Press Releases
Durbin To Illinois Meat Processing Companies: How Will You Protect Workers From COVID-19 Infection In Light Of President Trump's Executive Order?
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, wrote letters to five Illinois meat processing companies today asking them to provide information about how they plan to protect workers from COVID-19 infections in the aftermath of President Trump's executive order to keep meat plants open during the pandemic. In a letter to JBS in Beardstown, Tysons Meats in Hillsdale, Smithfield Foods in Monmouth, Aurora Packing Company in North Aurora, and … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Call For Tax Credit Expansion To Help Working Families During Coronavirus Economic Downturn
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in leading a group of 34 other Senators in a letter to Senate Leaders calling for a temporary expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) in the next coronavirus relief package. As the economic effects of COVID-19 are expected to last into next year, this would put money back in the pockets of working … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Response With Illinois Community Health Centers
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, on a call with CEOs from Illinois Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Jordan Powell, President and CEO of the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA), discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois and how CHCs are fighting the pandemic on the ground. Durbin thanked the CHC representatives for everything their centers and health workers have done so far to help Illinoisans and pledged he would continue to push for a … Continue Reading
May 01, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief With 10th District Residents & Cook County Commissioner Gainer
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a community conference call with 10th District residents and Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer to discuss COVID-19 relief and how the pandemic is continuing to affect local governments, small businesses, and essential services. Durbin also discussed his support for an extension of the 2020 Census, food insecurity, unemployment insurance, and helping communities of color access testing. "Illinois' local governments are facing … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin To UFCW Members: Worker Health And Safety At Meat Plants During Pandemic Is A Top Priority
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke with the United Food and Culinary Workers (UFCW) to discuss President Donald Trump's executive order to keep meat-processing plants operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin shared his concerns that the executive order ignores the health and safety recommendations of public health experts. He also discussed his support for more personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing for meat … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Response With VA Secretary Wilkie
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the response to the COVID-19 pandemic with Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie. Durbin urged Wilkie to provide more personal protective equipment (PPE) at VA Medical Centers in Illinois for staff and residents who are battling outbreaks. As of April 30, the VA has 8,597 positive veteran cases of COVID-19 nationwide, including 229 at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, 106 at Hines VA Medical Center, and … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin Calls On Illinois Education Professionals To Sound The Alarm On For-Profit Colleges
SPRINGFIELD - With high school seniors weighing options about their educational futures during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. For-profit colleges enroll only eight percent of post-secondary students, but they account for 33 percent of all federal student loan defaults. In … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin, Perdue, Young, Coons To Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage Of Doctors, Nurses
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, along with Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Chris Coons (D-DE) today announced they will introduce bipartisan legislation, the Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act, to provide a temporary stopgap to quickly address our nation's shortage of doctors and nurses, which poses a significant risk to our ability to effectively respond to the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin Joins Harris, Kelly To Announce Legislation To Establish Task Force To Combat Racial And Ethnic Disparities In COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to announce the bicameral COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act, legislation to bring together health care and other policy experts, community-based organizations, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to confront the racial and ethnic disparities of the coronavirus pandemic head on. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin Joins Harris, Kelly To Announce Legislation To Establish Task Force To Combat Racial And Ethnic Disparities In COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) to announce the bicameral COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Disparities Task Force Act, legislation to bring together health care and other policy experts, community-based organizations, and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial leaders to confront the racial and ethnic disparities of the coronavirus pandemic head on. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin, Klobuchar Lead Colleagues To Urge Bureau Of Prisons To Release Critical Demographic Data As Country Confronts Coronavirus Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a group of 14 colleagues on a letter to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal urging him to release system-wide demographic data in the BOP's public reporting of the number of incarcerated people and staff impacted by COVID-19-including data on the age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, and disability of all incarcerated people and BOP staff who have been tested for, … Continue Reading
April 30, 2020
Durbin, Klobuchar Lead Colleagues To Urge Bureau Of Prisons To Release Critical Demographic Data As Country Confronts Coronavirus Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) led a group of 14 colleagues on a letter to Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal urging him to release system-wide demographic data in the BOP's public reporting of the number of incarcerated people and staff impacted by COVID-19-including data on the age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, pregnancy status, sexual orientation, and disability of all incarcerated people and BOP staff who have been tested for, … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin Statement On Death Of First Female Federal Inmate Due To COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a lead author of the First Step Act - landmark prison reform legislation - today released the following statement regarding the death of Andrea Circle Bear who is believed to be the first female federal inmate to die of COVID-19. Ms. Circle Bear was a 30-year-old federal inmate who gave birth on a ventilator in early April and had a pre-existing medical condition: "Simply put, this … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin Calls On CDC To Fund Efforts To Build Community Health Workforce To Tackle Health Disparities In Communities Of Color
SPRINGFIELD - Following reports of alarming disparities among communities of color in COVID-19 mortality, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support state and local efforts to bolster community workforce capacity for contact tracing and other outreach efforts in addressing this public health challenge. To succeed in combatting COVID-19, and lay the groundwork to address underlying social determinants of health, … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Call For $50 Billion In Childcare Relief In Next Coronavirus Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in leading 27 of their Senate colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to include their plan for $50 billion in childcare relief in the next coronavirus package, saying it is an indispensable part of the nation's response to the pandemic. The plan outlines steps to stabilize the childcare system, keep providers in business, and ensure parents are able to go … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democrats To Announce Bill To Increase National Production Of Medical Supply Chain
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today to announce legislation that lays out a framework for an effective COVID-19 response by increasing production and adding oversight and transparency to the supply chain for critical medical supplies and equipment. The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires the President to utilize all available authorities under the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With Illinois Broadcasters Association
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on local radio and television broadcasters, including the loss of revenue from advertising, federal relief efforts for small businesses, and the industry's role in continuing to inform Illinois residents about the resources available through the CARES Act. "Our local broadcasters play a critical role during this coronavirus pandemic by keeping … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin Discusses Paycheck Protection Program With Illinois Community Banks And Credit Unions
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with leaders of Illinois community banks and credit unions to discuss the financial industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including participation in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and recommendations on improvements to the PPP to assist small businesses and nonprofits struggling to stay afloat. Durbin discussed how he and Senate Democrats fought to better address the needs of rural, … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Executive Order Keeping Meat Plans Open During Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep meat-processing plants operating during the COVID-19 pandemic: "President Trump's executive order to require meat and poultry producers to continue operations ignores the health and safety realities of this pandemic. The coronavirus is not impressed with a presidential order and neither are the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Relief And Labor Protections With Illinois AFL-CIO
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the Illinois AFL-CIO executive committee. On a call with the Illinois AFL-CIO, Durbin and Duckworth shared their priorities for the next COVID-19 relief package, including federal assistance for COBRA health coverage, strengthening unemployment insurance, and providing state and local governments financial assistance for … Continue Reading