Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Chipman Nomination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): "ATF is a federal agency focused on reducing gun violence by enforcing the law and prohibiting the sale of firearms to convicted felons and other dangerous individuals. The gun industry resents their work as it … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL): "Adlai was my friend and partner in countless causes over the years. Like his father before him, Adlai was most at home in the cerebral world of politics. His most effective ally in retail politics was his beloved wife, Nancy. The two were inseparable and one of the best teams in Illinois Democratic politics. Loretta and … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Durbin Meets With Biden's Nominee To Lead The Office Of National Drug Control Policy
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominee to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). During their meeting, Durbin and Gupta discussed the Doctor's work combatting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and how he will draw upon his extensive public health experience to meet ONDCP's mission of reducing substance use disorders and the impact of addiction in … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Durbin Discusses Staffing Concerns At USP Thomson With Local 4070 Of The Council Of Prison Locals
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke by phone with Jon Zumkehr, President of Local 4070 of the Council of Prison Locals (CPL), and Brian Mueller, CPL North Central Regional Vice President, about ongoing staffing challenges at USP Thomson and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities throughout Illinois. Durbin received an update on retention and recruitment efforts at USP Thomson, including the success of direct … Continue Reading
September 07, 2021
Durbin Meets With ICIRR To Discuss Urgent Need For Pathway To Legal Status For Undocumented Immigrants
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and coalition groups to discuss the urgent need to provide a pathway to legal status for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers through the budget reconciliation process. "For 35 years, Congress has repeatedly failed to provide a pathway to legal status for … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee To Examine The Texas Abortion Ban And The Shadow Supreme Court's Abuse Of Its "Shadow Docket"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing examining the Supreme Court's abuse of its "shadow-docket," particularly its order permitting Texas's extreme new abortion restrictions to take effect this week. Late Wednesday night, the Court issued an order refusing to block the Texas law banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat-about six weeks from … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Durbin Meets Virtually With New AFL-CIO President
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the new President of AFL-CIO, Liz Shuler, to discuss her vision for the labor movement and congressional efforts to expand collective bargaining rights through the PRO Act. During their conversation, Durbin and Shuler spoke about labor priorities being considered in the upcoming budget reconciliation bill, including high-quality clean energy jobs. "Richard Trumka was a giant who led the labor movement in … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million Telehealth Grant For Mercy Health System In Rockford
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Mercy Health System in Rockford was awarded $1 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant, awarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and established as part of the CARES Act, will allow Mercy Health Systems to purchase devices that will enable audio/video interaction between providers and patients during the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
September 02, 2021
Durbin, Business Leaders Discuss Immigrant Legalization Through Reconciliation
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with Business Roundtable affiliates to discuss the urgent need to pass immigration reform through budget reconciliation, including measures to provide legal permanent residency to Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers. "We need to provide a path to legal status for Dreamers and others who are contributing to our economy every … Continue Reading
September 01, 2021
Durbin Talks E-Cigarettes, COVID-19 Relief, And Assistance For Afghan Refugees With HHS Secretary
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra about pressing public health priorities, including preventing youth e-cigarette use, addressing trauma and community violence, ensuring frontline hospitals and other health providers receive federal funding to assist with COVID-19 efforts, and the importance of swiftly assisting Afghan refugees with access to health and social services. In … Continue Reading
September 01, 2021
Durbin Discusses Public Safety With Rockford Mayor, Police Chief, And Fire Department Chief
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, new Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, and new Rockford Fire Department Chief Michele Pankow. Redd and Pankow are the first female chiefs to lead their Departments. During the meeting, Durbin offered his support to help enhance public safety and prevent violent crime in Rockford. "Our local leaders are critical in implementing strategies to prevent crime and keep our communities safe. It was … Continue Reading
August 31, 2021
Durbin Joins Environmental Leaders For Discussion On Clean Energy, Infrastructure
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with leaders of Illinois environmental groups to discuss the state's clean energy and infrastructure priorities. On the call, Durbin provided details on the passed budget resolution and suggested provisions in the upcoming reconciliation bill, including a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), which would pay utilities to produce more clean energy each year. Durbin and the environmental leaders went on to discuss … Continue Reading
August 27, 2021
Durbin Discusses New Cancer Treatment Center With University Of Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Dr. Kenneth Polonsky, President of UChicago Medicine Health System, and Dr. Kunle Odunsi, Director of UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the University of Chicago's new Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCMC). On the call, Durbin spoke about federal funding to support the hospital's mission and the institution's National Institutes of Health (NIH) designation as a comprehensive cancer center. UCMC … Continue Reading
August 26, 2021
Durbin Statement On Bombing Attacks in Afghanistan
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the attacks outside the Kabul airport and the Baron Hotel in Afghanistan: "Today's heinous attacks in Kabul targeted American citizens, service members, diplomats, and vulnerable Afghans trying to flee for their safety. My heart is with families and loved ones of the service members and other innocent people who have been injured or killed in these acts of terror. "Once the airport and … Continue Reading
August 26, 2021
Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Take Advantage of Parole To Expedite Evacuation Of Afghans
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 27 Senators this week in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to expedite efforts to evacuate Afghans at risk as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Senators specifically pushed for the Administration to explore the use of parole to speed up entry for … Continue Reading
August 24, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Federal Grants For Three Rural EMS Agencies in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that three rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Illinois have been awarded a total of $381,091 in federal grant funding. This federal funding was created by Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, which was signed into law in 2018. Today's funding supports EMS agencies in responding to the opioid epidemic, COVID-19 pandemic, and other rural health challenges, … Continue Reading
August 24, 2021
Durbin Meets With Afghan Community Members & Resettlement Leaders
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Afghan American community members and resettlement leaders to discuss the ongoing situation in Afghanistan. During the meeting, Durbin committed to continuing to advocate for at-risk Afghans - both those being evacuated out of Afghanistan and those seeking refuge in the United States. Durbin was joined by Sima Quraishi, Executive Director of the Muslim Women's Resource Center (MWRC) in Chicago. "It was my … Continue Reading
August 23, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging SBA To Grant Economic Injury Disaster Declaration For Ford County
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) led all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) requesting that Ford County be granted an Economic Injury Disaster Declaration following severe flooding earlier this month. The letter comes in support of Governor J.B. Pritzker's request after his office determined that the severity of flood damage was beyond the capacity of … Continue Reading
August 20, 2021
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Rahm Emanuel To Serve As Ambassador To Japan
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the Biden Administration's intent to nominate Rahm Emanuel as the U.S. Ambassador to Japan: "Rahm Emanuel has a lifetime of public service preparing him to speak for America. Japan is an important strategic partner in Asia, particularly in light of our continued challenges from China. I will do all I can to help Rahm become America's voice in … Continue Reading
August 19, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Effort Urging Biden Administration To Immediately Evacuate SIV Applicants & Fully Implement Their SIV Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and 51 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter urging the Biden Administration to address the quickly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan that threatens the lives of tens of thousands of Afghan partners. In the letter, the Senators call for the urgent evacuation of Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) … Continue Reading