Durbin Applauds Proposed Executive Actions to Prevent Gun Violence

CHICAGO - Following President Obama's announcement of a series of executive branch actions to help reduce gun violence, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the President's proposal and said additional action is needed at all levels of government to address the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our nation. The proposed executive actions include: strengthening the background check system; better enforcing the gun laws on the books; increasing mental health treatment and reporting; and … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President's Proposed Actions on Gun Violence

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after meeting with President Obama and other members of Congress to discuss ways to reduce gun violence in America: We know this issue all too well in Illinois. There were 2,939 people shot in Chicago last year, and families and communities are suffering. We've got to do something. I can understand why the American people are upset with Congress-the overwhelming majority of Americans support common sense reforms t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Progress Towards Restoring U.S. Commitment to Scientific and Biomedical Research

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced major progress towards his goal of restoring the United States' commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research, reversing a troubling, decades-long downward trend in funding that has threatened America's standing as a leader in discovery and innovation and our global competitiveness. He highlighted the $2 billion increase he was able to secure in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 for the National Institut… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Bipartisan Coalition of Senators Hailing Passage of Historic Chemical Safety Law

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a bipartisan coalition of senators, led by U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and David Vitter (R-LA), in celebrating the Senate's historic passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, a chemical safety reform bill to overhaul the nation's broken Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). The bill passed the Senate last night by a unanimous voice vote and now has 61 bipartisan cosponsors. The 39-y… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends President for Commuting Sentences of 95 Nonviolent Drug Offenders

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), sponsor of the Fair Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, commended President Obama today for commuting the sentences of 95 Americans, including Alton Mills and eight other Illinoisans. After learning of Mr. Mills' story and meeting with his family and attorney, Durbin wrote President Obama in support of Mr. Mills' petition for commutation of his sentence earlier this month. Mr. Mills has served 22 years of a mandatory… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill Passed by Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated and Further Appropriations Act of 2016 was passed by the Senate. The bill was passed by the House earlier today and will need to be signed by the President to become law. "Thanks to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, critical investments in the middle-class, our veterans, and the nation's infrastructure and scientific research programs were part of today… Continue Reading

Durbin: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Invests $500 Million in Priority Transportation & Infrastructure Projects

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes $500 million for investments in priority transportation projects through the competitive TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant Program. Illinois has been the second largest beneficiary of TIGER funding across the country, receiving nearly $290 million since the popular program was created in 2009. "Illinois lies at the heart … Continue Reading

Durbin's Cures Act Sets Standard for Increased Biomedical Research Funding in Omnibus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 dramatically increases overall funding for breakthrough scientific and biomedical research based on targeted funding levels set by Durbin's American Cures Act. In total, the bill includes nearly $42 billion in funding to support the research at the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Defense Health Program, and the Veterans … Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos: Continued Funding for Prison Activation in Omnibus Appropriations Bill is More Good News for Jobs, Economic Development in the Quad Cities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 includes a level of funding for Bureau of Prisons that will allow for continued funding for the activation of the Thomson correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. Though today's bill does not detail how this funding will be spent, Durbin and Bustos expressed confidence that the funding for the Thomson facility's activation … Continue Reading

Durbin: Omnibus Appropriations Bill Funds Innovation & Research At Argonne National Lab & Fermilab

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016, which was introduced late last night, preserves essential federal funding for scientific research and development programs that support work at both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Together, Argonne and Fermilab employ roughly 5,150 Illinoisans. The bill must now be voted on by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. "Today's legis… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Agrees to Fund Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at 300 Million

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the inclusion of $300 million in funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) in the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016 will support ongoing efforts to protect the Great Lakes including: combating invasive species, particularly Asian Carp; reducing and removing pollution, waste run-off and toxic chemicals; and restoring wetlands and other lakefront assets. The bill, which was introduced in the House … Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Appropriations Bill Invests in Groundbreaking Research & Protects Illinois Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Bill - which provides $572.8 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 - funds Illinois defense installations and protects important Illinois priorities. The legislation was … Continue Reading

Durbin Appeals to Pope Francis Regarding Dominican Cardinal's Hostile Statements Against Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Pope Francis regarding Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and the United States Ambassador to that country, Wally Brewster. Cardinal Rodriguez has been openly hostile in public remarks and even helped organize a protest against Ambassador Brewster, who is openly gay. "The Church's teachings on gay marriage are well known, but the Church also teaches us to … Continue Reading

Durbin: Anti-Muslim Bigotry Has No Place in America

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After attending an interfaith peace vigil last night at the Islamic Society of Springfield, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to commend Springfield's faith and community leaders for joining together to speak out against inflammatory rhetoric directed at refugees and Muslims. In his remarks, Durbin also condemned a recent increase in hate crimes and other anti-Muslim bigotry and praised his Senate colleague, U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) for sh… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute to Fallen Chicago Firefighter, Daniel Capuano, On Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to honor the service and sacrifice of Chicago Firefighter Daniel Capuano, who died early this morning in a warehouse fire on the South Side of Chicago. "Daniel Capuano went to work this morning, just like he has done every day for the past fifteen years - ready to fight fires and save lives. Not many people can say they've woken up every day ready to sacrifice their life to protect their community. But thi… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Illinois Members in Registering Concern with Oversight Agency Over Proposed Freight Merger

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a proposed merger between two of Illinois' rail operators - Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Norfolk Southern Corporation (NS) - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led a letter to the Surface Transportation Board urging the agency to carefully consider the potential negative impact of the proposal on Illinois' freight network. In their letter, the Members requested careful review of the possible effects of CP's proposed acquisition of NS on Illinois communities … Continue Reading

Durbin: Failed Westwood College Should Not Be Allowed to Sell Campuses to Other For-Profit College Systems Under Investigation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Department of Education to prevent failed Westwood College campuses - including four in Illinois - from being sold to other for-profit college systems that are under investigation by local, state or federal agencies. Recently, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan settled a lawsuit with the company for $15 million after finding that Westwood was lying to students about its criminal justice program. "As I understand… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Historic Paris Climate Agreement

SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the President announced that a historic deal to combat climate change had been reached tonight in Paris: This is a momentous agreement for all of us here on planet Earth, but even more importantly for our children and our children's children. The threats posed by climate change have been linked to drought, food shortages, severe and dangerous storms, poverty, and even terrorism. Committing to reducing carbon… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Gov. Rauner to Take State Action to Close Loophole That Allows Suspected Terrorists to Buy Guns

SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter calling on Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner to take action at the state level to close a dangerous loophole in law that allows suspected terrorists to purchase guns in Illinois: "The horrific terror attacks in Paris, Colorado Springs, and San Bernardino have given new urgency to the need to close dangerous loopholes in our laws that allow would-be terrorists to buy guns. The highest priority for both the Governor and I is to kee… Continue Reading

Senate Approves Bill to Child-Proof Liquid Nicotine Bottles

[WASHINGON, D.C.] - The Senate last night approved a measure to require manufacturers to put child-proof caps on the small bottles of liquid nicotine available for purchase in stores across the country. It's the first time the Senate has taken up and passed a bill aimed at regulating liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes and other vaping devices. "There is a word for the toxic candy-flavored liquids found in electronic cigarettes: poison. Just this week, a study found that a chemical … Continue Reading