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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Durbin To USPS: Investigate Reports Of Discrimination At Cesar Chavez Post Office In Pilsen

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the United States Postal Service (USPS) to move swiftly to investigate reports of discriminatory treatment of non-English speaking customers and missing translation-friendly signage at the Cesar Chavez Post Office, located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. In a letter to USPS, Durbin asked for findings and recommendations for corrective action as soon as possible and for USPS to provide a summary of its investigation when i… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Detection Of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, today released the following statement after the U.S. Air Force detected 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 wat… Continue Reading

During Trip To Puerto Rico, Durbin, Garcia Highlight Reconstruction & Resiliency Efforts In Aftermath Of Recent Natural Disasters

SAN JUAN-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) today joined a delegation of members from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to visit Puerto Rico. The delegation assessed the progress of the recovery efforts and evaluated the assistance the island needs for reconstruction and resiliency efforts in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes. Illinois has the seventh largest population of Puerto Ricans in the United Sta… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Democratic Colleagues In Fighting To Protect People With Pre-Existing Conditions In FY21 Budget

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today in leading 44 other Democratic Senators in a letter to the Administration urging President Trump to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the law of the land and provides health care coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions including more than five million Illinoisans. Despite Trump's misleading statements about pr… Continue Reading