Press Releases

01.22.24

On the 51st Anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Durbin Recommits to Protecting Reproductive Rights

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recommitted to protecting reproductive rights on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade.  During his speech, Durbin condemned the Supreme Court’s decision inDobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overruled a nearly 50-year-old precedent that had been reaffirmed multiple times.  “Roe v. Wade enshrined into law something that should have been a given… Continue Reading


01.22.24

Durbin, Young, Senators Urge Bangladesh PM to End the Government's Harassment of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Yunus

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) along with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent the following letter to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urging the Bangladeshi government to end the persistent harassment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Profe… Continue Reading


01.19.24

Durbin Celebrates Pace's First Electric Bus

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) todayparticipated in a celebration for the introduction of Pace’s first electric bus—the first step in its commitment to convert the entire fleet of 700+ buses to zero emission vehicles by 2040—coined Project Zero. “By embracing cutting-edge technology, Pace is not just transforming its fleet; it's catalyzing a broader conversation about the intersection of public transportation and environmental responsibility,” said Durbin. “Pace’s leadership in embra… Continue Reading


01.19.24

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $6 Million to Enhance Electric Vehicle Charging Resiliency

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $5,994,441 through the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation’s Ride and Drive Electric Program for UL Solutions North America to expand its Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Laboratory to increase commercial capacity for the testing and certification of high-power EV chargers. “As we electrify transportation across the country, we must strive to build smarter, faster charging infrastr… Continue Reading


01.18.24

Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Keep Government Funded

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund various federal agencies through March 1st and March 8th, respectively: “It’s disappointing that the best we can do is ‘keep the lights on’ when funding the government.  We should be addressing issues that are important to the American people, not kicking the can down the road once again.… Continue Reading


01.18.24

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Twenty Judicial Nominations, One Executive Nomination to the Full Senate

WASHINGTON – In its first business meeting of the year, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced twenty judicial nominations and one executive nomination to the full Senate, including previously reported judicial and executive nominations that were resubmitted by President Biden this year. “Advancing and confirming highly qualified, diverse nominees to the federal bench has been one of this Committee’s and Senate Democrats’ greatest successes. Today’s business meeting adds numerous nominati… Continue Reading


01.18.24

Durbin Meets with U.S. Sentencing Commission Chair As Commission Considers New Amendments to Sentencing Guidelines

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Judge Carlton Reeves, Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, to discuss policy priorities for the upcoming sentencing guideline amendment cycle. During their meeting, Durbin encouraged the Commission to consider an amendment to the Guidelines Manual that would prohibit the use of acquitted conduct in applying sentencing guidelines.  This potential amendment would align with Durbi… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin Meets with Co-Founder of Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes to Discuss the Youth Vaping Epidemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Meredith Berkman, co-founder of Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe), to discuss FDA’s failure to protect children from the dangers of vaping as the agency continues to miss and delay critical deadlines, including a missed federal court deadline on December 31, 2023.  Durbin has repeatedly criticized FDA for failing to clear the market of addictive, kid-friendly e-cigarettes amid its long-overdue review of pre-market … Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin, Padilla Denounce Texas Governor for Preventing Federal Officials from Reaching Migrants in Distress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, released the following statement condemning reported actions by Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s administration that prevented federal officials from aiding migrants in distress at the southwest border: “First and foremost: Governor Abbott’s horrific conduct over the weeken… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Fifth Anniversary of the Landmark First Step Act

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 “Five Years of the First Step Act: Reimagining Rehabilitation and Protecting Public Safety.”  The law serves as a beacon for “smart on crime” policies, and the hearing examined its successes and impact.  Durbin first questioned Matthew Charles, a First Step Act beneficiary after serving over two decades in prison and n… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin Delivers Senate Floor Speech on New Bipartisan Legislation to Support Dental Care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech on his new bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) to reauthorize funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years.  In his remarks, Durbin spoke about the impetus of the Promoting Dental Health Act, hearing stories from across Illinois, including rural and dental shortage areas, where children with… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $7 Million to Improve Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $7,074,498 for the Illinois Department of Transportation through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Electric Vehicle (EV) Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Program to repair or replace broken or non-operational EV chargers to improve the reliability of existing charging infrastructure. “By bolstering the accessibility … Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin, Marshall Introduce New Legislation to Bolster Public Health Efforts to Improve Dental Health

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today introduced new bipartisan legislation, the Promoting Dental Health Act, to reauthorize funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years.  The Oral Health program receives $20.5 million in annual funding for a range of public health activities to promote oral health.  This funding is allocated to 20 states to prevent cavities, gum d… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on the Fifth Anniversary of the Landmark First Step Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Five Years of the First Step Act: Reimagining Rehabilitation and Protecting Public Safety.”  The law serves as a beacon for “smart on crime” policies, and this hearing will examine its successes and impact. The First Step Act was championed by Durbin; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA); U.S. Senator Cory Bo… Continue Reading


01.17.24

Durbin, Pressley Statement on Justice Department Seeking the Death Penalty in Buffalo Supermarket Shooting Case

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07) released the following statement on the Department of Justice’s decision to seek the execution of Payton Gendron, who committed the heinous racially-motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in 2022: “Make no mistake: the acts committed by this individual are morally reprehensible. Ten families continue to mourn their loved ones who were mu… Continue Reading


01.16.24

Durbin Condemns Political Violence as Poll Workers, Government Officials Face Increased Threats Ahead of the 2024 Presidential Election

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, condemned political violence as the United States continues to see a surge in violent threats against public officials and government workers, particularly as we approach the 2024 presidential election.  The political violence ranges from death threats to bomb threats at places of work, and some violent threats have escalated into violent acts.  During his sp… Continue Reading


01.16.24

Durbin Again Urges FDA to Use its Authority to Protect Children, Stop Unlawfully Marketed Vaping Products in 2024

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use its authority to protect children from the dangers of vaping as the agency continues to miss and delay critical deadlines in a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.  Durbin has repeatedly criticized FDA for its long-overdue review of pre-market tobacco product applications (PMTAs) from e-cigarette manufacturers, which had a federal court deadline of September 9, 2021.  FDA … Continue Reading


01.12.24

Durbin Celebrates Opening of Metropolitan Peace Academy

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today celebrated the opening of the Metropolitan Peace Academy, a training program run by Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, a division of Metropolitan Family Services (MFS), to professionalize and standardize the field of street outreach workers who conduct violence prevention activities. “Trauma lies at the heart of so much pain and conflict in our neighborhoods, as evidenced by a recent study revealing that half of Chicago residents have been exposed to… Continue Reading


01.12.24

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues in Calling on Senate Appropriations to Fight for Rail Funding in FY24 Spending Negotiations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 12 Senate colleagues in urging Senate Appropriations leadership to support funding for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (IPR) grant program in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending legislation.  While the committee-passed U.S. Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations b… Continue Reading


01.12.24

Durbin, Duckworth Join Merkley, Colleagues in Call to Ban Menthol Cigarettes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), in leading 22 senators in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young, sounding their concerns about the Administration’s delay in finalizing proposed rules to end the sale of menthol flavor in cigarettes and all flavors in … Continue Reading

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