Press Releases
Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Limit to Campaign Contributions
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down limits to individual campaign contributions: "The Supreme Court once again has sold American elections to highest bidder. This decision may be more good news for American oligarchs, but it is bad news for voters," Durbin said. "We have to move away from the wild west of deep corporate pockets and special interest war chests and focus on … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Durbin Statement on General McDew's Senate Confirmation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement congratulating General Darren McDew on the confirmation of his appointment to the rank of General, from Lieutenant General, and for his assignment as Commander of Air Mobility Command, located at Scott Air Force Base. "General McDew's service with the 18th Air Force and understanding of the importance of Scott's mission and community make him well qualified for this position," said Durbin. "I want … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Durbin to Tech Giants: Uphold Your Commitment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Washington, D.C. -Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to nine of the nation's top tech firms, asking them to renew their commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform and to reject efforts to pass stand-alone legislation increasing the H-1B visa cap. Today's letter comes on the opening day for filing H-1B visa petitions. "I write to ask you to renew your commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation and to pledge that you will not support … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $22 Million for School Improvement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $22,060,358 in funding through the Department of Education's School Improvement Grant program. A total of more than $85 million was awarded to five states that are continuing efforts to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools. "We must ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive no matter where they live and no matter what school they … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Ukraine Aid Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's 98 to 2 vote to approve a bill that would send aid to Ukraine and place more sanctions on Russia for its acts of aggression in Crimea. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill today and the legislation is expected to be sent to the President shortly for his signature. "The United States took a serious step forward today to show the people of Ukraine that we stand with them as they work toward a … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin Commends House Members for Joining Effort to Protect Children from E-Cigarettes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended six members of the House of Representatives, including U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), for introducing the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the marketing of e-cigarettes to children and teens. Durbin joined U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introducing a companion measure in … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin, Kirk Ask for Meeting with BP Following Oil Spill in Lake Michigan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today asked for a meeting with BP after oil from BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana spilled into Lake Michigan earlier this week. Specifically, the Illinois members asked for a report about the cause of the spill, an analysis of the impact of the Whiting Refinery's production increase on Lake Michigan and information on what is being done to prevent future spills. "Any unanticipated spill is cause for concern, but … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin Statement Following Senate Hearing on Student Loans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the federal student loan program and the growing student loan debt crisis which has, for the first time in history, surpassed the total amount of credit card debt in America. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this growing pile of debt threatens current and future economic growth. Before 2009, young people with … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Durbin to Introduce Legislation to Coordinate Oversight of For-Profit Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a speech on the floor of the Senate today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that, next week, he will be joining with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, to introduce legislation that will ensure that federal agencies are working together to oversee the for-profit college industry. According to Durbin, for-profit colleges are part of the problem when it comes to the growing student loan … Continue Reading
March 26, 2014
Durbin and Silicon Valley Leaders Meet to Discuss Support for American Innovation & Discovery
[WASHINGTON, DC] Today, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin met with members of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, including Mountain View, California Mayor Chris Clark, to discuss efforts to maintain America's global leadership and economic competitiveness through scientific research. Earlier this month, Durbin introduced the American Cures Act, which would support the future of scientific research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the … Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Durbin, Kirk Statement on BP Whiting Refinery Oil Spill into Lake Michigan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today released the following statement after learning that an unknown amount of oil from BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana spilled into Lake Michigan. Earlier today, Durbin spoke with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman about the spill. "We cannot be too careful when it comes to protecting the health and safety of Lake Michigan … Continue Reading
March 25, 2014
Senators: FDA Must Regulate E-Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Delivery Products
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In light of mounting evidence that the emerging market of new nicotine delivery products poses serious public health and consumer protection issues, six U.S. Senators today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move quickly to regulate the rapidly evolving market of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products saying: "It's time for the FDA to stop the sale of these candy-flavored poisons to our children." U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), … Continue Reading
March 21, 2014
Gen. Mark Welsh Visits Scott Air Force Base
[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh today visited Scott Air Force Base with members of Illinois' Congressional Delegation to discuss Scott's importance to our nation's military and meet with leaders of the surrounding community to hear about the strong local support for the base. Gen. Welsh agreed to visit Scott at the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who chairs the Senate appropriations subcommittee that oversees discretionary spending for our … Continue Reading
March 19, 2014
Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for International Monitors in Ukraine
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), today sent a letter to the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urging the international body to immediately deploy civilian monitors to eastern and southern Ukraine as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jeff Flake … Continue Reading
March 17, 2014
Durbin, Foster Applaud Opening of Argonne Energy Sciences Building
[ARGONNE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today attended the dedication ceremony for Argonne National Laboratory's new Energy Sciences Building. Construction on the $95 million building was funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's Science Laboratories Infrastructure Program. The facility is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold building. "With its caliber of work, quality of people and boldness of mission, … Continue Reading
March 14, 2014
Durbin to CIA: Respect Separation of Powers and Declassify Torture Report
Washington, D.C. - In a strongly worded letter to CIA Director John Brennan, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the CIA to support declassifying a report on its controversial detention and interrogation program. Durbin's letter follows the highly questionable and possibly unconstitutional search of Senate Select Committee on Intelligence computers by the CIA which was revealed this week. "I write to express my grave concerns about the CIA's actions with respect to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2014
Durbin, Quinn, Emanuel Announce More Than $128 Million in HUD Disaster Recovery Funding for Chicago Area
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD) has awarded a total of $128,300,000 in funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program to communities in the Chicago area for recovery efforts following severe storms and flooding that began on April 18, 2013. This funding was made available through the FY2013 Sandy … Continue Reading
March 13, 2014
Durbin Travels to Ukraine
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is on two-day trip to Ukraine where he will hold high-level meetings on regional political dynamics and security issues. The delegation, led by Senator Durbin and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), will also include Senators Murphy (D-CT), Flake (R-AZ), Whitehouse (D-RI), Barrasso (R-WY), Hoeven (R-ND) and Johnson (R-WI). Durbin will travel to Kiev, for meetings with the interim Ukrainian government, including Acting President … Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Senate Confirms Chicagoan Bruce Heyman As New U.S. Ambassador to Canada
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statements today after the Senate confirmed Bruce Heyman of Chicago, Illinois to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Canada. The Senate unanimously approved his nomination. "I was proud to support Bruce Heyman's confirmation to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate unanimously agree." "Bruce's broad experience in international business and global affairs will prepare … Continue Reading
March 12, 2014
Durbin Meets With Springfield and Sangamon County Officials to Discuss Regional Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Springfield and Sangamon County Community Partnership to discuss local priorities including economic development and transportation improvements. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "I want to thank the Springfield and Sangamon County Community Partnership for their work to improve the community around them and spur local job creation," Durbin said. "I will continue to look for opportunities in … Continue Reading