Press Releases
Durbin Discusses Eviction Crisis and Affordable Housing Initiatives with Rep. Marcia Fudge, Biden Nominee for HUD Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11), President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During their Zoom call, Durbin and Fudge spoke about the need to address the affordable housing crisis by investing in affordable housing and repairing the public housing stock. Durbin discussed how to bring economic opportunity to historically marginalized individuals and communities, including in … Continue Reading
January 05, 2021
Durbin Urges Illinois Rural EMS Agencies to Apply for New SIREN Grant Program Funds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the start of the grant application process for a federal grant program that supports rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS). The funding, created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, supports EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment-for everything from naloxone and first aid kits, to power stretchers or new ambulances. Durbin's … Continue Reading
January 03, 2021
Durbin Honored to Represent Illinois in Fifth Term as U.S. Senator
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after being sworn in to his fifth term as a U.S. Senator representing Illinois. Durbin was escorted to his swearing in on the Senate floor by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). "I am honored that the people of Illinois have given me the opportunity to represent them in Washington. During my time in the Senate, I have worked to create good-paying jobs, promote Illinois businesses, fight for … Continue Reading
January 03, 2021
Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues: Voters Have Spoken, Congress Must Fulfill Its Responsibility
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in issuing the following statement on the upcoming Congressional certification of the 2020 Presidential election results: "The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At … Continue Reading
December 31, 2020
Durbin Calls on McConnell to Help Struggling Families By Passing $2,000 Direct Payment Measure
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill. "All we're saying to Senator McConnell is give us a chance to vote. You can vote no if you wish. Give us a chance … Continue Reading
December 30, 2020
Durbin Calls on McConnell to Bring $2,000 Direct Payment Measure to the Floor for a Vote
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House yesterday by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill. Durbin also spoke about his frustration with President Donald Trump's delay in signing the final … Continue Reading
December 29, 2020
Durbin: I Will Vote to Override President Trump's Unforgivable Veto of NDAA
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today announced he would vote to override President Trump's reckless veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Last week, President Trump vetoed the NDAA over a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate generals and for not including a repeal of Section 230 liability protection for tech … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Durbin, Warren, Booker, Colleagues Request Investigation of Trump Administration's Unprecedented Spree of Federal Executions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in a letter to Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), seeking an investigation of the frenzied and unprecedented "spree of federal executions during [President Trump's] lame-duck period." In … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Durbin Thanks Health Care Heroes for Their Works and Sacrifices in 2020
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a Facebook video message thanked health care heroes, medical researchers, and essential workers for their sacrifices and hard work keeping America safe this year. "This has been an unrelenting, draining, and scary time for many, many months. But your resilience and commitment to others has been a beacon of light during this crisis,"Durbin said. "A hundred years from now, when people tell the story of this pandemic, you will be the heroes … Continue Reading
December 23, 2020
Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema Secure $7 Million for Competitive Grants Supporting Open Textbooks in Year-End Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today applauded the inclusion of $7 million in additional funding for the continued implementation of the Open Textbooks Pilot in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bill. The Open Textbooks Pilot, based on the Senators' Affordable College Textbook Act, is a competitive grant program to support the creation and expand the use of open college textbooks-textbooks that are available … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Study Possible National Park for Julius Rosenwald
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded unanimous Senate passage of a bill that honors Julius Rosenwald-the former part-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company-for his work in establishing Rosenwald Schools to promote African American education in the rural South. The Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools Study Act would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study of the sites associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald to … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Congress Passes Bipartisan Spending Bill with Illinois Priorities Secured by Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bill. "This bill makes critical investments in Illinois' public health, housing, transportation infrastructure, defense installations, environment, education, and security. America desperately needed a budget heading into 2021 as we continue to grapple with this pandemic and the crises it has … Continue Reading
December 22, 2020
Durbin Votes for Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting for the $900 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, health care providers, housing and education assistance, direct checks for American families, and more: "Last week, a group of Democrats and Republicans-including myself-came together and introduced … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Omnibus Provision Protecting Food Access for 8,000 Illinois Supportive Living Facility Residents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statements after they successfully secured a provision in the fiscal year 2021 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from terminating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for a group of supportive living facilities (SLFs) in Illinois that serve 8,000 low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities. Without this provision … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin Shares Support for Bipartisan COVID-19 Emergency Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of the $900 billion bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief package that was announced last night. The compromise package was based off the $748 billion, bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief legislation that Durbin helped negotiate and introduce last week. The final package includes funding for unemployment insurance, small businesses, vaccine distribution and COVID-19 testing, … Continue Reading
December 21, 2020
Durbin, Senators Call on Department of Interior to Cancel Oil and Gas Leases Across Public Lands in Utah
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) called on U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to cancel hundreds of oil and gas leases across Utah that threaten fragile landscapes and, if developed, will further exacerbate the impacts of climate change. In a letter to DOI Secretary David Bernhardt, the Senators cite how fossil fuel … Continue Reading
December 19, 2020
Durbin Attempts to Pass Legislation to Protect Hong Kong Residents from Persecution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, today joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to request Senate passage of the Hong Kong People's Freedom and Choice Act, which would grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Hong Kong residents currently in the U.S. and provide refugee protections to Hong Kong residents facing persecution. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) objected to the request. "Thousands of protesters … Continue Reading
December 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Dems Announce Significant Additions to the Economic Justice Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Democrats, today unveiled new additions to the Economic Justice Act, a major legislative proposal that now provides more than $435 billion in immediate and long-term investments in communities of color to address systemic racism and reverse decades of historic underinvestment. "The substantial additions to the Economic Justice Act make an even larger … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Durbin Receives Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine: "The Attending Physician of the Capitol notified all Members of Congress and staff that, consistent with Presidential Policy Directive, Congress and the Supreme Court - along with Executive Branch agencies - would be provided and encouraged administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to meet the requirements for continuity of government … Continue Reading
December 18, 2020
Senate Passes Bill to Rename Galesburg Post Office in Honor of Senior Airman Daniel Miller
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate unanimously passed legislation introduced to rename the U.S. Post Office facility at 476 East Main Street in Galesburg, Illinois, as the Senior Airman Daniel Miller Post Office Building. Senior Airman Miller was killed in action protecting our nation on January 7, 2007, by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device while performing duties in Al-Mahmudiyah, Iraq. U.S. Representative Cheri … Continue Reading