Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Military and Veterans
Durbin Statement On President Biden's Decision To Withdraw U.S. Forces From Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced that all American troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "The longest war in U.S. history will finally end at the cost of more than 2,300 American lives and many trillions of dollars. What began as a hunt for Osama Bin Laden and his gang of terrorists became an effort to bring order to a … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Durbin Discusses Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects with Rock Island Army Corps District Commander
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) received an update today from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Steven Sattinger about several Illinois water infrastructure projects including the Quincy Bay Restoration Project, the Brandon Road Project, and the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). "Years of wear and tear have left Illinois' water infrastructure in desperate need of restoration. Federal investments are critical to … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Durbin, Cohen: It Is Time for Congress to Close Loophole that Encourages For-Profit Colleges to Target Veterans & Service Members
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today introduced bicameral legislation that would help put an end to the for-profit college industry's aggressive recruiting of veterans, service members, and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act would prohibit for-profit colleges and universities from receiving more than 85 percent of their revenue from the federal government and change the calculation of … Continue Reading
January 11, 2021
Durbin Discusses Veterans Issues With Denis McDonough, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Denis McDonough, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). During their Zoom call, Durbin and McDonough discussed the need to address the COVID-19 pandemic and how to ensure veterans and VA staff get vaccinated. Durbin and McDonough also discussed support for State Veterans Homes in Illinois, the expansion of the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, VA medical research, and … Continue Reading
December 29, 2020
Durbin: I Will Vote to Override President Trump's Unforgivable Veto of NDAA
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today announced he would vote to override President Trump's reckless veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Last week, President Trump vetoed the NDAA over a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate generals and for not including a repeal of Section 230 liability protection for tech … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
As President Trump Purges Pentagon, Durbin Speaks With Acting Defense Secretary Miller
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today had a call with Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller following President Donald Trump's firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon leaders earlier this week. During the call, Durbin spoke with Acting Secretary Miller about the serious threats facing our country and the need to maintain stability at the Department of Defense during the … Continue Reading
November 11, 2020
Durbin Honors America's Veterans
SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following video statement honoring America's veterans on Veterans Day and thanking all those who've served for their sacrifices in defense of America's freedom: "To all of our veterans in Illinois and across America: thank you for your service to our country with honor and distinction. Now, on the front line once again, so many essential workers in this unprecedented pandemic have served our country in uniform as well. I know … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Durbin Cosponsors Legislation To Make Payroll Tax Deferral Optional, Including for Military Members And Federal Employees
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) in announcing legislation to make the payroll tax deferral outlined by President Trump optional for any worker whose employer chooses to participate, including federal employees and service members. The legislation, which can be found here, is cosponsored by more than 14 of the Senators' colleagues. "Because Fortune 500 companies and state governments are rejecting President Trump's poorly thought-out … Continue Reading
October 08, 2020
Durbin, Colleagues Call For Inclusion Of PFAs Provisions In Final FY21 NDAA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in leading a bipartisan letter on behalf of 19 other Senators today to Senate and House Armed Services Committee leadership urging the inclusion of several provisions in the final fiscal year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to prevent and address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. The NDAA is the annual … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Durbin Discusses Troop Withdrawal From Germany, COVID-19 Testing With Secretary Of Defense
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, spoke by phone today with Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to follow up on an August letter regarding the justification for the President's decision to remove nearly 12,000 American service members from Germany. Durbin again pressed Secretary Esper about the plan, its projected timeline, and about support for the Baltics and Poland. With no clear justification from the President or … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Durbin Discusses Illinois Priorities With National Guard Chief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today discussed Illinois National Guard operations with Army General Dan Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Durbin asked Hokanson about his priorities as National Guard Chief, including whether the Guard plans to implement a new flying mission for Springfield 183rd. Durbin also discussed active National Guard operations, which has included Guardsmen on duty in the United … Continue Reading
September 10, 2020
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Reopening Comments Disparaging U.S. Service Members On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and members of the Senate Democratic Caucus on the Senate floor in speaking out against President Donald Trump's reported comments disparaging U.S. service members, calling those who were injured or killed in battle "losers" and "suckers." Durbin cosponsored a resolution introduced today by Senator Duckworth, a decorated combat veteran who herself has been the subject of attacks by … Continue Reading
August 05, 2020
Durbin To Esper: Justify Why Troops Will Be Removed From Germany
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today pressed Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to provide a coherent, definitive justification for President Trump's decision to remove nearly 12,000 American service members from Germany. In a letter to Secretary Esper, Durbin said the policy argument to remove troops from Germany - a NATO ally - seems to be counterproductive grudge to punish Germany for the size of its military … Continue Reading
August 03, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Call For Safe Release And Return Of Mark Frerichs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today, in a letter to President Donald Trump, called for the timely and safe release and return of American citizen Mark Frerichs, who was abducted earlier this year in Afghanistan. Frerichs, originally from Illinois and a Veteran of the U.S. Navy, has spent nearly ten years living in and working as an independent contractor in Afghanistan. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Frerichs was abducted on … Continue Reading
July 30, 2020
Durbin Slams Trump Administration Decision To Remove 12,000 Troops From Germany
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today slammed the Trump Administration's decision to remove 11,900 American troops from Germany. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin shared his concern of both the classified and unclassified versions of this plan, concerns over the differences in the classified briefing he received compared to the public announcements, and President Donald Trump's continued … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage of NDAA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes authorization for $44 million for vaccine and biotechnology research related to COVID-19: "The Senate's passage of the NDAA shows that members on both sides of the aisle are committed to a strong national defense and to the … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Durbin Calls For Comprehensive DOD Review Of Treatment Of Women Service Members & Service Members Of Color
PEORIA - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today urged the Department of Defense (DOD) to begin a comprehensive review of the treatment of women and persons of color in the military in light of the deeply disturbing murder of Army Specialist Vanessa Guillén at Fort Hood. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Mark Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, Durbin wrote that sexual … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 With Illinois Veteran Service Organization Leaders
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Illinois veterans service organization leaders about ensuring COVID-19 treatment and access to VA benefits for veterans and the economic constraints veterans organizations are facing as a result of the economic crisis spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin spoke with the leaders about the rise in COVID-19 cases this spring in Illinois VA hospitals across the state and the growing backlog of VA benefit claims. Durbin discussed his efforts … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Durbin, Menendez, Reed Seek Details On Pompeo's, Esper's Awareness Of Russian Bounties On U.S. Troops
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL); Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to detail their knowledge of and actions resulting from the U.S. intelligence community's discovery that a Russian intelligence unit offered to pay militants in Afghanistan to target U.S. … Continue Reading
June 19, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill Expanding Student Loan Refinancing For Servicemembers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, legislation that would amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) to allow servicemembers to consolidate or refinance student loan debt they had when they entered the military and continue to benefit from the six percent interest rate cap to which they are entitled through the SCRA. A provision in the SCRA protects servicemembers from high interest rates … Continue Reading