Press Releases
Durbin Statement On President Trump's State Of The Union
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union address: What is the state of the union under President Trump? Affordable health insurance - including for people with pre-existing conditions - is at risk because of a lawsuit filed by Republican Attorneys General and supported by this President and his Administration. The basic services of our government are at risk because of President Trump's 35-day … Continue Reading
February 05, 2019
Durbin Meets Aurora Air Traffic Controller, His Guest For President Trump's State Of The Union
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Toby Hauck, who will be his guest for President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address. Toby, an Aurora, Illinois, air traffic controller and Air Force veteran, was one of the more than 8,000 federal employees in Illinois who were impacted by President Trump’s 35-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During the shutdown, Durbin met with Toby and air traffic controllers in Aurora and St. Louis, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2019
Durbin To Host Aurora Air Traffic Controller For President Trump's State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) will host Toby Hauck as his guest for President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address. Toby, an Aurora, Illinois, air traffic controller and Air Force veteran, was one of the more than 8,000 federal employees in Illinois who were impacted by President Trump's 35-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During the shutdown, Durbin met with Toby and air traffic controllers in Aurora and St. Louis, Missouri, to hear … Continue Reading
February 01, 2019
Durbin Unveils New Bill To Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes
SPRINGFIELD - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for American patients, providers, and taxpayers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local hospital leaders to unveil new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Drug Prices Act of 2019, which Durbin will formally introduce in the Senate next week, will reduce the government-granted monopoly period for medications … Continue Reading
January 31, 2019
Durbin, Schneider Introduce Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs), or federally-licensed dealers, manufacturers, and importers. The SECURE (Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of "smash and grab" gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Urge EPA To Hold Watco Transloading Accountable For Dangerous Manganese Emission
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side accountable for violating federal safety standards due to its high levels of manganese emissions - a known neurotoxin. The Senators, in a letter to the EPA, raised concerns about the EPA's failure to promptly hold companies accountable for violations of the Clean Air Act, and highlighted the EPA's ability to … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $31 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that nine health centers throughout Illinois have been awarded a total of $31,402,178 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Lipinski, Foster, Schneider, Casten Meet With Sterigenics, Press For Answers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today met with Michael Petras, CEO of Sotera Health, parent company of Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigneics, Inc, and Sterigenics President Phil MacNabb, to discuss high carcinogenic ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions at the facility. The members pressed the company representatives on what … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin: Conference Committee Must Focus On Smart & Effective Border Security
WASHINGTON - At the first public meeting of the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Appropriations Conference Committee, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Democratic and Republican conference committee members to focus on smart and effective border security measures as opposed to threats of government shutdowns or emergency declarations from President Trump in order to reach an agreement before the Continuing Resolution (CR) ends on February 15. "The President may be … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Durbin Urges Trump-Devos Department Of Education To Stop Embracing Predatory For-Profit College Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Department of Education's repeated embrace of the for-profit college industry, and urged the Department to take action to help thousands of defrauded students in Illinois and across the country. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted the continued upheaval in the for-profit college industry with the closures of Vatterott Colleges, Education Corporation of America, and Dream Center Education Holdings - and state … Continue Reading
January 28, 2019
Durbin Discusses Legionnaires' Case At IVH Manteno With Governor Pritzker
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a phone call with Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) received an update on the death of a veteran who contracted Legionnaires' disease this month at Illinois Veterans' Home (IVH) Manteno and the Pritzker Administration's prompt response efforts. Durbin offered federal support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help protect the veterans, residents, and staff at IVH … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin Statement On Agreement To Reopen The Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced an agreement to reopen the government that he closed 35 days ago: Finally, President Trump has ended his disastrous government shutdown. One of the results of this embarrassing, destructive, and unnecessary government shutdown should be a new bipartisan rule which guarantees we will never face this again … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin Shares Support For Venzuelan President Guaido
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today shared his support for interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó and his constitutional role to help Venezuela return to the community of democracies, and to do so with a thoughtful and timely transition and credible election process in which the Venezuelan people can once again choose their leaders through a fair and transparent process. Yesterday, Durbin spoke at length to Guaidó … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin, Schakowsky, Brown Introduce Bill To Reward U.S. Companies That Invest In American Workers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-11) introduced the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act, which would provide a tax credit to companies that provide fair wages and good benefits to workers. This is the first bill introduced by Durbin in the 116th Congress. "In America, if you work full-time you should be able to support your family-you should be paid a living wage, have access to quality health insurance and paid … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin Calls On President Trump To End Government Shutdown, Discusses Impact On Air Traffic Controllers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a speech on the Senate floor urged President Trump to end his senseless shutdown over his unrealistic campaign promise of a border wall. Today, the FAA delayed flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Durbin shared his experience meeting with air traffic controllers who continue to work six days a week for 10 hour shifts without pay, and how the President's shutdown has added unneeded stress to … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Durbin Statement On Senate Votes To End President Trump's Shutdown
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after voting for a two week Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the government while Congress debates smart and effective border security. The vote was defeated 52-44, with all Senate Democrats voting to reopen the government. Durbin voted against the White House's proposed legislation to end President Trump's government shutdown in exchange for $5.7 billion for President Trump's border wall and … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Durbin: Federal Employees Don't Deserve To Be Punished While We Debate Border Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans to put their constituents ahead of President Trump's unrealistic campaign promise of a border wall, and reopen the government by supporting a short-term spending bill. Over the past month, Durbin has traveled throughout Illinois to meet with federal employees who are reeling as President Trump's shutdown has forced them to work without pay. In a speech on the Senate … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Durbin Statement On Crisis In Venezuela
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Juan Guaidó, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president of Venezuela: Last year I visited Venezuela and found a country on the verge of political, economic, and humanitarian collapse. I told then-President Maduro that if he went ahead with a sham election under absurdly rigged conditions he would find his regime even further isolated and … Continue Reading
January 23, 2019
Durbin, Murphy, Lee Lead 20 Senators In Pressing State Department & DOJ For Information On Saudi-Led War In Yemen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Mike Lee (R-UT) today lead a group of 20 bipartisan Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein pressing them on two recently reported aspects of the Saudi-led war in Yemen: reports that Saudi Arabia is paying poor Sudanese child soldiers to fight as mercenaries in its war in Yemen, and reports that the United Arab Emirates-a U.S. ally in the Gulf that is part of the … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Illinois Representatives Question Corporation For National & Community Service's Reorganization Plan
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), sent a letter to the Corporation for National & Community … Continue Reading