Our communities can tell what you value by where you invest your resources. As County Executive, I learned Prince George’s County faced an $8.5 billion school construction backlog. The truth is – it’s expensive to build and maintain schools. Coming up with a plan would take vision. It would require a willingness to act boldly because the need was immediate. And because these kinds of projects take a lot of time – even without unexpected challenges like a global pandemic – making it to this point would take patience and a commitment to the process even when success wasn’t immediately visible. This was a bold move – an innovative public-private model that had never before been done at this level for any school system. I am so proud of this work and know we need to continue working together, in innovative ways, to deliver for our children. This is a model that worked and should be used across the nation.” ### 1 2026-07-10T08:20:04Z 2026-07-10T08:21:18Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-alsobrooks-warner-kaine-press-administration-for-answers-on-trumps-takeover-of-dc-golf-courses Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Warner, Kaine Press Administration for Answers on Trump’s Takeover of DC Golf Courses 2026-07-09 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), joined by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.), pressed the Trump Administration for detailed answers to a series of questions on the Department of the Interior’s plans for East Potomac Park redevelopment, citing concerns about impacts on public access and affordability, historic preservation, misuse of taxpayer funds, and environmental and public health. The Senator’s letter comes after public reporting and the Administration’s social media announcements of new plans for the park – which have yet to be detailed to the public – and follows up on a previous unanswered letter from the Senators earlier this year. “We write to follow up on our letter from January 26, 2026 that raised serious concerns regarding the Administration’s termination of the lease held by the National Links Trust (NLT) for operation of East Potomac Golf Links, Langston Golf Course, and Rock Creek Park Golf Course. More than five months have passed since this letter was sent to you, and we have yet to receive a response. At an April Senate Appropriations hearing, Secretary Burgum acknowledged that he had not seen the letter, but assured Senator Van Hollen that the Department would respond. In the interim, the Administration has continued to advance plans for these courses, including Secretary Burgum's announcement on social media of a renovation design by Fazio Design for East Potomac Golf Links, without any disclosure to the public or to Congress of the scope, cost, or basis on which that engagement was awarded. The absence of any reply is itself troubling, and recent developments have made our concerns considerably more urgent,” the Senators begin. On the National Park Service’s plans for East Potomac redevelopment and the lack of transparency, the Senators wrote, “the only detail provided was a low-resolution image of the proposed course, leaving the public and Congress entirely in the dark about the scope of the redevelopment, including to what extent rede… 1 2026-07-10T08:20:04Z 2026-07-10T08:21:18Z
https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/alsobrooks-schrier-demand-action-on-infant-mortality-due-to-rising-rate-of-vitamin-k-refusal/ ALSOBROOKS, SCHRIER DEMAND ACTION ON INFANT MORTALITY DUE TO RISING RATE OF VITAMIN K REFUSAL 2026-07-08 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Angela D. Alsobrooks A000382 www.alsobrooks.senate.gov alsobrooks https://www.alsobrooks.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ scraper July 8, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC – As reported today in the New York Times, Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier (D-Wash.-08) demanded immediate action to address a growing and preventable public health crisis: the rising rate of vitamin K refusal at birth and resulting vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) among newborns in a letter to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. “RFK Jr. has spewed lies and dangerous rhetoric about vaccines, and now we are seeing the devastating consequences. Newborns are dying because their parents are refusing to give them a shot of vitamin K, an essential nutrient. We need leadership and action right now. Rep. Schrier and I are calling on the CDC to monitor and understand the burden of vitamin K refusal rates, and the related deaths – and then to make that information publicly available. This is objective information that the public deserves to see,” said Senator Alsobrooks. “The vaccine misinformation and confusion that RFK Jr. has championed for years has now created a ‘spillover effect’ that is causing parents to refuse the vitamin K shot and other routine care, putting their babies at risk of life-threatening hemorrhage,” said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. “As a pediatrician and member of Congress, I am focused on doing all I can to hold RFK Jr. accountable for every preventable death and illness of our nation’s children. That is why I am proud to join Senator Alsobrooks in this effort to demand the CDC follow and publicly release data on the burden of vitamin K refusal rates.” “More than 60 years ago, scientists discovered that a simple injection of vitamin K administered shortly after childbirth could protect newborn babies from potentially deadly bleeding disorders. This was a game changer and is why the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended a vitamin K injection as part of a newborn “safety bundle” since the 1960s. But false and misleading claims have led to increased rates of refusal, putting the youn… 1 2026-07-09T08:24:13Z 2026-07-09T08:26:05Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/trumps-luxury-jet-corruption-van-hollen-joins-murphy-senate-democrats-in-demanding-answers-on-misuse-of-federal-resources-after-rushed-costly-retrofit-job Trump’s Luxury Jet Corruption: Van Hollen Joins Murphy, Senate Democrats in Demanding Answers on Misuse of Federal Resources After Rushed, Costly Retrofit Job 2026-07-07 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, and eleven of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, and Christopher Kubasik, CEO of L3Harris, demanding transparency into the taxpayer-funded modification of the $400-million luxury jet gifted to President Trump by the government of Qatar. Since Trump announced the gift in May 2025, the Trump administration has refused to provide Congress with basic details about the costs to taxpayers, national security risks, diversion of