Foreign Policy
Our nation’s foreign policies should advance security and prosperity while promoting American values of freedom, democracy, tolerance, compassion, trade, and the rule of law. The United States has many important diplomatic and security interests around the world and Senator Durbin believes the United States must remain a leader and active participant on the international stage with our allies, NATO partners, and others.
When Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Senator Durbin worked in Congress to deliver critical aid to our Ukrainian allies and push back on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s tyranny. As Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, Senator Durbin has also been a champion for the Baltic region. He has hosted a variety of leaders from other democratic countries in the Senate to discuss ways we can continue to strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics, support Ukraine, and defend against increasing Russian and Chinese belligerence.
The United States has strong economic interests and relationships around the world, with many Illinois jobs directly linked to exports. Senator Durbin has led efforts to encourage economic growth and opportunities for American exports in emerging markets around the world.
Additionally, U.S. foreign policy extends beyond diplomatic and military initiatives to include humanitarian and development assistance aimed at saving lives and building more stable nations. Senator Durbin has championed U.S. assistance that helps provide clean water and access to sanitation to the world's most poor as well as to reduce rates of HIV/AIDS and malaria—both as an expression of American values and to strengthen America’s standing abroad. Senator Durbin has also been an active advocate for humanitarian assistance in areas of conflict and for refugees fleeing violence or repression. He has supported programs and funding to help children in need and to increase access to education, as well as to protect young girls forced to marry at a young age or young boys forced to become child soldiers. Senator Durbin has also been a champion of global human rights standards, and as such, regularly advocates for the release of political prisoners around the world.
At times, international crises demand additional U.S. attention, including the potential use of our military. In those situations in which U.S. military action may be warranted, Senator Durbin has exercised the utmost deliberation for this most critical decision that requires Congressional authorization.
Latest
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05.07.25
Durbin, Shaheen, Wicker Meet With Belarusian Opposition Leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
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04.09.25
Durbin: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Should Be Resumed And The Hostage Returned Immediately
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03.21.25
Durbin, Klobuchar, Grassley, Colleagues Press Administration On U.S. Support For Recovering Abducted Ukrainian Children
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03.06.25
Durbin, Shaheen Host Lithuanian Minister Of Defense To Discuss Increased Russian Aggression Toward The Baltic Region
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03.06.25
Senate Republicans Reject Durbin's Resolution To Condemn Russia's Abduction Of Ukrainian Children
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03.03.25
Durbin, Boozman, Shaheen, Coons Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase U.S. Exports To Africa
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02.28.25
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Oval Office Remarks To Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
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02.26.25
Durbin Announces Murkowski As New Cosponsor Of Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
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02.24.25
On Third Anniversary Of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Reiterates Bipartisan Congressional Support For Ukraine
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02.24.25
On The Third Anniversary Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Introduces Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
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02.19.25
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Comments About Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
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01.14.25
Durbin, Grassley, Tillis Meet With NATO Ambassadors To Discuss Increased Russian Aggression
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12.18.24
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage Of His Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Authorization Of Global Basic Education Effort
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11.21.24
Durbin Meets With U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine, Bridget Brink
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11.20.24
Durbin Statement On Vote To Suspend The Sale Of Some U.S-Made Weapons To Israel
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10.07.24
Durbin Statement Marking One Year Since The October 7 Hamas Terrorist Attack On Israel
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09.26.24
Durbin Statement On Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's Meeting With United States Senators
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09.26.24
Durbin Meets With Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor & Interim Leader Of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus
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09.19.24
Durbin Meets With Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty To Discuss Ongoing Conflict In Gaza
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09.09.24
Durbin Introduces Bill To Halt U.S. Investment In Venezuela's Energy Sector Until Legitimate Election Results Are Respected
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07.24.24
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Ahead Of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Joint Address To Congress
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07.10.24
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Recognizing & Strengthening Diplomatic Relations, Security Cooperation Between U.S. & Baltic States
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07.09.24
Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Discusses U.S. Support For Baltic State And Ukraine
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07.09.24
Durbin, Wicker, Senators Meet With Speaker Of the Parliament Of Ukraine During NATO Summit Week
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07.08.24
Durbin Reflects On The 75th Anniversary Of NATO, Reiterates His Support For Ukraine
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07.02.24
Durbin, Merkley, Kaine, Welch Again Call For The End Of The Bangladesh Government's Harassment Toward Nobel Peace Price Laureate Professor Yunus
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05.21.24
Durbin Questions Secretary Of State On Crisis In Gaza
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05.14.24
Durbin Applauds President Biden's Decision To Withhold Certain Military Assistance From Israel
