Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Military and Veterans
Durbin: Republicans Must Drop Opposition To Emergency Supplemental Bill To Pay National Guard, Capitol Police
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged Senate Republicans to support an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, introduced by Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), that would address the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $3.7 billion bill would address the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, provide fun… Continue Reading
06.17.21
Durbin Questions Secretary Of Defense And Chairman Of Joint Chiefs Of Staff At Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the Department of Defense's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Request, questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Durbin began his questioning asking about the importance of keeping our military nonpartisan. "Two of the pillars of our national defense are civilian control of the military and our ambition, goal, or demand that … Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Joins Gillibrand To Announce New Legislation To Clean Up PFAS At Military Installations With Highest Levels Of Contamination
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce the Filthy Fifty Act, legislation directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify and clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at U.S. military installations with some of the highest detections across the country. The hundreds of contaminated military sites across the country jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being of military communities who have suffere… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Questions Secretary Of State Blinken On Afghanisatn
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the State Department's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Request, questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the United States' policy towards Afghanistan in the future. "It appears the Taliban is going to be a political force there. There is also a government in place. I'm not quite sure if there is any accommodation between them going on or expected," Durbin said. "I think … Continue Reading
06.04.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Announce $372,000 In CARES Act Funding For Southland Development Authority
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced that the Southland Development Authority in Cook County, Illinois, has been awarded $372,500 in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's funding will support the Southland Equitable Recovery Stimulus Program, which will provide businesses with immediate pandemic recovery ass… Continue Reading
06.04.21
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Senators In Bipartisan Request For Additional C-130J Aircraft
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support the additional procurement of at least eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of the modernization effort for the Air National Guard in the Fiscal year (FY) 2022 Defense Appropria… Continue Reading
06.03.21
Durbin, Wicker Request Strong FY22 DOD Medical Research Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), are urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to uphold its commitment to our nation's service members by providing at least $2.89 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Health Program's Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) account. "Such an allocation will build upon an exempla… Continue Reading
05.31.21
Durbin Releases Statement Observing Memorial Day, Thanks Servicemembers And Their Families
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a video statement in observance of Memorial Day and the service of military members and their families, who have made immense sacrifices for their country. "While no words, symbols, or memorials can adequately express our nation's debt to all who have lost their lives to defend our liberties, we take this time to honor their service and sacrifice to our country," said Durbin. "This Memorial Day, when thousands of American… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Completion Of Investigation At Illinois Army Reserve Unit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on the completion of the investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault allegations at the 416th Theater Engineering Command (TEC), an Army Reserve unit in Darien, Illinois: "Sexual misconduct and pervasive problems that led to the mishandling of cases at the 416th TEC in Darien ar… Continue Reading
05.11.21
Durbin Discusses Sexual Assault Prevention In The Military With Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Daniels
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels to receive an update on the ongoing investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault allegations at the 416th Theater Engineering Command (TEC) and improving support for assault victims, protection against reprisal for whistleblowers, and accountability for Command leaders. On the call, Durbin and Lieutenant General Daniels also discussed the Army's recent … Continue Reading
05.07.21
Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Prevention And Vaccination Measures With IDVA
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today spoke with Acting IDVA Director Terry Prince and Acting IDVA Assistant Director Anthony Vaughn about addressing and preventing a fatal COVID-19 outbreaks at the Illinois Veterans Homes (IVH). The call came after a Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General's (OIG) report releas… Continue Reading
05.03.21
Durbin, Duckworth Urge U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs To Assist State Veterans' Homes
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist the IDVA following a Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General's (OIG) report released last week, which documents a number of failures within IDVA leadership in addressing and preventing a fatal COVID-19 outbreak at … Continue Reading
04.28.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Meet With Illinois Adjutant General Richard Neely
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today spoke by phone with Illinois Adjutant General Richard Neely about establishing a permanent flying mission for the Springfield 183rd Fighter Wing and ensuring that the Peoria 182nd Airlift Wing is considered for future C-130 modernization efforts that could upgrade the wing's C-130H1s to C-130Js. General Neely also provided an update about the deploy… Continue Reading
04.09.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.9 Million For Illinois Veterans' Homes To Protect Against COVID-19
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois State Veterans' Homes have received a total of $2.9 million in additional federal grant funding to ensure residents continue to receive high quality care and are protected from COVID-19. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was appropriated by Congress in the COVID-19 relief package passed in December. "Throughout this pandemic and beyond, it is critical that … Continue Reading
04.07.21
Durbin Statement On President Biden's Decision To Withdraw U.S. Forces From Afghanistan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced that all American troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "The longest war in U.S. history will finally end at the cost of more than 2,300 American lives and many trillions of dollars. What began as a hunt for Osama Bin Laden and his gang of terrorists became an effort to bring order to a corrupt… Continue Reading
03.03.21
Durbin Discusses Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects with Rock Island Army Corps District Commander
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) received an update today from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Steven Sattinger about several Illinois water infrastructure projects including the Quincy Bay Restoration Project, the Brandon Road Project, and the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). "Years of wear and tear have left Illinois' water infrastructure in desperate need of restoration. Federal investments are critical to c… Continue Reading
02.23.21
Durbin, Cohen: It Is Time for Congress to Close Loophole that Encourages For-Profit Colleges to Target Veterans & Service Members
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today introduced bicameral legislation that would help put an end to the for-profit college industry's aggressive recruiting of veterans, service members, and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act would prohibit for-profit colleges and universities from receiving more than 85 percent of their revenue from the federal government and change the calculation of fe… Continue Reading
01.11.21
Durbin Discusses Veterans Issues With Denis McDonough, Biden Nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Denis McDonough, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). During their Zoom call, Durbin and McDonough discussed the need to address the COVID-19 pandemic and how to ensure veterans and VA staff get vaccinated. Durbin and McDonough also discussed support for State Veterans Homes in Illinois, the expansion of the VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, VA medical research, and th… Continue Reading
12.29.20
Durbin: I Will Vote to Override President Trump's Unforgivable Veto of NDAA
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today announced he would vote to override President Trump's reckless veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Last week, President Trump vetoed the NDAA over a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate generals and for not including a repeal of Section 230 liability protection for tech com… Continue Reading
11.13.20
As President Trump Purges Pentagon, Durbin Speaks With Acting Defense Secretary Miller
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today had a call with Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller following President Donald Trump's firing of Defense Secretary Mark Esper and other top Pentagon leaders earlier this week. During the call, Durbin spoke with Acting Secretary Miller about the serious threats facing our country and the need to maintain stability at the Department of Defense during the tra… Continue Reading