With E-Cigarette Use on the Rise, Durbin & Blumenthal Demand FDA Action

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statements in response to findings from the 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that a record 3 million U.S. teenagers used e-cigarettes over the last year. The data released today shows that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students, which surpassed cigarettes last year as the most commonly used tobacco product, continues to grow: between 2011 and 2015, e-cigarette… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk: SBA Makes Federal Relief Available for Illinois Small Businesses Impacted by Severe Winter Storms

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that President Obama has issued a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter to receive SBA loans. The President's action will ensure that eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses have access to loans to help repair or replace disaster… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute to Ray LaHood

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to recognize former Illinois Congressman and United States Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who was honored yesterday by a dedication ceremony for the Ray LaHood International Terminal at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. "I want to recognize my friend and former colleague in the House, Congressman Ray LaHood. He was then named Secretary of Transportation by President Obama. The … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Department of Education to Stand Up for Students by Banning Mandatory Arbitration Clauses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the floor of the Senate to call on the Department of Education to ban mandatory arbitration clauses from higher education enrollment contracts. Mandatory arbitration clauses are a hallmark of the for-profit college industry - used by nearly all the major companies including DeVry, University of Phoenix, and ITT Tech. The clauses were also used by Corinthian Colleges, Inc., a bankrupt for-profit college system which, for years, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Brown, & Warren Meet with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to Discuss Actions to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today met with Secretary Jack Lew to discuss last week's announcement of new actions by the Treasury Department to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping. "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab," said Durbin. "Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax l… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses New Initiatives to Address High Rates of Lead Exposure in Cities

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted new initiatives to protect children in affordable housing from lead poisoning and update the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) lead and copper regulations to establish mandatory lead testing of pipes and water in cities-large and small-across the country. The measures will be part of a larger effort being crafted by Senate Democrats to re-commit the federal government to investing in water infrastructure and lead remediation. "T… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Delegation Support Illinois Appeal for Federal Public Assistance for Southern and Central Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to reconsider the denial of the State of Illinois' request for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance to the counties that were hardest-hit following the storms and severe flooding that began on December 23, 2015 and continued through January 13, 2016. "On March 10, the State was notified… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland

[WASHINGTON]-Assistant Senate Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met today with Supreme Court Nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland. "It's great to have this son of Illinois come visit me today," Durbin said before the meeting. Afterwards, Durbin held a media availably during which he discussed Judge Garland's experience, qualifications, and Illinois connections. "I've just met personally and directly with Merrick Garland, President Obama's nomi… Continue Reading

Durbin Takes Concerns About Wait Times at Hines to VA Secretary During Meeting in Washington

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, to explain the Department's progress in implementing corrective actions at Hines VA Hospital to address concerns over wait times and the handling of whistleblower allegations. Durbin also spoke with McDonald about the need for strong leadership at Hines which has not had a permanent Director since 2014. "I told Secretary McDonald today that measures to … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Treasury Action to Curb Corporate Inversions, Earnings Stripping

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced new actions to curb corporate inversions and address earnings stripping: "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab. Families and small businesses in Illinois and across the country don't have teams of tax lawyers to shift their tax domiciles overseas, or shift their profits and debts on or off… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Lead Illinois Delegation Call for Federal Relief for Small Businesses Impacted by Winter Floods

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Christian and Iroquois Counties, which were severely impacted by severe storms and flooding this winter. This designation will allow residents and businesses in the region to receive SBA loans. These loans provide assistance to homeown… Continue Reading

Durbin, Davis, Bost Respond to NGA Decision

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Bost (R-IL) released the following statement today after the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced a decision regarding the location of its new facility - known as NGA West. "We are disappointed that the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency has not decided to build its new facility here in Illinois. Scott Air Force Base remains one of our nation's… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Administration Action to Address the Prescription Opioid Abuse and Heroin Epidemic

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded a new effort by federal, state, local and private sector partners to address the ongoing problem of prescription drug and heroin addiction and abuse. Durbin especially welcomed the commitment of more than sixty medical schools across the country - including Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University - to require their students take some form of presc… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Bill to Expand Access to Substance Abuse Treatment Under Medicaid

[CASEYVILLE, IL] - In the midst of the continuing heroin and prescription opioid abuse epidemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation he has introduced to expand access to treatment for people who are not receiving the addiction care they need. The Medicaid Coverage for Addiction Recovery Expansion (Medicaid CARE) Act would modify the Medicaid Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion policy-a decades-old Medicaid policy that has had the unintended consequence of lim… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Whether Credit / Debit Card Chip Technology Rollout is Adequately Protecting Competition & Consumers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today questioned the Chairman of EMVCo - an organization that controls the specifications governing credit and debit card chip technology - seeking information on whether the deployment of this technology in the United States is adequately preserving competition and protecting consumers. "Magnetic stripe debit and credit cards have long been a key vulnerability that has put consumers' sensitive financial information at risk," said Durbin… Continue Reading

Durbin Initiatives to Improve Mental Health Services & Combat Prescription Opioid Abuse Included in Committee Passed Legislation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses - Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act - and his initiative to require better FDA oversight of opioids that he originally introduced as an amendment to the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) were included in the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 that was passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions earlier today.… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Chicago City Council Action to Reduce Youth Tobacco Use

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Chicago City Council's action today to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use. "Thanks to tobacco control measures like banning smoking in public places and placing warning labels on cigarette cartons, far fewer people smoke now than did fifty years ago. But we still have a long way to go. The Chicago City Council took action today to move us closer to our goal of a generation of kids who grow up tobacco-free. I commend Alderman Bu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to Supreme Court

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the President's nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court: I applaud President Obama's decision to nominate Chief Judge Merrick Garland. Judge Garland is an outstanding attorney and jurist with an admirable list of accomplishments. Born in Chicago and raised in Lincolnwood, Illinois, he received undergraduate and law degrees from Harvard and clerk… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Senate Democrats to Introduce Major College Affordability Reform Legislation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and members of the Senate Democratic caucus to introduce the In the Red Act - a major reform to address college affordability and put America on a path toward debt-free college education. The In the Red Act will allow student loan borrowers to refinance outstanding debt at lower rates, increase Pell Grants to keep pace with rising costs and make a new investment in community college. Additionally,… Continue Reading

Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Mental Health Services on College Campuses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the pressing need for enhanced mental health services on college campuses across the country, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined with U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) today to introduce bipartisan legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act - which was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky - would provide funding to coll… Continue Reading