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05.14.24
Durbin Praises Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza for Winning Pulitzer Prize for Writings Criticizing Putin Regime
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04.15.24
Following Iran’s Attack On Israel, Durbin Urges House Republicans To Finally Pass The National Security Supplemental
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04.13.24
Durbin Statement on Iran's Attack on Israel
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04.09.24
Durbin Questions USAID Administrator Powers on Delivery of Humanitarian Aid to Gaza
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04.08.24
Durbin Reiterates Ceasefire Call Following the Death of Seven Humanitarian Aid Workers in Gaza
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02.26.24
Durbin Calls Out House Republicans for Abandoning Aid to Ukraine Following Death of Alexei Navalny
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02.14.24
Durbin, Duckworth Join Booker, Colleagues in Calling for Swift Action to Aid American Citizens and Families Trapped in Gaza
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02.09.24
Durbin Calls Out Senate Republicans for Abandoning Border Deal, Delaying Aid to Ukraine at Trump's Whim
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12.06.23
Durbin, Graham Statement on First-Of-Its-Kind War Crimes Charges by DOJ Related to Russian Invasion of Ukraine
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12.06.23
Durbin Statement on Failed Vote on the Emergency Supplemental to Provide Aid to Israel and Ukraine
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12.06.23
Durbin, Tester, Bennet, Klobuchar Meet with Ukraine's Speaker of the Parliament
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11.30.23
Durbin Discusses Reopening Gaza Hospitals with UN Secretary General
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11.27.23
Durbin Calls to Reopen Gaza Hospitals Under Neutral Third Part As Israel-Hamas Reach a Temporary Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Release
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11.22.23
Durbin Statement on Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Release
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11.20.23
Durbin, Duckworth Join Baldwin, Colleagues in Calling for Immediate Steps to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Protect Civilians
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11.14.23
Durbin Objects to Partisan Bill that Dangerously Omits Funding for Ukraine
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11.07.23
Durbin Reflects on Horrific Violence in the Middle East and Need for Long Term Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians
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11.07.23
Durbin Applauds President Biden's Emergency Supplemental Request to Provide Security Aid to Israel and Ukraine
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11.07.23
Durbin, Duckworth, Murphy, Senators Call for Humanitarian Aid to Address Emergency Needs in Gaza
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10.09.23
Durbin Statement on Hamas Terrorist Attack on Israel
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05.10.23
Durbin, Graham, Grassley Meet With ICC Chief Prosecutor
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02.17.23
Durbin Reflects On Russia’s War On Ukraine Ahead Of The One-Year Anniversary
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08.04.22
Durbin, Rubio, Tillis, Shaheen Call On Secretary Blinken To Impose Magnitsky Law Sanctions On Russian Officials Responsible For Poisoning And Jailing Of Opposition Leader Vladimir Kara-Murza
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08.03.22
Durbin Statement On Senate Approving Sweden And Finland's Membership In NATO
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08.03.22
Durbin Enthusiastically Supports Finland And Sweden Accession To NATO
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07.19.22
Durbin Questions Director Of DOJ Kleptocapture Task Force At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Seizing Illicit Russian Assests
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07.13.22
Durbin, Tillis, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Recognize Political Repression In Belarus
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06.27.22
Durbin In Lithuania, Sweden, Spain To Discuss Support For NATO & Baltic States, Opposition To Russian Agression
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06.22.22
Durbin, Portman Meet With U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine
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06.21.22
Durbin: Amid Putin's War, NATO Is Stronger Than Ever
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06.21.22
Durbin, Portman, Blumenthal, Grassley Urge Department Of Defense To Send More Advanced Artillery Rocket Systems To Ukraine
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06.16.22
Durbin, Shaheen Meet With Evgenia Kara-Murza, Wife Of Russian Dissident
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06.14.22
On Senate Floor, Durbin urges Release Of Political Prisoners
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06.09.22
Durbin And Bill Gates Talk Global Health, Increasing Public Health Infrastructures Worldwide
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05.27.22
Senate Passes Durbin, Grassley Bipartisan Resolution Celebrating 100 Years Of Diplomatic Relations Between U.S. And Baltic States
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05.25.22
Durbin Questions USAID Administrator At Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing
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05.24.22
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Letter Requesting Biden Administration Swiftly Advance NATO Applications For Sweden And Finland
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05.19.22
Durbin: I Support The Succession Of Sweden And Finland To NATO
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05.19.22
Durbin Statement On Senate-Passed Supplemental Aid For Ukraine
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05.18.22
Foreign Relations Committee Advances Durbin, Grassley Bipartisan Resolution To Celebrate 100 Years Of Diplomatic Relations Between U.S. And Baltic States
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05.17.22
Durbin Meets With Loukas Kozonis, Guest To Greek Prime Minister's Joint Meeting Of Congress
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05.17.22
Durbin, Rubio, Members Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Detention Of Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza, Call For His Release
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05.12.22
Senate Passes Durbin, Risch Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Gambia For Democratic And Peaceful Elections
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05.11.22
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing On Global Food Security
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05.09.22
Durbin: There Will Be A Victory Day Parade In Ukraine To Honor The Valiant Ukrainians
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05.04.22
Durbin Meets With Chinese Ambassador To The U.S.
