Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Discusses The Importance Of Continued U.S. Global Engagement At Council On Foreign Relations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the United States' role in the world, countering historic and current strains of American isolationism, and the importance and benefit of continued global engagement in a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Multicultural democracy isn't easy. And yet, we have done it better and on a larger scale than any nation in history. That's part of the American idea," Durbin said. "Siding with democracy over tyranny, … Continue Reading
09.06.19
Durbin, Colleagues Urge President Trump To Push For Action Against North Korea For Violation Of U.N. Security Resolutions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Mark Warner (D-VA) in a letter to President Donald Trump urging the President to intensify efforts to build a durable pathway towards diplomatic denuclearization of North Korea, and more specifically, to recognize that North Korea's series of ballistic missile tests clearly violate United Nations (U.N.) … Continue Reading
09.03.19
Durbin, Shaheen, Portman Lead Bipartisan Ukraine Caucus Leadership Letter Urging Trump Administration To Release Obligated Military Security Assistance For Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Ron Johnson (D-WI) in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Mick Mulvaney urging the Trump Administration to release obligated military security assistance for Ukraine. The Senators' letter comes in response to media reports that the Administration is holding up the funds, which were approve… Continue Reading
07.31.19
Durbin, Menendez Meet With Venezuela Special Envoy Elliot Abrams
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today met with Venezuela Special Envoy Elliot Abrams to discuss the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the discredited regime of Nicolás Maduro. They also discussed legislation to designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and protect approximately 200,000 Venezuelan nationals in the United States from deportation. "In today's meeting, I rei… Continue Reading
07.29.19
Durbin Statement on Trump Administration's Continued Effort To Sell Arms To Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting to override President Donald Trump's vetoes of the joint resolutions of disapproval regarding arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The original resolutions of disapproval passed the Senate with 51 and 53 votes, but today's veto override fell short of the two-thirds needed. "The Saudi government and royal family continue to deny any involvement in Mr. Khashoggi's brutal disappearance and murd… Continue Reading
07.25.19
Durbin Meets With Trump Nominee To Be U.S. Ambassador To UN, Kelly Craft
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Kelly Craft, President Donald Trump's nominee to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN). In today's meeting, Durbin pressed Ambassador Craft on her plan to work with our allies to advance U.S. policies; how she plans to address crises around the world - including in Venezuela, Burma, and the Middle East; how she plans to address global threats and conflicts, as well as the ensuing challenge of protect… Continue Reading
07.17.19
Senate Passes Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Brunei For Barbaric Laws
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) that condemns the government of Brunei for recently imposing laws that include, among other troubling things, death by stoning for adultery and homosexual relations. Their resolution also calls for the repeal of these barbaric laws and visa bans for anyone involved in their implementa… Continue Reading
07.17.19
Durbin, Duckworth Praise Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating Fifth Anniversary Of Ukraine's Revolution Of Dignity
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, co-chair and co-founder of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today praised Senate passage of a bipartisan resolution commemorating the fifth anniversary of Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity. The resolution recognizes the bravery of the people of Ukraine who participated in the Maidan protests and honors the memory of the more than 100 protestors who were killed. In addition, it encourages Ukraine to continue its progress over the… Continue Reading
07.02.19
Durbin, Senators Press Pompeo On Determination To Exclude Saudi Arabia From List Of Countries Known To Recruit & Use Child Soldiers
WASHINGTON-Following a Reuters report that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo excluded the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from the State Department's list of countries known to recruit and use child soldiers in the 2019 Trafficking in Persons Report, despite State Department experts' findings that should have led to its inclusion on such list, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron W… Continue Reading
06.25.19
Durbin, Cardin, Van Hollen, Kaine Introduce NDAA Amendment To Halt Security Assistance To Cameroon
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to halt all further U.S. security assistance to Cameroon, except for dealing with Boko Haram, until the U.S. Secretaries of Defense and State certify military and security forces of Cameroon have demonstrated progress in abiding by international human rights standards, particularly in regards t… Continue Reading
