Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On Russian Drone Incursions Into Poland, Violating NATO Member Airspace
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning Russia for violating NATO airspace with multiple Russian drone incursions into Poland. It was the first time in the history of NATO that alliance fighters had engaged enemy targets in allied airspace. During his remarks, Durbin also chastised the Pentagon’s reported … Continue Reading
September 05, 2025
Durbin Announces NDAA Amendment To Protect The Baltic Security Initiative
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced a bipartisan amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2026 to shore up support for his Baltic Security Initiative as the Trump Administration aims to suspend the program. “The Baltic nations are essential NATO partners in upholding democratic values and transatlantic security. As the Trump Administration plans to suspend the Baltic Security Initiative, … Continue Reading
September 04, 2025
Durbin Releases Statement On Trump Administration Suspending Baltic Security Initiative
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today released the following statement in response to the Trump Administration suspending the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI): “The Baltic nations are essential NATO partners in upholding democratic values and transatlantic security. By suspending the Baltic Security Initiative, President Trump is turning his back on our longstanding NATO allies, stripping them of the resources needed … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Durbin, Coons, Schiff Introduce Resolution Recognizing Decaded-Long Human Rights Abuses In Eritrea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) today introduced a resolution recognizing decades-long human rights abuses in Eritrea, including indefinite imprisonment, inhumane prison conditions, and expressing support for the rights and freedom of the Eritrean people. “The Eritrean people have endured widespread human rights abuses for decades, without freedom of the press, free speech, or functioning democratic … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
On The Senate Floor, Durbin Urges The Release Of Political Prisoners In The UAE, Azerbaijan, Tunisia, & Guatemala
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted the plight of political prisoners in four nations and called for their immediate and unconditional release. These political prisoners have been outspoken in their support for democracy, freedom of the press, human rights, and basic freedoms. During his remarks, Durbin reflected on past American voices in the fight for democracy, including President Reagan who told the Soviets at the … Continue Reading
July 30, 2025
Durbin Votes To Block Arms Sales To Israel Amid Starvation In Gaza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting to block arms sales to Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: “The terrorist attack of October 7 was truly horrific and the Hamas terrorist group, which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, should be eliminated. I have previously voted for military assistance to Israel throughout my congressional career to protect it from the threats which it faces daily. “But … Continue Reading
July 28, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out On Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza, Calls On Netanyahu To Allow Aid Into Gaza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor recognizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as reports detail dire food shortages and increased violence at food distribution sites. Last week, more than 100 NGOs, including Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam, reiterated the severity of the crisis, warning that mass starvation is spreading across Gaza. “Quite simply, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza … Continue Reading
May 07, 2025
Durbin, Shaheen, Wicker Meet With Belarusian Opposition Leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) yesterday met with Belarusian opposition leader, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, to discuss efforts to bring democracy to her country. In 2020, Tsikhanouskaya likely won the disputed election against Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko after filling in for her … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Should Be Resumed And The Hostage Returned Immediately
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of ending the war in Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis. During his remarks, Durbin reiterated the need to resume the ceasefire and return the hostages immediately. “I am proud of the fact that President Harry Truman was the first president to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and I certainly concur with that sentiment to this day. The creation of the state of Israel after … Continue Reading
March 21, 2025
Durbin, Klobuchar, Grassley, Colleagues Press Administration On U.S. Support For Recovering Abducted Ukrainian Children
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in calling for the State Department to continue supporting efforts to investigate Russia’s abduction and deportation of Ukrainian children. In a letter to Secretary Marco Rubio, … Continue Reading
March 06, 2025
Durbin, Shaheen Host Lithuanian Minister Of Defense To Discuss Increased Russian Aggression Toward The Baltic Region
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Lithuanian Minister of Defense, Dovile Šakaliene, to discuss an increase in Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe, and the need to maintain allied support forUkraine and NATO. The meeting comes after President Trump’s shameful outburst toward Ukrainian President … Continue Reading
March 06, 2025
Senate Republicans Reject Durbin's Resolution To Condemn Russia's Abduction Of Ukrainian Children
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a simple resolution he introduced condemning Russia’s abduction of Ukrainian children and called on Russia to work with the international community to return all abducted Ukrainian children to their families. Since Russia’s full-scale war of aggression started in 2022, the Russian government has abducted, forcibly … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin, Boozman, Shaheen, Coons Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase U.S. Exports To Africa
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Chris Coons (D-DE); and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve America’s competitiveness throughout the African continent and in Latin America and the Caribbean. TheIncreasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa and Latin America Act will force better coordination between U.S. … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Oval Office Remarks To Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement after President Trump and Vice President Vance’s tense and embarrassing meeting in the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: “After calling the President of Ukraine ‘a dictator’ and blaming him for invading his own country, President Trump and Vice President Vance berated President Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude. With 46,000 Ukrainians … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Announces Murkowski As New Cosponsor Of Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
WASHINGTON - Following the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, announced U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is a cosponsor of his Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
On Third Anniversary Of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Reiterates Bipartisan Congressional Support For Ukraine
WASHINGTON - On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor in support of Ukraine. During his speech, Durbin condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Russian President Vladimir Putin—where Trump announced key concessions to Putin regarding Ukraine, while apparently ignoring Ukraine’s key demands. Durbin began his speech by reflecting on President Reagan’s … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
On The Third Anniversary Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Introduces Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
WASHINGTON - On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today introduced the Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Comments About Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after President Donald Trump publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.” Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, … Continue Reading
January 14, 2025
Durbin, Grassley, Tillis Meet With NATO Ambassadors To Discuss Increased Russian Aggression
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Co-Chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, and U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) met with ambassadors to the U.S. from various NATO partner countries. During the meeting, they discussed the increase in Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe, and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance as … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage Of His Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Authorization Of Global Basic Education Effort
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reauthorize for another five years the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation continues a strategic approach for U.S. development assistance focused on basic education for vulnerable children around the globe. “Given … Continue Reading