Press Releases
Durbin and Cardin Applaud OAS Special Session on Venezuela Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) issued the following statement after the Organization of American States (OAS) affirmatively voted today to review the OAS Secretary General's report on the deteriorating political and economic situation in Venezuela. "Secretary General Almagro's leadership in invoking the OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter is a much-needed step toward diffusing Venezuela's urgent and deepening political, economic, and humanitarian crise… Continue Reading
06.23.16
Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Ruling in United States V. Texas
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court issued a 4-4 decision in the legal challenge to Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). This result of this deadlock is that the lower court decisions blocking the implementation of DAPA and DACA remain in place for now. These programs were established as part of President Obama's immigration announcement on November… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin Applauds President's Nomination of Chicago Native to Lead Railroad Retirement Board
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the decision by President Obama to nominate Chicago, Illinois native, Thomas Kotarac, as the Chairman of the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board - an independent agency that administers comprehensive retirement-survivor and unemployment-sickness benefit programs for the nation's railroad workers and their families. "There are few people I have met in my career that are more committed to our transportation systems than Tom Kotarac,… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin Joins House Sit-In to Demand Action on Gun Reform
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA) in support of a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives to protest Congressional Republicans' inaction on gun violence legislation: "I was proud to join my House colleagues from Illinois and around the country to say enough is enough-this Congress can no longer ignore the will of the American people for common sense gun reform. Too many guns are getting in the hands of dangerous people and… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin Warns of Consequences of Inaction on Emergency Funding for Zika Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Citing a recent New York Times article showing that the rising number of Zika infections in Puerto Rico is surprising public health officials, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today warned of the consequences of inaction by Congress. Highlighting this recent public health development, as well as earlier findings that the disease can be transmitted sexually and is linked to serious neurological birth disorders, Durbin called upon Congressional Republicans to act quickly and c… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin Announces Total of $500,000 for Public Housing Safety in East St. Louis & Hardin County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $500,000 in federal funding for Illinois public housing agencies to help pay for security systems, deter crime and address resident safety concerns. "Our public housing agencies offer critically-needed affordable housing options to Illinoisans all across the state. This funding will help keep those residents, their families, and their communities safe," said Durbin. Today's funding is made available through languag… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin, Senate Steering Committee Meet with Civil Rights Leaders to Discuss Voting Rights
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after taking part in a Senate Democratic Steering Committee roundtable discussion on voting rights. The meeting included leaders of prominent civil rights organizations and focused on the need for legislative action to address voting discrimination and inequality. "Three years ago this week, the Supreme Court dealt a devastating blow to American democracy by overturning a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. T… Continue Reading
06.22.16
Durbin Statement on Zika Conference Report
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Zika conference report: Republicans have shown nothing but bad faith since the CDC and NIH came to Congress about the Zika crisis four months ago. This conference report makes a terrible situation worse: it shortchanges health care funding for women and families and robs critical funding from our ongoing fight against the Ebola virus. Republicans in Congress are either unwilling or unable to put their party's in… Continue Reading
06.21.16
Durbin: I'm Not Going to Quit on Gun Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the floor about the Senate's failure last night to advance legislation regarding background checks and to keep guns out of the hands of suspected terrorists. "Our first obligation: provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure domestic tranquility in the United States. If that is our obligation, there is much more that needs to be done: keeping America safe from gun violence. Thousands of Americans are shot a… Continue Reading
06.20.16
Durbin Statement on Failure of Senate to Advance Gun Violence Amendments
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate failed to advance two pieces of critical gun reform legislation called for by Senate Democrats last week: After September 11th, our country vowed that we would never again allow Americans to be slaughtered by terrorists like that. So we changed the law. We tightened security at our airports to prevent that kind of attack from happening again. Tonight, the Senate turned its back on victims of gun violen… Continue Reading
06.17.16
Durbin Says Congressional Inaction on Gun Safety is an Outrage and Must End
CHICAGO - In response to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and the ongoing gun violence that plagues Chicago, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for Congressional action on gun safety reform. The Senate is expected to vote on several gun amendments introduced by Senate democrats next week, including legislation to prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing firearms and strengthen background checks for gun shows and online purchases. So far this year more than 1,700 people in Ch… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Durbin Announces $172,000 for Illinois Office of Rural Health
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration has awarded $172,000 to the Illinois Office of Rural Health. Today's funding will help boost primary care access and encourage community involvement to improve health outcomes for the more than two million Illinoisans living in rural areas. "Illinois' rural residents face barriers to health care access that keep too many people from get… Continue Reading
06.16.16
Durbin Introduces Legislation to Prevent Prescription Opioid Addiction
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced comprehensive legislation to combat the volume of addictive painkillers on the market and improve prescribing practices. The Addiction Prevention and Responsible Opioid Practices Act (A-PROP Act) would curb the number of opioids flooding the market, increase accountability to ensure responsible prescribing practices, and support prevention efforts to reduce drug diversion and addiction. U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA) will … Continue Reading
06.15.16
Durbin: For-Profit College Accreditor Should Lose Federal Recognition
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who is working with his colleagues in the Senate on legislation to reform the college accreditation process, commended the Department of Education's staff recommendation to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity to end federal recognition of one of the nation's largest accreditor of for-profit colleges - the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS). The Center for American Progress found… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Millioin in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $1,231,184 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders have access to the best resources and the equipment necessary to help protect them as they… Continue Reading
06.15.16
Durbin Joins Filibuster Calling for Immediate Action on Gun Violence
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) in a filibuster of the Senate to call for immediate action on legislation to stop the rising tide of gun violence. Durbin phrased his remarks in the form of a question to Murphy in accordance with Senate procedure. "There were 488 homicides in Chicago in 2015, the vast majority shootings. Chicago's 488 murders were the highest total number of any United States city last year. In New York, there were only-o… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Durbin: Congress Must Heed America's Call to End Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today about the urgent need for gun control legislation as a matter of national security and public safety, citing Sunday's mass shooting in Orlando and gun violence in Chicago as examples of the consequences of inaction. Durbin called on his Senate colleagues to act immediately to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons, the mentally unstable, and individuals with ties to terrorism. He also strongly criticized Republican leaders for fail… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Durbin Statement on House GOP Bill to Repeal Critical Swipe Fee Reforms
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding a House Republican bill that would repeal the Durbin amendment to the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010: "Repealing the Durbin Amendment would be a windfall for Visa, MasterCard and the nation's biggest banks, but it would diminish transparency and competition in the debit card system and harm millions of Main Street merchants and their customers. Make no mistake - Main Street will not g… Continue Reading
06.14.16
Durbin Statement on Space Launch Agreement in Defense Authorization
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice-Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on an agreement reached to support a responsible transition to American-made rocket engines that ensures America's ability to launch national security satellites: "This agreement is a win for America's national security and taxpayers," said Durbin. "It will provide for a responsible transition to American-made engines and guarantee America's access to spac… Continue Reading
06.13.16
Durbin: Congress Must Do More to Keep Guns Out of the Hands of Dangerous People
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about yesterday's mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, and called on the Senate to take immediate action to close loopholes in law that allow dangerous people to purchase guns and explosives. "We don't know all the details, but we know this was an act of terror and it was an act of hate, and it was directed at the LGBT community. I want to begin by expressing my condolences to the victims, their families and loved ones, a… Continue Reading