Press Releases
Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Eunice Lee To The Second Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in support of Eunice Lee's nomination to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. During his speech, Durbin called on his colleagues to support Ms. Lee's nomination in order to continue bringing balance to our nation's courts and elevating the professional perspective of public defenders that is underrepresented within our federal judiciary. The Senate is … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Myrna Pérez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Jia M. Cobb, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Sarah A.L. Merriam, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Karen McGlashan Williams, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Durbin Discusses Electric Vehicle Infrastructure And Production With Rivian CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with Rivian CEO Robert "RJ" Scaringe to discuss federal priorities in electric vehicle (EV) production and infrastructure. Durbin spoke about his efforts to secure federal funding for EVs in the bipartisan infrastructure deal and budget reconciliation bill. They also discussed the importance of investing in battery research and manufacturing. In 2016, Rivian bought an old Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois. The plant has … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills with Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills for Energy and Water, Agriculture, Rural Development and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin: Our Immigration System Is Broken And The Time For Reform Is Now
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today highlighted the critical role immigrants play in our nation-including as essential workers who have risked their health and lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin also called on Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken system. Previously, Durbin has stated that he believes the … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Press BOP On Restitution For Victims Of Larry Nassar
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 sent a second letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal requesting answers to reports that BOP's inmate Trust Fund/Deposit Fund program operates with little oversight, enables federal inmates to avoid paying child support and other debts, and fails to scrutinize inmate … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Applauds CDC's New Eviction Moratorium
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) new 60-day eviction moratorium temporarily halting evictions in counties with heightened levels of community transmission of COVID-19. Durbin applauded the Biden Administration for their action and voiced his support for helping Americans who are still struggling as the Delta variant of the virus surges in communities across America. During his … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations bills for Energy and Water, Agriculture, Rural Development and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these appropriations … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Statement On Senate Committee Vote On Repeal Of 2002 Iraq AUMF
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding today's Senate Foreign Relations Committee vote on the repeal of the 2002 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) in Iraq: "Our Constitution is clear-only the United States Congress has the power to declare war. For too long, Congress has abdicated this most serious of responsibilities. I support this bipartisan effort to terminate the Authorization for the Use of Military Force … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Receives COVID-19 Update From Dr. Fauci
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, to receive an update on recent COVID-19 developments. During the conversation, Dr. Fauci spoke about the Delta variant and its impact on unvaccinated Americans as COVID-19 cases have surged over the last month. Durbin and Dr. Fauci further discussed how to encourage more Americans to get vaccinated, the potential necessity … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Honors D.C. Police Officers Who Responded To Insurrection On January 6 Who Recently Died By Suicide
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers Gunther Hashida and Kyle DeFreytag-both officers who responded to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6-who recently died by suicide. With their deaths, four police officers who responded to the January 6 insurrection have now died by suicide. Durbin called on his colleagues to do everything possible to support the officers who responded to the … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Meets Virtually With Nominee To Lead ICE
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who has been nominated by President Biden to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During their meeting, Durbin emphasized the need for the Biden Administration to reform ICE detention and removal policies and invited Gonzalez to visit Chicago and meet with community members. "After four years of disastrous and irresponsible leadership at … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin: We Must Protect Communities From "Forever Chemicals" Contamination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about a recent story in the Chicago Sun-Times that revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - in water systems in Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, and South Elgin. Durbin called on the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which includes $10 billion to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. Durbin asked Christopher Chapman, President and CEO of AccessLex Institute, and … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Before Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loans, Durbin Meets With Illinois Attorney General Raoul
WASHINGTON - Prior to today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on student loan bankruptcy reform, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. During the hearing, AG Raoul testified about the need for student loan bankruptcy dischargeability as a last resort to assist struggling student borrowers, particularly for students misled by for-profit schools that fail to provide adequate education. During … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin, Cornyn Introduce New, Bipartisan Bill To Allow Federal Student Loan Borrowers To Discharge Loans In Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced the introduction of the FRESH START Through Bankruptcy Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill that would restore the ability for struggling borrowers to seek a bankruptcy discharge for federal student loans after a waiting period of ten years. Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5.7 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding To Increase Vaccine Access
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announce a total of $5.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding awarded to six Chicagoland health care providers to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved communities. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to community-based organizations that are working to build vaccine confidence, share … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy
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 entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. During his opening statement, Durbin shared stories from struggling … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Durbin Announces Illinois AG Raoul To Testify At Tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul will testify at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." AG Raoul will testify about the need for student loan bankruptcy dischargeability as a last resort to assist struggling student borrowers, including those who were misled into taking out large loans to attend for-profit schools that did … Continue Reading
August 02, 2021
Durbin Announces Former For-Profit College Student To Testify At Tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that Diane Barta, a former Ashford University student, will testify at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Barta will testify about her experience attending Ashford University - a for-profit college recently purchased by University of Arizona that has long been the subject of numerous state and federal investigations and … Continue Reading