Although awareness of cancer's prevalence in the United States improves and medical advances in the field abound, pancreatic cancer has largely been absent from the list of major success stories.

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.