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

Durbin Statement On Return Of Congressionally Directed Spending

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement regarding an announcement that the Appropriations Committee will, on a bipartisan basis, accept requests for congressionally directed spending items for Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills: "I support the return of congressionally directed spending. Senators and Representatives know their states and districts better than federal agency personnel i… Continue Reading

Durbin: America Can't Pinch Pennies When It Comes To Investing In Our Future

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted important provisions in President Biden's American Jobs Plan and spoke about the importance of going big and bold when investing in the future. During his speech, Durbin thanked Republican colleagues for their counter-proposal to the President's American Jobs Plan, but said it fails to meet a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform America and win the 21st century. "We need an infr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Boost Agricultural Research Funding

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), both members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today introduced legislation that would require a five percent annual funding increase each year for the next ten years for research activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With federal agriculture research investments on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States' commitment to publically funded agriculture… Continue Reading

Durbin Marks First 100 Days Of Biden Administration & Senate Democratic Majority In Speech On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - As President Joe Biden prepares to deliver his first Joint Address to Congress on Wednesday and mark the first 100 days in office, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed how far America has come in just 100 days. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin discussed how Congressional Democrats worked with President Biden to pass the American Rescue Plan, which in less than 40 days, is already working to accelerate COVID-19 vaccinations and reduce food insecurity. … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Civilian Conservation Corps

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the RENEW Conservation Corps Act, a bill that would create a civilian conservation corps that provides valuable job training and work experience to Americans while also completing needed maintenance and restoration of parks, trails, and natural areas. Modeled after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps - which employed, educated, and trained three million young men during the Great Depression - Durbin's bi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Spring 2021 Recipient of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Keyla Michelle Ruiz, a junior at The George Washington University from Chicago, Illinois, as one of three Spring 2021 recipients of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in one of Senator Durbin's offices. The program was created in honor of Durbin's … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Spring 2021 Recipient of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Grace Traylor, a student at The George Washington University from Carlinville, Illinois, as one of three Spring 2021 recipients of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in one of Senator Durbin's offices. The program was created in honor of Durbin's f… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Spring 2021 Recipient of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Morgan Hopkins, a recent college graduate from Chicago, Illinois, as one of three Spring 2021 recipients of the Ed Greelegs Scholarship Program. This scholarship, open to students from Illinois or those studying in Illinois, is an opportunity for the students to receive financial assistance while obtaining a first-hand experience in Senator Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. The program was created in honor of Durbin's former Chief of… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Medicare At 50 Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in reintroducing the Medicare at 50 Act. The bill would give people between the ages of 50 and 64 years old the option of buying into Medicare, while ensuring the program is protected for current Medicare beneficiaries. Millions of Americans approaching retirement or forced to retire early due to layoffs or m… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois Education Professionals To Sound The Alarm On For-Profit Colleges

SPRINGFIELD - With high school seniors making decisions about their plans for higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted in-person learning, a report from the National Student Clearing House found that private for-coll… Continue Reading

Durbin, Booker Call On AG Garland To Rescind Trump-Era OLC Opinion That Would For Individuals On Home Confinement To Return To Prison Following Pandemic

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, today sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting that he rescind the Office of Legal Counsel's January 15, 2021, memorandum opinion entitled "Home Confinement of Federal Prisoners After the COVID-19 Emergency" (OLC opinion). In their letter, Durbin and Booke… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually With International Alliance Of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 2 To Discuss Benefits In The American Rescue Plan

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke virtually with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 2, which represents stagehands and theater workers, to discuss the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and its benefits for working families and organized labor. "Millions of working Americans have lost their jobs and health care coverage during this pandemic, including those who depend on the entertainment industry. In many instances, some are still unable to work. T… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Reports That President Biden Will Declare World War I-Era Killings Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding reports that President Joe Biden is preparing to declare the Ottoman Empire's killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian civilians an act of genocide. Last month, Durbin joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) in requesting the Biden Administration join the U.S. Congress in officially recognizing this genocide against the Armenian people. Durbin is also the sponsor and cosponsor of multiple … Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Virtual News Conference To Discuss Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Treatment

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois mental health and addiction treatment experts to discuss how the American Rescue Plan (ARP) will help provide care and treatment for mental health, trauma, and substance use disorders, which have only been compounded across Illinois by the COVID-19 pandemic-especially within communities of color. Illinois has already received $63 million through the ARP in substance abuse block grant funding and $29 million in mental… Continue Reading

Durbin, Wyden, Krishnamoorthi, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill To Reduce Tobacco Use In America

WASHINGTON-U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-D-08) and seven other Senate Democrats, today introduced the bicameral Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2021. The bill would help reduce youth tobacco use by closing loopholes in the tax code that have long been exploited by the tobacco industry to avoid regulation and taxes for their products. The bill would also apply tax parity across al… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Infrastructure With Champaign County First

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Champaign County First to discuss how President Biden's American Jobs Plan can help the county address its infrastructure priorities through significant investment in transportation, clean energy, and workforce development. During their conversation, Durbin and Champaign County leaders touched on several current infrastructure projects in the county that Durbin has supported, including the renovations to The Yards… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes For The COVID-19 Hates Crimes Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). This legislation will improve the Justice Department's response to the appalling rise in hate incidents targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and provide state and local law enforcement with guidance… Continue Reading

Durbin Marks Earth Day In Senate Floor Speech

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to mark Earth Day, the planet's largest annual civic event. Durbin discussed President Biden's Earth Day Leaders Summit, the President's pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emission by at least 50 percent by 2030, and the importance of global collaboration to combat the impacts of climate change. "With this Earth Day Leaders Summit, President Biden is sending the world a clear message. The United States i… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On His Senate Colleagues To Support The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to support the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). This legislation will improve the Justice Department's response to the appalling rise in hate incidents targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and provide state and local law enforcement with guidance and tools… Continue Reading