Durbin: Obama Budget Proposal Would Finally Close For-Profit College Loophole, Save Taxpayers Billions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of a provision in President Obama's 2016 Budget that would eliminate a loophole that allows for-profit colleges to receive more than 90% of their revenue from the federal government. This change would help put an end to the for-profit industry's predatory marketing campaigns and aggressive recruiting of veterans, servicemembers and their families. FACT: Forty-four percent of all student loan defaults come from for-pr… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces New Legislation To End Travel Restrictions To Cuba

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation he introduced yesterday with Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tom Udall (D-NM), John Boozman (R-AR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) to lift the embargo on travel between the United States and Cuba. The bipartisan Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015 is the first Senate legislation introduced since the Obama Administration announced it wanted to normalize relations with C… Continue Reading

Durbin, Murray, Sanders, Senators Urge President Obama To Help Workers Get Paid Fairly For Overtime Hours

Democrats continue focus on increasing wages, economic security [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and 26 Democratic senators reaffirmed their support for updating overtime rules to ensure more middle-class workers are paid fairly for overtime hours. In a letter to President Barack Obama, Durbin, Murray, Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bob Casey (D-PA), … Continue Reading

Durbin, Cardin, Mccain Reintroduce Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and John McCain (R-AZ), have introduced theGlobal Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act that would ensure human rights abusers and corrupt officials are denied entry into the United States and barred from using our financial institutions. The legislation would expand the Russia-specific sanctions in the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act (Public Law 112-208) to apply globally, and would make significant acts… Continue Reading

Durbin, Hirono, Senate & House Democrats, Champion Initiative To Expand Access To Early Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) introduced the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, legislation to expand access to high-quality early learning programs for children from birth to age five. The PRE-K Act helps more kids arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed by establishing a federal-state partnerships that incentivizes states to both improve the quality of state preschool programs and expand to serve more children in need. "The ear… Continue Reading

Video: Bipartisan Senators Introduce Freedom To Travel To Cuba Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Jerry Moran (R-KS),Tom Udall (D-NM), John Boozman (R-AR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) today introduced theFreedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2015. The bill will end restrictions in laws enacted in 1996 and 2000 on travel by American citizens and legal residents to Cuba-restrictions that do not exist for travel by Americans to any other country in the world. The bill will also end res… Continue Reading

Bipartisan Senators To Announce Legislation On Cuban Embargo

[WASHINGTON, D.C.]-On Thursday, U.S. Senators Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Tom Udall (D-NM), and John Boozman (R-AR) will announce new legislation on U.S.-Cuban policy. This will be the first legislative announcement in the Senate since the Obama Administration announced its changes of policy on December 17th, 2014. WHAT: Announcement of new legislation on U.S.-Cuban policy WHEN: Thursday, January 29th 2015 at 11:45am … Continue Reading

50 Years After Landmark Legislation, Durbin Calls Attention To Voting Rights During Nomination Hearing For New Attorney General

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and top Democrat on the Constitution Subcommittee, today raised concerns regarding voting rights and criminal justice reform with Loretta Lynch, who is nominated to be Attorney General of the United States, during the first day of the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearings on her nomination. Lynch currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a position she has held since… Continue Reading

Durbin, Delauro Introduce Legislation Establishing A Single Food Agency

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced the Safe Food Act of 2015, which would create a single, independent food safety agency. Currently food safety oversight is split up among 15 different agencies, resulting in a patchwork where no single voice guides industry, retailers and consumers. Durbin and DeLauro introduced similar legislation in 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007. "The fragmented nature of our food safety system has left… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Preserve America's Global Leadership By Investing In Breakthrough Biomedical Research

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - With a decline in federal biomedical research threatening our global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the American Cures Act to support the future of research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Defense Health Program (DHP), and the Veterans Medical & Prosthetics Research Program. Durbin first introduced this legislation during the previous Congress last year. "Just one week ago, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Delauro To Hold Press Call Announcing Bill To Create Single Food Safety Agency

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will hold a press conference call TODAY at 1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET announcing their bill to create a single food safety agency. Durbin and DeLauro previewed their bill in an op-ed last week. The Safe Food Act of 2015 would create a single, independent federal food safety agency. Currently food safety oversight is split up among 15 different agencies, resulting in a patchwork where no single voice gu… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Air Force Chief Staff To Discuss Illinois Installations

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with General Mark Welsh, Chief of Staff of the Air Force. During the meeting, General Welsh 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. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Illinois has long played an important role in our nation's … Continue Reading

Durbin, Delauro To Hold Press Call Announcing Bill To Create Single Food Safety Agency

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) will hold a press conference call tomorrow at 1:00 PM CT / 2:00 PM ET announcing their bill to create a single food safety agency. Durbin and DeLauro previewed their bill in an op-ed last week. The Safe Food Act of 2015 would create a single, independent federal food safety agency. Currently food safety oversight is split up among 15 different agencies, resulting in a patchwork where no single voice … Continue Reading

Durbin: Reject House Republican Efforts To Hold Homeland Security Funding Hostage Over Anti-Immigration Amendments

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With just one month until the short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security expires, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to call on the Senate to reject House Republican efforts to create an artificial funding crisis in an attempt to force the Senate to accept extreme anti-immigrant amendments that they have attached to the Homeland Security appropriations bill. "So what are these policies that the House Republicans feel so stro… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors 'Mr. Cub' Ernie Banks On The Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to honor Chicago Cubs legend and baseball Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who passed away last Friday night at the age of 83. In 2013, Banks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from the White House, the highest honor given to civilians in the United States. Durbin recommended Banks be considered for the award and a photo from the reception following the White House ceremony is available HERE. Video of Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Chicago Cubs Legend Ernie Banks

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the death of Ernie Banks: "I am saddened to learn of the passing of Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer Ernie Banks. 'Mr. Cub' was so much more than a great hitter and Gold Glove fielder. His infectious love for the game of baseball was matched only by his passion for the people of Chicago."When I called the White House and asked the President to consider a Medal of Freedom for Ernie Banks, I felt that his impressive… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

[WASHINGTON, DC]. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the newly confirmed Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy today to discuss public health priorities. Durbin was a strong supporter of Dr. Murthy during his confirmation process, praising him for his dedication to fighting obesity, tobacco related illness, and other chronic diseases. A photo of today's meeting is available HERE. Durbin's Floor Speech in support of Dr. Murthy's confirmation is available HERE. "As we've seen last year, health… Continue Reading

Durbin, Illinois Mayors Discuss 2015 Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with mayors from across Illinois who are in Washington, D.C. for the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors. Durbin discussed 2015 priorities including transportation and infrastructure initiatives, helping working families, marketplace fairness and local economic development. "The Illinois mayors and local leaders who are here in Washington today represent an important voice for each of their communities, cities and townships back home,"… Continue Reading

Durbin Releases Video Statement Following The State Of The Union Address

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released a video statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address. Footage of Senator Durbin's statement is available for download by TV stations high definition HERE and standard definition HERE. Audio of Senator Durbin's statement is available HERE. In what has become an annual tradition, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) hosted an Illinois servicemember as his guest for the President's State of th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Obama's State Of The Union Address

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address: Few people can make the case for strengthening America's middle class like President Obama. Tonight, the President laid out a vision for our country that puts working families first, and I couldn't agree more. The President called on Congress to expand access to college and make it more affordable for millions of students across the country. His … Continue Reading