Durbin In Haiti To Assess U.S. Assistance Programs Five Years After Devastating Earthquake And Cross-Border Issues With The Dominican Republic

[PORT AU PRINCE] - Assistant Senate Democratic Leader, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was in Haiti this weekend to meet with top Haitian officials and asses the status of U.S. assistance programs five years after the country's devastating earthquake. Durbin traveled with U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). They also addressed the current cross-border issues with the Dominican Republic relative to registration of Haitian emigres. The senators met with Haitian President Michel Martelly, U.S. A… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling In Favor of Marriage Equality

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of marriage equality in Obergefell v. Hodges. "This is a great day for marriage equality and a historic day for civil rights in our country," said Durbin. "The decision by the Supreme Court affirms that same-sex couples across the nation have the right to marry whom they love and to participate fully - with their families - in the rights and responsibilit… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Ruling on King v. Burwell

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of the Affordable Care Act in King v. Burwell: Memo to the non-stop critics of the Affordable Care Act: stop trying to kill this program and work to make it stronger. The Supreme Court's decision protects the health insurance of 240,000 Illinoisans and 6.5 million Americans nationwide. America will not return to the days when millions were uninsured and the c… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Introduce Bill to Expand Lincoln Heritage Area in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) joined U.S. Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.-18), Mike Bost (R-Ill.-12), Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.-17), Rodney Davis (R-Ill.-13) and John Shimkus (R-Ill.-15) to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Amendment Act, which would add Livingston County, the City of Freeport in Stephenson County, and the City of Jonesboro in Union County to the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley Call on Supreme Court to Bring Live Audio to the Courtroom

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of the bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act, and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), Co-Chair of the Transparency Caucus, led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Chief Justice John Roberts urging the Supreme Court to allow live audio in the chamber in light of the historic nature of the upcoming rulings on same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act. "Decisions made by the Supreme Court impact the lives of Americans in e… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks on Senate Floor Following Severe Storm Damage in North Central Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As recovery efforts continue in response to tornadoes that damaged communities in north central Illinois Monday evening, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the United States Senate Floor to offer condolences to Illinois families impacted by the storms, and to commend the state and local response to the devastation. Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has declared Lee and Grundy Counties - which include the hard-hit community of Coal City, Illinois - as state disaster … Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Carper & Blumenthal to Introduce Legislation to Protect Veterans and Military Students

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to introduce the Military and Veterans Education Protection Act of 2015 to close a loophole that allows for-profit schools to avoid having to secure at least 10 percent of their revenue from non-federal sources. This is the third consecutive Congress in which Sen. Carper has introduced legislation to close the 90/10 loophole. Joining him this year, along with Sens. Durb… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Members of Congress in Calling on VA to Investigate ITT Tech - The Third Largest Recipient of GI Bill Benefits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) asking the Department to investigate ITT Tech - a for-profit college that is the third largest recipient of GI Bill benefits despite being under investigation by at least 18 state Attorneys General and being sued by two federal agencies. "You know how critical GI Bill benefits are to our veterans and th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Decision by D.C. District Court to Uphold Gainful Employment Regulations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today praised the decision by the Washington, D.C. District Court to uphold the Department of Education's "gainful employment" regulation in its entirety, just as prior courts have concluded. The regulation was challenged in a lawsuit brought by a for-profit college group, the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities. "Today's ruling is good news for students - too many of whom have been lured into worthless for-profit college p… Continue Reading

Senators Seek to Reduce Drug Deaths With Overdose Prevention Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In an effort to prevent drug tragedies and combat a nationwide surge of lethal drug overdoses, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced the Overdose Prevention Act. This legislation would expand access to naloxone, as well as drug overdose prevention programs that have been proven to save lives. Drug overdose death rates in the U.S. have more than tripled since 1990, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C… Continue Reading

Senators Ask for Study on Feasibility of Single Food Safety Agency

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today called for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study into the feasibility of creating a single food agency to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and improve safety. Each year 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating unsafe food. The annual costs associated with these foodborne illnesses, including medical costs… Continue Reading

Durbin, Army Corps and City Officials Cut Ribbon on Montrose to Irving Park Section of Chicago Shoreline Protection Project

CHICAGO - Another major portion of the Chicago Shoreline Protection Project is now open, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and officials from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Chicago Park District (CPD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Montrose Avenue to Irving Park Road section of the project. This section is part of the ongoing effort to restore and secure 9.5 miles of deteriorated revetment. The project, which … Continue Reading

Durbin and Franken Introduce Bill to Expand Student Loan Forgiveness Program to Adjunct Professors

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the reliance on part-time faculty grows at colleges and universities across the country, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation that would allow part-time faculty - who are often paid low wages with few benefits - to be eligible to participate in the federal student loan forgiveness program for public servants. In Illinois, more than half of all faculty at public and non-profit colleges and universities work on a part-time basis, whi… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Fair Elections Now Act

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way Congressional elections are financed. Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and special interests. The Fair Elections Now Act would help reduce the influence of wealt… Continue Reading

Durbin and Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) introduced the bipartisan Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act. Duckworth introduced the bill with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in the House and Durbin introduced the bill with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in the Senate. The legislation would fix a provision in the Ser… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Naperville Chamber in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation Durbin introduced earlier this year which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. Attendees of today's meeting included Nicki Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and others. A photo from today's meeting is available here. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Leaders from McLean County in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce to discuss local transportation and economic development priorities. A photo from today's meeting is available here. "Last night, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that slashed funding for critical transportation programs like the TIGER Grant Program. The business and community leaders I met with today from McLean County know firsthand how important that fundi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities including economic development, transportation improvements, and the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. Durbin met last week with Lieutenant General Stanley Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, to continue discussions regarding the future of Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing. A photo of today's meeting is available here. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Ukraine Caucus Meet with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to Discuss Russian Aggression, Increased Military Aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Anseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss increased military aid to Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. Durbin is co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) also attended today's meeting. "Ukraine is at a critical moment in its history. As Russi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to Discuss Upcoming Legislation Reauthorizing Amtrak

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Congress preparing to consider a legislation to reauthorize Amtrak, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with representatives from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to discuss the continued growth of passenger rail service, and the importance of robust federal support for our national transportation network. "This year, Congress debates the future of our national transportation and infrastructure network, including Amtrak," Durbin said. "As pass… Continue Reading