Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Implement and Expand Online SNAP Purchasing Nationwide
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with nine of their Senate colleagues, today introduced a bill to address hunger needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond by requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchasing choices. The Expanding SNAP Options Act would provide funding for the creation of a universal online and app-based portal to make access to nutritious foods … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Durbin: We Must Put an End to Donald Trump's 'Big Lie' Once and for All
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the important responsibility the Senate has to move forward with this impeachment trial. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that no one, not even the President of the United States, has a First Amendment right to say whatever he or she wants-an argument the former President's lawyers are … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Introduce SECURE Act for TPS Recipients
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) to introduce the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. "TPS recipients are vital contributors to our communities. More than 130,000 TPS … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Durbin, Schneider Introduce Bill to Help State and Local Governments Provide Paid Leave to Employees During Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), along with U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced a key measure to help state and local governments provide paid leave to public employees who can't work due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted last year, provided tax credits to private-sector employers to cover the costs of paid leave during the pandemic. Congress also extended those tax … Continue Reading
February 09, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Termination of U.S. Attorney John Lausch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that the Biden Administration will terminate John Lausch as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: "While we agree with the Biden Administration's criminal justice agenda, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate U.S. Attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our non-partisan screening committee gave its support for Mr. … Continue Reading
February 08, 2021
Durbin Discusses Supporting Caregivers with NDWA and SEIU
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the status of a COVID-19 relief bill with Ai Jen Poo, Executive Director of National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri and Kansas. During the call, Durbin discussed how Congress can better support caregivers and the essential work that these individuals provide. Nearly 90 percent of … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Durbin: We Must Provide Quick Relief for Unemployed Americans
SPRINGFIELD - As millions of Americans continue to struggle with unemployment as a result of the pandemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the critical need to provide additional assistance to unemployed workers before federal unemployment programs expire in March. Joined virtually by several Illinoisans relying on unemployment insurance, Durbin called on Congress to pass President Biden's American Rescue Plan COVID relief package, which would extend federal unemployment … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Durbin meets with Everytown for Gun Safety
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, virtually met with John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the United States. Durbin and Feinblatt discussed key priorities for gun violence prevention efforts in the Senate, including passing universal background check legislation. "America must address its epidemic of gun violence, and that starts by finally passing … Continue Reading
February 05, 2021
Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Budget Resolution Paving Way for COVID-19 Relief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed a budget resolution for Fiscal Year 2021 that paves the way for Congress to begin crafting urgently needed COVID-19 relief legislation: "In the early hours of this morning, the Senate took a critical step towards providing our health care heroes, unemployed workers, small businesses, schools, state and local governments, and American families who are trying to make ends … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $22 Million to Support Vaccine Distribution in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $22.8 million in federal funding to support vaccine distribution in Illinois. The funding is being awarded to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). "This funding will provide critical support to our state's public health infrastructure as we undertake the monumental task of vaccinating our … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin Statement on President Biden's Decision to Halt U.S. Military Involvement in Yemen
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President Joe Biden's decision to reverse the Trump Administration's support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen: "Not only was this war never authorized as required by the Constitution, it is a humanitarian disaster with tens of thousands of children having already died of malnutrition. Thankfully, U.S. taxpayer dollars will no longer support this Saudi-led disaster in Yemen. Thank you, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin & Graham Introduce the Dream Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) today introduced the Dream Act of 2021, which would allow immigrant students without lawful status who were brought here as children and grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship. Durbin and Graham introduced identical legislation in the last two sessions of Congress. These young people, known as Dreamers, … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Resolution Asking President Biden to Cancel up to $50,000 in Federal Student Loan Debt Immediately
WASHINGTON - United States Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) today to reintroduce their bicameral resolution outlining a bold plan for President Biden to tackle the student loan debt crisis by using existing authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt for Federal … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin Meets with Illinois Community Colleges to Discuss COVID-19 Relief, Higher Ed Policy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) virtually met with Illinois community college trustees, presidents, and staff for the Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) to discuss President Biden's American Rescue Plan and how it supports higher education and state and local governments. The American Rescue Plan includes $35 billion for higher education with an additional $5 billion fund for governors to address education concerns. "Our community colleges have always stepped … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin Meets with Civil Rights Leaders on Judiciary Committee Priorities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Wade Henderson, Interim President and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.; and Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. During their call, the group discussed civil and human rights priorities, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, policing … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Durbin, Cortez Masto, Senate Dems Introduce Bill to Protect Unemployed Workers' Health Insurance During Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), together with 11 Senate Democrats, today re-introduced the Worker Health Coverage Protection Act, a bill that would protect millions of unemployed or furloughed workers from losing their health insurance in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow laid off workers to remain on their employer health plans, through the COBRA program, at no cost. "Recent estimates have shown that millions of … Continue Reading
February 04, 2021
Twenty Years Since it Was First Introduced, Durbin Calls on the Senate to Finally Make the Dream Act the Law of the Land
WASHINGTON - Twenty years since he first introduced the Dream Act, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Senate to finally make the bipartisan Dream Act the law of the land. The bill would allow immigrant students who were brought here as children and grew up in the United States to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship. Durbin, along with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), will introduce the Dream Act … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Durbin: We Can't Waste Time to Pass President Biden's American Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate 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 recovery, and … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Durbin: I Will Remember Officer Sicknick During next Week's Impeachment Trial
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today honored Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered fatal injuries during the insurrection on January 6, following a ceremony where Officer Sicknick was lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. Durbin also argued that the Senate has a responsibility to move forward with the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump. "Next … Continue Reading
February 03, 2021
Durbin Discusses Justice Department Priorities with Kristen Clarke, Nominee for Assistant Attorney General for DOJ Civil Rights Division
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), incoming Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Kristen Clarke, President Joe Biden's nominee be the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Civil Rights Division. During their Zoom call, Durbin and Clarke discussed the importance of working closely together on DOJ priorities, including reinvigorating DOJ's protection of Americans' civil rights and voting rights, combating hate crimes and domestic … Continue Reading