Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Durbin: Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Companies Do Not Back Up Certainty Of President Trump's October Timeline, Signal Likelihood Of Seeking More Controversial EUA Route
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after receiving written responses from each pharmaceutical company with a vaccine candidate under Operation Warp Speed to letters Durbin had sent earlier this month: "Americans seek a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine that can hopefully return a sense of normalcy to their lives. But the proximity of the election cannot dictate the science. The President's interference and political pressuring o… Continue Reading
09.24.20
Durbin, Cortez Masto, Senate Dems Introduce Bill To Protected Unemployed Workers' Health Insurance During Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), together with 13 Senate Democrats, today introduced the Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, a bill that would protect millions of unemployed or furloughed workers from losing their health insurance by enabling them to access subsidized COBRA coverage and keep their insurance. The bill would provide a 100 percent subsidy of COBRA health insurance premiums owed by unemployed workers, in nearly all employment-based … Continue Reading
09.23.20
Durbin Slams Trump Administration's COVID-19 Response, Urges Senate To Protect Health Insurance Of Unemployed Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration for its response to the COVID-19 pandemic and spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses. Yesterday marked 200,000 American deaths from COVID-19. "I listen as spokespeople for the Administration talk about the wonderful job that they've done in defending America from the coronavirus. The … Continue Reading
09.22.20
Durbin, Duckworth Call On Republicans To Stand For Science And Support Bill To Stop Political Interference In COVID-19 Response
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and 30 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Science and Transparency Over Politics (STOP) Act, legislation to fight back against political interference by the Trump Administration in the work of experts and the nation's public health agencies to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. "The American people must have confide… Continue Reading
09.16.20
Durbin Statement On Illinois Budget Issues Resulting From COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker sent a letter to the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation about the State's budget issues and revenue shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and asked for federal support for state and local governments in the next COVID-19 relief package: "The State of Illinois is not alone facing a serious revenue loss resulting from this pandemic. State and local governments a… Continue Reading
09.16.20
Durbin Slams President Trump's Comments On Vaccine Approval Timeline, ACA Repeal Efforts, And State Of Testing In America During Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, at a Senate Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing about the Trump Administration's coronavirus response efforts, questioned witnesses about President Trump's claim that a COVID-19 vaccine would be ready "within weeks". Durbin also slammed the President's inaccurate suggestion that the United States has a high number of COVID-19 cases because of the number of tests conducted, and… Continue Reading
09.15.20
Durbin: COVID-19 Numbers Are Sobering, Senate Must Act Now
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's partisan COVID-19 relief proposal that failed to pass the Senate last week. Durbin urged Leader McConnell to start negotiating in good faith - as the Senate did in March when it passed the CARES Act… Continue Reading
09.15.20
Durbin Speaks With FDA Commissioner About COVID-19 Vaccine Approval Process & Youth E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with Food and Dru Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn today about how he would ensure integrity in the COVID-19 vaccine approval process, citing concerns that political pressure on the vaccine timeline is undermining the FDA's scientific integrity and public trust. Durbin also discussed last Wednesday's long-awaited e-cigarette product application deadline, and pressed for FDA to strongly enforce its own regulations to p… Continue Reading
09.14.20
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Federal Reserve And Treasury To Increase Access To Main Street Lending Program
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Secretary of Treasury Steven Mnuchin to establish more favorable terms for businesses and nonprofits participating in the Main Street Lending Program (MSLP). In a letter to Chair Powell and Secretary Mnuchin, Durbin and Duckworth highlighted that many businesses and nonprofit organizations across Illinois - especially in Black and Brown communities that have been hit dis… Continue Reading
09.14.20
Durbin Calls On HHS To Stop Diverting COVID-19 Tests From Illinois Schools And Fix The Shortfall In Testing Supplies
MAYWOOD - At a press conference today with Loyola University Chicago officials, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted ongoing testing challenges at schools and universities, and announced he was sending a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking how the Trump Administration plans to rectify the shortfall in testing supplies it has created at our universities and schools after Durbin learned HHS diverted shipments of COVID-19 tests bound for t… Continue Reading
09.10.20
