Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Chicago Department Of Public Health Commissioner To Discuss Coronavirus Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Department Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady to discuss public health priorities in Chicago, including addressing the coronavirus in Illinois. This morning, Durbin attended a Congressional briefing from the Trump Administration about the ongoing response to the coronavirus. Last night, the Trump Administration requested an emergency supplemental funding request of $2.5 billion to combat the spread of … Continue Reading
February 24, 2020
Durbin Measure To Support Family Caregivers Poised To Become Law
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a press conference to highlight his legislation to support family caregivers, which is expected to pass the Senate in the next few weeks as part of the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act. Durbin's bill will increase funding, training, and support for more than 34 million family caregivers in America. "On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) came out with a new study, which found that one in five adults in America are unpaid … Continue Reading
February 21, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Announce More Than $2.6 Million For Chicago Rockford International Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced $2,699,192 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) grant funding to reconstruct a deicing containment facility at Chicago Rockford International Airport in Rockford. "Federal investments have helped improve operations at Chicago Rockford International Airport, and today's funding will ensure the deicing facility can be upgraded. I look forward to … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Durbin, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Help Fund Responses To Public Health Emergencies As Global Threat Of Coronavirus
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to introduce the Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act, bipartisan legislation to create a permanent funding mechanism to ensure quick and effective responses to future public health emergencies. "When a public health emergency hits, we need immediate and sufficient funding to save lives," said Durbin. "With this legislation, our federal health agencies can get ahead of … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Durbin, Senators To Trump Administration: Don't Let Tobacco Companies Evade E-Cigarette Product Review
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 10 of his Democratic Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar requesting clarification on his recent comments made on a radio program regarding Food and Drug Administration (FDA) review of vaping products. Secretary Azar hinted the Trump Administration could create a big loophole for tobacco companies by saying that "not all vaping products" are required to apply for … Continue Reading
February 20, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Funding For Opportunity For Air Toxics Monitoring
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for grants to fund air quality monitoring projects to address localized air toxics issues. Durbin and Duckworth worked to include this funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill. "I urge communities throughout Illinois to take advantage of this funding opportunity, particularly those with concerns about ethylene … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Durbin Meets With Vietnam Vet, Calls On Trump Administration To Stop Blocking Coverage For Agent Orange Diseases
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with a Vietnam Veteran who has battled bladder cancer and hypertension due to exposure to Agent Orange and called on the Trump Administration to stop stonewalling extending critical health benefits to Vietnam veterans whose service exposed them to Agent Orange. In recent years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposed expanding the list of Agent Orange presumptive diseases to include bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $11 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Central Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Central Illinois communities will receive a total of $11,601,766 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Central Illinois," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator Duckworth for … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $5 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Rockford And Quad Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Northwest Illinois communities will receive a total of $5,255,185 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Rockford and the Quad Cities," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator … Continue Reading
February 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $170 Million For Housing And Homeless Assistance In Chicagoland Area
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Chicagoland communities will receive a total of $170 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout the Chicagoland area," Durbin said. "I will continue fighting alongside Senator Duckworth for … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Durbin Statement On Commutation Of Former Gov. Blagojevich
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump commuted the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich: "Former Governor Blagojevich betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom. "At a time when corruption by elected officials is still in the headlines, Illinois and Washington should … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration To Request Emergency Funding For Novel Coronavirus Response
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 23 of their Democratic Senate colleagues to send a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar and Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Mick Mulvaney expressing their concern over the Trump Administration's failure so far to outline what additional resources it needs to respond to the rapidly developing coronavirus outbreak. … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Durbin To USPS: Investigate Reports Of Discrimination At Cesar Chavez Post Office In Pilsen
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the United States Postal Service (USPS) to move swiftly to investigate reports of discriminatory treatment of non-English speaking customers and missing translation-friendly signage at the Cesar Chavez Post Office, located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. In a letter to USPS, Durbin asked for findings and recommendations for corrective action as soon as possible and for USPS to provide a summary of its investigation when … Continue Reading
February 15, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Detection Of PFAS Near Scott Air Force Base
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act, today released the following statement after the U.S. Air Force detected the two main types of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - PFOS and PFOA - during site inspections at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), which may be impacting off-base … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
During Trip To Puerto Rico, Durbin, Garcia Highlight Reconstruction & Resiliency Efforts In Aftermath Of Recent Natural Disasters
SAN JUAN-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) today joined a delegation of members from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to visit Puerto Rico. The delegation assessed the progress of the recovery efforts and evaluated the assistance the island needs for reconstruction and resiliency efforts in the aftermath of the recent earthquakes. Illinois has the seventh largest population of Puerto Ricans in the United … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Democratic Colleagues In Fighting To Protect People With Pre-Existing Conditions In FY21 Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today in leading 44 other Democratic Senators in a letter to the Administration urging President Trump to direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which is the law of the land and provides health care coverage protections for people with pre-existing conditions including more than five million Illinoisans. Despite Trump's misleading statements about … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Senators Press AG Barr On Politicization Of Immigration Courts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and a group of their colleagues, pressed Attorney General William Barr for information and documents related to the brazen politicization and maladministration of American immigration courts under President Donald Trump. Against the backdrop of President Trump's extreme and cruel anti-immigrant rhetoric, the Trump Justice Department has quietly undermined immigration … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Senators Introduce Gun Safety Bill To Allow Preservation & Disclosure Of Federal Gun Data
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) to introduce bicameral legislation to greatly enhance the ability of law enforcement to investigate and solve gun crimes, crack down on gun trafficking and negligent gun dealers, and allow researchers to study gun violence and its impact on communities across the country. The Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act would enable the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Call For Federal Government To Reimburse States, Cities For Coronavirus Efforts
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish clear guidelines for how local and state governments-including Illinois-will be reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response to the coronavirus outbreak. "We write to ask that your department establish clear guidelines for state and … Continue Reading
February 13, 2020
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Iran War Powers Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass a war powers resolution, introduced by Durbin and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) last month, to prevent a war with Iran without congressional approval. In January, the House passed a similar war powers resolution 224 to 194. It will now go to the President's desk for his signature or veto. "Today, the … Continue Reading