Durbin: President Trump Holding 250,000 Veterans' Paychecks Hostage For His Border Wall

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans to reopen the government by passing the House-passed bipartisan bills - bills that earned the support of Senate Republicans just a few months ago. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin noted how veterans are some of the hardest hit by President Trump's shutdown. Today, as many as 250,000 veterans across the country - direct hire federal workers and contractors a… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Effective Border Security With CBP Commissioner

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to discuss border security and investments in screening technology including what are known as "Z-portals" that can help detect drugs and other illicit goods transported through legal ports of entry. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) states that currently only 18 percent of arriving cargo, passenger vehicles, and sea containers combined are scan… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions President Trump's AG Nominee On Immigration, Criminal Justice Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General, William Barr, on his views regarding immigration and criminal justice during the first day of his confirmation hearings. Speaking to Mr. Barr about the Trump Administration's disastrous child separation policy, Durbin said, "Our government is shutdown now over the issues of border security and immigration, and the… Continue Reading

Durbin:Senator McConnell is Waiting For A Permission Slip From President Trump To Reopen The Government

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on President Donald Trump and Senate Republicans to stop holding the government hostage over the President's demands for a medieval border wall. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to have a vote on the House-passed appropriations bills - bills that passed the Republican-led Senate on the floor or in committee with strong bipartisan support last year. Last week, … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Acting Defense Secretary On President Trump's Demand For A Southern Border Wall

WASHINGTON - In light of President Donald Trump's government shutdown and the potential for him to declare a national emergency in order to fund his southern border wall, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan to warn him on how serious such a move would be, how legally dubious it would be, and to caution him that such an event will impact the Department of Defens… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Air Force Secretary To Urge For New, Additional Mission At 183rd Wing In Springfield

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson to discuss operations at the Air National Guard 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin urged the Secretary to consider the 183rd for new, additional missions, noting the capabilities of the facility and the expertise of the women and men who work at the Wing. "The 183rd Wing is more than capable to ta… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Trump's Address To The Nation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office on his demand for billions of dollars for a wall at the southern border: Tonight, what we heard from the Oval Office was a desperate attempt by the President to gain support for his medieval border wall. It won't work. Democrats support strong border security. And we can have a debate about effective border security, but we… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined 38 other Senators in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. 97 percent of Americans support comprehensive background checks. Research indicates that as many as a quarter of all gun sales in the United States may o… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Critical Research Projects Threatened By Government Shutdown

PEORIA - As the government shutdown enters another week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact the shutdown is having on the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research-also known as the Peoria Ag Lab. "Here in Peoria President Trump's shutdown impacts the lab's employees who are not able to work and are not getting paid. This means important research that could have significant impacts on our health and on agriculture in Illinois-including preliminary testing bui… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Effects of Government Shutdown on TSA Employees

CHICAGO - As the government shutdown continues, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed how the shutdown is affecting the federal workers of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). More than 1,600 TSA employees at O'Hare Airport and more than 400 TSA employees work at Midway Airport are currently working without pay. "TSA workers are here to make sure we are safe while we travel, but because of President Trump's shutdown, thousands of TSA officers, air traffic controllers, an… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Swearing-In Of New Illinois Representative

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after U.S. Representatives Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) were sworn in as new U.S. Representatives: It is an honor to welcome these three talented new Representatives as they are sworn-in as members of Congress in Washington. In particular, Representative Underwood's arrival is historic as she is the youngest African American woman ever in Congress. Her car… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of John Milhiser For U.S. Attorney For The Central District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser has been serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District since October 31. "We are pleased that the Senate has unanimously confirmed John Milhiser's nomination to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Il… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On White House Briefing On Border Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the White House briefing on border security with President Donald Trump and Democratic and Republican congressional leaders: Let me be clear: Democrats support strong, effective border security. The type of border security that Democrats have long-supported - including increased funding for technology - is what experts have said is needed and actually works. What doesn't work is an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen, Murphy, Schumer, Members Press U.S. Ambassador To Hungary On Democratic Backsliding

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today pressed the United States Ambassador to Hungary about their mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). The CEU enjoys considerable bipartisan support in… Continue Reading

Illinois Congressional Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance For Taylorville Tornado Recovery

WASHINGTON - The entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sent a letter of support for Governor Bruce Rauner's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian County, Illinois, as a result of a tornado that touched down on December 1, 2018. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that 33 homes and one business incurred major damage as a result of the tornado in Christian County. "The economic impact on the community as a result… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois Farmers To Take Steps To Curb Impacts Of Climate Change

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters today to the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, and Illinois Corn Growers Association urging each group to review the Fourth National Climate Assessment, and heed the warnings contained in the report about the impacts climate change will have on farming in Illinois. Durbin urged the farmers to take steps outlined in the report to help mitigate the effects of shifting climate and weather patterns - such as more frequent ex… Continue Reading

Durbin, Dem Senators Press DeVos To Provide Full Student Loan Discharges To Former ITT Tech Students

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos calling for full federal student loan discharges for former ITT Tech (ITT) student borrowers defrauded by the now-defunct school. The Department of Education has failed to meet its responsi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Continuing Resolution, which will fund the seven Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills not yet enacted through February 8, 2019: It is unfortunate that President Trump's demand for a border wall from sea to shining sea has held up seven appropriations bills that have been debated and passed out of committee on a bipartisan basis. I'm glad this didn't end in an unnecessary … Continue Reading

Durbin Praises Passage Of The First Step Act

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today thanked his colleagues for their support of the revised First Step Act, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation which passed the Senate last night by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 87-12. Last month, Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million For Positive Train Control

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $2,058,163 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Metra railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail workers. "Implement… Continue Reading