Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth, Senators Reintroduce Background Check Expansion Act to Reduce Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 40 other Democratic Senators today in reintroducing the Background Check Expansion Act to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Under current federal law, unlicensed or private sellers are not required to conduct a background check prior to transferring a firearm. Ninety-seven percent of Americans support … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Domestic Terrorism Oversight Hearing with FBI Director Wray
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the domestic terrorism oversight hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. Durbin argued that the January 6th attack on the Capitol demonstrated that the federal government has failed to address the growing threat of white supremacist violence and domestic terrorism. He called for aggressive oversight of the federal … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Durbin Releases Opening Remarks Ahead of Domestic Terrorism Oversight Hearing with FBI Director Wray
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released his opening statement ahead of the domestic terrorism oversight hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. In it, Durbin argues that the January 6th attack on the Capitol demonstrated that the federal government has failed to address the growing threat of white supremacist violence and domestic terrorism. He called for aggressive oversight of the … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Durbin: We Must Pass the American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his Senate colleagues 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 … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
On Bipartisan Basis, Senate Judiciary Committee Advances the Nomination of Merrick Garland to be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be the next U.S. Attorney General by a bipartisan vote of 15-7. Ahead of the vote, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Judge Garland is the right leader to restore integrity and the rule of law in the Justice Department and combat domestic terrorism and systemic racism following four tumultuous years under the previous … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Create National Heritage Area in Chicago's Bronzeville Community
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a bill that would create a National Park Service (NPS) National Heritage Area in the greater Bronzeville community of Chicago. The Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Act would create a National Heritage Area from 18th Street to the North, 71st Street to the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and Canal Street to the West-approximately five miles south of downtown. This area would tell the … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
Durbin Statement on FDA Emergency Use Authorization for Illinois Shield Testing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement applauding an announcement that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to SHIELD T3, an innovative system of COVID-19 testing and tracing developed by the University of Illinois to help monitor the health of students. The SHIELD test is a low-cost, rapid saliva-based test that holds the promise of being scaled up to address nationwide testing … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Durbin, Garcia Applaud Administration Decision to Help Developing Nations Address Economic Fallout From COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-04) today applauded Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's announcement that the Administration will support the lawmakers' proposal to release Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as one mechanism to help with the global economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin and García, along with U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), are lead sponsors of legislation that directs … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Durbin Statement on Intel Report Linking Saudi Crown Prince to Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the Biden Administration's release of an intelligence report that concludes that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi: "This report confirms what was already suspected, directly linking Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This barbaric act joins a long list of outrages, … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Announcement of Mass Community Vaccination Center in Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded an announcement that the Biden Administration will dramatically increase access to COVID-19 vaccinations in Illinois by launching a community vaccination center (CVC) Federal Pilot Site in Chicago on March 10. The site, which will be located at the United Center, will have the capacity for 6,000 COVID-19 vaccinations a day. "Getting vaccine shots into the arms of Americans will … Continue Reading
February 26, 2021
Durbin to USPS Chicago Leadership: Take Action to Ensure Timely Delivery of Essential Mail
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged local United States Postal Service (USPS) leadership in Illinois to address service issues in the USPS Chicago region. In a letter to Krista Finazzo, Vice President, Area Retail and Delivery Operations Central Area, Durbin noted that the region has experienced a disruption in service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, staff shortages, and recent snowstorms, but also said more must be done to ensure the timely delivery of medicine and … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Durbin Discusses Biden Administration Immigration Priorities with DHS Secretary Ali Mayorkas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Ali Mayorkas about the need for Congress to fix our broken immigration system, smart and effective border security, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and other critical issues. "Secretary Mayorkas and I share a vision that America is a nation of immigrants and we must have an … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Ahead of Oversight Hearing Next Week, Durbin Speaks with FBI Director Wray About Domestic Terrorism Threat
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray on how the Bureau is allocating its resources to respond to and address the threat of violence by white supremacists and other far-right-wing extremists following the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. Today's call comes ahead of an FBI oversight hearing next Tuesday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Durbin Speaks on USPS Delays, Slams Changes Sabotaging Critical Services to Illinoisans Amid Pandemic
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to work to improve the Postal Service by providing resources and tools it needs to offer reliable, affordable services during this critical time. Durbin spoke about service issues in Chicago and read aloud letters he's received from constituents who rely on the Postal Service for basic needs, like receiving paychecks, bills, and prescription medications. Durbin also slammed … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Extend CARES Act Bankruptcy Relief Provisions
WASHINGTON - Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic 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 introduced the COVID-19 Bankruptcy Relief Extension Act, bipartisan legislation to temporarily extend COVID-19 bankruptcy relief provisions enacted as part of the March 2020 CARES Act and December 2020 omnibus appropriations bill. "Extending these temporary … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Response with Illinois Public Health Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic with Illinois members of the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). Durbin heard about efforts in Henderson, Lake, and Cook Counties to expand vaccinations, address health disparities, and support the health workforce. Durbin highlighted the federal government's efforts to improve COVID-19 vaccine distribution and testing across Illinois, and shared … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Durbin Statement on Biden Nominations to USPS Board of Governors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Joe Biden nominated Amber McReynolds, Anton Hajjar, and Ron Stroman to serve on the United States Postal Service Board of Governors: "I've heard from too many Illinoisans who have experienced hardship with breakdowns in USPS service over the past year, despite the incredible effort of postal workers. The Postal Service has been gutted by the previous Administration and Postmaster … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Durbin, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Inspector General Access Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct. Currently, the DOJ Inspector General (IG) has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ lawyers. DOJ is the only agency whose IG has such a jurisdictional … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Durbin: COVID Continues To Be A National Crisis; We Must Respond By Passing the American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his Senate colleagues 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 … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Chair Durbin, Judiciary Dems to FBI Director Wray: How Are You Responding to Ongoing Domestic Terrorism Threat?
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with several Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting information on the FBI's response to the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism in the United States. The letter comes ahead of an FBI oversight hearing next Tuesday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Wray will … Continue Reading