Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Welcomes Two Chicago Area Leaders a Special Guests to the Joint Session of Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed Sylvia Puente and Artemio Arreola as his guests to an address by the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon Hinojosa to a joint session of Congress. Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guests prior to the joint session. "At today's Joint Session of Congress, I look forward to hearing President Calderon's views on strengthening the partnership between our two nations," said … Continue Reading
May 18, 2010
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Mexican and Colombian Drug Enforcement and US Criminal Justice Assistance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired the first ever Congressional oversight hearing on U.S. rule of law assistance to foreign drug enforcement efforts. The hearing was held before Durbin's Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. The United States is working with Mexico and Colombia to develop strong and effective criminal justice systems that will allow each country to protect their citizens from human rights … Continue Reading
May 12, 2010
Durbin Announces More than $600,000 in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Protection Services
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 5 grants totaling $602,555 to fire departments and protection services throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that … Continue Reading
May 06, 2010
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.9 Million in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire and Ambulance Services
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 17 grants totaling $2,858,359 to fire protection and ambulance services throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, operations, and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's … Continue Reading
April 21, 2010
Durbin, Lugar Ask Secretary Napolitano to Stop Deportations of Dream Act Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today, asking her to halt deportations of immigrant students who could earn legal status under legislation they have introduced called the DREAM Act (S.729). The DREAM Act is a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit undocumented students to become permanent legal residents if they came here as … Continue Reading
April 14, 2010
Durbin Resolution Expressing Sympathy to the Polish People Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A resolution expressing sympathy to the people of Poland over the death of president, Lech Kaczynski, unanimously passed the Senate today, one day after it was offered by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL). The resolution marks the tragic death of President Kaczynski, his wife, and 94 others who were killed in a plane crash on Saturday. The resolution passed after the Senate held a brief moment of silence in honor of the Polish President. Polish … Continue Reading
April 10, 2010
Durbin Statement on the Passing of Poland's President
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 97 people including the President and First Lady of Poland, Lech and Maria Kaczynski. Earlier this afternoon, Durbin visited the Polish Consulate in Chicago to sign the book of condolence. "I want to express my deepest sympathies to the people of Poland for their profound loss. The pain of this sad moment is felt especially in Chicago where so … Continue Reading
March 23, 2010
World Water Day
Yesterday, countries around the world celebrated World Water Day. This is a day to celebrate the progress we have made protecting this most important resource and to reflect on the many challenges we still face in providing clean, safe water to the world's poor. I was heartened to see that Secretary of State Clinton spoke at the National Geographic World Water Day event on Monday. She and others at the Department of State and USAID are doing a great job stepping up U.S. leadership … Continue Reading
March 02, 2010
Durbin Chairs Follow-Up Hearing On Global Internet Freedom
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a follow-up hearing today on "Global Internet Freedom and the Rule of Law." The hearing, held before the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, examined information technology (IT) industry business practices in internet-restricting countries and discussed Obama Administration efforts to promote internet freedom around the world. "With a few notable exceptions, the information technology industry … Continue Reading
February 26, 2010
Durbin Calls for Meeting with FEMA Administrator, Army Corps and Others to Discuss Incomplete Information on Illinois Levees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After receiving a response to his request, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for a meeting with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Craig Fugate, and Assistant Secretary of the Army, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to discuss a lack of information that is necessary, according to FEMA, to certify five Illinois levees - Chain of Rocks, Fish Lake, MESD, Prairie Du Pont and Wood River. Once the information is complete, FEMA is … Continue Reading
February 13, 2010
Durbin, Brown to Travel to Africa this Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will travel to Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan this week to examine US foreign assistance programs in the region. Durbin and Brown's trip will focus on global health, maternal/infant mortality, clean water, sanitation, refugee, and economic development activities. The Senators will also discuss regional peacekeeping and diplomatic issues. Due to security … Continue Reading
February 12, 2010
Durbin Announces More than $800,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 15 grants totaling $829,677 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must … Continue Reading
February 02, 2010
Durbin Meets with Canadian National CEO to Discuss Mitigation and Amtrak On Time Performance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with the new CEO of Canadian National (CN), Claude Mongeau, to discuss the company's mitigation efforts along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) and improving Amtrak on time performance. On December 24, the Surface Transportation Board approved CN's acquisition of the EJ&E Railway despite strong opposition from local communities in Illinois that will experience dramatic increases in freight traffic."With a historic … Continue Reading
February 02, 2010
Durbin Sends Letter to Technology Firms Regarding Internet Freedom in China
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to 30 information and communications technology companies, including Apple, Facebook, Skype, and Twitter, seeking information about their human rights practices in China following the recent revelation that Google was the subject of a sophisticated cyber-attack in that country. In response to the attack, Google announced it will no longer cooperate with Chinese internet censorship efforts and has … Continue Reading
January 27, 2010
Durbin Will Host Illinois Soldier for Today's State of the Union
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In what has become an annual tradition, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), will host a wounded soldier as his guest for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. Sergeant First Class (SFC) John Wright from Tuscola, Illinois will also attend the Secretary of the Senate's dinner immediately preceding the President's address. Durbin has invited soldiers who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as his guests to the State of the Union since … Continue Reading
December 16, 2009
Durbin's Human Rights Enforcement Act Passes House, Sent to President for Signature
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bill that would create a new human rights section at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was passed by the House of Representatives late yesterday and has been sent to the President for his signature. The bill, the Human Rights Enforcement Act, introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) was unanimously approved by the Senate last month. The legislation would combine the two offices in the Justice Department with … Continue Reading
December 12, 2009
Durbin Statement on US-Japan Open Skies Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, announced that the United States and Japan had reached an Open-Skies aviation agreement. "The Open-Skies agreement with Japan will prove to be a huge benefit to U.S. businesses and consumers alike. Expanded air service between Chicago and Japan will give U.S. air travelers greater access to Asian markets, increase choices for … Continue Reading
December 01, 2009
Durbin Statement Following President's Address Outlining Strategy in Afghanistan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Barack Obama outlined his strategy for the war in Afghanistan in an address earlier this evening. "President Obama asked for time to make his decision on a new policy in Afghanistan. I am going to take some time to think through the proposal he presented … Continue Reading
October 20, 2009
Durbin Meets with Special Envoy to Sudan on New Administration Policy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with U.S. Special Envoy to the Sudan, Scott Gration, today to discuss the Obama Administration's new policy toward the war-torn country. The approach announced yesterday by Secretary of State Clinton combines a campaign of pressure and incentives to pursue peace in the Darfur region of the Sudan, ensure implementation of the peace agreement with South Sudan and to provide greater cooperation on international … Continue Reading
October 06, 2009
Durbin: Human Rights Violators Still Finding Safe Haven in America
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a second hearing today on the U.S. government's efforts to identify, investigate and prosecute suspected human rights abusers found to be living in America. Durbin's first hearing on the subject was in late 2007. "Two years ago, this Subcommittee held the first-ever Congressional hearing on the enforcement of human rights laws in the United States. While progress has been made, there is still much more to be … Continue Reading