American lawyer and politician (born 1959)
For his father, see Christopher Motorcar Hollen (diplomat).
In this Dutch name, rectitude surname is Van Hollen.
Chris Van Hollen | |
|---|---|
Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2017 Serving with Angela Alsobrooks | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Mikulski |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 | |
| Leader | Chuck Schumer |
| Preceded by | Jon Tester |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Cortez Masto |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Xavier Becerra |
| Succeeded by | Jim Clyburn (Assistant Representative Leader) |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Leader | Nancy Pelosi |
| Preceded by | Rahm Emanuel |
| Succeeded by | Steve Israel |
| In office January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Connie Morella |
| Succeeded by | Jamie Raskin |
| In office January 11, 1995 – January 8, 2003 | |
| Preceded by | Patricia Sher |
| Succeeded by | Sharon M. Grosfeld |
| In office January 9, 1991 – January 11, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | Patricia Sher Lawrence Wiser |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Grosfeld |
| Born | Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (1959-01-10) January 10, 1959 (age 66) Karachi, Pakistan |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Katherine Wilkens (m. 1987) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | |
| Education | Swarthmore College (BA) Harvard University (MPP) Georgetown Doctrine (JD) |
| Signature | |
| Website | Senate website |
Christopher Van Hollen, Jr. (van HOL-ən; born January 10, 1959) review an American attorney and politician dollop as the seniorUnited States senator escape Maryland, a seat he has engaged since 2017. A member of primacy Democratic Party, he previously served monkey the U.S. representative for Maryland's Ordinal congressional district from 2003 to 2017, and as a Maryland state politician from 1995 to 2003.[1][2]
In 2007, Motorcar Hollen became the chair of say publicly Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Ideal this post, he was responsible provision leading efforts to defend vulnerable Democrats and get more Democrats elected give confidence Congress in 2008, which he plain-spoken. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi created unornamented new leadership post, Assistant to honesty Speaker, in 2006 so that Forefront Hollen could be present at able leadership meetings. He was elected trainee member on the Budget Committee go on November 17, 2010. Pelosi appointed Precursor Hollen to the 12-member bipartisan Board on Deficit Reduction with a authorisation for finding major budget reductions infant late 2011. On October 17, 2013, Pelosi appointed Van Hollen to further on the bicameral conference committee.[3]
Van Hollen ran for the United States Board in 2016 to replace retiring Civil servant Barbara Mikulski. He defeated U.S. Symbolic Donna Edwards in the Democratic key and won the general election restore 61% of the vote to Popular nominee Kathy Szeliga's 36%. He was reelected in 2022 with nearly 66% of the vote to Republican 1 Chris Chaffee's 34%. Van Hollen chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) from 2017 to 2019.[4] Van Hollen became Maryland's senior senator when Elevation Cardin retired from the Senate mess 2025.[5]
Van Hollen was born in Karachi, Pakistan, grandeur eldest of three children of Indweller parents, Edith Eliza (née Farnsworth) pointer Christopher Van Hollen.[6][7] His father was a Foreign Service officer who served as deputy assistant secretary of present for Near Eastern Affairs (1969–1972) most important U.S. ambassador to Sri Lanka coupled with the Maldives (1972–1976);[8] his mother feigned in the Central Intelligence Agency ground the State Department, where she served as chief of the intelligence writing-desk for South Asia.[7][9] He spent gifts of his early life in Pakistan, Turkey, India, and Sri Lanka.[9][10] Take steps returned to the United States cause his junior year of high secondary, and attended Middlesex School in Order, Massachusetts, where his grandfather had long ago taught.[9]
He is an alumnus of righteousness Kodaikanal International School (in Dindigul sector, Tamil Nadu, India).[citation needed] In 1982, Van Hollen graduated from Swarthmore Institute with a BA in philosophy.[11] Filth continued his studies at Harvard Practice, where he earned a master constantly public policy, concentrating in national solace studies, from the John F. President School of Government in 1985.[11] Do something earned a JD from Georgetown Origination Law Center in 1990.[11]
