Durbin, Murray Join 18 Senators to Request Report on Effectiveness of Public Health Programs Designed to Impact Gun Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and 18 Senate Democratic colleagues in writing a letter to Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, requesting a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to assess the efficacy of public health and safety programs that are designed to impact gun safety, including the storage and security of… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal Statement on DOJ, Federal Agencies Bringing Criminal and Civil Charges Against More than 100 Dietary Supplement Makers and Marketers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) issued the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that, along with numerous federal agencies, it is pursuing criminal and civil charges against over 100 makers and marketers of dietary supplements for fraudulent claims: "The breadth and scope of today's sweeping enforcement actions against a broad range of dietary supplement manufacturers illustrates how frequently consumers are… Continue Reading

Durbin Expresses Solidarity with People of France, Says Those who Would Turn Away Refugees Have Forgotten the Lesson of History

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to offer condolences for the lives lost in Friday's horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, and to express solidarity with the people of France. Durbin also responded to statements by several Republican state governors who claim that their states would suspend accepting new Syrian refugees: "I want to add my voice to others here today in sharing my deepest condolences and solidarity with the people of that great nation… Continue Reading

Durbin: Education Department to Provide Additional Relief to Corinthian Students

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the announcement of additional expedited federal student loan relief to students of the now bankrupt Corinthian Colleges, Inc. following a joint investigation between the Department of Education and California Attorney General Kamala Harris. The investigation found that Corinthian Colleges, Inc.'s Everest and Wyotech locations in California and online Everest University programs misrepresented their placement rates to prospect… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on DOJ, ED, State Attorneys General Settlement with EDMC

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Department of Justice, Department of Education, and state Attorneys General announced an agreement to settle litigation with Education Management Corporation (EDMC) over the company's illegal use of incentive compensation for recruiters and deceptive and misleading recruitment practices. Under today's agreement, EDMC will pay $95.5 million to the federal government and states, including $1.9 mil… Continue Reading

Durbin Engages Community Banks, Credit Unions in Effort to Protect Consumers from Predatory Payday Lending

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to growing demand for small dollar loans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to the Community Bankers Association of Illinois, the Illinois Credit Union League, and the Illinois League of Financial Institutions to engage community banks and credit unions in developing alternative credit options for the twelve million Americans who fall victim to predatory payday loans every year. "I would appreciate any suggestions you may have as to how we can work toge… Continue Reading

Durbin Vows to Protect Job-Creating Illinois Infrastructure Projects on Transportation Conference Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the House-Senate Conference Committee for the next transportation bill, vowed to fight for robust funding for transportation programs that create jobs and support Illinois' priority infrastructure projects. Durbin - who took a leadership role in passing the bipartisan Senate version of the transportation bill - is committed to producing a long-term reauthorization of transportation programs that will provide the certainty t… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Citizenship and DACA Loan Programs at Second Federal Credit Union

[CHICAGO] - With an estimated 370,000 lawful permanent residents in Illinois eligible to naturalize but who have yet to do so, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited Second Federal Credit Union's Brighton Park location to discuss the citizenship loans the institution has started to offer. The citizenship fee, now $680, has nearly tripled since 1999 and has become one of the main deterrents to lawful permanent residents (LPRs) taking the final step to become U.S. citizens. "Too many immig… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Bill to Fund Department of Veterans Affairs & Military Construction

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that, earlier this week, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and support military construction projects in Illinois and around the country. Differences between the Senate-passed version and the House-passed version must now be reconciled before the legislation is sent to President Obama for his signature. "The Senate came together this week to pass legislation that will deliver on the … Continue Reading

Durbin, Dixon Leaders Discuss Initiatives to Combat Heroin Epidemic

[DIXON, IL] - As heroin overdose deaths rise in Illinois and across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dixon Police Chief Danny Langloss and Lee County Sheriff John Simonton to learn more about the Safe Passage Initiative that encourages addicts to seek out treatment for addiction. The innovative program has helped connect 25 people with addiction treatment in its first two months. Durbin also discussed recently co-sponsored bills to expand treatment for heroin addiction… Continue Reading

President Obama Calls on Congress to Take Action on Durbin Legislation to Protect Veterans from For-Profit Schools

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following an announcement of new measures to make certain that veterans are receiving the education they deserve, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded President Obama's commitment to honoring the sacrifice and service of America's veterans. Earlier today the President called on Congress to pass Durbin's Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act which would prohibit for-profit colleges and universities from receiving more than 85% of their revenue from the federa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed, Blumenthal, Warren: Congress Should End Loophole That Encourages For-Profit Colleges to Target Veterans & Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced legislation in the Senate that would help put an end to the for-profit industry's predatory marketing campaigns and aggressive recruiting of veterans, servicemembers and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act would prohibit for-profit colleges and universities from receiving more than 85% of their revenue from the federal g… Continue Reading

Grassley, Durbin Push for H-1B, L-1 Visa Reforms

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Dick Durbin, Assistant Democratic Leader, today are introducing bipartisan legislation that would reform the H-1B visa program, consistent with Congress's original intent, by ensuring that qualified American workers are given the first opportunity at high-skilled job opportunities. The legislation makes reforms to increase enforcement, modify wage requirements and ensure protection for American workers as w… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Illinois World War II Veteran & POW on the Senate Floor

[WASHINGON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor to honor a Skokie, Illinois veteran, Tony Gargano, who served with the United States Navy during World War II and spent three years as a prisoner of war. Tony and his family connected with Durbin's office after he visited Washington, DC, with Honor Flight Chicago last month. During that trip, Tony also shared his story with the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress, a program that collects the personal a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on 5th Circuit Ruling Against Immigrant Children & Families

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling to uphold an injunction against President Obama's executive actions for immigration last year: Republicans, who have a majority in the House and Senate, refuse to even consider legislation to fix our broken immigration system. Instead, they file lawsuits to stop the President from using his authority to make these limited reforms. The Supreme Court has been… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $443,000 in Federal Funding to Assist Homeless Veterans in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have awarded a total of $443,453 in grants and vouchers to communities in Illinois that will be used to expand supportive services and housing for Illinois veterans. "Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,200 homeless veterans were on the street. This country can do better-and must do better-for the brave men a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline Permit

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced that it would reject the permit for the TransCanada Keystone XL pipeline project: "The Senate spent a great deal of time looking at this project, and by every measure it came up short. While the project would have been a boon to one well-connected company in Canada, it wouldn't have moved our country one step closer to energy independence. On top of that, the pipeline posed a t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Madigan Call for Federal Debt Relief for Former Everest College Students

[CHICAGO] - At the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Joseph Smith, Special Master appointed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to oversee the federal student debt relief process for former Corinthian students, met today with several students who attended the school's Illinois campuses and remain buried in federal student loan debt. Smith is responsible for advising ED on issues related to Corinthian and will help develop a broader system to… Continue Reading

Durbin: Improving Air Quality at Union Station Must be Top Priority

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new study showing dangerously high levels of air pollution on train platforms at Union Station "The results of the EPA's air quality study are alarming and unacceptable. I will be calling on the EPA to install 24-hour monitoring equipment, which will improve our ability to assess the scope of the problem and possible remedies," Durbin said.… Continue Reading

Durbin, Casey Introduce Senate Bill to Increase Congenital Heart Defect Research

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Casey (D-PA) today introduced legislation to reauthorize Durbin's Congenital Heart Futures Act, which expired earlier this year. The bipartisan legislation - introduced in the House today by Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) - raises awareness of the continuing impact congenital heart defects have throughout patients' lifespans, promotes more research at NIH, and encourages the development of lifelong, speci… Continue Reading