Durbin Slams Trump Administration's Efforts To Turn Local Law Enforcement Into Immigration Police

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today slammed the Trump Administration for its efforts to turn local law enforcement agencies into a deportation force. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on so-called sanctuary cities, Durbin spoke about the need for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation and called out President Donald Trump's anti-immigrant agenda and his threat earlier thi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Jones, Bustos Introduce New Bill To Invest In American Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Doug Jones (D-AL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today introduced new bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow's Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand industries. It has been estimated that n… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schakowsky Introduces Legislation To Lower Drug Costs In Medicare Through Price Negotiation & Competition

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today introduced legislation that would increase competition and help lower drug costs for seniors and persons with disabilities who are enrolled in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. The Medicare Prescription Drug Savings and Choice Act would empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices through the creation of Medicare-administered pres… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Dems Press Trump Admin To Reject Effort To Eliminate Or Narrow Existing Anti-Inversions Regulations

WASHINGTON - Following recent reports that the U.S. Department of the Treasury is considering weakening regulations that limit tax inversions and earnings stripping, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 12 of his Senate Democratic colleagues, today called on Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to reject any plans to eliminate or narrow existing anti-inversions regulations. Business practices known as inversions allow U.S. companies to permanently shift their tax domicile overseas to low-ta… Continue Reading

Durbin Stands With DACA Supreme Court Plaintiffs To Call On Congress To Protect Dreamers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today joined Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Assistant Speaker Ben Ray Luján (D-NM-03), plaintiffs in the upcoming DACA case before the U.S. Supreme Court, and immigration advocates to call on Congress to pass legislation that would offer permanent protection from deportation for Dreamers. "On September 5, 2017, President Tr… Continue Reading

Durbin Slams DEA Following IG Report, Outlines Opioid Actions Needed To Regain Public Trust

WASHINGTON - Following the October 1, 2019, report from the Department of Justice's Inspector General (IG) that paints a damning picture of past missteps by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that have contributed to the nation's opioid epidemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon to outline additional steps DEA is taking to regain public trust in the agency's ability to prevent and respond to the opioid crisis. In a letter… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Attempt To Override President Trump's Emergency Declaration Termination Veto

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Senate failed to override President Donald Trump's veto of the national emergency declaration termination. Last month, the Senate voted to reject President Trump's emergency declaration, for the second time, by a bipartisan vote of 54-41. "I am disappoint… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of John Knees To Serve As U.S. District Judge For The Northern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of John Kness to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago. The Kness nomination accompanies the previous nominations of Mary Rowland, Martha Pacold, and Steven Seeger to serve on the Northern District of Illinois bench: "We are pleased that the Senate Judicia… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Families Who Lost Loved Ones In Parkland School Shooting

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Tony Montalto, President of Stand With Parkland, as well as Tom Hoyer, Treasurer of Stand With Parkland, and his wife Gena Hoyer to discuss ways to prevent school shootings. Tony's 14-year-old daughter, Gina Montalto, and Tom and Gena's 15-year-old son, Luke Hoyer, were killed in the shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. "My heart breaks for the M… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy Introduce New Legislation To Increase Number Of Green Cards Available, Eliminating The Backlog

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), former Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced new legislation that would eliminate the family and employment green card backlog by increasing the number of green cards. Close to four million future Americans are on the State Department's immigrant visa waiting list, in addition to hundreds of thousands of immigrants… Continue Reading

Senate Democratic Leaders Call Out Trump Administration For National Security Risks Of Diverting Anti-Taliban Funds To Border Walls

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee; Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Democratic Leader; Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction-VA; today called out the Trump Administration for diverting congressionally-approved… Continue Reading

In Consultation After Legally-Required Deadline, Durbin Presses Trump Administration On Dismal Refugee Resettlement Goal

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, today met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ken Cuccinelli to press the Trump Administration on its dismal refugee resettlement goal of merely 18,000 to the U.S. in the coming year. Prior to any presidential determination on the number of refugees to be admitted in the upcoming fiscal year, the law r… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill To Improve Concussion Safety In Youth Sports

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, a bill that would strengthen elementary and secondary school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year, though many go unreported. Durbin's bill requires states to adopt "when in … Continue Reading

Durbin Continues To Push For Quincy Bay Restoration Project

QUINCY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined local officials and members of the Quincy Bay Area Restoration and Enhancement Association (QBAREA) to discuss the need to restore one of the largest natural bays of the Upper Mississippi River. Last month, Durbin included language in the Senate FY2020 Energy & Water appropriations bill directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to continue working with Quincy to prioritize the environmental restoration project at Quincy Bay. "Th… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights New Federal Law To Support Rural Emergency Medical Services

NAUVOO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined leaders from the Nauvoo Fire Protection District to discuss passage and implementation of the Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act. Originally introduced by Durbin in May 2018, along with U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the bipartisan SIREN Act authorized new funding for a federal grant program that supports rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in training and r… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform At Bradley University

PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today addressed students and staff at Bradley University regarding his efforts to pass bipartisan criminal justice reform. Last year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) authored the landmark First Step Act, which reduces sentences for nonviolent drug offenses and establishes programs to reduce crime by better preparing inmates for productive reentry to society after release. The First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform legis… Continue Reading

Durbin And Bustos Announce New Legislation To Protect First Responders Roadside

EAST MOLINE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today held a news conference to announce new legislation designed to reduce first responder roadside deaths by establishing a new national safety priority within an existing federal grant program to increase public awareness of "Move Over" laws and encourage implementation of life-saving vehicle technology. "We need to do more to respond to the alarming rise in first responder roadside deaths," Durbin s… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Poland's Possible Entry Into Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Department of State's announcement regarding Poland's entry into the Visa Waiver Program: For years I have battled in Congress for visa waivers for our Polish visitors. I know so many Polish Americans who simply want their family and friends from Poland to have easier access to visit America. Now I hope we are finally moving forward. I look forward to receiving more information about the State Department… Continue Reading

Congressional Leaders File Bipartisan Amicus Brief In Support Of DACA In The Supreme Court

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19) today led 49 Senators and former Senators and 123 U.S. Representatives and former Representatives in filing a bipartisan amicus brief in the Supreme Court in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on DACA on November 12, 2019. President Trump terminated the DACA program on September 5, 2017, throwing the lives of nearly 800,000 Dreamers… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge Trump Administration To Protect Health Coverage For People With Pre-Existing Conditions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 37 other Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to protect individuals with pre-existing conditions by limiting the proliferation of "junk plans" - short-term insurance plans that can exclude coverage for essential benefits and provide no protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. … Continue Reading