Durbin: Under Trumpcare - Medicaid Decimated, Children's Health Care Threatened, and Big Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today admonished House Republicans for slashing Medicaid funding for families, women, seniors, rural communities, and children in their plan to repeal health care. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) gave states the option to expand Medicaid to millions more Americans - 32 states participate in the expansion, including Illinois. As a result, 11 million people nationwide - and 650,000 people in Illinois - are newly enrolled… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $250,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $281,167 to Forest Park Fire Department, Mattoon Fire Department, Oak Park Fire Department, and Wauconda Fire District through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Each department awarded will use the funds for operations and safety including professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective eq… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $150,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources in Villa Park

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $ 159,091 to the Villa Park Fire Department through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The funding will be used for operations and safety including professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefighting and non-affiliat… Continue Reading

Durbin: Rosenstein Must Appoint Special Prosecutor or Resign

DECATUR-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: In an interview with NBC News, President Trump admitted to firing FBI Director James Comey because of his investigation of the Trump campaign's Russian connections-that is dangerously close to obstruction of justice. This morning, the President tweeted a thinly veiled threat to Mr. Comey, which could be construed as threatening a witness in this investigation, which is another violation of federal law. To… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on AG Sessions Move to Force Needlessly Harsh Prison Sentences for Nonviolent Drug Offenses

CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on a new Justice Department policy that rescinds the Smart on Crime Initiative, which directed federal prosecutors to reserve stiff mandatory minimum sentences for individuals convicted of the most serious offenses, and instead requires prosecutors to seek the longest possible sentence even for low-level nonviolent offenses: This policy shift flies in the face of the growing bipartisan consensus that we need… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Central Illinois Impact of GOP Health Care Repeal Bill

DECATUR - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Central Illinois health care leaders regarding the local impact of Congressional Republicans' efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Last week, House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which would repeal health care for millions of Americans, including one million in Illinois. The bill, which every Illinois Republican House Member voted for, would once again jeopardize coverage for people with pre-existing co… Continue Reading

Durbin on Trump Voter Fraud Order: We Need an Independent, Nonpartisan Investigation into the 2016 Election

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after reports that President Donald Trump has signed an executive order launching a commission to review voter integrity in the U.S. election system. "Just two days after the ouster of former-FBI Director James Comey and amid growing scrutiny and questions into the Trump campaign's connection with Russia, President Trump is trying to divert attention from the ongoing FBI investigation by returning t… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Are All One Diagnosis Away from Needing Quality, Affordable Health Care

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today denounced House Republicans for turning their backs on Americans with pre-existing conditions in their plan to repeal health care. Under Trumpcare, insurance companies would once again be allowed to impose pre-existing condition penalties on people if a state receives a "waiver", even though Republicans continue to deny this simple fact. "It was just a little over a week ago when I became a statistic, not jus… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Trump to Respond to Russian Cyberattacks on French Election—and Ours

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to respond to reports of Russian cyberattacks on the French presidential election. In letters to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and FBI Director James Comey, Durbin called for a detailed accounting of the Administration's assessment and planned response to the attack on America's oldest ally. "The recen… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Removal of FBI Director James Comey

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced that FBI Director James Comey had been terminated. The news comes as the Trump Administration faces growing scrutiny over possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. "The termination and removal of James Comey as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation raises the critical question as to whether the FBI investigation of Russian in… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Hospital Groups on Impact of GOP Health Care Repeal Bill

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with hospital administrators from across Illinois, from Southern Illinois to Chicago. Their conclusion is that the Republican health care repeal bill passed last week by the House of Representatives threatens health insurance coverage for an estimated one million Illinoisans, weakens protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and endangers the services offered by Illinois hospitals and an estimated 60,000 jobs. "Hospitals across our… Continue Reading

Durbin: What are we waiting for to respond to Russian cyberattack on 2016 election?

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration for its evasion and obstruction of investigations of possible links between members of the President's inner circle and the Russian government. Durbin again criticized the Administration for putting America's national security at risk by keeping Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor for eighteen days after learning he had lied about his communications with the Russians. Recalling comments made … Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Yates and Clapper about Trump's Connection to Russia

WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) questioned former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper about Russia's cyber act of war against the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Durbin asked Yates about the extent of the Trump Administration's knowledge of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's communications with Russia, noting that Flynn continue… Continue Reading

Durbin, Feinstein Statement on Drastic, Unilateral Changes to Private Bills

WASHINGTON - Senate Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's decision to discontinue a decades-long bipartisan policy of issuing stays of removal for private immigration bills when the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee requests a report on a beneficiary's case. "Children's and families' lives are on the line. Priv… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley: Congress needs to give Labor Department Authority to Investigate H-1B Visa Abuse

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's response to a request by the senators to investigate the harm done to American workers by the rising tide of H-1B guest worker visa abuse: "The Labor Department's response further highlights the urgent need to end H-1B visa abuse. The wellbeing of thousands of hard-working Americans is at stake. A number of U.S. employers, including some large, well-k… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois Health, Science, and Research Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous health, science, and research priorities for the State of Illinois. This is in stark contrast to President Trump's proposed budget, which would have made drastic cuts to the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Human Services. For example, President Trump proposed to gut the National Institute… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Illinois Defense Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous defense priorities for the State of Illinois. "One reason I support this bill is because it includes a strong defense appropriation, which provides critical equipment and training for our troops, and funds the continued fight against terrorist threats like ISIL… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois Transportation Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous transportation priorities for the State of Illinois. President Donald Trump's proposed budget would have dramatically cut transportation infrastructure funding, which would have had a devastating impact on projects across Illinois. "Investing in our transportation infrastructure creates jobs, revitalizes neighborhoods, an… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on House Vote to Repeal Health Care

CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to repeal health care for 24 million Americans: The Illinois Congressmen who voted to repeal health care today ignored clear warnings from every Illinois medical organization that this will be a disaster for our state. They were driven by political arrogance instead of common sense. My recent medical experience reminded me how vulnerable we all are. I will fight this… Continue Reading

Durbin, Welch Statement on Committee Passage of House Big Bank Bonanza Bill

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) that would gut the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and repeal debit swipe fee reform. The bill was just passed by Hensarling's House Financial Services Committee on a party line vote. The Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee just chos… Continue Reading