Press Releases
Durbin Honors World Water Day As Tribute To Late Senator Paul Simon
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor honoring World Water Day - a tribute to former Illinois Senator Paul Simon. In honor of his legacy, Durbin introduced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act, to build on and expand the original Paul Simon for the Poor Act. Simon was the author of the book "Tapped Out," which warned of the world's looming clean water crisis. "After Paul Simon passed away, I approached his family and talked about a tribute to … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin: When Judge Jackson's Hearing Is Complete, America Will Understand What An Outstanding Justice She Will Be
WASHINGTON - Ahead of next week's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to the Supreme Court, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about Judge Jackson's breadth of experience, character and temperament, and evenhandedness and impartiality. "It's going to be an historic moment on Monday, as Judge Jackson appears before the Committee. Gaveling the hearing to order as Chair of the Committee … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin Talks Financial Security With Illinois Comptroller
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza about the state's unemployment insurance trust fund to ensure residents continue to have access to the program as Illinois recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. During their meeting, Durbin and Mendoza discussed his legislation, the Continued Waiver of Interest on State Unemployment Loans during the Pandemic Act, which would retroactively extend the waiver of interest payments on federal … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin Discusses Unprovoked Russian Invasion Of Ukraine With Russian-Opposition Figure Vladimir Kara-Murza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today met with Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure who survived two poisoning attempts by the Kremlin. During the meeting, Durbin and Kara-Murza discussed the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine and his particular insights on Russian politics. They also discussed the increasing number of Russians who oppose Putin's war. "Vladimir is a fearless Russian patriot and leader … Continue Reading
March 17, 2022
Durbin, Toomey Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Add Ireland To E-3 Non-Immigrant Visa Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation to add Ireland to the E-3 non-immigrant visa program. The bill would allow Irish nationals annual access to any unused E-3 visas from the previous fiscal year. In exchange, Ireland intends to provide Americans expanded access to work visas in Ireland. "The United States and … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin, Leahy, Padilla, Merkley, Colleagues Encourage Biden Administration's Efforts To Provide A Just Resolution For Families Separated Under The Former President's Cruel "Zero-Tolerance" Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration; and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today sent a letter to President Biden joined by 16 Senate colleagues voicing their support for his Administration's continued efforts to provide a just resolution for families who were separated under former … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin: The NATO Alliance Is Stronger Than Ever Before
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to a Joint Session of Congress. Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution cosponsored by Durbin condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. "The second item I would like to mention refers to a moving historic presentation this morning by the President of Ukraine to a Joint … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin, Lead Senate Sponsors Celebrate The Reauthorization Of The Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and one of the lead cosponsors of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Reauthorization Act, joined fellow lead cosponsors, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), to celebrate President Biden signing VAWA's reauthorization into law. "This is a monumental achievement for the survivors of domestic [and] sexual violence … Continue Reading
March 16, 2022
Durbin Speaks With U.S. Transportation Command, Discusses Military Readiness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost about military readiness priorities including air refueling; sealift recapitalization; strategic airlift; and global command, control, and integration. During their call, Durbin recognized General Ovost's support for the work of units across Illinois, including at Scott Air Force Base and Peoria Air National Guard Base. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Meets With Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Mayors To Talk Infrastructure, COVID-19 Recovery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Municipal League and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding for Illinois infrastructure projects allocated through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). During their meeting, Durbin broke down the $17 billion in direct and guaranteed funding for Illinois from the IIJA. Durbin also spoke about COVID-19 recovery funding for local governments through the American Rescue Plan and received updates … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Removing Barriers To Legal Migration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during "Removing Barriers to Legal Migration to Strengthen our Communities and Economy," a Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing chaired by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). During his opening statement, Durbin highlighted the need for Congress to pass legislation to fix the badly broken immigration system, including to … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
A Proven Consensus Builder, Ketanji Brown Jackson Receives Broad Support From Across The Political Spectrum
WASHINGTON - Since the day President Biden announced his intention to nominate Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court, support for her nomination has flooded in. The Senate Judiciary Committee has received-and continues to receive-glowing support letters for her, highlighting her fair and evenhanded approach; her track record of collegiality and consensus-building; and her qualifications and preparedness to serve on our nation's highest court. The examples outlined below are just some of the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Honors Chicago Area Medical Volunteers Helping Ukrainians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor honoring various Chicago area doctors, nurses, non-profits, and hospitals that are helping Ukrainians following Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. Durbin also highlighted Marina Ovsyannikova, the brave Russian TV editor, who held up a sign on a Russian state news broadcast that read, "don't believe the propaganda. They're lying to you here. … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Logistics For Hearings On Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing entitled "The Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States" to begin Monday, March 21, 2022, at 11:00 AM ET and continue through Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Room 216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The hearings will begin on Monday, March 21 at 11:00 AM ET with statements from Committee members, the individuals who will introduce Judge Jackson, and Judge … Continue Reading
March 15, 2022
Durbin Calls Out FDA On Senate Floor For Six Month Delay In Regulating E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to meet a court deadline to complete its public health review of e-cigarette premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). The deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was September 9, 2021, more than six months ago. While the FDA neglects its responsibility under the law and court order to regulate e-cigarettes, … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin: Vladimir Putin Should Be Charged And Convicted Of The Worst Possible War Crimes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor on the heinous crimes committed by Vladimir Putin in his unprovoked, unjustified invasion of Ukraine. An estimated 2.8 million Ukrainians-almost all of them women, children, and seniors-have fled to other nations, carrying only a few possessions. Durbin also discussed a meeting he held last week with the Senate Democratic Caucus and European Ambassadors. During the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Discusses Retirement Security With Illinois State Treasurer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs about the state of retirement and financial security in Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin received an update from Frerichs about Illinois Secure Choice, a state-facilitated retirement program that helps Illinois employers provide their workers with access to a retirement savings vehicle. Durbin and Frerichs also discussed the ABLE Age Adjustment Act as a possible avenue to offer … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On The First Anniversary Of The American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the importance of the American Rescue Plan one year after Democrats passed the legislation-without a single Republican vote. The American Rescue Plan provided a critical lifeline to low-income families, and it helped stabilize middle-class families by providing enhanced child tax credits, expanded unemployment insurance, and housing relief. It also expanded the availability of affordable health coverage - including … Continue Reading
March 14, 2022
Durbin Delivers Tribute To Illinois Director Of Public Health Dr. Ngozi Ezike
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to express his gratitude to Dr. Ngozi Ezike as she steps down from her position as Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health today after leading Illinois through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin highlighted Dr. Ezike's positive impact on public health and applauded her approach to reassuring and educating Illinoisans about coronavirus. Dr. Ezike is a Harvard-trained, … Continue Reading
March 11, 2022
Congress Passes Bipartisan Spending Bill With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 omnibus appropriations bill. "Congress came together on a bipartisan basis to pass a comprehensive budget, which will benefit families across Illinois. This bill makes critical investments in public health, housing, infrastructure, public safety and violence prevention, election security, … Continue Reading