Press Releases
Durbin Slams McConnell's Dismissal Of Congressional Investigation Into Trump's DOJ Alleged Abuse of Power
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor slamming U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) dismissal of calls to hold a congressional investigation of reports that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Trump Administration issued subpoenas involving members of Congress, their staff, and family members. In his remarks, Durbin called out McConnell's hypocrisy in minimizing … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At American Dream And Promise Act Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "H.R.6, American Dream and Promise Act of 2021," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Manuel Bernal Mejia, a DACA recipient, and Leon Rodriguez, former United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director under President Obama, about the importance of passing the American Dream and Promise Act. Durbin asked Dr. Bernal Mejia whether or not he's … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Urge SBA To Speed Up Relief For Struggling Live Event Venues
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 51 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman urging her to disburse Shuttered Venue Operator Grant funding to eligible live entertainment venues as soon as possible. The legislation that created this program, the Save Our Stages Act, was signed into law … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At American Dream And Promise Act Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during "H.R.6, American Dream and Promise Act of 2021" Judiciary Committee Hearing. During his opening statement, Durbin highlighted the need for Congress to pass legislation providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and people living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Key quotes: "It was nine years ago today when President … Continue Reading
June 15, 2021
Durbin, Cicilline Announce Introduction Of Bill To Ban Child Labor On Tobacco Farms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman David N. Cicilline (D-RI-01) today announced the introduction of legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, including nicotine poisoning. The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or dried tobacco leaves by deeming … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Durbin: Judge Jackson Represents The Best Of The Judiciary
WASHINGTON - Ahead of her confirmation today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of Ketanji Brown Jackson's nomination to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, highlighting her impressive career-from her judicial clerkships to her work as a federal public defender to her tenure on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Durbin called on his Senate colleagues to vote in favor of her nomination, … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Statement On Supreme Court First Step Act Ruling On Low-Level Drug Offenders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Tarahrick Terry v. United States, a case related to the interpretation of provisions of the First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) and the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010: "Obviously, we argued for a different result in this case. We had hoped … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Durbin, Collins, Wenstrup, Underwood Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Make The VA Smoke-Free
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Representatives Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to prohibit smoking at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. … Continue Reading
June 14, 2021
Durbin, Judiciary Committee Democrats Demand Answers from DOJ About Subpoenas for Communications Data of House Democrats
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats on a letter to Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland requesting that the Department of Justice (DOJ) produce materials relating to the Trump-era DOJ's apparent decision to subpoena metadata of House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) Members, their staff, and family members, including a minor. The letter also urges AG Garland to provide the Committee with an … Continue Reading
June 11, 2021
Durbin, Schumer Statement On Revelations About Secret Subpoenas For Metadata Of House Intelligence Committee Democrats
WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement on revelations about secret subpoenas for metadata of House Intelligence Committee Democrats: "The revelation that the Trump Justice Department secretly subpoenaed metadata of House Intelligence Committee Members and staff and their families, including a minor, is shocking. This is a gross abuse of power and an assault on the separation of powers. … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Bipartisan Durbin, Grassley Criminal Justice Bills
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance two bipartisan criminal justice reform bills authored by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee -the Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021 and the First Step Implementation Act of 2021. These bills will build on the landmark First Step Act and continue Congress's bipartisan … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Durbin Statement On Report Regarding Federal Prison Inmate Deposit Accounts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a report that Federal prison inmates are keeping large sums of money in government-run deposit accounts run by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Per reporting by The Washington Post, there are more than 20 inmate accounts holding more than $100,000 each for a total exceeding $3 million. In all, the combined value of such inmate accounts recently … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Senate Confirms Zahid Quraishi To Be District Judge For District Of New Jersey
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate confirmed Zahid Quraishi to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey by a bipartisan vote of 81-16. Ahead of the confirmation vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on his Senate colleagues to support Judge Quraishi's nomination. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Quraishi's distinguished career in public service and his service as a U.S. Magistrate Judge. … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
University Of Illinois System Awarded $1 Million Open Textbook Pilot Grant
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the University of Illinois (U of I) System has been awarded $1.08 million from the U.S. Department of Education's Open Textbooks Pilot Program - a competitive grant program based on Durbin's Affordable College Textbook Act. The funding will support the creation and expand the use of open college textbooks - textbooks that are available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to … Continue Reading
June 10, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Boardman, Griggsby District Court Nominations And Davis Nomination To Lead U.S. Marshals Service
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Deborah L. Boardman, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland; Lydia Kay Griggsby, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maryland; and Ronald L. Davis, to be Director of the United States Marshals Service. Ahead of the votes, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support all three nominees. Key Durbin … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Durbin Talks Music, Copyright Law With ASCAP, Illinois Songwriters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and several Illinois-based songwriters to discuss the state of the music industry, the implementation of the Music Modernization Act, and efforts to ensure that songwriters and musical artists receive fair compensation for their work. "It was a pleasure to meet today with songwriters and artists from Illinois-who shared their music with me-to … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Durbin Questions Latest Circuit & District Court Nominees To Come Before Committee
WASHINGTON - During today's Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Eunice C. Lee, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; and Veronica S. Rossman, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. Durbin highlighted their extensive and impressive professional backgrounds and asked them to reflect on the current state of justice in America today. Durbin also asked … Continue Reading
June 09, 2021
Durbin Gives Opening Remarks In Judiciary Committee Hearing For Circuit & District Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the nominations hearing for Eunice C. Lee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Veronica S. Rossman, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit; David G. Estudillo, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; Lauren J. King, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Durbin Meets With South Suburban Coalition About Local Infrastructure Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the South Suburban Coalition (SouthCom) to discuss the impact of the pandemic in their municipalities and the local government funding included in the American Rescue Plan. They talked about the need for increased federal investments in their communities through the American Jobs Plan. On the call, Durbin also provided an update about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations in the Senate and heard … Continue Reading
June 08, 2021
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the Paycheck Fairness Act: "The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that allow for pay discrimination and empower women to hold employers accountable when they're being underpaid. Senate Republicans blocked this common sense measure from consideration. The women who helped carry America's families through this pandemic should not have to wait any … Continue Reading