Durbin Discusses Public Safety With Rockford Mayor, Police Chief, And Fire Department Chief

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, new Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, and new Rockford Fire Department Chief Michele Pankow. Redd and Pankow are the first female chiefs to lead their Departments. During the meeting, Durbin offered his support to help enhance public safety and prevent violent crime in Rockford. "Our local leaders are critical in implementing strategies to prevent crime and keep our communities safe. It was grea… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Environmental Leaders For Discussion On Clean Energy, Infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with leaders of Illinois environmental groups to discuss the state's clean energy and infrastructure priorities. On the call, Durbin provided details on the passed budget resolution and suggested provisions in the upcoming reconciliation bill, including a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), which would pay utilities to produce more clean energy each year. Durbin and the environmental leaders went on to discuss t… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses New Cancer Treatment Center With University Of Chicago

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Dr. Kenneth Polonsky, President of UChicago Medicine Health System, and Dr. Kunle Odunsi, Director of UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the University of Chicago's new Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCMC). On the call, Durbin spoke about federal funding to support the hospital's mission and the institution's National Institutes of Health (NIH) designation as a comprehensive cancer center. UCMC is… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Bombing Attacks in Afghanistan

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the attacks outside the Kabul airport and the Baron Hotel in Afghanistan: "Today's heinous attacks in Kabul targeted American citizens, service members, diplomats, and vulnerable Afghans trying to flee for their safety. My heart is with families and loved ones of the service members and other innocent people who have been injured or killed in these acts of terror. "Once the airport and s… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Take Advantage of Parole To Expedite Evacuation Of Afghans

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 27 Senators this week in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to expedite efforts to evacuate Afghans at risk as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Senators specifically pushed for the Administration to explore the use of parole to speed up entry for Afghan… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Grants For Three Rural EMS Agencies in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that three rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Illinois have been awarded a total of $381,091 in federal grant funding. This federal funding was created by Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, which was signed into law in 2018. Today's funding supports EMS agencies in responding to the opioid epidemic, COVID-19 pandemic, and other rural health challenges, inc… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Afghan Community Members & Resettlement Leaders

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Afghan American community members and resettlement leaders to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. During the meeting, Durbin committed to continuing to advocate for at-risk Afghans - both those being evacuated out of Afghanistan and those seeking refuge in the United States. Durbin was joined by Sima Quraishi, Executive Director of the Muslim Women's Resource Center (MWRC) in Chicago. "It was my pleas… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging SBA To Grant Economic Injury Disaster Declaration For Ford County

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting that Ford County be granted an Economic Injury Disaster Declaration following severe flooding earlier this month. The letter comes in support of Governor J.B. Pritzker's request after his office determined that the severity of flood damage was beyond the capacity of sta… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Rahm Emanuel To Serve As Ambassador To Japan

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration's intent to nominate Rahm Emanuel as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan: "Rahm Emanuel has a lifetime of public service preparing him to speak for America. Japan is an important strategic partner in Asia, particularly in light of our continued challenges from China. I will do all I can to help Rahm become America's voice in Japan." -30-… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Effort Urging Biden Administration To Immediately Evacuate SIV Applicants & Fully Implement Their SIV Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and 51 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging the Biden Administration to address the quickly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan that threatens the lives of tens of thousands of Afghan partners. In the letter, the Senators call for the urgent evacuation of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicant… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Members Of Chicago Delegation In Letter To Head Start Community To Encourage Continuing Services Amid New Funding Process

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-7), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-4), Robin Kelly (D-IL-2), Marie Newman (D-IL-3), Bobby Rush (D-IL-1), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), sent a letter to encourage the Chicago Head Start community to continue supporting families during the COVID-19 pandemic while the Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Chicago are transitioning to a n… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Afghanistan

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the situation in Afghanistan: "President Biden understands history when it comes to Afghanistan. He made the difficult decision to not hand over this longest of American wars to a fifth president. And had he walked away from the withdraw agreement originally negotiated by President Trump, Taliban attacks on U.S. forces would have restarted and required yet another surge in U.S. troops. … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Illinois' Position As Electric Vehicle Leader With EVBox

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the leadership of EVBox to discuss the Amsterdam-based company's new headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois. On the call, Durbin spoke about the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the $7.5 billion for EV charging infrastructure that will help the U.S. and Illinois invest in the future of cleaner, electric transportation. Durbin reiterated his commitmen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Booker Urge President Biden To Use Executive Authority To Allow Federal Inmates To Remain On Home Confinement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, today sent a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to rescind a Trump-era opinion that would force federal inmates on home confinement to return to prison following the COVID-19 pandemic. In their letter, Durbin and Booker note that the Office of Legal Counsel's … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a budget resolution, the first step in consideration of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal and President Biden's Build Back Better agenda later this year: "Senate Democrats stood together to take the first step towards consideration of a bill that would make generational investments in our future-investments that address climate change, close the income and opportunity… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a budget resolution, the first step in consideration of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal and President Biden's Build Back Better agenda later this year: "Senate Democrats stood together to take the first step towards consideration of a bill that would make generational investments in our future-investments that address climate change, close the income and opportunity… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos' Protecting Roadside First Responders Act In Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designed to reduce crashes involving distracted driving and prevent first responder roadside deaths. Authored by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act requires the implementation of life-saving, crash avoidance safety technologies including a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Bipartisan Bill To Save Seniors, Taxpayers Billions In Prescription Drug Costs Passes Senate As Part Of Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that their bipartisan bill to reduce wasteful spending on discarded medications that are the result of excessively large, single-use drug vials has passed the Senate as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act will enable Medicare to recoup money from drug companies who are paid for wasted medication… Continue Reading

Durbin: Big Pharma Must Be Held Accountable For Fueling The Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor slamming the pharmaceutical industry for igniting the opioid overdose epidemic and profiting off the suffering of Americans. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about his efforts to rein in opioid overproduction after Big Pharma flooded communities in the United States with 100 billion painkillers between 2006 and 2014. In 2018, Durbin passed a bipartisan bill to strengthen the Drug Enforcement Admin… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On Officer French And Straw Purchases Of Firearms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not lawfully buy a gun for himself. "I hope that justice is delivered swiftly and fairly for the perpetrators of this horrible crime," Durbin said. "As hear… Continue Reading