Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Statement on NSA Phone Tracking and the Patriot Act
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after it was reported that the National Security Agency secretly obtained phone records of Verizon calls made by innocent Americans in the United States. "For over a decade, we've debated how best to protect America from terrorism while preserving the most basic constitutional rights," Durbin said. "Today's revelation is disturbing, but it should not be surprising. I have tried to reform th… Continue Reading
06.04.13
Durbin Meets with Polish Foreign Minister to Discuss Visa Waiver Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Polish Foreign Minister Rados?aw Sikorski and members of the Senate Appropriations Committee to discuss continued U.S. - Polish economic and military ties, as well as the possible inclusion of Poland in the Visa Waiver Program. "After working for years to allow Poland to qualify for the Visa Waiver Entry Program, I made sure this provision was part of the comprehensive immigration reform bill scheduled to come before the Se… Continue Reading
05.21.13
Announcement of USAID's First-ever Global Water and Development Strategy
This is an historic day in the long fight against global poverty and disease and conflict - a fight that my visionary predecessor Senator Paul Simon started long before I joined this institution. In the 111th Congress, Senator Corker and I introduced the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act in the Senate. Congressman Blumenauer introduced the same bill in the House. The legislation passed the full Senate in late 2010 with broad bipartisan support. While it did not pass in the H… Continue Reading
11.30.12
Durbin, Coons Amendment on Congolese Violence Passes Senate
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin's (D-IL) and Senator Chris Coons' (D-DE) amendment dealing with the terrible violence in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unanimously passed the Senate late yesterday and was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, a measure expected to pass next week. The amendment imposes an asset freeze and visa ban on persons deemed to be providing support to the M23 rebels in eastern Congo. Last week, the re… Continue Reading
09.13.12
Durbin Announces His Support for Poland's Entry into the Visa Waiver Program While Chairing Hearing on Nominee for Ambassador to Poland
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today on the nomination of Ambassador Stephen Mull to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Poland. During the question and answer portion of the hearing, Durbin announced that he will support legislation that would allow Poland to join the Visa Waiver Program. A photo from today's hearing is available here. "I have the distinct pleasure of representing Illinois, where Chicago is o… Continue Reading
09.12.12
Durbin Statement on U.S. Embassy Attachs and the Death of Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service Officers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement today after the attacks on the US Embassies in Egypt and Libya and the death of Ambassador Chris Stevens and US Foreign Service Officers. "Today we mourn the loss of Ambassador Chris Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith and two other American diplomats who were killed in an attack on our Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. I condemn in the s… Continue Reading
06.27.12
Durbin, Kirk Resolution Commending Rotary Internation for Polio Eradication Efforts Passes the U,S, Senate Unanimously
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The United States Senate last night unanimously approved a resolution introduced by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) commending Rotary International and other organizations for their efforts to prevent and eradicate polio around the world. The resolution, S. Res. 473, encourages the international community to remain committed to the effort to fully eliminate polio worldwide. Polio was successfully eradicated from India in January, 2011, and is currently … Continue Reading
05.30.12
Durbin's Statement on the Situation in Syria
[ISTANBUL, TURKEY] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the situation in Syria. Durbin made the statement from Turkey after visiting a Syrian refugee camp on the Turkish-Syrian border and meeting with Syrian opposition leaders in Istanbul: "I met with Syrian refugees in a camp in Southern Turkey where more than half of the camp's ten thousand refugees were women and children. It was a grim reminder of the human toll of the brutality of Bashar … Continue Reading
05.29.12
Durbin Travels to Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is on a week-long trip to Eastern Europe, Anatolia and the Caucuses where he will hold high-level meetings on regional political dynamics and security issues. Durbin first traveled to Kiev, for meetings with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryschenko to discuss the current political situation in Ukraine and the status of US-Ukraine relations. Durbin also meet … Continue Reading
03.30.12
Durbin, Kirk Baha'i Resolution Passes in the U.S. Senate by Unanimous Consent
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The United States Senate last night unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) condemning the government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority. The resolution, S. Res. 80, demands the Government of Iran uphold the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith. A House companion, H. Res. 134, introduced by Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Brad … Continue Reading
