Senate Update: Bringing Down Costs while Fighting a Lawless and Corrupt Administration

This fall, we face challenges on a number of fronts: families across the country continue to be squeezed by rising prices, the Trump Administration is escalating its attacks on our elections, and unchecked advances in artificial intelligence pose growing risks to our safety, security, and workforce. At the same time, President Trump’s illegal and senseless war in Iran continues to cost American lives and drive up prices here at home. 

The Trump Administration also continues to engage in an all-out assault on immigrant communities across the United States with their mass deportation agenda – including by targeting people who have lived and worked here legally for years under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). I recently hosted a spotlight forum before Congress and the American people highlighting the critical role TPS holders play in communities across the country. 

We heard from community leaders and employers, including Carlos Raba, Chef and Owner of Clavel in Baltimore, about families facing separation, businesses losing employees, and the tragic consequences of ICE’s dehumanization of former TPS holders who are being forced back to unsafe countries. These are our neighbors, friends, and coworkers who have contributed so much to our communities. 

In fact, a report from Forward US published earlier this year showed that TPS holders contribute about $29 billion every year to the US economy and pay $7.8 billion in combined federal payroll, state, and local taxes. Given their long-established roots, stripping away employment rights and forcing people from their homes will deliver severe economic shocks across the nation. 

I will keep pushing to pass my SECURE Act to provide qualified TPS holders and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients with a pathway to lawful permanent residency and the certainty these families deserve. I am fighting back against these abuses while I work to continue delivering results for communities across Maryland. Here’s the latest: 

Fighting to Make Life More Affordable

President Trump promised American workers a “golden age,” yet he has delivered another Gilded Age only for billionaires and big corporations, while everyday Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet. 

As of August, the average Maryland household had paid more than $3,700 in additional costs for everyday goods and services under President Trump. His reckless tariff taxes and senseless war in Iran have pushed prices even higher. 

Families felt that squeeze as students returned to school. The cost of a typical basket of school supplies – including notebooks, lunch boxes, and index cards – increased nearly 8 percent compared to last year, while the cost of a typical school lunch rose 11 percent. And after Trump and Congressional Republicans cut SNAP to finance tax breaks for billionaires and wealthy corporations, more families are being forced to stretch already-tight budgets to put food on the table. Hungry kids can’t learn. This is cruelty as a policy choice. 

Meanwhile, Trump’s own Administration has reported that the share of economic growth going to workers is now the lowest ever recorded. In the years immediately following World War II, roughly 65 percent of economic growth went into workers’ pocketbooks. Today, that figure stands at just 52.8 percent. As corporate profits skyrocket, working people are being stiffed. 

I am fighting to pass responsible funding bills that lower costs, protect essential services, and invest in Maryland communities – not another blank check for Trump’s illegal war or more giveaways to those at the very top. We need to shake up this rigged system and ensure working people get their fair share. I will continue fighting to end Trump’s sweeping tariff taxes, lower costs for Maryland families, and build an economy that works for everyone.

Pumping the Brakes on Dangerous Frontier AI

We are hearing extremely clear warnings from the people building frontier artificial intelligence models about the risks that unregulated development poses today. We don’t need to take every word at face value to grasp the broader point: the people developing this technology are concerned about the loss of human control. 

Those risks became even more urgent with OpenAI’s release of its latest model, GPT-6 Astra. OpenAI has acknowledged that its ability to monitor the model’s internal operations has decreased, that its safety systems may miss dangerous behavior, and that the company may be unable to detect whether Astra is deliberately concealing its capabilities during safety testing. Those concerns come after multiple incidents in which OpenAI’s models broke out of their “containment” during evaluations and caused security failures. 

That’s why I’m pushing OpenAI CEO Sam Altman for answers about the company’s decision to release Astra despite these warnings. I also urged OpenAI to provide researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Security Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency with full and transparent access to the technical information they need to assess the risks to our digital systems and critical infrastructure. If OpenAI or any AI developer cannot guarantee the safety of its models or effectively monitor their behavior, those models should be removed from public use. 

We need to pump the brakes until clear rules are in place to prevent this technology from doing grave harm. That includes mandatory safeguards and a comprehensive testing regime. If any AI developer fails to contain their technology during development or testing, they should be held accountable under our existing laws while Congress works to develop new commonsense guardrails. 

