Press Releases
Lawmakers Call Out Sessions For Holding City Violence Prevention Funds Hostage To His Extreme Immigration Agenda
WASHINGTON-Fifty-three members of the United States House and Senate are calling out Attorney General Jeff Sessions for holding critical violence prevention funds used by American cities hostage to the Trump Administration's extreme immigration agenda. The Department of Justice has placed new and onerous conditions on local law enforcement's access to federal funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne-JAG) program, forcing cities to choose between redirecting … Continue Reading
August 23, 2017
Durbin Statement On Reports Of DACA Recipient Detained In Suburban Chicago
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, released the following statement on reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has detained Riccy Enriquez Perdomo, a DACA-protected individual, in suburban Chicago: "I'm disturbed by reports that a Dreamer with DACA protection has been detained. My office is in touch with ICE for an explanation. When he was Secretary of DHS, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly … Continue Reading
August 22, 2017
Durbin, Bustos Tour Continued Activation Of Thomson Prison
THOMSON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today toured Thomson correctional facility and received an update on the continued activation of the facility by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). "Today, Congresswoman Bustos and I were assured that the activation of Thomson prison remains on schedule and that they are making good progress on critical infrastructure projects," Durbin said. "Congresswoman Bustos and I have been working to secure robust federal … Continue Reading
August 21, 2017
Senators Press Justice, Homeland Security Departments On Investigation Of Trump Aide Sebastian Gorka
Durbin, Blumenthal, Cardin Called For Probe 5 Months Ago, After Reports Surfaced Of Gorka's Ties To Neo-Nazi Group Failure to disclose membership in Hungarian fascist organization could invalidate Gorka's U.S. immigration status WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) today pressed the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice to confirm whether senior White House counterterrorism advisor Sebastian Gorka is under investigation for … Continue Reading
August 21, 2017
Durbin, Bustos: Federal Investment In Rockford Airport Is Creating Jobs And Growing Local Economy
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today toured construction of the Chicago Rockford International Airport passenger terminal, which will provide an additional 30,000 square feet for passenger check-in and additional Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) inspection lanes. Since 2015, Sen. Durbin and Rep. Bustos have helped to secure $18.2 million in federal funding from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the terminal … Continue Reading
August 18, 2017
Durbin Calls On Trump To Defend DACA Program
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to defend the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows talented young immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to go to school and work without threat of deportation. The future of the program is uncertain after Texas and nine other states threatened to sue if President Trump does not start phasing out the program by September 5. Durbin was joined by John Rowe, Co-Chair … Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Durbin Highlights Impact Of Community Health Centers In Fight Against Opioid Epidemic During National Health Center Week
NORMAL - During National Health Center Week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Chestnut Health System and discussed the important role that community health centers and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) play in our communities, especially when it comes to the fight against the opioid addiction epidemic. Community health centers improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities by integrating primary health care with pharmacy, mental … Continue Reading
August 16, 2017
Durbin Highlights Importance Of Affordable Care Act During National Health Center Week
CHICAGO - During National Health Center Week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Mile Square Health Center and discussed the important role that community health centers and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) play in our communities. Community health centers improve access to affordable, high-quality health care in underserved urban and rural communities by integrating primary health care with pharmacy, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and oral health care services. "Not … Continue Reading
August 11, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth To Illinois Department Of Insurance: Protect Illinois Consumers From Trump Health Care Sabotage
CHICAGO-As the Trump Administration continues their sabotage of America's health care marketplace, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the Illinois Department of Insurance to provide Illinoisans with more information about the concerning proposed Illinois health insurance premium increases for 2018 and to protect Illinoisans from higher costs that result from President Trump's sabotage of the health care marketplace. Health insurance companies participating … Continue Reading
August 10, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $1 Million In Federal Funding To Help SNAP Participants In Chicago And Aurora Purchase Healthy, Local Foods
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded a total of $1,075,287 in grant funding to Illinois agencies in Chicago and Aurora to help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants increase their purchases of fruits and vegetables. The funding comes from the Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive (FINI) program, authorized by the 2014 … Continue Reading
August 09, 2017
Durbin, Reed Call On Treasury Department To Stop Corporate Inversions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), and ten of their Senate colleagues called on the U.S. Department of the Treasury to reject calls to eliminate, undermine, or scale back anti-tax inversion and earnings stripping efforts and work with Congress to curb these abusive tax avoidance schemes for good. Inversions are corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, even while … Continue Reading
August 07, 2017
Durbin Statement On Brandon Road Study Release
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) released the Brandon Road Study, a draft plan for keeping Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. This draft plan was set to be released on February 28, 2017, but had been stalled by the Trump Administration. "After an unexplained five month delay, the Trump Administration finally released the draft plan for keeping Asian carp from reaching and irreparably … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Durbin Applauds DEA For Lowering Opioid Quotas For Second Year In A Row
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) proposal to reduce production quotas for nearly all Schedule II prescription opioids by 20 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. Last year-after years of dramatic increases to the volume of opioids allowed to come to the market-the DEA heeded the … Continue Reading
August 04, 2017
Durbin: Trump Is Threatening Millions Of American Families By Undermining Health Care system
CHICAGO - Following last week's bipartisan rejection of the latest Senate Republican plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on President Trump and Congressional Republicans to work with Democrats to stabilize and strengthen America's health care system. President Trump has undertaken numerous actions to sabotage the ACA, and insurers - in Illinois and across the country - are proposing premium increases next year as a result of the Trump … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nomination Of John Lausch For U.S. Attorney For The Northern District Of Illinois
CHICAGO-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the White House announced the nomination of John R. Lausch to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the President has nominated Mr. Lausch. The nonpartisan screening committee we established to evaluate potential candidates came to the same conclusion and recommended him as well. Mr. Lausch has served the people of the Northern … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Durbin To DeVos: Why Won't You Stand Up For Students And Hold For-Profit Colleges Accountable?
WASHINGTON-In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' decision to delay the implementation of the Gainful Employment (GE) rule, which requires career training programs to provide students with reasonable return on their educational investment - good-paying jobs that allow them to repay their student debt. In March, the Department of Education announced it would postpone the deadline for failing schools to … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth, Shimkus To Labor Department: Golconda Job Corps Closure Should Be Temporary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative John Shimkus (R-IL-15) today urged the Department of Labor (DOL) to work with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service to reopen the Golconda Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center in a safe and timely manner. "Job Corps programs are responsible for providing disconnected young people with a safe environment to develop vocational skills and further their education. Centers … Continue Reading
August 03, 2017
Durbin Presses DEA Administrator To Lower 2018 Opioid Quotas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chuck Rosenberg, Acting Administrator at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and urged him to reduce the amount of opioid pills allowed to be manufactured and sold in the United States in 2018. 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 years of dramatic increases to the volume of opioids allowed to come to … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Urge VA Secretary To Look Into Mismanagement At Marion VA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin to discuss allegations of mismanagement and poor patient care at Marion VA Medical Center. Recent reports detail alleged incidents of prohibited personnel practices at Marion VA, including whistleblower retaliation, nepotism, unfair labor practices, and mistreatment and abuse of employees. Most concerning is the fact that this alleged … Continue Reading
August 02, 2017
Durbin Introduces Bill To End Cuba Embargo And Establish Normal Trade Relations
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the U.S.-Cuba Trade Act of 2017, which would repeal outdated sanctions on Cuba and establish normal trade relations with the island nation. "Ending the embargo is about more than opening the country up to American businesses and travel-it's about opening Cuba to new ideas, new values, and improved human rights that our 50 year old policy of isolation could not achieve," said Durbin. "While … Continue Reading