Durbin, Booker Urge President Biden To Use Executive Authority To Allow Federal Inmates To Remain On Home Confinement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, today sent a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to rescind a Trump-era opinion that would force federal inmates on home confinement to return to prison following the COVID-19 pandemic. In their letter, Durbin and Booker note that the Office of Legal Counsel's … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a budget resolution, the first step in consideration of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal and President Biden's Build Back Better agenda later this year: "Senate Democrats stood together to take the first step towards consideration of a bill that would make generational investments in our future-investments that address climate change, close the income and opportunity… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Budget Resolution

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a budget resolution, the first step in consideration of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal and President Biden's Build Back Better agenda later this year: "Senate Democrats stood together to take the first step towards consideration of a bill that would make generational investments in our future-investments that address climate change, close the income and opportunity… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos' Protecting Roadside First Responders Act In Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate passed legislation included in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designed to reduce crashes involving distracted driving and prevent first responder roadside deaths. Authored by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), the Protecting Roadside First Responders Act requires the implementation of life-saving, crash avoidance safety technologies including a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Bipartisan Bill To Save Seniors, Taxpayers Billions In Prescription Drug Costs Passes Senate As Part Of Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that their bipartisan bill to reduce wasteful spending on discarded medications that are the result of excessively large, single-use drug vials has passed the Senate as part of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act. The Recovering Excessive Funds for Unused and Needless Drugs (REFUND) Act will enable Medicare to recoup money from drug companies who are paid for wasted medication… Continue Reading

Durbin: Big Pharma Must Be Held Accountable For Fueling The Opioid Crisis

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor slamming the pharmaceutical industry for igniting the opioid overdose epidemic and profiting off the suffering of Americans. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about his efforts to rein in opioid overproduction after Big Pharma flooded communities in the United States with 100 billion painkillers between 2006 and 2014. In 2018, Durbin passed a bipartisan bill to strengthen the Drug Enforcement Admin… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On Officer French And Straw Purchases Of Firearms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not lawfully buy a gun for himself. "I hope that justice is delivered swiftly and fairly for the perpetrators of this horrible crime," Durbin said. "As hear… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by a bipartisan vote of 69-30: "The fact that the Senate has effectively addressed the challenge to rebuild our infrastructure makes history. "Americans have asked us to fix crumbling roads and bridges, expand public transit and rail, and provide clean drinking water in their communities for decades. That moment has final… Continue Reading

Durbin To AG Garland: Prioritize Investigating And Prosecuting Straw Purchases Of Firearms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Chicago firearms trafficking Strike Force to immediately prioritize the investigation and prosecution of straw purchases that supply firearms to individuals with felony convictions in the Chicago area. This past weekend, Chicago Police Officer Ella French was fatally shot and her partner critically wo… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Illegally Purchased Gun Used To Kill CPD Officer French

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not buy a gun for himself: "The news that Officer French was killed and her partner wounded by a straw purchased Indiana handgun is infuriating. I have be… Continue Reading

Durbin: Now Is The Time For Immigration Reform Through The Reconciliation Process

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, once again made the case for passing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants through the budget reconciliation process. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to Congressional Republicans' continued refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigration legislation, the only viable option at this time for passing immigr… Continue Reading

Durbin: President Biden's Build Back Better Plan Is A Generational Investment In Our Future

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed his support for President Biden's Build Back Better plan, which Senate Democrats are moving closer to consider under reconciliation on the Senate floor. Durbin called the reconciliation plan the most ambitious investment in our nation's future in a generation that will strengthen our economy-and ensure that working families receive a fair share of the wealth their work produces. Durbin disc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy, Booker, Colleagues: It's Time To End The Federal Death Penalty

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 14 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take further steps to end the federal death penalty once and for all. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Senators commend the recent decision to impose a moratorium on federal… Continue Reading

Senate Republicans Block Durbin's Attempt To Confirm Ronald Davis To Serve As Director Of U.S. Marshals Service

WASHINGTON - On the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today requested unanimous consent to approve the nomination of Ronald Davis to serve as Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. Unanimous consent has been used to confirm every Director of the Marshals Service for as long as the position has been subject to Senate confirmation. Despite Davis' experience and thorough qualifications, Republicans have objected to approving his n… Continue Reading

Durbin: Chicago Mourns The Loss Of Our CPD Officer

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today honored the Chicago Police Department (CPD) officer who was shot and killed in the line of duty, as well as the other officer currently hospitalized in critical condition. During his speech, Durbin noted that the slain officer was just 29 years old. She was assigned to the Community Safety Team, a special unit of officers from various districts who are pool… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Eunice Lee To The Second Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Eunice Lee's nomination to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Lee's confirmation: "With Eunice Lee's confirmation, the Senate continues to bring balance to our nation's courts and elevate a professional perspective severely underrepresented in our federal judiciary-that of public defenders. Today's confi… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On New, Bipartisan Bill To Allow Federal Student Loan Borrowers To Discharge Loans In Bankruptcy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the introduction of the FRESH START Through Bankruptcy Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill he introduced with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) that would restore the ability for struggling borrowers to seek a bankruptcy discharge for federal student loans after a waiting period of ten years. Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bipartisan Senators Launch Free Belarus Caucus

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today to announce the formation of the Free Belarus Caucus, which will advocate for democracy and free and fair elections in the former Soviet Republic that has been rocked by increasing political repression after decades of rule by current President Alexander Lukashenka. The caucus also includes U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Edwa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Designating September As National Democracy Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2021 as National Democracy Month. The resolution asks Americans to reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable world. "In some of his final words to us, Congressman John Lewis said, 'Democra… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks DACA With Google CEO

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai about a range of policy issues including Dreamers employed by Google, the importance of immigration reform, tech industry matters, and efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "My conversation with Google CEO Sundar Pichai today was productive and offered a chance to exchange views about a range of issues important to the technology sector," said Durbin. "I also thanked Mr… Continue Reading