Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Reverse & Restore Military Funding After President Trump Repeatedly Raids Defense Department For His Border Wall
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined 30 additional Senators to introduce the Restoring Military Priorities Act of 2020. The bill would reverse and restore the Department of Defense's (DoD) recent short sighted and dangerous transfer of $3.8 billion to be used to build part of President Donald Trump's ineffective border wall. The bill also reduces DoD's transfer authority so that DoD can… Continue Reading
02.26.20
Durbin, Senate Dems Introduce Bill To Reverse & Restore Military Funding After President Trump Repeatedly Raids Defense Department For His Border Wall
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee; Doug Jones (D-AL), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; and 27 addition… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin Discusses Detection Of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base With Air Force Chief Of Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today met with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein to discuss the detection of the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), which may be impacting off-base water wells. The Air Force is now working to determine how many water wells might be impacted, whether people are consumin… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin Meets With Illinois Chapter Of The Postmasters And Managers Of America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the national and Illinois chapters of the United Postmasters and Managers of America, which represents current postmasters, managers, and supervisors, to discuss postal reforms and policies affecting federal employees. Durbin discussed critical postal issues including the Trump Administration's threat to privatize USPS service, and protecting 6-day delivery service. "USPS privatization would disproportionately hurt rural communities t… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Director Of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Linda Chapa LaVia to discuss Veterans issues in Illinois, including disability claims, mental health, and the needs of women Veterans. They also discussed supporting operations at Illinois Veterans' Homes (IVH) and progress in the construction of the Chicago Veterans Home project. "Senator Duckworth and I remain committed from the federal side to provi… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin: If You Want To Reduce Infant & Maternal Death Rates, Pass The MOMMA Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made a unanimous consent (UC) request to immediately pass his Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness (MOMMA) Act. Durbin's legislation seeks to reduce America's rising maternal and infant mortality rate, especially for moms and babies of color who are significantly more likely to die during or shortly after pregnancy. On average, maternal mortality claims the lives of 700 Americ… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin Calls For Increased Federal Funding To Address Coronavirus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to do more to address the coronavirus epidemic following the President's minimal and long overdue coronavirus funding request. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called out President Trump's continued years-long efforts to cut funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-two federal health agencies that our nation relies upon t… Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin Presses Secretary Azar On Administration's E-Cigarette Flavor Policy & Family Separation
WASHINGTON - During a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Services Appropriations Subcommittee hearing today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pressed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to reconsider the Trump Administration's decision to allow cheap, disposable e-cigarette flavors to remain on the market. Over the past two years of this presidency, our nation has seen a 135 percent increase in the number of children … Continue Reading
02.25.20
Durbin Meets With Chicago Department Of Public Health Commissioner To Discuss Coronavirus Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Department Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady to discuss public health priorities in Chicago, including addressing the coronavirus in Illinois. This morning, Durbin attended a Congressional briefing from the Trump Administration about the ongoing response to the coronavirus. Last night, the Trump Administration requested an emergency supplemental funding request of $2.5 billion to combat the spread of coronavi… Continue Reading
02.24.20
Durbin Measure To Support Family Caregivers Poised To Become Law
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a press conference to highlight his legislation to support family caregivers, which is expected to pass the Senate in the next few weeks as part of the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Durbin's bill will increase funding, training, and support for more than 34 million family caregivers in America. "On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) came out with a new study, which found that one in five adults in America are unpaid caregiv… Continue Reading
02.21.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Announce More Than $2.6 Million For Chicago Rockford International Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2,699,192 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to reconstruct a deicing containment facility at Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford. "Federal investments have helped improve operations at Chicago Rockford International Airport, and today's funding will ensure the deicing facility can be upgraded. I look forward to continuin… Continue Reading
02.20.20
Durbin, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Help Fund Responses To Public Health Emergencies As Global Threat Of Coronavirus
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to introduce the Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation to create a permanent funding mechanism to ensure quick and effective responses to future public health emergencies. "When a public health emergency hits, we need immediate and sufficient funding to save lives," said Durbin. "With this legislation, our federal health agencies can get ahead of public … Continue Reading
02.20.20
Durbin, Senators To Trump Administration: Don't Let Tobacco Companies Evade E-Cigarette Product Review
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 10 of his Democratic Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting clarification on his recent comments made on a radio program regarding Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of vaping products. Secretary Azar hinted the Trump Administration could create a big loophole for tobacco companies by saying that "not all vaping products" are required to apply for prema… Continue Reading
02.20.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Funding For Opportunity For Air Toxics Monitoring
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for grants to fund air quality monitoring projects to address localized air toxics issues. Durbin and Duckworth worked to include this funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill. "I urge communities throughout Illinois to take advantage of this funding opportunity, particularly those with concerns about ethylene oxide… Continue Reading
02.19.20
Durbin Meets With Vietnam Vet, Calls On Trump Administration To Stop Blocking Coverage For Agent Orange Diseases
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with a Vietnam Veteran who has battled bladder cancer and hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange and called on the Trump Administration to stop stonewalling extending critical health benefits to Vietnam veterans whose service exposed them to Agent Orange. In recent years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed expanding the list of Agent Orange presumptive diseases to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and Par… Continue Reading
02.19.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $11 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Central Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Central Illinois communities will receive a total of $11,601,766 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Central Illinois," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator Duckworth for federal … Continue Reading
02.19.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $5 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Rockford And Quad Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Northwest Illinois communities will receive a total of $5,255,185 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Rockford and the Quad Cities," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator Duckworth… Continue Reading
02.19.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $170 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Chicagoland Area
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Chicagoland communities will receive a total of $170 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout the Chicagoland area," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator Duckworth for federal … Continue Reading
02.18.20
Durbin Statement On Commutation Of Former Gov. Blagojevich
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump commuted the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich: "Former Governor Blagojevich betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom. "At a time when corruption by elected officials is still in the headlines, Illinois and Washington should mov… Continue Reading
02.18.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration To Request Emergency Funding For Novel Coronavirus Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 23 of their Democratic Senate colleagues to send a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney expressing their concern over the Trump Administration's failure so far to outline what additional resources it needs to respond to the rapidly developing coronavirus outbreak. The … Continue Reading