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 in … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments For The 116th Congress

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will be a member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade; the Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy; and the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources. As a member of these three subcommittees, Durbin will focus on a variety of issues that directly impact Illinois' agriculture, the rural economy, and farmers. "I am honored to be a member of the Senate Committee… Continue Reading

Durbin Opposes William Barr For Attorney General

WASHINGTON-Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that he will oppose President Trump's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General, William Barr. In today's Senate Judiciary Committee markup, Durbin reiterated his concerns about Mr. Barr's views regarding transparency for Special Counsel Mueller's findings and executive power before voting no on his nomination. "I can't understand why Mr. Barr volunteered a 19-page memo to the Trump Admi… Continue Reading

Durbin Host Illinois Members At The First Illinois Delegation Luncheon Of 116th Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the first Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 116th Congress. Started by the late U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon, the Illinois Delegation Luncheon has been held regularly in Washington, D.C. at no expense to the federal taxpayer for more than 27 years. "It was great to see friends from the House of Representatives today to hear what they've been working on and their goals for … Continue Reading

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 st… Continue Reading

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 a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Foster, Lipinski, Schneider, Casten Statement On Sterigenics

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today released the following statement regarding Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigenics, Inc.: The reporting from CBS Chicago, alleging Sterigenics directed employees to take extraordinary measures to cover-up releases of ethylene oxide directly into the atmosphere and to dump harmful ethylene glyco… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With William Barr, President Trump's AG Nominee

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with President Donald Trump's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General, William Barr. In today's meeting, Durbin continued to press Mr. Barr on his views regarding transparency for Special Counsel Mueller's findings, immigration, criminal justice reform, executive power, and voting rights. "In today's meeting, Mr. Barr continued to hedge on the question of how much of Special Counsel M… Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez, Cardin, Leahy, Kaine, Meet With Top Venezuelan Diplomat For Interim Guaidó Government

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today met with Carlos Vecchio, the recently appointed top Venezuelan diplomat to the U.S. under interim President Juan Guaidó's government. In today's meeting, the Senators offered their support for Guaidó and discussed plans for a managed transition and a timely, open, and fair election. "What we are seeing unfold in Venezuela is democratic change co… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces New Bill To Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes

WASHINGTON - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for American patients, providers, and taxpayers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Prices Act of 2019 will reduce the government-granted monopoly period for… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Trump's State Of The Union

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Trump's State of the Union address: What is the state of the union under President Trump? Affordable health insurance - including for people with pre-existing conditions - is at risk because of a lawsuit filed by Republican Attorneys General and supported by this President and his Administration. The basic services of our government are at risk because of President Trump's 35-day shutdown … Continue Reading

Durbn Meets Aurora Air Traffic Controller, His Guest For President Trump's State Of The Union

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Toby Hauck, who will be his guest for President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address. Toby, an Aurora, Illinois, air traffic controller and Air Force veteran, was one of the more than 8,000 federal employees in Illinois who were impacted by President Trump's 35-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During the shutdown, Durbin met with Toby and air traffic controllers in Aurora and St. Louis, Missouri,… Continue Reading

Durbin To Host Aurora Air Traffic Controller For President Trump's State Of The Union Address

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) will host Toby Hauck as his guest for President Donald Trump's State of the Union Address. Toby, an Aurora, Illinois, air traffic controller and Air Force veteran, was one of the more than 8,000 federal employees in Illinois who were impacted by President Trump's 35-day government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history. During the shutdown, Durbin met with Toby and air traffic controllers in Aurora and St. Louis, Missouri, to hear their … Continue Reading

Durbin Unveils New Bill To Prevent Large Drug Price Hikes

SPRINGFIELD - As the costs of prescription drugs continue to rise for American patients, providers, and taxpayers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local hospital leaders to unveil new legislation to help prevent sudden, outrageous price hikes for prescription pharmaceuticals. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Drug Prices Act of 2019, which Durbin will formally introduce in the Senate next week, will reduce the government-granted monopoly period for medications if … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Introduce Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs), or federally-licensed dealers, manufacturers, and importers. The SECURE (Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of "smash and grab" gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be se… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Urge EPA To Hold Watco Transloading Accountable For Dangerous Manganese Emission

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to hold Watco Transloading on Chicago's Southeast Side accountable for violating federal safety standards due to its high levels of manganese emissions - a known neurotoxin. The Senators, in a letter to the EPA, raised concerns about the EPA's failure to promptly hold companies accountable for violations of the Clean Air Act, and highlighted the EPA's ability to for… Continue Reading

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 integrate… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Lipinski, Foster, Schneider, Casten Meet With Sterigenics, Press For Answers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Dan Lipinski (D-IL-03), Bill Foster (D-IL-11), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today met with Michael Petras, CEO of Sotera Health, parent company of Willowbrook, Illinois-based Sterigneics, Inc, and Sterigenics President Phil MacNabb, to discuss high carcinogenic ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions at the facility. The members pressed the company representatives on what they… Continue Reading

Durbin: Conference Committee Must Focus On Smart & Effective Border Security

WASHINGTON - At the first public meeting of the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Appropriations Conference Committee, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Democratic and Republican conference committee members to focus on smart and effective border security measures as opposed to threats of government shutdowns or emergency declarations from President Trump in order to reach an agreement before the Continuing Resolution (CR) ends on February 15. "The President may be dis… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Trump-Devos Department Of Education To Stop Embracing Predatory For-Profit College Industry

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Department of Education's repeated embrace of the for-profit college industry, and urged the Department to take action to help thousands of defrauded students in Illinois and across the country. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted the continued upheaval in the for-profit college industry with the closures of Vatterott Colleges, Education Corporation of America, and Dream Center Education Holdings - and state settleme… Continue Reading