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Sen. Chris Van Hollen briefs Frederick County delegation on federal priorities, flags airport congestion and ransomware response
Summary
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen updated the Frederick County Delegation on federal coordination for local projects, the Reagan National crash investigation, a ransomware incident affecting Frederick Health and federal grant freeze developments, and noted infrastructure and broadband funding that could benefit the county.
U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen on Friday told the Frederick County Delegation that federal, state and local officials are working together on several issues affecting the county, including the investigation of a recent collision at Reagan National Airport and a ransomware incident affecting Frederick Health Hospital.
Van Hollen, who opened his remarks by thanking the delegation’s chair, said the National Transportation Safety Board is conducting a transparent investigation into the crash and that he and other lawmakers have previously raised concerns about congestion at Reagan National. “This was clearly an avoidable crash,” Van Hollen said, adding he wants the NTSB to “quickly and transparently figure out exactly what went wrong.”
The senator said his office is in contact with Frederick Health Hospital after a ransomware attack and that federal offices are offering assistance as needed. He also described recent federal action on a temporary freeze from the Office of Management and Budget that affected federal grants and programs; litigation and public reaction have, for the moment, halted the freeze while its status is clarified.
Van Hollen highlighted federal infrastructure funding that benefits Maryland: he said the bipartisan infrastructure law sent “about $5 to $7 billion over five years” to Maryland for roads, bridges and airports, and noted additional federal broadband funding of roughly $267 million to the state. He praised the governor’s inclusion of $140 million for the U.S. 15 safety-improvement project and said $7,400,000 is allocated this year for design and planning on U.S. 15.
On energy and transmission, Van Hollen said he and others are monitoring the Piedmont Reliability Project and told the delegation they urged PSEG to ensure meaningful public input as the proposal moves before the Maryland Public Service Commission. He warned that national demand for electricity is rising and that “we are going to have to find a way to increase our electricity production and transmission” while reducing local harm.
Van Hollen also flagged Schedule F, a proposal he described as seeking to convert thousands of competitive civil service positions to political appointments; he said such a change would create uncertainty for federal employees living in the county. He closed by urging continued coordination between federal and local offices on constituent services and transportation and broadband priorities.
The delegation followed Van Hollen’s remarks with a question from Senator Louis Young about a proposed national infrastructure bank; Van Hollen said the idea is “a good idea” but has limited momentum at present.
