Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
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
04.23.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 2 To Discuss Benefits In The American Rescue Plan
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke virtually with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 2, which represents stagehands and theater workers, to discuss the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and its benefits for working families and organized labor. "Millions of working Americans have lost their jobs and health care coverage during this pandemic, including those who depend on the entertainment industry. In many instances, some are still unable to work. T… Continue Reading
04.22.21
Durbin, Shaheen, Boozman Applaud Committee Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Increase U.S. Exports To Africa
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and John Boozman (R-AR), today announced that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) advanced their bipartisan legislation to improve America's competiveness throughout the African continent and in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa Act will force better coordination between U.S. government agencies and departments, establish compre… Continue Reading
04.16.21
Durbin, Leahy, Senate Democrats Urge Biden To Finally Close Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today led 22 Senate Democrats on a letter to President Joe Biden expressing their support for finally closing the detention facility at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In their letter, the Senators wrote that as a symbol of lawlessness and human rights abuses, the detention facility continues to harm U.S.… Continue Reading
04.13.21
Durbin, Duckworth & Colleagues Urge President Biden To Return To Iran Nuclear Agreement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-MA), and 23 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden expressing the need to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to peacefully and effectively stem the threat of Iran's nuclear program. In the letter, the Senators emphasized the importance of also addressing Iran's taking of U.S. hostages as well as destabilization of the region … Continue Reading
02.04.21
Durbin Statement on President Biden's Decision to Halt U.S. Military Involvement in Yemen
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden's decision to reverse the Trump Administration's support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen: "Not only was this war never authorized as required by the Constitution, it is a humanitarian disaster with tens of thousands of children having already died of malnutrition. Thankfully, U.S. taxpayer dollars will no longer support this Saudi-led disaster in Yemen. Thank you, Pres… Continue Reading
01.25.21
Durbin, Sanders, Garcia, Colleagues Call on Treasury to Support IMF Assistance for Developing Nations Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04), and ten of their Senate colleagues sent a letter to Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen regarding the urgent importance of helping stem the devastating economic impact of the COVID pandemic on the world's developing countries and America's trading partners. The members also urged the Biden Administration to support the Supp… Continue Reading
01.21.21
Durbin Meets with William Burns, Biden Nominee for CIA Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Ambassador William Burns, President Joe Biden's nominee for Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During their Zoom call, Durbin asked Ambassador Burns about the challenges facing him as incoming CIA Director, what his first priorities are for the agency, and how the Biden Administration should handle global challenges such as Russia and China. "Over the past four years, many of the strongest bonds between… Continue Reading
01.19.21
Durbin Introduces Tony Blinken, Biden Nominee for Secretary of State, at Nomination Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Tony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State, at his nomination hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Durbin noted that Mr. Blinken's career with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and later the Obama Administration - including as the Deputy Secretary of State - make him an ideal choice to lead the State Department and represent our nation around the world. "With the end … Continue Reading
01.11.21
Durbin Discusses American Global Leadership with Tony Blinken, Biden Nominee for Secretary of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Tony Blinken, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of State. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Blinken discussed the need to reestablish America's leading role in the world, including to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the global refugee crisis, access to clean water, and supporting Venezuelan Interim-President Juan Guaido and democracy in Venezuela. Durbin and Blinken also spoke about the threats posed from nations like R… Continue Reading
12.18.20
Durbin: I Don't Understand the White House's Silence in the Face of Russian Cyberattack
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump for his silence in the aftermath of a government-wide cyberattack that was likely conducted by Russia - one of a series of ongoing Russian attacks and threats including the placing of bounties on American servicemembers. Durbin called for the Administration to be firm and honest with the American people about the nature of this threat and for a full investigation into what … Continue Reading