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

Durbin To McConnell: Let's Negotiate In Good-Faith To Reach Bipartisan Agreement On Police Reform

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 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 is a cosponsor of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcemen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Statement On Appeals Court Ruling Striking Down HHS Policy To Require Disclosure Of Prescription Drug Prices In TV Ads

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today released the following statement regarding the ruling in the federal Court of Appeals for D.C. that struck down a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that required direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertisements to include the list price of the drug: "Even in the midst of a pandemic that threatens all of us, Big Pharma fought for months in court to prevent patients from knowing the price of th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Statement On Appeals Court Ruling Striking Down HHS Policy To Require Disclosure Of Prescription Drug Prices In TV Ads

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today released the following statement regarding the ruling in the federal Court of Appeals for D.C. that struck down a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule that required direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertisements to include the list price of the drug: "Even in the midst of a pandemic that threatens all of us, Big Pharma fought for months in court to prevent patients from knowing the price of th… Continue Reading

Durbin: Systemic Racism Plagues Our Nation & Criminal Justice System

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Police Use of Force and Community Relations," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pushed back against Senator John Cornyn's (R-TX) argument that systemic racism does not exist in our nation's justice system. "If you take a look at our system of justice and start with the premise that when it comes to drug users there is an equal percentage of White and Black drug users. Now you look at the number arrested for t… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Trump's Policing Reform Executive Order

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's policing reform executive order: "When America cries out for meaningful, historic police reform, President Trump's executive order is modest at best. Congressional Democrats have introduced bold, comprehensive legislation to hold police accountable for misconduct and change the culture of law enforcement. We need real … Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Booker To Press For Vote On Justice In Policing Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on the Senate floor to press Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the Justice in Policing Act of 2020 to the floor for a vote. The legislation proposes a comprehensive approach to hold police accountable for misconduct, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "In my home state, I've been to several rallies in the City… Continue Reading

Durbin To McConnell: Stop Holding Up COVID-19 Relief For Corporation Lawsuit Immunity

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals, and state and local governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's delay in passing a bill to give critical assistance to people in need. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin criticized McConnell's refusal to pass an additional COVID-19 relief bill unless corporations receive federal liability immu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million In Telehealth Funding For Illinois Health Care Providers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that seven Illinois health care providers have been awarded a total of $2,077,152 in federal funding to provide telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding, which was awarded through the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program, was appropriated by Congress as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. "This federal funding will all… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Illinois Community Colleges To Partner With State & Local Health Departments To Recruit And Train COVID-19 Contact Tracers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Illinois community college presidents urging them to partner with the State of Illinois and local health departments to recruit and organize training courses for COVID-19 contact tracers. In the letter, Durbin encourages college presidents to help meet the need to ensure that training courses are offered by reputable institutions rather than by predatory for-profit colleges that could exploit Illinois students with over-priced a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling On LGBTQ Workplace Discrimination Cases

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled that the sex discrimination prohibition in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act prohibits firing an individual merely on the basis of that individual's sexual orientation or gender identity: "Today's Supreme Court ruling affirms what we know to be right: that an employer cannot fire someone for simply being gay or transgender in America. As … Continue Reading