Press Releases
Durbin-Sponsored Ukraine Freedom Act of 2014 Heading To President's Desk
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have passed the Ukraine Freedom Act of 2014, legislation he co-sponsored that imposes additional sanctions against the Russian defense, energy and financial sectors and also authorizes military and non-military assistance to Ukraine. The measure now heads to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. "Congress has come together to send a strong rebuke to Russian leaders for their … Continue Reading
December 15, 2014
Durbin: Now Is The Time To Confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy As Surgeon General
[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the Senate Floor today in support of the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General. Durbin praised Dr. Murthy for his dedication to fighting obesity, tobacco related diseases, and other chronic diseases that account for 7 out of the top 10 causes for death in America and make up for 84 percent of America's health care costs. Dr. Murthy's nomination is supported by over 100 public health and medical organizations including the … Continue Reading
December 13, 2014
Durbin Announces 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 2015 was passed by the Senate. The bill was passed by the House earlier this week and next heads to President Obama for his signature. "I'm disappointed Speaker Boehner and the House Republicans felt compelled to give what amounts to a taxpayer handout to Wall Street just in time for the holidays," said Durbin. "By … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
Durbin: Alan J.Dixon Legacy To Be Honored At Scott Air Force Base
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations Bill recently introduced in the House of Representatives includes a provision to honor the legacy and public service achievements of former U.S. Senator from Illinois Alan J. Dixon by directing the Secretary of the Air Force to designate a facility located on Scott Air Force Base in his honor. As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, Durbin originally inserted the … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
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 2015 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 filed in the House … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
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 2015, which was introduced in the House of Representatives, 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 4,725 Illinoisans. The bill must now be voted on by both chambers of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. … Continue Reading
December 10, 2014
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning of the death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. "The Illinois political scene lost its Polka Queen last night and I lost a friend. Judy Barr Topinka was one of a kind," said Durbin. "In a political world of cocker spaniels she could be a bulldog taking a bite out of both Democrats and right-wing Republicans without missing a beat. She was a blue-collar, immigrants' kid who lit … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Summary: Defense Portion of FY15 Omnibus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Defense portion of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Omnibus, or Cromnibus in some circles) provides $554.2 billion in base and overseas contingency operation funding, compared to $572 billion enacted in fiscal year 2014 and $554.3 billion in the President's budget request. The base budget appropriation is $490.2 billion with $64 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) of the Departments of Defense and State, compared to $85.2 … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Durbin, Bustos: Omnibus Approriations Bill & National Defense Authorization Act Invest In The Future Of Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 - which was introduced in the House of Representatives today - and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - which was passed by the House last week - include multiple provisions that will help solidify the future of Rock Island Arsenal and ensure its long-term health. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill must now be voted … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Durrbin, Bustos: Continued Funding For Prison Activation In Omnibus Appropriations Bill is More Good News For Jobs, Economic Development in Northern Illinois
[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 2015, which was introduced in the House today, includes continued funding for the activation of the Thomson correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. The bill must now be voted on in both chambers and signed into law by President Obama. Though today's bill does not detail how this funding will be spent, Durbin and Bustos … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Durbin: "We Have More Work To Do"
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During his final hearing as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that, though we have come a long way, there is still a problem with racism in America and we have more work to do. Today's hearing - entitled "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States" - examined the status of key civil and human rights issues, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Durbin Statement On Release Of Senate Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Interrogation Practices
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence detailing the Central Intelligence Agency's interrogation practices following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: "In a democracy, where the people govern, this kind of honest report must not be concealed. The interrogation practices detailed in this report are troubling. That our own intelligence agencies refused to disclose the truth … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Bill To Honor Lane Evans By Renaming Galesburg VA Clinic Heads To President Obama
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed their bill to rename the veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." The legislation was passed by the Senate last week and is now headed to President Obama to be signed into law. Evans - who represented Illinois' 17th Congressional District for more than 20 … Continue Reading
December 09, 2014
Durbin, Kirk, Davis: Bipartisan Legislation To Honor James R. Burgess, Jr. Heads To The President's Desk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today celebrated Congressional approval of their bipartisan legislation to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, as the "James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building." The bill - which was passed by the Senate unanimously last night - now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "Naming a post office in Champaign … Continue Reading
December 08, 2014
Durbin Announces Witnesses For Hearing On State of Civil & Human Rights In The United States
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights , today announced witnesses for his upcoming hearing entitled, "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States." The hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 9th, and will examine the status of key civil and human rights issues, including police-community relations, criminal justice reform, and voting rights. Panel I The … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Durbin-Corker Water For The World Act Clears Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today unanimously advanced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, bipartisan legislation to significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation around the world. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Corker (R-TN), cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and led by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Ted Poe (R-TX) in the House of Representatives. … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Durbin Statement On Illinois Delegation Reception With Governor-Elect Rauner
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended an Illinois Congressional Delegation reception with Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner. A photo of today's meeting is available HERE. Earlier today, Durbin met with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "When it comes to Illinois, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have always come together to tackle the toughest issues. I am confident that tradition will continue next year in the new Congress, which will see the introduction of two … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Durbin Applauds Chicago Nurse Treating Ebola Patients In Liberia Durbin Holiday Season
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a speech on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded Chicago nurse Janet Teasley, who has volunteered to spend her holiday season in Liberia treating patients with the Ebola virus. Teasley - who was featured in a Chicago Tribune article earlier this week - is part of a growing number of health care workers who are being recruited to help stop the spread of the disease in West Africa. She has been a nurse for 17 years, working in emergency care and … Continue Reading
December 04, 2014
Senate Approves Bipartisan Legislation To Name VA Clinic After Lane Evans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced that the Senate unanimously approved legislation that would name a veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) has led the effort in the House of Representatives to honor the legacy and public service achievements of the former Congressman from Western Illinois. The bipartisan legislation is supported by the entire … Continue Reading
December 03, 2014
Durbin Provision To Reduce Risks Of Tobacco Related Illness Among Servicemembers Included in Defense Authorization Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today applauded the inclusion of a provision in the compromise National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that eliminates the military's price discount for tobacco products. Durbin authored a similar provision in the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year. Almost one-quarter of U.S. servicemembers smoke, and … Continue Reading