Press Releases
Durbin Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Tom Vilsack, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Agriculture
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Tom Vilsack, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Agriculture. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Vilsack discussed Illinois agriculture priorities and how the Department can assist farmers after years of uncertainty during the Trump Administration. Durbin spoke about the importance of expanding markets and trade for farmers instead of President Trump's government aid and lost exports, ending favoritism of cotton over … Continue Reading
January 13, 2021
Durbin Discusses Infrastructure with Pete Buttigieg, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Transportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Pete Buttigieg, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Transportation. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Buttigieg discussed the need to work together to pass an infrastructure package that invests in our economy and puts Americans back to work. They also discussed expanding diversity in infrastructure jobs, Amtrak On-Time Performance, and the need for additional COVID relief for the transportation industry and … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Durbin Discusses Labor Priorities and Infrastructure with LIUNA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with a group of Laborers' members from Illinois to discuss the importance of investing in transportation infrastructure and prioritizing policies that support workers and their families. Durbin discussed ideas to help increase funding and flexibility for existing transportation formula and competitive grant programs. Durbin and the group also discussed President-elect Biden's Labor Secretary nominee, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Pandemic, For-Profit Colleges with Dr. Miguel Cardona, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Miguel Cardona, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Education. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Cardona discussed how teacher shortages in Illinois and around the country have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and how Durbin's RETAIN Act would incentivize teacher retention by providing a fully refundable tax credit for teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health providers, and school leaders in Title I … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Economic Recovery with Janet Yellen, Biden Nominee for Secretary of the Treasury
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of the Treasury. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Yellen discussed the need to address the COVID-19 pandemic's economic devastation and how to ensure Americans who are unemployed, families that are struggling, and small businesses that worried about their future are supported by the federal government during this crisis. The recent COVID-19 relief bill passed in … Continue Reading
January 12, 2021
Durbin, Pressley, Colleagues Announce Plans to Introduce Bill to End Federal Death Penalty
Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF) WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) announced that they will lead more than 70 of their colleagues to soon reintroduce the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2021, bicameral legislation to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level, and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. The announcement comes with three more people scheduled to be executed in … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Durbin Discusses Veterans Issues With Denis McDonough, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Denis McDonough, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). During their Zoom call, Durbin and McDonough discussed the need to address the COVID-19 pandemic and how to ensure veterans and VA staff get vaccinated. Durbin and McDonough also discussed support for State Veterans Homes in Illinois, the expansion of the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, VA medical research, and … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $843 Million to Support Expanded Testing and Vaccine Distribution in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $843,870,238 in federal funding to support COVID-19 testing and vaccination distribution in Illinois. The funding is being awarded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as directed by the recently enacted Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. "This federal funding for COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution will provide essential support for our … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Durbin Discusses American Global Leadership with Tony Blinken, Biden Nominee for Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Tony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Blinken discussed the need to reestablish America's leading role in the world, including to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the global refugee crisis, access to clean water, and supporting Venezuelan Interim-President Juan Guaido and democracy in Venezuela. Durbin and Blinken also spoke about the threats posed from nations like … Continue Reading
January 08, 2021
Durbin Statement on President-Elect Biden's Attorney General Nominee, Merrick Garland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement on President-elect Joe Biden's announcement that he would nominate Merrick Garland to be U.S. Attorney General: "I applaud President-elect Biden's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be the next Attorney General of the United States. An Illinois native, Judge Garland has dedicated his career to public service and to upholding the rule of law. He is clearly well-qualified to serve as our … Continue Reading
January 06, 2021
Durbin Speaks on Senate Floor About Violence at the U.S. Capitol & 2020 Election Certification
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of Congress certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election and after a pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol building. "The vote we're going to have here is a clear choice of whether we are going to feed the beast of ignorance or are we going to tell the truth to the American people? We saw that beast today roaming the halls. Let's not invite it back," Durbin said. Video of Durbin's … Continue Reading
January 05, 2021
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