Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Resolution in Support of Thailand's Pro-Democracy Movement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and a group of six of their Senate colleagues today introduced a Senate Resolution to underscore the United States' commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Thailand. The Senators' resolution follows recent demonstrations by Thailand's pro-democracy movement, which have been met with violence and repression by the country's monarchy and government. Joining Durbin, Duckworth, and … Continue Reading
December 02, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $52 Million To Support Head Start And Early Head Start In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $52.7 million in federal grant funding to the City of Chicago for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families, will support comprehensive child development programs for low-income children from birth to age five. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs are crucial for school … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Chicago Heights, Illinois, Law Student Interns In Durbin's Washington, DC Judiciary Committee Office
WASHINGTON - Chicago Heights, Illinois, native David Adeleye spent this fall interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), working virtually to assist the Senator's Capitol Hill Judiciary Committee office as an intern. "I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois," Durbin said. "I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a student from East St. Louis, Illinois, going to … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Durbin Highlights Bipartisan, Bicameral COVID-19 Emergency Relief Framework, Criticizes Inclusion of Corporate Liability Immunity
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted his colleagues' work in drafting a bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework, which totals $908 billion and includes funding for state and local governments, unemployment insurance, small businesses, health care providers, housing and education assistance, and more. However, Durbin emphasized the need for additional funding in key areas and criticized the inclusion of … Continue Reading
December 01, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues in Requesting Expansion of Pandemic Unemployment Programs Set to Expire During Holiday Season
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and 28 of their colleagues in urging Senate leaders to include in the next COVID-19 relief package an extension of two critical financial lifelines for Americans affected by the economic fallout of the COVID-19 crisis. Currently, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program - which provides unemployment assistance to domestic workers, freelance … Continue Reading
November 25, 2020
Durbin Statement on Biden Administration Hiring Reema Dodin, Durbin Floor Director, As Senate Liaison in Office of Legislative Affairs
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the incoming Biden Administration hire of Reema Dodin, Durbin's Floor Director, as Senate Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs: "Reema began as a law school intern in my office fourteen years ago and progressed to become one of the most respected staffers on the Hill. She is smart, trusted, and has the respect of members and staff on both sides of the aisle. In short, Reema … Continue Reading
November 24, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Outbreak at LaSalle State Veterans Home with IDVA Director, Call for Investigation
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today discussed ongoing efforts to mitigate and prevent COVID-19 at State Veterans Homes in Illinois with Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) Director Linda Chapa LaVia, specifically the outbreak at the LaSalle State Veterans Home. This week, Durbin and Duckworth sent a letter to Director Chapa LaVia calling for an … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Durbin Statement On Biden Administration Hiring Reema Dodin, Durbin Floor Director, As Senate Liaison In Office Of Legislative Affairs
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the incoming Biden Administration hire of Reema Dodin, Durbin's Floor Director, as Senate Liaison in the Office of Legislative Affairs: "Reema began as a law school intern in my office fourteen years ago and progressed to become one of the most respected staffers on the Hill. She is smart, trusted, and has the respect of members and staff on both sides of the aisle. In short, Reema is … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Durbin Statement on Senator Feinstein not Seeking Top Spot on Judiciary Committee
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senator Dianne Feinstein's (D-CA) announcement that she would not seek the top Democratic spot on the Senate Judiciary Committee next Congress: "I want to thank Senator Feinstein for her distinguished leadership on the Judiciary Committee during turbulent years. She has been a champion for common-sense gun safety, reproductive rights, and … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Durbin Announces Fall 2020 Recipients Of The Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Naomi Bolden, a college senior; Yanina Villagomez, a recent college graduate; and Ahmon Williams, a college freshman; all from Chicago, Illinois, as the three recipients of the Fall 2020 Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in Senator Durbin's … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Arlington Heights, Illinois, Student Interns In Durbin's Washington, DC Office
WASHINGTON - Arlington Heights, Illinois, native Rebecca Vibbert spent this fall interning for U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), working virtually to assist the Senator's Capitol Hill office as an intern. "I started my career on Capitol Hill as a college intern for Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois," Durbin said. "I will never forget that day in February of 1966 when he agreed to hire me as an intern to work in his office. As a student from East St. Louis, Illinois, going to work in the … Continue Reading
November 19, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief for Schools with National Education Association President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Becky Pringle, the new president of the National Education Association (NEA), about the need for additional COVID-19 stimulus funds for education and child care. Durbin discussed his support of the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief Act, which would provide $430 billion to the education sector, including $50 billion in grants to child care providers. "As the nation continues to reel from this awful pandemic, our educators … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation in Opposing USDA Effort to End Food Stamp Program at Illinois Senior Living Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), today led the bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation on a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue opposing the Department's administrative overreach and ongoing efforts to end Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that … Continue Reading
November 18, 2020
Durbin Questions Indiana U.S. Attorney on Gun Trafficking During Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for Thomas L. Kirsch II to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Kirsch whether he has taken any steps during his tenure as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana to crack down on illicit gun trafficking arising from Indiana gun shows. Durbin highlighted how the gun show loophole in Indiana - which allows private sellers at gun shows to sell weapons … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Durbin: Instead of Negotiating Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Legislation, McConnell Focused on Confirming More Under-Qualified Judges
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses as COVID-19 cases spike across Illinois and the country. Durbin also slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) boycott of negotiations and delay in passing meaningful, bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation. Instead of focusing … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Durbin Statement on President Trump's Decision to Draw Down Troop Levels in Afghanistan and Iraq
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's decision to draw down troop levels in Afghanistan and Iraq to 2,500 in each country, roughly half of the current levels of troops in each country: "When Congress voted on the authorization of the use of military force after 9/11, nobody could have predicted that it was the start of a nearly … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Durbin Statement on New Federal Railroad Administration On-Time Performance Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a new Amtrak on-time performance (OTP) rule that sets a new metric for measuring Amtrak delays caused by freight rail interference: "If implemented properly, this new FRA rule will improve Amtrak's passenger rail service and efficiency," Durbin said. "By properly measuring the role freight rails play in Amtrak delays, we can improve Amtrak on-time … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Durbin Calls on Facebook to Stem Rise of Hate and Conspiracy Groups on its Platform
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, which featured Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) pressed Mr. Zuckerberg on recent incidents where hate and conspiracy groups used Facebook to plan and recruit-including the conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the "Kenosha Guard militia," which advocated for violence in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake and whose member later … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues on Letter to McConnell to Support TPS Holders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and 23 of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in support of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders. The letter requests that an 18 month extension of status for TPS holders be included in the December appropriations package. Like millions across the country, … Continue Reading
November 16, 2020
Durbin, Colleagues Press Facebook to Take Immediate Action to Combat Anti-Muslim Bigotry on its Platform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and 13 colleagues on a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling on the company to fully address the problem of anti-Muslim bigotry on its platform, which has enabled offline violence against Muslims in the United States and elsewhere around the world. "Facebook is a groundbreaking company that has revolutionized the way we communicate. Unfortunately, the … Continue Reading