It was stunning actually, because what you would hope for from our national leaders is some reflection, some understanding that the situation that we encountered in Iraq was not what we expected, that it was not what he said it would be.

Van Hollen also supports animal rights groups such as The Humane Society the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) Big Cat Rescue (BCR) and Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund all who gave him a 100% approval rating. After the Democratic losses in 2010 Van Hollen did not run for re-election to chair of the DCCC. Van Hollen has secured federal funding for a number of local-interest projects including transportation initiatives local homeland security efforts education programs and community development projects.

Christopher "Chris" Van Hollen Jr. Speaker Nancy Pelosi created a new leadership post Assistant to the Speaker in 2006 so that Van Hollen could be present at all leadership meetings. The district includes most of Montgomery County an affluent suburban county adjacent to Washington D.