Press Releases
Durbin: If Republicans Were Serious About Violent Crime, They Would Get Serious About The January 6 Insurrection
WASHINGTON - Responding to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the Republican Party's hypocrisy on combating violent crime. "We are going through regular-sometimes daily, sometimes weekly-lectures from the Republicans about who's soft on crime," Durbin said. "Every single nominee that comes from the Biden White House is subject to being challenged as to … Continue Reading
February 17, 2022
Durbin, Shaheen, Portman Reaffirm Bipartisan Support For Ukraine, Lead New Resolution In Support Of Democratic Partners
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, led a bipartisan group of Senators, including Senate Foreign Relations Chairman and Ranking Member, Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), on a new, bipartisan resolution in support of Ukraine … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Approving $415 Million In New Borrower Defense Relief For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education approved more than 15,000 borrower defense claims for students defrauded by for-profit colleges totaling $415 million. This includes students who attended DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute's nursing program, and Minnesota School of Business/Globe University following approval of four new findings and the continued review of borrower defense … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Senate Republican Blocks Durbin, Democrats' Attempts To Fill Critical Law Enforcement Positions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today requested unanimous consent to approve the nominations of six U.S. Attorney (USA) nominees and two U.S. Marshal (USM) nominees. USAs and USMs play a critical role in enforcing the law, promoting public safety, and protecting our communities. Despite their eminent qualifications and critical role in protecting our communities, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) objected to the unanimous … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Sherilyn Peace Garnett, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; and Trina L. Thompson, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. During … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Speaks With Acting NIH Director Dr. Tabak, Discusses Medical Research Funding, ACT for ALS Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. Larry Tabak, who has served in the position since December 2021 when former director Dr. Francis Collins stepped down. During their meeting, Durbin urged Dr. Tabak to begin implementing the new grant programs and partnerships authorized under ACT for ALS, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden late last year. The … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Sherilyn Peace Garnett, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Trina L. Thompson, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; and Paul … Continue Reading
February 16, 2022
Durbin Responds To Senator Johnson Withholding Blue Slip For Eastern District Of Wisconsin Nominee
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed a statement that Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) issued last night indicating he would not return a blue slip on Judge William Pocan, nominated to the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Judge Pocan was scheduled to appear at today's hearing, but the traditional practice of the Committee is not to proceed with hearings on district … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Durbin, Schumer, McConnell, Thune, Reed, Inhofe, Brown, Toomey, Menendez, Risch, Warner, Rubio Message Of Solidarity With The People Of Ukraine
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-SD), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Senate Banking Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Durbin, Yarmuth, Boyle Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Transfer Debt Ceiling Authority To Treasury Secretary
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), House Budget Committee Chair Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY), and House Budget Committee Vice-Chair Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA) introduced the Debt Ceiling Reform Act, legislation that would repeal the debt ceiling and give the Secretary of the Treasury the authority to issue new debt as long as the president notifies Congress that new debt is needed. Republicans previously used stonewalling tactics led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Durbin Highlights Johnson & Johnson's Shameful 'Texas Two-Step' Maneuver On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, 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. The 'Texas Two-Step' is the name given to a highly controversial legal strategy that some of the biggest companies are now using to shield their assets from accountability. It allows massively wealthy … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Dr. Robert Califf To Lead FDA
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Robert Califf's nomination to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after voting in favor of Dr. Califf's confirmation: "The person leading FDA must feel a deep sense of responsibility to protect the health and well-being of all Americans, including to help lead our COVID-19 response and ensure the safety of food on our tables and medicine in our … Continue Reading
February 15, 2022
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls Out Nefarious For-Profit Operator Dr. Arthur Keiser For His Conflict Of Interest As Chair Of NACIQI
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senator floor calling out Dr. Arthur Keiser for his consistent underhanded dealings that include his questionable nonprofit conversion of Keiser University, his ownership of the for-profit Southeastern College, and his chairmanship of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). NACIQI serves as the Department of Education's federal advisory board that approves the … Continue Reading
February 11, 2022
Durbin, Colleagues Press Ice On "Excessive And Seemingly Indiscriminate" Use Of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is calling on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide information on the use of solitary confinement in ICE facilities. In a letter to Acting Director Tae Johnson, Durbin-along with Senators and Judiciary Committee members Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Christopher Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alex Padilla … Continue Reading
February 11, 2022
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