Following Completion of EPA Evaluation, Durbin Urges Army Corps to Move Forward with Bubbly Creek Restoration

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) to move forward with the restoration of the South Fork of the South Branch of the Chicago River - known as "Bubbly Creek" - in the most expedited manner possible now that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) completed its evaluation of the Creek and removed the site from its Superfund program. "The Army Corps restoration project will provide much-needed revitalization to an area with a his… Continue Reading

Durbin-Harris Legislation to Prevent Discharge of Non-Citizen Military Personnel Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON-Legislation by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) to retain military personnel in the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program until their background screenings are completed was signed into law today by the President as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). "When the military can't find American citizens with the skills it needs to help… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Call on FCC to Abandon Plan to Repeal Net Neutrality Rules

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter urging Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to abandon his plan to repeal the agency's net neutrality rules, which would give internet providers the ability to freely block or slow down consumers' access to the internet. The senators' letter comes ahead of a Thursday vote by the FCC to dismantle the net neutrality protections. "Your plan gives a broadband provider the ability to sig… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Residents to Get Covered Before ACA Enrollment Deadline on Friday

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged those who are uninsured to take action before the December 15th deadline in order to get health care coverage that begins in January. Despite uncertainty in Congress and efforts from President Trump to undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), millions have signed up so far this year. About 350,000 people in Illinois purchase their health insurance in the individual market and nearly 300,000 of them are eligible for tax credits that help k… Continue Reading

Durbin Continues To Press Republican Congress To Pass The Dream Act By The End Of The Year

WASHINGTON-Three months after the Trump Administration's September 5th announcement that it will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again came to the Senate floor to call on Republican leaders in Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act before the end of the year. More than 11,000 Dreamers have already lost their DACA status, and beginning early next year, 1,000 additional young people will lose their protection fro… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Leading Rehab Facilities

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in research, serve the highest need patients, and provide the most medical training to students. U.S. Representatives Pete Olson (R-TX-22) and Gene Green (D-TX-29) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today. "Facilities like the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago are leading the nation in bringing doct… Continue Reading

Durbin: Passing The Dream Act By The End Of The Year Is a Matter Of Justice And Fairness

WASHINGTON-Three months after the Trump Administration's September 5th announcement that it will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again came to the Senate floor to call on Republican leaders in Congress to pass the bipartisan Dream Act before the end of the year. More than 10,000 Dreamers have already lost their DACA status, and beginning early next year, 1,000 additional young people will lose this protection each… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Cornyn-Grassley Immigration Proposal

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on legislation announced by U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA): "Neither Senator Cornyn nor Senator Grassley has ever voted for the Dream Act. This proposal, as I have told them personally, cannot be considered a good faith effort to provide protection for the Dreamers, including those who were enrolled in DACA. The laundry list of unrelated immigration bills which they have offe… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Call On President Trump To Swiftly Nominate Head Of Consumer Watchdog Who Will Put Main Street Ahead Of Wall Street

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to follow the law and swiftly nominate a permanent director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) who will put working families ahead of Wall Street. In their letter, the Senators cited the CFPB's "aggressive enforcement and supervision," which has resulted in $12 billion in relief to 29 million American consumers who were cheated by financial companies. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer, Pelosi, Hoyer Statement On President Trump's Decision To Shrink Utah's National Monuments

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today released the following statement on President Trump's decision to dramatically shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Utah. President Trump's decision is an unprecedented attempt to use presidential power to shrink national monument designations made by two of his p… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn Guilty Plea

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: Michael Flynn's guilty plea is a significant development. I continue to have the utmost confidence in Bob Mueller as he proceeds in this investigation.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican Tax Plan Looks Out For Special Interests & Corporations, Not Working Families

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Senate Republicans for ramming through a partisan tax plan this week, which will raise taxes on millions of middle-income families in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explained how the Republican Tax Plan would also cause 13 million Americans to lose their health insurance - and increase individual market premiums by at least ten percent every… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Congress To Pass The Dream Act By The End Of The Year

WASHINGTON-Following the Trump Administration's announcement on September 5, 2017 that it will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again came to the Senate floor today to call on Republican leaders in Congress to bring the bipartisan Dream Act to the floor for a vote before the end of the year. During his speech, Durbin shared the story of one Dreamer - Cesar Montelongo, who was ten years old when his family came to … Continue Reading

Durbin Continues To Press Interior Secretary On Proposed Shrinking Of National Monuments

WASHINGTON-Following a meeting with U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is once again asking Secretary Zinke to share maps and documentation detailing any changes he is recommending regarding the boundaries and management of existing national monuments in a memorandum referred to as "Monument Review," as well as any document explaining what legal authority President Trump plans to use to enact the changes. This letter follows reports that Presid… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Luis Gutierrez

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement following U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez's (D-IL-04) announcement that he will not seek re-election: Luis Gutierrez has been my strongest partner in working for the Dream Act and comprehensive immigration reform. His voice will be critical in the remainder of his term and sorely missed thereafter.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican Tax Plan Helps Corporations & Wealthiest Individuals On The Backs Of Working Families

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Senate Republicans for ramming through a partisan tax plan this week, which will raise taxes on millions of middle-income families in order to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explained how the Republican Tax Plan would also cause 13 million Americans to lose their health insurance - and increase individual market premiums by at least ten percent every… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Bipartisan Great Lakes Task Force Letter Raising Alarm Over Delay In Finalizing Critical Asian Carp Study

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) in sending a letter to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works raising alarm over the delay in finalizing the Brandon Road Study, a critical action-plan for keeping Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. Fellow Great Lakes Task Force members - Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Kirsten… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy Statement On FY18 Defense Appropriations Chairman's Mark

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on the release of the Fiscal Year 2018 Defense Appropriations Act. The bill exceeds President Trump's request by $15.3 billion, and exceeds the sequestration caps by $70 billion. This is a step forward, though we remain deeply concerned about the process. So befo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Press DOD And VA To Protect Veterans And Service Members At Ashford University

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today urged the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take steps to protect service members using Tuition Assistance (TA) benefits and veterans using GI Bill benefits at Ashford University in light of the company's impending loss of VA Pos… Continue Reading

In New Letters, Durbin, Duckworth Urge Illinois Congressional Republicans To Reconsider Support For GOP Tax Bill

CHICAGO-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed the Republican members of the Illinois congressional delegation to reconsider their support for the House Republican tax plan and the harmful policies within the bill should the House of Representatives be given an opportunity to weigh-in on tax legislation in the future. The House Republican tax plan funds massive tax cuts for the largest corporations and wealthiest Americans by raising taxes on millions of mid… Continue Reading