Durbin Statement On 21st Century Cures Vote

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Senate voted 85-13 to advance the 21st Century Cures Act. This bill represents the promise of an investment we should be making-a down payment in the future for medical research. Its success depends on the support of Republican majorities in the years to come. However, we cannot overlook the fact that this bill is paid for in large part by cuts in the Prevention Fund-money we currently use for reducing the prev… Continue Reading

Durbin Pushes to Protect DREAMers from Deportation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today continued his push to ensure that the young immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation under a Trump Administration. Every day this week, Durbin has gone to the floor of the United States Senate and shared the stories of DREAMers at risk of deportation if the President-elect does not continue President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Durbin also announced that he is working with Republican Sena… Continue Reading

Durbin Pushes To Protect DREAMers From Deportation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today continued his push to ensure that the young immigrants known as DREAMers remain shielded from deportation under a Trump Administration. Every day this week, Durbin has gone to the floor of the United States Senate and shared the stories of DREAMers at risk of deportation if the President-elect does not continue President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Durbin also announced that he is working with Republican Senato… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute To U.S. Senator Mark Kirk On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) paid tribute today to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), on the United States Senate Floor: "For the last six years, Senator Mark Kirk and I have had a very positive and professional relationship. I thank him for his service to our state, the service he's given our nation as an officer in the Navy Reserve, for the years that he put in as a staff member to Congressman John Porter, for the work that he did in the House of Representatives representing the 10… Continue Reading

Durbin Cosponsors Resolution Urging Trump To Comply With Emoluments Clause

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and a group of 22 Senate Democrats in introducing a resolution calling on President-elect Trump to follow the precedent established by previous presidents and convert his assets to simple, conflict-free holdings, adopt blind trusts managed by an independent trustee, or take other equivalent measures in order to ensure compliance with the United States Constitution. The resolution notes that in the absence of such actio… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With National Breast Cancer Coalition President To Discuss Biomedical Research Funding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with National Breast Cancer Coalition President Fran Visco to discuss efforts to protect and increase funding for innovative, breakthrough research at the Department of Defense - funding that has led to discoveries and treatments for cancer and other diseases. They also talked about Durbin's American Cures Act, a bill that would increase funding at our nation's top four biomedical research agencies, as well as the Accelerating the End of Bre… Continue Reading

Durbin: DREAMers Should Not Be Deported

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is once again calling on President-elect Donald Trump to pledge to continue the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides temporary reprieve from deportation to young undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that by saving DACA, Trump could begin to bind the divisions that characterized this year's presidential election. Senator Durbin also highlighted … Continue Reading

Durbin Praises EPA’s “Top 10” List For Study Under TSCA Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first ten chemicals it will evaluate for potential risks to human health and the environment under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which reforms the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Among the chemicals selected for study are asbestos and flame retardant Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD). In September, Durbin calle… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Sessions’ Nomination Hearings To Be Thorough, Transparent, And Fair

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats on the Judiciary Committee to call for an objective and thorough confirmation hearing for U.S. Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III of Alabama to be Attorney General of the United States. Given Senator Sessions' extensive record on critical issues within the Committee's jurisdiction, the senators requested testimony from outside witnesses on each of the following issues, at a minimum: immigration; violence against women; c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.3 Million In HUD Grants To Reduce Homelessness Among Chicago Veterans

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) will receive a total of $1,366,200 in grant funding for rental assistance for homeless veterans with case management and clinical services provided by Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. This funding, provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, will assist homeless veterans around Chicago with affordable housing and an array of suppor… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Call For Immediate Passage Of Miners Protection Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 21 bipartisan Senators in a letter to Senate and House leadership calling for the passage of the Miners Protection Act by the end of this year. Without a change to current law, 12,500 of the country's retired coal miners will lose their healthcare on December 31, 2016. "During the month of October, approximately 12,500 of our nation's retired coal miners received notices informing them that their healthcare benefits will be terminated at the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3 Million To Support Business Development In Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3 million in federal funding to support business development efforts in Illinois, primarily in manufacturing and minority-owned businesses. This funding, awarded through the U.S. Department of Commerce, will help support product development, innovation, and technical assistance. "Illinois is home to some of the world's leading businesses and manufacturing companies, which support thousands of jobs and generate tremendous economic activit… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Strengthen Manufacturing Job Skills Of Illinois Workers

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $4 million to Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to help develop and grow regional partnerships between workforce agencies, education and training providers and employers in manufacturing. This funding is provided through DOL's H-1B America's Promise Grants, which are funded through fees paid by employers to bring foreign workers into the U.S. under the H-1B temporary visa program.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4 Million In Federal Funding To Support Health And Well-Being Of Illinoisans

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Illinois institutions with $4,026,032 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Administration for Children and Families. This funding will go to support children's hospitals, Head Start programs, and HIV emergency relief programs throughout Illinois."This infusion of federal dollars will strengthen our state's health and early education… Continue Reading

Senate Resolution Honors 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs

WASHINGTON-The United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution congratulating the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), is cosponsored by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Dan Coats (R-IN). "In the early morning hours of November 3rd-in the 10th inning of the final game against the resurgent Cleveland Indians-the Chicago Cubs made the final out and won the 2016 World Series. The city of Chicago and baseba… Continue Reading

Durbin Vows To Fight Reinstatement Of Federal ‘Muslim Database’

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding reports that President-elect Donald Trump's transition team is considering a reinstatement of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, a post-9/11 program which required travelers to the United States from specified Muslim-majority countries to immediately register with the federal government or face deportation. "Reinstating failed programs that target Arabs and Muslims in our cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $620 Million In Federal Funding For Economic And Community Development

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $620 million in federal funding to spur economic and community development in distressed and low-income communities across Illinois. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund), will provide resources for local jobs, community facilities, and safe and affordable housing. "Investing in economic and community development in some of Illinois' hardest hit c… Continue Reading

Durbin: Gainful Employment Rule Helps Students And Parents Make Smarter College Choices

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the U.S. Department of Education's release of graduate earnings data for thousands of career training programs as part of the Department's implementation of the Gainful Employment rule. The data confirms that public undergraduate certificate programs outperform for-profit certificate programs when it comes to new graduate income. The average earnings of graduates of public certificate programs surpass those of for-profit graduates by nea… Continue Reading

Durbin Collects On Bet With Brown Following Cubs’ Game Seven World Series Win

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Indians) made good on his bet with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Cubs) after the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in Game 7. Brown wagered beer from Cleveland's Platform Brewing Company. "The Cleveland Indians proved themselves a great and gutsy ball club with young talent that will keep them competitive for years to come. Ultimately, the heart and grit of the Chicago Cubs carried them through the final three games of the series to bring the World… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Resolution Honors 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate congratulating the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Dan Coats (R-IN). "In the early morning hours of November 3rd-in the 10th inning of the final game against the resurgent Cleveland Indians-the Chicago Cubs made the final out and won the 2016 World Series. The city of Chicago and baseball fans around the world erup… Continue Reading