Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.9 Million For Illinois Veterans' Homes To Protect Against COVID-19

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois State Veterans' Homes have received a total of $2.9 million in additional federal grant funding to ensure residents continue to receive high quality care and are protected from COVID-19. The funding was awarded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and was appropriated by Congress in the COVID-19 relief package passed in December. "Throughout this pandemic and beyond, it is critical that … Continue Reading

Durbin, Hospital Leaders Discuss Initiatives to Address Rural Health Care Challenges

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a virtual press conference with rural health leaders in Illinois to discuss efforts to protect the future of rural hospitals and address critical shortages in the health workforce, including highlighting new funding he secured in the American Rescue Plan for health care providers. Durbin was joined by the CEOs of hospitals in Macomb and Eldorado, Illinois. Small hospitals are the backbone of rural communities, and often the largest employ… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Biden Executive Action On Gun Violence

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden announced several executive actions to address gun violence: "When it comes to the sickening gun violence in our streets we have a choice: give up or stand up. President Biden is prepared to lead with common sense, constitutional steps to stop this uniquely American gun madness. It's time for Congress to stop making excuses and start m… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses American Rescue Plan, Infrastructure With Carbondale Area Leaders

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Mayor Mike Henry of Carbondale, Mayor Will Stephens of Murphysboro, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Chancellor Austin Lane, and local economic development officials to discuss the state and local funding included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP), local projects, and higher education issues. The legislation includes $13.7 billion in state and local funding for Illinois, with Jackson County receiving an estimated $11 m… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Biden's Decision To Withdraw U.S. Forces From Afghanistan

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced that all American troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by the 20th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks: "The longest war in U.S. history will finally end at the cost of more than 2,300 American lives and many trillions of dollars. What began as a hunt for Osama Bin Laden and his gang of terrorists became an effort to bring order to a corrupt… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Members Of The American Library Association

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Illinois members of the American Library Association to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of federal funding to libraries. "Libraries provide important services to Illinois communities, families, and children," Durbin said. "Beyond books and local programming, libraries may also be one of the only local opportunities for people to connect with broadband internet service. During today's call, I pr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Push for Site of Emmett Till's Memorial Service to be Designated as Part of National Park System

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today requested the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a reconnaissance survey of the Roberts Temple Church of God In Christ, located at 4021 South State Street, in the Bronzeville area of Chicago, Illinois, for consideration as a new unit of the National Park System. Roberts Temple is the site of the memorial service for fourteen year-old Emmett Till, who was abducted, tortured, and lynched in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $270 Million in American Rescue Plan Funding to Community Health Centers for COVID-19 Response in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that 45 Community Health Centers (CHCs) throughout Illinois will receive a total of $270 million in federal funding to support COVID-19 vaccination and health services for vulnerable populations in urban and rural parts of the state. The funding, which was appropriated through the American Rescue Plan, will be awarded beginning in April by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). "Illinois … Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Call for Transformative Investment in Affordable Housing in Build Back Better Infrastructure Package

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) in urging the Biden Administration to include major investments in affordable housing in the upcoming infrastructure package. In their letter to President Biden, the members noted that without affordable housing investments, there is no path for an equitable recovery and long term financial stability for low and middle income American families. "Wi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on First Slate of White House Judicial Nominations

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House announced its first slate of judicial nominations: Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals; Tiffany P. Cunningham, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals; Regina Marie Rodriguez, District of Colorado; Judge Florence Y. Pan, District Court for the District of Columbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses State and Local Funding in American Rescue Plan with Illinois Mayors

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today with members of the Illinois Municipal League's Executive Committee and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus's Executive Board to discuss the state and local funding included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). The legislation includes $13.7 billion in state and local funding for Illinois. "Many government entities throughout Illinois faced major budget cuts due to the financial impact of the pandemic," Durbin said. "The American Rescue Plan wi… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Mail Delays With USPS Great Lakes and Central Region Leadership

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke today with leaders from the United States Postal Service's (USPS) Great Lakes and Central Region to discuss changes by the Postal Service that have resulted in significant mail delays. Last month, USPS Great Lakes put out a call to mail carriers in five surrounding states asking for letter carriers to come to Illinois to help deliver a huge backlog of undelivered packages and envelopes. They also asked mail carriers in the five col… Continue Reading

Durbin, Davis Introduce Bill To Make Broadband And Computer Technology More Affordable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07) today announced introduction of their Computer and Internet Access Equity Act. The bill would connect American families and students to the internet by making broadband and computer technology more affordable. "Broadband and computer technology are necessities in America today, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But for too many, these services are a luxury," Durbin said. "My b… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cornyn, Leahy, Young, Coon, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage of Doctors, Nurses

WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Todd Young (R-IN), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to provide a temporary stopgap to quickly address our nation's shortage of doctors and nurses. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture 25,000 unused immigrant visas for nurses and 15,000 unused immigrant visas for… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley: Bipartisan Legislation to Extend CARES Act Bankruptcy Relief Provisions Heads to President

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded final passage of the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act, bipartisan legislation they introduced to temporarily extend COVID-19 bankruptcy relief provisions enacted as part of the March 2020 CARES Act. The bill now heads to President Biden for signature. "Extending these temporary bankr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Advance the First Step Act's Goals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the lead sponsors of the landmark First Step Act (FSA), introduced the bipartisan First Step Implementation Act, legislation that aims to further implement the FSA and advance its goals. The First Step Act is bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation designed to make our justice system fairer and our communi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Comprehensive Plan to Address Plastic Pollution Crisis

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47) to introduce the bicameral Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act-the most comprehensive plan ever introduced in Congress to address the plastic pollution crisis that is poisoning our air, water, and land, and disproportionately impacting communities of color and low-income Americans. "For years, large corporations have shifted the burden of addressi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lee Introduce Smarter Sentencing Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation that would modernize federal drug sentencing polices by lowering certain mandatory drug sentences. The Smarter Sentencing Act gives federal judges the authority to conduct individualized reviews to determine the appropriate sentences for certain nonviolent drug offenses. "Mandatory minimum… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Legal Cannabis Businesses Access to Critical Financial Services

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, which would provide legal cannabis businesses access to critical banking services. Most state legal medicinal or recreational cannabis businesses are denied access to the banking system because banks fear they may be prosecuted under federal law given the on… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Extension of Paycheck Protection Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Extension Act of 2021, which extends the PPP through June 30, 2021. The bill now heads to the President's desk for signature: "The extension of the PPP will keep Illinoisans employed and allow small businesses to survive. We must do everything we can to support this economy as we recover from the devastation caused by this pandemic." Tod… Continue Reading