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05.04.22
Durbin: Congress Must Pass Supplemental Aid Package To Help Ukraine And Prevent Widening Of Putin's War
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04.25.22
Durbin: It Is Clear That Putin Has Disastrously Miscalculated
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04.14.22
Durbin, Portman, Shaheen, Wicker Urge President Biden To Appoint A Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator
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03.31.22
Durbin Joins Murphy In Urging Biden Administration To Address Humanitarian Crisis In Afghanistan
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03.30.22
Durbin, Portman, Ukraine Caucus Meet With Members Of The Ukrainian Parliament
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03.29.22
Durbin, Rubio, Bass, Smith Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Extend Authorization On Global Basic Education
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03.29.22
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Security And Economic Cooperation With The Baltics Amid Russian Aggression
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03.29.22
Durbin Honors Former Secretary Of State Madeleine Albright On Senate Floor
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03.16.22
Durbin: The NATO Alliance Is Stronger Than Ever Before
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03.15.22
Durbin Honors Chicago Area Medical Volunteers Helping Ukrainians
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03.14.22
Durbin: Vladimir Putin Should Be Charged And Convicted Of The Worst Possible War Crimes
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03.04.22
Durbin Visits Ukrainian National Museum, Discusses Humanitarian And Immigration Relief For Ukrainians
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03.01.22
Durbin To Putin: Your Legacy Will Be One Of Shame And Infamy
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03.01.22
Durbin, Portman, Urkaine Caucus Meet With Ukrainian Ambassador Markarova
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02.28.22
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Rebukes Russia's Attack On Ukraine, Speaks Out In Support Of Granting TPS For Ukrainians
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02.23.22
Durbin Statement On Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
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02.18.22
Senate Passes Durbin Led, Duckworth Cosponsored Resolution Showing Bipartisan Support For Ukraine Against Russian Aggression
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02.17.22
Durbin, Shaheen, Portman Reaffirm Bipartisan Support For Ukraine, Lead New Resolution In Support Of Democratic Partners
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02.15.22
Durbin, Schumer, McConnell, Thune, Reed, Inhofe, Brown, Toomey, Menendez, Risch, Warner, Rubio Message Of Solidarity With The People Of Ukraine
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02.03.22
Durbin, Grassley Meet With Lithuanian Delegation To Discuss Russian Aggression Toward Baltic States
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02.02.22
Durbin: The U.S. Reaffirms Support For Ukraine's Freedom To Chart Its Own Future
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02.02.22
Durbin: One Way To Help The NATO Alliance Is To Pass An Appropriations Bill
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01.31.22
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Celebrate 100 Years Of Diplomatic Relations Between United States And Baltic States
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01.10.22
Durbin: Putin Must End Ongoing Aggression Against Ukraine
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12.16.21
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Speaks In Support Of Lithuania's Defense Of Democracy, Calls Out Lukashenko As "Europe's Last Dictator"
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11.18.21
Durbin, Risch, Leahy, Members Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Support Upcoming Presidential Election In The Gambia
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11.17.21
Durbin Meets With Mexican Senators To Discuss U.S.-Mexico Relationship
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10.29.21
Durbin, Menendez, Kaine Meet with Venezuela Interim President Juan Guaidó
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10.29.21
Durbin Files NDAA Amendments To Hold Egypt Accountable For Disappearances Of Family Members Of Illinois Resident
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10.08.21
Durbin Meets With Venezuelan Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez
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09.28.21
Durbin Meets With Philippines Foreign Minister And Ambassador
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09.28.21
Durbin Discusses Disappearances Of Family Members Of Illinois Resident With Egyptian Ambassador
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09.23.21
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Nominations & Legislation
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09.14.21
Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Delegation, Discusses U.S. Support For Baltic States
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08.26.21
Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Take Advantage of Parole To Expedite Evacuation Of Afghans
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08.24.21
