Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Statement on Chemical Weapons Attack in Syria
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: Images of the victims of Assad's latest chemical weapons attack-including women and children-are a horrific reminder that the six-year conflict in Syria is the humanitarian crisis of our time. History will judge how America responded, and so far, our response has been insufficient-failing to create humanitarian safe zones, shutting the door on Syrian refugees, and now this White House is cozying up to A… Continue Reading
03.14.17
Durbin, Rubio Reintroduce Legislation To Promote Education Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today reintroduced legislation to expand educational opportunities for the world's poorest children. The Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act addresses barriers to school attendance, retention, and completion in developing countries by leveraging U.S. contributions through collaboration with governments, civil society, and global education initiatives. Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Dave Reiche… Continue Reading
02.20.17
Durbin In Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine To Discuss NATO, Russia
WARSAW-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin is in Poland today, as part of travel to three eastern European nations to discuss Russian aggression and interference in western democracies, and congressional support for the transatlantic relationship and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Durbin was joined by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in Warsaw for meetings with senior government officials. In Vilnius, Lithuania, Durbin will meet with President Dalia Grybauskaite, Parliament… Continue Reading
02.09.17
Durbin Statement On Reports Of Conflict Minerals Executive Order
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after reports that the Trump Administration is considering an executive order rolling back a rule requiring companies registered in the United States to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) what they are doing to mitigate sourcing from conflict mines in and around the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). "This law was passed to help save the lives of the children, women, and men who were being sl… Continue Reading
02.08.17
Senators Meet With Baltic And Polish Ambassadors To Discuss Russian Aggression In The Region
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jack Reed (D-RI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) met today with Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S. Rolandas Kriš?i?nas, Latvian Ambassador to the U.S. Andris Teikmanis, Estonian Ambassador to the U.S. Eerik Marmei, and Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Piotr Wilczek, to discuss Russian aggression in the region, the importance of maintaining transatlantic unity, and support for NATO and continued … Continue Reading
02.01.17
Durbin Opposes Confirmation of Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after voting against Rex Tillerson, President Trump's nominee for Secretary of State: Election Day 2016 is a day that will live in cyber infamy-the result of a hostile foreign power intentionally attacking our democracy to influence the outcome of the presidential election. I have said repeatedly that this act of cyber warfare must not go unanswered, so I was deeply disturbed that Mr. Tillerson showed so little concern,… Continue Reading
01.18.17
Durbin Presses Secretary Of State Nominee Rex Tillerson On Russia Ties, U.S. Foreign Policy Under Pres.-Elect Trump
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson. Durbin pressed Mr. Tillerson about his role in carrying out U.S. foreign policy under President-elect Trump, particularly given his recent dismissal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as obsolete. "The first thing I asked Mr. Tillerson was how he thought he could be an effective Secretary of State, dealing with a President who regularly tweets dramatic reversals of American foreign p… Continue Reading
05.06.14
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Abduction Of Nigerian School Girls
[WASHINGTON, DC] Today, a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators hailed the Senate passage of a resolution condemning the abduction of more than 200 Nigerian school girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram on April 14. Most of the abducted girls - the majority of them between 16 and 18 years old - remain missing. The resolution calling for the safe, immediate return of the girls was introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Chris Coo… Continue Reading
04.12.14
Durbin, McCain to NATO Secretary General: NATO Must Protect Legal International Borders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter yesterday to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen regarding the continued Russian aggression toward Ukraine. "We write to express grave concern over Russian actions in and around Ukraine. Such aggressive military and intelligence operations aimed at destabilizing other sovereign nations threaten decades of European security and are an affront to the values of NATO, the United States, the Europe… Continue Reading
03.27.14
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Ukraine Aid Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's 98 to 2 vote to approve a bill that would send aid to Ukraine and place more sanctions on Russia for its acts of aggression in Crimea. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill today and the legislation is expected to be sent to the President shortly for his signature. "The United States took a serious step forward today to show the people of Ukraine that we stand with them as they work toward a mo… Continue Reading
03.19.14
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