Press Releases
Durbin Calls On FBI, Bureau Of Justice Statistics To Collect Nationwide Data On Carjacking
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today wrote letters to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) calling for prompt action to initiate nationwide data collection on carjacking. In his letters, Durbin emphasized that data collection plays a critical role in crime prevention and informing investigation and enforcement strategies that could help save lives. … Continue Reading
February 11, 2022
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Legislation To Retain International Graduates With Advanced STEM Degrees
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced a bill that would remove unfair barriers for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educated international students who want to work in the United States after they complete their advanced degrees. The Keep STEM … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Biden For EV Charging Network Investments, Highlight Job Creation Benefits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted that the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) nationwide electric vehicle (EV) charging network investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will have important benefits in Illinois, including creating good-paying, local jobs and making it easier for Illinoisans to travel the state and nation. DOT's investments in EV charging will total nearly $5 billion available over the next five years, … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Meet With President Biden And Vice President Harris To Discuss Supreme Court Vacancy
WASHINGTON - At a meeting in the White House, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the Supreme Court vacancy. Along with Durbin, today's meeting was also attended by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin, Brown, Senators Urge CFPB To Investigate Private Student Lenders' Compliance With Bankruptcy Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today led six colleagues in writing a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to express their concerns, first raised in a Student Borrower Protection Center (SBPC) report, that private student loan companies and servicers are intentionally misrepresenting to borrowers the possibility of discharging "non-qualified" private student loans in bankruptcy. Federal law prevents … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin Highlights Violence Against Women Act, Ending Forced Arbitration Of Sexual Assault And Sexual Harassment Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, legislation that will prevent survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault from being forced into secretive, biased forced arbitration proceedings. Durbin also called on the Senate to pass the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act (VAWA), which was introduced by Senators Durbin, Dianne … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin Calls Out Republican Tactics To Stall U.S. Marshal Nominee For The Northern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fought back against stalling tactics by Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, who were attempting to delay confirmation of LaDon Reynolds, nominee to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin praised Reynolds for his qualifications for the position and expressed support for his full … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Durbin, Gilibrand, Graham Celebrate Senate Passage Of Landmark Bill To Void And Prevent Forced Arbitration Agreements For Sexual Harassment And Sexual Assault
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in announcing the Senate passage of the bipartisan Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, legislation that will prevent perpetrators from being able to push survivors of sexual harassment and sexual assault into the secretive, biased process of forced arbitration. Under the bill, … Continue Reading
February 10, 2022
Judiciary Committee Advances Nine Nominees, Two Bipartisan Bills
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Andre B. Mathis, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Jessica G.L. Clarke, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York; Hector Gonzalez, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Fred W. Slaughter, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; and Andrew Fois, to be Chairman of the Administrative Conference of … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Senate Confirms Leonard Stark To The Federal Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Leonard Stark's nomination to serve on the Federal Circuit by a vote of 61-35. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Stark's confirmation: "Judge Stark is an exceptional jurist whose extensive background as a trial judge includes presiding over thousands of patent cases and several dozen patent trials. Judge Stark has also served on several federal … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin: Dr. Fauci Deserves To Be Listed Alongside World's Greatest Scientific Minds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to express his support for Dr. Anthony Fauci-Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH)-and praised him for using his expertise to see the United States through numerous public health crises like HIV/AIDS, SARS, avian flu, swine flu, Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19. In his speech, Durbin called out Dr. Fauci's Republican detractors … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin Meets With Rural Illinois Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association to discuss the challenges hospitals and health care providers are facing with COVID-19, behavioral health challenges, and delivering maternal health care services in rural Illinois. During their conversation, Durbin received an update on workforce shortages, the burnout health professionals are experiencing, and how federal programs and funding are helping to … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Modernize Violence Against Women Act
Washington-Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today introduced the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act. The bill, which would reauthorize VAWA through 2027, preserves advancements made in previous reauthorizations and includes a number of additional improvements to the current law. "This bill is the result of a true bipartisan effort, written in partnership with … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On U.S. Drone Strikes And Civilian Casualties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "'Targeted Killing' and the Rule of Law: The Legal and Human Costs of 20 Years of U.S. Drone Strike." This is the first hearing since 2013-which Durbin also chaired-on the United States' use of drone strikes to lethally target suspected terrorists overseas. Durbin first questioned Stephen Pomper, Chief of Policy at … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On U.S. Drone Strikes And Civilian Casualties
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "'Targeted Killing' and the Rule of Law: The Legal and Human Costs of 20 Years of U.S. Drone Strikes." This is the first hearing since 2013-which Durbin also chaired-on the United States' use of drone strikes to lethally target suspected terrorists overseas. Key quotes: "In the nine years since that 2013 hearing, the … Continue Reading
February 09, 2022
Durbin: Johnson & Johnson Is Avoiding Accountability To Customers Who Got Cancer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered remarks at the Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing on "Abusing Chapter 11: Corporate Efforts to Side-Step Accountability Through Bankruptcy." During his remarks, Durbin called out Johnson & Johnson for using a corporate bankruptcy shell game known as the "Texas Two-Step" to avoid facing claims from cancer-stricken customers. If … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Community College Trustees Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with board members, presidents, staff, and students from the Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) to discuss continued support for community colleges. The Senators expressed their support for increasing the Pell grant and assistance for students' basic needs. In addition, they discussed the nursing shortage and support for undocumented students. "Our … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin: The Supreme Court Is Dismantling Voting Rights, Congress Must Swiftly Enact The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling yesterday which blocked a lower court ruling that required Alabama lawmakers to draw new congressional districts before the 2022 elections to protect the rights of Black voters, who are currently gerrymandered into a single district. Because of this ruling, Alabama's upcoming elections will be conducted under a map … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin: Republican Party Leaders Are Normalizing The Use Of Violence To Achieve Political Goals
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out the Republican Party for its blatant disregard of American democracy days after the Republican National Committee declared the deadly January 6th insurrection a form of "legitimate political discourse." In his speech, Durbin went on to describe how the Big Lie has inspired Donald Trump's supporters to commit violent acts - or make threats of violence against public officials. The Brennan … Continue Reading
February 08, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $912 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding For CTA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $912.1 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding awarded to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to help the agency continue to respond to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Reliable and affordable public transportation is critically important for Chicago residents and essential for our region's economic recovery. This American Rescue Plan funding … Continue Reading