Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Statement on Bipartisan Budget Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after voting for the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019: "This important agreement will avoid harmful cuts to domestic priorities and prevent a default on our nation's debt. Most importantly, this agreement will help prevent another disastrous government shutdown. While not perfect, this budget agreement will finally allow Congress to work on this … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Reform American Infrastructure Investment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-CA-37), announced new landmark legislation to make bold reforms to federal infrastructure programs that would help create jobs, rebuild the country, and work to right the wrongs of decades of disinvestment and exclusionary federal policies that have cut off communities of color. The Build Local, Hire Local Act would ensure that federal … Continue Reading
July 17, 2019
Durbin, Reed Introduce Bills To Stop Corporate Inversions & Put Money Back Into The Pockets Of Working-Class Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced two pieces of legislation that aim to stop business practices known as inversions - corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, even while keeping their executives and headquarters in the United States. This is accomplished by merging with a foreign company that can be as little as one-fifth of the size of the U.S. … Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce 'Buffet Rule' To Ensure Wealthiest Americans Pay Fair Share In Taxes
WASHINGTON - With income inequality soaring to a level not experienced in America since prior to the Great Depression, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), introduced legislation to prevent America's top earners from paying lower tax rates than middle-class families. The Paying a Fair Share Act would ensure that multi-million-dollar earners pay at least a 30 percent effective federal tax rate, also known as the "Buffett … Continue Reading
May 20, 2019
Durbin, Kelly, Duckworth Introduce Legislation To Address Youth Unemployment In High Poverty Areas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced two pieces of legislation to expand and increase access to employment opportunities for at-risk youth. The Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity (HERO) for At-Risk Youth Act and the Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act will increase federal resources for communities seeking to create or grow employment programs and provide tax incentives to businesses … Continue Reading
April 02, 2019
Durbin Statement On Trump Admin Attempt To Strip Disaster Aid Funds From Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement regarding the natural disasters aid package, in which the Trump Administration and Senate Republicans modified the House-passed version to strip away funds that Puerto Rico desperately needs as they continue to recover from Hurricane Maria: "It has been 18 months since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, yet our fellow Americans in Puerto … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Durbin: President Trump's Budget Request Undermines Our Farmers & Rural America
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee, today released the following statement regarding cuts to farmers, livestock producers, and rural towns across America in President Donald Trump's fiscal year 2020 budget request: "After signing the Farm Bill in December and saying 'we have to take care of our farmers …and we will,' President Trump is abandoning them in order to fulfill his campaign promise of … Continue Reading
March 11, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Continue To Press For Back Pay For Contractors Who Lost Wages During Trump Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and a bipartisan group of 36 Senators, sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging the inclusion of back pay for federal contract workers impacted by President Trump's government shutdown within the upcoming disaster relief package. While federal workers harmed by the government shutdown have since been compensated for their lost wages, federal contract employees … Continue Reading
March 08, 2019
Durbin & Senators Call On IRS To Strengthen Enforcement Of Money Laundering
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) urging the agency to strengthen enforcement efforts, including focusing on tax code violations and financial crimes that may be linked to money laundering. A recent ProPublica report indicated that in recent years the IRS has been pursuing fewer cases of violations of … Continue Reading
February 08, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $5 Million in Federal Funding to Help At-Risk Youth in Illinois Find Employment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded five non-profit organizations in Illinois a total of $5,370,255 through YouthBuild, a job-training and educational program for at-risk youth ages 16-24. YouthBuild helps young people complete high school, earn industry-recognized credentials for in-demand occupations, and undergo training to build housing for low-income or homeless individuals and families … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Durbin Opposes Kraninger Plan To Gut CFPB Payday Lending Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, released the following statement today opposing the proposal by Director Kathleen Kraninger of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to eliminate key protections of the CFPB's payday lending rule. Director Kraninger's plan would eliminate the requirement that lenders first ensure that consumers can afford to pay back loans and … Continue Reading
February 07, 2019
Durbin Meets With Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, to discuss the threat that fast-growing student loan debt poses to the economy and the importance of finding more solutions to help alleviate the burden on Illinois families and borrowers. Durbin and Powell also discussed affordable housing, the lack of competition in the credit and debit card market, and the state of the U.S. economy. "Chairman Powell and I agree that we must take … Continue Reading
January 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $31 Million For Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that nine health centers throughout Illinois have been awarded a total of $31,402,178 in federal funding through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary health care services. Community health centers also often … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin Statement On Agreement To Reopen The Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump announced an agreement to reopen the government that he closed 35 days ago: Finally, President Trump has ended his disastrous government shutdown. One of the results of this embarrassing, destructive, and unnecessary government shutdown should be a new bipartisan rule which guarantees we will never face this again … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin, Schakowsky, Brown Introduce Bill To Reward U.S. Companies That Invest In American Workers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-11) introduced the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act, which would provide a tax credit to companies that provide fair wages and good benefits to workers. This is the first bill introduced by Durbin in the 116th Congress. "In America, if you work full-time you should be able to support your family-you should be paid a living wage, have access to quality health insurance and paid … Continue Reading
January 25, 2019
Durbin Calls On President Trump To End Government Shutdown, Discusses Impact On Air Traffic Controllers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today in a speech on the Senate floor urged President Trump to end his senseless shutdown over his unrealistic campaign promise of a border wall. Today, the FAA delayed flights at LaGuardia Airport in New York due to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Durbin shared his experience meeting with air traffic controllers who continue to work six days a week for 10 hour shifts without pay, and how the President's shutdown has added unneeded stress to … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Durbin Statement On Senate Votes To End President Trump's Shutdown
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after voting for a two week Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the government while Congress debates smart and effective border security. The vote was defeated 52-44, with all Senate Democrats voting to reopen the government. Durbin voted against the White House's proposed legislation to end President Trump's government shutdown in exchange for $5.7 billion for President Trump's border wall and … Continue Reading
January 24, 2019
Durbin: Federal Employees Don't Deserve To Be Punished While We Debate Border Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Republicans to put their constituents ahead of President Trump's unrealistic campaign promise of a border wall, and reopen the government by supporting a short-term spending bill. Over the past month, Durbin has traveled throughout Illinois to meet with federal employees who are reeling as President Trump's shutdown has forced them to work without pay. In a speech on the Senate … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth, Illinois Representatives Question Corporation For National & Community Service's Reorganization Plan
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Chuy Garcia (D-IL-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), sent a letter to the Corporation for National & Community … Continue Reading
January 22, 2019
Durbin On White House Legislation To End Trump Shutdown: Even Worse Than Advertised
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans published text of the White House's proposed legislation to end President Trump's government shutdown in exchange for $5.7 billion for President Trump's border wall, temporary protection for some DACA and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and significant new restrictions in asylum law: "The President's proposal last Saturday was reduced to writing and shared … Continue Reading