Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Foreign Policy
Durbin Requests Government Study On Firearms Trafficking To Mexico & Central America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a request to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to update its January 2016 reports on efforts to combat firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. Additionally, Durbin requested that GAO include in these updated reports an assessment of efforts to combat firearms trafficking to the other Central American countries in the Northern Triangle - El Salvador and Honduras. "Violence perp… Continue Reading
03.07.19
Durbin, Rubio, Menendez, Schumer Lead 24 Senators In Pressing President Trump To Designate Venezuela For TPS
WASHINGTON - In light of the ongoing violence, deteriorating security situation, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela caused by the illegitimate regime of Nicolás Maduro, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today led 24 Senators in a letter to President Donald Trump requesting that his Administration promptly designate Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to ensure that Venezuelan nationals currently present in the … Continue Reading
02.28.19
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Second Summit With Kim Jong Un
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after talks between President Donald Trump and North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un collapsed: Diplomacy can be a long and difficult path. Following this experience, I hope that the President finally has an appreciation for the diplomatic achievements - such as the JCPOA and Paris Climate Agreement - that came before him, a better understanding of the limits of photo-ops, and a realization of the… Continue Reading
02.06.19
Durbin, Menendez, Cardin, Leahy, Kaine, Meet With Top Venezuelan Diplomat For Interim Guaidó Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today met with Carlos Vecchio, the recently appointed top Venezuelan diplomat to the U.S. under interim President Juan Guaidó's government. In today's meeting, the Senators offered their support for Guaidó and discussed plans for a managed transition and a timely, open, and fair election. "What we are seeing unfold in Venezuela is democratic change co… Continue Reading
01.25.19
Durbin Shares Support For Venzuelan President Guaido
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today shared his support for interim Venezuelan President Juan 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 credible election process in which the Venezuelan people can once again choose their leaders through a fair and transparent process. Yesterday, Durbin spoke at length to Guaidó on… Continue Reading
01.23.19
Durbin Statement On Crisis In Venezuela
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after Juan Guaidó, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself interim president of Venezuela: Last year I visited Venezuela and found a country on the verge of political, economic, and humanitarian collapse. I told then-President Maduro that if he went ahead with a sham election under absurdly rigged conditions he would find his regime even further isolated and i… Continue Reading
01.23.19
Durbin, Murphy, Lee Lead 20 Senators In Pressing State Department & DOJ For Information On Saudi-Led War In Yemen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Mike Lee (R-UT) today lead a group of 20 bipartisan Senators in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein pressing them on two recently reported aspects of the Saudi-led war in Yemen: reports that Saudi Arabia is paying poor Sudanese child soldiers to fight as mercenaries in its war in Yemen, and reports that the United Arab Emirates-a U.S. ally in the Gulf that is part of the Saud… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Durbin, Shaheen, Murphy, Schumer, Members Press U.S. Ambassador To Hungary On Democratic Backsliding
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) today pressed the United States Ambassador to Hungary about their mounting concern over democratic backsliding in Hungary, including the most recent forced expulsion of the Central European University (CEU). The CEU enjoys considerable bipartisan support in… Continue Reading
12.13.18
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Resolution To Halt Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Yemen
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today voted for the bipartisan joint war powers resolution, of which he is a cosponsor, to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. The resolution passed the Senate 56-41. "The Constitution is clear - Article 1, Section 8 states 'The Congress shall have Power: To declare War.' But there was never a vote to authorize U.S. military involvement in the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen," Durbin said. "Not only was this war ne… Continue Reading
12.06.18
Durbin: Expel The Saudi Ambassador To The U.S.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today again called for the expulsion of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, son of King Salman of Saudi Arabia and the younger brother of the Crown Prince, following his return to the U.S. given the clear evidence that the Crown Prince was directly involved in the murder of noted journalist and critic of the Saudi government, Jamal Khashoggi. Durbin first called for the expulsion of the Saudi Ambassador… Continue Reading
12.04.18
Durbin Calls For Full Senate Briefing By CIA Director Haspel On Saudi Involvement In Khashoggi Murder
