Press Releases
Durbin and Quad Cities Leaders Discuss Economic Development & the Rock Island Arsenal at Annual Meeting
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a meeting with mayors and local leaders from the Quad Cities region who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed his continued commitment to working in Congress to support and promote the Rock Island Arsenal. The group also discussed transportation investments, manufacturing, local economic development and job creation. "This annual meeting of leaders from the Quad Cities brings together local officials and busin… Continue Reading
04.14.16
Durbin: New Program from Housing Finance Agency Could Benefit Struggling Illinois Families
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that an announcement by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) could benefit up to 33,000 families that have been struggling to avoid foreclosure and stay in their homes in states - including Illinois - that have been hardest hit by the financial crisis. The new program will offer a one-time principal reduction to borrowers whose loans are owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and who meet specific eligibility criteri… Continue Reading
04.14.16
With E-Cigarette Use on the Rise, Durbin & Blumenthal Demand FDA Action
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statements in response to findings from the 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that a record 3 million U.S. teenagers used e-cigarettes over the last year. The data released today shows that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students, which surpassed cigarettes last year as the most commonly used tobacco product, continues to grow: between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette… Continue Reading
04.14.16
Durbin, Kirk: SBA Makes Federal Relief Available for Illinois Small Businesses Impacted by Severe Winter Storms
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that President Obama has issued a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter to receive SBA loans. The President's action will ensure that eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses have access to loans to help repair or replace disaster… Continue Reading
04.13.16
Durbin Pays Tribute to Ray LaHood
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to recognize former Illinois Congressman and United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who was honored yesterday by a dedication ceremony for the Ray LaHood International Terminal at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. "I want to recognize my friend and former colleague in the House, Congressman Ray LaHood. He was then named Secretary of Transportation by President Obama. The … Continue Reading
04.13.16
Durbin Calls on Department of Education to Stand Up for Students by Banning Mandatory Arbitration Clauses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the floor of the Senate to call on the Department of Education to ban mandatory arbitration clauses from higher education enrollment contracts. Mandatory arbitration clauses are a hallmark of the for-profit college industry - used by nearly all the major companies including DeVry, University of Phoenix, and ITT Tech. The clauses were also used by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., a bankrupt for-profit college system which, for years, … Continue Reading
04.12.16
Durbin, Brown, & Warren Meet with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to Discuss Actions to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today met with Secretary Jack Lew to discuss last week's announcement of new actions by the Treasury Department to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping. "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab," said Durbin. "Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax l… Continue Reading
04.11.16
Durbin Discusses New Initiatives to Address High Rates of Lead Exposure in Cities
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted new initiatives to protect children in affordable housing from lead poisoning and update the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead and copper regulations to establish mandatory lead testing of pipes and water in cities-large and small-across the country. The measures will be part of a larger effort being crafted by Senate Democrats to re-commit the federal government to investing in water infrastructure and lead remediation. "T… Continue Reading
04.08.16
Durbin, Kirk, Delegation Support Illinois Appeal for Federal Public Assistance for Southern and Central Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider the denial of the State of Illinois' request for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance to the counties that were hardest-hit following the storms and severe flooding that began on December 23, 2015 and continued through January 13, 2016. "On March 10, the State was notified… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Durbin Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland
[WASHINGTON]-Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met today with Supreme Court Nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland. "It's great to have this son of Illinois come visit me today," Durbin said before the meeting. Afterwards, Durbin held a media availably during which he discussed Judge Garland's experience, qualifications, and Illinois connections. "I've just met personally and directly with Merrick Garland, President Obama's nomi… Continue Reading
04.06.16
Durbin Takes Concerns About Wait Times at Hines to VA Secretary During Meeting in Washington
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, to explain the Department's progress in implementing corrective actions at Hines VA Hospital to address concerns over wait times and the handling of whistleblower allegations. Durbin also spoke with McDonald about the need for strong leadership at Hines which has not had a permanent Director since 2014. "I told Secretary McDonald today that measures to … Continue Reading
04.04.16
Durbin Applauds Treasury Action to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced new actions to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping: "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab. Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax lawyers to shift their tax domiciles overseas, or shift their profits and debts on or off… Continue Reading
04.01.16
Durbin, Kirk Lead Illinois Delegation Call for Federal Relief for Small Businesses Impacted by Winter Floods
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which were severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter. This designation will allow residents and businesses in the region to receive SBA loans. These loans provide assistance to homeown… Continue Reading
04.01.16
Durbin, Davis, Bost Respond to NGA Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL) released the following statement today after the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced a decision regarding the location of its new facility - known as NGA West. "We are disappointed that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has not decided to build its new facility here in Illinois. Scott Air Force Base remains one of our nation's… Continue Reading
03.29.16
Durbin Applauds Administration Action to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded a new effort by federal, state, local and private sector partners to address the ongoing problem of prescription drug and heroin addiction and abuse. Durbin especially welcomed the commitment of more than sixty medical schools across the country - including Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University - to require their students take some form of presc… Continue Reading
03.24.16
Durbin Discusses Bill to Expand Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Under Medicaid
[CASEYVILLE, IL] - In the midst of the continuing heroin and prescription opioid abuse epidemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation he has introduced to expand access to treatment for people who are not receiving the addiction care they need. The Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (Medicaid CARE) Act would modify the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion policy-a decades-old Medicaid policy that has had the unintended consequence of lim… Continue Reading
03.17.16
Durbin Questions Whether Credit / Debit Card Chip Technology Rollout is Adequately Protecting Competition & Consumers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today questioned the Chairman of EMVCo - an organization that controls the specifications governing credit and debit card chip technology - seeking information on whether the deployment of this technology in the United States is adequately preserving competition and protecting consumers. "Magnetic stripe debit and credit cards have long been a key vulnerability that has put consumers' sensitive financial information at risk," said Durbin… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Durbin Initiatives to Improve Mental Health Services & Combat Prescription Opioid Abuse Included in Committee Passed Legislation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses - Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act - and his initiative to require better FDA oversight of opioids that he originally introduced as an amendment to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) were included in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 that was passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions earlier today.… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Durbin Applauds Chicago City Council Action to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Chicago City Council's action today to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use. "Thanks to tobacco control measures like banning smoking in public places and placing warning labels on cigarette cartons, far fewer people smoke now than did fifty years ago. But we still have a long way to go. The Chicago City Council took action today to move us closer to our goal of a generation of kids who grow up tobacco-free. I commend Alderman Bu… Continue Reading
03.16.16
Durbin Statement on Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to Supreme Court
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the President's nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court: I applaud President Obama's decision to nominate Chief Judge Merrick Garland. Judge Garland is an outstanding attorney and jurist with an admirable list of accomplishments. Born in Chicago and raised in Lincolnwood, Illinois, he received undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard and clerk… Continue Reading