Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Biden Administration Hiring Reema Dodin, Durbin Floor Director, As Senate Liaison In Office Of Legislative Affairs
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the incoming Biden Administration hire of Reema Dodin, Durbin's Floor Director, as Senate Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs: "Reema began as a law school intern in my office fourteen years ago and progressed to become one of the most respected staffers on the Hill. She is smart, trusted, and has the respect of members and staff on both sides of the aisle. In short, Reema is j… Continue Reading
11.23.20
Durbin Statement on Senator Feinstein not Seeking Top Spot on Judiciary Committee
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) announcement that she would not seek the top Democratic spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee next Congress: "I want to thank Senator Feinstein for her distinguished leadership on the Judiciary Committee during turbulent years. She has been a champion for common-sense gun safety, reproductive rights, and man… Continue Reading
11.23.20
Durbin Announces Fall 2020 Recipients Of The Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Naomi Bolden, a college senior; Yanina Villagomez, a recent college graduate; and Ahmon Williams, a college freshman; all from Chicago, Illinois, as the three recipients of the Fall 2020 Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in Senator Durbin's Washington, … Continue Reading
11.23.20
Arlington Heights, Illinois, Student Interns In Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON - Arlington Heights, Illinois, native Rebecca Vibbert spent this fall interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), working virtually to assist the Senator's Capitol Hill office as an intern. "I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois," Durbin said. "I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a student from East St. Louis, Illinois, going to work in the office … Continue Reading
11.19.20
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief for Schools with National Education Association President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Becky Pringle, the new president of the National Education Association (NEA), about the need for additional COVID-19 stimulus funds for education and child care. Durbin discussed his support of the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act, which would provide $430 billion to the education sector, including $50 billion in grants to child care providers. "As the nation continues to reel from this awful pandemic, our educators a… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation in Opposing USDA Effort to End Food Stamp Program at Illinois Senior Living Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), today led the bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation on a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue opposing the Department's administrative overreach and ongoing efforts to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that serv… Continue Reading
11.18.20
Durbin Questions Indiana U.S. Attorney on Gun Trafficking During Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Thomas L. Kirsch II to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Kirsch whether he has taken any steps during his tenure as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana to crack down on illicit gun trafficking arising from Indiana gun shows. Durbin highlighted how the gun show loophole in Indiana - which allows private sellers at gun shows to sell weapons withou… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Durbin: Instead of Negotiating Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Legislation, McConnell Focused on Confirming More Under-Qualified Judges
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, 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 as COVID-19 cases spike across Illinois and the country. Durbin also slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) boycott of negotiations and delay in passing meaningful, bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation. Instead of focusing on … Continue Reading
11.17.20
Durbin Statement on President Trump's Decision to Draw Down Troop Levels in Afghanistan and Iraq
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's decision to draw down troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to 2,500 in each country, roughly half of the current levels of troops in each country: "When Congress voted on the authorization of the use of military force after 9/11, nobody could have predicted that it was the start of a nearly two … Continue Reading
11.17.20
Durbin Statement on New Federal Railroad Administration On-Time Performance Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a new Amtrak on-time performance (OTP) rule that sets a new metric for measuring Amtrak delays caused by freight rail interference: "If implemented properly, this new FRA rule will improve Amtrak's passenger rail service and efficiency," Durbin said. "By properly measuring the role freight rails play in Amtrak delays, we can improve Amtrak on-time performance,… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Durbin Calls on Facebook to Stem Rise of Hate and Conspiracy Groups on its Platform
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, which featured Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pressed Mr. Zuckerberg on recent incidents where hate and conspiracy groups used Facebook to plan and recruit-including the conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the "Kenosha Guard militia," which advocated for violence in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake and whose member later sho… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues on Letter to McConnell to Support TPS Holders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and 23 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package. Like millions across the country, T… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Durbin, Colleagues Press Facebook to Take Immediate Action to Combat Anti-Muslim Bigotry on its Platform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and 13 colleagues on a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling on the company to fully address the problem of anti-Muslim bigotry on its platform, which has enabled offline violence against Muslims in the United States and elsewhere around the world. "Facebook is a groundbreaking company that has revolutionized the way we communicate. Unfortunately, the conne… Continue Reading
11.13.20
As President Trump Purges Pentagon, Durbin Speaks With Acting Defense Secretary Miller
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today had a call with Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller following President Donald Trump's firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon leaders earlier this week. During the call, Durbin spoke with Acting Secretary Miller about the serious threats facing our country and the need to maintain stability at the Department of Defense during the tra… Continue Reading
11.13.20
Durbin, Pressley, Leahy, Booker to Trump Administration: Suspend All Federal Executions During Transition Period
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), today called on the Trump Administration to suspend all federal executions so the incoming Biden-Harris Administration can evaluate and determine the future use of the death penalty by the federal government. For more than 17 years, no federal death sentence was carried out. Then, in July 2020, Attorney General Bill Barr recklessly restarted feder… Continue Reading
11.13.20
Durbin Discusses Detection of PFAS Near Peoria and Springfield National Guard Bases with Air Force Secretary
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today spoke with U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett to discuss the detection of the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Peoria and Springfield Air National Guard Bases. The Air Force and Air National Guard will now conduct investigations off-base to determine if any drinking water supply locally may be impacte… Continue Reading
11.11.20
Durbin Honors America's Veterans
SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following video statement honoring America's veterans on Veterans Day and thanking all those who've served for their sacrifices in defense of America's freedom: "To all of our veterans in Illinois and across America: thank you for your service to our country with honor and distinction. Now, on the front line once again, so many essential workers in this unprecedented pandemic have served our country in uniform as well. I know Vetera… Continue Reading
11.10.20
Durbin Slams Republicans On Judiciary Committee For Continuing To Relitigate The 2016 Election And The Mueller Investigation
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, entitled "Oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation: Day 4," which featured former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Republicans on the Committee for continuing their partisan sideshow re-litigating the investigation into 2016 Russian election interference, and ignoring their responsibility to conduct oversight of the Trump Administrat… Continue Reading
11.10.20
Durbin, Senators Call on DOJ to Stop Plans to Make Purdue Pharma a Public Benefit Corporation
WASHINGTON - Following the settlement agreement announced between the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Purdue Pharma (Purdue), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today called on Attorney General William Barr to stop his Department's plan to have Purdue's Oxycontin business transformed and preserved as a public trust or public benefit company. This proposal, first put forth by… Continue Reading
11.10.20
Durbin Re-Elected Senate Democratic Whip For 117th Congress
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after being unanimously re-elected as the Senate's second-highest ranking Democrat, the Senate Democratic Whip, for the 117th Congress by his Senate Democratic colleagues this morning. Durbin has served in the number two role in the caucus since 2005. "I am honored to serve the Senate Democratic Caucus as Whip. The November 3 election showed that our nation is divided, and the challenges we face are great. But under… Continue Reading