Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Statement on Next Step in the Implementation of New U.S. Deportation Policy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin released the following statement today after the Department of Homeland Security announced the next steps in the implementation of the Obama Administration's new deportation policy: "I strongly support the Obama Administration's new deportation policy and I commend the Department of Homeland Security for the steps it is taking today to implement this policy. But more needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly. Many young people who … Continue Reading
November 07, 2011
Durbin Calls on Federal and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Develop Action Plan to Apprehend International Fugitives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on federal and local law enforcement officials to develop an action plan to apprehend international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois. While noting a shared concern over the growing problem, Durbin asked for a meeting between federal, state and local law enforcement officials to make sure that all efforts are coordinated in order to bring these dangerous … Continue Reading
November 02, 2011
Durbin Presses Gambian Government on Chief Manneh Case
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to the Gambian Attorney General, Edward Gomez, requesting information about Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist who has been missing for more than five years. According to recent comments by Attorney General Gomez, Manneh, who many worried had died while in Gambian custody, is alive. "I am writing to request immediate information regarding Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist with the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2011
Durbin Voices Concerns Over Continued Violence in Syria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to UN Ambassador Susan Rice today, urging continued US pressure on the Syrian regime in the face of continued violence and serious human rights concerns. Durbin also asked Ambassador Rice to push the UN Security Council to further investigate reports of murder, torture, summary executions and disappearances and refer credible allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court. … Continue Reading
October 21, 2011
Durbin Statement on President's Announcement of Troop Withdrawal from Iraq
[CHICAGO, IL] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, after President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of this year: "During the President's announcement today, he stated what most Americans feel: we are so proud of what our troops have done." "We have made great sacrifices for the country of Iraq: $1 trillion has been spent on the war there, 4,400 American lives have been lost there, … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Durbin Statement on South Korea, Panama and Columbia Free Trade Agreements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after he voted in favor of the free trade agreements with South Korea and Panama and against the free trade agreement with Colombia: "Exports can strengthen our manufacturing and agriculture sectors and create good paying jobs across Illinois. In order to help our economy grow, we need to be able to access new markets and eliminate trade barriers for U.S. exporters." "We must ensure that we … Continue Reading
September 24, 2011
Durbin Applauds Faith Leaders for Holding DREAM Sabbath
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) commended religious leaders from a broad variety of faith traditions today for celebrating the DREAM Sabbath - an initiative enlisting churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act. The nationwide event began this weekend, and will continue into the fall. The DREAM Sabbath was created to build on the broad grassroots support for … Continue Reading
September 13, 2011
The Situation in Syria
Mr. President, the world has witnessed considerable upheaval across the Middle East this year as citizens from all walks of life have turned out by the millions to say enough to repressive regimes, stagnant political systems, and a lack of economic opportunities. In fact, we should probably look back to the summer of 2009 when thousands upon thousands of ordinary Iranians bravely took to the streets to peacefully protest the country's likely stolen election. These Iranian citizens were … Continue Reading
September 08, 2011
Durbin: States Making it Harder for People to Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, chaired a hearing today which examined a rash of new state voting laws that threaten to suppress turnout across the country. New laws in over a dozen states significantly reduce the number of early voting days, require voters to show restrictive forms of photo identification before voting, and make it harder for volunteer organizations to register new … Continue Reading
August 03, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in Homeless Prevention Grants for Illinois Veterans
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $1,159,122 in homeless prevention grants to two Illinois organizations that serve homeless and at-risk veteran families. The funding is provided through the new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. "Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,000 homeless veterans were on the street," said Durbin. "We must ensure that when our brave men and women … Continue Reading
July 26, 2011
Durbin Calls for Human Rights Awareness in the Congo at the Holocaust Memorial Museum
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a speech at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called attention to the human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and what the US can do to reduce the violence and hold perpetrators accountable. The speech was part of the "Voices from the Congo" conference, co-hosted by the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience, The National Endowment for Democracy, and the Eastern Congo Initiative, which aids … Continue Reading
July 19, 2011
Durbin Commends the Gates Foundation and USAID for Clean Water Initiatives in the Developing World
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for investing $8.5 million in the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) new WASH for Life grant program. WASH for Life will use USAID's Development Innovation Ventures program to seek, test, and scale cost-effective and sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) delivery systems in developing countries. USAID will match The Gates … Continue Reading
June 28, 2011
Durbin, Maloney Introduce Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced the Family and Medical Leave Inclusion Act today, which will allow employees to take unpaid leave to care for a same-sex spouse or partner, parent-in-law, adult child, sibling, grandchild or grandparent. "Regardless of the make-up of one's family, all employees should be given the same rights to care for a sick loved one in a time of need," Durbin said. "For 20 … Continue Reading
June 22, 2011
Durbin Statement on Plan to Begin Drawdown of US Forces in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight, after President Obama announced plans to begin the drawdown of American forces in Afghanistan: "The President's announcement that we will withdraw 30,000 of our 100,000 troops from Afghanistan by next summer is a step towards the end of this long war." "We invaded Afghanistan to end al Qaeda and with the killing of Osama bin Laden and his top lieutenants, we have … Continue Reading
June 07, 2011
Durbin Discusses Rock Island Arsenal with Secretary of Defense Nominee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of Defense and current Director of the CIA, Leon Panetta, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed his concerns about the possibility that an internal task force within Army could recommend closure of the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) at Rock Island Arsenal. Last week, after touring the JMTC facilities, Durbin spoke with Army Secretary John McHugh who assured him that there are no current … Continue Reading
May 24, 2011
Durbin Meets with Former Lithuanian President Landsbergis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Vytautas Landsbergis, the first president of Lithuania and current member of the European Parliament. Landsbergis was joined by a number of senior Lithuanian officials. Today's meeting follows the EU's Monday announcement that revealed toughened sanctions against Lithuania's neighbor county, Belarus. The new sanctions extended asset freezes and travel restrictions to thirteen additional Belarusian … Continue Reading
May 24, 2011
Durbin, Kirk and Delegation Call on President to Provide Federal Relief for Southern Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois and to provide relief to the 14 Southern Illinois counties affected by a series of severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding in April and May. A Presidential disaster declaration would allow cities and counties to apply for federal reimbursements … Continue Reading
May 24, 2011
Durbin Welcomes AIPAC President as Special Guest to Joint Session of Congress with Israeli PM
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed the President of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Chicago native Lee Rosenberg, as his guest to an address by the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to a joint session of Congress. Durbin, the Assistant Senate Majority Leader, member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the council that oversees the U.S Holocaust Memorial Museum, met with Rosenberg prior to the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2011
Durbin Introduces Bill to Aid Reforestation Efforts in Haiti
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) has introduced legislation to aid reforestation efforts in Haiti. Once covered by thick tropical forest, Haiti is now 98 percent deforested. That deforestation has caused widespread soil erosion; the destruction of natural barriers from hurricanes; and contributes to widespread and abject poverty. The Haiti Reforestation Act seeks to end the rapid and near total deforestation of the island-nation and restore Haiti's … Continue Reading
May 11, 2011
Durbin, Reid, Menendez, 30 Others Introduce the DREAM Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and 30 other Senators introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act today - a narrowly tailored bill to give undocumented students a chance to earn legal status if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good … Continue Reading