Press Releases
Durbin Questions AG Nominee Garland on First Step Act, State of Federal Prisons in America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked his second round of questions during the nomination hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General. Durbin posed several questions to Judge Garland on implementing the First Step Act, the spread of COVID-19 in federal prisons, and the use of solitary confinement. "I introduced a bill several years ago, the Fair Sentencing Act, which … Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Durbin Questions AG Nominee Garland on Domestic Terrorism and Family Separation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked his first round of questions during the nomination hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General. Durbin posed several questions to Judge Garland on domestic terrorism and the previous administration's cruel zero-tolerance family separation policy. "If you are confirmed as Attorney General, which I believe you will be, you will face … Continue Reading
February 22, 2021
Durbin to Garland: You Can Restore the Faith of the American People in the Rule of the Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General. Durbin 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 administration. Key … Continue Reading
February 21, 2021
Durbin Releases Opening Remarks Ahead of Garland Hearing to be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released his opening statement ahead of the nomination hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General. In it, Durbin argues 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
February 19, 2021
In Amicus Brief, Durbin, Grassley, Booker, Lee Call On Supreme Court To Make Lowest-Level Drug Offenders Eligible For First Step Act Relief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT) today submitted an Amicus Brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Tarahrick Terry v. United States, a case related to the interpretation of provisions of the First Step Act of 2018 (FSA) and the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. The Fair Sentencing Act, authored … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Join Congressional Democrats to Introduce U.S. Citizenship Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), joined U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representative Linda Sánchez (D-CA-38) to introduce the bicameral U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, President Biden's bold, inclusive, and humane framework for the future of the United States immigration system. The legislation would provide millions of hardworking, undocumented immigrants with a … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Durbin Joins AFGE Legislative Conference to Discuss Issues Facing Federal Employees
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) virtual legislative conference to hear from AFGE members about some of the issues facing federal employees. Durbin discussed his opposition to former President Trump's executive orders making it easier to fire federal employees and limiting collective bargaining rights, and the importance of providing safe workplaces for federal employees. "I'm committed to … Continue Reading
February 19, 2021
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief With Illinois AFL-CIO
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with representatives of the Illinois AFL-CIO executive committee. Durbin discussed the importance of passing President Biden's American Rescue Plan and his support for federal assistance for COBRA health coverage, strengthening unemployment insurance, and providing state and local governments financial assistance for lost revenue. "We are in a dire economic situation, with millions of … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nine Illinois Community Health Centers Included in Federal Vaccination Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that nine Illinois Community Health Centers (CHCs) will be eligible to directly receive vaccines through the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Federally Qualified Health Center Program for COVID-19 Vaccination. After Illinois CHCs missed out on the first phase of this program, Durbin and Duckworth wrote the Biden Administration urging that Illinois CHCs be prioritized immediately, in order to … Continue Reading
February 18, 2021
Durbin Joins Colleagues to Press Postmaster General to Restore on-time Delivery and Stop Harmful Changes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and 32 of his colleagues in pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on persistent mail delays and what action he is taking to restore on-time mail delivery. While Congressional oversight efforts and public pressure helped address these damaging delays and improve on-time mail delivery, many Americans continue to face unacceptable problems in postal delivery performance. "Our constituents have … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Durbin Discusses Equitable COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution with Illinois Vaccine Corps Partnership
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with representatives from multiple community-based organizations that make up the Illinois Vaccine Corps Partnership. The group is dedicated to ensuring equitable distribution and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, and briefed Durbin on their efforts to utilize trusted community leaders to expand access and promotion of COVID-19 vaccines across Illinois communities. In the meeting, Durbin discussed his efforts to improve the … Continue Reading
February 17, 2021
Durbin Discusses Rise in Discrimination and Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses with Chinese American Service League
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the rise in discrimination and hate targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals during the pandemic with representatives from the Chinese American Service League (CASL). Durbin also discussed his push to support minority-owned businesses - who are at greater risk of failing than white owned businesses - through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and CASL's community-based efforts to provide … Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
With Arctic Temps Across U.S., Durbin & Duckworth Ask Administration to Provide Support to Americans that Rely on Natural Gas for Heat
WASHINGTON - With an outbreak of dangerous Arctic temperatures across portions of the United States leading to dramatic increases in the price of wholesale natural gas and electricity, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Susan Rice, Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, requesting an update on the ongoing situation and for the Administration to work with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and other relevant agencies to take … Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Durbin Discusses COVID-19 and Opioid Addiction Treatment with Illinois Advocates
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed opioid addiction treatment and the COVID-19 pandemic with Illinois advocates of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), Illinois Society of Addiction Medicine, and Live4Lali. During the call, Durbin and the group discussed the spike in overdose deaths during the pandemic, how to better help provide services for patients with substance use disorders amid the pandemic, and strategies for training and … Continue Reading
February 16, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Urge HHS to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to Illinois Community Health Centers
WASHINGTON - Following an announcement by the Biden Administration about the launch of the Federally Qualified Health Center program to provide additional COVID-19 vaccines to certain Community Health Centers (CHCs) nationwide, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize Illinois CHCs in the next round of vaccine allotments. Illinois CHCs will be left out of the first round of this … Continue Reading
February 14, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Announce Subcommittees and Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members of Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee today announced the establishment of the Subcommittees of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 117th Congress, and the assignment of Chairs and Ranking Members to these Subcommittees. Durbin reconstituted the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee, the first standing body of the Senate dedicated to human … Continue Reading
February 13, 2021
Durbin Votes to Convict Donald Trump in His Second Impeachment Trial
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection against our government: "For the last five days, the House Managers have carefully laid out a convincing case for conviction. The Managers had the facts, the law, the Constitution, and compelling evidence on their side. That is why I voted to convict Donald Trump for inciting … Continue Reading
February 13, 2021
Judiciary Chair Durbin Participates in Midyear Refugee Consultation with Biden Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in a statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership. This mid-year consultation is required by law before the Administration can raise the number of refugees to be admitted during the current fiscal year. President Biden has proposed raising the Fiscal Year 2021 refugee admissions target from 15,000 to … Continue Reading
February 12, 2021
Durbin Urges CDC Director to Ramp Up Vaccine Distribution in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the importance of increasing vaccine distribution in Illinois, including to Community Health Centers (CHCs). Durbin also asked Dr. Walensky how the State should prepare to combat the spread of new variations of the coronavirus. "On my call with CDC Director Walensky, I urged her to do everything in her power to assist Illinois in … Continue Reading
February 11, 2021
Durbin, Lee, Coons to Introduce Bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced they would introduce the bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2021, a targeted bill that would eliminate the blanket presumption of pretrial detention for most federal drug charges. Pretrial detention rates in the federal system are at record high … Continue Reading