Press Releases
Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Beth Robinson & Jennifer Sung
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Beth Robinson, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; and Jennifer Sung, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. Durbin delivered opening remarks highlighting the nominees' qualifications and experience. Robinson received a 10-9 vote and Sung received a 10-10 vote to advance out of Committee. Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer may now file a discharge motion on Ms. … Continue Reading
October 21, 2021
Durbin Introduces Bill To Improve Concussion Safety In Youth Sports
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act to strengthen elementary and secondary school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year, though many go unreported. Durbin's bill requires states to adopt "when in … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Senate Appropriations Committee Unveils Annual Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee released nine draft Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills for Commerce, Justice, and Science; Defense; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; Legislative Branch; State and Foreign Operations; and Transportation; and Housing and Urban Development. … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin: President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda Is The Blueprint For America To Win The 21st Century
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better agenda. During his speech, Durbin argued that the cost of inaction far outweighs that of action. Durbin also argued that Congress must address climate change in the Build Back Better agenda, and that doing so has the potential to be the biggest job creator in a generation. "President Biden's Build Back Better agenda is an investment in … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of The Freedom To Vote Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement today after the Freedom to Vote Act, legislation that would protect the right to vote, reform our broken campaign finance system, and secure our democracy, failed to advance on the Senate floor due to a Republican filibuster: "The right to vote is the bedrock of our democracy. By continuing to filibuster voting rights legislation, Senate Republicans are putting … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin: Biden's Vaccine Policy Is Our Path To Recovery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the promising developments stemming from President Biden's COVID-19 vaccine policy. Over the past month, coronavirus case numbers have fallen by more than 40 percent as the average number of daily vaccinations has increased by more than 25 percent. "Millions of American families have already suffered the consequences of vaccine denial, deception, and inaction. A report released earlier this month … Continue Reading
October 20, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Judicial 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 Holly A. Thomas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Mary Katherine Dimke, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Charlotte N. Sweeney, … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Durbin Discusses Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects With Rock Island Army Corp District Commander
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) received an update today from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Jesse Curry about several Illinois water infrastructure projects including the Quincy Bay Restoration Project, the Brandon Road Project, and the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). "Illinois' water infrastructure plays a vital role in our state's economy. Working with the Army Corps and local stakeholders in Illinois, I … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Durbin Talks Trade With National Confectioners Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois members of the National Confectioners Association to discuss the current sugar program that sets price supports, domestic marketing allotments, and tariff-quotas to influence the amount of sugar available to the U.S. market. During their conversation, Durbin spoke in support of the Sugar Reform Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) mandate to set the import quota at the … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Durbin Honors Civil Rights Legend Timuel Black, Calls For Passage Of Freedom To Vote Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today paid tribute on the Senate floor to Chicago civil rights legend and historian Timuel Black, who passed away last week at the age of 102. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted how Black served his country in World War II, landing in Normandy on D-Day, then went on to join the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, with Dr. King in Chicago, Black pressed for an end to … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Honoring Former Illinois Senator Adlai Stevenson III
WASHINGTON - This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), honoring the life and legacy of the late Adlai Stevenson III, who served as U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1970 to 1981. The resolution commemorates Stevenson's deep dedication to public service, including his advocacy for researching alternative energy sources and establishing the first congressional study of terrorism … Continue Reading
October 19, 2021
With Temperatures Forecast To Fall And Energy Costs Projected To Rise, Durbin And Duckworth Join Call For Swift Release Of LIHEAP Heating Help
WASHINGTON - With colder weather around the corner and energy costs projected to precipitously increase this winter, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in leading a bipartisan coalition of 34 Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Durbin Honors Life And Legacy Of Colin Powell
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute on the Senate floor to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who passed away at the age of 84 today. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted how Powell served his nation as a U.S. Army General, a National Security Advisor, the first Black Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the first Black Secretary of State. Durbin also spoke about Powell's upbringing as the son of Jamaican immigrants and his support for the Dream Act. … Continue Reading
October 18, 2021
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Gustavo Gelpi To The First Circuit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Gustavo Gelpi to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Gelpi's extensive qualifications, as well as the judicial experience he would bring to the First Circuit. The Senate will proceed to a confirmation vote on Judge Gelpi's nomination tonight. "Having served as a federal … Continue Reading
October 13, 2021
Durbin Statement On Appointment Of Debra Shore To Lead EPA Region 5
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced that Debra Shore, current Chicago Metropolitan Water District Commissioner and Illinois resident, will be appointed to lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5: "EPA Region 5 is home to some of the Midwest's greatest assets, including the Great Lakes. But protecting our precious resources from persistent air, water, and land pollution … Continue Reading
October 12, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.5 Million In Telehealth Funding For Illinois Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that four Illinois health care providers have been awarded more than $1.5 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are part of Round 2 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was established as part of the CARES Act and continued under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The following … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Establishing An Enforcement Office Within Federal Student Aid
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced the reestablishment of an Office of Enforcement within Federal Student Aid. This action restores an office that was established in 2016, but dismantled by the previous Administration: "Reestablishing an aggressive enforcement office at the Department of Education is key to holding for-profit colleges accountable and protecting students and … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committee, Application Process For Federal District Court In Northern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates' … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Durbin Statement On Restoration Of Grand Staircase-Escalante And Bears Ears National Monuments
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced the restoration of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the restoration and expansion the Bears Ears National Monument: "Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are national treasures. I commend President Biden for restoring these unique places so Americans can experience them for generations to come. It's our duty to protect our awe-inspiring … Continue Reading
October 08, 2021
Durbin Meets With Venezuelan Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), met with Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López to discuss the ongoing political stalemate in Venezuela and the humanitarian crisis that has forced more than five million refugees and migrants to flee their homes under President Nicolás Maduro's regime. During their conversation, the Senators received an update … Continue Reading