Press Releases
Durbin Calls For GAO Investigation Into ICE Detention Facilities, Medical Care, Dangerous Conditions
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to expand its pending investigation of mental health care to include medical care and mismanagement of federal contracts in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. He also called on ICE to halt intake of individuals at Baker County Detention Center during the investigation. The call for an investigation follows a … Continue Reading
November 15, 2024
Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Department Of Health And Human Services Nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): “Mr. Kennedy is entirely unqualified to lead our federal health programs. While masquerading as a crusader against corporate influence or for the concerns of children and parents, Mr. Kennedy pushes quack science that will cause … Continue Reading
November 15, 2024
Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Justice Department Nominations
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General and John Sauer as Solicitor General: “Coupled with the announcement that he intends to nominate former Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General, these selections show Donald Trump intends to weaponize the Justice Department to seek vengeance. Donald Trump … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly, Underwood Announce $82 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Port Upgrades
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) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today announced $82,091,644 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) administered by the Maritime Administration. PIDP grants support efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the nation’s … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Durbin Duckworth Announce $31.9 Million In Federal Funding For Low Carbon Construction Materials
WASHINGTON ? U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $31,933,577 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Fiscal Year 2022 Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive this federal funding to implement and use low carbon materials on Federal-aid construction projects … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Chair Durbin Leads Senate Judiciary Democrats In Letter Asking House Ethics Committee To Release Ethics Report On Matt Gaetz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee urging the House Ethics Committee to preserve and transmit to the Senate Judiciary Committee all relevant documentation on former Congressman Matt Gaetz, including the report that the House Ethics Committee was reportedly prepared to vote to release tomorrow. The letter follows Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Judicial Nominations, One Marshall Nomination, Patent Bill To Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two 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. Additionally, the Committee advanced a bill to improve the collection of information on barriers inventors face in accessing the patent system. At the top of the hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Durbin Statement On House Ethics Committee Report On Matt Gaetz
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the preservation and sharing of the House Ethics Committee report with the Senate Judiciary Committee about allegations against former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress yesterday after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Mr. Gaetz to serve as Attorney General: “In light of Donald Trump’s selection of … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Attorney General Nominee, Rep. Matt Gaetz
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 will nominate U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz to be U.S. Attorney General: “During his first administration, Donald Trump assaulted the Constitution, undermined the rule of law, and tried to use the Department of Justice to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He has made it clear that he … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin Meets With Democratic Senators-Elect
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Democratic Senators-elect, including Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), to congratulate them and discuss their goals for the 119th Congress. “It’s an honor to welcome these newly-elected Senators to Washington. They each bring a unique experience in public service and new energy to our efforts to address the issues … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of U.S. Magistrate Judge Hawley To Serve As A District Court Judge For The Central District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin: We Must Confirm Every Possible Federal Judge In The Lame Duck Session
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to confirm every pending judicial nominee before the end of the 118th Congress. Thanks to Durbin, Leader Schumer, and the Biden-Harris Administration, Senate Democrats have confirmed 214 judges to lifetime positions on the federal judiciary in the last four years. Right now, there are 16 nominees pending on the Senate floor—four circuit … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Gun Conversion Devices That Are Amplifying The Gun Violence Pandemic
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Bump Stocks and Other Conversion Devices are Amplifying the Gun Violence Epidemic.” The hearing examined how firearm conversion devices like Glock switches, auto sears, bump stocks, and pistol braces make firearms more lethal and enable evasion of commonsense gun regulations. In 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Gun Conversion Devices That Are Amplifying The Gun Violence Epidemic
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 Bump Stocks and Other Conversion Devices are Amplifying the Gun Violence Epidemic.” The hearing examined how firearm conversion devices like Glock switches, auto sears, bump stocks, and pistol braces make firearms more lethal and enable evasion of commonsense gun regulations. In 2018, the Bureau of … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Delegation Letter Urging GSA To Act To Remediate Elevated Levels Of Lead And Legionella Found In Federal Buildings In Chicago, Rockford
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) sent a letter to the leadership of the General Services Administration (GSA) requesting answers on how the agency … Continue Reading
November 12, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of April Perry To Serve As A District Court Judge For The Northern District Of Ilinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nomination of April Perry to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed April Perry to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Ms. … Continue Reading
November 12, 2024
Durbin Reflects On The Senate Judiciary Committee's Historic Achievements During Biden Administration; Vows To Continue These Efforts During The Incoming Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted the historic achievements of the Senate Judiciary Committee over the last four years. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Leader Schumer, and Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 213 judges, and counting, to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris Administration. The Committee has also held hearings on the issues … Continue Reading
November 12, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $192 Million To Help Illinois Families Save On Home Energy Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $192,607,773 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans afford the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. This announcement includes funding appropriated from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Durbin and Duckworth both supported. “In the … Continue Reading
November 09, 2024
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Billy Lawless Sr.
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the passing of Billy Lawless Sr.: “Billy Lawless Sr. was part of a long line of Irish immigrants to Chicago who made America a better nation. In the competitive world of hospitality and restaurants, he and his children worked hard to succeed and excel in Chicago. “I came to know Billy through his passionate advocacy for immigrants. Billy found a way to strike a balance between that man from Ireland … Continue Reading
November 08, 2024
Durbin Celebrates Completion of Willard Airport Taxiway Project
SAVOY - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of University of Illinois’ Willard Airport’s midfield taxiway realignment project. This federally funded project is part of a broader effort by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure taxiways nationwide meet the latest safety standards. “By improving airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said … Continue Reading