Durbin: President Trump's Budget Request Asks Congress To Choose - Border Wall Or Medical Research

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 2020 budget request to Congress: "After a disastrous 35 day government shutdown, and with the Senate slated to reject his national emergency declaration this week, the fact that President Trump would request $8.6 billion for his beloved border wall - while cutting $5 billion in medical research f… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy, Schatz, Ask Gao For Legal Opinion On President Trump's Transfer Of DOD Funds To Build A Wall

WASHINGTON-As the Senate prepares to vote on President Trump's national emergency declaration this week, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense; Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs today asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for a legal opinion on the authori… Continue Reading

Durbin Works with Chicago Public Schools to Ensure Access to Life-Saving EpiPens

CHICAGO - In the midst of nationwide shortages of EpiPens, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to discuss his recent role in ensuring that CPS obtained a much-needed new supply of the life-saving medication. CPS had a supply of 1,200 EpiPens that were expiring on February 28, but due to drug shortages, schools were told the EpiPens would not be replaced in a timely manner. After Senator Durbin's office-working with CPS-engaged directly and repeatedly with t… Continue Reading

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

Durbin Statement On For-Profit Argosy University's Imminent Closure

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement amid growing expectations that for-profit Argosy University's closure is imminent: After wasting millions of tax dollars and crippling thousands of students with debt, another phony for-profit university, Argosy, is expected to imminently close its doors. When will this Administration stop subsidizing these worthless vultures? Earlier today, Durbin led 12 of his Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary … Continue Reading

Durbin, Smith, Sinema, Senators Urge Department Of Education To Immediately Assist Argosy University Students

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) today, along with 10 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the Department of Education urging it to take immediate action to assist students in the aftermath of its February 27 decision to terminate Argosy University's eligibility for federal Title IV financial aid and reports of Argosy's imminent closure. The Senators called on the Department to immediately work with accreditors and states to establish … Continue Reading

Durbin Requests Government Study On Firearms Trafficking To Mexico & Central America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to update its January 2016 reports on efforts to combat firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Additionally, Durbin requested that GAO include in these updated reports an assessment of efforts to combat firearms trafficking to the other Central American countries in the Northern Triangle - El Salvador and Honduras. "Violence perp… Continue Reading

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 th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Death Of McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the death of McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Jacob Keltner, who was shot by a gunman at the Extended Stay America in Rockford, Illinois: I am deeply saddened by Deputy Keltner's death and my heart is with his family, friends, and the entire McHenry County Sheriff's Department, and the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force. This is another senseless tragedy, and Illinois has lost one of its finest vet… Continue Reading

Durbin, Coons, Senators Introduce Bill To Limit Use Of Solitary Confinement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for inmates separated from the general prison population. The Solitary Confinement Reform Act limits solitary confinement to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions possi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Rubio, Menendez, Schumer Lead 24 Senators In Pressing President Trump To Designate Venezuela For TPS

WASHINGTON - In light of the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today led 24 Senators in a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that his Administration promptly designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to ensure that Venezuelan nationals currently present in the … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Veterans' Economic Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), today introduced the bipartisan Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need (HAVEN) Act to protect the economic security and well-being of veterans and their families who rely on disability benefits and may be experiencing financial hardship. Under current bankruptcy law, disability benefits paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of De… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Rock Island Army Corps Commander To Discuss Illinois Infrastructure Priorities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District including Colonel Steven Sattinger, Commander and District Engineer for the Rock Island District, to discuss the need for continued federal investment in Illinois' water infrastructure and flood risk management for the Upper Mississippi River region. Durbin also discussed the importance of preventing the spread of Asian Carp to the Great Lakes, and rehabilitation of the La… Continue Reading

Durbin Reintroduces Bill To End Student Loan Debt Crisis

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), and a group of 42 members of Congress, reintroduced the Debt-Free College Act, legislation that will reverse the growing student debt crisis in the United States. The bill restores a path to affordable college by providing states incentives through matching grants to increase investments in public higher education and provide students with debt-free college. I… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions CBP Commissioner On Trump Administration's Failing Border Security Policies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, today questioned U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan on the Trump Administration's failing border security policies. In today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Durbin pressed Commissioner McAleenan on the Trump Administration's unilateral - and in some cases illegal - measures that are destabilizing Central America and driving more fa… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Must Reject President Trump's Emergency Declaration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today urged his Senate colleagues to reject President Donald Trump's legally dubious emergency declaration in order to fulfill his campaign promise of building a wall at the southern border. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explained how President Trump is taking money from military readiness-construction projects, training, equipment that our military needs-in order to … Continue Reading

Durbin Submits Testimony To House Judiciary Committee Hearings On Dreamers & TPS Recipients

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), the longtime lead sponsor of the Dream Act and Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, today submitted testimony to the House Judiciary Committee hearing on protecting Dreamers and TPS recipients. Nineteen years ago, Durbin introduced the original Dream Act to give young immigrants who grew up in this country a path to citizenship. In April 2010, he became the first member of Congress to call for the est… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Metra CEO

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and members of Metra's Board of Directors to discuss transportation priorities in Illinois, including last week's Amtrak computer system failure at Chicago Union Station that resulted in 12 hours of delay impacting 100,000 Metra and Amtrak passengers. Durbin also discussed increased funding for Metra operations, the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology, and service issues on Metra's B… Continue Reading

Following FDA Warning, Durbin Meets With Walgreens To Urge Pharmacy To Stop Selling Tobacco Products

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Walgreens Co-Chief Operating Officer Alex Gourlay to discuss tobacco sales to minors at their stores, and urge Walgreens to stop selling tobacco products. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that some of our nation's largest health pharmacies have been illegally selling tobacco products to minors. Walgreens was the top violator among pharmacies that sell tobacco products, with 22 percent of Walgreens stores in… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Open Textbook Pilot Grantees And Students

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Open Textbook Pilot grant recipients, open textbook experts, and college students to get an update on how federal funds are helping students save money. Over the last two fiscal years, Durbin, along with Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Tina Smith (D-MN), successfully secured $10 million in federal funding to create an Open Textbook Pilot program at the Department of Education. The Pilot is a competitive grant program for institutions o… Continue Reading