Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Statement On BOP Transfer Of Inmates To Thomson Prison

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today released the following statement after learning that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is transferring at least 20 inmates from Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC) Chicago, where there is a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, to the United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson, in Thomson, Illinois: "BOP's response to the threat of COVID-19 in federal prisons has been inadequate and tr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schakowsky Announce Bill To Expand Health Care Workforce To Meet Nationwide Challenges

SPRINGFIELD - Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, today announced bicameral legislation to provide a historic investment in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Nurse Corps programs to cover the graduate education costs of approximately 300,000 clinicians in order to help address existing health workforce shortages throughout our health care system. The COVI… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bipartisan Colleagues Call For Relief For Rural Broadcasters, Local Newspapers During Coronavirus Pandemic

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and 71 other Senators in a bipartisan letter calling for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought to support radio and television broadcasters and local newspapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs, and more to all corners of the Un… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press DOJ IG To Review Implementation Of First Step Act & CARES Act In BOP COVID-19 Investigation

WASHINGTON - Following the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General's (IG) decision to assess whether facilities housing Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates are complying with available guidance and best practices regarding preventing, managing, and containing potential COVID-19 outbreaks, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) requested that DOJ Inspector General (IG) Horowitz's review also include the implementation of relevant legislative authorities and Attorney General … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Trump's Proclamation On Immigration

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement on President Donald Trump's proclamation halting some immigration for 60 days: "Where would America be in this crisis without millions of immigrants and first generation Americans who are essential workers on the frontlines of this pandemic? President Trump should stop attacking immigrants and spend his valuable time attacking thi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Discuss Impact Of COVID-19 Illinois Nonprofits

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined a call with representatives from advocacy, community service, and behavioral health nonprofits across Illinois to discuss support for nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the call, the Senators heard from nonprofit leaders about the strain the COVID-19 crisis has placed on their organizations and discussed provisions in the CARES Act that offer financial assistance to nonprofits. "Nonp… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge Administration To Fully Utilize Defense Production Act & Protect Veterans From COVID-19

SPRINGFIELD - To better protect veterans, health care professionals, and all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and 13 other Senate colleagues, called on the Administration and its Coronavirus Task Force to make full use of the Defense Production Act (DPA). In a letter to Vice President Mike Pence today, the Senators implored the Administration to fully invoke the DPA to address the nation's s… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses DACA, Legal Aid Services With Illinois Bar Association Leaders

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with representatives of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Foundation, and the Chicago Bar Association to discuss the increasing need for legal aid services as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of ensuring adequate funding for the Legal Services Corporation, which helps provide accessible legal aid to tens of thousands of Illinoisans. Durbin also discussed expanding student loan relief programs and Defe… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Push Treasury To Ensure Americans Without Broadband Can Receive Economic Impact Payments

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 22 of his Senate colleagues, urged the Department of Treasury to increase its efforts to make Economic Impact Payments available to the most vulnerable populations-including those without access to the internet who cannot file a tax return electronically. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Durbin and the Senators highlighted that at least 21 million Americans are without high-speed internet access and they face a significan… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With West Side United

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke with representatives from West Side United to discuss the racial and ethnic disparities in health care during the COVID-19 pandemic and solutions for more equitable health care outcomes for communities of color. To begin addressing these disparities, Durbin has called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to begin reporting nationwide demographic data of cases and deaths related to COVID-19 and utilize this data seek soluti… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Response In Illinois With Acting Navy Secretary And Chief Of Naval Personnel

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services committee, spoke with Acting U.S. Navy Secretary James McPherson and Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Admiral John Nowell today to discuss the Navy's COVID-19 response efforts in Illinois, including reports of the spread of COVID-19 at Naval Station Great Lakes in Great Lakes, Illinois. … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses DHS On Reported Sharing Of Confidential DACA Recipient Information

SPRINGFIELD - In light of serious concerns that the Trump Administration is preparing mass deportations of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf urgently seeking more information about the confidentiality of information that DACA recipients have provided to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Se… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With Africa Global Chamber Of Commerce

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the Africa Global Chamber of Commerce virtual conference to discuss the racial disparities in health care impacting minority communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and seeking solutions for more equitable health care outcomes for communities of color. During the virtual conference, Durbin also spoke about the barriers minority-owned businesses face in accessing the Paycheck Protection Program. "Our nation has never confronted a challe… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Push For Access To Digital Resources For State And Local Governments Managing COVID-19 Crisis

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in leading a letter with 14 of their Senate colleagues urging Congressional leadership to provide additional digital resources for state and local governments managing the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on local communities. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-C… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Enviromental Protection And Climate Change With The Nature Conservancy

SPRINGFIELD - Ahead of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day tomorrow, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the members of The Nature Conservancy to discuss conservation, environmental protection, and climate change. Durbin spoke about how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the use of outdoor recreation spaces in Illinois, the importance of addressing the backlog in National Park maintenance and fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and efforts to combat the effects of climate chang… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Impact of COVID-19 With Chicago Chapter Of The First Ladies Health Initiative

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined the "Solutions, Not Just Conversations" conference call hosted by the First Ladies Initiative's Chicago Chapter to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on minority communities in Illinois. On the call, Durbin spoke about the racial disparities in health care magnified by this public health crisis and additional support needed for Illinois communities in the next coronavirus relief package. Durbin also discussed the CARES Act and how f… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Response & Detection Of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base With Air Force Chief Of Staff

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today had a call with U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), as well as an update on the detection of the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Scott AFB in February. "General Goldfein had high praise for the work being done a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4.9 Billion In State And Local COVID-19 Funding For Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $4.9 billion in state and local stabilization funds from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help offset the significant increased costs that state and local governments are facing from the COVID-19 pandemic. "I'm glad the Senate was able to come together on a bipartisan basis to pass the CARES Act, which amo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Colleague Urge Senate To Protect COVID-19 Relief Funds From Predatory For-Profit College Industry

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with 15 of their Senate colleagues, today urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), and Senate Appropriations Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), to explicitly direct any additional emergency funding specifically for institutions of higher education to public and private, nonprofit institutions. I… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $108 Million For Illinois Emergency Education Block Grants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $108,497,757 in federal funding to ensure education continues for students of all ages impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor's Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund, authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, is a flexible emergency block grant designed to enable governors to decide how best to meet the needs of students, schools, posts… Continue Reading