Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million To Support Mental Health Services In Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $1.02 million in federal funding for mental health awareness training and school-based mental health centers in the Chicago area. The funding, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to seven schools, health centers, and community organizations in Chicago and the suburbs. "Too many kids in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Angelina Jolie: We Must Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met with Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. During their meeting, Durbin and Jolie discussed the future of the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) and the need to strengthen services and protections for survivors of domestic abuse. "The Violence Against Women Act is a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault," said Du… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray And Inspector General Horowitz On FBI's Mishandling Of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy in… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray and Inspector General Horowitz on FBI's Mishandling of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy i… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Gymnasts for Powerful testimony at Judiciary Committee Hearing on FBI's Mishandling of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, commended elite gymnastic athletes Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman for their powerful testimony and willingness to share their stories of abuse by Larry Nassar. Durbin promised that the Sen… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing on FBI's Dereliction of Duty in Larry Nassar Case

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 "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation." A recent Department of Justice Inspector General report documented the FBI's failure to properly investigate reports that Larry Nassar was assaulting young athletes, which enabled the continued abuse of dozens of a… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Delegation, Discusses U.S. Support For Baltic States

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and visiting Lithuanian delegates including former Ambassador to the U.S. and current member of the Seimas MP Žygimantas Pavilionis, current member of the Seimas MP Emanuelis Zingeris, and Ambassador Audra Plepyt?. The Lithuanian delegation shared a letter from Viktorija ?milyt?-Nielsen, the current Speaker of the Se… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Office Of National Drug Control Policy Nominee Dr. Rahul Gupta In 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 Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominated to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), about his work addressing the opioid crisis in America. "I was struck by the fact that you didn't head to the bright lights in your life. You headed to the communities that needed your help and many times chose rural areas and p… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In 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 Jennifer Sung, nominated to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, about her background and experience as a member of Oregon's Employment Relations Board. "You have been an appointed member of the Oregon Employment Relations Board since 2017…of the approximately 200 matters you have presided over, you have… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Solicitor General, ONDCP, And Judicial Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General of the United States; Justice Beth Robinson to be a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Jennifer Sung to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Dr. Rahul Gupta to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Durbin said that the nominees … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Heroes Of 9/11 And Urges Colleagues To Confront Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the heroes of 9/11 and urged his Senate colleagues to confront the threat of homegrown domestic terrorism. Durbin shared the stories of Illinoisans who lost their lives on 9/11 - Dan Shanower, a Navy Officer at the Pentagon, and Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93. Durbin recalled how in the days that followed the 9/11 attacks, Americans were sustained by acts of heroism, sacrifice, … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Acting FDA Commissioner Woodcock To Finish Review Of E-Cigarette Products

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Janet Woodcock to receive an update on yesterday's announcement that FDA has rejected millions of e-cigarette applications for failing to show a public health benefit, but would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market. Durbin pressed Woodcock for swift action on JUUL and other flavored e-cigarette produc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Lightfoot Announce $55 Million In New Markets Tax Credits For Chicago Development Fund

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, today announced that the Chicago Development Fund has been awarded $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Treasury Department to invest in projects and businesses in low-income communities in Chicago. The New Markets Tax Credit Program, established by Congress in December 2000, helps economically distressed communities attract private investment capital and fill projec… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On FDA Review Of E-Cigarette Products

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market: "While I am pleased FDA has rejected all e-cigarette applications to date for failing to show a health benefit, it is unacceptable to delay evaluation of e-cigarettes most responsible for hooking children, like JUUL. FDA's years… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Chipman Nomination

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): "ATF is a federal agency focused on reducing gun violence by enforcing the law and prohibiting the sale of firearms to convicted felons and other dangerous individuals. The gun industry resents their work as it limi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL): "Adlai was my friend and partner in countless causes over the years. Like his father before him, Adlai was most at home in the cerebral world of politics. His most effective ally in retail politics was his beloved wife, Nancy. The two were inseparable and one of the best teams in Illinois Democratic politics. Loretta and I … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Biden's Nominee To Lead The Office Of National Drug Control Policy

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominee to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). During their meeting, Durbin and Gupta discussed the Doctor's work combatting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and how he will draw upon his extensive public health experience to meet ONDCP's mission of reducing substance use disorders and the impact of addiction in Ame… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Staffing Concerns At USP Thomson With Local 4070 Of The Council Of Prison Locals

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke by phone with Jon Zumkehr, President of Local 4070 of the Council of Prison Locals (CPL), and Brian Mueller, CPL North Central Regional Vice President, about ongoing staffing challenges at USP Thomson and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities throughout Illinois. Durbin received an update on retention and recruitment efforts at USP Thomson, including the success of direct hiring … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With ICIRR To Discuss Urgent Need For Pathway To Legal Status For Undocumented Immigrants

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and coalition groups to discuss the urgent need to provide a pathway to legal status for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers through the budget reconciliation process. "For 35 years, Congress has repeatedly failed to provide a pathway to legal status for undocu… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee To Examine The Texas Abortion Ban And The Shadow Supreme Court's Abuse Of Its "Shadow Docket"

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing examining the Supreme Court's abuse of its "shadow-docket," particularly its order permitting Texas's extreme new abortion restrictions to take effect this week. Late Wednesday night, the Court issued an order refusing to block the Texas law banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat-about six weeks from conce… Continue Reading