Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Urgent Need To Protect Dreamers

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Dream Deferred: The Urgent Need to Protect Immigrant Youth.”  The hearing will emphasize the urgent need for Congress to pass legal protections for noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children. These young people, known as Dreamers, have lived in America since they were children, built thei… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $150 Million To Improve Housing Across Local Communities

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $150,346,316 through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Capital Fund Program, which offers annual funding to public housing authorities to build, renovate, and modernize the public housing in their communities. “A thriving community begins with a safe and secure place to call home,” said Durbin. “Public housing authorities are the instruments of change that… Continue Reading

Durbin Files Amendment To FAA Reauthorization In Support Of Essential Air Service Program Communities In Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) filed an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that will be considered by the Senate this week.  The proposed amendment would update a provision in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Essential Air Service Program (EAS), which was established to ensure that smaller communities were serviced by certified airlines, and to allow local airports to retain their right to two-pilot, two-engine serv… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With The Greater Springfield Chamber Of Commerce

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, which is comprised of members of local government, labor, education, health, and business sectors. During their meeting, Durbin and the Chamber spoke about several economic and transportation priorities, including the Springfield Rail Improvements Project and efforts to improve sewer infrastructure.  “Today, I sat down with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and its … Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed, Doggett Introduce Bill To Stop Tax-Dodging Corporate Inversion Schemes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) today announced the introduction of a bill to stop business practices known as inversions—corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, while keeping their executives and headquarters in the United States.  This is accomplished by merging with a foreign company… Continue Reading

Durbin Reintroduces Joint Resolution to Enshrine the Right to Vote in the Constitution

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced a joint resolution that would finally enshrine an explicit, individual right to vote in the U.S. Constitution, and protect all Americans who seek to exercise this fundamental right. “In the words of the late John Lewis, the right to vote is ‘the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument we have in a democratic society.’ When Congress passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965, an … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on FDA, DOJ Officials to Testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Following the Lack of Enforcement Against Unauthorized E-Cigarettes

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products Director, Dr. Brian King, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Brian Boynton, to testify at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes, which has resulted in millions of children using harmful and addictive tobacco products.   Durbin wrote, “I w… Continue Reading

Durbin Files Bipartisan Amendment to FAA Reauthorization in Support of Local Airports

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today filed a bipartisan amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that was released earlier this week.  The proposed amendment would support nonhub airports in smaller communities by requiring the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and FAA to conduct a study to review options to improve existing federal programs, in addition to considering new ones, to help local airports secure and maintain sufficient… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Hate Crimes

CHICAGO – In response to the ongoing and persistent rise in antisemitism and other forms of bigotry across the country, 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 full committee hearing to examine threats facing marginalized communities and how the federal government can better protect the civil rights and safety of all Americans.  Under Durbin’s leadership as Chair, the Committee has work… Continue Reading

DURBIN, HOSPITAL LEADERS RELEASE YEAR 5 REPORT ON CHICAGO HEAL INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS GUN VIOLENCE

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined hospital leaders and the Illinois Health and Hospital Association (IHA) to unveil the five-year report of the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Launched in 2018 by Senator Durbin and 10 of the largest hospitals serving Chicago, the HEAL Initiative is a collaboration to address the root causes of gun violence through economic, health, and community projects in 18 of Chicago’s neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence, poverty, and health dispar… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Release Statement on Airlines' Approval of O'Hare Terminal Area Project

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST) and Chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation Safety, Operations and Innovation—today released the following statement regarding United and American Airlines’ approval of the City of Chicago’s revised offer to complete the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP): “After months of volleying count… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $8.3 Million to Support Youth Workforce Training in Illinois

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8,300,870 for six Illinois organizations and institutions through the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) YouthBuild Program to provide job training and educational services for youth ages 16-24 who left school without a secondary diploma. “These investments will help provide a lifeline to those who may have fallen through the cracks of our education system, offering them a pathway to su… Continue Reading

Durbin Attends Special Olympics Chicago Opening Ceremony

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended the Opening Ceremony for the Special Olympics Chicago and Special Children’s Charities Spring Games, where more than 2,000 athletes will compete. “From the fields and courts in Illinois to the international stage, the Special Olympics Games foster respect, inclusion, and acceptance for people across all abilities,” said Durbin. “I’m honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with these athletes, their families, and the entire Special Olympics … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Biden Administration Announcement to Expand Health Care Access for DACA Recipients

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Biden Administration’s announcement of a final rule that will expand health care eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Under the final rule, approximately 100,000 DACA recipients will become eligible to enroll in Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance exchanges. “This rule is life-changing for thousands of DACA recipients who are American in every… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Secretary Buttigieg to Conduct Oversight Over Airline Rewards Programs in Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Transportation.”  During the hearing, Durbin questioned the witness, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, about how the federal government can conduct oversigh… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses FAA Reauthorization with President of Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Toby Hauck, President of the Chicago Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Illinois-based air traffic controllers from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.  During their meeting, Durbin discussed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that was released earlier this week.  The proposed bill would authorize more than $105 billion to fund FAA through Fiscal Year 2028.  Of that $105 b… Continue Reading

Durbin Previews Upcoming Judiciary Hearing on the Urgent Need to Protect Dreamers and Pass the Dream Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting next week’s Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Dream Deferred: The Urgent Need to Protect Immigrant Youth.” The hearing will emphasize the urgent need for Congress to pass legal protections for noncitizens who were brought to the United States as children.  “Dreamers are young people who were brought to the United States as children.  They grew up in this… Continue Reading

Durbin: Adeel Mangi is Eminently Qualified to be a Federal Appellate Court Judge

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his colleagues to dismiss the smear campaign against Mr. Adeel Mangi and to support his nomination to serve as a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in New Jersey.  “The Senate has confirmed 194 of President Biden’s judicial nominees to lifetime appointments.  Each of these nominees have been questioned about their qualifications and credentials… But Adeel Ma… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With The Association Of American Universities’ President

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Barbara Snyder, President of the Association of American Universities (AAU), to discuss funding for scientific research and updating our immigration laws to attract and retain top talent while protecting U.S. workers, including in STEM roles.  AAU represents America’s 71 leading research universities, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Chicago, and Northwestern University.  During the meeti… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Regional Priorities With Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council (BNEDC), which is comprised of members of local government, labor, education, health, and business sectors.  During their meeting, Durbin and the BNEDC spoke about several projects in Central Illinois, including the East Street Basin Stormwater Management Project and construction of a new air cargo road at the Central Illinois Regional Airport.  Durbin also rece… Continue Reading