Press Releases
Durbin Joins Colleagues Calling For Long-Term Relief For 43 Million Student Loan Borrowers Amid COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and 16 other Senators in a letter to Senate leaders urging them to include long-term relief for millions of Americans with student loans in the next coronavirus relief package as negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats continue. The letter comes after the President issued an executive order that only places a three-month forbearance for some student loan borrowers, leaving nearly eight million … Continue Reading
August 12, 2020
Durbin, Brown Caution University of Arizona On Its Bid To Purchase Predatory For-Profit College
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today sent a letter to the President of the University of Arizona (UA) urging the school to take steps to protect students after it announced the purchase of Ashford University, a for-profit college that has long been the subject of numerous state and federal investigations and lawsuits for fraudulent and predatory practices. Despite a long history of troubling practices, if the transaction is consummated, Zovio - which … Continue Reading
August 11, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief And USPS Service With St. Louis Regional Chamber
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a call with members of the St. Louis Regional Chamber to discuss the latest on negotiations to pass an additional COVID-19 relief bill, including unemployment insurance, small business assistance, and protecting the United States Postal Service (USPS). Durbin shared his support for maintaining the $600 per week federal enhanced unemployment benefits and his recent letter to the USPS Postmaster General DeJoy urging him to take … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $850,000 For Pace Suburban Bus Service
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $850,464 in federal funding awarded to Pace Suburban Bus Division of the Regional Transportation Authority to support its I-90 Express Bus Service. The funding comes from the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Grants for Buses and Bus Facilities Program. "Investing in our public transportation infrastructure helps create jobs and improves the safety and efficiency of travel for Illinoisans," Durbin … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Durbin Speaks With Venezuelans About Need For Senate To Pass Bipartisan, House-Passed Venezuela TPS Legislation
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today spoke via conference call with Venezuelans in Illinois and around the country on his efforts to pass the bipartisan, House-passed Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and protect approximately 200,000 Venezuelan nationals in the United States from deportation. They also discussed the … Continue Reading
August 10, 2020
Durbin Leads Dem Members Of Illinois Delegation In Urging Postmaster General To Address Delays In Letter & Parcel Delivery In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led fourteen Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in urging Postmaster General DeJoy to take corrective action against the recent operational changes, including the elimination of overtime and a reduction in mail sorting and processing hours, which have led to significant delays in the delivery of letters and packages to Illinoisans. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the damaging effects the delayed packages are … Continue Reading
August 08, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Coronavirus Executive Orders
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed executive orders related to the coronavirus pandemic: "Unlike comprehensive legislation that could be passed by Congress, these executive orders will not meet the needs of the American people or help solve this public health or economic crisis. Yesterday's jobs report showed that our economy is losing steam. This is the time to be making meaningful, bold … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Joins Warren, Murray, Booker to Introduce the COVID-19 In Corrections Transparency Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to introduce the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin And Davis Call For Immediate Funding For The U.S. Postal Service
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL-7) today held a news conference calling for the immediate funding of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), whose services are essential in ensuring Americans receive medications, paychecks, and packages, as well as allowing Americans to safely exercise their right to vote through mail-in voting. "In the months since the pandemic swept the country the post office has seen a dramatic increase in parcel volume, between 20 … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Joins Warren, Murray, Booker To Introduce The COVID-19 In Corrections Data Transparency Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to introduce the COVID-19 in Corrections Data Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and publicly report detailed … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Joins Colleagues In Criticizing Trump Administration's Maneuvers To Manipulate Census And Hamper An Accurate Count
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 23 Senators in expressing their discontent with the Trump Administration's decision to cut the 2020 Census count short by a month, devastating the accuracy of the count and disproportionally impacting hard-to-count communities. The Senators wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging the Trump Administration to reverse the effort to end the count a month early. "We urge you to immediately reverse this decision … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Joins Colleagues in Criticizing Trump Administration's Maneuvers to Manipulate Census and Hamper an Accurate Count
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 23 Senators in expressing their discontent with the Trump Administration's decision to cut the 2020 Census count short by a month, devastating the accuracy of the count and disproportionally impacting hard-to-count communities. The Senators wrote to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging the Trump Administration to reverse the effort to end the count a month early. "We urge you to immediately reverse this decision … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Introduces Bill to Fund a Clean Climate Future
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of America's Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy, achieve critical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate a fair transition for workers from declining energy sectors, and renew America's commitment to remain a world leader in technology, innovation, and a sustainable future. The bill would provide $50 billion in its first year for investments in … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Leads Dem Members of Illinois Delegation in Urging Postmaster General to Address Delays in Letter & Parcel Delivery in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led fourteen Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in urging Postmaster General DeJoy to take corrective action against the recent operational changes, including the elimination of overtime and a reduction in mail sorting and processing hours, which have led to significant delays in the delivery of letters and packages to Illinoisans. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized the damaging effects the delayed packages are … Continue Reading
August 07, 2020
Durbin Introduces Bill To Fund A Clean Climate Future
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of America's Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy, achieve critical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate a fair transition for workers from declining energy sectors, and renew America's commitment to remain a world leader in technology, innovation, and a sustainable future. The bill would provide $50 billion in its first year for investments in … 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 06, 2020
Durbin, Moran, Colleagues: Include NIH Research Funding In Next COVID-19 Relief Package
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) led 22 of their colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) urging for $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to be included in a fourth COVID-19 relief package to avoid significant harm to the research pipeline in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused more than $10 … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Durbin Discusses Postal Service Delays With National Association Of Letter Carriers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando about the operational changes leading to significant delays in mail delivery. On the call, Durbin and Rolando discussed the measures enacted by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that are prohibiting the United States Postal Service (USPS) from effectively operating and delivering medications, social security benefits, and packages. Last month, Postmaster General … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Durbin Introduces Normal Mayor Chris Koos During Hearing For Nomination To Serve On Amtrak Board Of Directors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing for his nomination to serve on the Amtrak Board of Directors. Durbin praised Koos for his understanding of the importance of Amtrak's national network to the Midwest and said he would bring a unique and needed experience to Amtrak's board. "[Chris] is an Amtrak passenger…and a small business man in the Normal community. He always wants to keep people … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
Durbin: We Must Fund The United States Postal Service
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the Senate floor today to call out United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's decision to eliminate overtime for United States Postal Service (USPS) workers, which has increased delays in mail delivery, and strained the ability of USPS employees to perform an essential service to millions of Americans, especially those living in rural areas. In his speech, Durbin expressed support for USPS workers who continue to perform a … Continue Reading