Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Bipartisan Group of Senators Call for International Monitors in Ukraine
Washington, D.C. - A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), today sent a letter to the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, urging the international body to immediately deploy civilian monitors to eastern and southern Ukraine as the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate. Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jeff Flake (R… Continue Reading
03.13.14
Durbin Travels to Ukraine
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is on two-day trip to Ukraine where he will hold high-level meetings on regional political dynamics and security issues. The delegation, led by Senator Durbin and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), will also include Senators Murphy (D-CT), Flake (R-AZ), Whitehouse (D-RI), Barrasso (R-WY), Hoeven (R-ND) and Johnson (R-WI). Durbin will travel to Kiev, for meetings with the interim Ukrainian government, including Acting President Turchyn… Continue Reading
03.12.14
Senate Confirms Chicagoan Bruce Heyman As New U.S. Ambassador to Canada
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statements today after the Senate confirmed Bruce Heyman of Chicago, Illinois to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Canada. The Senate unanimously approved his nomination. "I was proud to support Bruce Heyman's confirmation to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Canada, and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate unanimously agree." "Bruce's broad experience in international business and global affairs will prepare h… Continue Reading
03.05.14
Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Russian Aggression in Ukraine
A bipartisan group of Senators, led by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), introduced a resolution today condemning the Russian military siege of Crimea, calling for a withdrawal of those troops, and a negotiated settlement to any concerns regarding the Crimea. It also urges the administration and European Union to use a range of economic and diplomatic leverage against Russia should it fail to abide by these basic economic norms. "Russia must immediately … Continue Reading
03.04.14
Durbin, Kirk Sponsor Resolution for "Jan Karski Day"
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today introduced a resolution that would designate April 24, 2014, as "Jan Karski Day" to honor the legacy of the member of the Polish underground resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II who was among the first to provide eyewitness accounts of the horrors of the Holocaust. "I was lucky enough to study under Professor Jan Karski as a student at the Georgetown University School of Foreign Se… Continue Reading
02.20.14
Durbin Statement on Crisis in Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement today in light of the continuing violence in Ukraine: "Ukrainian government officials involved in violence-and the Russian oligarchs who are backing them-should face a freeze on their assets and a visa ban from the United States if they continue this bloodbath. The Ukrainian people deserve an accommodation that respects historical ties to Russia but also re… Continue Reading
02.05.14
Durbin: New Exemptions Will Allow More Syrian Refugees to Enter U.S.
Washington, D.C. - Almost one month to the day after Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked the Obama administration to take steps to address the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, the Administration announced a series of exemptions to the overly-broad "material support" bar in U.S. immigration law. These exemptions will help ensure that innocent refugees will not be barred from the United States because they provided insignificant support to armed rebel groups. "These exemptions will help address the … Continue Reading
01.28.14
Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure investment… Continue Reading
12.18.13
Durbin to Chair Hearing on Ongoing Syrian Refugee Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will hold a hearing on the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. The hearing will be held at 2:30pm in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. The hearing will focus on the plight of Syrian refugees fleeing the violent civil war in their home country. Approximate… Continue Reading
12.12.13
Durbin Statement on Senate Resolution Encouraging Peaceful Resolution of Crisis in Ukraine
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and others this week in introducing a Senate Resolution urging the government of Ukraine and members of the opposition to find a peaceful and democratic resolution to the country's current political crisis. "The mounting political impasse in Ukraine is deeply troubling," Durbin said. "Ukraine is an important friend and ally of the United States th… Continue Reading
11.23.13
Durbin Hosts Briefing for Filipino Community in the Wake of Typhoon Haiyan
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a briefing for members of Chicago's Filipino community on the U.S. relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Durbin was joined by Nancy Lindborg, USAID's Assistant Administrator for the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance-who recently returned from the Philippines-and Leo M. Herrera-Lim, Consulate General of the Philippines. "The United States has played a key role in the relief efforts as the Philippines re… Continue Reading
11.20.13
Durbin Calls for Temporary Protected Status for Filipino Nationals in the Wake of Typhoon Haiyan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a bipartisan group of Senators in sending a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to request Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for eligible Filipino nationals in the United States whose visas are set to expire. The U.S. has granted TPS for other nations following similar natural disasters. "Providing TPS is critical to humanitarian relief efforts as it both protects individuals who would be enda… Continue Reading
11.15.13
Senate Passes Durbin Co-Sponsored Resolution in Support of Victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Senate passage of a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) that expresses support for the victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the surrounding region. "The humanitarian crisis caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan has left hundreds of thousands of people in need of the basics that we often take for granted: food, water, shelter," Durbin said. "The U.S. will con… Continue Reading
11.10.13
Durbin Statement on Super Typhoon Haiyan
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the situation in the Philippines in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan: "The images of the damage caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are harrowing. The loss of life is devastating and the humanitarian crisis resulting from the storm will bring challenging days ahead. Secretary of State John Kerry has directed our embassies in the region to be in contact with the Philippine governmen… Continue Reading
11.05.13
Durbin Introduces Kirk & Duckworth at Senate Committee Hearing on Disability Rights Treaty
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced two members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation - U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) - prior to their testimony before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Today, both Kirk - who suffered a life-threatening ischemic stroke last year - and Duckworth - who was injured while serving in the Illinois Army … Continue Reading
09.03.13
Durbin Discusses Potential Military Action in Syria at Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today at a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to debate the Authorization for Use of Military Force in Syria. During today's hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey regarding Syria's capacity for chemical warfare, and the regional response to the ongoing conflict. This morning, Senator Durbin, the Assistant Ma… Continue Reading
07.24.13
Durbin Statement on US District Court Decision Regarding Conflict Minerals
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the US District Court in Washington DC threw out a challenge to the Security and Exchange Commission's conflict minerals regulations. The regulations would require companies that use key minerals mined in Congo to disclose such usage as part of their Securities and Exchange Commission filings, as well as what measures, if any, they are taking to ensure that they are not purchasing mineral… Continue Reading
07.24.13
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Closing the Prison at Guantanamo Bay
[WASHINGTON, DC] Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing to examine the national security, fiscal and human rights implications of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. The hearing was the first on this issue in the Senate since 2009 and comes two months after President Obama's May 23rd national security speech, in which he announced new steps towards the closure of Guantanamo. "The President's authority to close Guantanamo Bay has been limited by Congre… Continue Reading
06.25.13
Durbin, Boozman, and Coons Bill to Increase US Exports to Africa Passes Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A day before President Obama is set to begin a weeklong trip to Africa to promote American business and trade, a bill to create American jobs and dramatically increase the number of U.S. exports to the continent was approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today and sent to the full Senate for consideration. The bill, introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE), aims to improve America's competiveness throughout the con… Continue Reading
06.18.13
Durbin Calls for the Release of Former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko
[Washington, D.C.] Assistant Senate Majority Leader and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), called for the release of Ukraine's former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, in light of the European Court of Human Rights recent decision on her case. In 2011, Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison for allegedly abusing her power in the awarding of a natural gas contract. Numerous political and human rights groups have called the charges politically motivate… Continue Reading