Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Calls For Full Senate Briefing By CIA Director Haspel On Saudi Involvement In Khashoggi Murder
WASHINGTON-Following a classified briefing on Saudi Arabia's involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi from CIA Director Gina Haspel in which only a handful of Senators were allowed to attend, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement: While I cannot discuss the content of the briefing, it certainly reinforced my support for the bipartisan joint war powers resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen and the need for a stronger… Continue Reading
11.28.18
Durbin Calls On Congress To Halt Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Yemen Ahead Of Senate Vote On War Powers
WASHINGTON-Following a classified briefing on the Saudi's war in Yemen from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - CIA Director Gina Haspel was troublingly not allowed to attend - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass a bipartisan joint war powers resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. The Senate is expected to vote on the matter this afternoon. "The American people entrust us [Senators] with … Continue Reading
10.23.18
Durbin, Leahy, Feinstein, Sanders Call On President Trump To Condemn Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi, Begin Restoring America's Moral Standing Internationally
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee Ranking Member; Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman; Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member; and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member today pressed President Donald Trump to begin restoring America's moral standing by forcefully, without equivocation, condemning Jamal Khashoggi's murder and indicating there will… Continue Reading
10.22.18
Durbin Calls For Expulsion Of Saudi Ambassador
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for the expulsion of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, son of King Salman of Saudi Arabia and the younger brother of the Crown Prince, until the completion of a credible third party investigation into the disappearance and murder of noted journalist and critic of the Saudi government, Jamal Khashoggi. On Friday, Saudi Arabia confirmed for the first time that Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingd… Continue Reading
10.17.18
Durbin, Duckworth Press For Full Disclosure Of Trump Family Business Ties In Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and eight other Senate Democrats, wrote to President Donald Trump and to the Trump Organization seeking a full accounting of any financial ties between the Trump Organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Senators' letters follow the disappearance and reported killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a resident of the United States and Washington Post journalist, whose whereabouts have … Continue Reading
10.14.18
Durbin Statement On Disappearance Of Saudi Critic Jamal Khashoggi
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin should cancel his participation in the Saudi investor conference and it's long overdue that the Trump Administration nominate a U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the disappearance of noted journalist and critic of the Saudi government, Jamal Khashoggi. Yesterday, Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, called Durbin directly fro… Continue Reading
10.12.18
Durbin, Boozman, Senators Press President Trump On Decision To Continue Providing Assistance To Countries That Use Child Soldiers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today pressed President Donald Trump for information regarding his recent decision to invoke troublingly broad waivers for continued United States military assistance to countries that use child soldiers-assistance prohibited under the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2008, which was originally introduced by Durbin and … Continue Reading
10.04.18
Senate Passes Durbin, Portman Resolution Commemorating 85th Anniversary Of The Holodomor
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rob Portman (R-OH)-who co-chair the Senate Ukraine Caucus-announced that their resolution to commemorate the anniversary of the Holodomor and recognize the Soviet Union's role in perpetrating this genocide has passed the Senate. "Ukraine's famine is an ugly chapter in world history, in which millions of civilians died at the hands of the Soviet Union's cruel policies," Durbin said. "As a co-chair of the Senate's Ukraine Caucus, I am proud … Continue Reading
09.02.18
Durbin, Duckworth, Senators Call On Trump Administration To Meet Current Refugee Resettlement Cap And Significantly Increase Numbers Of Refugees Allowed Into U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 21 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump demanding that the Administration honor the United States' legacy as a nation of immigrants and beacon of hope for families around the globe fleeing violence and persecution by increasing the cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. and strengthening resources across the federal governmen… Continue Reading
08.06.18
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Decision To Re-Impose Sanctions On Iran
ST. LOUIS-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump announced that he will re-impose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran that were lifted in connection with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Nuclear Agreement. In May 2018, President Trump unilaterally pulled the United States out of the Iran Nuclear Agreement. In 2015, Durbin led the effort in the Senate that ultimately allowed the Iran Nucle… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Durbin Host Bipartisan Senators, NATO & Non-NATO Partner Ambassadors, Reaffirms America's Support In Face Of Russian Aggression
