Durbin Reflects On Recent NATO Summit Amid Putin's War

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, reflected on his recent trip to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Madrid. Durbin joined Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Roy Blunt (R-MO) at the summit to discuss congressional support for the transatlantic relationship, as well as continued Russian aggressi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Pass Resolution Honoring Lives Of Highland Park Shooting Victims

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced and passed a Senate resolution to honor the victims of the Highland Park, Illinois mass shooting on July 4 that took the lives of Katie Goldstein, Irina and Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Strauss, Jacquelyn Sundheim, Nicolas Toledo-Zaragoza, and Eduardo Uvaldo and injured dozens more. In their resolution, Durbin and Duckworth also thank the first r… Continue Reading

Durbin: Roe v. Wade's Reversal Created A Health Care Crisis

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today reflected on one of the most consequential and disastrous Supreme Court terms in American history. Specifically, Durbin outlined how the Court's radical opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization puts lives at risk, overwhelms our health care system, and upends our constitutional landscape. "Our nation is in the midst of a health care crisis bec… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Critical Law Enforcement Positions

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Adair Ford Boroughs, to be United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, and Enix Smith, III, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Louisiana, by voice vote. The Senate has confirmed 69 Article III judges, and 49 U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals, during the 117th Congress. U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals play a critical role in enforcing the law, promoting public safety, and protecting … Continue Reading

Durbin, Tillis, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Resolution To Recognize Political Repression In Belarus

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing the second anniversary of the stolen 2020 Belarus presidential election, the historic peaceful protests, and the continued heroic efforts of the Belarusian people. President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has ruled as an undemocratic dictator since the first presidential election in Belarus in 1994. The resolution was also cosponsored by Mar… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Roopali H. Desai, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Doris Pryor, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit. Durbin began his questioning by asking Ms. Desai to explain her involvement with a case related to voter registration deadlines. "There's one case of yours ev… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Senate To Ban Assault Weapons From Civilian Use

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today told the story of 8-year-old Cooper Roberts, who attended the Independence Day Parade in Highland Park, Illinois, with his parents and twin brother, Luke. When a gunman used a military-style assault rifle to fire more than 80 rounds into the crowd, Cooper was shot and paralyzed. "This poor little boy's situation is a reflection on what assault rifles can do … Continue Reading

Durbin Slams FDA's Legal Freefall On Tobacco Regulation That Jeopardizes Public Health

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) incoherence and inconsistency in tobacco regulation that is endangering public health. Last week, FDA announced a decision to "stay" its previous order to remove all JUUL Lab Inc.'s vaping products from the market after previously finding these e-cigarettes fail to meet the agency's legal standard for authorization. He also urged the agency to remove … Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal, DeLauro Introduce Food Safety Administration Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) introduced the Food Safety Administration Act of 2022, legislation that would establish the Food Safety Administration, a single food safety agency responsible for ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply. This new agency would take over food safety responsibilities currently housed at the Food and Drug Administration (FD… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Nominations Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Roopali H. Desai, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Doris L. Pryor, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit; Maria del R. Antongiorgi-Jordán, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico; Gina R. Méndez-Miró, to be … Continue Reading

Durbin: The Supreme Court's Conservative Majority Is Undermining The Rule Of Law

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today reflected on one of the most consequential and disastrous Supreme Court terms in American history. Specifically, Durbin outlined how the Court's radical majority-in furtherance of an ideological agenda-issued rulings in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health… Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins Urge FDA To Follow The Law, Clear The Market Of All Unauthorized Synthetic Vapes Ahead Of July 13th Deadline

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a bipartisan letter with Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the agency to remove all unauthorized synthetic nicotine e-cigarettes from the market as required by law. Durbin and Collins successfully secured a bipartisan provision in the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations bill that clarified FDA's ability to regulate products containing synthetic nicotine as tobacco products. This le… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Highland Park Residents Following July 4th Mass Shooting

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Highland Park, Illinois, residents and members of March Fourth, a gun safety advocacy group, following the Highland Park mass shooting on July 4 that resulted in the deaths of seven people and injured dozens more. During the meeting, Highland Park residents shared their experiences from the shooting and the toll that attack has had on them and their families. Durbin and Duckworth wen… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Legal Consequences Of The Dobbs Decision

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." Durbin questioned Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, on maternal mortality and the consequences of overturning Roe. According to a study in the American Journal of Public Heal… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Steve Dettelbach To Lead ATF

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Steve Dettelbach's nomination to serve as Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) by a bipartisan vote of 48-46. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Dettelbach's confirmation: "When a mass shooter tears apart a community like Highland Park, Illinois, ATF agents are among the first to arrive on scene. In fact, in the hours… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Legal Consequences Of The Dobbs Decision

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 "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." Key Quotes: "A little over two weeks ago, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The majority overturned nearly five decades of precedent, holding that the U.S. Constitution does not protect… Continue Reading

Abortion Provider To Congress: The End Of Roe Is A Public Health Crisis

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Dr. Colleen McNicholas, Chief Medical Officer of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri, during today's hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." McNicholas has 15 years of experience as an abortion provider and a specialist in Family Planning including academic practice, resident education, clinical research, and health care advocacy. Her testimony w… Continue Reading

Lieutenant Governor Of Illinois Testifies On How The Dobbs Decision Is Already Harming Individual States

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton's prepared testimony during today's hearing entitled "A Post-Roe America: The Legal Consequences of the Dobbs Decision." Stratton is the first Black woman to serve as Illinois's Lieutenant Governor, a position she has held since 2019. Her testimony focuses on the steps that Illinois has taken to protect access to abortion, the challenges of out-of-state patients coming to Illinois to seek care, and… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes Overdue Announcement Of New BOP Director

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today welcomed the selection of Colette Peters as the next Director at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Durbin has called for a new, reform-minded Director to replace BOP Director Michael Carvajal since November 2021, following an Associated Press report that found that BOP is a "hotbed of abuse, graft and corruption, and has turned a blind eye to employees accused of misconduct." Carvajal's… Continue Reading

Durbin: Military-Style Assault Weapons Belong On The Battlefield, Not In Our Communities

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the deadly toll that gun violence-particularly mass shootings caused by assault weapons-continues to take on our communities. "On June 8th-15 days after their 10-year-old daughter Lexi was murdered at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas-Kimberly and Felix Rubio testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform," Durbin said. "Kimb… Continue Reading