Durbin Discusses Justice Department Priorities with Kristen Clarke, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for DOJ Civil Rights Division

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Kristen Clarke, President Joe Biden's nominee be the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Clarke discussed the importance of working closely together on DOJ priorities, including reinvigorating DOJ's protection of Americans' civil rights and voting rights, combating hate crimes and domestic terrorism, … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Supporting Workers with Secretary of Labor Nominee Marty Walsh

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, President Joe Biden's nominee to be Secretary of Labor. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Walsh discussed the importance of supporting working families - especially those who are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic - and prioritizing policies that will rebuild the middle class and expand economic opportunity to all. "Mayor Walsh was a former leader of a labor union and he knows what we must do to support… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press DOJ and FBI for Answers on Security Failures that Led to January 6th Attack

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), incoming Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) requesting additional information regarding the security posture and planning provided in advance of and during the January 6, 2021, Joint Session of Congress. In a letter to Acting Attorney General Monty Wil… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes to Proceed to Budget Resolution to Give Congress Tool to Pass COVID-19 Relief

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate voted to proceed to a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021 that gives Congress an additional legislative tool to pass the urgently-needed bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation: "For months, our health care heroes, small businesses, state and local governments, schools, and unemployed Americans have pleaded with Congress to pass meaningful federal funding that can break the back… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Biden's Immigration Executive Actions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, today released the following statement on President Joe Biden's executive actions on immigration, which include forming a task force to locate and reunify families separated by the Trump Administration; addressing irregular migration across the Southern border and restoring a humane refugee and asylum system; and restoring our legal immigration system and pro… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Selection as Senate Judiciary Committee Chair

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after being selected as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 117th Congress: "This moment in history demands much of the Senate Judiciary Committee. I'm honored to lead my colleagues as we face these challenges. We start by confirming President Biden's nominees; combating the threat of domestic terrorism; passing long overdue reforms, like the Dream Act, to fix our broken immigration… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Introduce Legislation to Provide Relief for Unemployed Americans

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11), along with U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing millions of workers to focus their benefits on covering essentials during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and recession. The Coronavirus Unemployment Benef… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Dems to Introduce Resolution Denouncing Pervasive Threat of Domestic Terrorism and White Supremacy

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senate Intelligence Committee Member Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senate Democrats to introduce a resolution expressing the sense of the Senate on the imminent and pervasive threat of domestic terrorism, violent white supremacists, neo-Nazis, anti-government militias, and dangerous, fringe conspiracy t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Axne Introduce Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Unemployed Americans

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) introduced legislation to provide tax relief for Americans who lost their jobs and utilized unemployment benefits last year - allowing millions of workers to focus their benefits on covering essentials during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and recession. The Coronavirus Unemployment Benefits Tax Relief Act would waive federal income taxes on the first $10,200 of unemployment bene… Continue Reading

Durbin: Delaying Judge Garland's Confirmation Hearing Risks our National Security

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to again urge current Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to schedule Judge Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing to be considered as the next U.S. Attorney General. Due to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's unprecedented obstruction of the Senate organizing resolution, Graham is still Judiciary Committee Chairman and controls the Committee's agenda. Y… Continue Reading

Durbin to Graham: No Justification to Delay Judge Garland's Confirmation Hearing

SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to current Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC), urging the prompt scheduling of Judge Merrick Garland's confirmation hearing to be considered as the next U.S. Attorney General. In his letter, Durbin pointed out the urgent need to confirm the nation's top law enforcement officer to protect our national security, and asked Graham to proceed with a February 8th hearin… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Defense Priorities with General Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with General Lloyd Austin, President Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Austin discussed the importance of addressing sexual assault, extremism, and wasteful spending in the military. "Secretary Austin is a tested leader who is ready to address the many challenges we face at home and abroad. I believe he will work hard to address serious problems of sexual assault, extremism, and discrimination within the m… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nominees for Service Academies

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the names of young men and women whom he has nominated to attend four of the nation's service academies. "Every year I am honored to nominate some of Illinois' best and brightest young men and women for our nation's service academies," Durbin said. "These students have demonstrated strong leadership and a commitment to serve. I have no doubt that they will make their families and their country proud." The academies include U.S. Air F… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Congress to Support President Biden's American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to support President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, which would deliver economic relief to American families and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden's American Rescue Plan is a historic legislative package designed to change the course of the pandemic, get students back to school, give families and businesses a bridge to an economic recovery, and in… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Reintroduce D.C. Statehood Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) and a group of Democratic Senators to reintroduce legislation to grant Washington, D.C. statehood. The bill, which was first introduced in 2013, would make Washington, D.C. the 51st state, finally give its citizens full representation in Congress, and also ensure that the citizens and elected leaders of the District of Columbia have full authority over local affairs, including crucial safety… Continue Reading

Durbin, Booker Announce Legislation to Eliminate Federal Crack and Powder Cocaine Sentencing Disparity

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee,announced legislation that will finally eliminate the federal crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity and apply it retroactively to those already convicted or sentenced. After the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, sentencing for crack and powder cocaine offenses vastly differed. For instance, until 2010, some… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Importance of Passenger Rail With New Surface Transportation Board Chair Marty Oberman

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Marty Oberman, President Joe Biden's new Chair of the Surface Transportation Board (STB). During their Zoom call, Durbin and Oberman discussed the importance of improving Amtrak On-Time Performance (OTP) and enforcing the new Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) OTP rule that sets a new metric for measuring Amtrak delays caused by freight rail interference. "Marty Oberman is a friend and I'm glad President Biden has chosen him to ch… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Justice Department Priorities with Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta, Biden Nominees for Deputy and Associate Attorneys General

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta, President Joe Biden's nominees for Deputy and Associate Attorneys General. During their Zoom calls, Durbin, Monaco, and Gupta discussed the importance of working closely together on Department of Justice (DOJ) priorities, including reinvigorating DOJ's protection of Americans' civil rights and voting rights, criminal justice reform and implementing the First Step… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief with Isabel Guzman, Biden Nominee for Administrator of Small Business Administration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Isabel Guzman, President Joe Biden's nominee for Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA). During their Zoom call, Durbin and Guzman discussed the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the SBA can help small businesses stay afloat. They also spoke about the disproportionate impact minority-owned small businesses have faced during the pandemic and the importance of ensuring an equitable recovery. "Restaurant… Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Help Developing Nations With Access to COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pandemic Economic Fallout

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), today introduced the Support for Global Financial Institution Pandemic Response Act. The legislation directs representatives from the United States to multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), to help developing countries as they fight COVID-19, ensuring fina… Continue Reading