Senate Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Four Judicial and Executive Nominees to the Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four judicial and executive nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “We just advanced four highly qualified nominees to lifetime judgeships and an executive position in the White House, including two circuit court nominees who received blue … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Department of Education's New Gainful Employment Rule

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement commending the Department of Education’s fortified Gainful Employment rule:   “Under the Trump Administration, when the Gainful Employment rule was eliminated, for-profit colleges had free rein to prey on students and raked in heaps of Title IV funding without adequate oversight.  We saw the damage these for-profit programs – or more appropriately called ‘scams’ – caused students when they went unch… Continue Reading

Senate Republican Once Again Blocks 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 confirm the U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Todd Gee, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi; Tara K. McGrath, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of California; Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the N… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kelly Urge HRSA to Include Cook, Maricopa County Jails as Eligible Sites Under the National Health Service Corps Workforce Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today urged the Health Resources and Services Administration(HRSA) to explore flexibilities to enable Cook County Jail in Illinois and Maricopa County Correctional Health in Arizona to participate as eligible sites under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).  Under current law, doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health care providers can obtain loan repayment under the NHSC forservice in a fed… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Engage in Refugee Consultation with Biden Administration

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, today participated in the statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership.  The Biden Administration announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 refugee admissions target of 125,000.  Antony Blinken, … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Unionization Efforts with Rivian CEO

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe to discuss fortifying electric vehicle infrastructure and maintaining Illinois’ position as a leader in electric vehicle production.  During their meeting, Durbin also urged Mr. Scaringe to support any unionization efforts taken up by the more than 7,800 Rivian employees as UAW members nationwide strike for better pay and benefits.  Durbin has been a steadfast champion of unionization efforts, showin… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Senate to Take Action on Bipartisan Bills Protecting Child Safety Online, Including His STOP CSAM Act

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Senate to take action on bipartisan bills that would protect child safety online, including his bipartisan STOP CSAM Act. Durbin’s bipartisan STOP CSAM Act – which advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year – would crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, support victims, and increase… Continue Reading

Durbin, Markey Press Administration to Track $50 Billion in Opioid Settlement Money from Drug Corporations, Ensure Used for public Health & to Address Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative David Trone (D-MD-06) to urge the Biden Administration to more closely scrutinize and oversee over $50 billion in opioid settlement money.  State and local governments will receive this money over the next 15 years as a result of settlement agreements with the opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that fueled this epidemic.  This settlement funding includes … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Curb Firearms Trafficking from the United States to Mexican Drug Cartels

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of six Senate colleagues in introducing the Stop Arming Cartels Act. The bill would stem the “iron river” of firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, enabled by weakAmerican gun laws and gun industry practices. The deadly stream of firearms trafficking exacerbates violence, enables cartels who smuggle migrants to our southern border, and facilitates the illicit tr… Continue Reading

Durbin: We're Five Days Away From A Government Shutdown, And House Republicans Still Haven't Taken Their Responsibility to the American People Seriously

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans for their failure to reach an agreement to fund the government.  The House Republicans’ proposal would cut millions from public health, child care, education, food safety, law enforcement, housing, and more.  During his speech, he also urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR… Continue Reading

Durbin: We're Five Days Away From A Government Shutdown, And House Republicans Still Haven't Taken Their Responsibility to the American Seriously

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans for their failure to reach an agreement to fund the government.  The House Republicans’ proposal would cut millions from public health, child care, education, food safety, law enforcement, housing, and more.  During his speech, he also urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR… Continue Reading

Durbin Reiterates Solidarity with UAW Members Amid Strikes Across the Country

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor reiterating his support for members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as they strike across the country forbetter wages and benefits.  Durbin has repeatedly called on the Big Three Automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – to negotiate in good faith with UAW to reach an agreement before UAW members began their strike earlier this month. “I heard my colleague earlier, Senator Schumer, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Wyden, Krishnamoorthi, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Reduce Tobacco Use in America

WASHINGTON—U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), today introduced the bicameral Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023.  The bill would close tax code loopholes for tobacco products by establishing a new federal tax on e-cigarettes, updating the federal cigarette tax rate to restore its public health impact, and harmonizing the tax rate across tobacco products to address gamesmanship … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $15.2 Million for Keokuk Junction Railway Improvements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $15,268,018 forthe Keokuk Junction Railway (KJRY) through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to develop, design, and construct activities to complete various track-related improvements in an effort to rehabilitate KJRY’s 126-mile mainline. The project will increase track safety standards, resulting in… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.8 Million for Metra's BNSF Railway

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,888,000 forthe West Cook County Rail Safety Improvement Project through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program to design and construct trespassing prevention improvements along the BNSF Railway, the busiest line for the Metra commuter rail system and a major freight corridor. “Metra’s BNSF railway, li… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Venezuelan Migrants Who Fled Maduro Regime in Chicago

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met with recent migrant arrivals in Chicago—many of whom fled the Maduro regime in Venezuela.  After visiting with migrants to hear their stories and ask questions about their experience, Durbin met with City of Chicago leadership, including Project Manager for the Department of Family and Support Services Natalia Santillan; Deputy Mayor of Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights Beatriz Ponc… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins HHS, SAMHSA Officials to Announce Federal Funding and Recognition for Haymarket Center

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Haymarket Center with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Region 5 Director Michael Cabonargi and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Region 5 Administrator Jeffrey Coady to announce Haymarket’s federal approval for designation as an “FQHC Look-Alike” for its treatment of individuals experiencing homelessness. With this recognition, Haymarket will provide a comprehensive set of primary care s… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins UAW Picket Line in Bolingbrook

BOLINGBROOK – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today showed his support for striking United Auto Workers (UAW) by joining them on the picket line at General Motors in Bolingbrook, Illinois. “The ongoing strike led by UAW is a vivid reminder of the power and resilience of American workers,” said Durbin. “These men and women who build the cars and trucks that drive our country forward are the backbone of our manufacturing sector, and their dedication and skill have made America a global leader in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Wyden, 28 Senate Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Recognize September as National Voting Rights Month

CHICAGO – 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 Ron Wyden (D-OR) and 28 Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution recognizing September as “National Voting Rights Month.” Along with Wyden, U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) led the bicameral effort. “Republicans and right-wing ideologues are dead set on making it more difficult for Americans to vote nationwide. They’re gerrymand… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to Recuse Himself from Loper Bright V. Raimondo in Upcoming Supreme Court Term

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement regarding ProPublica’s investigative report with new details of Justice Clarence Thomas’s secret participation in donor summits organized by billionaires Charles and David Koch: “Once again, Justice Thomas’s gaggle of fawning billionaires expands and their influence on the Court grows larger. The Koch brothers are the architects of one of the largest, most successful p… Continue Reading