Judiciary Committee Advances Six District Court Judges, Two U.S. Attorneys

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Kenly Kiya Kato, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Jennifer Louise Rochon, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Sunshine Suzanne Sykes, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Sherilyn Peace Garnett, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, to be United States… Continue Reading

Durbin, Thune, Duckworth Lead Bipartisan Push to Utilize E15, Restore American Energy Independence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a letter signed by U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of their colleagues urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in order to reduce the United States' reliance on foreign sources of energy. The Senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solut… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators To FDA Commissioner: Agency Is Six Months Past Court-Ordered Deadline To Regulate E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a bipartisan letter with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and 13 other Senators to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf urging the FDA to end its delays in reviewing premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for the e-cigarette products that have fueled the youth vaping epidemic. In the letter, the Senators reiterated that the deadline for FDA's review was six months ago as mandated by a U.S. District Cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Omnibus Provision To Close E-Cigarette Loophole, Regulate Synthetic Nicotine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after he led a bipartisan Senate effort to successfully secure a provision in the fiscal year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that will clarify the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) ability to regulate products containing synthetic nicotine as tobacco products. This legislative fix was necessary to close legal loopholes that manufacturers of kid-friendly, flavored e-cigarettes sought to sidestep … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually 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 virtually with Illinois Farm Bureau members, who thanked him for his work to secure $829 million in federal funding to modernize Illinois locks and dams. During the meeting, the members also spoke about the importance of federal crop insurance in the upcoming farm bill, the challenges of the rising costs of fertilizer, COVID-19-induced trucking bottlenec… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Passage Of Postal Service Reform Act

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022: "With passage of the Postal Service Reform Act, we will finally address some of the root issues plaguing the U.S. Postal Service-including solvency and access to health care for retirees-while ensuring that Americans will continue to have six-day integrated delivery and reliable mail service. "Passage of this bill also reaffirms that… Continue Reading

Durbin: Judge Jackson Will Be A Strong, Fair, Principled, Evenhanded, & Impartial Supreme Court Justice

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 his meeting last week with Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Biden's nominee to the Supreme Court. Durbin discussed Judge Jackson's breadth of experience, character and temperament, and evenhandedness and impartiality. "As I said, the day her nomination was announced, it's hard to think of a better jurist to replace the highly regarded J… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Justice Department In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Rise Of Hate Crimes

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice (DOJ) Civil Rights Division, at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Combating the Rise in Hate Crimes." This hearing includes the first DOJ testimony on hate crimes since the January 15 synagogue attack in Colleyville, Texas, and the recent wave of bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Biden Administration's Announcement To Ban Russian Oil Imports

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced a ban to Russian oil imports: "I applaud the Biden Administration's announcement to ban Russian oil imports. We cannot continue to purchase millions of barrels of oil to help fund Putin's unprovoked and unjustified war. This is another important step in tightening economic pressure on Putin and his cowardly enablers and h… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Rise Of Hate Crimes Following Recent Synagogue Attack In Colleyville, TX And Nationwide HBCU Bomb Threats

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Combating the Rise in Hate Crimes." This hearing includes the first Department of Justice (DOJ) testimony on hate crimes since the January 15 synagogue attack in Colleyville, Texas, and the recent wave of bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Key quotes: "We are hardly three months into 20… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of The Emmett Till Antilynching Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Senate passage of the Emmett Till Antilynching Act: "Last night, the Senate unanimously passed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, which finally explicitly designates lynching as a hate crime in this country. There are direct links to this historic moment, the State of Illinois, and the City of Chicago. "Congressman Bobby Rush led the effort … Continue Reading

Following Meeting With Ukrainian President Zelensky, Durbin Calls On U.S. To Ban Russian Oil Imports

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, took to the Senate floor today to call on Congress to approve billions of dollars in emergency military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Durbin also reiterated his support for the bipartisan Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which was introduced by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The legislation would prohib… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $118 Million In Additional American Rescue Plan Funding For CTA

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $118 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This funding is in addition to $912.1 million in ARP funds previously awarded to the CTA and will help the transit agency continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, support operating expenses, and prevent cuts to the CTA workforce. "As the country's second la… Continue Reading

Durbin Cosponsors Bill To Protect Consumers By Banning Forced Arbitration In Financial Products

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in introducing the Arbitration Fairness for Consumers Act, legislation to prohibit banks and other financial institutions from using forced arbitration clauses against consumers who want to seek restitution and justice. "For years, banks and financial institutions have manipulated consumers into surrendering their rights in exchange for banking services, but consumers should never have their ab… Continue Reading

Durbin To Join Manchin, Murkowski Bipartisan Bill To Ban Russian Energy Imports

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today announced that he will cosponsor the bipartisan Ban Russian Energy Imports Act, which was introduced earlier this week by Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), senior member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The legislation would prohibit the importation of Russian crude oil, petroleum, petro… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Pledge Support To Ukraine President Zelensky

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke today with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky about the need for Congress to approve billions of dollars in emergency military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, the need to support refugees, and possible war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, particularly as Western officials warn that Putin continues to target cities and civilian infra… Continue Reading

Senate Unanimously Passes Durbin, Blackburn Bill To Support Survivors Of Sex Abuse

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Eliminating Limits to Justice for Child Sex Abuse Victims Act by unanimous consent. This legislation-led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)-would ensure that survivors of child sex abuse are able to seek justice under the federal civil remedy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 2255, without being barred by statutes of limitations. In practice, it would enabl… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Ukrainian National Museum, Discusses Humanitarian And Immigration Relief For Ukrainians

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined community leaders at the Ukrainian National Museum to discuss support for the Administration's decision to grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to Ukrainians in the United States, the need for Congress to approve billions of dollars in emergency military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine, and the need to support refugees following the Russian military… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Broadcasters Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) to discuss the importance of preserving competition in local broadcasting. Additionally, Durbin spoke with IBA about diversifying newsrooms and strategies to hire and retain local journalists as regional outlets face narrow profit margins. "Local Illinois broadcasters are essential to keeping our citizens informed about important issues, and it's crucial for the… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Davis, Schneider Champion Bill To Help Illinois Recover From The Pandemic By Waiving Interest On Federal Unemployment Loans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) to introduce the Continued Waiver of Interest on State Unemployment Loans during the Pandemic Act. This legislation would extend the waiver of interest payments on federal unemployment loans during the pandemic to help Illinois and other states financially as they support their constituents and respond to the dual economic and h… Continue Reading