Durbin Meets With Afghan Community Members & Resettlement Leaders
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08.20.21
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Rahm Emanuel To Serve As Ambassador To Japan
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08.16.21
Durbin Statement On Afghanistan
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08.06.21
Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Launch Free Belarus Caucus
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07.21.21
Durbin, Senators Welcome Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya To Senate
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07.15.21
Durbin, Colleagues Unveil Bipartisan Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support For Cuba's Pro-Democracy Movement
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07.13.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
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07.07.21
Durbin Calls On Justice Department To Reconsider Its Approach To Ongoing Detention At Guantanamo Bay
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07.07.21
Durbin, Colleagues Call On Inter-American Commission On Human Rights To Complete Investigation Of Death Of Cuban Political Reformer Oswaldo Paya
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05.26.21
Durbin Discusses Water And Mobility With USAID Administrator Power
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05.25.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Ukrainian Ambassador To United States
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05.25.21
Durbin Urges Senate To Support Bipartisan U.S. Innovation And Competition Act
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05.25.21
Following Arrest Of Belarusian Activist From Airline, Durbin & Rubio Urge Pres. Biden To Direct FAA To Prohibit U.S. Aircraft From Entering Belarus' Air Space
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05.12.21
Durbin Statement On Escalating Violence In Israel
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04.23.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 2 To Discuss Benefits In The American Rescue Plan
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04.22.21
Durbin, Shaheen, Boozman Applaud Committee Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Increase U.S. Exports To Africa
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04.16.21
Durbin, Leahy, Senate Democrats Urge Biden To Finally Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
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04.13.21
Durbin, Duckworth & Colleagues Urge President Biden To Return To Iran Nuclear Agreement
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02.04.21
Durbin Statement on President Biden's Decision to Halt U.S. Military Involvement in Yemen
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01.25.21
Durbin, Sanders, Garcia, Colleagues Call on Treasury to Support IMF Assistance for Developing Nations Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
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01.21.21
Durbin Meets with William Burns, Biden Nominee for CIA Director
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01.19.21
Durbin Introduces Tony Blinken, Biden Nominee for Secretary of State, at Nomination Hearing
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01.11.21
Durbin Discusses American Global Leadership with Tony Blinken, Biden Nominee for Secretary of State
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12.18.20
Durbin: I Don't Understand the White House's Silence in the Face of Russian Cyberattack
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12.17.20
Durbin Calls for Senate Action to Protect Hong Kong Residents from Persecution
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12.04.20
Durbin, Menendez Statement Ahead of Maduro Regime's Sham Elections in Venezuela
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09.24.20
Durbin Discusses Troop Withdrawal From Germany, COVID-19 Testing With Secretary Of Defense
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09.22.20
Durbin, Kaine, And Murphy Express Support For Belarusian Presidential Candidate
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09.17.20
Durbin, Senate Dems Unveil America Leads Act To Confront The Rise Of China
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09.15.20
Ahead Of Upcoming National Assembly Elections, Durbin Shares Support For Venezuelan President Juan Guaido
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09.14.20
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce Bipartisan Resolution In Support Of Belarusian People
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09.10.20
Durbin, Booker Introduce Bill To Reverse Trump Withdrawal From The World Health Organization
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09.09.20
Durbin Joins Risch, Cardin In Condemning In Violence In Anglophone Cameroon
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09.03.20
Durbin Meets With Chicago Area Hong Kong Democracy Activists
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09.03.20
Durbin, Leading Senate Dems Demand Immediate U.S. Sanctions For Russian Interference In 2020 Elections
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08.25.20
Durbin, Cardin, Rubio, Young Call For Justice & Accountability On Third Anniversary Of Rohingya Genocide
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08.06.20
Senate Passes Durbin, Rubio, Cardin Bipartisan Resolution Calling For Free, Fair, & Transparent Election In Belarus
