Durbin Slams FDA's Missed Deadlines To Protect Our Children From Nicotine Addiction

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency's orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. The court-ordered deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was more than one year… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Sarah Merriam To Second Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sarah Merriam to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Merriam's confirmation: "Judge Sarah Merriam is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist who has served as a federal judge for over seven years. Having previously worked as an Assistant Federal Defender, serving clients who could not otherwi… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Two Circuit Court Nominees, Three District Court Nominees, One U.S. Attorney

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Dana M. Douglas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Bradley N. Garcia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Frances Kay Behm, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Jerry W. Blackwell, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota; and Anne M. Nardacci, to be United States District Judge for the Northern Distri… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois Farm Bureau members. During the meeting, they discussed agriculture priorities for Illinois' farmers, including the importance of crop insurance, strengthening ethanol production, tackling climate change, fertilizer costs, and the critical role of immigrant farmworkers. They also thanked Durbin for his work to secure $829 million in federal … Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez, Senators Unveil Resolution Urging International Cooperation to Address Sri Lanka's Political and Economic Crises

WASHINGTON – As the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York this week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced a Senate resolution calling for a comprehensive international approach to address Sri Lanka’s current political and economic crises, including challenges related to poor governance and economic policy under the Rajap… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Our Health Care Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing will explore how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deser… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Our Health Care Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing explored how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deserve. The U.S. heal… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Manufacturers Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) to discuss opportunities for electric vehicle production in Illinois, the CHIPS and Science Act, which will help relieve supply chain issues, and the economy. Durbin also secured key priorities in the Inflation Reduction Act that will benefit the more than 550,000 manufacturing workers in Illinois. "I appreciate the opportunity to hear firsthand about the concerns and priorities… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Lara Montecalvo To First Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lara Montecalvo to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Montecalvo's confirmation: "Lara Montecalvo is a seasoned litigator with a demonstrated commitment to equal justice. Her career representing indigent defendants ensures that she appreciates the real world impact of judicial decisionmaking and… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press Twitter CEO on Reports of Security Failures and Foreign Infiltration at Twitter

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 sent a letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parag Agrawal seeking information regarding a recent whistleblower report concerning the social media platform. On August 23, 2022, multiple news outlets released a lengthy disclosure containing allegations made by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the former h… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blackburn Bill to Support Survivors of Child Sex Abuse Headed to President's Desk

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.3103, the Eliminating Limits to Justice forChild Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill first introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The bill now heads to the President's desk. "The science of trauma is clear: it often takes years for victims to come forward," Durbin said. "Our bipartisan bill honors the ba… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Durbin began by questioning Mr. Zatko about the type of information that Twitter collects from its users. "Can we get into the real world now and talk about whether or not consumers across America have a right to be warned if they are opening a Twi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Announce Nearly $1 Million To Support University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Public Health Research

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $991,796 for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program to evaluate the environmental, behavioral, and financial benefits of electrification and energy efficiency for underserved communities. "Investing in research and innovation is key to … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing With Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Key Quotes: "Twitter now plays an outsized role in politics, culture, and even democracy itself." "In July 2020, two teenagers hacked into the accounts of Twitter employees and gained access to a number of high-profile accounts-including no… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Should Work Together to Create an Immigration System that Reflects the Best of America

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reflected on his recent visit to the Salvation Army Freedom Center in the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago to meet with migrant families who were forced to come to Chicago from Texas by Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX). During his speech, Durbin praised Chicago's agencies for stepping up to support these migrants. Durbin's mother is an immigrant who came from Lithu… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Zatko, a data security expert and former head of security at Twitter, recently blew the whistle on alleged data security failures, foreign infiltration, and misrepresentations to regulatory agencies by Twitter. Key quotes as prepared: "[I] am here today because I believe that Twit… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee to Investigate New Reports of Political Interference During Trump Presidency

WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Attorney General Garland seeking information on reports of political interference during the Trump presidency by then-Attorney General Barr and other Trump loyalists. In his letter, Durbin points to recent claims made by Geoffrey Berman, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), including that high-ranking Trump administration appointees pressured… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press Twitter CEO On Reports Of Security Failures And Foreign Infiltration At Twitter

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 sent a letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parag Agrawal seeking information regarding a recent whistleblower report concerning the social media platform. On August 23, 2022, multiple news outlets released a lengthy disclosure containing allegations made by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the former h… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Salvador Mendoza To Ninth Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Salvador Mendoza to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Mendoza's confirmation: "Judge Mendoza is a highly experienced jurist with a life-long commitment to public and community service. He has distinguished himself on the bench, presiding over dozens of trials and demonstrating evenhande… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $3 Million for Illinois State Board of Education

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $3,000,000 in Competitive Grants for State Assessments for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This funding will allow ISBE to create innovative assessments for Spanish language arts students in grades 9 and 10, as well as significantly expand educator professional learning and parent/student engagement activities. "Today's students are tomorrow's future - it is critical t… Continue Reading