Durbin Honored With First Focus Award For Career Dedicated To Improving Lives Of Children

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met Miriam Abaya, the Vice President for Immigration and Children's Rights at First Focus on Children, and Kathy Sacco, Vice President for International Children's Policy at First Focus on Children, an organization dedicated to improving the health, education, economic mobility, and safety of children. During the meeting, Durbin was presented with the Champion for Children Award for his unw… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Nancy Abudu To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Eleventh Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Nancy Abudu to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Abudu's confirmation: "Nancy Abudu is a highly experienced litigator who has spent the majority of her career defending the civil rights of all Americans. She's worked on a range of matters, including defending voting rights, protecting religious free… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Are Days Away From A Possible Economic Catastrophe Because Republicans Are Threatening To Default

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today slammed House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy for his threats to default on America's debt for the first time in history unless Democrats agree to slash funding for working families, veterans, law enforcement, and small businesses across the country. "June 1 looms on us unless Congress takes action or the United States will default on its … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling Ingonzalez V. Google

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling inGonzalez v. Google: "Today's ruling in Gonzalez v. Google is disappointing but unsurprising. The Justices passed on their chance to clarify that Section 230 is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for online platforms when they cause harm. "Enough is enough. Big Tech has woefully failed to regulate itself. Congress must s… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Four Bills Supporting Law Enforcement, Public Safety

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to advance four bills supporting law enforcement to the full Senate during National Police Week. "The bipartisan bills that we advanced today show our police officers who serve with dignity and integrity that we appreciate their service and stay committed to finding the best ways to support their profession. Officers are faced with challenges every single day, both on duty and off, as they tackle the physical, mental… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witness During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Judicial Ethics Processes At The Judicial Conference Of The U.S.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Senior Judge Mark Wolf of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, who served as a member of the Judicial Conference from 2010-2012, at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing entitled, "Review of Federal Judicial Ethics Processes at the Judicial Conference of the United States." Durbin questioned… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Judicial Ethics Processes At The Judicial Conference Of The U.S.

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 Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing entitled, "Review of Federal Judicial Ethics Processes at the Judicial Conference of the United States." The hearing examined the roles the Judicial Conference and its Committee on Financial Disclosure have in reviewing allegations that members of the f… Continue Reading

DURBIN CALLS ON SENATE COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S SAFETY ONLINE

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support a package of bipartisan bills that aim to stop the exploitation of children online. In his remarks, Durbin described how social media companies design their products to keep children hooked to their platforms, and discussed the serious, even deadly, harms that children face online, as well as the inadequate efforts of social media c… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Improve The Dream To Discuss Impact Of Green Card Backlog On Documented Dreamers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with members of Improve the Dream, a grassroots, youth-led organization that advocates for "Documented Dreamers," who have grown up in the U.S. but are unable to obtain a green card due to decades-long backlogs. During the meeting, Durbin listened to Documented Dreamers share their stories and concerns as they fear deportation because of the inaccessibility of green cards. Durbin empha… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Jeremy Daniel To Serve As District Court Judge For The 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 released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Jeremy Daniel to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Jeremy Daniel to serve as a District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. He was highly regard… Continue Reading

DURBIN, DUCKWORTH JOIN BOOKER, UNDERWOOD, ADAMS TO REINTRODUCE BICAMERAL MOMNIBUS ACT TO END AMERICA’S MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of the MOMMA Act, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Alma Adams (D-NC-12) to reintroduce the bicameral Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act, historic legislation to save moms' lives and address every driver of maternal mortality, morbidity, and disparities in the United States. "In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Circuit Court Nominees At Latest Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Ana de Alba, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Irma Carrillo Ramirez, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, at the latest Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin began by asking Judge Ramirez about the reentry court that she presides over in the Northern District of Texas. The program provides super… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $14.2 Million For Runway Improvements At Quincy Regional Airport

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $14,200,000 in federal funding awarded to Quincy Regional Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to support the airport's runway reconstruction project. "The runway reconstruction project at Quincy Regional Airport will enhance safety and promote economic growth," said Durbin. "By improving our airport's infrastructure, we are laying the founda… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Ethics Investigations Of U.S. Attorney Rollins

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General's (IG) final report and the U.S. Office of Special Counsel's (OSC) final report on the ethics investigations into U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins. Yesterday, Ms. Rollins announced that she will be submitting a letter of resignation to President Biden by close of business Friday. "I'm deeply concerne… Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Police Week

WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member, and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced a resolution designating the week of May 14 through 20, 2023 as National Police Week. The resolution was cosponsored by 77 of their colleagues. "Police Week is a time when law enforcement officers across the country travel to Washington to meet with lawmakers and honor their peers who have lost their l… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Oversight Of Artificial Intelligence

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence." Today's bipartisan hearing, led by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Hawley (R-MO), examined the development of artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on what safeguards and oversight are necessary to minimize risks associat… Continue Reading

Durbin, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Boost Agricultural Research Funding

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), both members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today reintroduced legislation that would require a five percent annual funding increase, plus inflation, each year for the next ten years for research activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With federal agriculture research investments on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States' commitment to publicly f… Continue Reading

Durbin: No American Is Immune To The Scourge Of Gun Violence In This Country

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to address the gun violence epidemic across our country. Durbin began his speech by honoring fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston, who was murdered outside of her home. Officer Preston was set to graduate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law on Saturday, one week after she passed away. "Officer Preston was the best of Chic… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Oversight Of Artificial Intelligence

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence." The bipartisan hearing, led by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Hawley (R-MO), examined the development of artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on what safeguards and oversight are necessary to minimize risks as… Continue Reading

Durbin, Peters Introduce New Legislation To Respond To Immediate Needs At Our Southern Border

WASHINGTON – As Title 42 emergency health authorities expire, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), today introduced a legislative proposal to respond to the immediate needs on our southern border.  While not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform or legislation to address the root causes of migration, the Senators… Continue Reading