Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Closed School Discharges For Former ITT Tech Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced automatic closed school discharges for more than 7,000 former ITT Tech (ITT) student borrowers-amounting to nearly $95 million in relief. The 2016 Obama-era borrower defense rule requires the Department to automatically grant closed school discharges, without any application, for borrowers who attended a school-such as ITT-that closed on or after November 1, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2019
Durbin, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Create Rural Infrastructure Office
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mike Braun (R-IN), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today introduced the Rural Economic Infrastructure Equity Act of 2019, a bill to improve federal support for the transportation infrastructure needs of rural areas in America. In rural areas, 36 percent of roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and 10 percent of rural bridges are structurally deficient. This kind of poor infrastructure quality … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Durbin Warns Against Escalating Tensions With Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today warned against President Donald Trump's dangerous escalation towards conflict with Iran, which could lead to yet another reckless, never-ending war in the Middle East. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that the U.S. Constitution is clear that the power to declare war is an explicit power of the Congress. "No war with Iran without the consent of Congress is authorized," Durbin said. "This Congress has … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Durbin Statement On Failed Vote To Proceed To Senate Appropriations Funding Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting against the motion to proceed to four Senate Appropriations Committee funding bills, including the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee funding bill: "We all remember then-candidate Donald Trump's idea that we need a 2,000 mile wall from … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Ask FCC To Step Up Prevention Of Robocalls
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to use the tools at its disposal to curb the number of robocalls received by Americans. In a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the four FCC Commissioners, Durbin and Duckworth urged the agency to enhance traceback efforts to bring these scammers to justice, stop this illicit robocall traffic, and prioritize enforcing the laws already on the books. Robocallers … Continue Reading
September 18, 2019
After Seventh Death Related To Vaping, Durbin Reacts On Senate Floor, Calls For Action
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor following yesterday's report that a seventh person had died due to a vaping-related illness, this time in California. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would imminently ban all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol. Durbin urged the FDA to act quickly and not delay the removal of e-cigarette flavors - such as mint, menthol, unicorn milk, … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Durbin To McConnell: Do Something On Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined dozens of Democratic U.S. Senators in floor speeches tonight to talk about the impact of gun violence and the many actions legislators could take to respond. Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Dayton, and Odessa - and the daily toll of gun violence in Chicago - Durbin called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to do his job and hold votes on legislation that would help reduce the gun violence epidemic. More than … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Durbin Honors Civil Rights And Disability Rights Champion Marca Bristo On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the life of civil rights and disability rights champion Marca Bristo, who passed away on September 8th in her adopted hometown of Chicago at the age of 66. Marca was a nationally and internationally acclaimed leader in the disability rights movement who was instrumental in helping write and pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. "Remove the barriers, and people with disabilities can lead … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Durbin: Senate Must Stand Up Against President Trump's Continued Diversion Of Funds From The Military To His Ineffective Border Wall
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today spoke out against President Donald Trump's continued efforts to divert funding from our military in order to build his medieval border wall. Last week, Durbin did not support reporting to the floor the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee funding bill … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Durbin Statement On Recent Reporting On Justice Kavanaugh's Confirmation Process
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding recent reporting around Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation process: "During the Kavanaugh confirmation process, I repeatedly called for a neutral, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual assault involving then-Judge Kavanaugh. FBI career investigators were not allowed to conduct that type of investigation. The consequences of that … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Durbin, Lightfoot, Jackson Working To Educate, Protect Kids In Response To Youth Vaping Epidemic
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Schools CEO Dr. Janice Jackson today at Richard T. Crane Medical Preparatory High School to discuss the impact of vaping and e-cigarette use on children and teenagers. The news conference comes on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) announcement last week that it will imminently ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors, including mint and menthol. On Friday, Durbin sent a letter to … Continue Reading
September 13, 2019
Durbin Calls On Surgeon General To Launch National Strategy To Educate, Prevent, & Respond To Youth Vaping Epidemic
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the U.S. Surgeon General to develop and launch a national strategy to educate, prevent, and respond to the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Durbin's letter to U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams comes on the heels of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) announcement this week that it would imminently ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors, including mint and menthol. Preliminary data revealed this week shows that … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Temporary Protected Status For The Bahamas
WASHINGTON - Following reports that the Trump Administration will refuse to grant temporary protections to Bahamians affected by Hurricane Dorian, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and 15 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in introducing the Bahamas Temporary Protected Status of 2019. The legislation designates The Bahamas for Temporary Protected Status for 18 months and provides humanitarian protection for eligible Bahamian citizens who are unable to return … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau To Discuss Farming Conditions, Disaster Aid, & Trade Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, met with the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss financial difficulties with crop conditions in Illinois due to the wettest planting season in decades. During the meeting, farmers expressed concerns with the Trump Administration's uncertain trade approach with China, and the importance of more federal investments in infrastructure, like rural broadband. They also discussed the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Durbin, Kennedy Applaud DEA For Lowering Opioid Quotas For Fourth Year In A Row
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John Kennedy (R-LA) today praised the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) proposal to reduce production quotas for nearly all Schedule II prescription opioids by an average of 32 percent for next year. The DEA is responsible for establishing annual quotas determining the exact amount of each opioid drug that is permitted to be produced in the U.S. each year. After two decades of dramatic increases to the volume of opioids allowed to come … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Durbin: Congress Must Stand Up To The President's Continued Infringement Of Congress's Power Of The Purse
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, did not support reporting to the floor the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee funding bill because of President Donald Trump's continued infringement of Congress's power of the purse by taking essential funds from our military and their families in order to pay for his ineffective border wall. Just last week, … Continue Reading
September 12, 2019
Durbin, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Meet With FDA Commissioner, Push For Strong Enforcement To Address Youth Vaping Epidemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Acting Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless to discuss FDA's announcement yesterday that it would imminently ban all non-tobacco e-cigarette flavors, including mint and menthol. During the meeting, Durbin pressed Sharpless to ensure that e-cigarette flavors are removed from the market without delay, and to use his authority as Acting FDA Commissioner to immediately remove illegal vaping devices from … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Senate Confirms Nomination Of Steven Seeger To Serve As U.S. District Judge 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 confirmed the nomination of Steven C. Seeger to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Steven Seeger. He has the qualifications and judgment to serve with distinction as a district court judge in the Northern District of Illinois. We appreciate the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Durbin Reacts To FDA E-Cigarette Flavors Announcement On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing it would imminently ban all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol. Durbin commended the FDA for finally announcing it would use its authority to remove e-cigarette products and kid-friendly flavors - such as mint, menthol, unicorn milk, bubblegum, and razzelberry - from the market. "We are making it clear in the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Retirement Of Former Chief Judge Ruben Castillo
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after District Judge Rubén Castillo, a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL), announced that he will be retiring effective September 27, 2019: "Judge Castillo served with integrity and distinction in the Northern District of Illinois for more than 25 years. We thank him for his leadership and many contributions to the judiciary, especially … Continue Reading