Press Releases
Durbin: President Trump Has Created A National Embarrassment At The Border
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today slammed the Trump Administration for the inhumane conditions at the southwest border and called on the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin detailed recent press reports that describe detestable and unacceptable conditions at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in Clint, Texas, which was holding … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Durbin, Grassley, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urge EPA To Update Ethanol Science To Improve Trade
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of Senators urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update an outdated environmental analysis on ethanol in order to improve foreign sales opportunities. Peer-reviewed science conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has affirmed U.S. ethanol lowers greenhouse gas emissions between 39 … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Durbin Testifies At House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today testified at a House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing entitled "Oversight of Bankruptcy Law and Legislative Proposals." Durbin testified about the Student Borrower Bankruptcy Relief Act of 2019, a bicameral bill he introduced with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-01), and U.S. Representative John Katko (R-NY-24) that would give … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Durbin, Cardin, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce NDAA Amendment To Halt Security Assistance To Cameroon
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to halt all further U.S. security assistance to Cameroon, except for dealing with Boko Haram, until the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State certify military and security forces of Cameroon have demonstrated progress in abiding by international human rights standards, particularly in regards … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Durbin Meets With Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Peoria, Illinois, Mayor Jim Ardis today to discuss transportation priorities and the importance of investing in our nation's infrastructure. Durbin discussed Peoria's interest in becoming a research hub for autonomous vehicle technology, including the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC) in the Greater Peoria Area's application for an Automated Driving System Demonstration Grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation. … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Lipinski Announce More Than $65 Million For Chicago Airport Improvements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), has awarded O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport grants totaling $65,276,900. O'Hare International Airport will receive $65 million to support runway construction and Midway International Airport will receive $276,900 to conduct a … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Ten Years After Landmark Law To Fight Tobacco Addiction, Durbin Presses FDA For Stronger Response To Youth E-Cigarette Epidemic
TEN YEARS AFTER LANDMARK LAW TO FIGHT TOBACCO ADDICTION, DURBIN PRESSES FDA FOR STRONGER RESPONSE TO YOUTH E-CIGARETTE EPIDEMIC CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 15 of their Democratic colleagues, sent a letter to Dr. Ned Sharpless, Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in recognition of the ten year anniversary of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. In the letter, the Senators urged the FDA to … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Reintroduce Bill To Provide Equal Tax Treatment For Married Same-Sex Couples
WASHINGTON - During LGBTQ Pride Month, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Refund Equality Act. This legislation would ensure that legally-married same-sex couples - who until the U.S. Supreme Court's 2013 U.S. v. Windsor decision were barred from filing federal taxes jointly - are permitted to file amended tax returns back to the date of their marriage. The House Ways and Means Committee will … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Durbin Statement On Trump administration Arms Sale To Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting for the joint resolutions of disapproval regarding arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The joint resolutions of disapproval passed the Senate and will now head to the House of Representatives for a vote. "The Saudi-led war in Yemen has been a humanitarian disaster - leading to an estimated 85,000 children having already died of malnutrition. And the Saudi government and royal family … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Durbin Hosts Illinois Members At Delegation Lunch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at an Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon. Started by the late U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon, the Illinois Delegation Luncheon has been held regularly in Washington, D.C., at no expense to the federal taxpayer for more than 27 years. "I always enjoy welcoming my House colleagues to the Senate for our delegation luncheons. Having the opportunity to discuss the issues in their … Continue Reading
June 20, 2019
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of Martha Pacold, Mary Rowland, & Steven Seeger To Serve As U.S. District Judges For The Northern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of Martha M. Pacold, Mary M. Rowland, and Steven C. Seeger to serve as District Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced these three Illinoisans. They have the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Durbin: Senate Has Responsibility To Address Humanitarian Crisis President Trump Has Created At Southwest Border
WASHINGTON - In today's Senate Appropriations Committee markup, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, supported reporting to the floor a bipartisan funding agreement to address the humanitarian crisis that President Donald Trump has created at our southwest border. The bill includes funding to alleviate overcrowding at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities and provide food, supplies, and medical care to … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Push DOT To Support Quad Cities Amtrak Route
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), urged the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to issue an extension for federal funding for the Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline. After funding delays from former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker renewed the state's financial commitment to the proposed state-supported Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline by providing $225 … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Durbin: Pres. Trump & Republicans Are Threatening Millions Of American Families By Undermining Health Care System
WASHINGTON-In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump and Senate Republicans on their continued efforts to destabilize and undermine America's health care system. Durbin cited the pending lawsuit, Texas v. United States, in which the Trump Administration is seeking to eliminate the entire Affordable Care Act, including important protections for people with pre-existing conditions. "Is it any wonder why we are concerned about the lawsuit … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Durbin To HHS Secretary: FDA Won't Act To Curb Youth E-Cigarette Epidemic, Will You?
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to use his authority and full force of his agency to tackle the youth vaping epidemic. Durbin, referencing a meeting last month with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless, urged Azar to take action on e-cigarettes in light of FDA's refusal to respond to this public health epidemic in a timely manner. "It has become clear … Continue Reading
June 19, 2019
Durbin Receives Update From Venezuelan President Juan Guaido
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó about the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the discredited regime of Nicolás Maduro. During today's call, Durbin reiterated his support for Guaidó and his constitutional role to help Venezuela return to the community of democracies, and to do so with a thoughtful and timely transition and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Durbin Meets With Acting Director Of Bureau Of Prisons To Discuss Prison Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Acting Director Hugh Hurwitz to discuss the Trump Administration's implementation of the recently-enacted Grassley-Durbin First Step Act, inadequate staffing, and the overuse of solitary confinement. Durbin also received an update on the activation of the Federal penitentiary in Thomson, Illinois. "The goal of our criminal justice system should be to … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Durbin, Murray, Dem Senators Seek Status Of Group Discharge Applications Submitted By State AG's
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with 20 of their Democratic colleagues, today requested the U.S. Department of Education provide an update on group discharge applications filed by 21 State attorneys general on behalf of thousands of defrauded students who are eligible for federal loan discharge under the borrower defense provision of the Higher Education Act. The applications cover students who attended American Career Institute, Anthem University, … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Durbin Opposes Anti-LGBTQ Trump Nominee, Matthew Kacsmaryk
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will oppose President Donald Trump's Texas district court nominee Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has repeatedly written in his personal capacity about his opposition to LGBTQ rights and the Obergefell case. Durbin also called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for spending another week rubber-stamping President Trump's extreme nominees and creating a legislative … Continue Reading
June 17, 2019
Illinois Congressional Delegation To FCC: Improve Rural Broadband Maps
WASHINGTON - Today, the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai and the four FCC Commissioners urging the FCC to improve the nation's broadband maps by reforming the mapping process for broadband services. The members noted that currently the mapping process lacks detail, accuracy, and granularity, meaning many underserved areas, including many rural communities in Illinois, could go without critical funding to improve … Continue Reading