Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Talks Trade With National Confectioners Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois members of the National Confectioners Association to discuss the current sugar program that sets price supports, domestic marketing allotments, and tariff-quotas to influence the amount of sugar available to the U.S. market. During their conversation, Durbin spoke in support of the Sugar Reform Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) mandate to set the import quota at the … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through December 3, 2021: "Why is keeping America's government open and functioning a political issue? "I'm glad we passed a bill to fund the government through December 3, but cannot understand the Republican default wish that keeps us lurching from one … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Durbin: Republicans Are Deliberately Manufacturing Economic Uncertainty
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today once again slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their continued refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to suspend the debt ceiling. During his speech, Durbin also urged his colleagues to support Congressional Democrats' Continuing Resolution (CR), which keeps the government funded and open through … Continue Reading
September 24, 2021
Durbin, Padilla Visit Little Village, Discuss Federal COVID-19 Relief Efforts With Small Business Owners
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today met with the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders to discuss several federal programs that helped workers and small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators also visited area businesses including La Chiquita Grocery … Continue Reading
September 21, 2021
Durbin: Instead Of Paying Their Tab, Senate Republicans Are Trying To Dine And Dash
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. During his speech, Durbin noted that raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with approving new spending-it's about paying off the spending the government has already incurred. Much of the debt that Republicans are … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Durbin Meets Virtually With New AFL-CIO President
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the new President of AFL-CIO, Liz Shuler, to discuss her vision for the labor movement and congressional efforts to expand collective bargaining rights through the PRO Act. During their conversation, Durbin and Shuler spoke about labor priorities being considered in the upcoming budget reconciliation bill, including high-quality clean energy jobs. "Richard Trumka was a giant who led the labor movement in … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Durbin Praises Expanded Child Tax Credit On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to emphasize the impact of the historic Child Tax Credit expansion included in the American Rescue Plan, which was made possible by the efforts of Democrats and President Biden. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted the importance of the automatic monthly payments and estimates that the expanded credit could cut child poverty by half this year. "Last week was an important day for literally millions of … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Durbin Highlights American Rescue Plan's Impact, Blasts Republican Opposition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for referring to President Biden's American Rescue Plan as a 'grand socialist experiment.' In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin walked through the key components of the American Rescue Plan-which passed Congress in March without a single Republican vote-including funding for COVID-19 vaccines and distribution, small businesses, and working families. "So what was in this … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Durbin, Cicilline Announce Introduction Of Bill To Ban Child Labor On Tobacco Farms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI-01) today announced the introduction of legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, including nicotine poisoning. The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves by deeming … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the Paycheck Fairness Act: "The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that allow for pay discrimination and empower women to hold employers accountable when they're being underpaid. Senate Republicans blocked this common sense measure from consideration. The women who helped carry America's families through this pandemic should not have to wait any … Continue Reading
June 07, 2021
Durbin Urges Senate To Pass Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide a path to lawful permanent residency for undocumented farmworkers and their family members. During the speech, Durbin thanked the countless farmworkers who have kept American families fed … Continue Reading
May 28, 2021
Durbin Statement On President Biden's FY2022 Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget proposal: "If America wants to lead in the 21st century, we can't be afraid of investments in our people. With this budget, President Biden prepares workers for the jobs of the future, rebuilds our infrastructure, gives families and children a foundation for success, and protects … Continue Reading
May 24, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud DOT's Expansion Of Local Hire And Workforce Development Pilot Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) decision to expand construction hiring and workforce development pilot programs. The programs, which will be managed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will give contracting agencies expanded flexibility to use hiring preferences to enhance workforce development opportunities for those in economically or … Continue Reading
May 11, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Bills To Increase Youth Employment Opportunities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) introduced two bills to expand and increase access to employment opportunities for underserved youth. The Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity (HERO) for 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 … Continue Reading
May 10, 2021
Durbin Highlights Pandemic's Impact On Women, Slams Republicans For Promise To Take Away Enhanced Unemployment Benefits
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted the disparate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and mothers in Illinois and across the country. "Some economists have another name for the recession caused by the COVID pandemic. They call it a 'she-cession' because the economic hardships and jobs losses have fallen disproportionately on women, especially working mothers…2.5 million American women have dropped out … Continue Reading
April 26, 2021
Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Civilian Conservation Corps
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the RENEW Conservation Corps Act, a bill that would create a civilian conservation corps that provides valuable job training and work experience to Americans while also completing needed maintenance and restoration of parks, trails, and natural areas. Modeled after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps - which employed, educated, and trained three million young men during the Great Depression - Durbin's … Continue Reading
April 19, 2021
Durbin, Warnock, Bustos Introduce Bill To Invest In American Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today introduced bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand industries. It has been estimated … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Durbin Joins AFGE Legislative Conference to Discuss Issues Facing Federal Employees
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) virtual legislative conference to hear from AFGE members about some of the issues facing federal employees. Durbin discussed his opposition to former President Trump's executive orders making it easier to fire federal employees and limiting collective bargaining rights, and the importance of providing safe workplaces for federal employees. "I'm committed to … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin, Cortez Masto, Senate Dems Introduce Bill to Protect Unemployed Workers' Health Insurance During Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), together with 11 Senate Democrats, today re-introduced the Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, a bill that would protect millions of unemployed or furloughed workers from losing their health insurance in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow laid off workers to remain on their employer health plans, through the COBRA program, at no cost. "Recent estimates have shown that millions of … Continue Reading
February 02, 2021
Durbin, Axne Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Unemployed Americans
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing millions of workers to focus their benefits on covering essentials during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and recession. The Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits Tax Relief Act would waive federal income taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment … Continue Reading