Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Statement on New Belarusian Sanctions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the State Department announced new sanctions against Belarus and the regime of President Alexander Lukashenka: "I applaud the new, targeted, sanctions and travel restrictions against Lukashenka and those helping to prop up his dictatorship," Durbin said. "Lukashenka should be under no illusions - these sanctions are only the first step. Until all political prisoners are uncon… Continue Reading
01.27.11
Durbin Joins Senate Foreign Relations Committee
[WASHINGTION, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) will join the Senate Foreign Relations Committee when the panel convenes for the start of the 112th Congress. "I'm pleased to be joining my colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations committee," Durbin said. "America's engagement overseas is not only critical for our national security, but it is vital to Illinois' economy and status as a crossroads for global business and culture. I look forward to the opportunity … Continue Reading
01.25.11
The Bully of Belarus
Mr. President, during the recent 2-week recess, I was invited to speak to the Parliament of the nation of Lithuania in the capital of Vilnius. It was a great honor. This country holds a special place in my family. My mother was born in Lithuania. One hundred years ago this year, my grandmother brought her, her brother, and sister to America. My mother was 2 years old. They landed in Baltimore, and somehow our family found its way to meet up with my grandfather in East St. Louis, IL… Continue Reading
01.15.11
Durbin Visits Belarus
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) spent Friday in Minsk, Belarus, following two days of high-level meetings in Lithuania. Durbin, who was in Lithuania to address that nation's parliament, made a side trip to Belarus following a violent crackdown surrounding presidential elections last month. Last month, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenka claimed a fourth term as president - an announcement that was followed by violent confrontations in the capita… Continue Reading
01.12.11
Durbin Travels to Lithuania
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) is in Vilnius, Lithuania where he will conduct three days of high-level meetings with Lithuanian officials and address the Lithuanian Parliament. Durbin arrived in Vilnius this morning and will return to the U.S. on Saturday. Durbin, the highest ranking Lithuanian-American in the U.S. government, will address the Lithuanian Seimas (Parliament) on Thursday, January 13. Durbin will mark the 20th anniversary of the Day of … Continue Reading
12.02.10
Durbin, Snowe Bill to Protect Women and Girls from Child Marriage Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Senate unanimously passed the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act late last night, a bill to protect women and girls in developing countries from child marriages. The bill, introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), requires the U.S. government to develop an integrated, strategic approach to combating child marriage with the goal of eliminating this practice worldwide. The bill also seek… Continue Reading
05.26.10
Durbin Announces Nearly $1 Million in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Departments
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 8 grants totaling $992,001 to fire departments throughout Illinois for operations and safety."Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best resources pos… Continue Reading
05.20.10
Durbin Welcomes Two Chicago Area Leaders a Special Guests to the Joint Session of Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed Sylvia Puente and Artemio Arreola as his guests to an address by the President of Mexico Felipe Calderon Hinojosa to a joint session of Congress. Durbin, a member of the Senate Escort Committee, will meet with his guests prior to the joint session. "At today's Joint Session of Congress, I look forward to hearing President Calderon's views on strengthening the partnership between our two nations," said Durbin. … Continue Reading
05.18.10
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Mexican and Colombian Drug Enforcement and US Criminal Justice Assistance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired the first ever Congressional oversight hearing on U.S. rule of law assistance to foreign drug enforcement efforts. The hearing was held before Durbin's Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. The United States is working with Mexico and Colombia to develop strong and effective criminal justice systems that will allow each country to protect their citizens from human rights violatio… Continue Reading
05.12.10
Durbin Announces More than $600,000 in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Protection Services
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 5 grants totaling $602,555 to fire departments and protection services throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that the… Continue Reading
05.06.10
Durbin Announces Nearly $2.9 Million in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire and Ambulance Services
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 17 grants totaling $2,858,359 to fire protection and ambulance services throughout Illinois for vehicle acquisition, operations, and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way,… Continue Reading
04.21.10
Durbin, Lugar Ask Secretary Napolitano to Stop Deportations of Dream Act Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today, asking her to halt deportations of immigrant students who could earn legal status under legislation they have introduced called the DREAM Act (S.729). The DREAM Act is a narrowly tailored, bipartisan measure which would permit undocumented students to become permanent legal residents if they came here as child… Continue Reading
04.14.10
Durbin Resolution Expressing Sympathy to the Polish People Passes Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A resolution expressing sympathy to the people of Poland over the death of president, Lech Kaczynski, unanimously passed the Senate today, one day after it was offered by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL). The resolution marks the tragic death of President Kaczynski, his wife, and 94 others who were killed in a plane crash on Saturday. The resolution passed after the Senate held a brief moment of silence in honor of the Polish President. Polish Amb… Continue Reading
04.10.10
Durbin Statement on the Passing of Poland's President
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of 97 people including the President and First Lady of Poland, Lech and Maria Kaczynski. Earlier this afternoon, Durbin visited the Polish Consulate in Chicago to sign the book of condolence. "I want to express my deepest sympathies to the people of Poland for their profound loss. The pain of this sad moment is felt especially in Chicago where so many Poli… Continue Reading
03.23.10
World Water Day
Yesterday, countries around the world celebrated World Water Day. This is a day to celebrate the progress we have made protecting this most important resource and to reflect on the many challenges we still face in providing clean, safe water to the world's poor. I was heartened to see that Secretary of State Clinton spoke at the National Geographic World Water Day event on Monday. She and others at the Department of State and USAID are doing a great job stepping up U.S. leadership on… Continue Reading
03.02.10
Durbin Chairs Follow-Up Hearing On Global Internet Freedom
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a follow-up hearing today on "Global Internet Freedom and the Rule of Law." The hearing, held before the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, examined information technology (IT) industry business practices in internet-restricting countries and discussed Obama Administration efforts to promote internet freedom around the world. "With a few notable exceptions, the information technology industry see… Continue Reading
02.26.10
Durbin Calls for Meeting with FEMA Administrator, Army Corps and Others to Discuss Incomplete Information on Illinois Levees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After receiving a response to his request, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for a meeting with the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Craig Fugate, and Assistant Secretary of the Army, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to discuss a lack of information that is necessary, according to FEMA, to certify five Illinois levees - Chain of Rocks, Fish Lake, MESD, Prairie Du Pont and Wood River. Once the information is complete, FEMA is comm… Continue Reading
02.13.10
Durbin, Brown to Travel to Africa this Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will travel to Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Sudan this week to examine US foreign assistance programs in the region. Durbin and Brown's trip will focus on global health, maternal/infant mortality, clean water, sanitation, refugee, and economic development activities. The Senators will also discuss regional peacekeeping and diplomatic issues. Due to security c… Continue Reading
02.12.10
Durbin Announces More than $800,000 in FEMA Grants to Illinois Fire Departments
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded 15 grants totaling $829,677 to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations throughout Illinois for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure … Continue Reading
02.02.10
Durbin Meets with Canadian National CEO to Discuss Mitigation and Amtrak On Time Performance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with the new CEO of Canadian National (CN), Claude Mongeau, to discuss the company's mitigation efforts along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) and improving Amtrak on time performance. On December 24, the Surface Transportation Board approved CN's acquisition of the EJ&E Railway despite strong opposition from local communities in Illinois that will experience dramatic increases in freight traffic."With a historic invest… Continue Reading