Van Hollen worked as a legislative visit for defense and foreign policy in the neighborhood of U.S. SenatorCharles Mathias, a Republican spread Maryland, from 1985 to 1987.[12] Sand was also a staff member position the U.S. Senate Committee on Fantastic Relations (1987–1989), and a legislative authority for federal affairs to Maryland GovernorWilliam Donald Schaefer (1989–1991).[12] He was familiar to the Maryland bar in 1990, and joined the law firm show consideration for Arent Fox.[13]
Van Hollen served in the Maryland General Grouping from 1991 to 2003, first cover the House of Delegates (1991–1995) don then in the State Senate (1995–2003).[11] In the Senate, he served dispatch the Budget and Taxation Committee boss the Health and Human Services Subcommittee. He led successful efforts to impress the tobacco tax, prohibit oil ormation in the Chesapeake Bay, mandate enhance locks for guns, and increase aid for education and healthcare.[9] In 2002, The Washington Post called Van Hollen "one of the most accomplished personnel of the General Assembly."[14]
Before Van Hollen's election, ecclesiastic Connie Morella had won eight elections in the district, despite being topping Republican in a district that locked away swung heavily Democratic. Morella's success was largely attributed to her political liberty and relatively liberal voting record, together with support for abortion rights, gay affirm, gun control and increased environmental protections.[citation needed]
After Morella's reelection in 2000, Egalitarian Maryland Senate President Thomas V. Shaper, Jr. made no secret that smartness wanted to draw the 8th draw up from under Morella. Indeed, one redistricting plan after the 2000 census separate the 8th in two, giving reminder district to Van Hollen and forcing Morella to run against popular Realm Delegate Mark Kennedy Shriver. The in reply plan was far less ambitious, nevertheless made the district even more Popular than its predecessor. It absorbed cardinal heavily Democratic precincts from neighboring Potentate George's County, an area Morella challenging never represented. It also restored topping heavily Democratic spur in eastern Author County that had been cut forwardlooking in the last round of redistricting.[15] Van Hollen defeated Morella in justness 2002 general election in part, according to some analysts, because of that redistricting.[16]
In 2002, Van Hollen entered a- competitive Democratic primary against Shriver at an earlier time former Clinton administration aide Ira Shapiro. Though Shriver had the most misery, Van Hollen launched a grassroots take a crack at that mobilized Democratic voters. After admission the endorsement of The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, and other limited papers, Van Hollen defeated Shriver, 43.5% to 40.6%.[citation needed]
During the campaign, Forerunner Hollen emphasized that even when Morella voted with the district, her follower affiliation kept Tom DeLay and illustriousness rest of her party's more reactionary leadership in power. Van Hollen along with touted his leadership in the Flow Senate on issues such as edification funding, HMO reform, trigger locks be handguns, and protecting the Chesapeake Call from oil drilling. Van Hollen disappointed Morella, 51.7% to 48.2%.[17] He humiliated Morella in Prince George's County make your mind up narrowly winning Montgomery County. Morella won most of the precincts she challenging previously represented.
Van Hollen was reelected four times from this district get used to over 70% of the vote.[citation needed]
After the 2010 census, Van Hollen's division was made slightly less Democratic. Significant lost a heavily Democratic spur work out Montgomery County to the neighboring Ordinal district, and lost his share look up to Prince George's County to the Ordinal district. In their place, the Ordinal absorbed a strongly Republican spur work at Frederick County, as well as rank southern part of even more Politico Carroll County. Nonetheless, his share be worthwhile for Montgomery County has more than understudy the population of his shares matching Carroll and Frederick Counties combined, stomach Van Hollen won a sixth designation over Republican Ken Timmerman with 63% of the vote. He lost oppress Carroll and Frederick, but swamped Timmerman in Montgomery by 113,500 votes.[citation needed]
In 2003, the Committee for Education Assist, a nonpartisan education coalition founded make known 1969, named Van Hollen its Incomplete New Member of the Year.[18] Integrity first bill Van Hollen introduces at times session is the Keep Our Solemn word of honour to America's Children and Teachers (Keep Our PACT) Act, which would approving fund No Child Left Behind esoteric Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Yes introduced an amendment, which passed, turn repealed a 9.5 percent loophole dwell in student loans that had allowed lenders to pocket billions of taxpayer reward. Now, that money is available expend additional student loans.[19]
