Press Releases
As Debt Ceiling Looms, Durbin Joins Introduction Of Legislation To Avoid Catastrophic Default
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and 16 colleagues in introducing the End the Threat of Default Act, legislation that would permanently remove the threat of a default by repealing the national debt ceiling, an arbitrary limit restricting the amount that the United States Treasury can borrow to pay its debts. In June 2023, President Biden signed legislation that suspended the statutory debt ceiling until January 2, … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Judicial Nominations To Full Senate At Last Scheduled Meeting Under Democratic Control
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two judicial nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary and keep our communities safe. Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced 375 nominees to the full Senate, including 244 judicial nominees. The Senate has confirmed 233 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris Administration. At the top … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Durbin Pays Tribute To Vice President Harris For Her Service To The Nation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to Vice President Kamala Harris for her service to our nation as the Biden-Harris administration comes to a close. “On January 20, 2021, little girls worldwide watched in awe as the daughter of a mother from India and a father from Jamaica placed her hand on the bible of the late civil rights icon and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and she took the oath to serve in one of the … Continue Reading
December 12, 2024
Durbin Statement On President Biden's Clemency Announcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden announced that he is granting clemency to nearly 1,500 Americans who were placed on CARES Act home confinement and will pardon 39 additional individuals: “The President took an important step by commuting the sentences of these men and women. In far too many cases in our justice system, the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. I have … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
Durbin Statement On FBI Director Wray's Announcement That He Will Resign At The End Of The Biden Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding FBI Director Christopher Wray announcing that he will resign at the end of the Biden administration: “The FBI is critical to our nation’s security and our families’ safety. It will soon embark on a perilous new era with serious questions about its future. I want to thank Director Wray for his service to our nation, and all the men and women of … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
Durbin Pays Tribute To Senators Brown, Tester, Casey, And Romney, For Their Service In The U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to four additional Senators who will be leaving the United States Senate at the end of the 118th Congress—U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jon Tester (D-MT), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mitt Romney (R-UT). On Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Durbin said: “Sherrod Brown spent 50 years in public office… including the last 18 years in the Senate. He is the kind of person that comes to the … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
On The Senate Floor, Durbin Highlights, Urges The Release Of Political Prisoners From Eritrea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Vietnam
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted the plight of political prisoners in four nations and called for their immediate and unconditional release. All of these political prisoners have been outspoken in their support for democracy and basic freedoms. Durbin was joined by U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) on the floor. “Periodically I come to the Senate floor to raise the issue of political prisoners languishing in jails around … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On President-Elect Trump's Threats Of Mass Deportation
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 “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing will examine the consequences of mass deportations, as well as stress the need to shift congressional efforts toward sensible solutions that bring order to the border and provide a path to … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On President-Elect Trump's Threats Of Mass Deportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing examined the consequences of President-elect Trump’s threats of mass deportations, as well as stressed the need to shift congressional efforts toward sensible solutions that bring order to the border … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin Meets With CDC Director Cohen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to discuss several issues important to the public health and safety of children. During the meeting, they discussed the need to provide CDC with robust federal funding in order to protect the public health—from the agency’s work to ensure children are protected from preventable childhood diseases and illnesses, to monitoring and helping … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin Discusses Preventing Gun Violence With Former Rep. Gabby Giffords
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with former Representative Gabby Giffords and Emma Brown, Executive Director for GIFFORDS Law Center, to discuss laws, policies, and programs to prevent gun violence. “It’s always a pleasure to meet with former Congresswoman Giffords and her team at GIFFORDS. Gabby turned immense trauma and pain into selfless action in all 50 states, and we had a productive conversation on the path forward … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin, Colleagues Call Out Dr. Oz For Proposal To End Traditional Medicare And Glaring Conflicts Of Interest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37) in sending a letter to Dr. Mehmet Oz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), raising stark concerns about his advocacy to eliminate the traditional Medicare program and his deep financial ties to the private health insurance corporations that … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
Durbin, Senators Request President Biden Protect Immigrant Families Ahead Of The Inauguration Of President-Elect Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent a letter calling on President Joe Biden to protect immigrant families before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. “As Senators who represent diverse states across our nation and who collectively represent millions of … Continue Reading
December 09, 2024
Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Dangers Of Mass Deportation To American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor previewing tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Mass Deportations Will Separate American Families, Harm Our Armed Forces, and Devastate Our Economy.” The hearing will examine the consequences of President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations, as well as stress the need to shift our focus toward sensible solutions that would bring order … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Durbin, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Employees When Businesses File For Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act. The bipartisan legislation would correct abuses of the bankruptcy process that deprive employees and retirees of their hard-earned wages, benefits, and retirement savings. As businesses’ bankruptcy filings have increased, jobs, … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Durbin Issues Statement On Urgency Of Passing Farm Bill As President-Elect Trump's Tariffs Loom Over Illinois' Agriculture Sector
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding the urgency in passing a Farm Bill as President-elect Trump threatens to impose tariffs on prominent trade partners in the agricultural sector: “Sticker shock has become an almost expected experience during Americans’ weekly grocery shopping, and it’s deeply impacting families’ budgets. And Illinois farmers are … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Durbin Urges President-Elect Trump To Follow Precedent And Require All Nominees To Complete FBI Background Investigations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging President-elect Trump to follow precedent and ensure every single Senate-confirmed nominee has undergone an FBI background investigation. Durbin has served on the Senate Judiciary Committee for over 20 years and in that time, he has voted on thousands of judicial, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Marshal, and Justice Department nominees. Regardless of party, every nominee who … Continue Reading
December 05, 2024
Durbin Statement On Ramaswamy's Threat To Claw Back Federal Loan To Rivian, Rival Company Of Elon Musk
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on remarks made by Vivek Ramaswamy, the incoming Co-Chair of President-elect Trump’s commission to cut government spending, about clawing back federal funding that the Biden administration is dispersing, including a key loan to Rivian, a rival company of his commission Co-Chair, Elon Musk: “Isn’t this rich. In 2009, when his Tesla operation was hanging by a thread, Elon Musk borrowed nearly $500 … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Durbin Makes Urgent Plea For Defense Secretary Austin To Reconsider His Revoking Of Guilty Plea Deal For Accused September 11th Plotters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, again pressed U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin today on his decision to revoke a long-sought guilty plea deal between prosecutors and defendants accused of perpetrating the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Secretary Austin revoked the deal two days after it was announced despite two years of negotiations, a move that frustrated victims’ families and put them through … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Durbin Announces Senate Democratic Whip Operations For 119th Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the following Senators were selected to be members of the Senate Democratic Whip operation for the 119th Congress: Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chief Deputy Whip; Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Deputy Whip; and Senator Tina Smith, Deputy Whip; as well as Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). “The November 5th election showed that our nation remains … Continue Reading