Durbin Meets With United We Dream To Discuss Comprehensive Immigration Reform

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives from United We Dream, the largest immigrant youth organization in the country, to discuss comprehensive immigration reform, the DREAM Act, and executive action. A photo from today's meeting is available HERE. "United We Dream is a powerful voice for young immigrants nationwide," Durbin said. "Dreamers just want a chance to give back to the only country they've called home. The DACA program has been life-changi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Democrats: Additional Measures Needed To help Pregnant Women Get Health Care Coverage

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 36 Democratic Senators wrote a letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, encouraging her to further improve women's access to health care under the Affordable Care Act by instituting a special open enrollment period for women to enroll in health coverage when they find out they are pregnant. "We write to support your efforts to ensure that women have full access to the comprehensive, affordable he… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Prime Minister Netanyahu's Address To Congress

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress: America's support for Israel has historically been bipartisan, forging the strongest of ties between our two nations. That is why I was deeply troubled by the manner in which Speaker Boehner invited the Prime Minister to address this joint session-without consultation with the White House or the Democratic leadership of the House o… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With The National Healthy Start Association

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with representatives from the National Healthy Start Association (NHSA) today who presented him with the 2015 Distinguished Healthy Start Legislator award. The award is presented annually to members of Congress who have made contributions toward improving birth outcomes. A photo from today's meeting is available HERE. "I would like to thank the National Healthy Start Association for this award," Durbin said. "NHSA does important work ad… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Rural Development Projects In Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded funding to two Illinois organizations - Resthave Home in Whiteside County, Illinois and the Village of Carbon Hill, Illinois - through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program. "This federal investment will help create local, good-paying jobs in Northern Illinois, in addition to helping protect the public health, safety and welfare of t… Continue Reading

Durbin: First-Of-Its-Kind Report On Solitary Confinement Shows Need For More Improvement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the first-ever assessment of federal segregation policies, which he requested in 2013, has prompted the Bureau of Prisons to review and improve some of its standards, but there is considerably more work to be done. Durbin asked for the independent assessment of solitary confinement in federal prisons following a 2012 hearing he chaired on the human rights, fiscal and public safety consequences of solitary confinement. A copy o… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos: Bureau of Prisons To Commit $58.7 Million in FY2015 Funding To Thomson Prison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a meeting with the Director of the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons, Charles Samuels, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that the agency will commit a total of $58.7 million in funding to the activation of Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Illinois. The funding was approved by Congress in December as part of the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015. Of the $58.7 million in funding, $15 … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Transcom Commander For Breifing On Servicemember Vehicle Transport Program

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met yesterday with Air Force General Paul Selva, Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) at Scott Air Force Base, to receive an update regarding TRANSCOM's progress resolving issues with International Auto Logistics (IAL), a contractor tasked with transporting servicemembers' private vehicles when they move stations. When IAL took over the contract for the vehicle transport program in May 2014, servicemembers and their families encou… Continue Reading

Durbin: GOP Bill Would Deport 600,000 Dreamers And Shut Down DACA Program

[WASHINGTON, DC] - [WASHINGTON, DC] - With just 37 hours left until funding for the Department of Homeland Security expires, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) came to the Senate Floor today to call on House Republicans to stop playing politics with the lives of young people impacted by immigration policies like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During his speech, Durbin shared the story of Maria Ibarra-Frayre, a Dreamer from Detroit, Michigan who graduated from the University of Detro… Continue Reading

Durbin Celebrates Committee Approval Of Nomination Of Loretta Lynch To Be Attorney General

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, praised the qualifications of historic Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch today before voting in favor of her nomination at a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Lynch currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a position she has held since 2010. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. A photo of Senator Du… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Ukraine Caucus Meet With Members Of Ukranian Parliament To Discuss Increased Military Aid To Ukraine

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the Senate Ukraine Caucus met today with members from the Ukrainian Parliament to discuss increased military aid to Ukraine. Durbin is co-chairman of the Ukraine Caucus along with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mark Kirk (R-IL), James Inhofe (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) also attended today's meeting. A photo from today's meeting is available HERE. "Ukraine is at a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Speier Introduce Bill To Address Rising Number Of Poisonings In Children Due To Laundry Detergent Packets

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) today introduced legislation to address the rising number of poisonings in children due to laundry detergent packets. The Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). "Of course parents should do all that they can to keep laundry detergent packets out of the reach of children, bu… Continue Reading

Durbin Commemorates 25 Years Of Smokefree Skies On The Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Twenty-five years after the implementation of landmark legislation to ban smoking on commercial airline flights, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action to protect young people from predatory e-cigarette marketing and distribution tactics that are straight out of Big Tobacco's old playbook. Durbin authored the law giving airline crews the freedom to do their jobs without compromising their health and airline p… Continue Reading

Durbin: GOP Bill Would Deport 600,000 Dreamers And Shut Down DACA Program

***FTP, VIDEO, AUDIO***FTP, VIDEO, AUDIO*** DURBIN: GOP BILL WOULD DEPORT 600,000 DREAMERS AND SHUT DOWN DACA PROGRAM [WASHINGTON, DC] - With just 3 days until the short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security expires, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) came to the Senate Floor today to urge Senate Republicans to abandon efforts to play politics with the lives of young people impacted by immigration policies like Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During his speec… Continue Reading

Feinstein, Durbin, Gillibrand Urge USDA To Update Pathogen Standards For Beef, Pork

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today urged the Department of Agriculture to establish strong pathogen standards for pork and beef products. In a joint letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the senators wrote: "There are currently no Salmonella performance standards for ground pork or pork parts, and the standards for pork carcasses have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Ground beef Salmonella performance … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Secretary Kerry to Send Increased Military Aid To Ukraine

Durbin Meets With Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James To Discuss Illinois Defense Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. During the meeting, Secretary James and Durbin - who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees discretionary spending for our nation's military, including bases - discussed the long-term future of Illinois' Air Force installations, including Scott Air Force Base. Wednesday morning, Secretary James will testify before Durbin and other members … Continue Reading

Durbin, Public Health Organizations Mark 25th Anniversary of Smoke-Free Commercial Flights

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference highlighting the 25th anniversary of his landmark legislation to ban smoking on commercial airline flights. The law gave airline crews the freedom to do their jobs without compromising their health and airline passengers the chance to travel for business or pleasure without inhaling secondhand smoke with every breath. Durbin authored and secured the enactment of the 1987 legislation banning smoking on short-distance commerc… Continue Reading

Bipartisan Senators Call For Tightened Sanctions On Russia, Increased Military Aid To Ukraine

BIPARTISAN SENATORS CALL FOR TIGHTENED SANCTIONS ON RUSSIA, INCREASED MILITARY AID TO UKRAINE WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John McCain (R-AZ), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Pat Toomey (R-PA), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today urged Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately tighten international sanctions against Russia and provide defensive weapons to Ukraine so it can defend its t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $13.4 Million Investment In Illinois Early Childhood Care

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a $13,415,508 grant to the Illinois Department of Human Services to expand home visiting services to women during pregnancy and to parents with young children. The funds will support HHS's Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (Home Visiting Program). In 2013, the Illinois Maternal and Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant program… Continue Reading