Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Secure Illinois Wins In Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founding Co-Chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today highlighted several critical provisions they successfully secured for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which passed the Senate and will head to President Biden’s desk. These provisions - ranging from adjusting the cost share for … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Introduces U.S. International Trade Commission Nominee & Illinoisan Jim Coughlan In Senate Finance Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Illinois native Jim Coughlan at the Senate Finance Committee hearing on his nomination to serve on the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for a nine-year term. Key Quotes: “During my time as Chair [of the Senate Judiciary Committee], it has been my privilege to evaluate literally hundreds of Americans [for federal judgeships]. So, I understand this process, and I understand what makes someone a spectacular … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement With FTA To Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage Of His Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Authorization Of Global Basic Education Effort
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) to reauthorize for another five years the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. The legislation continues a strategic approach for U.S. development assistance focused on basic education for vulnerable children around the globe. “Given … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Highlights Judiciary Committee Accomplishments During His Time As Chair
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reflected on his time serving as Chair and highlighted the accomplishments of the Committee over the last four years. During Durbin’s time as Chair, the Committee held 145 full Committee hearings, 88 subcommittee hearings, and 86 executive business meetings; advanced 373 executive and judicial nominees out of Committee; and reported 56 bills out of … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of NDAA For Fiscal Year 2025
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes an authorization of nearly $895 billion for the national defense budget, including support for Rock Island Arsenal in Illinois, and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all military personnel and a historic 14.5 percent pay raise for junior … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call For Extension Of Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging him to grant an extension for the federal funding secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that progress has been made in the planning phase of the project … Continue Reading
December 17, 2024
Durbin Questions NCAA President Baker During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Explosive Growth In Sports Betting Since Murphy V. NCAA Supreme Court Decision
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned NCAA President, Charlie Baker, in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “America’s High-Stakes Bet on Legalized Sports Gambling.” The hearing examined the growth in sports betting since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. Durbin first asked President Baker about athlete harassment in … Continue Reading
December 17, 2024
Durbin Calls For Removal Of Provision Banning Gender-Affirming Care For Transgender Children Of Service Members From NDAA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor decrying the inclusion of a provision in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference agreement to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender children of service members. Durbin began his remarks by highlighting the positive components of the NDAA, which includes Durbin’s READ Reauthorization Act to support basic education programs internationally, while … Continue Reading
December 17, 2024
Durbin Celebrates Sixth Anniversary Of The First Step Act On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, celebrated the sixth anniversary of the First Step Act—bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation designed to make our justice system fairer and our communities safer by reforming sentencing laws and providing opportunities for those who are incarcerated to prepare to re-enter society successfully. The First Step Act was signed into law by then-President … Continue Reading
December 17, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Explosive Growth In Sports Betting Since Murphy V. NCAA Supreme Court Decision
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “America’s High-Stakes Bet on Legalized Sports Gambling.” The hearing will examine the growth in sports betting since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018. Key Quotes: “In 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Professional … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin Joins Baldwin, Colleagues To Introduce NDAA Amendment To Protect Military Parents' Right To Health Care For Their Kids
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) to introduce an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2025 to remove language that would strip away service members’ parental rights to access medically necessary health care for their transgender children. The U.S. House of Representatives-passed NDAA includes language that bans certain medical treatments under TRICARE for … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin Meets With Illinois Farm Bureau Leadership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois Farm Bureau President Brian Duncan and Illinois Farm Bureau Vice President Evan Hultine to discuss Farm Bill dynamics and the outlook for passing year-end legislation that addresses current economic conditions faced by farmers. During their meeting, Durbin and the Illinois Farm Bureau leaders also spoke about Illinois as a leading … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin Highlights Bitcoin ATM Fraud Against Elderly Americans In Speech On The Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting how Bitcoin ATMs frequently contribute to financial fraud against elderly Americans. Reporting in the Illinois Times and New York Times outlines egregious examples of criminals contacting elderly Americans and using threats and other forms of intimidation to coerce them into depositing large sums of money in the criminals’ crypto wallets via local Bitcoin ATMs. Durbin said, … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin, Welch, Duckworth, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration To Designate The Palestinian Territories For TPS, Provide Palestinians Additional Protection From Deportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), led Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in urging President Biden to promptly designate the Palestinian Territories forTemporary Protected Status (TPS) and further protect Palestinians present in the United States from … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $10 Million In Federal Funding For Purpose-Grown Energy Crops
WASHINGTON ? U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $10 million in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office awarded to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This project will advance the production of low carbon intensity, purpose-grown energy crops that will accelerate a clean energy economy by expanding the domestic supply chain of alternative carbon sources. “Today’s … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2 Million In Federal Funding For Improved Data On Car Crashes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,038,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to create an interface that would transfer car crash data in Illinois to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). “Today’s investment will improve how we understand transportation safety in our state,” said Durbin. “As technology continues to progress, it is crucial that we bring … Continue Reading
December 16, 2024
Durbin, Schatz, Welch Introduce Constitutional Amendment To End Undemocratic Electoral College
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced a constitutional amendment to abolish the Electoral College system and restore democracy by allowing the direct election of presidents through popular vote alone. “In 2000, before the general election, I introduced a bipartisan resolution to amend the Constitution and abolish the Electoral College. I still believe today … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Durbin Leads Letter To Department Of Education Calling For Data Collection On DIversity Of Educator Workforce
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Representative Matthew Cartwright (D-PA-8), today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to include additional data on the diversity of the educator workforce in the annual Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). Maintaining a diverse educator workforce has shown to improve outcomes for all students. “The Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is a valuable tool to measure whether students have equal … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Call On Transportation Leaders To Reach Agreement, Finalize Federal Funding Application For Chicago Hub Improvement Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today sent a letter to the leaders of Amtrak, Canadian National, Metra, and Union Pacific, urging the leaders to reach an agreement on all outstanding aspects of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s upcoming federal grant application to advance the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) for Chicago Union Station (CUS). The application … Continue Reading