Ahead Of Upcoming National Assembly Elections, Durbin Shares Support For Venezuelan President Juan Guaido

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the approaching Venezuelan National Assembly elections on December 6, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke via phone to interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó about the ongoing violent repression and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the discredited regime of Nicolás Maduro. During today's call, Durbin reiterated his support for Guaidó and his constitutional role to help Venezuela return to the community of democracies,… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With National Children's Alliance About COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact On Child Abuse

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone today with National Children's Alliance members about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on the 40 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Illinois and the families they serve. On the call, Durbin heard from child protection professionals about their concerns that, despite a lower number of reported cases, child abuse may have increased during the pandemic due to unemployment, economic stress, and isolation with abusive parents or siblings. W… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With Illinois Farmers Union

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today spoke by phone with members of the Illinois Farmers Union about COVID-19 relief for farmers, support for ethanol producers, broadband, and strengthening trade markets. "Today I heard from members of the Illinois Farmers Union who shared their concerns about financial difficulties they continue to face from the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the decisions by the Trump Ad… Continue Reading

Durbin: COVID-19 Numbers Are Sobering, Senate Must Act Now

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's partisan COVID-19 relief proposal that failed to pass the Senate last week. Durbin urged Leader McConnell to start negotiating in good faith - as the Senate did in March when it passed the CARES Act… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With FDA Commissioner About COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process & Youth E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with Food and Dru Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn today about how he would ensure integrity in the COVID-19 vaccine approval process, citing concerns that political pressure on the vaccine timeline is undermining the FDA's scientific integrity and public trust. Durbin also discussed last Wednesday's long-awaited e-cigarette product application deadline, and pressed for FDA to strongly enforce its own regulations to p… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On EPA Decision To Deny Small Refinery Exemptions Under Renewable Fuel Standard

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today issued the following statement after an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to deny small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): "For years, President Trump has crippled American biofuels by allowing a record number of waivers for oil companies. His decisions have dragged Illinois farm income down, damaged an important corn market, and c… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On GAO Report Confirming USDA Mishandled Payments To Illinois Farmers For Trade Damages

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), both members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, to announce a new report from the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found the Trump Administration's payments to farmers harmed by the President's trade policies ultimately favored southern cotton growers who were less harmed compared to Illinois farmers and crops. The report is the result … Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce Bipartisan Resolution In Support Of Belarusian People

WASHINGTON - Following the disputed presidential elections in Belarus on September 9, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today to introduce a bipartisan resolution condemning the crackdown on peaceful protestors in Belarus and calling for the imposition of sanctions on responsible officials. "I will never forget traveling to Minsk in January 2011 to meet with the families of opposition candidates jai… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Urge Federal Reserve And Treasury To Increase Access To Main Street Lending Program

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin to establish more favorable terms for businesses and nonprofits participating in the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). In a letter to Chair Powell and Secretary Mnuchin, Durbin and Duckworth highlighted that many businesses and nonprofit organizations across Illinois - especially in Black and Brown communities that have been hit dis… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On HHS To Stop Diverting COVID-19 Tests From Illinois Schools And Fix The Shortfall In Testing Supplies

MAYWOOD - At a press conference today with Loyola University Chicago officials, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted ongoing testing challenges at schools and universities, and announced he was sending a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking how the Trump Administration plans to rectify the shortfall in testing supplies it has created at our universities and schools after Durbin learned HHS diverted shipments of COVID-19 tests bound for t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $20 Million For Metro East Port Improvements

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $20.8 million in federal funding for the St. Louis Bi-State Regional Ports Improvements Project, which will upgrade ports in the Metro East and St. Louis region. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This federal funding will help improve ports that are integral to the Metro East's economy and the nation's freight transportation network," Durbin said. "Se… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Pritzker Announce $20 Million Federal Grant For Joliet Transportation Project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Governor JB Pritzker today announced that the City of Joliet has been awarded $20 million in federal funding to support the I-55 at IL 59 Access Project. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) BUILD grant program. "This federal funding will help improve safety and ease congestion, while supporting local jobs and economic growth around Will County," Durbin said. "Senator Duckworth a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Booker Introduce Bill To Reverse Trump Withdrawal From The World Health Organization

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a bill to ensure the United States fulfills its commitments to the World Health Organization (WHO). Under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act, the United States will continue payments of its dues to the WHO and the other international organizations of which it is a member. Earlier this year, the White House announced it would begin the process of terminating the United States' relationship with the World Health Orga… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes Against Republican Coronavirus Legislation That Fails to Meet The Needs Of The American People

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against Republicans' partisan, "skinny" coronavirus response legislation: "It has been nearly four months since the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act. And as the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, Senate Republicans are still refusing to step up and provide families, workers, and local communities with adequate relief in the face of this public health and e… Continue Reading

Durbin To McConnell: We Need To Do More To Help Struggling Americans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's partisan COVID-19 relief proposal that doesn't provide adequate help to Americans in need. Durbin criticized the inclusion of a provision granting corporations federal liability immunity from lawsuit… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Illinois Priorities With National Guard Chief

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today discussed Illinois National Guard operations with Army General Dan Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Durbin asked Hokanson about his priorities as National Guard Chief, including whether the Guard plans to implement a new flying mission for Springfield 183rd. Durbin also discussed active National Guard operations, which has included Guardsmen on duty in the United Stat… Continue Reading

Durbin Condemns President Trump's Reopening Comments Disparaging U.S. Service Members On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus on the Senate floor in speaking out against President Donald Trump's reported comments disparaging U.S. service members, calling those who were injured or killed in battle "losers" and "suckers." Durbin cosponsored a resolution introduced today by Senator Duckworth, a decorated combat veteran who herself has been the subject of attacks by President… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins CEO Climate Dialogue To Discuss Bill To Fund A Clean Climate Future Fund

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke to members of the CEO Climate Dialogue, a group of 21 companies and four environmental nonprofit organizations, to discuss Durbin's America's Clean Future Fund Act. The bill, introduced in August, would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy, achieve critical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate a fair transition for workers from declining energy sectors, and renew America's commitment to remain a world lea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Feinstein, Nadler, Lofgren Call On Trump Administration To Consult Congress About Refugee Resettlement, As Required By Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee; U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-10), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19), Chairwoman of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, pressed the Trump Administration to restore our nation's long-standing bipartisan traditio… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lee, Coons Introduce Bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention For Drug Charges Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2020, a targeted bill that would eliminate the blanket presumption of pretrial detention for most federal drug charges. Pretrial detention rates in the federal system are at record high levels and on an upward trend across all demographic groups. This legislation would permit federal… Continue Reading