Durbin, Senate Steering Committee Meet with Civil Rights Leaders to Discuss Voting Rights

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after taking part in a Senate Democratic Steering Committee roundtable discussion on voting rights. The meeting included leaders of prominent civil rights organizations and focused on the need for legislative action to address voting discrimination and inequality. "Three years ago this week, the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to American democracy by overturning a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. T… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Zika Conference Report

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Zika conference report: Republicans have shown nothing but bad faith since the CDC and NIH came to Congress about the Zika crisis four months ago. This conference report makes a terrible situation worse: it shortchanges health care funding for women and families and robs critical funding from our ongoing fight against the Ebola virus. Republicans in Congress are either unwilling or unable to put their party's in… Continue Reading

Durbin: I'm Not Going to Quit on Gun Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the floor about the Senate's failure last night to advance legislation regarding background checks and to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists. "Our first obligation: provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure domestic tranquility in the United States. If that is our obligation, there is much more that needs to be done: keeping America safe from gun violence. Thousands of Americans are shot a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Failure of Senate to Advance Gun Violence Amendments

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance two pieces of critical gun reform legislation called for by Senate Democrats last week: After September 11th, our country vowed that we would never again allow Americans to be slaughtered by terrorists like that. So we changed the law. We tightened security at our airports to prevent that kind of attack from happening again. Tonight, the Senate turned its back on victims of gun violen… Continue Reading

Durbin Says Congressional Inaction on Gun Safety is an Outrage and Must End

CHICAGO - In response to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and the ongoing gun violence that plagues Chicago, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for Congressional action on gun safety reform. The Senate is expected to vote on several gun amendments introduced by Senate democrats next week, including legislation to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and strengthen background checks for gun shows and online purchases. So far this year more than 1,700 people in Ch… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $172,000 for Illinois Office of Rural Health

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $172,000 to the Illinois Office of Rural Health. Today's funding will help boost primary care access and encourage community involvement to improve health outcomes for the more than two million Illinoisans living in rural areas. "Illinois' rural residents face barriers to health care access that keep too many people from get… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Prevent Prescription Opioid Addiction

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced comprehensive legislation to combat the volume of addictive painkillers on the market and improve prescribing practices. The Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act (A-PROP Act) would curb the number of opioids flooding the market, increase accountability to ensure responsible prescribing practices, and support prevention efforts to reduce drug diversion and addiction. U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) will … Continue Reading

Durbin: For-Profit College Accreditor Should Lose Federal Recognition

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is working with his colleagues in the Senate on legislation to reform the college accreditation process, commended the Department of Education's staff recommendation to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity to end federal recognition of one of the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges - the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The Center for American Progress found… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Millioin in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $1,231,184 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders have access to the best resources and the equipment necessary to help protect them as they… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Filibuster Calling for Immediate Action on Gun Violence

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in a filibuster of the Senate to call for immediate action on legislation to stop the rising tide of gun violence. Durbin phrased his remarks in the form of a question to Murphy in accordance with Senate procedure. "There were 488 homicides in Chicago in 2015, the vast majority shootings. Chicago's 488 murders were the highest total number of any United States city last year. In New York, there were only-o… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Must Heed America's Call to End Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today about the urgent need for gun control legislation as a matter of national security and public safety, citing Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando and gun violence in Chicago as examples of the consequences of inaction. Durbin called on his Senate colleagues to act immediately to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons, the mentally unstable, and individuals with ties to terrorism. He also strongly criticized Republican leaders for fail… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on House GOP Bill to Repeal Critical Swipe Fee Reforms

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding a House Republican bill that would repeal the Durbin amendment to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010: "Repealing the Durbin Amendment would be a windfall for Visa, MasterCard and the nation's biggest banks, but it would diminish transparency and competition in the debit card system and harm millions of Main Street merchants and their customers. Make no mistake - Main Street will not g… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Space Launch Agreement in Defense Authorization

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice-Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on an agreement reached to support a responsible transition to American-made rocket engines that ensures America's ability to launch national security satellites: "This agreement is a win for America's national security and taxpayers," said Durbin. "It will provide for a responsible transition to American-made engines and guarantee America's access to spac… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Must Do More to Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Dangerous People

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about yesterday's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, and called on the Senate to take immediate action to close loopholes in law that allow dangerous people to purchase guns and explosives. "We don't know all the details, but we know this was an act of terror and it was an act of hate, and it was directed at the LGBT community. I want to begin by expressing my condolences to the victims, their families and loved ones, a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $4.8 Million for Small Airports in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $4,852,151 in federal funding for upgrades to small airports in Illinois. The grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration and will help improve safety and efficiency at DuPage Airport, Greater Kankakee Airport, and Lewis University Airport. Senator Durbin has worked to increase funding for critical transportation and infrastructure grant programs that benefit Illinois. "Investin… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2 Million to Protect Cook County Families from Lead Hazards

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development will award Cook County $2 million to identify and address lead-based paint hazards in low-income homes with children. Today's funding will allow the Cook County Department of Health to control hazards in 132 housing units, protecting families from dangerous lead exposure. Prolonged exposure to lead can cause irreversible and long-term developmental delays and health and behavior prob… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Mass Shooting in Orlando

SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida early this morning: "This morning's mass shooting was the worst in American history. 50 people were massacred and dozens more injured when a heavily armed man opened fire on innocent people. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the victims and their loved ones, and I stand in solidarity with the LGBT community in Orlando and across America. These mass shootings follow … Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Urge TSA to Implement Measures to Protect Rail and Transit Passengers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and twelve other Senate Democrats in calling on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to take immediate action to implement security recommendations mandated in the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. In a letter to TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger, the senators expressed concern over the safety of our nation's rail and transit systems in the wake of the Brussels terrorist attacks in March. They also emphasized t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announce More Than $56.5 Million in DOT Grants for Chicago Airports

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded more than $56.5 million dollars in grants for runway construction and improvement projects at Chicago airports. Under this announcement, O'Hare International Airport will receive Department of Transportation grants totaling $45 million dollars to pay for runway construction, taxi lighting, and signage. Midway International Airport will receive $11,790,715 … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces New Bill to Combat Opioid Epidemic

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today unveiled new legislation to combat the volume of addictive painkillers on the market and improve prescribing practices as the heroin and prescription opioid epidemic continues to rock communities across Illinois and the country. The Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act (A-PROP Act), which Durbin will formally introduce in the Senate next week, would curb the number of opioids flooding the market, increase accountability to en… Continue Reading