Press Releases
Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema Secure $7 Million for Competitive Grants Supporting Open Textbooks in Year-End Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today applauded the inclusion of $7 million in additional funding for the continued implementation of the Open Textbooks Pilot in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bill. The Open Textbooks Pilot, based on the Senators' Affordable College Textbook Act, is a competitive grant program to support the creation and expand the use of open college textbooks-textbooks that are available … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Study Possible National Park for Julius Rosenwald
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded unanimous Senate passage of a bill that honors Julius Rosenwald-the former part-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company-for his work in establishing Rosenwald Schools to promote African American education in the rural South. The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Study Act would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Congress Passes Bipartisan Spending Bill with Illinois Priorities Secured by Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bill. "This bill makes critical investments in Illinois' public health, housing, transportation infrastructure, defense installations, environment, education, and security. America desperately needed a budget heading into 2021 as we continue to grapple with this pandemic and the crises it has … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Durbin Votes for Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting for the $900 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, direct checks for American families, and more: "Last week, a group of Democrats and Republicans-including myself-came together and introduced … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Omnibus Provision Protecting Food Access for 8,000 Illinois Supportive Living Facility Residents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statements after they successfully secured a provision in the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from terminating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that serve 8,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Without this provision … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin Shares Support for Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of the $900 billion bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief package that was announced last night. The compromise package was based off the $748 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that Durbin helped negotiate and introduce last week. The final package includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin, Senators Call on Department of Interior to Cancel Oil and Gas Leases Across Public Lands in Utah
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called on U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to cancel hundreds of oil and gas leases across Utah that threaten fragile landscapes and, if developed, will further exacerbate the impacts of climate change. In a letter to DOI Secretary David Bernhardt, the Senators cite how fossil fuel … Continue Reading
December 19, 2020
Durbin Attempts to Pass Legislation to Protect Hong Kong Residents from Persecution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, today joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to request Senate passage of the Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act, which would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Hong Kong residents currently in the U.S. and provide refugee protections to Hong Kong residents facing persecution. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) objected to the request. "Thousands of protesters … Continue Reading
December 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Dems Announce Significant Additions to the Economic Justice Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats, today unveiled new additions to the Economic Justice Act, a major legislative proposal that now provides more than $435 billion in immediate and long-term investments in communities of color to address systemic racism and reverse decades of historic underinvestment. "The substantial additions to the Economic Justice Act make an even larger … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Durbin Receives Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: "The Attending Physician of the Capitol notified all Members of Congress and staff that, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive, Congress and the Supreme Court - along with Executive Branch agencies - would be provided and encouraged administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to meet the requirements for continuity of government … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Senate Passes Bill to Rename Galesburg Post Office in Honor of Senior Airman Daniel Miller
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate unanimously passed legislation introduced to rename the U.S. Post Office facility at 476 East Main Street in Galesburg, Illinois, as the Senior Airman Daniel Miller Post Office Building. Senior Airman Miller was killed in action protecting our nation on January 7, 2007, by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in Al-Mahmudiyah, Iraq. U.S. Representative Cheri … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $9 million to Support COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a total of $9.709 million in federal funding to Illinois to provide critical COVID-19 public health infrastructure support, such as data monitoring capabilities, for vaccination distribution and administration. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will receive $6,691,329 for vaccine distribution, laboratory support, and other … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Durbin: We Must Pass a Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill Before the Holidays
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Congress to pass a bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief package before leaving for the holidays. Congressional leadership is currently negotiating a package based off the $748 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that Durbin helped negotiate. The package includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Durbin: I Don't Understand the White House's Silence in the Face of Russian Cyberattack
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump for his silence in the aftermath of a government-wide cyberattack that was likely conducted by Russia - one of a series of ongoing Russian attacks and threats including the placing of bounties on American servicemembers. Durbin called for the Administration to be firm and honest with the American people about the nature of this threat and for a full investigation into … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19, Health Disparities, Medical Research with Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the COVID-19 pandemic with Xavier Becerra, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee to be the next Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Becerra presently serves as California's Attorney General and previously served in the House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017 representing downtown Los Angeles. If confirmed, Becerra would be the first Latino HHS Secretary. Durbin and Becerra spoke about shared priorities for … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Durbin Receives Briefing from Operation Warp Speed About COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today was briefed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and officials from Operation Warp Speed and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine distribution effort. Durbin received an update from health officials on how they plan to improve transparency, predictability, and accountability on the allocations and shipments of vaccine doses to Illinois, following inconsistent … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Durbin: We Must Pass a Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Bill Before the Holidays
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Congress to pass a bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief package before leaving for the holidays. Congressional leadership is currently negotiating a package based off the $748 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that Durbin helped negotiate. The package includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Durbin Meets with General Lloyd Austin, President-Elect Biden's Nominee for Defense Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after a call with General Lloyd Austin, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee to be Secretary of Defense. On the call, Durbin asked General Austin how he would approach leading the Pentagon as a civilian; how the U.S. can compete with adversaries like China; and about necessary reforms to address a variety of issues like procurement … Continue Reading
December 17, 2020
Durbin Calls for Senate Action to Protect Hong Kong Residents from Persecution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, today participated in a hearing on the United States' Hong Kong refugee policy. During the hearing, Durbin urged the Senate to immediately pass the bipartisan House-passed Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act, which would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Hong Kong residents currently in the U.S. and provide refugee protections to Hong Kong residents … Continue Reading
December 16, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $15 Million for Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $14.9 million in federal funding awarded to three Community Health Centers (CHC) throughout Illinois. This funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' health center cluster grant program. Every year, Illinois CHCs serve more than 1.4 million Illinoisans, regardless of their ability to pay. "Community Health Centers are a vital resource for so many Illinoisans … Continue Reading