Press Releases
Durbin Calls on Trump to Respond to Russian Cyberattacks on French Election—and Ours
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to respond to reports of Russian cyberattacks on the French presidential election. In letters to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and FBI Director James Comey, Durbin called for a detailed accounting of the Administration's assessment and planned response to the attack on America's oldest ally. "The … Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Durbin Statement on Removal of FBI Director James Comey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer announced that FBI Director James Comey had been terminated. The news comes as the Trump Administration faces growing scrutiny over possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. "The termination and removal of James Comey as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation raises the critical question as to whether the FBI investigation of Russian … Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Durbin Meets with Illinois Hospital Groups on Impact of GOP Health Care Repeal Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with hospital administrators from across Illinois, from Southern Illinois to Chicago. Their conclusion is that the Republican health care repeal bill passed last week by the House of Representatives threatens health insurance coverage for an estimated one million Illinoisans, weakens protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and endangers the services offered by Illinois hospitals and an estimated 60,000 jobs. "Hospitals across … Continue Reading
May 09, 2017
Durbin: What are we waiting for to respond to Russian cyberattack on 2016 election?
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration for its evasion and obstruction of investigations of possible links between members of the President's inner circle and the Russian government. Durbin again criticized the Administration for putting America's national security at risk by keeping Michael Flynn as National Security Advisor for eighteen days after learning he had lied about his communications with the Russians. Recalling comments … Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Durbin Questions Yates and Clapper about Trump's Connection to Russia
WASHINGTON - During a hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) questioned former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper about Russia's cyber act of war against the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Durbin asked Yates about the extent of the Trump Administration's knowledge of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn's communications with Russia, noting that Flynn … Continue Reading
May 08, 2017
Durbin, Feinstein Statement on Drastic, Unilateral Changes to Private Bills
WASHINGTON - Senate Immigration Subcommittee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's decision to discontinue a decades-long bipartisan policy of issuing stays of removal for private immigration bills when the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee requests a report on a beneficiary's case. "Children's and families' lives are on the line. … Continue Reading
May 05, 2017
Durbin, Grassley: Congress needs to give Labor Department Authority to Investigate H-1B Visa Abuse
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor's response to a request by the senators to investigate the harm done to American workers by the rising tide of H-1B guest worker visa abuse: "The Labor Department's response further highlights the urgent need to end H-1B visa abuse. The wellbeing of thousands of hard-working Americans is at stake. A number of U.S. employers, including some large, … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin Announces Illinois Health, Science, and Research Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous health, science, and research priorities for the State of Illinois. This is in stark contrast to President Trump's proposed budget, which would have made drastic cuts to the Department of Energy and the Department of Health and Human Services. For example, President Trump proposed to gut the National … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin, Bustos Announce Illinois Defense Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous defense priorities for the State of Illinois. "One reason I support this bill is because it includes a strong defense appropriation, which provides critical equipment and training for our troops, and funds the continued fight against terrorist threats like … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin Announces Illinois Transportation Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous transportation priorities for the State of Illinois. President Donald Trump's proposed budget would have dramatically cut transportation infrastructure funding, which would have had a devastating impact on projects across Illinois. "Investing in our transportation infrastructure creates jobs, revitalizes neighborhoods, … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin Statement on House Vote to Repeal Health Care
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted to repeal health care for 24 million Americans: The Illinois Congressmen who voted to repeal health care today ignored clear warnings from every Illinois medical organization that this will be a disaster for our state. They were driven by political arrogance instead of common sense. My recent medical experience reminded me how vulnerable we all are. I will fight … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin, Welch Statement on Committee Passage of House Big Bank Bonanza Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) that would gut the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and repeal debit swipe fee reform. The bill was just passed by Hensarling's House Financial Services Committee on a party line vote. The Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee just … Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
Durbin Undergoes Outpatient Procedure at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin's recent annual physical found a condition known as atrial flutter, "a common abnormal heart rhythm," according to the Heart Rhythm Society. He had had no symptoms and maintained his regular schedule before and after discovering it. After discussing his treatment options, Durbin chose a procedure known as catheter ablation, a low-risk outpatient procedure where "the catheter emits a pulse of painless radiofrequency energy which destroys the … Continue Reading
May 01, 2017
Durbin, Madigan: In First 100 Days Trump, DeVos get "F" on Protecting Students
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today discussed how, since President Trump took office, the U.S. Department of Education has delayed or ignored several Obama-era rules to increase consumer protections in student loan servicing and protect students from unscrupulous for-profit colleges. In its first 100 days the Trump Administration has drastically slowed the processing of loan discharge applications from students defrauded by for-profit … Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
Durbin: Latest GOP Health Care Repeal Attempt Makes a Bad Bill Even Worse
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called out congressional Republicans for their renewed efforts to repeal health care by introducing a new amendment that would make their original plan to repeal health care even worse. "The new version of the Affordable Care Act repeal that the Republicans are now considering in the House would significantly raise costs on Americans aged 50 and above and would gut protections for people with pre-existing … Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Durbin Joins Call for Education Secretary DeVos to Reinstate Student Loan Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined more than 130 Members of Congress calling for Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to reverse a decision to rescind Obama-era memos on student loan servicing reforms. The reforms had included new consumer protections for borrowers and improvements to the quality of federal loan servicing. "Your decision to rescind these memos-including the guidance making servicers' past performance and record of compliance with the law the most important … Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Legislation to Address Youth Unemployment in High Poverty Areas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced two pieces of legislation to expand and increase access to employment opportunities for at-risk youth. The Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity (HERO) for At-Risk Youth Act and the Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act will increase federal resources for communities seeking to create or grow employment programs and provide tax incentives to businesses and employers to hire and retain youth from … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Durbin to Trump: Protect America's National Parks & Monuments
WASHINGTON - As President Trump signed a new Executive Order to strip America's National Parks and Monuments, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, legislation to protect 9.2 million acres of land in Utah that is rich in archaeological resources and home to numerous rare plant and animal species. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explained how these landscapes are also the access point for many national parks and offer research, educational, and … Continue Reading
April 25, 2017
Durbin, Kaptur, Bipartisan Great Lakes Coalition Press EPA Chief to Keep Region 5 Office Open
WASHINGTON - Following reports that the Trump Administration plans to abolish Region 5 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - which serves Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, and Ohio - as part of the fiscal year 2018 budget, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) led a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers from the Great Lakes region in calling for the Region 5 office to remain intact and fully supported. In a bicameral letter to EPA … Continue Reading
April 25, 2017
Durbin: Deputy AG Must be Independent Check on AG Sessions' Extreme Views
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will vote in favor of Rod Rosenstein's nomination to be U.S. Deputy Attorney General after the nominee pledged to be an independent voice in the Justice Department. Durbin stressed that, as Deputy Attorney General, Rosenstein must play a critical role in "reining in the Attorney General's worst instincts on immigration," including by mitigating Sessions' threat to withhold federal funding from law enforcement in cities across … Continue Reading