Press Releases
Durbin: The NATO Alliance Is Stronger Than Ever Before
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to a Joint Session of Congress. Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution cosponsored by Durbin condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. "The second item I would like to mention refers to a moving historic presentation this morning by the President of Ukraine to a Joint … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin, Lead Senate Sponsors Celebrate The Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of the lead cosponsors of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act, joined fellow lead cosponsors, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), to celebrate President Biden signing VAWA's reauthorization into law. "This is a monumental achievement for the survivors of domestic [and] sexual violence … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin Speaks With U.S. Transportation Command, Discusses Military Readiness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost about military readiness priorities including air refueling; sealift recapitalization; strategic airlift; and global command, control, and integration. During their call, Durbin recognized General Ovost's support for the work of units across Illinois, including at Scott Air Force Base and Peoria Air National Guard Base. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Meets With Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Mayors To Talk Infrastructure, COVID-19 Recovery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Municipal League and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding for Illinois infrastructure projects allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). During their meeting, Durbin broke down the $17 billion in direct and guaranteed funding for Illinois from the IIJA. Durbin also spoke about COVID-19 recovery funding for local governments through the American Rescue Plan and received updates … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Removing Barriers To Legal Migration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during "Removing Barriers to Legal Migration to Strengthen our Communities and Economy," a Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing chaired by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). During his opening statement, Durbin highlighted the need for Congress to pass legislation to fix the badly broken immigration system, including to … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
A Proven Consensus Builder, Ketanji Brown Jackson Receives Broad Support From Across The Political Spectrum
WASHINGTON - Since the day President Biden announced his intention to nominate Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court, support for her nomination has flooded in. The Senate Judiciary Committee has received-and continues to receive-glowing support letters for her, highlighting her fair and evenhanded approach; her track record of collegiality and consensus-building; and her qualifications and preparedness to serve on our nation's highest court. The examples outlined below are just some of the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Honors Chicago Area Medical Volunteers Helping Ukrainians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor honoring various Chicago area doctors, nurses, non-profits, and hospitals that are helping Ukrainians following Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Durbin also highlighted Marina Ovsyannikova, the brave Russian TV editor, who held up a sign on a Russian state news broadcast that read, "don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you here. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Logistics For Hearings On Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing entitled "The Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" to begin Monday, March 21, 2022, at 11:00 AM ET and continue through Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The hearings will begin on Monday, March 21 at 11:00 AM ET with statements from Committee members, the individuals who will introduce Judge Jackson, and Judge … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Calls Out FDA On Senate Floor For Six Month Delay In Regulating E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to meet a court deadline to complete its public health review of e-cigarette premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). The deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was September 9, 2021, more than six months ago. While the FDA neglects its responsibility under the law and court order to regulate e-cigarettes, … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin: Vladimir Putin Should Be Charged And Convicted Of The Worst Possible War Crimes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor on the heinous crimes committed by Vladimir Putin in his unprovoked, unjustified invasion of Ukraine. An estimated 2.8 million Ukrainians-almost all of them women, children, and seniors-have fled to other nations, carrying only a few possessions. Durbin also discussed a meeting he held last week with the Senate Democratic Caucus and European Ambassadors. During the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Discusses Retirement Security With Illinois State Treasurer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs about the state of retirement and financial security in Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin received an update from Frerichs about Illinois Secure Choice, a state-facilitated retirement program that helps Illinois employers provide their workers with access to a retirement savings vehicle. Durbin and Frerichs also discussed the ABLE Age Adjustment Act as a possible avenue to offer … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On The First Anniversary Of The American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of the American Rescue Plan one year after Democrats passed the legislation-without a single Republican vote. The American Rescue Plan provided a critical lifeline to low-income families, and it helped stabilize middle-class families by providing enhanced child tax credits, expanded unemployment insurance, and housing relief. It also expanded the availability of affordable health coverage - including … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Tribute To Illinois Director Of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to express his gratitude to Dr. Ngozi Ezike as she steps down from her position as Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health today after leading Illinois through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin highlighted Dr. Ezike's positive impact on public health and applauded her approach to reassuring and educating Illinoisans about coronavirus. Dr. Ezike is a Harvard-trained, … Continue Reading
March 11, 2022
Congress Passes Bipartisan Spending Bill With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill. "Congress came together on a bipartisan basis to pass a comprehensive budget, which will benefit families across Illinois. This bill makes critical investments in public health, housing, infrastructure, public safety and violence prevention, election security, … Continue Reading
March 11, 2022
Senate Passes Bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization
Senate Passes Bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Washington-The Senate passed the omnibus government funding bill that includes the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act, authored by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). The bill, which would reauthorize VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number … Continue Reading
March 11, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Secure $211 Million For Illinois Projects In FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured $211 million through Congressionally-directed spending for Illinois projects in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "This appropriations package invests in the future of Illinois," Durbin said. "The use of … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Senate Passes Bipartisan Spending Bill With Key Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus appropriations bill. "The omnibus spending package is a testament to the incredible progress we have made in the last year and makes significant investments for Illinois. It provides more than $13 billion to the people of Ukraine fighting tooth and nail to defend their freedom. It also … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
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 county infrastructure priorities now that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has been signed into law. During their conversation, Durbin and Champaign County leaders discussed potential federal funding for several current projects in the region, including The Yards development at the Illinois Terminal of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD); the Curtis … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Durbin, Shaheen, Colleagues Meet With European Ambassadors On Ukraine
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, hosted key European Ambassadors to brief the Senate Democratic Caucus on Ukraine. The Senators and Ambassadors discussed transatlantic unity and additional actions Congress and the Administration can take in the coming days and weeks to help the Ukrainian people as they … Continue Reading
March 10, 2022
Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema, Neguse Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable
WASHINGTON - In observation of Open Educational Resource Week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), today introduced bicameral legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The legislation, known as the Affordable College Textbook Act, would … Continue Reading