Press Releases
Durbin: Taking In Refugees Not Only The Right Thing To Do, It’s Best For America’s National Security
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today served as ranking member of a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration entitled Oversight of the Administration's FY17 Refugee Resettlement Program. "We are in the midst of the largest refugee crisis in history," said Durbin. "More than 65 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes. The brutal Syrian conflict, the epicenter of this crisis, has killed hundreds of thousands, injured more than a million, and … Continue Reading
September 28, 2016
Durbin, Coons, Democratic Senators Introduce Bill to Limit Use of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for inmates separated from the general prison population. The Solitary Confinement Reform Act limits solitary confinement to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions possible, improves access to mental health … Continue Reading
September 27, 2016
Durbin Introduces Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have introduced legislation to help Americans burdened by the costs of illness or injury. The Medical Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2016 would make the bankruptcy process more forgiving for those driven to insolvency by health care-related debt or loss of income. "Nobody should ever have to choose between their physical health and their financial health, yet far too many Americans are driven … Continue Reading
September 27, 2016
Durbin Calls On EPA To Protect American Families From Toxic Asbestos And Flame Retardants
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to list asbestos and flame retardants among the top priority chemicals it will review under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which reforms the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976. Signed by President Obama in June, the law gives the EPA new authority to review and regulate chemicals based on the impact they have on the most vulnerable: infants, pregnant … Continue Reading
September 26, 2016
Durbin Announces $9 Million To Combat Violence Against Women
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Illinois agencies, organizations, and universities grants totaling $9,339,711 to prevent, combat, and investigate sexual assault and violence against women. Today's funding will also support critical victims' services, including counseling and housing assistance. "This investment not only improves our law enforcement's ability to prevent, investigate, and prosecute sexual assault and … Continue Reading
September 26, 2016
Durbin, Senators Demand Answers On Government Use Of Private Prisons
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined leading Democratic Senators to press the Obama administration on the use of private prisons and contract facilities by the Department of Homeland Security. The letter comes amid an internal review at DHS regarding its use of private prisons, and the Senators urged DHS to ensure the review was meaningful and genuine. In their letter to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, the Senators state that "we strongly oppose the use of for-profit prison … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Durbin, Warren, Schatz Introduce Bill To Reform College Accreditation And Strengthen Accountability For Students And Taxpayers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2016 (AREAA), which seeks to reduce student debt and protect students and taxpayers by reforming higher education accreditation and strengthening the Department of Education's (ED) ability to hold accreditors accountable. College accreditation is the cornerstone of the nation's higher education quality assurance system, with … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Durbin, Leading Democratic Senators Call On Wells Fargo To End Use Of Forced Arbitration To Allow Customers To Seek Justice In Court
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and others to call on Wells Fargo to end the use of forced arbitration clauses that prevent customers whose names were used to open fraudulent accounts from seeking justice in court. Arbitration clauses force consumers to waive their rights to bring a claim in court or to band together in a class action, before any dispute has arisen. These clauses also deny access to the courts even … Continue Reading
September 23, 2016
Durbin Announces $3.7 Million To Address Youth Violence In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Illinois counties and agencies grants totaling $3,738,028 to address the problem of youth violence in Illinois. These investments will support programs that provide critical intervention services to keep youth from entering the juvenile criminal justice system and prevent juvenile offenders from relapsing into criminal behavior. "Exposure to violence has a profound psychological … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Durbin, Wicker Introduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced legislation that creates a competitive grant program for colleges and universities to expand study abroad opportunities for American college students and encourage more minority, low-income, and non-traditional students to spend part of their undergraduate experience abroad. The Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act seeks to bolster young Americans' foreign language skills and cultural competency. … Continue Reading
September 22, 2016
Durbin Statement On Education Department Termination Of Deadbeat Accreditor
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced its decision to terminate recognition of the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Universities (ACICS). Durbin had called for the Department to terminate ACICS, which accredited now-defunct Corinthian, ITT Tech, and Westwood Colleges. "ACICS repeatedly showed that it was not a reliable authority on educational quality or worthy of its responsibility as a … Continue Reading
September 21, 2016
Durbin Joins Group Of 38 Democratic Senators In Call To Protect Women’s Access To Contraceptive Coverage
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a group of 38 Democratic Senators calling on the Obama Administration to protect women's access to affordable birth control under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the senators argue that when Congress passed the ACA it clearly intended to provide contraceptive coverage to women and families, and that the current accommodation policy appropriately guarantees women access to that … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Durbin Calls On Senate To Pass Bill To Extend G.I. Housing Benefits For Veterans Affected By Itt Tech Closure
WASHINGTON - In light of the recent closure of ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the need to pass the Veterans Education Relief and Reinstatement Act (VERRA) to temporarily extend G.I. Bill housing benefits to veterans whose schools abruptly close. The bill could help ITT Tech veterans who lost this critical benefit and now may be in danger of losing their homes due to the closure of ITT Tech. "When it closed … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Durbin Statement On Devry Decision To Limit Revenue From Federal Student Aid
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after DeVry University announced it would limit the share of revenue its six colleges derive from federal taxpayers, including tuition assistance provided through the Department of Defense and G.I. Bill benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. "It is breathtaking to say that any for-profit business will 'limit' its federal subsidy to 85% of its revenue, but in the bizarre world of for-profit schools, this … Continue Reading
September 20, 2016
Durbin, Chicago Public Schools Announce More Than $1 Million For Mental Health Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Public Schools Chief Education Officer Janice K. Jackson announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Chicago Board of Education $1,274,909 to support mental health services for students affected by violence and improve awareness of childhood trauma among educators and school support staff. Under this announcement, Chicago Public Schools will establish the Healing Trauma Together (HTT) program, allowing the district to … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Durbin, Kirk Introduce Bill To Name Evanston Post Office After Abner Mikva
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced legislation in the Senate to designate the U.S. Post Office facility located at 1101 Davis Street in Evanston, Illinois, as the Abner J. Mikva Post Office Building. Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-9). Abner Mikva, who passed away on July 4th at the age of 90, was a five-term Democratic congressman from Illinois, chief judge of the United … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Durbin, Senators Call On Education Department To Increase Debt Relief For Itt Tech Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 21 senators in sending a letter commending the U.S. Department of Education for its decision to stop additional federal student aid from flowing to ITT Educational Services, Inc. Following these restrictions, and serious concerns echoed by law enforcement agencies and ITT Tech's accreditor, with regard to the company's "deceptive practices, dubious educational quality, and financial integrity," ITT Tech … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Durbin Announces $25.3 Million For Rural Development Projects In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $25,323,840 in federal funding, including $3,011,840 in grant awards, to support rural development projects across Illinois. Today's funding, provided through the USDA's Rural Business Development grant and loan programs, will support water and waste infrastructure projects and local economic development. "This federal investment will create local, good-paying jobs in … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
Durbin Announces $800,000 For Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield $800,000 to purchase a replacement aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle. Today's funding will help the airport meet federal safety regulations. "These critical funds will help improve safety for travelers flying in and out of Springfield's airport," said Durbin. "Investing in our small airports is key to our state's economic … Continue Reading
September 16, 2016
As Student Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion, Senators Pushes For Improved Protections For Student Borrowers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Al Franken (D-MN) today announced the introduction of the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act of 2016 to restore transparency, fairness, and common sense to the student loan process. According to the Federal Reserve, total student loan debt in America is now $1.36 trillion Institute for College Access and Success reports that the volume of private education loans taken out by students has grown by $2.6 billion from … Continue Reading