Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Bill To Make Juneteenth A Federal Holiday

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) to introduce the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, bipartisan legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. "Juneteenth", observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as "Emancipation Day", "Jubilee Day", and "Juneteenth Independence Day". On June 19, 1865, in… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Senator McConnell To Allow For Bipartisan Negotiations On Police Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to allow real debate on policing reform in order to find common ground and warned against a potential partisan vote on the floor of the Senate. Durbin joined his colleagues, Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), in calling on Senator McConnell to refer the pol… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Stanley Balzekas

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the passing of Stanley Balzekas: "In the course of America's immigration history, there have emerged leaders whose names are synonymous with the struggle and triumph of these immigrant efforts. Stanley Balzekas was that leader for Lithuanian-Americans, especially in Chicago. "Stanley was my friend. His devotion to Lithuania and his fellow countrymen was legendary. Whether you bumped into him on the streets of Vil… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce New, Bipartisan Legislation To Reform Elderly Home Detention And Compassionate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON - Amid the COVID-19 public health pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), authors of the bipartisan First Step Act, landmark criminal justice reform legislation, introduced new, bipartisan legislation to reform the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program and compassionate release from federal prisons. Sadly, more than 80 federal prisoners with pre-existing medical conditions that made them more vulnerable to COVID-19 have died as a result of the virus, more… Continue Reading

Durbin, Pascrell, Khanna Statement On Trump Administration Decision To Bar H-1B Visas Through End Of The Year

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) today released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's decision to bar H-1B and other work visas through the end of the year. Durbin, Pascrell, and Khanna are sponsors of bipartisan, bicameral legislation to reform and close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will reduce fraud and abuse, provide… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Democrats In Demanding Trump Administration Reverse Its Barrage Of Policies Targeting Asylum Seekers

WASHINGTON - In recognition of World Refugee Day last Saturday, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) in a letter from a group of 77 Democratic Members of Congress condemning the Trump Administration for its harmful policies that have dismantled the United States' asylum system and demanded the reversal of these harmful measures. The lawmakers listed nearly a dozen various Trump Ad… Continue Reading

Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration To Approve State's Economic Injury Declaration

WASHINGTON - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for qualifying counties in Illinois amid occurrences of looting, arson, and rioting of small businesses across the State. Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker issued a State Disaster Proclamation for Cook and contiguous counties that experienced the highest … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democrats In Introducing Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic caucus in introducing a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ individuals have made to American society, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equality for LGBTQ individuals. The resolution also recognizes how the COVID-19 pand… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Push To Bring Heroes Act To Floor For Debate And Vote After More Than One Month Of Inaction

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to lead a group of 18 Senators in urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Heroes Act to the Senate floor for a debate and vote after more than one month of inaction since the House of Representatives passed the major legislation to address the ongoing health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Nearly 30,000 additional Americans have lost their lives to the coronavirus since the House of… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Entire Senate Democratic Caucus In Calling On Leader McConnell To Bring Bipartisan House-Passed Dream & Promise Act To Floor For A Vote

WASHINGTON-Following last week's historic Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Donald Trump's repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee and author of the Dream Act, led the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) calling on him to immediately take up the bipartisan House-passed American Dream and Promis… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads 43 Senate Democrats In Calling On President Trump To Protect Dreamers Following Landmark Supreme Court DACA Decision

WASHINGTON-Following yesterday's historic Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Donald Trump's repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, led 43 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Trump urging him to finally end his cruel attempts to deport DACA recipients, who are commonly known as Dreamers. "As the Supreme Court has recognized… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Weekly Democratic Address

WASHINGTON - As America continues to battle a raging coronavirus, racial injustice, and record unemployment, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dic Durbin (D-IL) delivered this week's Weekly Democratic Address. Durbin begins by sharing stories of Americans who need health care coverage more than ever. He emphasizes that in addition to mismanaging the coronavirus response, President Trump and Senate Republicans are working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act by confirming right-wing judges who are ho… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill Expanding Student Loan Refinancing For Servicemembers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, legislation that would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to allow servicemembers to consolidate or refinance student loan debt they had when they entered the military and continue to benefit from the six percent interest rate cap to which they are entitled through the SCRA. A provision in the SCRA protects servicemembers from high interest rates by … Continue Reading

Durbin Commemorates Juneteenth

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following video statement commemorating Juneteenth, recognizing June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of chattel slavery reached slaves in Galveston, Texas. Durbin is a longtime sponsor and cosponsor of Juneteenth resolutions, dating back to 2007-2008 when he introduced resolutions with then Senator Barack Obama. "It was June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and his regiment arrived in Galveston, Texas… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer, Colleagues Call For GAO Investigation Into Use Of Federal Law Enforcement During Washington, D.C. Protests Following Killing Of George Floyd

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 12 of their Senate colleagues, today requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) open an investigation into the use of Federal law enforcement, National Guard, and military personnel in response to protests in Washington, D.C., following the killing of George Floyd. "The use of force against Americans on June 1 at Lafayette Square was abhorrent and shocking. … Continue Reading

Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Justin Walker To D.C. Circuit Court

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court: "Senate Republicans gave Justin Walker a lifetime appointment to the second highest court in the land for two main reasons: because Walker is a protégé of the Senate Majority Leader, and because he's an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. It is shameful that even in the middle of a public health… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On Senate Floor Following Landmark Supreme Court DACA Ruling

WASHINGTON-Following today's historic Supreme Court ruling rejecting President Trump's repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, spoke on the Senate floor to applaud the ruling and urge President Trump to finally end his cruel attempts to deport DACA recipients, who are commonly known as Dreamers. Durbin also urged the Senate to immediately take up and pass … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly, Foster Discuss COVID-19 Response With Illinois Hospitals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (R-IL-02) and Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today, on a call with more than 20 CEOs of Illinois hospitals and leaders of the Illinois Health & Hospital Association, discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois and how hospitals are fighting the pandemic on the ground. The group discussed how to increase federal support to hospitals through CARES Act funding formulas and program… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Discuss Support For Nonprofits With Cardinal Cupich And Catholic Charities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with Cardinal Blase Cupich and Sally Blount, the incoming CEO of Catholic Charities Chicago, about meeting the needs of vulnerable populations amid the public health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonprofits like Catholic Charities are experiencing a huge loss in revenue and resources being stretched more than ever. Durbin and Duckworth discussed their support for additional federal assista… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Great American Outdoors Act, landmark legislation to preserve and protect our country's public lands. The bipartisan legislation provides permanent and full funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and addresses the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks and other land management agencies. Durbin and Duckworth are cosponsors o… Continue Reading