Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Luncheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the sixth bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 114th Congress. Started by the late U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon, the Illinois Delegation Luncheon has been held regularly in Washington, DC at no expense to the federal taxpayer for more than 25 years. A photo of today's luncheon is available here. The luncheon today was attended by seven members of… Continue Reading

Durbin: History Will Judge How Congress Responds to Paris Terror Attacks

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the Senate floor today to speak out against a slew of Republican proposals to respond to the Paris terror attacks by closing the door on Syrian refugees fleeing similar terrorism and violence in their own country: "We will reflect in years to come about what happened in this world in the last week. We will reflect on the terrible tragedy that occurred in Paris, France, in Beirut, and other nations that was led by ISIS terrorists. We will r… Continue Reading

Durbin Bill Would Close Gun Loophole in Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON-Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to close a loophole in federal law that permits foreign nationals who have entered the United States through the Visa Waiver Program to buy and wield firearms. Current law prohibits visa holders from other countries from purchasing guns, but excludes travelers from the 38 Visa Waiver Program countries. "The horrific terror attacks in Paris last week have given new urgency to protecting our own com… Continue Reading

Durbin: GAO Report Shows Need for DOD to Make Maximum Use of Army's Strategic Plan on Arsenals

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after reviewing the recommendations contained in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested - along with U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IL) and former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IL) - as part of the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Next month, Durbin will be meeting with President Obama's nominee to be Secretary of the Army, Eric Fanning, to di… Continue Reading

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