Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Meets With Venezuelan Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), met with Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López to discuss the ongoing political stalemate in Venezuela and the humanitarian crisis that has forced more than five million refugees and migrants to flee their homes under President Nicolás Maduro's regime. During their conversation, the Senators received an update on… Continue Reading
09.28.21
Durbin Meets With Philippines Foreign Minister And Ambassador
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Philippines Foreign Minister Teodor Locsin and Philippines Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez to discuss U.S.-Philippines cooperation and the ongoing detention of Filipina Senator Leila de Lima. Durbin raised several human rights concerns under Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, including extrajudicial drug-related killings, harassment of journalists such as Maria Ressa, and jailing of opposing voices such as de L… Continue Reading
09.28.21
Durbin Discusses Disappearances Of Family Members Of Illinois Resident With Egyptian Ambassador
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today spoke by phone with Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Motaz Zahran about reports of harassment, forced disappearances, and human rights violations in Egypt. During their conversation, Durbin followed up on a letter he and Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Booker sent earlier this year to Zahran, advocating for the release of three family members of Aly Hussin Mahdy… Continue Reading
09.23.21
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Nominations & Legislation
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Toby J. Heytens, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Patricia Tolliver Giles, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael S. Nachmanoff, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Sarala Vidya Nagala, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Omar Antonio Williams, to be United States District Judg… Continue Reading
09.14.21
Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Delegation, Discusses U.S. Support For Baltic States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and visiting Lithuanian delegates including former Ambassador to the U.S. and current member of the Seimas MP Žygimantas Pavilionis, current member of the Seimas MP Emanuelis Zingeris, and Ambassador Audra Plepyt?. The Lithuanian delegation shared a letter from Viktorija ?milyt?-Nielsen, the current Speaker of the Se… Continue Reading
08.26.21
Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Take Advantage of Parole To Expedite Evacuation Of Afghans
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 27 Senators this week in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to expedite efforts to evacuate Afghans at risk as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Senators specifically pushed for the Administration to explore the use of parole to speed up entry for Afghan… Continue Reading
08.24.21
Durbin Meets With Afghan Community Members & Resettlement Leaders
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Afghan American community members and resettlement leaders to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. During the meeting, Durbin committed to continuing to advocate for at-risk Afghans - both those being evacuated out of Afghanistan and those seeking refuge in the United States. Durbin was joined by Sima Quraishi, Executive Director of the Muslim Women's Resource Center (MWRC) in Chicago. "It was my pleas… Continue Reading
08.20.21
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Rahm Emanuel To Serve As Ambassador To Japan
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration's intent to nominate Rahm Emanuel as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan: "Rahm Emanuel has a lifetime of public service preparing him to speak for America. Japan is an important strategic partner in Asia, particularly in light of our continued challenges from China. I will do all I can to help Rahm become America's voice in Japan." -30-… Continue Reading
08.16.21
Durbin Statement On Afghanistan
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the situation in Afghanistan: "President Biden understands history when it comes to Afghanistan. He made the difficult decision to not hand over this longest of American wars to a fifth president. And had he walked away from the withdraw agreement originally negotiated by President Trump, Taliban attacks on U.S. forces would have restarted and required yet another surge in U.S. troops. … Continue Reading
08.06.21
Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Launch Free Belarus Caucus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today to announce the formation of the Free Belarus Caucus, which will advocate for democracy and free and fair elections in the former Soviet Republic that has been rocked by increasing political repression after decades of rule by current President Alexander Lukashenka. The caucus also includes U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Edwa… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin, Senators Welcome Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya To Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to welcome Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the U.S. Senate this afternoon to meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The lawmakers were also joined by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Julie Fisher - the United States Ambassador to Belarus - for the discussion, where they highlighted U.S. support… Continue Reading
07.15.21
Durbin, Colleagues Unveil Bipartisan Resolution Reaffirming Congressional Support For Cuba's Pro-Democracy Movement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and U.S. Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL-25), and Albio Sires (D-NJ-08) in unveiling a bicameral, bipartisan resolution condemning the Cuban government's violent response to the thousands of Cuban citizens who have taken to the streets to peacefully call for respect for basic human rights … Continue Reading
07.13.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today met virtually with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk to speak on continued cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine. On the call, Durbin and Yatsenyuk discussed ongoing acts of Russian aggression towards Ukraine, U.S.-Ukraine security cooperation and assistance, and concerns with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Durbin also expressed his continued support for strong bipartisan Con… Continue Reading
07.07.21
Durbin Calls On Justice Department To Reconsider Its Approach To Ongoing Detention At Guantanamo Bay
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today urged Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland to ensure that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) approach to ongoing detention at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay reflects the values of our nation. In a letter to AG Garland, Durbin argued that indefinite detention is antithetical to the ideals of liberty that the United States was founded upon and called on Garland to reconsider DOJ's approach to… Continue Reading
07.07.21
Durbin, Colleagues Call On Inter-American Commission On Human Rights To Complete Investigation Of Death Of Cuban Political Reformer Oswaldo Paya
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the ninth anniversary of Cuban political reformer Oswaldo Payá's suspicious death, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Ted Cruz (R-TX), urged the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to advance its efforts on this case without further delay. In 2013, Durbin sent a letter to previous Commission Executive Secretary Emilio Icaza originally urging the C… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Durbin Discusses Water And Mobility With USAID Administrator Power
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing about the success of the Paul Simon Water for the World Act. Durbin said that over the last 11 years, USAID helped provide approximately 57 million people with either improved or first time access to clean water and more than… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Ukrainian Ambassador To United States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus, met virtually today with the new Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova. During their meeting, Durbin discussed the latest on tensions with Russia and reiterated his support for Ukraine. Durbin has a strong record of support for Ukraine, including several visits to the country and supporting security and development assistance. Durbin and the Ambassador also discussed… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Durbin Urges Senate To Support Bipartisan U.S. Innovation And Competition Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged his Senate colleagues to support the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021, the broader competitiveness package and substitute amendment to the bipartisan Endless Frontier Act. The legislation represents the largest investment in U.S. science and technology leadership since the Apollo era. It will authorize more than $100 billion over five years to support breakthrough s… Continue Reading
05.25.21
Following Arrest Of Belarusian Activist From Airline, Durbin & Rubio Urge Pres. Biden To Direct FAA To Prohibit U.S. Aircraft From Entering Belarus' Air Space
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, today sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the administration to prohibit U.S. airlines from entering Belarus airspace following the reckless actions of Belarus' despotic dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Yesterday, under false pretenses, Lukashenko forced a passenger plane, en route to Lithuania f… Continue Reading
05.12.21
Durbin Statement On Escalating Violence In Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the escalating violence in Israel: "The heartbreaking violence between the Israeli and Palestinian people is the culmination of decades of neglect and lack of political will to find a lasting peace that provides an independent state for the Palestinians and lasting security for the Israelis. For too long, spoilers on both sides have sought short-term political gains at the expense of this… Continue Reading