Durbin: Supreme Court Must Act to Keep Families Together, Affirm President's Immigration Actions

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the floor of the Senate today after attending oral arguments at the Supreme Court in the case of United States v. Texas, a legal challenge to the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) program and the expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. "This lawsuit I believe has no legal merit. It is driven by political hostility toward President Obama and his immigration policy. The Supreme Court repeatedl… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Call for Immediate Passage of President's Emergency Funding Request to Help Stem Spread of Zika Virus in United States and Abroad

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a coalition of 41 senators in sending a new letter to Senate Republican leaders calling for immediate passage of President Obama's emergency supplemental funding request of $1.9 billion for prevention and treatment of the Zika virus outbreak. Specifically, the new letter calls for the Senate Appropriations committee to mark-up the President's emergency funding request as soon as possible to ensure swift passage by the full Senate an… Continue Reading

After Two Years, Senators Call for Finalization of Long Overdue Tobacco Regulations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Almost two years ago to the day, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule expanding its authority to include previously unregulated tobacco products like e-cigarettes and cigars. Today, as Big Tobacco continues to develop, market, and sell those products without federal oversight, fifteen Senators called on Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shaun Donovan to issue a final rule bringing all tobacco products under the FDA's jurisdiction as soon as pos… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Chicago-Based Life Insurance Company to Disavow Practice of Withholding Funds to Rightful Beneficiaries

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a 60 Minutes investigation that identified Chicago-based Kemper Corporation as the "main" insurance company fighting reform efforts, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the company to disavow the practice of withholding life insurance payouts to beneficiaries that do not directly file claims with the insurance company. Beneficiaries do not always know that they have been named under a life insurance policy and accordingly do not always file … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Sec. Carter to Protect Key Pentagon Spending Oversight

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Ash Carter urging him to resist defense industry efforts to undermine critical Pentagon oversight that protects U.S. taxpayers from hundreds of millions of dollars in wasteful spending. "An April 8 article in Politico alleges that some defense companies under the guise of this reform are attempting to curtail the Director of Defense Pricing from … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Abbott Labs on Outsourcing 150 American Jobs to Indian Company

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories has forced approximately 150 laid-off employees to sign a gag order preventing them from discussing the layoffs with federal agencies, as they are legally entitled to do. The employees were required to sign sweeping non-disparagement agreements in order to receive any severance pay. Last month, Durbin wrote to Miles White, the CEO of Abbott Labs, urging him to reconsider their plan to outsource the … Continue Reading

Durbin & Duckworth: Pharmaceutical Industry has a Responsibility in Curtailing Opioid Overdose Epidemic

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on the President and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) to take financial responsibility for the industry's role in curtailing the opioid overdose epidemic as other major companies have done. Early this year, Illinois-based Walgreens announced that it will install safe medication disposal kiosks in more than 500 of their drugstores to help in this… Continue Reading

Durbin and Quad Cities Leaders Discuss Economic Development & the Rock Island Arsenal at Annual Meeting

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a meeting with mayors and local leaders from the Quad Cities region who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed his continued commitment to working in Congress to support and promote the Rock Island Arsenal. The group also discussed transportation investments, manufacturing, local economic development and job creation. "This annual meeting of leaders from the Quad Cities brings together local officials and busin… Continue Reading

Durbin: New Program from Housing Finance Agency Could Benefit Struggling Illinois Families

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that an announcement by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) could benefit up to 33,000 families that have been struggling to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes in states - including Illinois - that have been hardest hit by the financial crisis. The new program will offer a one-time principal reduction to borrowers whose loans are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and who meet specific eligibility criteri… Continue Reading

With E-Cigarette Use on the Rise, Durbin & Blumenthal Demand FDA Action

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statements in response to findings from the 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that a record 3 million U.S. teenagers used e-cigarettes over the last year. The data released today shows that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students, which surpassed cigarettes last year as the most commonly used tobacco product, continues to grow: between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk: SBA Makes Federal Relief Available for Illinois Small Businesses Impacted by Severe Winter Storms

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that President Obama has issued a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter to receive SBA loans. The President's action will ensure that eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses have access to loans to help repair or replace disaster… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute to Ray LaHood

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to recognize former Illinois Congressman and United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who was honored yesterday by a dedication ceremony for the Ray LaHood International Terminal at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. "I want to recognize my friend and former colleague in the House, Congressman Ray LaHood. He was then named Secretary of Transportation by President Obama. The … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Department of Education to Stand Up for Students by Banning Mandatory Arbitration Clauses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the floor of the Senate to call on the Department of Education to ban mandatory arbitration clauses from higher education enrollment contracts. Mandatory arbitration clauses are a hallmark of the for-profit college industry - used by nearly all the major companies including DeVry, University of Phoenix, and ITT Tech. The clauses were also used by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., a bankrupt for-profit college system which, for years, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Brown, & Warren Meet with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to Discuss Actions to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today met with Secretary Jack Lew to discuss last week's announcement of new actions by the Treasury Department to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping. "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab," said Durbin. "Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax l… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses New Initiatives to Address High Rates of Lead Exposure in Cities

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted new initiatives to protect children in affordable housing from lead poisoning and update the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead and copper regulations to establish mandatory lead testing of pipes and water in cities-large and small-across the country. The measures will be part of a larger effort being crafted by Senate Democrats to re-commit the federal government to investing in water infrastructure and lead remediation. "T… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Delegation Support Illinois Appeal for Federal Public Assistance for Southern and Central Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider the denial of the State of Illinois' request for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance to the counties that were hardest-hit following the storms and severe flooding that began on December 23, 2015 and continued through January 13, 2016. "On March 10, the State was notified… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland

[WASHINGTON]-Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met today with Supreme Court Nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland. "It's great to have this son of Illinois come visit me today," Durbin said before the meeting. Afterwards, Durbin held a media availably during which he discussed Judge Garland's experience, qualifications, and Illinois connections. "I've just met personally and directly with Merrick Garland, President Obama's nomi… Continue Reading

Durbin Takes Concerns About Wait Times at Hines to VA Secretary During Meeting in Washington

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, to explain the Department's progress in implementing corrective actions at Hines VA Hospital to address concerns over wait times and the handling of whistleblower allegations. Durbin also spoke with McDonald about the need for strong leadership at Hines which has not had a permanent Director since 2014. "I told Secretary McDonald today that measures to … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Treasury Action to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced new actions to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping: "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab. Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax lawyers to shift their tax domiciles overseas, or shift their profits and debts on or off… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Lead Illinois Delegation Call for Federal Relief for Small Businesses Impacted by Winter Floods

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which were severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter. This designation will allow residents and businesses in the region to receive SBA loans. These loans provide assistance to homeown… Continue Reading