Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Seek Answers on Coronavirus Preparedness in Immigration Detention Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and their Senate colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew T. Albence, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark A. Morgan requesting information about the policies and procedures their respective agencies have in place to prepare for… Continue Reading
03.18.20
Illinois Congressional Delegation Urges Small Business Administration to Approve Federal Loan Assistance for Illinois in Response to Coronavirus
WASHINGTON - Today, members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a SBA Economic Injury Declaration for Illinois amid the coronavirus pandemic. As of this week, more than 100 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Illinois, and Governor Pritzker has ordered the closure of all dine-in restaurants and bars, and prohibited gatherings of 50 people or more… Continue Reading
03.18.20
Durbin Discusses Impact of Coronavirus With AAR CORP CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with Illinois-based AAR Corp CEO John Holmes. AAR Corp operates two maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Illinois, one at Rockford International Airport and one in Wood Dale, Illinois. On a call with Holmes, Durbin promised to push for financial help for airline suppliers like AAR in any federal stimulus package. "As Congress negotiates the specifics of a financial relief packag… Continue Reading
03.18.20
Durbin, Colleagues, Call for Direct Cash Assistance to Help Americans Weather Economic Fallout of Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON - As the economic fallout of coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak escalates, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and a group of his colleagues in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) outlining a bold new proposal to provide Americans with direct cash payments. "Over the course of just one week, most of America went from business-as-usual… Continue Reading
03.18.20
Durbin Continues Call for Senate to Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act Immediately
WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again called on the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. The legislation takes additional smart, strategic, and science-based measures to help protect families' economic security, food security, and health security. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also paid tribute to Illinois' first coronavirus-related death, Patricia Frieson. "I come to the floor t… Continue Reading
03.18.20
Durbin Discusses Impact of Coronavirus With Alzheimer's Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact of the coronavirus pandemic with CEO and President of the Alzheimer's Association, Harry Johns. On a call with Johns, Durbin asked how the pandemic will impact the Alzheimer's Association and the nonprofit industry as a whole. "The coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly impact nonprofits, like the Alzheimer's Association, and Congress should consider the needs of these organizations. The Alzheimer's Association provides cri… Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin, Senators Urge President to Use Existing DPA Authority to Address Shortages of Medical Equipment Needed to Treat and Prevent Spread of COVID-19
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), and 24 other Senators, urged President Trump to use his existing authority to help address widespread shortages of medical equipment, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. In a letter sent to President Trump, the Senators pushed the President to invoke the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), which authorizes the president to strengthen domestic manufacturing c… Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin Pushes For More Coronavirus Test Kit Supplies on Call With CDC Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Robert Redfield to push for more coronavirus test kit supplies for the State of Illinois. Durbin has urged the Trump Administration repeatedly to provide more test kit supplies and personal protective equipment as soon as possible. "On my call with CDC Director Redfield, I expressed my concern about the coronavirus test kit situation in Illinois. The State is worried … Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin, Duckworth Press Trump Administration for Testing Kit Supplies & Personal Protective Equipment for Illinois
WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to take immediate action to fulfill Illinois' personal protective equipment (PPE) request. On March 4, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) requested distribution of PPE from the federal Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). These masks, respirators, gloves, and gowns are essential equipment that our front … Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on First Coronavirus-related Death in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after Illinois announced its first coronavirus-related death: "We are both saddened by the confirmation of our state's first death from COVID-19. Our thoughts go out to the victim's family and loved ones during what we know is an incredibly difficult time for them. As we have all seen, this pandemic will disrupt the way we all go about our daily lives, but this sad news is a reminde… Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin: Why Are We Waiting to Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act?
WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again called on the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. The legislation takes additional smart, strategic, and science-based measures to help protect families' economic security, food security, and health security. "There is no reason for us to delay this in any way. We should move on it quickly. Putting this off for a day or two, or whatever the plan is wit… Continue Reading
03.17.20
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Funding for Illinois & City of Chicago Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has received $14.6 million in federal funding and the Chicago Department of Public Health received $8.7 million in federal funding in order to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, including funding for patient monitoring, lab testing, acquisition of test kits and protective equipment, and research into vaccines and therapeutics. This federal funding was a… Continue Reading
03.16.20
Durbin to McConnell: Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act Immediately
WASHINGTON - Amid the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act immediately. The legislation takes additional smart, strategic, and science-based measures to help protect families' economic security, food security, and health security. "This is a health care emergency. It's time for both parties to come to the floor and do our job tonight," Durbin said in a speech on the Senate floor. "T… Continue Reading
03.16.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge President Trump to Immediately Maximize Telework for Federal Employees
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and 24 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to immediately issue an executive order directing agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum possible extent. While the Administration has issued guidance recommending agencies expand their telework capabilities, too many federal employees are still required to come to work in-pers… Continue Reading
03.16.20
Durbin, Colleagues Push to Ensure All Students Can Remotely Continue Education During Coronavirus Emergency
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and 12 of their colleagues, today called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to temporarily allow schools to utilize E-Rate program funding to provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home. This action would help ensure that all students can remotely continue their education during the current publ… Continue Reading
03.16.20
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Free Coronavirus Testing to People on Private Insurance, on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Uninsured
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR)-led a number of their Democratic Senate colleagues in introducing the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, which would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. The Free COVID-19 Testing Act would waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services for individ… Continue Reading
03.15.20
Durbin, Duckworth Demand Additional Federal Resources at O'Hare From Trump Administration
WASHINGTON- After hundreds of passengers were forced to wait in close quarters for hours on end in order to clear medical screenings at customs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf, Acting Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Mark Morgan, and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar demanding additio… Continue Reading
03.15.20
Durbin Calls For Senate To Pass Families First Coronavirus Response Act By Unanimous Consent Immediately
SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement about the need for the Senate to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by unanimous consent (UC) immediately: "In light of the President's emergency declaration, it is imperative that the Senate pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by unanimous consent (UC) immediately. "The House passed this measure with a 90 percent bipartisan vote. We should do the same by UC immediately… Continue Reading
03.13.20
Durbin Statement on President Trump's Federal Emergency Declaration Due to Coronavirus Pandemic
CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump issued a federal Emergency Declaration (ED) due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Trump's declaration invokes the Stafford Act so states can utilize $42.6 billion currently available in the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) in their efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and protect public health. "I support President Trump's emergency declaration and strongly urge F… Continue Reading
03.13.20
Durbin, Colleagues Urge Internet Service Providers to Suspend Service Terms Affecting Telepresence Service During Coronavirus Outbreak
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and 16 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the CEOs of eight major internet service providers (ISPs) calling on the companies to take steps to accommodate the unprecedented reliance we will likely see on telepresence services, including telework, online education, telehealth, and remote support services. In the letter, sent to the CEOS of AT&T, CenturyLink, Charter Communications, Comcast, Cox Communications… Continue Reading