WASHINGTON-Following a classified briefing on Saudi Arabia's involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi from CIA Director Gina Haspel in which only a handful of Senators were allowed to attend, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement: While I cannot discuss the content of the briefing, it certainly reinforced my support for the bipartisan joint war powers resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen and the need for a stronger… Continue Reading
11.28.18
Durbin Calls On Congress To Halt Unauthorized U.S. Military Involvement In Yemen Ahead Of Senate Vote On War Powers
WASHINGTON-Following a classified briefing on the Saudi's war in Yemen from Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - CIA Director Gina Haspel was troublingly not allowed to attend - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to pass a bipartisan joint war powers resolution to end unauthorized U.S. military involvement in Yemen. The Senate is expected to vote on the matter this afternoon. "The American people entrust us [Senators] with … Continue Reading
10.23.18
Durbin, Leahy, Feinstein, Sanders Call On President Trump To Condemn Murder Of Jamal Khashoggi, Begin Restoring America's Moral Standing Internationally
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee Ranking Member; Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman; Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member; and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member today pressed President Donald Trump to begin restoring America's moral standing by forcefully, without equivocation, condemning Jamal Khashoggi's murder and indicating there will… Continue Reading
10.22.18
Durbin Calls For Expulsion Of Saudi Ambassador
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for the expulsion of the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, son of King Salman of Saudi Arabia and the younger brother of the Crown Prince, until the completion of a credible third party investigation into the disappearance and murder of noted journalist and critic of the Saudi government, Jamal Khashoggi. On Friday, Saudi Arabia confirmed for the first time that Jamal Khashoggi died in the kingd… Continue Reading
10.17.18
Durbin, Duckworth Press For Full Disclosure Of Trump Family Business Ties In Saudi Arabia
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and eight other Senate Democrats, wrote to President Donald Trump and to the Trump Organization seeking a full accounting of any financial ties between the Trump Organization and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Senators' letters follow the disappearance and reported killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a resident of the United States and Washington Post journalist, whose whereabouts have … Continue Reading
10.14.18
Durbin Statement On Disappearance Of Saudi Critic Jamal Khashoggi
Treasury Secretary Mnuchin should cancel his participation in the Saudi investor conference and it's long overdue that the Trump Administration nominate a U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the disappearance of noted journalist and critic of the Saudi government, Jamal Khashoggi. Yesterday, Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the United States, called Durbin directly fro… Continue Reading
10.12.18
Durbin, Boozman, Senators Press President Trump On Decision To Continue Providing Assistance To Countries That Use Child Soldiers
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today pressed President Donald Trump for information regarding his recent decision to invoke troublingly broad waivers for continued United States military assistance to countries that use child soldiers-assistance prohibited under the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2008, which was originally introduced by Durbin and … Continue Reading
10.04.18
Senate Passes Durbin, Portman Resolution Commemorating 85th Anniversary Of The Holodomor
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rob Portman (R-OH)-who co-chair the Senate Ukraine Caucus-announced that their resolution to commemorate the anniversary of the Holodomor and recognize the Soviet Union's role in perpetrating this genocide has passed the Senate. "Ukraine's famine is an ugly chapter in world history, in which millions of civilians died at the hands of the Soviet Union's cruel policies," Durbin said. "As a co-chair of the Senate's Ukraine Caucus, I am proud … Continue Reading
09.02.18
Durbin, Duckworth, Senators Call On Trump Administration To Meet Current Refugee Resettlement Cap And Significantly Increase Numbers Of Refugees Allowed Into U.S.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 21 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump demanding that the Administration honor the United States' legacy as a nation of immigrants and beacon of hope for families around the globe fleeing violence and persecution by increasing the cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. and strengthening resources across the federal governmen… Continue Reading
08.06.18
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Decision To Re-Impose Sanctions On Iran
ST. LOUIS-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump announced that he will re-impose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran that were lifted in connection with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), better known as the Iran Nuclear Agreement. In May 2018, President Trump unilaterally pulled the United States out of the Iran Nuclear Agreement. In 2015, Durbin led the effort in the Senate that ultimately allowed the Iran Nucle… Continue Reading