Durbin Statement on Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: Images of the victims of Assad's latest chemical weapons attack-including women and children-are a horrific reminder that the six-year conflict in Syria is the humanitarian crisis of our time. History will judge how America responded, and so far, our response has been insufficient-failing to create humanitarian safe zones, shutting the door on Syrian refugees, and now this White House is cozying up to A… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Demand Trump Administration Release Secret Plan to Undermine Health Care System That Was Presented to House Freedom Caucus

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined 20 U.S. Senators in a letter to Tom Price, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), calling on the Trump Administration to release a secret plan that was presented to the House Freedom Caucus. In a bid to win the far right group's support, reports indicate that the Administration identified specific Affordable Care Act (ACA) rules that the Administration would gut in exchange for the Freedom Caucus' support. With Pr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos, McKinley Press Attorney General Sessions to Fully Exempt Bureau of Prisons from Hiring Freeze

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) today urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to immediately and fully exempt the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) from the federal hiring freeze ordered by President Donald Trump on January 23, 2017. In a bipartisan letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the lawmakers stressed that the security of our nation's prisons and the safety of our communities are at stake as long as the hir… Continue Reading

Durbin: Trump's Proposed Budget Would Eliminate After-School Programs for Thousands of Chicago Kids

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited a Chicago elementary school that would lose funding under President Trump's proposed budget cuts to after-school programs. Chicago Public Schools' (CPS) after-school programs depend on federal funding from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, which is the only federal funding source dedicated to after-school enrichment at low-income schools. President Trump's budget proposes to eliminate the 21st CCLC program, i… Continue Reading

Durbin: Nunes Must Withdraw From Investigation of Trump's Russian Connection

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: Devin Nunes should have the decency to withdraw as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee investigation of President Trump's Russian connections. Paul Ryan, as Speaker, should have the strength to remove him if he doesn't. Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) was named to the Executive Committee of President Trump's Transition Team on November 11th, 2016.… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with CTA and CDOT to Discuss President Trump's Budget

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval Carter and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Managing Deputy Commissioner Kevin O'Malley to discuss President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts and the devastating impact they could have on transportation infrastructure projects around Chicago. They also discussed progress on the Red and Purple Modernization Program, CREATE's 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, updates … Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Milestone Effort to Bring Down Prescription Drug Prices

WASHINGTON - In the wake of Congressional Republicans' failed attempt to rip health coverage away from millions of Americans, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Al Franken (D-MN) in launching a major push to improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by bringing down the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, one of the main reasons why health care costs are rising. An overwhelming majority of Americans agree that prescription drug prices are too high and that we need action to lower pric… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with CDA Commissioner Evans to Discuss President Trump's Budget

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Ginger Evans to discuss President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts and the harmful impact they could have on airport security. They also discussed ongoing initiatives at O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport, the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP), O'Hare's Fly Quiet Runway Rotation program, and the Elgin O'Hare Western Access (EOWA) project. "President Trump says he wants… Continue Reading

Trump Message in Fight Against Climate Change: America Surrenders

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling America's efforts to reduce pollution and fight climate change: "Just about everyone agrees that we should try to pollute less, but not Donald Trump-he just surrendered in the fight against climate change. He's put the future health and safety of America's children back into the hands of big oil companies, and turned us back toward a dange… Continue Reading

Durbin Opposes President Trump's Supreme Court Nominee

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced his opposition to President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch. Durbin reiterated his concerns over Gorsuch's record of siding with powerful interests over working Americans, students with disabilities, and victims of discrimination. In light of the legal and constitutional disputes surrounding President Trump, Senator Durbin also stressed the need … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $20 Million for Head Start Programs in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $20,356,447 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs throughout Illinois. "This funding will help level the playing field for thousands of families in more than 25 counties across Illinois by promoting healthy development and school readiness for kindergarten and elementary scho… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $58 Million for Head Start Programs in Chicagoland Area

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $58,065,218 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the Chicagoland area. "This funding will help level the playing field for thousands of families in the Chicagoland area by promoting healthy development and school readiness for kindergarten and elementary school children,"… Continue Reading

Durbin: ISAC Will Not Charge Fees To Students Who Rehabilitate Loans Within 60 Days of Default

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announced it would not charge high collection fees to Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers who enter loan rehabilitation within sixty days of defaulting on their student loans. The announcement was made after the U.S. Department of Education withdrew guidance issued by the Obama Administration prohibiting guaranty agencies from charging borrowers fees of… Continue Reading

New Durbin Report Breaks Down Impacts of Republican Health Care Repeal in 18 Illinois Congressional Districts

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a report titled "TrumpCare: Less for More, An Analysis of the Impact of Repealing the Affordable Care Act on Illinois," which details what Illinois stands to lose if President Trump and Congressional Republicans are successful in passing their legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). After requesting information from every hospital, public health department, and major medical society in the state, the report summarizes how the… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With MWRD To Express Continued Support For McCook Reservoir

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to express his continued support for the construction and funding of the McCook Reservoir Project. Durbin, along with Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) recently pressed the Army Corps for strong and continued support for the construction of the McCook Reservoir Project in a letter to Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army Dou… Continue Reading

Durbin Remarks At Defense Appropriations Hearing With Sec. Mattis, Gen. Dunford

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, made the following opening remarks at a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Supplemental with Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford: Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to join you in welcoming Secretary Mattis and General Dunford. I have tremendous respect for both of these outstanding leaders, and I give a special welcome to Se… Continue Reading

Durbin: Gorsuch Lowered The Bar For Rights Of Students With Disabilities

WASHINGTON - During the third day of confirmation hearings for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, raised serious concerns about Judge Gorsuch's record of ruling against students with disabilities. Senator Durbin pressed the 10th Circuit judge to explain why he ruled to deny a child with severe autism access to the educational services to which he was legally entitled under the Ind… Continue Reading

Durbin: Gorsuch Has A Troubling Record Of Ruling Against Workers And Families

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today raised concerns about the selection process and record of President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, during the first day of his confirmation hearings. In his remarks to the committee, Durbin recalled rulings in which Judge Gorsuch sided with corporations over people, including the case of truck driver Alphonse Madden, who was fired after refusing to stay with his broke… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Republican Rewrite Of Health Care Repeal Bill

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after House Republican leadership released changes to their health care repeal legislation aimed at garnering support from a handful of new members of their conference: "The last minute revisions made behind closed doors make a bad bill even worse. Larding Trumpcare up with political giveaways and kickbacks only means higher costs and less health care for seniors, hardworking families, and rural prov… Continue Reading

Durbin Grills Scotus Nominee Gorsuch On Labor, Human Rights And Civil Rights Record

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today grilled President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Neil Gorsuch, regarding his dubious record on civil and workers' rights. Durbin asked the nominee to cite specific examples to justify his claims that, as judge, he's stood up for the rights of minorities, women, and LGBT Americans. "What you said earlier was that you have a record of speaking out, standing up for those minorities wh… Continue Reading