Durbin Meets Virtually With Secretary Of The Air Force

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the newly-confirmed Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to discuss Kendall's new role and Air Force priorities. On the call, Durbin and Kendall discussed the need to strategically position the Air Force to counter China. Durbin also advocated for continued support for Air Force installations in Illinois, including Scott Air Force Base. "It was a pleasure to speak with Secretary Kendall as he assumes his new… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With President Biden, Democratic Lawmakers On Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Dream Act, met yesterday with President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress in the White House to discuss the plight of Dreamers following the recent federal court decision by Judge Hanen and the need to finally offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. "Two weeks ago, a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of DACA placed the lives and fu… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With President Biden, Democratic Lawmakers On Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Dream Act, met yesterday with President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress in the White House to discuss the plight of Dreamers following the recent federal court decision by Judge Hanen and the need to finally offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. "Two weeks ago, a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of DACA placed the lives and fu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Emergency Supplemental Bill To Pay National Guard, Capitol Police

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, introduced by Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), that addresses the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $2.1 billion bill addresses the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, provides … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bills To Address Lack Of Competition In Pharmaceutical Industry & Rising Cost Of Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted unanimously to advance four pieces of bipartisan legislation to address the lack of competition in the pharmaceutical industry and rising cost of prescription drugs. Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights-Chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)-held a hearing entitled, "A Prescription for Change: Cracking Down on Anticompetitive Conduct in Prescription Drug Markets," wher… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Electric Vehicle Infrastructure And Production With Ford And Lion Electric

WASHINGTON - This week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Ford North America CEO Kumar Galhortra and Lion Electric CEO Marc Bedard to discuss federal priorities in electric vehicle (EV) production and infrastructure. Durbin spoke about his efforts to secure federal funding for EVs in the bipartisan infrastructure deal and a potential reconciliation bill. He also urged the companies to consider Illinois as a location for future battery plants and EV production. "President Bid… Continue Reading

Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Will Keep Illinois Families Safe, Make Historic Investments In America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-build our nation's roads, railways, and bridges; to make high-speed internet and clean water a reality for every household in America; and to create millions of good-paying, family-supporting union jobs across the country. During his speech, Durbin spoke about a recent bridge collapse in Seneca, Illinois, due to … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Advancing Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to advance the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework: "This is the first step towards an historic and long-overdue investment in American infrastructure. This bipartisan plan will improve and expand public transit, passenger rail, roads and bridges, clean drinking and waste water infrastructure, and more. It is time to pass the largest long-term investment in our infrastructure … Continue Reading

Durbin: McConnell's Efforts To Stop An Investigation Into January 6 Failed

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today commended the brave Capitol Police Officers and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers who testified at yesterday's House Select Committee hearing to investigate the events that led up to and occurred on January 6, 2021, and once again slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan, independent January 6 commission. "It continues to amaze me that an independent, bipartisan commit… Continue Reading

Durbin: To Protect Yourself, Your Family, And Your Community, Get Vaccinated

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of getting vaccinated and dispelling misinformation about COVID-19. Due to low vaccination rates in some parts of the country, the more contagious Delta variant has spread quickly among the unvaccinated and has resulted in "breakthrough cases" among vaccinated populations. In his remarks, Durbin reiterated the updated CDC guidelines and encouraged all individuals, including fully vaccin… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Former Senator Mike Enzi On The Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to former U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) on the Senate floor who passed away suddenly after suffering serious injuries in a bicycle accident. During his speech, Durbin discussed his efforts with Enzi to give small businesses and Main Street America more of a fighting chance in the age of Amazon and eventual passage of their bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act in the Senate in 2013. "I'm saddened today to learn of the d… Continue Reading

Durbin Sits Down With Illinois Speaker Of The House Emanuel "Chris" Welch

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel "Chris" Welch to discuss federal and state priorities for Illinois. During their discussion, Durbin and Welch spoke about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations and maintaining Illinois' position as a leader in the electric vehicle industry. Also joining today's meeting was Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner (D-IL-26). "Our government works best when it works together. I'm grat… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions DOJ and FBI On Combating Ransomware Attacks

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "America Under Cyber Siege: Preventing and Responding to Ransomware Attacks," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Richard Downing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division about the role of cryptocurrency in ransomware attacks. "Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin are the coin of the realm when it comes to ransomware. What … Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Todd Kim To Be Assistant Attorney General, Environment & Natural Resources Division

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) at the Justice Department by a bipartisan vote of 58-41. Following the vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Kim's confirmation: "With Mr. Kim leading ENRD, the American people can trust that our nation's public lands and natural resources will be protected… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee On Ransomware Attacks

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "America Under Cyber Siege: Preventing and Responding to Ransomware Attacks." The hearing will examine the growing wave of ransomware attacks affecting businesses, non-profits, and local governments across the nation. Key Quotes: "It is about more than money and inconvenience. The harm of ransomware can a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Anti-Vax Rhetoric Is Risking The Lives Of Our Fellow Americans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on Americans to get vaccinated as the COVID-19 Delta variant continues to spread across the U.S., leading to increased cases and hospitalizations. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted the importance of confronting vaccine misinformation and the need for a bipartisan commitment to promoting public health. "The vaccines that we all have access to right now will stop the Delta variant in it… Continue Reading

Durbin: Gun Trafficking Strike Force, Investments In Community Violence Prevention Programs, Needed In Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about his time with Attorney General Merrick Garland in Chicago last Thursday to discuss several initiatives to address gun violence, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) implementation of a firearms trafficking strike force in the city. Durbin and Garland visited the Chicago Police Department (CPD) 11th District Office for a briefing about law enforcement ef… Continue Reading

Durbin: Ransomware Is A Growing Threat To Our Economic And National Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the threat that ransomware attacks pose to our economic and national security. Tomorrow, July 27 at 10:00 AM ET, the Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing entitled "America Under Cyber Siege: Preventing and Responding to Ransomware Attacks," during which experts from the Department of Justice, the FBI, CISA, and the Secret Service will discuss efforts to pr… Continue Reading

Durbin: Public Lands And Natural Resources Are In Good Hands With Todd Kim

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote for Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). During his speech, Durbin said that Kim is an experienced leader who has received praise from both sides of the aisle, can restore integrity and independence to the Department of Justice, and can be trusted to protect public lands and natural … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on First Slate Of Biden Administration U.S. Attorney Nominations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the first slate of U.S. Attorney nominations from the Biden Administration: "I'm pleased that the Biden Administration has announced its first slate of U.S. Attorney nominees. I look forward to timely consideration of these nominations in Committee." Today's slate of U.S. Attorney nominees include: Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney nominee for the… Continue Reading