Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Democrats To Announce Bill To Increase National Production Of Medical Supply Chain
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today to announce legislation that lays out a framework for an effective COVID-19 response by increasing production and adding oversight and transparency to the supply chain for critical medical supplies and equipment. The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires the President to utilize all available authorities under the Defen… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With Illinois Broadcasters Association
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association about the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on local radio and television broadcasters, including the loss of revenue from advertising, federal relief efforts for small businesses, and the industry's role in continuing to inform Illinois residents about the resources available through the CARES Act. "Our local broadcasters play a critical role during this coronavirus pandemic by keeping Ill… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Durbin Discusses Paycheck Protection Program With Illinois Community Banks And Credit Unions
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with leaders of Illinois community banks and credit unions to discuss the financial industry's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including participation in the Small Business Administration's (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and recommendations on improvements to the PPP to assist small businesses and nonprofits struggling to stay afloat. Durbin discussed how he and Senate Democrats fought to better address the needs of rural, mi… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Executive Order Keeping Meat Plans Open During Pandemic
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to keep meat-processing plants operating during the COVID-19 pandemic: "President Trump's executive order to require meat and poultry producers to continue operations ignores the health and safety realities of this pandemic. The coronavirus is not impressed with a presidential order and neither are the workers … Continue Reading
04.29.20
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Relief And Labor Protections With Illinois AFL-CIO
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with Tim Drea, President of the Illinois AFL-CIO, and the Illinois AFL-CIO executive committee. On a call with the Illinois AFL-CIO, Durbin and Duckworth shared their priorities for the next COVID-19 relief package, including federal assistance for COBRA health coverage, strengthening unemployment insurance, and providing state and local governments financial assistance for lo… Continue Reading
04.29.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Call For More Funding For Social Service Nonprofits In Next Coronavirus Relief Bill
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in leading a group of 25 Senators to urge Senate leadership to include additional emergency funding for nonprofit organizations in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Nonprofits are an essential part of the frontline coronavirus pandemic response, providing important social services such as nutrition assistance, shelter for those experiencing homelessness, child care and education programs, an… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Durbin, Smith To Introduce Legislative Fix To Help State And Local Governments Provide Paid Leave During Pandemic
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced plans to introduce a legislative fix that would help state and local governments provide public employees with paid leave when they need it most. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires many public and private employers to provide paid leave for workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. That law provides tax credits to private-sector employers to cover the costs of paid leave. But the package … Continue Reading
04.28.20
Durbin, Schumer, Menendez Highlight Role Of Immigrants On The Frontlines Of COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on a press call with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) immigrant workers who are fighting COVID-19 on the front lines to highlight the urgent need to protect Dreamers and TPS holders, extend their work authorizations, and honor their essential work, not just amid the pandemic, but always. While court decisions on DACA and TPS hang in t… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bicameral Letter Urging Federal Communications Commission To Coordinate With Other Federal Agencies To Inform Low-Income Families They Can Receive Broadband Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representatives Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) in leading 139 of their colleagues in both the House and Senate to urge Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai to work directly with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure that the millions of Americans who are now eligible for the Supplement… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Durbin Discusses Impact Of COVID-19 With Howard Brown Health
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Howard Brown Health employees to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on Community Health Centers (CHCs) and his efforts to secure additional federal funding for CHCs on the frontlines of the public health crisis. On the call, Durbin thanked Howard Brown's health care workers for serving more than 35,000 patients each year and for their efforts to launch new initiatives to address COVID-19, including creating a COVID-19 hotline for pat… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Durbin, Bustos, Duckworth Statement On BOP's Decision To Designate Thomson Prison A "Quarantine Location"
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today released the following statement in response to the announcement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) that United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson has been designated as one of 11 nationwide "quarantine locations" for thousands of newly-admitted inmates to the federal prison system. "We are disturbed to learn that BOP is preparing to transfer hundreds of additional… Continue Reading
04.27.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Shimkus, Bost Discuss COVID-19 Response With Southern Illinois Hospitals
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives John Shimkus (R-IL-15) and Mike Bost (R-IL-12) today, on a call with more than 30 CEOs of southern Illinois hospitals and AJ Wilhelmi, President of the Illinois Health & Hospital Association, discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois and how hospitals are fighting the pandemic on the ground. The bipartisan members of Congress thanked the hospital representatives for everything t… Continue Reading
04.27.20
Durbin Discusses Expanding Vote-By-Mail Options With League Of Women Voters Of Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) to discuss expanding access to vote-by-mail and the federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the call with LWVIL members, Durbin spoke about his support for instituting vote-by-mail options nationwide, and securing more funding for state and local election authorities to ensure that all voters can access the ballot box during the pandemic. Durbin also discussed the need to provide finan… Continue Reading
04.24.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Statement On BOP Transfer Of Inmates To Thomson Prison
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today released the following statement after learning that the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is transferring at least 20 inmates from Metropolitan Correction Center (MCC) Chicago, where there is a confirmed COVID-19 outbreak, to the United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson, in Thomson, Illinois: "BOP's response to the threat of COVID-19 in federal prisons has been inadequate and tr… Continue Reading
04.24.20
Durbin, Schakowsky Announce Bill To Expand Health Care Workforce To Meet Nationwide Challenges
SPRINGFIELD - Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), a Senior Chief Deputy Whip, today announced bicameral legislation to provide a historic investment in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Nurse Corps programs to cover the graduate education costs of approximately 300,000 clinicians in order to help address existing health workforce shortages throughout our health care system. The COVI… Continue Reading
04.24.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Bipartisan Colleagues Call For Relief For Rural Broadcasters, Local Newspapers During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) and 71 other Senators in a bipartisan letter calling for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Russell Vought to support radio and television broadcasters and local newspapers during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our radio and television broadcasters and rural newspapers provide local and national news, emergency alerts, educational programs, and more to all corners of the Un… Continue Reading
04.24.20
Durbin, Grassley Press DOJ IG To Review Implementation Of First Step Act & CARES Act In BOP COVID-19 Investigation
WASHINGTON - Following the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General's (IG) decision to assess whether facilities housing Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmates are complying with available guidance and best practices regarding preventing, managing, and containing potential COVID-19 outbreaks, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) requested that DOJ Inspector General (IG) Horowitz's review also include the implementation of relevant legislative authorities and Attorney General … Continue Reading
04.23.20
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Proclamation On Immigration
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement on President Donald Trump's proclamation halting some immigration for 60 days: "Where would America be in this crisis without millions of immigrants and first generation Americans who are essential workers on the frontlines of this pandemic? President Trump should stop attacking immigrants and spend his valuable time attacking thi… Continue Reading
04.23.20
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss Impact Of COVID-19 Illinois Nonprofits
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined a call with representatives from advocacy, community service, and behavioral health nonprofits across Illinois to discuss support for nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the call, the Senators heard from nonprofit leaders about the strain the COVID-19 crisis has placed on their organizations and discussed provisions in the CARES Act that offer financial assistance to nonprofits. "Nonp… Continue Reading
04.23.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge Administration To Fully Utilize Defense Production Act & Protect Veterans From COVID-19
SPRINGFIELD - To better protect veterans, health care professionals, and all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and 13 other Senate colleagues, called on the Administration and its Coronavirus Task Force to make full use of the Defense Production Act (DPA). In a letter to Vice President Mike Pence today, the Senators implored the Administration to fully invoke the DPA to address the nation's s… Continue Reading