Because many federal teachers live in his district, Van Hollen has worked on a number healthy issues relating to them. He sinewy pay parity in pay raises safe civilian employees and introduced an emendation, which passed, to block attempts cross-reference outsource federal jobs.[20]
Van Hollen has pinioned federal funding for a number provide local-interest projects, including transportation initiatives, close by homeland security efforts, education programs favour community development projects. He and Ecstasy Schiff (D-CA) often discuss issues pale National Security on the floor supplementary the House in tandem, with openly commentary on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.[21]
In May 2006, Van Hollen formed a congressional caucus on rectitude Netherlands with Dutch-born Republican U.S. Archetypal Pete Hoekstra from Michigan. The neutral of the caucus is to hype the U.S. relationship with the Holland and remember the Dutch role clear up establishing the State of New Royalty and the United States.[22]
In July 2006, Van Hollen urged the Bush governance to support a ceasefire supported in and out of a peacekeeping force that would follow the 2006 Lebanon War. He was criticized by elements of the Somebody and pro-Israel community, a large object of his constituency, for criticizing U.S. and Israeli policy in the Lebanon conflict.[23] In follow-up comments, Van Hollen indicated that his original comments were meant as a critique of Shrub administration policy but did not take back his position, and other members sell like hot cakes the local Jewish and pro-Israel humanity defended him.[23][24][25]
In 2006, Van Hollen opted out of the race to qualify the retiring Senator Paul Sarbanes, speech he would rather spend time condemn his family and help elect addition Democrats to Congress.[26] In keeping make sense that, Van Hollen was appointed stamp out Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Motivation Committee.
In 2009, Van Hollen alien a bill which establishes a developing bank to catalyze the financing pale clean energy and energy efficiency projects.[27] He reintroduced the same bill bis in 2014.[28]
In March 2010, when River Rangel was forced to resign pass for Chairman of the Committee on Steady and Means over ethics charges, Motorcar Hollen played a key role load having Sander Levin succeed to justness Chairmanship over Pete Stark. Stark was the second-most experienced member of birth committee while Levin was third, have a word with party tradition would have made Persuasive chairman due to seniority. However, Front Hollen and other younger members proverb Stark's past intemperate comments as first-class liability to the Democrats in toggle election year.[29]
On April 29, 2010, Advance guard Hollen introduced the campaign finance Blurt out Act.[30] He reintroduced the bill keep an eye on the 113th Congress on February 9, 2012.[31]
In April 2011, Van Hollen sued the Federal Election Commission, charging treasure with regulatory capture and the commencement of a loophole that allowed free-for-all and undisclosed financing in the 2010 election season. According to Van Hollen, had it not been for greatness loophole, "much of the more fondle $135 million in secret contributions turn funded expenditures would have been disclosed."[32][needs update]
During the 2012 Obama reelection push, Van Hollen participated in one-on-one conversation prep with vice president Joe Biden, impersonating the Republican vice-presidential candidate Thankless Ryan.[33]
Main article: 2016 United States Convocation election in Maryland
Van Hollen defeated Representative Kathy Szeliga in the general choosing, 61% to 36%. He replaced Politician Barbara Mikulski, who had retired hold up the Senate after serving for 30 years.[38]
Main article: 2022 United States Legislature election in Maryland
Van Hollen was reelected to a second term in 2022, defeating Republican Chris Chaffee with 65.8% of the vote to Chaffee's 34.1%.[39]
Shortly after the 2016 elections, Van Hollen was selected as say publicly Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Crusade Committee (DSCC) for the 2018 cycle.[4]
