Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Campaigns and Elections
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Highlight Need For State Assistance To Prevent Ongoing Threat Of Foreign
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and two of their other colleagues on the Rules Committee in sending a letter to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) asking what steps are being taken in the final month before the election to assist states in administering safe, secure, and successful elections. Additionally, the U.S. Intelligence Community has left no doubt that foreign adversaries, particularly Russia, are actively working to undermine the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2020
Durbin Slams Republicans For Ignoring Russian Threat In 2020 Election, Questions Comey On President's Vulnerability In Light Of Personal Debts
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation: Day 3," which featured former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) warned about ongoing Russian attempts to interfere in the upcoming 2020 presidential election, and slammed Republicans on the Committee for ignoring the threat by re-litigating the 2016 investigation into Russian election … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Urge Online Platforms To Take Additional Measures To Stop Voting Related Misinformation And Disinformation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in leading 15 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter and YouTube, urging executives to take further measures to stop voting related misinformation and disinformation. The Intelligence Community has confirmed that Russia is trying to influence and undermine the election through social media and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned that foreign actors may leverage … Continue Reading
September 03, 2020
Durbin, Leading Senate Dems Demand Immediate U.S. Sanctions For Russian Interference In 2020 Elections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined leading Senate Democrats today in calling on the U.S. Treasury Department to sanction Russian individuals and government actors for their interference in the 2020 election. Along with Durbin, today's letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was also signed by Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Banking Committee Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Intelligence … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Durbin, Senators To Evanina: Election Security Demands Disclosure Of Russian Threat - To Congress & The American People
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) wrote National Counterintelligence and Security Center Director William Evanina demanding substantive action to protect our elections from foreign interference. At the beginning of August, Evanina issued a vaguely cautionary public statement on foreign threats to American elections. Instead of expanding on that warning by more fully informing the … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Urge USPS To Prioritize Election Mail Ahead Of November General Election
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) leaders following their call last week to discuss constituent concerns about voting by mail. In the letter, Durbin and Duckworth urged officials to ensure that election mail is processed expeditiously and to immediately enact an official policy to ensure that all vote-by-mail applications and ballots are treated as First-Class … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Convene Call With USPS And Illinois State Board Of Elections Leaders To Discuss Constituent Concerns About Voting By Mail
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with staff from the Illinois State Board of Elections (SBOE) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) to discuss how constituents in Illinois can safely participate in the upcoming general election amid concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and USPS policies and practices that may impact mail-in ballot delivery. On the call, the Senators and SBOE and USPS leaders discussed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's … Continue Reading
August 13, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Dems In Urging USPS To Fix Delays And Avoid Cost Increases For Election Mail
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in sending a letter with the entire Senate Democratic caucus to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to provide answers regarding reports of recent changes to long-standing practices at USPS that would result in increased delivery times and costs for election mail, and urged him not take any further action that … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Celebrating 55th Anniversary Of Voting Rights Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and 22 Senators today to introduce a Senate Resolution to recognize, commemorate, and celebrate the 55th anniversary of the enactment of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. President Lyndon B. Johnson proposed the legislation just days after the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, during which the late Representative John Lewis was beaten by law enforcement officers while crossing the Edmund … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
Durbin: Russian Interference In Our Elections Is A Threat To Our Democracy
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation: Day 2," which featured former Deputy Attorney General (AG) and Acting AG Sally Yates, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Michael Flynn's inappropriate behavior and communications with Russia both before and after the 2016 election. Durbin also warned about ongoing attempts to interfere in the upcoming 2020 general election. Last month, American … Continue Reading
March 10, 2020
One Year After House Passage, Durbin Calls On Senate To Pass For The People Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to call on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring the For the People Act to the Senate floor for a vote one year after it was passed by the House. The For the People Act is a sweeping package of comprehensive reforms that would fix our broken politics and make government work for the people. The landmark legislation aims to restore the promise of American democracy … Continue Reading
March 05, 2020
Durbin: What Are We Doing To Prevent Election Interference From China?
WASHINGTON - During a Senate Judiciary Crime and Terrorism Subcommittee hearing titled "Dangerous Partners: Big Tech and Beijing," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) raised the issue of potential election interference in the 2020 campaign by China. There is no evidence that China has engaged in cyber warfare targeting our election system yet, in contrast to Russia. However, China has waged influence campaigns online in a local Taiwanese election and in response to the protests in … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Durbin: Shame On Us If We Don't Do Everything In Our Power To Protect The Integrity Of Our Elections
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to end his legislative graveyard and for the Senate to pass the Election Security Act. This critical, comprehensive election security legislation would provide significant election security funding to states for cyber improvements and audits and establish a robust federal effort to protect our … Continue Reading
August 28, 2019
Durbin Statement On Senator Isakson's Decision To Resign
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) announced that he will resign at the end of 2019: "Johnny Isakson's departure from the Senate is the loss of a friend and a brave, constructive voice America desperately needs. Johnny stepped up for sensible immigration reform and defied the fire breathers and haters in his own party. I sent him a series of deserved fan letters. "He gathered warring … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Durbin Statement On Passing Of U.S. Representative Paul Findley
DECATUR - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the passing of former U.S. Representative Paul Findley, who represented Illinois' 20th Congressional District from January 3, 1961 - January 3, 1983: "Paul Findley was my political opponent, but he was also my friend. In 1982, I prevailed in the election over twenty-two year incumbent Congressman Paul Findley. Over the years, our infrequent conversations increased in number and a friendship emerged. I was … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Durbin Calls On McConnell To End Legislative Graveyard & Protect Our Elections From Foreign Interference
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee, today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to end his legislative graveyard and bring comprehensive election security bills to the floor. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin noted that one of the most important takeaways from Special Counsel Mueller's report is that Russia was able to successfully attack our democracy in 2016. Page one of the Mueller … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democratic Caucus To Introduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus to introduce the Democracy for All Amendment, a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) and other disastrous court decisions, help get big money out of politics, and put power back in the hands of the American people. "I was proud to preside over a hearing and lead the markup of this amendment as the chair of the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Durbin Introduces Fair Elections Now Act
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 24 Senate colleagues, today introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way U.S. Senate elections are financed. Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and corporate special interests. The Fair Elections Now Act … Continue Reading
July 24, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss Election Security With State Board Of Elections Chair Chuck Scholz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois State Board of Elections Chairman Chuck Scholz to discuss election security and how the federal government can assist the state in protecting its elections from foreign interference. Durbin and Duckworth discussed their efforts in the Senate to push Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to bring bills to the floor that would help ensure safe and secure elections. "This week, the FBI … Continue Reading
July 11, 2019
Durbin Statement On Administration Briefing Regarding Election Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Rules Committee, today released the following statement after an all-Senators briefing by the Trump Administration on election security: "Our intelligence agencies are spending millions of dollars to stop the Russians from making a mockery of the 2020 election. Unfortunately, Leader McConnell is blocking critical, comprehensive election security legislation that would help to assure every vote will be … Continue Reading