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a group of bipartisan senators and Ambassadors from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and non-NATO partner nations to discuss U.S.-NATO relations and ongoing Russian aggression, as well as reaffirm America's commitment to our allies and to transatlantic cooperation. U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) co-hosted the meeting with Durbin, and Senators Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Susan C… Continue Reading
07.18.18
Durbin, National Security Democratic Senate Leaders Press President Trump For Details On Putin Summit
WASHINGTON - Following President Donald Trump's meeting and press conference with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, where President Trump accepted Putin's election meddling denial, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined top Senate Democrats last night in a letter to President Trump listing a series of questions to clarify if and what commitments he made to Putin during their secretive and lengthy meeting. "American citizens and the whole world watched the leader of the free world alig… Continue Reading
07.17.18
Durbin: My Colleagues Are Failing To Live Up To Their Oath, Refuse To Speak Up And Denounce President Trump's Actions In Helsinki
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his Senate Republican colleagues to speak up and put country before party following President Donald Trump's remarks at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Yesterday, we watched in disbelief as the president not only refused to even acknowledge the act of cyber war against the United States, but incredibly blamed America first for our poor relationship with Russia. We watched our American … Continue Reading
07.16.18
Durbin: Trump Joins Putin In "Blaming America First"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's remarks at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin: President Trump's performance in Helsinki was appalling. By ignoring the evidence of Russian interference in our 2016 election, President Trump joined Vladimir Putin in blaming America for the charges and throwing our intelligence and justice officials under the bus. The President's no… Continue Reading
07.10.18
Durbin: Trump Is Incapable Of Distinguishing Friends From Enemies
WASHINGTON - Ahead of President Trump's upcoming meetings with NATO allies and Russian President Putin, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor to express deep concern about the current course of American foreign policy under President Trump. Durbin slammed President Trump's willingness to recklessly undermine allies and instead cozy up to adversaries like Russia and North Korea. Durbin also criticized the stunning silence from most Republicans in Congress while … Continue Reading
06.12.18
Durbin Statement On Trump's Meeting With North Korean Dictator
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the meeting in Singapore between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un: It is better for the leaders of nations with nuclear weapons to exchange positive words than hurl insults. But the meeting in Singapore did not produce an agreement, nor any credible plan to remove the nuclear threat from the Korean Peninsula. The press opportunity has passed. Now the American people and our allies … Continue Reading
06.06.18
Durbin Introduces Resolution To Reaffirm America's Support For NATO
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution that would reaffirm America's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Durbin spoke on the floor about the Trump Administration's contempt for, and undermining of, the organization that includes some of our most important allies in modern history. "In the face of Russian aggression today, instead of fortifying our alliance and coming together in common cause, I'm sorry to report that this… Continue Reading
05.24.18
Durbin Blasts Maduro For Expelling U.S. Diplomats From Venezuela
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for expelling America's two highest ranking diplomats in the country, Todd Robinson and Brian Naranjo, on nonsense charges designed to distract from his own government's corruption. Maduro staged an election over the weekend that banned key candidates and parties and has been internationally discredited as a sham. Last month, Durbin traveled to Caracas to warn Maduro that the snap election called by … Continue Reading
05.17.18
Durbin Statement On New Videos Of Josh Holt, A U.S. Citizen Imprisoned In Venezuela
ASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Josh Holt, a U.S. citizen imprisoned on false charges, was seen begging for his life in two videos from inside a Caracas prison: I recently visited Venezuela and met with, among many others, President Maduro. I appealed to him directly to release Josh Holt and his Venezuelan wife, who are being held on plainly political charges. Maduro told me he was seriously considering it. Now, as reports of dang… Continue Reading
05.15.18
Durbin Y Menendez Exigen Elecciones Libres Y Justas En Venezuela
WASHINGTON-El Asistente Líder de la Minoría del Senado, Dick Durbin (D-IL), y el Senador Bob Menéndez (D-NJ), miembro de más alto rango del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado, advirtieron hoy al régimen de Maduro en Venezuela que las elecciones que se aproximan serían consideradas ilegítimas si se niega a cumplir con estándares básicos en las urnas, y exigieron elecciones libres y justas para el pueblo venezolano. "El… Continue Reading