Press Releases
In Consultation After Legally-Required Deadline, Durbin Presses Trump Administration On Dismal Refugee Resettlement Goal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ken Cuccinelli to press the Trump Administration on its dismal refugee resettlement goal of merely 18,000 to the U.S. in the coming year. Prior to any presidential determination on the number of refugees to be admitted in the upcoming fiscal year, the law r… Continue Reading
10.15.19
Durbin Introduces Bill To Improve Concussion Safety In Youth Sports
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, a bill that would strengthen elementary and secondary school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year, though many go unreported. Durbin's bill requires states to adopt "when in … Continue Reading
10.10.19
Durbin Continues To Push For Quincy Bay Restoration Project
QUINCY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local officials and members of the Quincy Bay Area Restoration and Enhancement Association (QBAREA) to discuss the need to restore one of the largest natural bays of the Upper Mississippi River. Last month, Durbin included language in the Senate FY2020 Energy & Water appropriations bill directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to continue working with Quincy to prioritize the environmental restoration project at Quincy Bay. "Th… Continue Reading
10.09.19
Durbin Highlights New Federal Law To Support Rural Emergency Medical Services
NAUVOO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined leaders from the Nauvoo Fire Protection District to discuss passage and implementation of the Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act. Originally introduced by Durbin in May 2018, along with U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the bipartisan SIREN Act authorized new funding for a federal grant program that supports rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and r… Continue Reading
10.09.19
Durbin Discusses Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform At Bradley University
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today addressed students and staff at Bradley University regarding his efforts to pass bipartisan criminal justice reform. Last year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) authored the landmark First Step Act, which reduces sentences for nonviolent drug offenses and establishes programs to reduce crime by better preparing inmates for productive reentry to society after release. The First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform legis… Continue Reading
10.08.19
Durbin And Bustos Announce New Legislation To Protect First Responders Roadside
EAST MOLINE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today held a news conference to announce new legislation designed to reduce first responder roadside deaths by establishing a new national safety priority within an existing federal grant program to increase public awareness of "Move Over" laws and encourage implementation of life-saving vehicle technology. "We need to do more to respond to the alarming rise in first responder roadside deaths," Durbin s… Continue Reading
10.04.19
Durbin Statement On Poland's Possible Entry Into Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Department of State's announcement regarding Poland's entry into the Visa Waiver Program: For years I have battled in Congress for visa waivers for our Polish visitors. I know so many Polish Americans who simply want their family and friends from Poland to have easier access to visit America. Now I hope we are finally moving forward. I look forward to receiving more information about the State Department… Continue Reading
10.04.19
Congressional Leaders File Bipartisan Amicus Brief In Support Of DACA In The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) today led 49 Senators and former Senators and 123 U.S. Representatives and former Representatives in filing a bipartisan amicus brief in the Supreme Court in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on DACA on November 12, 2019. President Trump terminated the DACA program on September 5, 2017, throwing the lives of nearly 800,000 Dreamers… Continue Reading
10.03.19
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration To Protect Health Coverage For People With Pre-Existing Conditions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 37 other Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions by limiting the proliferation of "junk plans" - short-term insurance plans that can exclude coverage for essential benefits and provide no protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. … Continue Reading
10.03.19
Durbin Marks The One Year Anniversary Of The Chicago HEAL Initiative With Discussion On Workforce Development In Health Care Professions
CHICAGO - As part of a third day of events to mark the one-year anniversary of the Chicago Hospital Engagement, Action, and Leadership (HEAL) Initiative, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with leaders from Advocate Christ Medical Center to discuss Advocate's Workforce Development Initiative, which provides training and education in health care professions for community members. "Our efforts under the Chicago HEAL Initiative are just the beginning, but I am optimistic about the impact we will… Continue Reading
10.02.19
Durbin Marks The One Year Anniversary Of The Chicago HEAL Initiative With Discussion On Career Development And Trauma-Informed Care In Schools
CHICAGO - As part of a second day of events to mark the one-year anniversary of the Chicago Hospital Engagement, Action, and Leadership (HEAL) Initiative, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), met with leaders from Northwestern Medicine, Lurie's Children Hospital, and Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to discuss how the hospitals are collaborating with CPS to support career development and trauma-informed care for students "Our efforts under the Chicago HEAL Initiative are just the beginning, but I am op… Continue Reading
10.01.19
Durbin Marks The One Year Anniversary Of The Chicago HEAL Initiative, Releases Interim Report
CHICAGO - To mark the one year anniversary of the Chicago Hospital Engagement, Action, and Leadership (HEAL) Initiative, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), together with ten Chicago-area hospitals and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA), today released a one-year interim report on the activities undertaken by the hospitals to improve health and reduce violence in underserved communities across Chicago. Launched in October 2018 by Senator Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals servin… Continue Reading
10.01.19
Durbin, Colleagues To JUUL / Altria: Protect Children Over Profits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Udall (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today sent letters to JUUL Labs' new CEO K.C. Crosthwaite and Altria CEO Howard Willard slamming the companies for their role in fueling the youth vaping epidemic and probing the recent corporate marriage of JUUL-the most popular e-cigarette product among children-with Altri… Continue Reading
09.30.19
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Sterigenics Closing Willowbrook Facility
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigenics, Inc. announced it would close its facility: "This is welcome news for Willowbrook residents, but we remain troubled that the Trump EPA was content remaining on the sidelines instead of taking action on this public health crisis. The agency's lack of urgency to use its authority to issue updated federal emission standards for ethylene oxid… Continue Reading
09.30.19
Durbin, Duckworth Celebrate Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) continued the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by co-sponsoring a bipartisan Senate resolution recognizing September 15 through October 15, 2019, as a month to celebrate and honor Hispanic culture in the United States. Led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by 42 other Senators, the resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate last week. "I'm proud to stand alongside my Senate colleagues to celebrat… Continue Reading
09.30.19
Durbin, Duckworth Democratic Colleagues File Paperwork To Force Senate Vote To Reserve Harmful Trump Administration Rule That Rolls Back Pre-Existing Condition Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats, led by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), in filing paperwork that will force a Senate vote to protect people with pre-existing conditions from yet another attempt by the Trump Administration to gut the Affordable Care Act. Senate Democrats filed a discharge petition on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would roll back President Trump's 1332 waiver rule-a rule which would sabotage Americans… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Durbin Announces Summer 2019 Recipient Of The Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Elizabeth Flores, a college senior from Chicago, was the recipient of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program for summer 2019. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in Senator Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. The program was created in honor of Durbin's former Chief of Staff who passed away… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Chicago, Illinois Student Interns In Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON - Chicago, Illinois, native Rasa Kerelis spent this summer interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office as an intern. Each year, close to 50 interns work in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. "I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois," Durbin said. "I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a stud… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Springfield, Illinois Student Interns In Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON - Springfield, Illinois, native Mackenzi Matthews spent this summer interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office as an intern. Each year, close to 50 interns work in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. "I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois," Durbin said. "I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As… Continue Reading
09.27.19
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Latest Assault On Refugees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it will aim to admit only 18,000 refugees to the U.S. in the coming year and issued an executive order purporting to allow state and local governments to block refugees from being resettled in their communities: "In the midst of the worst refugee crisis in history, the Trump Administration ha… Continue Reading