06.20.19
Durbin Statement On Trump administration Arms Sale To Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting for the joint resolutions of disapproval regarding arms sales to Saudi Arabia. The joint resolutions of disapproval passed the Senate and will now head to the House of Representatives for a vote. "The Saudi-led war in Yemen has been a humanitarian disaster - leading to an estimated 85,000 children having already died of malnutrition. And the Saudi government and royal family conti… Continue Reading
06.19.19
Durbin Receives Update From Venezuelan President Juan Guaido
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó about the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the discredited regime of Nicolás Maduro. During today's call, Durbin reiterated his support for Guaidó and his constitutional role to help Venezuela return to the community of democracies, and to do so with a thoughtful and timely transition and credib… Continue Reading
06.11.19
Durbin, Leahy, Cardin, Brown, Senators Introduce Resolution Expressing Support For Free, Fair, Transparent Elections In Guatemala
WASHINGTON - Ahead of Guatemala's elections on Sunday, June 16, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today introduced a resolution expressing support for free, fair, and transparent elections in Guatemala. The resolution also expresses concern over efforts to undermine United Nations anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala and opposition to President Donald Trump cutting of… Continue Reading
05.23.19
As Tensions With Iran Escalate, Durbin Meets With Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who President Donald Trump nominated to be Defense Secretary earlier this month. During the meeting, Durbin pressed Acting Secretary Shanahan on the Trump Administration's escalating tensions with Iran, continued military presence at the southwest border, and the reprogramming of $2.5 billion for President Trum… Continue Reading
05.22.19
Durbin: Trump Admin Should Think Twice About Starting Another Middle Eastern War
WASHINGTON - Following yesterday's briefing by Trump Administration officials about Iran, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called President Donald Trump's policy in Iran "provocative" and "incomprehensible," and warned against another reckless war in the Middle East. "President Trump's policy, at the direction of Mr. Bolton, seems to have only increased regional tensions, incentivized Iran to restart its nuclear program, and fomented a pretext for another Middle Eastern war… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Durbin Statement On Iran Briefing By Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after receiving a classified briefing on the latest regarding Iran: "The Trump Administration's confrontational policy with Iran runs the risk of escalation to deadly levels. Talking tough on a tweet is easy. Living with the grim reality of war is not."… Continue Reading
05.14.19
Durbin: President Trump's March To War With Iran Is Reckless And Unconstitutional
WASHINGTON - Following a report by the New York Times stating that the White House was briefed on a military plan that envisioned sending as many as 120,000 U.S. troops to the Middle East to counter Iran, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Trump Administration to avoid another reckless war in the Middle East and to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Nuclear Agreement. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also stated… Continue Reading
05.09.19
Durbin, Young, Senators Introduce Resolution Condemning Brunei For Barbaric Laws
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Todd Young (R-IN), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning the government of Brunei for recently imposing laws that include, among other troubling things, death by stoning for adultery and homosexual relations. Their resolution also calls for the repeal of these barbaric laws and visa bans for anyone involved in their implementation. "These recentl… Continue Reading
04.30.19
Durbin Shares Support For Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó
WASHINGTON - Following the uprising in Venezuela today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) once again shared his support for Juan Guaidó, the constitutionally and internationally recognized interim leader of Venezuela. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also called on Russia and Cuba to step back and let the Venezuelan people decide their own future. "I urge Maduro to do the right thing for Venezuela, to avoid bloodshed, to accept Guaidó's amnesty offer, and to … Continue Reading
04.10.19
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Push For Repeal Of Muslim Travel Ban, Prevent Future Discriminatory Bans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) today to introduce bicameral legislation to repeal President Donald Trump's existing executive order blocking travel from majority Muslim countries and prevent another baseless, discriminatory travel ban from happening again. The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants (NO BAN) Act repeals the three versions of President Trump's Muslim t… Continue Reading