Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Meeting With President-Elect Trump's Attorney General Pick, Pam Bondi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after meeting with Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s intended nominee to be U.S. Attorney General: “In today’s meeting, I raised concerns with Ms. Bondi regarding her record—one in which she served as a personal attorney to President-elect Trump, was a leader in the effort to overturn the 2020 election, and has echoed the … Continue Reading
January 08, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $114 Million In Federal Funding For EV Charging Stations Across Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $114,471,562 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the Chicagoland area. The recipients of this funding are the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. IEPA’s project Equitable Future-Ready Electrification Infrastructure for Green Heavy-duty Transportation … Continue Reading
January 08, 2025
Durbin Reflects On The Life & Legacy Of President Jimmy Carter
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reflected on the life and legacy of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. “For many presidents, their legacy is written and sealed by their actions in office—their post-presidency activities nothing but fodder for the tabloids and a footnote in history books. But not for Jimmy Carter,” said Durbin. “I remember the last days of the Carter presidency. After 444 painful days of … Continue Reading
January 06, 2025
Durbin Statement On Fourth Anniversary Of January 6th Insurrection At The U.S. Capitol
SPRINGFIELD - On the fourth anniversary of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on certifying the 2024 presidential election and ensuring that an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol does not happen again: “Today, January 6, 2025, Congress will vote to certify the 2024 presidential election in a Joint Session of Congress. Sadly, four years ago, this solemn … Continue Reading
January 03, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $856 Million In Federal Funding For Disaster Relief In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $856,307,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support communities in Illinois with unmet disaster recovery needs that were majorly impacted by disasters that occurred in 2023 and 2024. “Over the past two years, Illinois communities have experienced their share of major disasters and have worked tirelessly to recover,” said … Continue Reading
January 03, 2025
Durbin Welcomes New Democratic U.S. Senators
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the swearing in of the six new Democratic U.S. Senators: Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ): “It is an honor to welcome Adam Schiff, Andy Kim, Angela Alsobrooks, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Elissa Slotkin, and Ruben Gallego as newly sworn-in Democratic Senators. They bring new energy … Continue Reading
December 29, 2024
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of President Jimmy Carter
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding the passing of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States: “Jimmy Carter proved that excellence in public service can extend beyond the White House. His life was an inspiration to those of us who aspire to lead a life of service. “I offer my condolences to the entire Carter family, to his friends and former staff members, and to the untold millions of people throughout the … Continue Reading
December 23, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Accomplishments Under Chair Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a review of the accomplishments of the 2021-2024 Democratic majority Senate Judiciary Committee, which includes a compilation of the four years under Chair Durbin’s leadership and during the Biden-Harris Administration. “Our country demands much of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and it’s been the honor of a lifetime to serve as its Chair for the last four years. We defended our … Continue Reading
December 23, 2024
Durbin Applauds President Biden's Commutations Of Most Federal Death Sentences To Life Imprisonments
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement applauding President Biden for commuting the sentences of most individuals currently on federal death row to life imprisonment. In November, Durbin led 12 Senators in a letter to President Biden calling on him to review the cases of all individuals currently on federal death row and commute to life imprisonment the sentences of all individuals he considers … Continue Reading
December 21, 2024
Following Republican Disarray, Durbin Votes For Short-Term Government Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the short-term Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the government through March 14, extend the 2018 Farm Bill for one year, and provide $100 billion in disaster supplemental funding and $10 billion in economic assistance payments for farmers: “At the 11th hour, Republicans abandoned a bipartisan agreement to fund the … Continue Reading
December 21, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Revealing Investigative Report On Ethical Crisis At The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), released the findings of its 20-month investigation into the ethical crisis at the Supreme Court, including the results of committee subpoenas. Entitled “An Investigation of the Ethics Challenge at the Supreme Court,” the majority staff report sheds light on a Supreme Court facing record-low levels of public trust, a consistent stream of ethical lapses, and repeated failures by the … Continue Reading
December 20, 2024
Durbin Celebrates 235 Federal Judges Confirmed During The Biden-Harris Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the confirmation of Benjamin J. Cheeks to be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of California and Serena Raquel Murillo to be a United States District Judge for the Central District of California. These nominees mark the 234th and 235th lifetime judicial appointments confirmed under Senate Democrats and the Biden-Harris administration. This breaks the … Continue Reading
December 20, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Illinois Delegation urge EPA To Fund Cleanup Of Chicago Area Waterway System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), today sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 Administrator Debra Shore urging her to immediately allocate funds under the Great Lakes … Continue Reading
December 20, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4.3 Million In Federal Funding For Math Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4,338,911 in federal funding going to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees through the U.S. Department of Education’s Education Innovation and Research grant program. This award will support professional development for school principals and math educators to increase math proficiency of students. “With today’s announced funding, our schools and teachers will be better … Continue Reading
December 19, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Celebrate Passage Of Resolution To Name Fermilab Research Center After Renowned Physicist Dr. Helen Edwards
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today applauded the House and Senate passage of their bicameral resolution, included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, to rename Fermilab’s Integrated Engineering Research Center (IERC) after the late Dr. Helen Edwards, who worked at Fermilab as a particle physicist for 40 years. The IERC is home to new office and lab space that hosts an … Continue Reading
December 19, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Stabenow, Peters Secure Increase In Federal Cost Share To Help Protect The Great Lakes In Final 2024 Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) lauded the inclusion of their provision to increase the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which passed the Senate last night. Under the provision, the federal government will pay 90 percent of the operation and maintenance costs for Brandon Road after … Continue Reading
December 19, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Secure Illinois Wins In Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founding Co-Chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today highlighted several critical provisions they successfully secured for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which passed the Senate and will head to President Biden’s desk. These provisions - ranging from adjusting the cost share for … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Introduces U.S. International Trade Commission Nominee & Illinoisan Jim Coughlan In Senate Finance Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Illinois native Jim Coughlan at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to serve on the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for a nine-year term. Key Quotes: “During my time as Chair [of the Senate Judiciary Committee], it has been my privilege to evaluate literally hundreds of Americans [for federal judgeships]. So, I understand this process, and I understand what makes someone a spectacular … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement With FTA To Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage Of His Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Authorization Of Global Basic Education Effort
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reauthorize for another five years the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation continues a strategic approach for U.S. development assistance focused on basic education for vulnerable children around the globe. “Given … Continue Reading