Durbin: Why Hasn't The Gun Violence Debate Reached The Senate Floor?

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Republican leaders to bring the debate over gun violence to the floor of the U.S. Senate. "97% of the American people believe in universal comprehensive background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who would misuse them: convicted felons, mentally unstable people," Durbin said. "97%. The overwhelming majority of gun owners feel exactly the same way. So why-why in God's name have we not taken that up since the… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Utah Wilderness Coalition About Trump's Plans To Shrink Bears Ears & Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments

WASHINGTON-Following a recent New York Times article that highlighted internal U.S. Department of Interior documents showing that efforts to reduce the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah were motivated by a desire to increase oil and natural gas development in the region and to allow additional coal and mineral mines, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Utah Wilderness Coalition to express his continued support for maintaining the monume… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth To Rauner: We Need More Than Vague Assurances That Next Steps Are Coming At IVH Quincy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today once again urgently requested Governor Bruce Rauner's detailed plan of action for ensuring the safety of residents, family, and staff at the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. They also pressed Rauner's Administration to accept the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) offer of technical assistance-including a site visit to IVH Quincy-in tandem with ongoing VA financial support as well as expert assistance tha… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Wells Fargo To Halt Any Plans To Expand Presence On College Campuses

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Wells Fargo CEO Timothy Sloan that urged the bank to halt any plans it may have to expand its financial footprint on college campuses until the Federal Reserve lifts its recently announced sanctions on the bank. In February, the Federal Reserve announced it would takes steps to stop the growth of Wells Fargo and hold the bank accountable for years of "pervasive and persistent misconduct" until it "sufficiently improves its … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Dreamers To Renew Their DACA

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to immediately file applications to renew their DACA status, which is permitted by two nationwide federal court injunctions blocking the Trump Administration's repeal of DACA. This morning, Durbin spoke with Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, who personally assured him that Dreamers with pending DACA renewal applications will NOT be deported, even if the… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With MWRD To Express Continued Support For McCook Reservoir, Brandon Road Project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to express his continued support for the construction and funding of the McCook Reservoir Project. Last month, Durbin, along with Senator Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Peter Roskam (R-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and Bobby Rus… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nominations For U.S. Marshal For Central And Southern Districts Of Illinois

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced his nominees for the United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois, Brendan O. Heffner, and the United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, Bradley A. Maxwell. "Through many years of service to Illinois, Brendan Heffner and Bradley Maxwell have demonstrated strong qualifications to serve as United States Marshals. We … Continue Reading

Durbin: Trump Created The DACA Crisis Six Months Ago Today. What Happens Next Is Up To Republican Congressional Leaders

WASHINGTON-Six months to the day after the Trump Administration terminated the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and called on Congress to solve the crisis, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again called on the Republicans who control Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act. "What's at stake? 780,000 young people protected by DACA, which officially by President Trump's order ends today," said Durbin. "They have one ray of hope, perhaps two. Two courts have s… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Make Community And Technical School More Affordable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to introduce America's College Promise Act. This legislation would create a new federal-state partnership to provide two years of tuition-free access to community or technical college programs that lead to a degree or industry-recognized credential. "Community colleges provide a springboard for students who wish to continue their education and a foundation for students to find goo… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Stoneman Douglas Students, Calls on Congress To Toughen Gun Laws

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to discuss the urgent need for Congress to pass legislation to curb gun violence. Durbin earlier met with survivors of the mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. "These students and young people across the country are changing the debate about gun violence," said Durbin. "They are making clear how absurd it is for lawmakers to do nothing when Americans are getting shot every day in their… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision On White House DACA Case

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request by the Trump Administration for expedited consideration of its challenge to an injunction blocking the Administration's termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program: President Trump created this crisis six months ago, and his administration continues to use every available legal option to prevent Dreamers from keeping their DACA … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses President Trump To Demand Syria and Russia End Horrific Bombing of Eastern Ghouta

CHICAGO - As Syrian government warplanes supported by Russia have relentlessly bombarded the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta for six days, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged President Trump to demand that Russia end this senseless bombing of innocent civilians and allow medical and humanitarian relief to reach the area's victims. Durbin also stressed that any such discussion with President Putin must also address deeply troubling, and seemingly ignored, reports that Russian mercenari… Continue Reading

Durbin Warns FCC Of Sinclair's Dubious Divestment Plan For Tribune Mega-Merger

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today warned Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai about the amended proposal filed yesterday by Sinclair Broadcast Group for its proposed $3.9 billion merger with Tribune Media Company. In their amended proposal, Sinclair disclosed its plan to divest from Tribune's WGN-TV Chicago, WPIX-TV New York, and KSWB-TV San Diego stations in order for the merger to comply with the FCC's 39 percent national media ownership cap. However, despi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On California State Approving Agency Denying Ashford University's Application For Approval

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) denied Ashford University's application to be approved in the state of California - a requirement for maintaining its eligibility to receive GI Bill benefits nationally: "Ashford University has a long history of exploiting the men and women who have served our country in uniform in order to pocket millions in federal GI Bill education benefit… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Must Stand Up to Gun Sales Lobby & Act to Prevent the Next Mass Shooting

CHICAGO - In the wake of the tragic mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local gun safety advocates to call on Congress to act on common sense gun reforms and stop turning a blind eye to the deadly toll of gun violence in our schools and neighborhoods. The only vote the U.S. Senate has held this Congress on guns has been to overturn a regulation to keep guns out of the hands of individuals with mental illness. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Rock Island Leaders Discuss Initiatives to Combat Opioid Epidemic

ROCK ISLAND - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Rock Island County Sheriff Gerry Bustos and other local leaders for a briefing about Rock Island County's new program designed to help people addicted to opioids get the treatment they need without facing arrest or prosecution. The Safe Passage Program began in January and the first person to use it is now going through treatment. "Every day, more than 100 Americans die from an opioid overdose. Tackling this crisis requires a coord… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Press IDPH For Additional Information On The Latest Three Cases Of Legionnaires' At IVH Quincy

CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to once again take every available precaution and pursue every available option in order to prevent and mitigate further outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease at the Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. Durbin and Duckworth also pressed IDPH to uphold a commitment to transparency so that residents, families, and staff at IVH Quincy, as well as the public, can have the… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On EPA To Update Dangerous Lead Hazard Standards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have sent a letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revise its lead-based paint and dust-lead hazard standards without delay. The letter is in response to a December 2017 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Court requiring the agency to update its current standards within 90 days. "It is widely known and accepted that lead hazards present an urgent health and safety threat to c… Continue Reading

Durbin, Dem Senators Press Interior Secretary To Postpone Development Of Management Plans For Bears Ears & Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led 12 Democratic senators in pressing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to postpone the development of management plans for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument areas in Utah until legal challenges regarding the President's authority to reduce the size of the monuments have been resolved. The Senators also requested that the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument management plan remain in effect for all lands wit… Continue Reading

Given Failure By Rauner Administration, Durbin, Duckworth Urge CDC To Take Greater Leadership Role In Mitigating Legionnaires' Disease At IVH Quincy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take a greater leadership role in helping to address the public health crisis at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Quincy. Since 2015, more than 60 people have contracted Legionnaires' disease at IVH Quincy and 13 people have died as a result. Just this week, three more laboratory-confirmed cases of Legionnaires' disease were confirmed among IVH residents. … Continue Reading