Durbin, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Prohibit Normalized Relations With Assad’s Syria

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced new legislation to prohibit any official action to recognize or normalize relations with any Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the Assad regime's prior and ongoing crimes against the Syrian people. The bipartisan Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023 would also make it U.S. policy to actively oppose recognition or normalization of relations by other govern… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.5 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1,509,844 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grant funding for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support advancements in sectors ranging from cancer to immunology. "By funding the pursuit of knowledge, we empower our scientists and researchers to unlock the cures and innovations that will … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $35 Million For Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $35,193,206 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "This federal support empowers our communities to thrive, ensuring access to quality health care and fostering initiatives that address the unique needs of Illinois' diverse population," said Durbin. "By bolster… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Afghan Allies in the U.S. to Apply for Lawful Permanent Residence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to reintroduce the Afghan Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Afghans who sought refuge in the United States to obtain lawful permanent residence after undergoing rigorous additional vetting. Currently, Afg… Continue Reading

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and Legislative Branch. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these appropriations bills, both through Congressio… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill To Help Curb Illicit Drug Trafficking On Social Media Platforms, Four Nominations

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bipartisan Cooper Davis Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 16-5. The bill, as amended, would require social media companies to take on a more active role in working with federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms. "We've been on a mission in the Senate Judiciary Committee: to protect children'… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Ambassador Emanuel To Discuss U.S. – Japanese Relations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, to discuss Japan's role supporting Ukraine and the greater U.S.-Japanese alliance. During the meeting, they also discussed China's actions in the region. "Japan is an important strategic partner in Asia, particularly in light of continued challenges with China and Russian aggression," said Durbin. "Today, I had a productive meeting with Ambassador Emanu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Pressley Reintroduce Bill To End Federal Death Penalty

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) today reintroduce the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act of 2023, bicameral legislation to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. "The death penalty is deeply flawed and disproportionately imposed on Black and Brown and low-income people in America," said Durbin. "… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Farm Bureau And Illinois Soybean Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Soybean Association members. During the meeting, Durbin and the farmers discussed priorities for Illinois' agricultural sector, including progress on the upcoming Farm Bill, the importance of the crop insurance safety net, agricultural research, boosting trade incentives, drought challenges, and updating the farm sa… Continue Reading

Durbin Reflects On Recent Nato Summit In Lithuania

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 Vilnius, Lithuania. In addition to Durbin, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE) attended the summit, where they discussed congressional support for the transatlantic relationship, as well as con… Continue Reading

Durbin: Since The Court Has Not Acted On Ethics Reform, Congress Will

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the need for the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct. Durbin's remarks follow a series of articles published by the Associated Press yesterday detailing a range of ethical failures by Supreme Court Justices. The reports detailed Justices' involvement in fundraising at colleges and universities, the use of Supreme Court staff to push sales o… Continue Reading

Durbin, Whitehouse Press Supreme Court Historical Society For Information On Access Between Donors & Justices

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, sent a letter to the Supreme Court Historical Society requesting information regarding the ways in which the Society provides access between Supreme Court Justices and its donors. As part of and in addition to its educational mission, the Society… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Latest Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Jerry Edwards, Jr., nominated to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana, about his legal experience at today's Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. "Mr. Edwards, you have been a litigator since 2006, working in both private practice and at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Shreveport. Before that, you clerked for two judges on the First Judicial District… Continue Reading

Durbin, Wicker Reintroduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) today reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which renames a competitive grant program run by the Department of State to the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program. The grant encourages institutions of higher education to sustainably expand study abroad opportunities to nontraditional locations for underserved American undergraduate students. It is named … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing On Latest Nominations

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 Jerry Edwards, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Louisiana; Brandon S. Long, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana; Matthew James Maddox, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland; and Philip S. Hadji, to be … Continue Reading

Durbin, Whitehouse Announce July 20 Vote in Senate Judiciary Committee on Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will mark up and vote on Whitehouse's Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act on Thursday, July 20. The bill would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, c… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on End of Supreme Court Term & Upcoming Vote on Ethics Reform Legislation

BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the end of the Supreme Court term and his commitment to advance ethics reform legislation in the upcoming work period: "'God save the United States and this Honorable Court!' These are the words spoken by the Marshal when she gavels the Supreme Court into session. But many questions remain at the end of the Court's latest term regarding its rep… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Abolition Of Special Management Unit, Continued Reforms To Prevent Abuse At USP Thomson

BLOOMINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding new reports by The Marshall Project and NPR, as well as Washington Lawyers' Committee, of abuse at USP Thomson: "Throughout my congressional career, I've sought to address injustices facing incarcerated people and their families. Last summer, I was deeply disturbed by reports of abuses at USP Thomson. I called for an investigation, which the Just… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Preserving National Historical Sites With Looking For Lincoln Leaders

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Sarah Watson, Executive Director of Looking for Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA), and Dr. Collin Hitt, the Board Chair of Looking forLincoln, to discuss the importance of preserving national historical sites in Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin received an update on Looking for Lincoln's efforts to promote the story of recently-established New Philadelphia National Historical Site, which … Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Simmons Cancer Institute To Discuss Nationwide Shortage Of Cancer Drugs

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today held a news conference at the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine to discuss the shortage of life-saving drugs for cancer patients. Last month, Durbin urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use the Agency's authority to immediately address the ongoing shortage as it threatens the lives of patients nationwide. FDA has since agreed to import one of the drugs for which U.S. hospitals are seei… Continue Reading