Press Releases
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Calling On His Colleagues To Protect IVF Access Ahead Of Right To IVF Act Vote
WASHINGTON – Ahead of the Right to IVF Act vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to vote for this crucial legislation. The legislation, which Durbin is a cosponsor of, establishes a clear and enforceable nationwide right to receive, provide, or cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) services and other assisted reproductive technologies. It also expands insurance coverage for such care. During h… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Voting Against The Right To IVF Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against the Right to IVF Act. The legislation, which Durbin is a cosponsor of, establishes a clear and enforceable nationwide right to receive, provide, or cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) services and other assisted reproductive technologies. It also expands insurance coverage for such care. “Whether, when, and how to expand… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Durbin Meets With Director Of DARPA
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Stefanie Tompkins, Director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), to discuss Illinois’ role in research and development (R&D) in the defense industry. During their meeting, Durbin reiterated that Illinois is a strong candidate for continued investment in emerging technologies such as quantum computing. Illinois has proven to be an environment conducive to innovation, research, and economic grow… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Durbin Statement On The Supreme Court's Decision On FDA v. Alliance For Hippocratic Medicine
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision on Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which held that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) actions regarding the regulation of the abortion pill mifepristone: “In acknowledging that a group of anti-abortion activists has no standing to d… Continue Reading
06.13.24
Durbin Meets With Braven And First-Generation College Students
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Aimée Eubanks-Davis, CEO of Braven, an organization that works with colleges and employers to help underserved students complete college and obtain quality jobs by offering students a class on workforce readiness skills, support in securing paid internships, and holding networking, mentoring, and job skill sessions. First-generation college students from Chicago State University, National Louis University, and Northern Illinois … Continue Reading
06.13.24
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill To Authorize Dozens Of New District Court Judgeships
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act, which would authorize 63 new permanent district court judgeships and three new temporary district court judgeships. “As dockets become overburdened, it’s important that Congress uses its authority to ensure the federal judiciary remains efficient. These new district court judgeships will help alleviate the caseloads for overburdened districts and ensure the… Continue Reading
06.12.24
Senate Republican Blocks Durbin's Attempt To Tackle Nonconsensual, Sexually-Explicit Deepfakes
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requested unanimous consent (UC) today on the Senate floor to pass his bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act), legislation that would hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images and videos. Despite broad support for the legislation, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) objected.… Continue Reading
06.12.24
Senate Republicans Block Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats' Unanimous Consent Request To Pass Supreme Court Ethics Legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in asking unanimous consent (UC) for the Senate to pass the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, objected to Durbin’s UC request, which comes amid a myriad of apparent ethical lapses by Supreme Court justices demonstrating the need for ethics … Continue Reading
06.12.24
Durbin Talks Public Transit With Amalgamated Transit Union
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) to discuss Illinois’ transit priorities. During the meeting, Durbin and the ATU members spoke about ensuring Illinois’ public transit systems remain fully funded and continue to expand service and connect communities. They also discussed keeping transit workers safe on the job. “A strong public transit system is necessary to keep our communities thriving. Illinoisa… Continue Reading
06.12.24
Durbin Questions FDA, DOJ On Allowing Sale Of Unauthorized Vaping Products During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prevalence Of Youth E-Cigarette Use
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Combatting the Youth Vaping Epidemic by Enhancing Enforcement Against Illegal E-Cigarettes.” The hearing underscored the alarming level of youth e-cigarette use—including the role of the tobacco industry in flooding the market with kid-friendly, flavored vaping devices —and examined how federal agencies have failed to… Continue Reading
06.12.24
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prevalence Of Youth E-Cigarette Use
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Combatting the Youth Vaping Epidemic by Enhancing Enforcement Against Illegal E-Cigarettes.” The hearing underscored the alarming level of youth e-cigarette use and examined how federal agencies have failed to enforce laws designed to protect children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction. In his opening st… Continue Reading
06.12.24
Durbin Statement On Passing Of Judge Harry Leinenweber
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on the passing of U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber: “Judge Harry Leinenweber was respected for his knowledge of the law and his reputation for fairness. I always knew that he would bring that reputation to every assignment. He never disappointed. “To his wife, Lynn Martin—my former House colleague—and his family, Loretta and I extend our thanks for a … Continue Reading
06.11.24
Durbin, Shaheen, Welch Meet With Head Of Belarusian Opposition Leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and member of the Free Belarus Caucus; U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and Co-Founder of the Free Belarus Caucus; and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) today met with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to discuss her efforts to push back against Belarusia’s strongman leadership by Alexa… Continue Reading
06.11.24
Durbin, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Shore Up Funding For Crime Victims Fund
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today introduced a bill to shore up funding for the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), which supports state victim compensation and assistance programs. The proposal would divert surplus funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA) that currently go to the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury to the CVF. “The Crime Victims Fund is a lifeline for survivors and thei… Continue Reading
06.11.24
Durbin Celebrates Upcoming 12th Anniversary Of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Pass The DREAM 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 lead author of the Dream Act, celebrated the upcoming 12th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and called on Congress to finally pass the Dream Act to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. More than 20 years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act—bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up in this co… Continue Reading
06.11.24
Durbin Celebrates Upcoming 12th Anniversary Of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Pass The DREAM Act
06.10.24
Durbin Reacts To Creation Of Federal Multi-Agency Task Force To Combat Sale Of Illegal E-Cigarette Products
CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. The task force aims to employ all criminal and civil enforcement tools to crack down on the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarette products. Joining DOJ and F… Continue Reading
06.07.24
Durbin Announces $1 Million To Renovate Youth Services Area At Lincoln Library
SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today held a news conference at the Lincoln Library to announce $1 million in Congressionally Directed Spending—also known as an earmark—that he secured to renovate the Youth Services space at the Lincoln Library’s downtown location. The funding will be used to upgrade technology infrastructure, create a single public entrance for safety, install modern shelving, acquire materials and supplies, and provide ne… Continue Reading
06.07.24
Durbin, Schakowsky Offer Recommendations For New Department Of Education Mentorship Grant Program
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today sent a bicameral letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona applauding the inclusion of a Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) appropriations bill provision that creates a mentorship grant program that mirrors Durbin and Schakowsky’s Mentoring to Succeed Act. In their letter, the lawmakers highlighted the benefits of mentorship and offered suggestions on developing the mentorship grant … Continue Reading
06.05.24
Durbin, Capito, Booker Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Enhance Reentry Programs, Promote Public Safety
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cory Booker (D-NJ), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2024 to reauthorize critical reentry grant programs from the Second Chance Act of 2008, which was most recently reauthorized as part of Durbin’s First Step Act in 2018. The legislation would reauthorize critical programs to reduc… Continue Reading