Press Releases
Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Young Man From Chicago Who Grew Up In The Middle Of The Gun Violence Epidemic
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Ernest Willingham's prepared testimony during today's hearing entitled "Protecting America's Children From Gun Violence." Ernest Willingham is a 19-year-old college student at Northeastern University who grew up on the West Side of Chicago. The youngest of 11 children in his family and the first in his family to attend high school or college, Ernest has multiple family members who have been shot, and four years ago his best friend was … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin Questions DACA Recipient In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Immigration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Dalia Larios, a resident at Harvard's Radiation Oncology Program and the first DACA recipient to be admitted to Harvard Medical School, at the "Strengthening our Workforce and Economy through Higher Education and Immigration" Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing. The hearing comes one day before the tenth anniversary of Deferred Action … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Statement On Caterpillar Decision To Move Headquarters From Illinois
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 released the following statement regarding Caterpillar's plans to move its headquarters from the Chicago area to Texas after nearly 100 years: "Caterpillar's surprise decision to move its headquarters from Illinois after nearly 100 years is extremely disappointing. While in terms of jobs impact for Illinois, this transition will only directly … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Immigration 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 "Strengthening our Workforce and Economy through Higher Education and Immigration" Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing. The hearing comes one day before the tenth anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During his opening statement, Durbin highlighted the need for Congress to pass … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
On Senate Floor, Durbin urges Release Of Political Prisoners
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted the plight of political prisoners in four nations and called for their immediate release. All of these political prisoners have been outspoken in their support for democracy and basic freedoms. Durbin began his speech by highlighting Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was arrested in Moscow following an interview in which he called Vladimir Putin's government "a team of … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin: We Came Close To Losing Democracy In America On January 6
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the revelations the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol has shared in its first two public hearings. "After 11 months and more than a thousand interviews, the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol is sharing its findings with America and the … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $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 $5,063,700 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants. The funding will go to research institutions throughout Illinois to invest in groundbreaking research, improved care, and efforts to treat illnesses and diseases. "Illinois is home to world-class health care providers and research institutions. If we hope to expand our understanding of diseases, from … Continue Reading
June 14, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $8 Million For Cancer Prevention And Control Programs In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced nearly $7.791 million in Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants. The funding will go to three programs in Illinois that promote cancer prevention and reduce the incidence of cancer. "This federal funding will support critical work being done to treat cancer in Illinois," Durbin said. "Strong investments in medical research - which lead to new cures and treatments … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Calls For Group Discharge Of Student Loans For Those Defrauded By Westwood College
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech calling on the Department of Education to finally forgive the outstanding federal student loans of borrowers who were enrolled in Westwood College's fraudulent criminal justice program. Durbin's call to action comes after the Department wiped away $5.8 billion in student debt for borrowers who attended any campus owned by Corinthian Colleges, regardless if they applied for … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Illinois School District To Apply For EPA Clean School Bus Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to more than 300 Illinois school district administrators to inform them that their districts are eligible to participate in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program (CSBP). The program, a $5 billion effort established under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, aims to convert the nation's school bus fleets to low- and zero-emission … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
On Senate Floor, Durbin Praises New Bipartisan Gun Safety Framework
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today praised the bipartisan framework to help keep America's children and communities safe from our nation's epidemic of gun violence. The bipartisan proposal was crafted by a group of senators led by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX), and comes after recent mass shootings including the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Boeing CEO Following Decision To Move Headquarters From Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun to discuss Boeing's recent decision to move its global headquarters from Chicago to Arlington, Virginia. The Senators wrote a letter urging Calhoun to maintain a strong presence in Chicago after the May 5th announcement. In the letter, the Senators emphasized the impact Boeing's relocation would have on Illinois' economy. Currently, Boeing's … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Colleagues In Calling On DOJ To Ensure Government Websites Comply With The ADA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led a group of 10 Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide better guidance and regulations to help State and local governments better comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act's (ADA) accessibility requirements on their websites, mobile applications and other forms of technology. In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick … Continue Reading
June 13, 2022
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support The Bipartisan Honoring Out PACT Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the bipartisan Honoring Our PACT Act, which is being considered on the Senate floor this week. The legislation will expand eligibility for health care for veterans suffering from toxic exposure in the line of duty and directs the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to devote the resources and personnel needed to process new claims and treat new patients. It also supports VA medical … Continue Reading
June 12, 2022
Durbin Statement on New Bipartisan Gun Safety Framework
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after a bipartisan group of Senators announced a common sense new proposal to help keep America's children and communities safe from the gun violence epidemic: "We have been elected to the United States Senate to respond to American crises. Each of the elements in this bipartisan gun safety package has the potential to save lives. I continue to believe … Continue Reading
June 10, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Forward Recommendations For Central District Of Illinois District Court Judge To White House
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a list of names to the White House to consider for a forthcoming Springfield-based federal district court judicial vacancy in the Central District of Illinois. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Central District, Durbin and Duckworth have forwarded the names of the following three … Continue Reading
June 10, 2022
Durbin Highlights Federal Efforts To Address Skyrocketing Cost Of Insulin For Patients
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined doctors to call for the passage of federal legislation to reduce the price of insulin for patients impacted by diabetes. Durbin is an original co-sponsor of the Affordable Insulin Now Act, which would cap the monthly cost of insulin at $35 per month for patients. Approximately eight million Americans-a quarter-million in Illinois-rely on insulin to manage their blood sugar levels. However, studies show that more than one-quarter of … Continue Reading
June 09, 2022
ICYMI: Ahead Of House Hearing On January 6 Insurrection, Judiciary Committee Details Critical Findings From October 2021 Reporter Obtained Through Senate Investigation
WASHINGTON - In case you missed it: Following an eight-month investigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee released testimony and a staff report in October 2021 entitled Subverting Justice: How the Former President and his Allies Pressured DOJ to Overturn the 2020 Election. The report and testimony reveal that we were only a half-step away from a full blown constitutional crisis as President Donald Trump and his loyalists threatened a wholesale takeover of the Department of Justice (DOJ). … Continue Reading
June 09, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Cosponsor Puerto Rican Self-Determination Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced their cosponsorship of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez's (D-NJ) Puerto Rican Self-Determination Act, legislation that would enable Puerto Ricans to determine their own political future and relationship with the United States. Under this legislation, a status convention would be created for residents to decide what kind of status they want going forward, and allow them to propose this … Continue Reading
June 09, 2022
Durbin Slams BOP Mismanagement, Allegations Of Abuse At USP Thomson
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about a disturbing new report published by NPR and the Marshall Project that details the deaths of seven incarcerated men and allegations of serious abuses by staff at the United States Penitentiary Thomson (USP Thomson). "It's no secret that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has been plagued by misconduct. One investigation after another has revealed a … Continue Reading