Durbin: Repealing Americans’ Health Care Without Replacement Would Be Total Chaos

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out congressional Republicans for initiating the process to repeal our health care system without any replacement plan to protect all Americans' access to quality health insurance. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin described how at least five Republican Senators have publically stated that repeal of our health care law should happen simultaneously with a replacement, but that Republicans in Congress have no replacement plan and have… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Further Reports Of Russian Interference In The United States, Changing Context Of Sessions Hearing

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin released the following statement on reports that the U.S. intelligence community briefed President Obama and President-elect Trump on Russian efforts to collect "personally and financially compromising" information on the President-elect. On Friday, Durbin reviewed classified and unclassified versions of the U.S. intelligence community's assessment of Russia's cyberattack on the 2016 election. "The American people need to know the credibility of these allegati… Continue Reading

Durbin And Duckworth Meet To Discuss Legislative Priorities For Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met to discuss priority issues for the state of Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin and Duckworth discussed short- and long-term goals and priorities for Illinois, including ways to create jobs, invest in infrastructure and grow the state's economy. "Senator Duckworth's journey to the Senate is an inspiration to me and people across America. She brings new energy, ideas and a unique experience in public service to address … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Community Health Center Representatives Amid Health Care Debate

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives from community health centers across Illinois to discuss the impact these centers have around the state and what could happen should Republicans in Congress repeal health care. According to Illinois Community Health Centers, repealing health care would result in Illinois community health centers seeing a 54 percent increase in uninsured patients and a loss of $83 million - leading to a 10 percent reduction in health cent… Continue Reading

Durbin Grills Sessions On Immigration, Criminal Justice

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today raised concerns regarding the civil rights record of Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), who is nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney General, during the first day of his confirmation hearings. During his remarks, Senator Durbin recognized two guests who personify the most pressing issues facing our country's top law enforcement officer: former DREAMer and U.S. veteran Oscar Vazquez and Chicagoan Alton Mills, w… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Require President And Vice President To Fully Divest Personal Financial Conflicts Of Interest

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Democratic members of Congress, introduced the Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2017 in the United States Senate and House that would require the President and Vice President to disclose and divest any potential financial conflicts of interest. It also would require presidential appointees to recuse themselves from any specific matters involving the President's financial conflicts of interest tha… Continue Reading

Durbin To IDOT: Continue Working With Community To Address Concerns For Increased Service On Amtrak’s Hiawatha Line

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to continue to work with community leaders and area residents as planning moves forward for increased Amtrak service on the Hiawatha line between Chicago, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. IDOT recently extended the proposal's public comment period to allow additional time for the consideration of surrounding communities' concerns. "Reducing any negative local impact of the proposed … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $117 Million In Federal Funding For Rural Community Development In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $117,920,000 in federal funding for Edgar, Kankakee, Madison, Perry Counties to support rural community development projects. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Community Development Initiative Grant, will provide assistance to benefit the City of Paris, Illinois, Olivet Nazarene University Foundation, the Village of St. Jacob, Illinois, and Pinckneyville Community … Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Introduce Amendment To Protect Health Care For Seniors And Families Of Modest Means

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and a group of 19 Senators in introducing an amendment to protect Medicare and Medicaid. "Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act make up the three pillars of our nation's health care system," Durbin said. "Democrats will not stand idly by while congressional Republicans - who themselves are assured good health coverage - attempt to repeal, dismantle, cut, voucherize, or otherwise throw o… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on U.S. Intel Report on Russian Cyberattacks

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after reviewing classified and unclassified versions of the U.S. intelligence community's assessment of Russia's cyberattack on the 2016 election: Today, the United States Congress counted the electoral ballots and officially certified the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States. Hours later, we learned that President Vladimir Putin personally ordered a campaign to influence the outcome of the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.3 Million In HUD Funding For Illinois Housing And Community Development

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that five communities in Illinois will receive a total of $1,354,321 in grant funding through the Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinators (SC) Grant Program. This federal grant program is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide funding to hire and maintain Service Coordinators who will assess the needs of residents of public housing and coordinate available resour… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With U.S. Attorney General Nominee Senator Sessions

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) about his nomination to serve as U.S. Attorney General. Durbin discussed an array of key issues with Sen. Sessions, including gun violence and Department of Justice funding in the city of Chicago, comprehensive immigration reform and the future of DACA, criminal justice reform, policing and civil rights, race relations, and President-elect Trump's call for a ban on Muslims in America. "I have a long personal relatio… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes New Democratic U.S. Senators

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the swearing in of the five new Democratic U.S. Senators: Tammy Duckworth (IL), Kamala Harris (CA), Maggie Hassan (NH), Chris Van Hollen (MD), and Catherine Cortez Masto (NV). "It is an honor to welcome these newly sworn-in Democratic Senators to Washington, especially the arrival of four remarkable women, which raises the number of women in the Senate to an all-time high in U.S. history. All five … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $12 Million For Community Health Centers

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded six community health centers in Illinois a total of $12,186,227 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often integr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Carper: Education Department Releases Data Showing Many For-Profit Colleges Receive More Than 90 Percent Of Revenue From Federal Taxpayers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Carper (D-DE) issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) released data providing a more accurate picture of for-profit colleges' dependence on federal funding by counting Department of Veterans Affairs GI Bill and Department of Defense Tuition Assistance funding. The current federal "90/10 rule" bars for-profit colleges and universities from deriving more than 90% of their revenue from the Department of Education's … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Push For National Popular Vote Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a renewed effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to honor the principle of "one person, one vote" in the election of U.S. President and Vice President. Durbin first proposed this constitutional amendment in 2000 and has supported it regardless of the outcome in previous presidential elections. Republican Congressman Ray LaHood joined Durbin in his earlier efforts. Noting the challenges of passing a constitutional amendment, Durbin also… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3 Million For Water And Waste Projects In Rural Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $3,029,900 in federal funding for water and waste disposal programs in rural areas of Illinois. "This federal investment will create good-paying jobs in Illinois communities, and help protect public health, safety, and the welfare of our families," Senator Durbin said. USDA Water and Waste Disposal Program The Rural Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program is used to develop drinking… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Veterans, Highlights Federal Funding to Prevent Homelessness

GRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Chestnut Health Systems to meet with veterans and highlight new federal funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to prevent homelessness. Earlier this fall, Durbin announced more than $9.5 million to prevent homelessness among Illinois veterans and their families, which included $510,116 for Chestnut. "Too often, our nation's veterans find themselves facing financia… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights $10 Million Federal Investment in Illinois CO2 Projects

DECATUR - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded two grants totaling $10 million to the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS), housed at the University of Illinois' Prairie Research Institute (PRI). The grants will fund projects to research commercial-scale geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Any meaningful strategies for addressing the causes and dangers of climate change must include reduced … Continue Reading

VA Applies Bipartisan Provision To Enhance Va Medical Care

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) welcomed the news that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will implement one of the key proposals from the bipartisan Veterans Health Care Staffing Improvement Act, helping to ensure veterans can get the care they need from Advance Practice Registered Nurses. The VA will now allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, a… Continue Reading