Durbin Statement On President Trump's Address To The Nation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the Oval Office on his demand for billions of dollars for a wall at the southern border: Tonight, what we heard from the Oval Office was a desperate attempt by the President to gain support for his medieval border wall. It won't work. Democrats support strong border security. And we can have a debate about effective border security, but we… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Background Check Expansion Act To Reduce Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined 38 other Senators in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. 97 percent of Americans support comprehensive background checks. Research indicates that as many as a quarter of all gun sales in the United States may o… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Critical Research Projects Threatened By Government Shutdown

PEORIA - As the government shutdown enters another week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact the shutdown is having on the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research-also known as the Peoria Ag Lab. "Here in Peoria President Trump's shutdown impacts the lab's employees who are not able to work and are not getting paid. This means important research that could have significant impacts on our health and on agriculture in Illinois-including preliminary testing bui… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Effects of Government Shutdown on TSA Employees

CHICAGO - As the government shutdown continues, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed how the shutdown is affecting the federal workers of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). More than 1,600 TSA employees at O'Hare Airport and more than 400 TSA employees work at Midway Airport are currently working without pay. "TSA workers are here to make sure we are safe while we travel, but because of President Trump's shutdown, thousands of TSA officers, air traffic controllers, an… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Swearing-In Of New Illinois Representative

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after U.S. Representatives Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (D-IL-04), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) were sworn in as new U.S. Representatives: It is an honor to welcome these three talented new Representatives as they are sworn-in as members of Congress in Washington. In particular, Representative Underwood's arrival is historic as she is the youngest African American woman ever in Congress. Her car… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of John Milhiser For U.S. Attorney For The Central District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate unanimously confirmed the nomination of John Milhiser to serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser has been serving as the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District since October 31. "We are pleased that the Senate has unanimously confirmed John Milhiser's nomination to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Il… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On White House Briefing On Border Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the White House briefing on border security with President Donald Trump and Democratic and Republican congressional leaders: Let me be clear: Democrats support strong, effective border security. The type of border security that Democrats have long-supported - including increased funding for technology - is what experts have said is needed and actually works. What doesn't work is an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen, Murphy, Schumer, Members Press U.S. Ambassador To Hungary On Democratic Backsliding

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today pressed the United States Ambassador to Hungary about their mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). The CEU enjoys considerable bipartisan support in… Continue Reading

Illinois Congressional Delegation Supports Disaster Assistance For Taylorville Tornado Recovery

WASHINGTON - The entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sent a letter of support for Governor Bruce Rauner's request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian County, Illinois, as a result of a tornado that touched down on December 1, 2018. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that 33 homes and one business incurred major damage as a result of the tornado in Christian County. "The economic impact on the community as a result… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois Farmers To Take Steps To Curb Impacts Of Climate Change

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters today to the Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Soybean Association, and Illinois Corn Growers Association urging each group to review the Fourth National Climate Assessment, and heed the warnings contained in the report about the impacts climate change will have on farming in Illinois. Durbin urged the farmers to take steps outlined in the report to help mitigate the effects of shifting climate and weather patterns - such as more frequent ex… Continue Reading

Durbin, Dem Senators Press DeVos To Provide Full Student Loan Discharges To Former ITT Tech Students

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos calling for full federal student loan discharges for former ITT Tech (ITT) student borrowers defrauded by the now-defunct school. The Department of Education has failed to meet its responsi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Continuing Resolution, which will fund the seven Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills not yet enacted through February 8, 2019: It is unfortunate that President Trump's demand for a border wall from sea to shining sea has held up seven appropriations bills that have been debated and passed out of committee on a bipartisan basis. I'm glad this didn't end in an unnecessary … Continue Reading

Durbin Praises Passage Of The First Step Act

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today thanked his colleagues for their support of the revised First Step Act, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation which passed the Senate last night by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 87-12. Last month, Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million For Positive Train Control

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $2,058,163 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on Metra railroads. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by excessive speed, and increases safety for rail workers. "Implement… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Landmark Criminal Justice Reform

WASHINGTON - The Senate tonight passed once-in-a-generation reforms to America's prison and sentencing system to reduce recidivism, save taxpayer dollars, and promote safe communities. The bipartisan First Step Act, introduced by Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), uses evidence-based recidivism reduction programs to help inmat… Continue Reading

Durbin: Cotton Amendments To The First Step Act Only Seek To Shatter Bipartisan Compromise

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead Democratic sponsor of the First Step Act, today urged his colleagues to vote against the amendment to the First Step Act being offered by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and John Kennedy (R-LA). In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that this amendment is a poison pill designed to gut the prison reforms in the First Step Act and shatter this bipartisan compromise. Durbin, along… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Statement On Senate's Consideration Of The First Step Act

WASHINGTON - Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) made the following statement on the Senate's 82-12 vote tonight to hold debate and a final vote on the First Step Act this week: "I am glad that my colleagues have voted to advance this bipartisan legislation. It is the best chance in a generation to make meaningful changes in our federal drug sentencing laws. We cannot waste it," Durbin said. "I look forward to debating this … Continue Reading

Durbin On First Step Act: Best Chance To Make Meaningful Changes In Our Federal Drug Sentencing Laws

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today encouraged his Senate colleagues to support the revised First Step Act, bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation. Durbin, along with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the First Step Act last month, which combin… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On For-Profit Vatterott College Closure

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Vatterott College, a for-profit college, announced its immediate closure: Another overcharging, underperforming for-profit college has closed its doors. It's the second major chain in just the last three weeks to abruptly close. And it won't be the last. With the collapse of Vatterott College, another 156 students in Illinois and 2,300 nationwide are left high and dry. Now it is the oblig… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Emanuel Announce $1.48 Million for CTA Red Line Improvements

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced $1,480,000 in federal funding to support improvements for the Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) Red Line. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will support the planning of the proposed extension of the Red Line, connecting the 95th/Dan Ryan Terminal to 130th Street. "This grant funding will continue to help improve the CTA's infrastructure, whi… Continue Reading