Hardest-Working Members of Congress List Includes Maryland Representative

Kensington, MD — U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Kensington, is one of the hardest-working members of Congress, according to a new ranking that comes on the heels of national polls that suggest Americans don’t think much of the job their elected officials are doing in Washington, D.C.

The list of the 25 hardest-working members of Congress was released Thursday by Newsmax.

In April, a Gallup poll showed confidence in Congress in the cellar, around 17 percent, though that was an improvement from a month earlier, when the approval rating sunk to 13 percent. For some context, Congress doesn’t normally fare well in these polls, averaging only 32 percent since Gallup began measuring it in 1974.

Van Hollen, who represents the 8th District, was 20th on the list.

• Subscribe to news alerts and like BETHESDA-CHEVY CHASE Patch: email | Facebook | news or KENSINGTON Patch: email | Facebook | news

Newsmax said of the Maryland Congressman now running for the U.S. Senate:

“In 2002, state legislator Van Hollen caught the eye of Democrats and the national press by winning the all-important Democratic primary in Maryland's 8th District (suburban Washington) over Tim Shriver, son of Sargent and nephew of John, Robert, and Ted Kennedy. Since then, his career has been nothing short of meteoric — rising to become chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee and then Budget Committee chairman in six years. Van Hollen is now considered the favorite to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski this year.”

Here’s the full list:

1. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma
2. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Massachusetts
3. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisconsin
4. Rep. Juan Vargas, D-California
5. Rep. Peter King R-New York
6. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Illinois
7. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas
8. Rep. David Schweikert, R-Arizona
9. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii
10. Rep. Carlos Curbelo, R-Florida
11. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Florida
12. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee
13. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Florida
14. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho
15. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indiana
16. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa
17. Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-New York
18. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas
19. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Louisiana
20. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland
21. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan
22. Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey
23. Rep. Fred Upton, R-Michigan
24. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-South Carolina
25. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas

Newsmax said the survey wasn’t scientific, but was based on interviews by its editorial team with dozens of people “who know the House of Representatives really well.”

Here’s how Newsmax described the process:

“Our survey was not scientific, but was based on solid criteria, including a House member’s commitment to their job, their interest in constituent services and follow-up, their championing of issues and causes important to the national interest, their honesty, and their ability to get things done. Our survey did not include ideological litmus tests, and it comprises a bipartisan roll call of the House’s greatest. We looked at each member’s concern and passion for the public good.”

»Photo of Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Kensington, courtesy of his website