Durbin, Duckworth Join Push to Renew Expired Funding for Child Care

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bob Casey (D-PA), along with U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51), Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), and Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), in leading a bicameral group of their colleagues in urging congressional leadership to renew expired funding for child care in any supplemental funding package… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Release Statement on Biden, UAW President Visit to Belvidere Plant in Celebration of UAW-Stellantis Deal

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statements on President Biden’s and United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain’s visit to Belvidere, Illinois, after UAW and Stellantis reached a deal to restart the Belvidere Assembly Plant and add on an electric vehicle battery plant to the facility: “While I cannot welcome them in person, I am pleased to have President Biden and UAW President Shawn Fain visit Bel… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Judiciary Committee Effort to Authorize Subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the followingstatement regarding the Senate Judiciary Committee’s ongoing effort to authorize subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo relating to the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation: “Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats remain united in our effort to implement an enforceable code of conduct for Supreme Court justices.  To inform this effort, we will continue to pu… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Larita Clark, CEO of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) and Jorge Ramirez, Secretary and Treasurer, to discuss MPEA’s impact on the Chicago region and Illinois economy as the largest convention center in North America.  Durbin and Clark also spoke about future plans for McCormick Square, including making infrastructure improvements to the convention center. “Chicago’s major attractions, including Navy Pi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Jayapal, Schakowsky, Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Designate Palestinian Territories for Temporary Protected Status or Authorize Deferred Enforcement Departure for Palestinians in U.S.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today led 104 of their colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden calling on his Administration to designate the Palestinian territories for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and/or authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States.  TPS and DED offer temporary relief from remo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Rubio Applaud Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Authorization of Global Basic Education

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today applauded Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act of 2017 for an additional five years.  The legislation equitably expands access to basic education for children around the globe. “Given the terrible learning loss around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic and troubling backsliding on girls education in pl… Continue Reading

Durbin, Gooden Request Accounting for Exorbiant Swipe Fees Being Paid by Federal Government

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) requested a comprehensive review by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) detailing the federal government's interchange fee expenses over the last five fiscal years.  This request highlights the exorbitant credit card interchange or "swipe" fees, a staggering burden the federal government and, in turn, American taxpayers, pay at around $240 million every year.  In addition to Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Finnish Ambassador, Mikko Hautala

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with Finnish Ambassador to the U.S., Mikko Hautala, to discuss continued support for Ukraine.  They also discussed ways to strengthen the NATO alliance seven months after Finland formally joined the alliance.  Finland’s historic entry into NATO added significant military capability, notably along more than 800 miles of Russia’s border. “More than 20 months after Putin began his brutal, criminal… Continue Reading

On Senate Floor, Durbin Reiterates Need to Authorize Subpoenas Related to Supreme Court Ethics Reform

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed his announcement last week that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize issuing subpoenas as it relates to the Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation.  These votes in Committee could take place as soon as Thursday. “I do not make this decision lightly.  Seeking authorization to issue subpoenas is a relatively rare occurren… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Judiciary Committee Will No Longer Vote to Authorize Subpoena for Robin Arkley Following Cooperation in Supreme Court Ethics Investigation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will no longer vote to authorize issuing a subpoena to Robin Arkley II at this time as it relates to the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation after he provided the Committee with information that he had been withholding.  The Committee will move forward with a vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo. “Months … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Majority of Senate Democratic Caucus in Push for More Information Around Strategy to Defeat Hamas, Protect Civilians in Gaza

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI) led the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to President Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediatefunding to replenish Israel’s defensive systems, and seeking information… Continue Reading

At A Senate Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Secretary Mayorkas About Meaningful Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) supplemental budget request, questioned DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the need to address the flow of fentanyl, which is mostly coming through ports of entry into the United States. Durbin asked, “Secretary Mayork… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Expand Lincoln Home National Historic Site

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today reintroduced the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Boundary Modification Act, legislation that would expand the boundary of the Lincoln Home National Historic site to include a replica 1844 Lincoln cottage and the Elijah Iles home.  The bill would also require the National Park Service to increase the height of the road in front of the Lincoln home and at the intersection of 8th and… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Confirmation of 150th Judge During Biden Administration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the confirmation of the 150th lifetime judicial appointment during the Biden Administration in a speech on the Senate floor.  The Senate has confirmed more women nominated by President Biden to the federal bench than any previous Senate in any previous President’s first term. “We have been building one of the most important accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration: the confirm… Continue Reading

At A Senate Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Secretaries Blinken, Austin on the President's Emergency National Security Supplemental

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on President Biden’s national security supplemental funding request, which includes emergency funds for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises.  Durbin, Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, first questioned Secretary Austin about the need to continue to provide Ukraine with financia… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks on Need to Authorize Subpoenas for Crow, Leo, and Arkley Related to Supreme Court Ethics Reform

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed his recent announcement that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II as it relates to the Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation. “Last night, I announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will vote to subpoena Harlan Crow, Robin Arkley, a… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve AI Testing and Evaluation Systems, Safeguard Americans Against Risks

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and John Thune (R-SD), to introduce the bipartisan Testing and Evaluation Systems for Trusted Artificial Intelligence (TEST) AI Act, legislation that would improve the federal government’s capacity to test and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to drive innovation, protect national security,… Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Runaway and Homeless Youth

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023.  This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide.  “This legislation is an investment in the future of our nation and a promise not to give up on any child,” said Durbin.… Continue Reading

Junior Senator from Ohio Continues to Block Durbin's Attempt to Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations on the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today on the Senate floor requested unanimous consent (UC) to schedule confirmation votes on two U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; and April M. Perry, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. Attorneys are empowered to prosecute… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees at Latest Judicial Committee Nominations 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 Seth Aframe, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit Court of Appeals; Sarah Russell, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; and Judge Edward Kiel, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Durbin began by asking Mr. Aframe a… Continue Reading