Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Urge SBA To Support State's Request For McLean County Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman supporting Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's request for a Disaster Declaration for McLean County in Illinois as a result of severe flooding that occurred last month. Severe storms caused up to 10 inches of flooding in McLean County. The damage assessment conducted this month by the SBA found that many proper… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Hold E-Cigarette Companies Accountable For The Youth Vaping Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to protect children from the dangers of e-cigarettes. The Resources to Prevent Youth Vaping Act would require that e-cigarette manufacturers pay user fees to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide the agency with additional resources to conduct stron… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Durbin, Senators Urge President Biden To Restore Bears Ears National Monument
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led his colleagues U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in sending a letter to President Biden urging him to restore the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments using his authority under the Antiquities Act. Under the previous administr… Continue Reading
07.23.21
Durbin Discusses DACA Program With DHS Secretary Mayorkas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met virtually yesterday afternoon with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to discuss the importance of fortifying DACA and passing the Dream Act following a Texas federal judge vacating the DACA program earlier this month. The judge's ruling prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from approving new DACA applications. "I'm relieved to work with an Administration th… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin, Lightfoot, Attorney General Garland Discuss Gun Trafficking Strike Force, Investments In Community Violence Prevention Programs In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today joined Attorney General Merrick Garland in Chicago to discuss several initiatives to address gun violence in the city, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) implementation of a firearms trafficking strike force in the city. Durbin, Lightfoot, and Garland visited the Chicago Police Department (CPD) 11th District Office for a briefing about law enforce… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin Calls For A Pathway To Citizenship And Secure, Compassionate Immigration System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for a secure, compassionate immigration reform after 35 years of inaction by Congress on the issue. In his speech, Durbin spoke about the continued uncertainty that undocumented immigrants face, including the looming fear of deportation that prevents them from living a full life in the United States despite residing on American soil for years or… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Hirono, Booker Introduce Bill To Expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness To Adjunct Professors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced the Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act to allow part-time faculty at colleges and universities - who are often paid low wages with few benefits - to be eligible to participate in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. PSLF is designed to encourage graduates to pursue a career in public service by offering loan forgi… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin: We Owe It To The Capitol Police To Investigate January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today once again slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan January 6 commission to investigate what took place at the U.S. Capitol Building. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that a full investigation is necessary in order to prevent another incident and to honor the brave law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol on that day. "The men and women who safegu… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin Meets With Baseball Safety Advocates & MLB Commissioner Manfred To Discuss Fan Safety
WASHINGTON-This week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with a group of baseball safety advocates and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to discuss fan safety at Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) games. In separate meetings, Durbin discussed the implementation of extended protective netting at many ballparks around the country and applauded MLB for asking teams to extend netting after the 2019 season. "In 2019, it was clear something had to be done to protect… Continue Reading
07.22.21
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Gustavo A. Gelpi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit; Angel Kelley, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Christine P. O'Hearn, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Helaine Ann Greenfeld, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legislative Affairs; and Christopher H. Schroeder, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal … Continue Reading
07.22.21
Durbin to Join Attorney General Garland In Chicago Today To Announce Gun Violence Strike Force
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced he will be joining Attorney General Merrick Garland on his trip to Chicago today to discuss several initiatives to address gun violence in the city, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) implementation of a firearms trafficking strike force: "When it comes to the gun violence epidemic, we have a choice: give up or stand up. Attorney General Garland and I are committed to ass… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Meets Virtually With Illinois Farm Bureau President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met virtually with Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert and members of the organization. On the call, Durbin discussed agriculture priorities for Illinois' farmers, including the importance of farmworker labor, ethanol production, international trade agreements, greater price transparency in the livestock markets, and the need for strong transportat… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $121 Million In Federal Funding For Emergency Preparedness In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $121 million in federal funding to improve emergency preparedness across Illinois. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will go to state and local authorities, nonprofit and religious institutions, transportation agencies, and port facility operators in Illinois to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other disasters. "Illinois will … Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Hearing On Need For Path To Citizenship For Immigrant Farmworkers
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to reflect on the state of agriculture in Secretary Vilsack's home state of Iowa as it relates to the issue of immigrant farmworkers. "We have a witness in the next panel, Linnea Kooistra-thank you for being here-she's from a dairy family… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the failed Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework: "For months, Senators negotiated this bipartisan infrastructure framework. It is unfortunate we could not agree to merely start debate today. "Illinois needs the federal funding promised in this bipartisan infrastructure framework right now. We are ready to put people t… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Delivers Opening Statement At Immigrant Farmworkers Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified today during the "Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America" Judiciary Committee hearing, the first-ever appearance by an Agriculture Secretary before the full Senate Judiciary Committee. During his opening statement, Vilsack discussed the important role immigrant farmworkers have in the food and agriculture industry and the overall economy. He also voiced support for passage of the bipartisan, House-passed Farm Workforce M… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Hearing On Need For Path To Citizenship For Immigrant Farmworkers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America." The hearing will examine the essential contributions of immigrant farmworkers to our food supply and highlight the need for the Senate to take up legislation to provide a path to citizenship for undocumented farmworkers. Key quotes: "During this p… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Durbin, Senators Welcome Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya To Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) to welcome Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to the U.S. Senate this afternoon to meet with a bipartisan group of lawmakers. The lawmakers were also joined by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Julie Fisher - the United States Ambassador to Belarus - for the discussion, where they highlighted U.S. support… Continue Reading
07.21.21
Senate Passes Critical Bipartisan, House-Passed Legislation To Strengthen The Victims Of Crime Act
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate passed bipartisan, House-passed legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is funded. This legislation, led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) will redirect monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the CVF to increase funding for state victim compensation and assistan… Continue Reading
07.20.21
Durbin, Booker: We Should Not Force Individuals On Home Confinement To Return To Prison
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 responded to reports that the Biden Administration has decided that thousands of nonviolent inmates who were released on home confinement to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will be required to return to prison one month after the official state of emergency for the pandemic… Continue Reading