Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Consumer and Financial Protection
Durbin, Franken, Cortez Masto To Equifax: End Use Of Consumer-Harming Forced Arbitration Clauses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) in pushing Equifax-the massive credit bureau that recently made public a data breach affecting 143 million Americans-to completely end its use of forced arbitration agreements, which limit the ability of consumers to pursue justice in a public court of law or challenge widespread corporate wrongdoing. Equifax, one of the three biggest credit bureaus in the … Continue Reading
July 26, 2017
Durbin, Reed, And DeLauro Introduce American Business For American Companies Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today introduced the American Business for American Companies Act, which would extend the year-to-year government-wide ban on federal contracts for inverted corporations by moving it out of the annual appropriations process and into permanent law. It also eliminates loopholes in the current law that have allowed inverted corporations to bid for, and win, federal contracts, … Continue Reading
June 30, 2017
Durbin, Brown Urge SEC To Hold ITT Tech Executives Accountable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today sent a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton, urging the Commission to prevent future abuses in the for-profit college industry by holding ITT Tech and its executives accountable. The SEC is currently suing ITT Tech, its former CEO Kevin Modany, and former CFO Daniel Fitzpatrick for fraud. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is also suing the now-defunct company over its illegal … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin, Welch Statement on Committee Passage of House Big Bank Bonanza Bill
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) that would gut the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and repeal debit swipe fee reform. The bill was just passed by Hensarling's House Financial Services Committee on a party line vote. The Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee just … Continue Reading
February 16, 2017
Senators To President Trump: Do Not Remove CFPB Director Cordray
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Assistant Democratic Leader Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), along with Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today called on President Donald J. Trump to uphold the promises he made to the American people and resist calls from … Continue Reading
May 28, 2014
Durbin: We Must Step Up Our Game To Protect Student Athletes From Concussion Risks
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In anticipation of the White House Healthy Kids and Safe Sports Concussion Summit being held later this week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote President Obama today to seek support in promoting a strict "when in doubt, sit it out" concussion policy for young athletes as recommended by… On Thursday, President Obama will be joined by athletes, parents, coaches, members of the military, and medical professionals at the White House to discuss the risk concussions … Continue Reading
April 24, 2014
Durbin Responds To FDA Tobacco Regulations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of a recent investigative report that found a dramatic recent increase in the marketing of electronic cigarettes, responded to deeming regulations proposed by the Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would expand the agency's regulatory authority over tobacco products, including e-cigarettes: "Shame on the FDA. Faced with a responsibility to protect our children from an addiction to a product … Continue Reading
April 24, 2014
Members of Congress, Authors of E-Cigarette Marketing Report Respond to FDA Tobacco Regulations
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John D. Rockefeller (D-WV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) - authors of a recent investigative report that found a dramatic recent increase in the marketing of electronic cigarettes - responded to deeming regulations proposed by the Food and Drug Administration Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that would expand the agency's … Continue Reading
April 22, 2014
Durbin, Others Urge SEC to Implement Conflict Minerals Rule After it is Upheld by District Court
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Security and Exchange Commission Chair, Mary Jo White, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a group of other Member of Congress urged the financial oversight agency to implement the rule requiring due diligence and reporting requirements on the sourcing of conflict minerals in the May 31, 2014 report. "This SEC rule was drafted in a balanced and thoughtful way that followed Congressional intent in trying to provide greater transparency in … Continue Reading
April 14, 2014
Durbin, Waxman, Harkin, Rockefeller & Members of Congress: Report Shows E-Cigarette Marketing Campaigns Lighting Up Among Young Users
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Eleven Democratic lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives today released a report that shows a dramatic recent increase in the marketing of electronic cigarettes - or e-cigarettes - with extensive resources being dedicated to social media, sponsorship of youth-oriented events, and television and radio advertisements that reach substantial youth audiences. The report, "Gateway to Addiction? A Survey of Popular Electronic Cigarette Manufacturers and … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Senators Call on FTC and FDA to Protect Consumers from False Advertising Claims by E-Cigarette Makers
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the heads of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today, urging the agencies to take enforcement action against e-cigarette manufacturers who make unsubstantiated or false claims in their advertising, including unproven assertions that their products help smokers of conventional … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin Commends House Members for Joining Effort to Protect Children from E-Cigarettes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended six members of the House of Representatives, including U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), for introducing the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the marketing of e-cigarettes to children and teens. Durbin joined U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introducing a companion measure in … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Inspector General Report on Campus Debit Card Use Confirms Need to Better Protect Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA) today said that a Department of Education Inspector General (IG) report they requested in 2012 recommends that the Department of Education should take action to better ensure that student interests are protected when colleges and universities use third-party servicers - such as Higher One and Sallie Mae - to deliver Title IV student financial aid dollars to students. "The Inspector General has … Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
Durbin: Senate Passes Bill that Will Allow Metro East to Avoid High Flood Insurance Premiums While Upgrading Levees
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Flood Insurance legislation that passed the Senate today will allow Metro East, Illinois officials to take steps to avoid unreasonably high flood insurance premiums while the community is working to upgrade the region's levee system. The Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act aims to help communities qualify for lower rates if they are in the process of constructing or reconstructing flood protection systems. Three Metro East counties - … Continue Reading
January 30, 2014
Durbin Applauds Effort to Better Track Military and Veterans Education Benefits
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Education and Justice, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission announced the launch of a new online complaint system designed to collect feedback from veterans, service members and their families who are experiencing problems with educational institutions that receive funding from federal military and veterans educational benefits programs. … Continue Reading
January 28, 2014
Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 15, 2014
Durbin: The Surgeon General's First Report on Smoking Was a Turning Point, But We Still Have a Long Way to Go
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Surgeon General's Report on Smoking and Tobacco Use, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin spoke on the United States Senate Floor today to recognize the landmark report and the progress that has been made since it first sparked a public debate on the public health impact of smoking half a century ago. Today, Durbin also called for a renewed commitment to halting the still ongoing and deadly epidemic of tobacco, particularly among young people. … Continue Reading
January 14, 2014
Senators: Golden Globes Should Celebrate Achievements in Film and Television, Not Smoking and E-Cigarettes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a primetime broadcast of the Golden Globes that featured prominent images of celebrities smoking e-cigarettes, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today asked NBC Universal and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association to take action to ensure that future broadcasts avoid the glamorization of smoking and protect the health of young fans. Electronic cigarettes - or "e-cigs" - have more … Continue Reading
December 20, 2013
Durbin Asks IRS to Issue Rule Limiting What Hospitals Can Charge Poor, Uninsured for Care
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to the Acting IRS Commissioner, Daniel Werfel, today asking him to complete the rulemaking process that would restrict what hospitals can charge for services to people without health care coverage and would prohibit hospitals from aggressive pursuit of medical debts from people who do not have the financial wherewithal to pay them. The rule was required as one of the consumer protection provisions found in the Affordable … Continue Reading
December 19, 2013
Durbin, Reed, Warren: Student Loan Debt Is Hurting America's Middle Class
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today vowed to do more to address America's exploding student loan debt crisis that is reducing homeownership, jeopardizing retirement security, limiting the formation of small businesses, and leading to more income inequality in this country. On a conference call with reporters, the three Senators discussed the higher education priorities they will focus on next year to help working families … Continue Reading