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Chris Van Hollen

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Chris Van Hollen
NameChris Van Hollen
CaptionOfficial portrait, 2017
StateMaryland
Jr/srUnited States Senator
AlongsideBen Cardin
Term startJanuary 3, 2017
State1Maryland
District18th
Term start1January 3, 2003
Term end1January 3, 2017
Predecessor1Connie Morella
Successor1Jamie Raskin
Office2Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
Term start21991
Term end22003
Constituency218th district (Montgomery County)
Birth date10 January 1959
Birth placeKarachi, Pakistan
PartyDemocratic
SpouseKatherine Van Hollen, 1991
EducationSwarthmore College (BA), Harvard University (MPP), Georgetown University (JD)
Websitevanhollen.senate.gov

Chris Van Hollen is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States Senator from Maryland since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the U.S. Representative for Maryland's 8th congressional district from 2003 to 2017. He has held leadership roles including Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and is known for his focus on fiscal policy, healthcare, and environmental issues.

Early life and education

He was born in Karachi, Pakistan, where his father, a Foreign Service officer, was stationed. His family later moved to Turkey, Sri Lanka, and India before returning to the United States. He completed his secondary education in Washington, D.C., and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Swarthmore College in 1982. He subsequently earned a Master of Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in 1985 and a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1990.

Early political career

His political career began as a legislative aide to former U.S. Senator Charles Mathias, a Republican from Maryland. He later served as a senior advisor on the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In 1990, he was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates, representing the 18th district in Montgomery County. During his tenure, he focused on issues such as education funding, gun control, and environmental protection, serving as the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee subcommittee on Education.

U.S. House of Representatives

In 2002, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives, defeating incumbent Republican Connie Morella in the 8th district. He served seven terms, during which he was appointed to the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on the Budget. He served as Chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee from 2007 to 2011 and was a key architect of the Affordable Care Act. He also co-founded the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force.

U.S. Senate

He was elected to the United States Senate in 2016, succeeding retiring Senator Barbara Mikulski. He serves on several influential committees, including the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on the Budget, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. In 2021, he was elected Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for the 2022 election cycle. He has been a leading voice on issues including tax reform, climate change, and voting rights.

Political positions

He is considered a progressive member of the Democratic Party. He is a strong supporter of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for a public health insurance option. He is a proponent of comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act. On environmental issues, he introduced the Healthy Climate and Family Security Act, a cap-and-dividend proposal. He is a vocal critic of the Citizens United v. FEC decision and supports campaign finance reform. He has also been a leading advocate for strengthening the Child Tax Credit.

Personal life

He is married to Katherine Van Hollen, an attorney, and they have three children. The family resides in Kensington, Maryland. His son, Nicholas Van Hollen, served as a legislative aide to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. He is a member of the Episcopal Church. In 2022, he suffered a minor stroke but made a full recovery after undergoing surgery at George Washington University Hospital.

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from Maryland Category:Democratic Party United States senators