Durbin, Pallone Meet With MLB and MLB Player's Association To Discuss Spit Tobacco

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At the height of Major League Baseball's season, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) met today with representatives of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) to discuss efforts to cut back on smokeless tobacco use among players and fans. Today's meeting was also attended by Matt Myers, President of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "As the recent death of H… Continue Reading

Durbin: Inverters Are Deserters

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to discuss a tactic called corporate inversions, a move many companies are considering. These companies move their headquarters overseas, but only on paper, to avoid U.S. taxes. In his speech, Durbin highlighted the fact that these companies are effectively renouncing their American corporate citizenship. "Corporate tax inversion is a strategy used by companies to dodge U.S. taxes, plain and simple. This clever tax strategy has be… Continue Reading

Durbin Lauds Committee Passage of Treaty on the Rights of the Disabled

DURBIN LAUDS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF TREATY ON THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass a resolution ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty to recognize fundamental values of non-discrimination and equal access for persons with disabilities around the world: "The United States has led the world in f… Continue Reading

Durbin to Walgreens: Renouncing Your American Corporate Citizenship Hard to Defend

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the CEO of Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed his strong opposition to the speculation that Walgreens will buy Swiss-based retailer and wholesaler Alliance Boots and use a strategy called "inversion," to move the company's headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "Customers have many choices about where to shop and where to have their prescriptions filled. I believe yo… Continue Reading

Durbin Legislation Would Help Curb Predatory Marketing of Armed Forces By For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he included language in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, FY2015 to help put an end to the for-profit industry's predatory marketing campaigns and aggressive recruiting of servicemembers and their families. The bill was passed last week on a bipartisan basis by the Senate Appropriations Committee and is now awaiting action by the full Senate. Durbin's a… Continue Reading

Durbin 'Appalled' by Taxpayer Subsidized AbbVie's Decision to Renounce It's American Citizenship

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the CEO of the North Chicago-based company AbbVie, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed his strong opposition to the company's decision to acquire Dublin-based Shire and use a strategy called "inversion," to move the company's headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "For decades AbbVie (formerly Abbott Labs) used taxpayer-supported medical research, infrastructure and rule of law to become one of our natio… Continue Reading

Durbin, McCaskill, Eenyart PraiseFunding For Extension Of Growler Production Line In Senate Defense Spending Bill

[ST. LOUIS, MO] - The Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the funding needed for Boeing Co.'s Growler aircraft production line to remain open for another year and 3,000 jobs that were going to be eliminated once the line shut down to be saved, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL-12), said today at Boeing Defense, Space & Security in St. Louis. As Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, Durbin i… Continue Reading

Durbin: Protecting Students Should Be Fitzgerald's Number One Priority In Corinthian Oversight

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Department of Education announced that Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates, under the leadership of former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, has been selected to take on the role of independent monitor overseeing Corinthian Colleges' actions under the operating agreement the company reach with the Department earlier this month. "Patrick Fitzgerald's record as a federal… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on MH17, Situation in Ukraine

[WASHINGTON] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the situation in Ukraine: "The shooting down of this civilian plane is a horrible tragedy and an outrage-my thoughts and prayers are with all those who lost loved ones. There is increasing evidence that Russian-backed Ukrainian separatists may have been involved in this terrible act. It is critical that the crash site be secured and the crash thoroughly investigated by the international community. Russian-ba… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Administration Response To GOP Obstruction of Not My Boss's Business Act, Introduces Bill Requiring Employer Notification of Contraception Coverage For Current, Prospective Employees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Administration's announcement that the Department of Labor will require certain employers to notify current employees if they plan to eliminate coverage for contraception in their health insurance plans based on the Supreme Court's recent Hobby Lobby decision. Durbin also announced the introduction of legislation, the Preventive Care Coverage Notification Act, that will ensure that job applicants at for-profit corporation… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Use Of Human Shields By Hamas in Gaza

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding reports that Hamas routinely launches rockets from dense civilian areas in Gaza and instructs Palestinian residents to ignore Israeli warnings to leave areas facing likely military action: "I am deeply troubled by Hamas' continued rocket fire against Israeli civilians and its refusal to accept an Egyptian cease fire proposal. I am further shocked by Hamas' barbaric use of its own civilians as huma… Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Appropriations Bill Makes Critical Investments in Illinois Priorities

[Washington, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the FY15 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which provides $549.3 billion in funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. This legislation fully funds the one percent pay raise for mili… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $123,000 Investment in Oglesby First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $123,500 grant to the City of Oglesby, in LaSalle County, Illinois. Today's funding will help support vehicle acquisition at the Oglesby Ambulance Service. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders have acces… Continue Reading

Durbin's FY15 Defense Bill Passed By Senate Appropriations Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the committee's bipartisan approval of the $549.3 billion spending bill for the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and Overseas Contingency Operations, including the war in Afghanistan and other military operations worldwide. The bill prioritizes the support of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families, invests in innovation to main… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A Nearly a $230,000 Investment in Gurnee First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $229,469 grant to the Gurnee, Illinois Fire Department. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers

DURBIN MEETS WITH ILLINOIS CORN GROWERS [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss implementation of the Farm Bill and other agricultural priorities. The group also discussed the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which aims to improve America's waterway infrastructure - a critical issue to Illinois farming communities. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Earl… Continue Reading

Durbin: Child Refugee Crisis at the Southern Border is a Human Tradgedy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a speech on the U.S. Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the child refugee crisis at the Southern border and urged the Senate to pass the administration's supplemental budget request of $3.7 billion to deal with the crisis. Durbin spoke of visiting a group of refugee children being housed in Chicago on Monday. The children are under the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Heartland Alliance, an Illinois-based social service… Continue Reading

Durbin: Pentagon Must Act to Reduce Risks of Tobacco Related Illness Among Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today called on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to implement a measure included in the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill that eliminates the military's price discount for tobacco products. Almost one-quarter of U.S. servicemembers smoke, and more than one in three military smokers began doing so after enlisting. "Smoking rates among servicemembers are 20 percent higher than t… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With VA Nominee Robert McDonald

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Robert McDonald, who is nominated to serve as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to discuss his nomination and the importance of at VA facilities in Illinois and across the country. McDonald was raised and went to high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Today I met with Robert McDonald, Presi… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute To Former Congressman From Southern Illinois Kenny Gray

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a statement for the Congressional Record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored Kenny Gray, who served as the U.S. Representative for Southern Illinois from 1954 to 1989 and passed away last week at the age of 89. A World War II veteran and native of West Frankfort, Illinois, Representative Gray was elected to 10 consecutive terms in Congress and helped write the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act, which created America's interstate highway system. "You could never … Continue Reading