Durbin, Klobuchar, Senators Call on President to Fulfill Commitment to Resettle 10,000 Syrian Refugees in America

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today led a group of 27 senators calling on the President to fulfill the Administration's commitment to resettle at least 10,000 Syrian refugees in the United States this fiscal year. He recently reiterated this commitment, but so far in the first seven months of FY 2016, only 1,736 Syrian refugees have been admitted to the United States. "We write to express our strong support for resettling Syrian refugees in the Unite… Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Homeland Security Secretary to Address Long Lines at Airport Security Stations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after speaking with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson about massive delays at airport security lines in Chicago and across the country: "As summer approaches, the number of people traveling increases dramatically-that means long lines at airport security checkpoints. Protecting the safety of passengers remains priority number one, but poor planning and inadequate funding have led… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Measures to Address Massive Delays at Chicago Airport Security Lines

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today taped a video statement after announcing that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will commit 58 additional security officers and 4 additional canine units to Chicago O'Hare International Airport to address massive delays at airport security lines. Video of Durbin's statement can be accessed on YouTube HERE. Audio of Durbin's statement can be accessed HERE. Televisions stations using FTP can access his remarks in in high definiti… Continue Reading

Illinois Delegation Members Continue Questioning of NGA Director Over Security of NGA Site

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Delegation representing Southwestern Illinois today questioned the security of the North St. Louis site which was recently announced to be the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)'s preferred location for its West Campus (NGA-West). The additional questions were raised following a meeting last week between the Illinois delegation members and NGA Director Robert Cardillo. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Deportation Raids Targeting Central American Refugees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding reports of a new series of nationwide immigration raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement: "I'm concerned by reports that the Administration has restarted deportation efforts, targeting women and children from Central America. We are in the midst of the worst refugee crisis in recent history, with more than 60 million people worldwide forcibly displaced from their homes. The children an… Continue Reading

Illinois Members Demand Answers in Meeting with NGA Director Cardillo

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Director Robert Cardillo, the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Delegation representing Southwestern Illinois today demanded to know how a number of factual inaccuracies were missed and risks underestimated in a report which served as the basis for determining North St. Louis as the preferred new site for NGA-West rather than St. Clair County. At the conclusion of today's meeting, U.S. Senators Dick Durb… Continue Reading

As Problems and Delays Plague Transition to New Chip Credit Card Readers, Durbin Calls on FTC to Protect Small Businesses, Consumers

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting guidance to protect consumers from credit and debit card fraud and help businesses navigate the transition to new credit card readers that work with EMV (Europay MasterCard Visa) chip technology. "I am concerned that problems and delays in the EMV certification process are imposing costly burdens on small- and medium-sized businesses and leaving consumers' car… Continue Reading

Durbin: Comprehensive Legislation to Improve Services for Veterans Introduced in Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that comprehensive and bipartisan legislation to change the culture at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and better serve America's veterans and their families was introduced in the Senate. The Veterans First Act also includes numerous provisions to improve services for our nation's veterans, including expanding a VA program that allows seriously-injured veterans to receive care in their own homes, enhancing programs… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin Says Banning Mandatory Arbitration in College Contracts is "No Brainer"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the Department of Education not to settle for half-measures when it comes to students saying, "If the Department of Education is serious about fighting for students and protecting taxpayers, a full ban of mandatory arbitration clauses is a no brainer." Cementing a legacy of putting students first The Hill By Dick Durbin May 11, 2016, 04:00 pm Every day seems to bring news about another for-profit college scam. Hundred… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Nation's Medical Community to Curb Over Prescription of Opioids

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the leading medical associations to take responsibility for the role that doctors, dentists, and other prescribers have in curtailing the opioid epidemic by endorsing mandatory continuing medical education programs and checking of prescription drug monitoring programs for opioid prescribers. Durbin sent letters to the heads of the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the America… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Illinois Infrastructure Investment with Illinois Coalition

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the importance of strong, continued investment in Illinois infrastructure from roads, highways and bridges to airports locks and dams. "Our ability to keep growing our economy depends on a strong, well-maintained infrastructure that moves people and goods across the country safely and efficiently," said Durbin. "Strong federal investment in job-creating project… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Initiatives to Address Opioid Crisis with DuPage County Leaders

WHEATON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with several DuPage County officials to discuss local efforts to combat the onoing heroin and opioid crisis. Durbin has introduced several pieces of legislation to combat the volume of addictive painkillers on the market, improve prescribing practices, expand treatment for heroin addiction, and increase access to drug prevention programs that have been proven to save lives. "In recent years, Illinois - like the rest of the country - has seen a… Continue Reading

Durbin & Blumenthal Statement on FDA Tobacco Regulations

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement today in response to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) final deeming regulations on tobacco: "Today's release of the final tobacco deeming rule will help in the effort to protect a new generation from the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, cigars, hookah, and other previously unregulated tobacco products. We commend the FDA for taking this long overdue action to … Continue Reading

Durbin Continues to Warn High School Students Against Predatory For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With the Class of 2016 ready to graduate from high schools across Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) once again wrote today to principals, counselors, and teachers throughout the state asking for their help in the fight to protect students from being lured into enrolling in a for-profit college and all too often "[finding] their dream has turned into a nightmare when they end up with a worthless degree that employers don't even recognize, credits that don't transfer, … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Supreme Court Nominee at SIU Law

CARBONDALE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with students and faculty from the Southern Illinois University School of Law about the nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Durbin met with Judge Garland in Washington last month and has repeatedly called on Senate Republicans to hold a hearing and a vote on the President's nominee. "It has been 48 days since Chief Judge Merrick Garland was nominated to the Supreme Court, and 80 days since a vacancy on the Co… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Bill to Expand Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Under Medicaid

CARBONDALE - In the midst of the ongoing heroin and prescription opioid abuse epidemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation he has introduced to expand access to treatment for people who are not receiving the addiction care they need. The Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (Medicaid CARE) Act would modify the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion policy-a decades-old Medicaid policy that has had the unintended consequence of limiting tre… Continue Reading

Durbin & Kirk Introduce Bill to Name Aurora Post Office After Ken Christy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced legislation in the Senate to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 525 N. Broadway in Aurora, Illinois, as the Kenneth M. Christy Post Office Building. U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) introduced the bill - which is now supported by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation - in the House of Representatives earlier this month. Ken Christy, who passed away sud… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Congress to Pass Emergency Funding for Zika Virus

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a roundtable discussion with Illinois public health officials and medical experts to discuss the urgent need for Congress to pass the President's $1.9 billion emergency funding request to help treat and prevent the spread of the Zika virus. In the absence of Congressional action, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun diverting funding and resources away from Illinois and other states to support Southern states where th… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Obama Administration's Newly Released Student Loan Servicing Principles

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the White House unveiled a set of student loan servicing principles that contains basic rights and protections for federal student borrowers when dealing with loan servicers. Today's announcement makes common sense improvements to ensure that military borrowers are afforded by the servicer all of the special legal benefits and protections they are entitled to under the law and that all borrowers ar… Continue Reading

Grassley-Durbin Sentencing Reform & Corrections Act Expands Bipartisan Support

WASHINGTON-Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), co-authors of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act today announced revisions to the legislation to broaden bipartisan support for criminal justice reform. Durbin and Grassley were joined by co-sponsors Assistant Majority Leader John Cornyn, Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy, and Senators Mike Lee and Sheldon Whitehouse. Durbin spoke about the bill on the fl… Continue Reading