Durbin, Duckworth Urge U.S. Department Of Veterans Affairs To Assist State Veterans' Homes

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today urged the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to assist the IDVA following a Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General's (OIG) report released last week, which documents a number of failures within IDVA leadership in addressing and preventing a fatal COVID-19 outbreak at … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On State IG Report On LaSalle State Veterans' Home

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today issued the following statement after a report by the Acting Inspector General of the Illinois Department of Human Services revealed a lack of preparation, poor communication and training, and a lapse in infectious-disease protocols at the LaSalle State Veterans' Home. The COVID-19 outbreak at LaSalle… Continue Reading

Durbin, Brown Urge Departments Of Education And Veterans' Affairs To Protect Student Borrowers Harmed By CEHE

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today, in letters to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Secretary of Veterans' Affiars Denis McDonough, called on the Department of Education and Department of Veterans' Affairs to take additional steps to protect students and taxpayers in light of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) vote to withdraw accreditation from the Center for Excellence in Higher Education's … Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Introduce Resolution To Allow Remote Voting During National Emergencies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Standing Rules of the Senate to allow senators to vote remotely during a national crisis. During certain crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may advise against convening the full Senate in the Capitol. However, that should not prevent Congress from safely engaging in its constitution… Continue Reading

Durbin, Payne, Jr. & Blumenthal Introduce Rail Passenger Fairness Act To Improve Amtrak On-Time Performance

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10), and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced today the bicameral Rail Passenger Fairness Act to help improve Amtrak on-time performance (OTP) around the country. The bill provides Amtrak with the ability to take the freight railroads to court in order to enforce current law, which requires freight railroads to provide preference to passenger rail operating on their rail lines… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Drinking Water And Wastewater Infrastructure Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021: "The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act will begin to address the epidemic of lead in our nation's drinking water. It also offers towns like Centreville, Illinois, a chance to fix their broken pumps, shore up drainage ditches, and begin addressing water issues that have been overlooked for far too lon… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Proposed FDA Ban Of Menthol Cigarettes And Flavored Cigars

WASHINGTON-U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will propose a ban on the use of menthol in cigarettes, as well as a ban on the use of all flavors-including menthol-in cigars: "Cigarettes addict, sicken, and kill. For years, Big Tobacco has added menthol flavor to mask the harshness, and targeted these addictive products to Black smokers. There is zero public health justification for allowi… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Virtual Guests For President Biden's First Joint Address To Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a virtual news conference to preview President Joe Biden's first Joint Address to Congress and discuss how the American Rescue Plan has helped Illinoisans. Durbin was joined by four Illinoisans who are his "virtual guests" for the President's Joint Address to Congress. The guests discussed how the American Rescue Plan improved COVID-19 vaccine awareness and distribution, extended unemployment insurance and protected health insu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Biden's Joint Address To Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on President Joe Biden's first Joint Address to Congress: "This new Administration has done far more in its First 100 Days than just tackle the pandemic and help families and small businesses. President Biden is preparing our nation to be competitive in the 21st century-so that Americans will continue to lead the world and the economic recovery. This doesn't happen automatically, we have to put in… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Meet With Illinois Adjutant General Richard Neely

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today spoke by phone with Illinois Adjutant General Richard Neely about establishing a permanent flying mission for the Springfield 183rd Fighter Wing and ensuring that the Peoria 182nd Airlift Wing is considered for future C-130 modernization efforts that could upgrade the wing's C-130H1s to C-130Js. General Neely also provided an update about the deploy… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Remarks In Hearing On Extreme Risk Order Laws To Reduce Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing entitled "Stop Gun Violence: Extreme Risk Order / 'Red Flag' Laws". Durbin highlighted the deadly toll gun violence has taken in Illinois and across the nation and discussed how extreme risk order or "red flag" laws can help prevent tragedies by temporarily removing firearms from individuals deemed da… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Judicial Nominees' Experience As Federal Public Defenders In Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Ketanji Brown Jackson, President Joe Biden's nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; and Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, President Biden's nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, during today's nominations hearing. Durbin highlighted the nominees' experience as federal public defenders-background that is noticeably lacki… Continue Reading

Durbin Gives Opening Remarks In First Judiciary Committee Hearing For President Biden's Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nominations hearing for Ketanji Brown Jackson, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit; Julien Xavier Neals, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Zahid N. Quraishi, to be United States District Judge for th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually With USPS Board Of Governors Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with President Biden's nominees for the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors - Ronald Stroman, former Deputy Postmaster General; Anton Hajjar, former General Counsel for the American Postal Workers Union; and Amber McReynolds, former CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute. During their meeting, Durbin asked the nominees for their thoughts on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's 10-year operational plan, whi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Urge President Biden To Issue Updated Presidential Determination With An Increased Refugee Admissions Target

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 33 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden asking him to issue an updated presidential determination with an increased refugee admissions target for the remainder of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 as soon as possible. The Senators also urged President Biden to set a target of at least 125,000 refugee admissions in FY 2022 and to set the refugee admissions target at 62,500 for… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Introduce Bill To Reduce Distracted Driving And Protect Roadside First Responders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today introduced legislation designed to reduce crashes involving distracted driving and save lives, including preventing first responder roadside deaths. The bill would require the implementation of life-saving safety technologies on all new vehicles, including federal fleet vehicles, fund the deployment of digital alert technology for first … Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association For Virtual Town Hall

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association to talk about the details of President Biden's American Jobs Plan and discuss removing the $10,000 cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. Durbin also answered questions from members about federal investment in Illinois transportation projects, including the extension of the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line. "After four years of hearing about Infrastruct… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill To Expand Protections For Puppies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with 11 of his Senate colleagues, today introduced the Puppy Protection Act, which would create stronger standards for veterinary care, housing, and breeding for dogs. The legislation would ensure that dogs within breeders' care have suitable and safe enclosures, access to outdoor areas, and regularly interact with other dogs and humans. "As many Americans welcomed a dog into their family during the pandemic, we must ensure that t… Continue Reading

Durbin: Why Is The U.S. Slow To Respond To The Power Of Social Media Algorithms?

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Tristan Harris, Co-Founder and President of the Center for Humane Technology, during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Algorithms and Amplification: How Social Media Platforms' Design Choices Shape Our Discourse and Our Minds." Durbin asked Harris why the United States has been slow to respond to the issue of highly targeted alg… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Privacy, Technology, And The Law Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the "Algorithms and Amplification: How Social Media Platforms' Design Choices Shape Our Discourse and Our Minds" Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing. During his opening statement, Durbin discussed protecting privacy and how social media platforms use highly targeted algorithms to captivate and persuade us in every aspect o… Continue Reading