Instead, President Trump dismissed concerns about AI safety as a “hoax.” He has said that he is the only guardrail that’s needed while focusing his efforts on renaming AI to “Super Intelligence.” After starting his presidency by delivering for the Silicon Valley investors and tech oligarchs who helped fund his return to the White House (remember, they were seated right behind him when he was sworn in) by eliminating safety rules and working to block both federal and state oversight, the Trump Administration has done little to protect public safety from this growing threat. 

Earlier this year, when the Trump Administration tried to force Anthropic to include dangerous capabilities in their contract, like the ability for AI to control autonomous weapons or to perform mass surveillance in the United States, I demanded the Administration end their pressure campaign – an alarming abuse of governmental power. Instead, the Administration doubled down and retaliated against Anthropic by designating them as a supply chain risk. A federal judge has since ruled in one case that the Administration’s retaliatory actions were unlawful, but we must continue pushing back. Humans must always be in control, and no technology should enable mass surveillance in our free country. 

Because this is a digital technology, advanced AI development across the world may impact the American people. The United States currently has the most advanced models, but Chinese AI companies are also pushing the technology. When Trump welcomed China’s President Xi to Washington, I led sixteen of my Senate colleagues in calling on him to discuss basic safety guardrails on the international development of advanced AI. President Trump delivered nothing but a tour of his ballroom for President Xi. 

Congress needs to act now. We must confront the political system that enabled the unregulated AI race while delivering what must be done today: strong federal guardrails on AI development to ensure public safety and security.

Stopping Trump’s Illegal and Senseless War in Iran, Ending U.S. Complicity in Gaza, and Demanding Accountability in the West Bank

President Trump’s illegal war in Iran continues to kill Americans and civilians, drain our resources, and drive up prices here at home. 

Estimates from the Pentagon show that the war has already cost American taxpayers $47 billion, while the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates this war will cost another $2 billion to $3 billion for every additional month it continues. CBO also estimates that the United States has used between one-half and two-thirds of its inventory of certain missile defense interceptors since June 2025 – stockpiles needed in the event of a real national security threat that could take five years to rebuild. 

American families are paying for this war every day. Every two minutes, consumers pay another $1 million in higher fuel costs because of Trump’s war. Across Maryland, drivers have spent an estimated $1 billion more at the gas pump since the war began – an average of $642 per family. President Trump calls those higher prices “peanuts” and a “very small price to pay.” Families struggling to afford gas, groceries, and electricity know otherwise. 

This is what happens when you delude yourself into believing that one more week of airstrikes or one more month of a blockade will produce a quick victory. As I warned in July, this kind of logic is how forever wars begin. When you are digging yourself into a hole, stop digging. But Trump keeps digging. He is now reportedly sending up to another 10,000 troops to fight this illegal war of choice, which he says he plans to renew next month. 

Instead of working to end the war, protect our troops, save civilian lives across the region, and lower costs, the Trump Administration announced that it plans to send $2.8 billion in bombs – paid for by American taxpayers – to a government still led by someone wanted for war crimes, and even as Prime Minister Netanyahu continues dropping bombs in Gaza despite the so-called “ceasefire.” 

Netanyahu has said outright that in Gaza they are “destroying more and more houses so the Palestinians will have nowhere to return.” I will work to block this transfer of American taxpayer-financed bombs. I made clear that in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas attacks of October 7th, Israel was justified in going after Hamas, but not in imposing brutal collective punishment on all the people of Gaza. 

Meanwhile, the final outcome of this week’s Israeli election remains uncertain. Coalition negotiations could take weeks, and Netanyahu will remain a caretaker Prime Minister until a new government is formed. Regardless of the outcome, the United States must judge any Israeli government and leader by the same standards and whether their actions comport with our interests and values. We must enforce our laws and ensure that American taxpayer dollars are not used to support the occupation or violations of Palestinian’s human rights, regardless of who is in power in Israel. 

That’s why we are also demanding answers about the unacceptable situation on the West Bank, where violent Israeli settlers terrorize Palestinians with impunity and seek to force them off their lands. Moreover, in just over four years, nine Americans have been killed in the West Bank, yet none of their families have received accountability or justice from either the Israeli or United States Governments. In addition to these deaths, Americans are routinely wrongfully imprisoned by the Netanyahu government, and Palestinians face injustices daily under the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. 