Durbin Votes Against Republican Coronavirus Legislation That Fails to Meet The Needs Of The American People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against Republicans' partisan, "skinny" coronavirus response legislation: "It has been nearly four months since the House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act. And as the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, Senate Republicans are still refusing to step up and provide families, workers, and local communities with adequate relief in the face of this public health and e… Continue Reading
09.10.20
Durbin To McConnell: We Need To Do More To Help Struggling Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of helping unemployed and uninsured Americans, hospitals and health clinics, state and local governments, and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and slammed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's partisan COVID-19 relief proposal that doesn't provide adequate help to Americans in need. Durbin criticized the inclusion of a provision granting corporations federal liability immunity from lawsuit… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Durbin: After Four Months Of Delay, Republicans Plan Vote On Bill That Does Not Provide For The American People During This Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Republicans' newly proposed "emaciated" partisan coronavirus response legislation, which leaves out assistance for renters and home owners, hungry families, the census, safe elections, hospitals and health clinics, and state and local governments. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) for wasting nearly four months since the House passed the HEROES Act… Continue Reading
09.03.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Casten, Davis Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging HHS To Expand Use Of University Of Illinois' COVID-19 Saliva-Based Testing Initiative
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) today led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) urging federal resources to support the expansion of SHIELD T3, an innovative system of COVID-19 testing and tracing, developed by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). In a letter to HHS Secretary Alex Aza… Continue Reading
09.03.20
Durbin To Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Companies: How Will You Ensure Scientific Integrity In Face Of Political Pressure From President Trump?
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to each pharmaceutical company with a vaccine candidate under Operation Warp Speed asking how they plan to maintain scientific and data-based standards in the face of White House political pressure regarding the COVID-19 vaccine approval process. In letters to Moderna, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Pfizer, Novavax, and Janssen (part of Johnson & Johnson), Durbin highlighted how President Trump'… Continue Reading
09.01.20
Durbin Joins Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association To Discuss The Importance Of Legal Aid Services During COVID-19 Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association, the Federal Bar Association's Chicago chapter, and the Chicago Inn of Court for a virtual conversation about current legal topics including the importance of pro bono and legal aid services, civil rights, policing reform, and voting rights. "Today, we find ourselves in the midst of a season of uncertainty in America as we confront a pandemic and its accompanying recession, a reckoning with thi… Continue Reading
09.01.20
Durbin Joins Illinois Stewardship Alliance To Discuss Relief For Local Farmers During COVID-19 Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a conference call with members of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance to discuss issues faced by small and local farmers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin highlighted his support for increasing financial assistance that is tailored to local farmers who sell directly to consumers, schools, institutions, food hubs, regional distribution centers, retail markets, farmers markets, and restaurants. Congress provided $16 billion within the C… Continue Reading
08.31.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $11 Million For Community Health Centers Throughout Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $11.5 million in federal grants to support 44 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout the state. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services health center cluster grant program. "Community Health Centers are a critical resource for millions of Americans - particularly in racially diverse and medically underserved communities that have been dispr… Continue Reading
08.31.20
Durbin Urges DOD To Adopt Wider Use Of University Of Illinois' COVID-19 Saliva-Based Testing Initiative
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today urged the Department of Defense (DOD) to adopt SHIELD T3, an innovative system of COVID-19 testing and tracing developed by the University of Illinois to help monitor the health of students as they return to class this fall. In letters to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of the Navy Kenneth Braithwaite, and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, Durbin high… Continue Reading
08.28.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Democratic Colleagues In Blasting Trump Administration's Constant, Dangerous Political Interference In COVID-19 Response
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and 29 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in writing to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar criticizing the Trump Administration for their continued political interference in the COVID-19 response. The Senators warned that decisions to pressure and overrule public health experts will erode public trust and hamper efforts to respond to t… Continue Reading