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07.16.20
Durbin Discusses International Response To COVID-19 With Catholic Relief Services
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07.01.20
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Support Global Financial Institutions Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
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06.30.20
Durbin, Menendez, Reed Seek Details On Pompeo's, Esper's Awareness Of Russian Bounties On U.S. Troops
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06.26.20
Senate Passes Durbin Resolution To Reaffirm U.S. Commitment To Global Effort To Find COVID-19 Vaccine
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06.03.20
Durbin Continues To Push To Pass Resolution To Reaffirm U.S. Commitment To Global Effort To Find COVID-19 Vaccine
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05.29.20
Durbin Statement On President Trump Ending United States' Relationship With World Health Organization
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05.19.20
Durbin Asks For Unanimous Consent To Consider Resolution To Reaffirm U.S. Commitment To Global Effort To Find COVID-19 Vaccine
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03.09.20
Durbin, Grassley Introdcue Bipartisan Resolution To Celebrate 30th Anniversary Of Restoration Of Independence Of Baltic States
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02.28.20
Durbin Statement On Humanitarian Crisis In Idlib, Syria
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02.13.20
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Iran War Powers Resolution
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02.12.20
Durbin Calls On Senate Colleagues To Support Iran War Powers Resolution
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01.14.20
Durbin: The Power To Declare War Rests Solely With Congress
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01.08.20
Durbin Calls On Philippine Government To Release Filipina Senator De Lima
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01.08.20
Durbin, Senate Dems Demand Answers From Defense Department On Number Of Troop Deployment To Middle East Following Recent Strike
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01.06.20
Durbin: Only Congress Has The Power To Declare War With Iran
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01.03.20
Durbin, Kaine File War Powers Resolution To Require Congressional Authorization For War With Iran
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12.30.19
Durbin Statement On Continued Detention Of Philippine Senator Leila De Lima
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12.10.19
Durbin, Blackburn To Burmese State Counsellor: We Urge You To Fully Cooperate With ICJ
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11.19.19
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Hong Kong Human Rights And Democracy Act
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11.15.19
Durbin, Colleagues Continue To Press Pompeo On Determination To Exclude Saudi Arabia From Child Soldiers List
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11.07.19
Ahead Of President Trump's Meeting With Erdogan, Durbin & Senate Democrats Press President Trump For Comprehensive Plan That Addresses Unanswered Questions About Admin's Efforts To Counter ISIS
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11.06.19
Durbin Shares Support For Venezuelan President Juan Guiado, Receives Update On Current Situation
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11.05.19
Durbin, Colleagues to DOD IG: Investigate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative Funding That Was Held By Trump Administration
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10.31.19
Durbin Meets With Top Venezuelan Diplomat & Foreign Minister For Guiadó Government
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09.25.19
Durbin, Menendez, Leahy Respond To Trump Falsehood On Ukraine
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09.24.19
Durbin, Engel, Leahy, Malinowski Call For U.S. Ambassador To Hungary To Uphold American Democratic & Security Norms
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09.18.19
Durbin Warns Against Escalating Tensions With Iran
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09.10.19
Durbin Discusses The Importance Of Continued U.S. Global Engagement At Council On Foreign Relations
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09.06.19
Durbin, Colleagues Urge President Trump To Push For Action Against North Korea For Violation Of U.N. Security Resolutions
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09.03.19
Durbin, Shaheen, Portman Lead Bipartisan Ukraine Caucus Leadership Letter Urging Trump Administration To Release Obligated Military Security Assistance For Ukraine
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07.31.19
Durbin, Menendez Meet With Venezuela Special Envoy Elliot Abrams
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07.29.19
Durbin Statement on Trump Administration's Continued Effort To Sell Arms To Saudi Arabia
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07.25.19
Durbin Meets With Trump Nominee To Be U.S. Ambassador To UN, Kelly Craft
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07.17.19
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Brunei For Barbaric Laws
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07.17.19
Durbin, Duckworth Praise Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating Fifth Anniversary Of Ukraine's Revolution Of Dignity