03.30.12
Durbin and Kirk Statement on Passage of Resolution Supporting NATO's Upcoming Chicago Summit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed by voice vote a resolution supporting the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Chicago: "The upcoming Chicago Summit is an opportunity to showcase Illinois and this great city to the world," said Durbin. "Thousands of visitors will get the chance to experience our world-class city-the birthplace of the modern skyscraper and the elev… Continue Reading
03.23.12
Durbin Statement on Temporary Protected Status for Syria
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced that temporary protected status (TPS) would be extended to Syrian nationals currently in the United States. Such a designation allows Syrians living in the United States to temporarily stay because violence in their home country poses a serious threat to their safety. Durbin, along with Senators Leahy (D-VT), Feinstein (D-CA), Menendez (D-NJ), Cardin (D-MD) and Casey… Continue Reading
03.01.12
Durbin, Leahy, Feinstein, Menendez, Cardin and Casey Ask President Obama to Extend Temporary Protection Status for Syrians in the US
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bob Casey (D-PA) wrote to President Obama today, asking his Administration to extend temporary protected status (TPS) to Syrian nationals currently in the United States. Such a designation would allow Syrians living in the United States to temporarily stay because violence in their home country poses a serious threat to their safety. "In light of t… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Durbin Bill to Aid Reforestation Efforts in Haiti Clears Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bill introduced by Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) to dedicate U.S. expertise and resources to reforestation efforts in Haiti was passed out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, clearing the way for consideration by the full Senate. Once covered by thick tropical forest, Haiti is now 98 percent deforested. That deforestation has caused widespread soil erosion; the destruction of natural barriers from hurricanes; and contributes to widespread and ab… Continue Reading
02.14.12
Durbin-Snowe Bill to Eliminate the Practice of Child Marriage Overseas Passes Committee
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Legislation introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) which seeks to end the destructive practice of child marriage overseas was passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, sending the measure to the full Senate for consideration. The International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act would require that the U.S. develop an integrated, strategic approach to reduce, and ultimately end, the practi… Continue Reading
02.07.12
Durbin Statement on First Ever Deportation of Human Rights Violators Based on His Use of Child Soldiers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after an immigration judge ordered the deportation of a George Saigbe Boley, a former Liberian military leader and human rights violator. This deportation was the first under the Child Soldiers Accountability Act, a 2008 law authored by Senator Durbin, which made it illegal under US law to recruit or use child solders. Boley was found to have recruited and used child soldiers while fighting in the Liberian … Continue Reading
01.18.12
Durbin Travels to Cuba and Haiti
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is in Havana, Cuba where he been holding two days of high-level meetings with Cuban officials. The trip has focused on changes in Cuba - including Cuba's substantial offshore drilling proposal - as well as discussions on improved relations between the US and the island nation. Durbin also pressed the Cuban government to release Alan Gross, a USAID contract worker who has been jailed since 2009. Gross was arrested and sentenced t… Continue Reading
11.17.11
Durbin Statement on Next Step in the Implementation of New U.S. Deportation Policy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin released the following statement today after the Department of Homeland Security announced the next steps in the implementation of the Obama Administration's new deportation policy: "I strongly support the Obama Administration's new deportation policy and I commend the Department of Homeland Security for the steps it is taking today to implement this policy. But more needs to be done, and it needs to be done quickly. Many young people who would … Continue Reading
11.07.11
Durbin Calls on Federal and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Develop Action Plan to Apprehend International Fugitives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on federal and local law enforcement officials to develop an action plan to apprehend international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois. While noting a shared concern over the growing problem, Durbin asked for a meeting between federal, state and local law enforcement officials to make sure that all efforts are coordinated in order to bring these dangerous fugiti… Continue Reading
11.02.11
Durbin Presses Gambian Government on Chief Manneh Case
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to the Gambian Attorney General, Edward Gomez, requesting information about Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist who has been missing for more than five years. According to recent comments by Attorney General Gomez, Manneh, who many worried had died while in Gambian custody, is alive. "I am writing to request immediate information regarding Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist with the Dail… Continue Reading