Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Illinois Primary Health Care Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. One in nine patients in Illinois are served by community health centers across urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state—providing primary, behavioral, and dental health care to patients regardless of their … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Durbin, Markey, Waters Lead 72 Colleagues In Calling On Department Of Education To Discharge Loans For Defrauded Borrowers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) today called on the Department of Education to discharge student loan debt for hundreds of thousands of students who were defrauded by predatory schools. During the first Trump Administration, defrauded borrowers’ applications for debt relief were left to languish for years, and if reviewed, were often denied. In their letter today, the lawmakers called … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Durbin Meets With Metra CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Jim Derwinski, CEO of Metra to discuss surface transportation reauthorization priorities for the commuter rail provider and receive updates on its recent federal grant awards. During their meeting, Durbin and Metra leadership spoke about ongoing funding needs for station upgrades and bridge repairs. “Many Illinoisans rely on Metra to commute in and out of Chicago. It’s critical that Metra has the support it needs to … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Durbin Pays Tribute To Senators Cardin, Carper, Manchin, Stabenow, And Butler 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 five Senators who will be retiring at the end of the 118th Congress—U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tom Carper (D-DE), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Laphonza Butler (D-CA). “The Biden-Harris Administration will go down in history as arguably the most productive and consequential administration in the last 75 years. They couldn’t have done it without a good … Continue Reading
December 03, 2024
Durbin Joins Introduction Of National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON - To maintain and expand the United States’ leadership in the global race for quantum technology, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Todd Young (R-IN), and Steve Daines (R-MT) to introduce the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, bipartisan legislation that would authorize $2.7 billion in federal funding, for the next five years, to accelerate quantum research and development at federal science agencies - … Continue Reading
December 03, 2024
Durbin Re-Elected As Senate Democratic Whip For 119th Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after being unanimously re-elected as the Senate’s second-highest ranking Democrat, the Senate Democratic Whip, for the 119th Congress by his Senate Democratic colleagues this morning. Durbin has served in the number two role in the caucus since 2005. “I am honored to continue to serve the Senate Democratic Caucus as Whip in the 119th Congress. The November 5th election showed that our nation remains … Continue Reading
December 03, 2024
Durbin Recommits To Protecting Dreamers On Senate Floor Ahead Of New Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting the urgent need for Congress to pass legal protections fornoncitizens who were brought to the United States as children, known as Dreamers, especially as President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on an immigration platform of “mass deportations.” Durbin said, “I rise today to again discuss one of my top priorities throughout my Senate career: fixing our … Continue Reading
December 02, 2024
Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Prioritize Processing Borrower Defense Claims To Support Defrauded Students Before Second Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on the Biden Administration to prioritize discharging student loans of borrowers who attended predatory for-profit colleges. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that the current administration must move to protect students as the Trump Administration has a proven record of disregarding students’ borrower defense claims. Durbin also emphasized the dangers of for-profit colleges, which … Continue Reading
December 01, 2024
Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Intent To Nominate Kash Patel As FBI Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): “We already have a FBI Director, Christopher Wray, and his term does not expire until 2027. President-elect Trump knows this, because he nominated Director Wray in 2017 after he fired the previous … Continue Reading
November 25, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Join Introduction Of Bicameral Legislation To Expand Protections For Migrant's Essential Personal Belongings
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in introducing the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act, bicameral legislation to require the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to develop guidance for the handling of personal property of individuals arrested, restrained, or … Continue Reading
November 25, 2024
Durbin Joins Warren To Renew Push To Support Survivors Of Natural Disasters
Bill Text | Section by Section SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to reintroduce the Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act. This bill would streamline the process for people in communities affected by natural disasters and seeking housing assistance. After devastating natural disasters, like Hurricanes Helene and Milton in late September, survivors can be left with limited options for recovery. The Federal Emergency … Continue Reading
November 22, 2024
Durbin Urges The Office Of The Comptroller Of The Currency To Clarify Its Misinterpretation Of Interchange Fees
SPRINGFIELD -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), author of the “Durbin Amendment,” sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) requesting it to clarify its understanding of interchange fees in light of the OCC’s recent amicus brief filed in Illinois Bankers Association v Raoul. In the letter, Durbin highlights the fact the OCC may be misinterpreting or misstating basic elements of interchange fees, which is particularly troubling given the OCC’s statutory … Continue Reading
November 22, 2024
Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Intent To Nominate Pam Bondi As Attorney General
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Pam Bondi to be U.S. Attorney General: “Serious questions have been raised about Ms. Bondi’s conduct as Florida’s Attorney General and President-elect Trump’s personal attorney. The Trump transition team is moving forward with an Attorney General nominee without the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Durbin Meets With U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine, Bridget Brink
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance ahead of the incoming Administration. Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) also joined the meeting. “More than two and a half years after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy,” said … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Durbin, Young's Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded President Biden for signing into law their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, legislation that extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability, and increase quality of life for the two-and-a-half million Americans living with congenital heart disease … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Five Judicial Nominations, One Marshal Nomination, Patent Bill To Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced five judicial nominations and one U.S. Marshal nomination 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 has confirmed 221 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris administration. Following the markup and confirmation of Sharad Desai to the District of Arizona, sixteen … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Durbin Statement On Matt Gaetz Withdrawing From Consideration To Be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement following Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration to be Attorney General: “A qualified nominee for the highest position in law enforcement in America must be honest and complete in disclosing his background. Mr. Gaetz did not meet that standard. “It’s time for Donald Trump to put forward a serious nominee for Attorney General who will fight for equal justice … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Durbin, Quigley, & Duckworth Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation To Map Urban Flooding & Help FEMA Better Assess Risks
WASHINGTON - 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 reintroduced the bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2024. The bill would establish a pilot grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to allow cities to develop better methods for mapping, understanding, and mitigating urban flooding while sharing findings with the … Continue Reading
November 21, 2024
Durbin, Murray Introduce Legislation To Ensure Victims Of Discrimination Can Seek Damages In Court, Despite Harmful Supreme Court Ruling
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced their legislation to clarify that victims of discrimination can seek damages for emotional harm under federal law—after the Supreme Court curtailed their ability to do so in its devastating April 2022 ruling in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller. The Clarifying Civil Rights Remedies Act of 2024 ensures that people who suffer emotional harm because … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Durbin Statement On Vote To Suspend The Sale Of Some U.S-Made Weapons To Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) motions to discharge S.J.Res.111, S.J.Res.113, and S.J.Res.115, which would suspend the sale of $1 billion in certain U.S.-made weapons to Israel: “I believe passionately that Israel has not only the right to exist, but the right to defend itself in the dangerous neighborhood of the Middle East. The terrorist attack of October 7 was truly horrific and … Continue Reading