Press Releases
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
November 20, 2024
Durbin Introduces Fair Ball Act To Shore Up Labor Protections For Minor League Baseball Players
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Fair Ball Act, which would roll back the current broad exemption from federal wage and hour laws for Minor League Baseball players provided by the inaptly named Save America’s Pastime Act (SAPA) and replace it with a narrowly tailored exemption that would only apply if the players are being compensated pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). If the … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.1 Million In Federal Funding For Health Research In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,104,451 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for medical research at Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from communication disorders to mental health research. “Federal investments in medical research push our … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Durbin Questions Two Judicial Nominees In Today's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Benjamin J. Cheeks, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California; and Serena Raquel Murillo, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. Durbin began his questioning by asking the nominees about their background as prosecutors. “It is interesting that we … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Two Judicial Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Benjamin J. Cheeks, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California; and Serena Raquel Murillo, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. Durbin began the hearing by briefly introducing the judges before U.S. Senator Laphonza … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Chair Durbin Leads Senate Judiciary Democrats In Letter Asking FBI For Complete Evidentiary File In The Investigation of Matt Gaetz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led Senate Judiciary Democrats in a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting that the FBI provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the complete evidentiary file, including documents memorializing interviews, in the closed investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking of minors. The letter follows President-elect Donald … Continue Reading
November 20, 2024
Durbin, Wicker, Senators Meet With Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance. In addition to Durbin and Wicker, U.S. Senators James Risch (R-ID), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also attended. “More than two and a half years after Putin began his brutal, … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Durbin Discusses Funding For National Health Service Corps With HRSA Administrator
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Carole Johnson, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), about reauthorizing funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which is set to expire at the end of December. During their call, Durbin and Administrator Johnson spoke about Durbin’s bipartisanRestoring America’s Health Care Workforce and Readiness Act, which includes a three-year reauthorization that would … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Durbin Meets With MidAmerica Airport Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Director Darren James to discuss federal funding for the airport as Congress considers appropriations funding for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). During their meeting, Durbin and Director James spoke about the airport’s current projects, including a terminal apron expansion. “MidAmerica Airport keeps Metro East residents connected to travel destinations around the country. In speaking with … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Durbin Questions Visa Witness During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Enhancing Competition In The Credit Card Market, Lowering Fee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Mr. Bill Sheedy, Senior Advisor to the CEO of Visa, Inc., during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System.” The hearing examined the lack of competition in the credit card market and its impact on interchange fees, as well as legislative solutions like Chair Durbin’s Credit … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Durbin, Daines Laud Passage Of Their Bipartisan Quantum Computing Legislation In Energy & Natural Resources Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today applauded the passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act, out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by a voice vote. The legislation aims to reinvigorate research and development (R&D) projects at DOE by authorizing $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years - well above the $625 million for DOE-related programs … Continue Reading
November 19, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Enhancing Competition In The Credit Card Market, Lowering Fees
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 “Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System.” The hearing will examine the lack of competition in the credit card market and its impact on interchange fees, as well as legislative solutions like Chair Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act to help protect … Continue Reading
November 18, 2024
Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Judge Embry Kidd To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Eleventh Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Embry Kidd to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Kidd’s confirmation: “Judge Kidd’s experience in private practice and public service, in addition to his experience as a magistrate judge, has prepared him to serve with distinction on the federal bench. I congratulate Judge Kidd on becoming … Continue Reading
November 18, 2024
Durbin Joins Stabenow On The Senate Floor To Push For Passage Of Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today took to the Senate floor to highlight the efforts of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to complete the Farm Bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. In his remarks, Durbin asked Stabenow, who was also on the Senate floor, about several aspects of the Farm Bill, which must be passed or extended by the end of December to prevent … Continue Reading
November 18, 2024
Durbin Joins Stabenow On The Senate Floor To Push For Passage Of Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today took to the Senate floor to highlight the efforts of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to complete the Farm Bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. In his remarks, Durbin asked Stabenow, who was also on the Senate floor, about several aspects of the Farm Bill, which must be passed or extended by the end of December to prevent … Continue Reading
November 18, 2024
Durbin: I'll Do Everything In My Power To Ensure That Donald Trump Cannot Turn DOJ Into His Personal Law Firm
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a stark warning to his colleagues about President-elect Donald Trump’s vision for the Department of Justice (DOJ) during his Administration. “Last week, Mark Paoletta, who is overseeing the Trump transition team for the Department of Justice, warned that ‘career DOJ lawyers must be fully committed to implementing President Trump’s policies or they … Continue Reading