Durbin Introduces Fair Elections Now Act

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 23 Senate colleagues, today introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way U.S. Senate elections are financed. Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and corporate special interests. The Fair Elections Now Act would help reduce… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On DOJ Threat Top Chicago Violence Prevention Funding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, today issued the following statement after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will attempt to deny Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ("Byrne-JAG") to communities that refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration's deportation agenda: "Attorney General Sessions now threatens to stop the federal funds our police use… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Trump Reinstating Ban On Transgender People Serving In U.S. Military

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. government will no longer accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military: "The bedrock principle of our all-volunteer military is to evaluate every individual on the basis of their willingness and ability to serve. The president's announcement this morning banning transgender individuals from serving our military ironically fall… Continue Reading

Durbin To Senate Republicans: Real Lives Are At Stake, End Secret Health Care Repeal Once And For All

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Senate Republicans for voting to proceed to a secret health care repeal bill that no one - Congress and the American public alike - has seen. The various health care repeal proposals put forth by Senate Republicans thus far would result in anywhere from 22 to 32 million people losing health insurance, undermine protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and raise costs on older Americans and those in… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Health Care Repeal Vote

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to proceed with repealing health care from tens of millions of Americans, despite not informing the public what bill the Senate would be proceeding to: "Today, Senate Republicans voted to start debate on a secret bill - a bill so secret that the Republicans don't even know what's in it. What we do know is that all of their proposals so far would take health insurance… Continue Reading

Durbin: Every Republican Proposal To Repeal Health Care Would Be A Massive Step Backwards For America

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) blasted Senate Republicans for forcing a health care repeal vote - as early as this afternoon - on a bill that Senators and the American public have not yet seen. He also called on at least three of his Republican colleagues to stand up and vote no on the secret health care repeal measure, in order to save health care for tens of millions of Americans. "None of the bills proposed by the Senate or House Republicans wo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act to fix a provision in the federal law that unintentionally discourages members of the military from consolidating or refinancing pre-service student loans and taking full advantage of all student benefits provided to servicemembers. "Loan refinancing and consolidation is a practical, effective way to manage student loan debt," said Durbin. "Congress did not… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Bipartisan Dream Act

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed The Dream Act of 2017, a bipartisan measure that would give young immigrants-more commonly known as Dreamers-a chance to earn lawful permanent residence and citizenship. Durbin was joined by Dreamers who shared their personal stories at a news conference at Harold Washington Community College. "It was 16 years ago - in 2001 - that I first introduced the Dream Act to give undocumented students who grew up in this country a chance to earn … Continue Reading

Durbin Secures Funding For Peoria Ag Lab In Senate Appropriations Bill

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that funding for the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois was included in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies fiscal year 2018 funding bill. The Trump Administration's budget proposed closing 17 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Research Service (… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Affordable Care Act Repeal Bills Would Be Disastrous For Illinois

Calls on Republicans to Drop Secret Repeal Effort, Work in Bipartisan Manner to Strengthen ACA SPRINGFIELD - With a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expected early next week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today stood side-by-side with health care professionals at Memorial Center for Learning and Innovation and urged his Senate Republican colleagues to drop the disastrous health care repeal efforts and get to work on strengthening the ACA. "Congressional Republicans have put forwa… Continue Reading

Durbin Proposal To Release Brandon Road Study On Asian Carp Included In Senate Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved its $38.4 billion energy and water spending package, including a provision offered by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to release a draft plan within 30 days of the bill's passage for keeping Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes. This plan, referred to as the Brandon Road Study, was set to be released on February 28, 2017, but has been stalled by … Continue Reading

Graham, Durbin Introduce Bipartisan Dream Act To Give Immigrant Students A Path To Citizenship

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Dream Act, which would allow immigrant students who grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship. These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built their lives here, and are American in every way except for their immigration status. However, under current law they live in fear of deportation and have no chan… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Support For FBI Director Nominee Christopher Wray

WASHINGTON - In a statement in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed deep concern over the recent comments made by President Trump to the New York Times in regards to the Russia investigation. He also stressed that he is supporting Christopher Wray, the nominee to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), because of his qualifications and his commitment to serve as an indepen… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senator McCain's Health

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement upon hearing of Senator John McCain's (R-AZ) diagnosis of primary glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor. "The outpouring of bipartisan respect and love for John McCain as he faces this cancer battle reminds us that after all the meanness there is a human side to politicians. Count this Democrat in John McCain's corner."… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On CBO Analysis Of Senate Health Care Repeal Without Replacement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of Senate Republicans' most recent plan to repeal Americans' health care without any replacement, estimating that 17 million people would lose coverage in 2018. That total would increase to 32 million people by 2026. "It is incredible that Republicans will not tell us what version of the bill we'll be voting on in just a few s… Continue Reading

Durbin, Nelson, Rubio, Menendez, Cruz, Merkley Introduce Resolution Honoring Late Cuban Dissident Oswaldo Paya

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the fifth anniversary of Oswaldo Payá's death, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring the legacy of the Cuban dissident and calling for an impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Payá, an outspoken activist for free speech, democracy, and human rights, died in a car crash on July 22, 2012. Wh… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges No Vote On John Bush Nomination To 6th Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to oppose the nomination of John Bush, who has been nominated to serve a lifetime appointment on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Over the course of his legal career, Mr. Bush has made dozens of provocative comments, which cast serious doubt upon his temperament, his judgment, and his ability to serve as a fair and impartial judge. These statements include comparing abortion to slavery, using a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Repealing Health Care Without A Replacement Is A Dereliction Of Duty

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Senate Republicans for proposing a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) without any replacement plan-the latest twist in the Republican health care repeal effort, which follows last night's announcement that they do not have consensus within their own caucus and lack the 50 votes needed to advance the last version of their legislation. "For those who say, 'Well, I promised my entire political career an… Continue Reading

Durbin To Senate On Health Care: Let's Surprise America And Actually Get Something Done

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after two additional Senate Republicans announced they would vote against the Motion To Proceed on the latest version of the Senate Republican health care repeal bill, obstructing its path forward: "To my Republican colleagues: this is the time for both parties to surprise the American people and actually get something done. The end of the debate on the latest GOP repeal of the Affordable Care Act gives … Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican Health Care Repeal Bill Fatally Flawed

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today the new version of the Senate Republican health care repeal bill will still force millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, increase costs, and put critical health care services beyond the reach of hard-working American families-all to give wealthy corporations, including insurance and drug companies, a tax break. "Senate Republicans unveiled their most recent bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act last week and it's just as bad … Continue Reading