Durbin Statement on Introduction of COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bills

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in support of the $748 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, health care providers, housing and education assistance, and more:  “Today, the U.S. hit another grim milestone—300,000 lives lost to COVID-19.  My heart goes out to the family and… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on FDA Authorization of Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: "I trust our medical and public health leaders who were committed to prioritizing the safety and effectiveness of this vaccine. We should be ready to roll up our sleeves, help is now on the way. We can finally see a path out of pandemic hell. Special thanks to the scientists and researchers w… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of NDAA Conference Report

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report. President Donald Trump has threatened to veto the NDAA over a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate generals and for not including a repeal of Section 230 liability protection for tech companies. "The Senate's … Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Require COVID-19 Data Collection in Immigration Detention Facilities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to introduce the bicameral COVID-19 in Immigration Detention Data Transparency Act, which would require immigration-detention facilities to collect and publicly report data about COVID-19 cases and the preventative measures in place in these facilities. "In the midst of this pandemic, we are reminded every day that America would be lost without immigrants. At the same time, thousands of immigrants are languishing in an… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Update on Ft. Hood and Illinois Army Reserve Investigations From Army Secretary

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy to receive an update on the concluded Fort Hood review following the death of Pfc. Vanessa Guillen, who was determined to be a sexual harassment victim. The findings of the independent civilian review board were released Tuesday, and cited widespread problems and a "toxic culture," where leaders fail to investigate crimes and lack of confidence in punishing offenders created a "permissive environment f… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Virtual Caregiving Town Hall to Discuss Support for Caregivers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined an Unpaid Caregiver Virtual Town Hall - hosted by United Way of Illinois, Illinois PIRG, and Economic Security for Illinois - to discuss the importance of unpaid caregiving and listen to personal caregiving experiences. During the event, Durbin also discussed his support for expanding and modernizing the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Older Americans Act, which was reauthorized in March and included a Durbin bill to increase fund… Continue Reading

Durbin: Stop Moving Trump Nominees Through the Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called out the Republican majority's handling of nominations in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Since 1984, the Committee has only twice ever held a nomination hearing during a lame duck session of a presidential election year and both of those hearings followed the re-election of a sitting president. "Over the past four years, the Republican side has moved at break-neck speed to c… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief Bill with SEIU President

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the status of a COVID-19 relief bill with the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Mary Kay Henry. During the call, Durbin discussed his efforts in drafting a bipartisan $908 billion relief package that includes funding for state and local governments, unemployment insurance, small businesses, health care providers, testing and vaccine distribution, housing and education assistance, and more. "We are in the m… Continue Reading

Durbin, Booker Call for President Trump to Issue a Commutation Reducing the Sentence of Brandon Bernard, Who is Scheduled to be Executed Tomorrow, December 10

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on President Donald Trump to issue a commutation reducing the sentence of Brandon Bernard, who is scheduled to be executed tomorrow, December 10. Mr. Bernard was sentenced to death in June 2000 as an accomplice to a crime committed when he was just 18 years old. Five of the jurors who condemned him to death twenty years ago now oppose the imposition of the death p… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Nursing Homes with AARP Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with AARP Illinois State Director Bob Gallo and State Chapter President Rosanna Marquez about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on older Americans, especially at nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. On the call, Durbin discussed the importance of passing a new COVID-19 emergency relief bill that includes dedicated testing and personal protection equipment (PPE) funding to ensure the safety of seniors in long-term care faci… Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Nadler Introduce the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2020

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), today introduced the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2020, bicameral legislation to simplify and modernize the consumer bankruptcy system to make it easier for individuals and families forced into bankruptcy to get back on their feet. "As we grapple with the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, American families will … Continue Reading

Durbin to McConnell: Don't Hold Emergency COVID-19 Relief For Families & Small Businesses Hostage Over Liability Immunity for Corporations

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief framework, which totals $908 billion, to the Senate floor for a vote. The bipartisan framework includes funding for state and local governments, unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, health care providers, housing and education assistance, and mor… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Congress to Quickly Pass Emergency, Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief That Prioritizes Working Families—Not Corporations

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a virtual news conference to discuss the need for Congress to quickly pass an emergency, bipartisan COVID-19 relief package. Durbin worked with a bipartisan group of Senators in putting together a $908 billion framework earlier this week that includes funding for state and local governments, unemployment insurance, small businesses, health care providers, testing and vaccine distribution, housing and education assistance, and more. Democra… Continue Reading

Durbin Bill to Rename Will County Post Office in Honor of Larry Walsh Sr. Passes Senate

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate unanimously passed legislation he introduced to rename the U.S. Post Office facility located at 303 E. Mississippi Ave. in Elwood, Illinois, after former Will County Executive Lawrence M. "Larry" Walsh Sr. Walsh, who passed away at the age of 72 on June 3, 2020, after a brave fight with prostate cancer, began his career in public service at the age of 21. For the next 50 years, Walsh served on the school board, in the … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Booker to Introduce Resolution Calling for First United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the United States Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, urging Congress to form the first commission acknowledging and examining the systemic racism that has disenfranchised Black Americans and other communities of color throughout U.S. history and the racial inequities that persist today. U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) introduced the … Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With American Business Immigration Coalition About Need For Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today spoke at the American Business Immigration Coalition's Summit, entitled "Reigniting the Economic Engine: Immigration Solutions 2021," about the possibility of comprehensive immigration reform under a Democratic-controlled Senate. Durbin was a member of the "Gang of 8" - four Republicans and four Democrats - that authored comprehensive immigration legislation that p… Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez Statement Ahead of Maduro Regime's Sham Elections in Venezuela

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today issued the following statement denouncing the Maduro regime's sham elections scheduled to take place on Sunday, December 6. "For nearly two years, world leaders have stood in solidarity with Interim President Juan Guaidó and Venezuela's last democratically-elected institution, the National Assembly, as they have faced severe political repression an… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With Biden Nominee For DHS Secretary, Ali Mayorkas

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today spoke with President-elect Joe Biden's nominee to be Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, Alejandro "Ali" Mayorkas. If confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Mayorkas would be the first Hispanic and the first immigrant to lead DHS. "Mr. Mayorkas is an exceptionally qualified nominee to run the Department of Homeland Security. During our call today, we discussed… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Resolution in Support of Thailand's Pro-Democracy Movement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and a group of six of their Senate colleagues today introduced a Senate Resolution to underscore the United States' commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Thailand. The Senators' resolution follows recent demonstrations by Thailand's pro-democracy movement, which have been met with violence and repression by the country's monarchy and government. Joining Durbin, Duckworth, and Mene… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $52 Million To Support Head Start And Early Head Start In Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $52.7 million in federal grant funding to the City of Chicago for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, will support comprehensive child development programs for low-income children from birth to age five. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are crucial for school re… Continue Reading