federal resources, and questionable decision-making process associated with sprinting to upgrade President Trump’s new luxury plane. In the letter, Van Hollen and Murphy, along with U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), note that available public reporting indicates the Trump administration dedicated as much as $1 billion dollars to rushing the sensitive Air Force One modification process, with hundreds working around the clock to condense a yearslong process into just ten months. The Senators’ letter demands answers on this irresponsible use of federal resources. “Americans deserve answers on how the administration has decided to spend their taxpayer dollars and assume new national security risks with the VC-25B Bridge aircraft and the rushed retrofit program contracted to L3Harris – all in service to President Trump’s interest in having a pretty, luxurious plane for himself,” the Senators wrote. The Senators called out the Trump administration for withholding information from Congress, preventing oversight of the luxury jet and its upgrade program: “For over a year, the administration has stonewalled congressional requests for information about… 1 2026-07-10T08:20:04Z 2026-07-10T08:21:18Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-joins-hickenlooper-colleagues-in-urging-white-house-to-rescind-political-rule-that-hurts-american-science-research Van Hollen Joins Hickenlooper, Colleagues in Urging White House to Rescind Political Rule That Hurts American Science, Research 2026-07-07 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator John Hickenlooper and 9 of thier Senate colleagues in submitting public comment to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought to demand OMB rescind a proposed rule, broadly titled “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” that could alter how nearly all federal agencies administer grants and financial agreements. The proposed change would give more political control over these awards by the White House, which could enable corruption, undermine U.S. scientific investments and competitiveness, and block funding for critical life-saving research and collaboration. “The proposed changes solidify federal grant-making as an unprecedented partisan power-grab that eliminates transparency of how taxpayer dollars are spent. This rule would derail American innovation and competitiveness at the local and national levels, kill good-paying American jobs, drive up costs for families, and halt essential projects in local communities,” wrote the senators. “Instead of supporting data-driven investments that pay dividends for the American people, this guidance facilitates partisan ideals and cronyism, leaving Americans in the dark.” The senators continued: “We share the goals of improved transparency, accountability, and oversight; clarification of regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden–all in pursuit of continuing America’s global leadership in science and innovation. However, these regulations would act in opposition to these goals. They would undermine our country’s competitiveness, erode our scientific ecosystem, increase unwanted bureaucracy, enable corruption, and perpetuate uncertainty across our local communities. We strongly urge you to withdraw this proposed rule.” OMB has proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing how federal agencies award and administer grants and cooperative agreements. These are the primary mechanisms through which the country funds basic research, applied science, and scientific workforce de… 1 2026-07-10T08:20:04Z 2026-07-10T08:21:18Z
https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-warren-wyden-lofgren-lead-new-probe-into-cantor-fitzgerald-usar-after-16-billion-trump-administration-deal Van Hollen, Warren, Wyden, Lofgren Lead New Probe Into Cantor Fitzgerald, USAR After $1.6 Billion Trump Administration Deal 2026-07-07 2026 2026-07 Democrat Senate MD Chris Van Hollen V000128 www.vanhollen.senate.gov vanhollen https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases scraper U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Ranking Member on the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, and Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, pressed Cantor Fitzgerald (Cantor) — led by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s sons — and USA Rare Earth (USAR) on ethics concerns following their recent $1.6 billion agreement with the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce). USAR’s reported engagement with Secretary Lutnick and financial arrangement with Cantor in conjunction with the Commerce deal — an agreement that potentially resulted in a multi-million-dollar payout to a firm led by the Secretary’s sons — raises glaring red flags. “It is imperative your compan(ies) provide complete transparency about the substantive conflict of interest concerns raised by the circumstances of this investment,” wrote the lawmakers. In January 2026, USAR and Commerce announced a tentative $1.6 billion deal in which the federal government agreed to take a 10% stake in USAR. To close the deal, USAR raised $1.5 billion in a private offering for the company’s stock and selected Cantor, Secretary Lutnick’s former financial firm, as the deal’s placement agent. Cantor is currently led by Secretary Lutnick’s son, Brandon Lutnick. Secretary Lutnick appears to have played a key role in securing the lucrative deal. USAR’s CEO attested to Secretary Lutnick’s decisive and personal involvement after a meeting in November, describing how he opened doors to influential agency staff that manage billions in CHIPS Act funding and officials at other federal agencies. The lawmakers sounded the alarm on potential bribery concerns surrounding the deal, both in relation to Secretary Lutnick and company officials. “The circumstances around how this deal came together r… 1 2026-07-10T08:20:04Z 2026-07-10T08:21:18Z

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   [source] TEXT,
   [date_source] TEXT,
   [text] TEXT,
   [has_text] INTEGER,
   [collected_at] TEXT,
   [updated_at] TEXT
);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_date]
    ON [releases] ([date]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_year]
    ON [releases] ([year]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_party]
    ON [releases] ([party]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_chamber]
    ON [releases] ([chamber]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_state]
    ON [releases] ([state]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_bioguide_id]
    ON [releases] ([bioguide_id]);
CREATE INDEX [idx_releases_has_text]
    ON [releases] ([has_text]);
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