Press Releases
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, … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 22, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
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, … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 17, 2020
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 … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
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 … Continue Reading