Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin To McConnell: Stop Holding Up COVID-19 Relief For Corporation Lawsuit Immunity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals, and state and local governments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's delay in passing a bill to give critical assistance to people in need. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin criticized McConnell's refusal to pass an additional COVID-19 relief bill unless corporations receive federal liability … Continue Reading
June 10, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth To Senate Leaders: Protect Health, Safety, And Financial Security Of Illinois' Essential Workers In Next COVID-19 Relief Bil
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to include additional support for the essential workers in Illinois and across the country to effectively protect the health, safety, and financial security of workers in the short term, and ensure that they are in the strongest position possible as the economy recovers. In a letter to the Senate leaders, Durbin and … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bill Extending Paycheck Protection Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill extending the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act allows borrowers 24 weeks instead of eight weeks to use their loan funds, and provides small business owners with greater flexibility in the use of loan funds. "Extending the PPP reflects the reality of this pandemic. Many small businesses in Illinois are … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Durbin Discusses Paycheck Protection Program With Illinois Restaurant Association
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with members of the Illinois Restaurant Association. On a call with the members, Durbin shared the changes he supports to the program, including a bipartisan bill he cosponsored that would extend the deadline to apply for a PPP loan from June 30, 2020, to December 31, 2020, and allow borrowers 16 weeks to use their loan funds, instead of eight weeks. Durbin also discussed the future of the … Continue Reading
May 26, 2020
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce Bipartisan Bill Extending Paycheck Protection Program
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to introduce a bipartisan bill that would extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to reflect the fact that economic shutdowns have lasted longer than originally anticipated. The bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act would extend the deadline to apply for a PPP from June 30, 2020, to December 31, 2020, and allow borrowers 16 … Continue Reading
May 22, 2020
In New Video, Durbin Speaks With UFCW President About Protecting Workers During The COVID-19 Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, spoke with Marc Perrone, President of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union, about protecting the health and safety of workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In the video, Durbin and Mr. Perrone discussed the need for clear, comprehensive, and enforceable federal standards, through the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Centers … Continue Reading
May 18, 2020
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Call For State Unemployment Agency Funding In Future Coronavirus-Related Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), and 10 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Leadership urging them to include additional funding for state unemployment agencies to upgrade their IT systems and increase hiring in future coronavirus-related legislation, with the goal of getting unemployment support to Americans faster. "We write to urge that forthcoming legislation in the Senate relating to the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2020
Durbin Meets With Illinois Chapter Of The Postmasters And Managers Of America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the national and Illinois chapters of the United Postmasters and Managers of America, which represents current postmasters, managers, and supervisors, to discuss postal reforms and policies affecting federal employees. Durbin discussed critical postal issues including the Trump Administration's threat to privatize USPS service, and protecting 6-day delivery service. "USPS privatization would disproportionately hurt rural communities … Continue Reading
February 11, 2020
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bill To Counter Safety Net Cuts Pushed By Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in introducing the Allowing Steady Savings by Eliminating Tests (ASSET) Act to eliminate asset limits for three vital public assistance programs and raise asset limits for a fourth program. The bill presents an alternative vision for vital public assistance programs. Rather than shredding the safety net by imposing new bureaucratic hurdles for families, as proposed by President Trump in his … Continue Reading
February 10, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's FY21 Budget Request
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump submitted his fiscal year 2021 budget request to Congress: "After Congress has repeatedly rejected funding his 'big, beautiful' border wall, the fact that President Trump would request $2 billion for a campaign promise that Mexico was supposed to pay for - while cutting funding from programs like Medicare, Medicaid, … Continue Reading
January 08, 2020
Durbin Announces Support For USMCA Trade Deal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a speech on the Senate floor, announced that he will support the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA), which updates the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Durbin applauded important labor and pharmaceutical changes secured by Democrats that made the USMCA better for American workers, farmers, manufacturers, and families. He also said the USMCA will support the economy in Illinois. "A new NAFTA, the … Continue Reading
December 19, 2019
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Government Funding Bills
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations bills, which secure funding for important priorities for American families and our national security: "These funding bills include important investments for Illinoisans and Americans across the country, including increased funding for our troops, National Science … Continue Reading
December 18, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Help Secure Illinois Miners' Pensions And Health Care Coverage In Year-End Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bill will protect miners' pensions and health care coverage for retirees impacted by 2018 and 2019 mine bankruptcies. The Bipartisan American Miners Act, included in the final funding package, secures lifetime health care benefits for the 13,000 miners who would have lost their benefits entirely and the 92,000 miners who would have seen their pensions gutted next … Continue Reading
December 17, 2019
Durbin, Maloney Introduce Legislation To Expand Family Leave Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, today introduced legislation that would bring the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into the 21st Century. The Family Medical Leave Modernization Act will guarantee small necessities leave and make important updates to the definition of family to ensure a broader range of caregiving relationships are covered by FMLA's … Continue Reading
December 16, 2019
Durbin Announces Legislation To Expand Family Leave Protections
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference to announce legislation that would bring the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into the 21st Century. The Family Medical Leave Modernization Act will guarantee small necessities leave and make important updates to the definition of family to ensure a broader range of caregiving relationships are covered by FMLA's protections. Approximately 40 percent of today's workforce is not eligible for leave under FMLA. In 2015, … Continue Reading
November 21, 2019
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through December 20, 2019: "The CR that passed the Senate today is essential to keeping the government funded through the end of the year. Now it is time for Senators on both sides of the aisle to put the appropriations process back on track. We owe it to … Continue Reading
November 05, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos, Loebsack Announce Addition Of 50 Jobs At Rock Island Arsenal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Dave Loebsack (D-IA-02), today announced the addition of 50 new human resources professional positions at Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) through the U.S. Army's Civilian Human Resources Agency (CHRA) in order to support the Defense Health Agency (DHA). These positions are in addition to the approximately 160 positions added to CHRA's activity in Rock Island in 2018, … Continue Reading
October 22, 2019
Durbin, Jones, Bustos Introduce New Bill To Invest In American Workforce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Doug Jones (D-AL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today introduced new bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand industries. It has been estimated that … Continue Reading
October 18, 2019
Durbin, Senate Dems Press Trump Admin To Reject Effort To Eliminate Or Narrow Existing Anti-Inversions Regulations
WASHINGTON - Following recent reports that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is considering weakening regulations that limit tax inversions and earnings stripping, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 12 of his Senate Democratic colleagues, today called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to reject any plans to eliminate or narrow existing anti-inversions regulations. Business practices known as inversions allow U.S. companies to permanently shift their tax domicile overseas to … Continue Reading
September 26, 2019
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through November 21, 2019: "The CR that the Senate passed today is essential to avoiding another devastating government shutdown. Now it is time for Senators on both sides of the aisle to put the appropriations process back on track. We owe it to the American … Continue Reading