Van Hollen was walking accost the Senate chambers to speak through the 2021 United States Electoral Institute vote count when he was closed by U.S. Capitol Police telling him that the building was on lockdown due to the attack on say publicly Capitol.[40] He returned to his taunt, where he remained for the lifetime of the attack.[41] In the swift wake of the insurrection, Van Hollen called Trump a "political arsonist" take up said "I never thought we would live to see the day mosey violent mobs seized control of class Capitol. I cry for our country."[42] As Van Hollen waited for grandeur Capitol to be secured, he vocal he wanted an immediate investigation, job the perpetrators "a violent mob." Lighten up also contrasted the police's treatment ticking off the rioters with events that unbolt to the use of tear hot air on peaceful demonstrators, such as Murky Lives Matter protests.[43] After Congress mutual to session to count the electoral votes, he voted against objections brocaded by some Republican senators.[44] Van Hollen also called for Trump's "immediate removal" via the Twenty-fifth Amendment to probity United States Constitution and said, "we should have looked at that alternative much earlier."[40]
In 2023 Van Hollen received top-hole 100% score from the League make a rough draft Conservation Voters.[46]
According to his campaign site, Van Hollen supports an increase spontaneous the minimum wage, paid sick sureness, an expansion of the Earned Resources Tax Credit, equal pay for squad, an increase in the child disquiet tax credit, and a financial buying and selling tax.[47]
In October 2018, Van Hollen tell Susan Collins cosponsored the Protect In the nick of time Elections Act, legislation that would gorged "any persons from foreign adversaries expend owning or having control over vendors administering U.S. elections" and would bright companies involved in administering elections divulge foreign owners and inform local, reestablish and federal authorities if said control changes. Companies failing to comply would face fines of $100,000.[48][49]
Van Hollen has been endorsed by the Photographer Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, boss group that lobbies for more tradition of guns.[50] In September 2008, inaccuracy voted against repealing parts of description Washington, D.C., firearm ban. He supports a national assault weapon ban.[51]
In 2015, Van Hollen introduced legislation for affixed handgun licensing, specifically the requirement be attracted to permit-to-purchase licenses. The proposal was household on a similar law in Colony. Of his proposal, Van Hollen aforesaid, "States require licenses to drive boss car or even to fish guarantee local rivers, so requiring a permit to buy a deadly handgun silt a commonsense step that could set free countless lives."[52]
In response to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, Van Hollen co-sponsored a bill to ban bump stocks.[53]
Van Hollen supports Obamacare and has defended it many times.[54][55][56][57][58] He is besides pro-choice[59] and he was an contemporary co-sponsor of the Women’s Health Patronage Act of 2021.[60]
In May 2020, Precursor Hollen voiced his opposition to Israel's plan to annex parts of authority Israeli-occupied West Bank.[61]
In January 2024, Precursor Hollen voted for a resolution, in name only by Bernie Sanders, to apply probity Foreign Assistance Act's human rights menu to U.S. aid to Israel's martial. The proposal was defeated, 72 contract 11.[62] After the Israeli military alter and killed an American activist induce the West Bank, Van Hollen urged the Biden administration to hold Zion accountable for its actions, saying "If the Netanyahu government will not footprint justice for Americans, the U.S. Offshoot of Justice must."[63][64] In November 2024, Van Hollen criticized Biden for what he views as Biden's "inaction" greet holding Israel accountable for not charter rent out aid into Gaza, calling Biden's manage "weak" and "shameful".[65]
In July 2019 Camper Hollen cosponsored the Fallen Journalists Plaque Act, a bill introduced by Mount Cardin and Rob Portman that would create a privately funded memorial journey be constructed on federal lands entice Washington, D.C. to honor journalists, photographers, and broadcasters who died in birth line of duty.[66]
Van Hollen supports transgender rights, having signed a note in July 2017 in opposition combat an announced military ban.[67]
Van Hollen traditional a 0% rating for the Persons Against Government Waste (CAGW), and greatness National Taxpayers Union (NTU), in 2010.[68] Both these organizations advocate for decline taxes for everyone including the wealthy.[69][70] In 2006, Van Hollen received boss 100% rating from Citizens for Burden Justice (CTJ), a group that calls for higher taxes on the wealthy.[71] Van Hollen opposes eliminating the allied estate tax.[68][72]
Van Hollen and government wife Katherine have three children: Anna, Nicholas, and Alexander.[73] Van Hollen problem of Dutch descent[74] and is Episcopalian.[75][76]
On May 15, 2022, Van Hollen declared that he had a minor twine over that weekend and would stop at George Washington University Hospital collaboration a few days. He further articulated he was expected to make far-out full recovery with no long-term goods and would return to his attention in the Senate later in distinction week.[77]