Press Releases
Durbin: Congress Must Act in the Lame Duck Session to Protect Dreamers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, spoke on the Senate floor about the urgency of passing the Dream Act before the end of the year to protect Dreamers from deportation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program has allowed hundreds of thousands of Dreamers to thrive in the United States. They are protected from deportation for now, but due to lawsuits by extreme MAGA Republicans, … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Durbin Urges Amtrak to Restore Passenger Service Between Quincy and Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Amtrak leadership vocalizing his concern over Amtrak's recent decision to suspend morning train service between Quincy and Chicago until January 16 and replace it with bus service. In his letter, Durbin emphasized that the suspension of service has serious economic consequences for Illinois constituents, many of whom are now left without transportation to and from their jobs. "I am concerned by Amtrak's recent … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
Durbin Leads Colleagues in Urging OMB to Follow Through on CHIPS Act Authorizations For Department of Energy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 17 of his Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to ensure that the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science is given the full amount of authorized funding allocated by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request. In their letter, the Senators emphasize that properly funding DOE will demonstrate the U.S.' commitment to remaining a leader in global … Continue Reading
November 21, 2022
After FTX Collapse, Durbin, Warren, Smith Continue to Press Fidelity On Bitcoin Exposure to Retirement Funds
CHICAGO - In light of the recent implosion of FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) again urged Fidelity Investments to reconsider their decision to allow 401(k) plan sponsors to offer plan participants exposure to Bitcoin, a highly volatile and risky digital asset. Fidelity is one of the largest 401(k) providers with more than 32 million Americans and 22,000 employers who trust Fidelity … Continue Reading
November 19, 2022
Durbin Statement on New York Times Report Alleging Leak of Hobby Lobby Decision
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a report by the New York Times that alleges that the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores was leaked to Rob Schenk, then a prominent anti-abortion leader, "weeks before it was announced," which allowed him "to prepare a public relations push" and tip off the President of Hobby Lobby: "The Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
November 18, 2022
Durbin Statement on the Justice Department's Appointment of a Special Counsel to Oversee Trump Investigations
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Special Counsel Jack Smith to oversee two ongoing criminal investigations involving former President Donald Trump, including his role in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and his improper retention and mishandling of sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago, Florida home: "By appointing … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Urges Republicans to Join Democrats in Addressing Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor today about our broken immigration system and what Congress must do to fix it after more than 30 years of inaction. Durbin also called on his Republican colleagues to sit down with him on a timely, bipartisan basis to find a compromise on border security and protections for Dreamers. "We need an orderly process for immigration in America, both at the border and off … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin Receives Updates on Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects From Rock Island Army Corps District Commander
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Jesse Curry to receive an update on several Illinois water infrastructure projects, including the restoration of Quincy Bay, the Brandon Road project to protect the Great Lakes from the spread of invasive Asian Carp, and the modernization of Illinois locks and dams through the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). "Illinois' water … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Meet Leaders of Illinois' Predominantly Black Institutions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with the presidents of four Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) in Illinois to discuss federal support for PBI colleges and students. During their meeting, the Senators spoke with the college presidents about ensuring that PBIs receive adequate federal funding, which would help PBIs address capacity building, enrollment declines, and student success outcomes. "Illinois is home to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin Statement on Release of DOJ Guidance on Discharging Student Loans in Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidance to Assistant U.S. Attorneys on the handling of undue hardship claims by student borrowers in bankruptcy proceedings: "For too long, Americans struggling with student loan debt have been effectively unable to use the bankruptcy system to seek a path to financial recovery. That needs to change. … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin Statement on Speaker Pelosi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced her decision to not seek another term as the House Democratic Leader: "Our nation owes a debt of gratitude for all Speaker Pelosi has accomplished during her remarkable tenure as the first woman Speaker. She kept a diverse caucus united, and served as a fearless check-and-balance during the four years of the Trump presidency. She was instrumental in … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Blessing Hospital System Leadership to Discuss Rural Health Challenges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Maureen Kahn, CEO of Blessing Health System located in Quincy, Illinois. In their meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kahn spoke about the challenges rural hospitals face, including workforce shortages, the burnout health professionals are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and ongoing public health threats. "Day in and day out, we rely on our health care workers, who face … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Judiciary Committee Advances Three U.S. Attorneys, One U.S. Marshal
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Peter D. Leary, to be United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia; McLain J. Schneider, to be United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota; and Leigha Simonton, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, by voice vote. The Committee also advanced David Davis, nominated to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, by voice vote. Ahead of the votes, … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Judiciary Committee Advancing Nomination of David Davis to Serve as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of David C. Davis to serve as United States Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Southern District, Durbin and Duckworth forwarded the names of individuals to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin Highlights Strains on Families, Hospitals From Current RSV Surge
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the dramatic new surge in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)-a respiratory virus that can be especially serious for young children and older adults. During his speech, Durbin called on Congress to provide the resources to get us safely through this current surge, including to address the workforce shortages faced by children's hospitals. He also highlighted an Illinois pediatrician, who had to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2022
Durbin Introduces Legislation to Incentivize Energy Reductions for Additional Consumer Savings
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Electrification Caucus, introduced the Responsive Energy Demand Unlocks Clean Energy (REDUCE) Act to eliminate states' ability to "opt out" of aggregated demand response. The legislation would allow consumers nationwide to sell their energy reductions into the wholesale market. "Allowing consumers to sell their energy reductions into the wholesale market is an important step toward decarbonizing our energy … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Durbin Praises Senate Advancement of the Respect for Marriage Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today told the story of Amanda, an Illinois social worker who will soon be celebrating her fifth anniversary as a married couple with her wife, Cally. "The two of them have actually been together for eight years, but after the Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell, they decided it was time to tie the knot," Durbin said. "That ruling affirmed their … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Durbin, Grassley Call on DOJ to Fully Implement Earned Time Credit for Eligible Prisoners As Part of First Step Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to fully implement the Earned Time Credit (ETC) provisions of their bipartisan First Step Act of 2018 (FSA). The First Step Act is landmark bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation designed to make our … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Durbin Accepts Lifetime Achievement Award From American Bar Association President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Deborah Enix-Ross, the President of the American Bar Association (ABA). Durbin and Enix-Ross discussed the importance of enacting the bipartisan Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, which would protect judges from physical threats by preventing their sensitive personal information from being shared online, and spoke further about ensuring that legal representation is … Continue Reading
November 16, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Join Merkley In Introducing Legislation to Protect Consumers From Predatory Payday Lending Practices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), in introducing the Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act. The SAFE Lending Act will protect consumers from deceptive and predatory practices that strip wealth from working families by cracking down on some of the worst abuses stemming from the … Continue Reading