Press Releases
Durbin Join Ribbon Cutting For Latest Completed Segment Of Springfield Rail Improvements Project
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman and local leaders for a ribbon cutting of the newly constructed underpasses at Madison and Jefferson streets, the latest milestone for the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP). In December 2021, Durbin announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation had awarded a $13.5 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant to the … Continue Reading
August 05, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Join Booker, Warnock, Butler, Colleagues To Announce Reintroduction of George Floyd Justice In Policing Act
WASHINGTON - 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. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rev. Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) to announce the reintroduction ofthe George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024, the most comprehensive bill to reform law enforcement and strengthen police accountability … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced funding bills for Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies; and Financial Services and General Government for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Join Introduction of Constitutional Amendment To Clarify No One Is Above The Law
WASHINGTON - 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 Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and 26 of their Senate colleagues in introducing a constitutional amendment making clear that no one in the United States is above the law, including the President. In response to the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision last month that Presidents are immune from prosecution for “official” actions, the amendment … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Secure Illinois Wins In Senate-Passed Water Resources Development Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founding Co-Chair of the Senate’s first-ever Environmental Justice Caucus, today highlighted several critical provisions they successfully secured for Illinois in the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which passed the Senate earlier this week. These provisions - ranging from adjusting the cost share for the Brandon Road … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Durbin, Cortez Masto Urge USCIS To Amend Its Policy & Invite Special Immigrant Juvenile Youth With Deferred Action To Apply For Advance Parole Documents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and 16 of their Senate colleagues today urged U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to invite noncitizens with approved Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) petitions and Deferred Action to request Advance Parole Documents in a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Along with Durbin and Cortez … Continue Reading
August 02, 2024
Durbin, Schatz, Gillibrand Introduce Child Marriage Prevention Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Child Marriage Prevention Act of 2024, which would take steps to reduce child marriage across the United States. According to leading advocacy groups on this issue, data shows that between 2000 and 2018, more than 300,000 minors were married in the United States, most of whom were 16 or 17 years of age. However, … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Senate Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill To Authorize Dozens of New District Court Judgeships
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated unanimous Senate passage of the Judicial Understaffing Delays Getting Emergencies Solved (JUDGES) Act, which would authorize 63 new permanent district court judgeships and three new temporary district court judgeships. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. In June, the JUDGES Act advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 20-0 vote. “As dockets … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Voting Against The Tax Relief For American Families And Workers Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024. The bill expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC), restores certain business tax breaks that help small businesses, and increases subsidies for affordable housing and disaster assistance. Earlier this year, this legislation passed the House of Representatives on a large bipartisan basis, 357-70. “As … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Durbin, Shaheen Statement In Response To Prisoner Swap And Safe Return Of Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee, today issued the following joint statement in response to the Biden-Harris Administration’s announcement that Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Alsu Kurmasheva, along with others wrongfully … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Seven Judicial Nomination To The Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced seven judicial nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary. The nominations advanced include two circuit court nominees and five district court nominees. “Since Democrats took back the White House and the Senate majority in January 2021, we have been committed to advancing highly qualified nominations to lifetime appointments across the federal judiciary who are … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Over $1.3 Million For Illinois Americorps Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1,303,609 in federal funding going to three organizations in Illinois as a result of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) AmeriCorps State and National Public Health grant competition. Using funds provided by the American Rescue Plan and CARES Act, these programs will support Illinois’ public health workforce by addressing mental health, chronic disease prevention, and public health … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Durbin, Welch, Shaheen Meet With Members Of The Ukrainian Parliament
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted members of the Ukrainian Parliament to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine. The members visiting also serve on Ukraine’s parliamentary delegation in the Council of Europe. In addition to Durbin, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also joined. “More than two years after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of … Continue Reading
August 01, 2024
Durbin, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Fund The Future Of Quantum Research At DOE
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced legislation to advance the United States’ capacity to invest in quantum information science and research and development (R&D) through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As R&D advances quantum science, engineering, and technology, the DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2024 would reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing $2.5 billion in funding over the next five … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing Examining Medical, Physical, And Emotional Abuse Of Pregnant & Postpartum Incarcerated Individuals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law hearing entitled “Birth Behind Bars.” Today’s hearing examined the medical, physical, and emotional abuse experienced by pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals. Today’s hearing included two powerful witness testimonials. Ms. Jessica Umberger testified to her experience being pregnant while … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five 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 Ryan Young Park, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Byron B. Conway, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; Jonathan E. Hawley, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois; April M. … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Lower Drug Prices By Promoting Generic Competition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to tackle certain efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to extend monopolies on lifesaving drugs. The Reforming Evergreening and Manipulation that Extends Drug Years (REMEDY) Act, would promote competition by removing barriers to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for lower-cost generic drugs. Many high-cost, brand-name drugs are shielded from … Continue Reading
July 31, 2024
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Ensure Stable, Robust Funding For Biomedical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the American Cures Act, legislation that restores the United States’ commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research. The American Cures Act would create mandatory funds to provide steady, predictable funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies, allowing the U.S. to remain a leader in development and discovery for decades to come. The American Cures Act would overcome the … Continue Reading
July 30, 2024
Durbin, Collins, Rep. Hank Johnson Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill To Improve Fairness In Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, today reintroduced the Criminal Judicial Administration Act (CJAA), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would improve fairness in the criminal justice system by facilitating court attendance by … Continue Reading
July 30, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.6 Million To Prevent Youth Substance Use In Illinois
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,624,906 in federal funding going to 21 Illinois coalitions through the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program. This funding will be used by communities to achieve and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use, tackling issues ranging from tobacco prevention to opioid misuse. “It is our duty to ensure that every Illinoisan … Continue Reading