That is why Senators Kaine, Sanders, and I led 23 of our Senate colleagues in forcing a vote on a resolution requiring the State Department to report to Congress on these killings, rampant violent settler attacks, and the dire human rights violations in the West Bank, including the detention of American citizens and Palestinian children. 

I spoke on the floor and urged my colleagues to support this resolution because the families of those killed and detained deserve answers. The American people deserve answers. And we must ensure that recipients of U.S. taxpayer dollars are acting in accordance with our laws and our values. 

While I was pleased that 47 Senators supported this effort – more support than we've ever had in this fight – it’s clear the United States must do more. 

I will keep fighting to end U.S. complicity in Gaza, demand accountability for Americans killed in the West Bank, stand up for human rights for all, and stop President Trump’s illegal war in Iran.

Delivering for Maryland 

Despite the dysfunction and chaos generated by the Trump Administration, I remain focused on delivering real results for communities across Maryland. 

In Baltimore, Senator Alsobrooks and I recently highlighted a $300,000 investment we secured for Global Refuge to expand their workforce development and career counseling services for refugees and immigrants. This federal funding will help program participants obtain the skills and training needed to secure jobs, achieve rapid self-sufficiency so they can contribute even more to their communities, and create opportunities for economic growth. 

Just one week before this event, the Trump Administration had announced it would be illegally rescinding over $800 million in federal funds approved by Congress for programs that have supported many Marylanders, including Global Refuge. I will continue to fight back against the Trump Administration’s unlawful acts and work hard to ensure that these vital programs are appropriately funded. 

While in Baltimore, I also joined Congressman Mfume and Mayor Scott at the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights’ 33rd Annual Civil Rights Breakfast to honor Maryland’s trailblazing civil rights leaders – past and present – and to discuss efforts to fight back against this Administration’s attempts to dismantle their work.

In Baltimore County, Congressman Olszewski and I joined local leaders to celebrate a $2 million federal investment that will support the construction of a new Baltimore County Public Library branch. The new Essex Branch will give the library more room for programs and community use, while allowing it to offer services that cannot be adequately accommodated in the current branch. Every Marylander should have access to all the books and resources that libraries have to offer, regardless of their ZIP code or their income. 

And this week in Howard County, I joined County Executive Calvin Ball and Enterprise Community Development – a national nonprofit focused on expanding access to affordable housing, founded and based in Columbia – to mark the grand opening of The Vision at Parkway. Together with former Congressman Sarbanes, we secured an $850,000 federal investment for the project. The project also received $13 million in federal tax credits and other HUD loans. The opening of The Vision at Parkway will expand housing options in Columbia and provide more Marylanders with an affordable place to call home. 

We’re also bringing Maryland leaders and community partners together in Washington to advance our shared priorities. The Maryland congressional delegation recently met with Mayor Scott at the Capitol to discuss our work to expand affordable housing, improve Baltimore’s transportation and infrastructure, continue to strengthen public safety, and protect access to health care. As the Trump Administration targets essential programs that Baltimore residents rely on, Federal Team Maryland will continue working alongside our state and local partners to defend those resources and deliver new investments in the City’s future. 

The Maryland congressional delegation also met recently with Port of Baltimore leadership and stakeholders to discuss the Port’s infrastructure needs, upcoming modernization projects, workforce, and long-term growth. With more than 270,000 Maryland jobs connected to the Port and $70 billion in annual economic impact for our state, its continued success is a priority for all of us. Together, we’re working to build on past investments and secure the resources needed to strengthen the Port and expand economic opportunity across Maryland.

Thank You

The decisions being made in Washington have real consequences for Marylanders, from the prices families pay to the use of taxpayer dollars at home and abroad. I will continue bringing Marylanders’ priorities into every fight ahead. 

Thank you for staying engaged and for all you do to strengthen our communities and our democracy! 


Don’t forget to vote! 

Onwards, 
Chris Van Hollen 

To see more on my daily efforts to fight back against the Trump Administration, follow me on: YouTube, Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, and X.

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