Press Releases
Durbin Calls On Department Of Education To Support Students Left Out To Dry By For-Profit American Academy Of Arts And Northwestern College Closure
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to support students impacted by the unexpected closure of for-profit colleges American Academy of the Arts (Academy) in Chicago and Northwestern College (Northwestern) in Oak Lawn, Illinois, earlier this month. The schools’ closures have left nearly 600 students with significant debt and no diploma. In their letter, the Senators called on Secretary Cardona to reach … Continue Reading
July 18, 2024
Durbin Celebrates Quantum Innovation In Illinois
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) celebrated quantum technology innovation in Illinois with a visit to MxD to discuss integrating quantum technology into manufacturing processes. Earlier this week, Durbin joined Governor Pritzker, U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Bill Foster (D-IL-11), and other Illinois leaders to announce a new partnership between the federal government and Illinois—Quantum Proving Ground—to promote quantum computing research, … Continue Reading
July 18, 2024
Durbin Statement On Sonya Massey
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement in response to the announcement of charges in the death of Sonya Massey: “My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sonya Massey during this difficult time. Our law enforcement officers are called on to protect and serve their communities with honor and courage, but any who fail to follow the high standards they have sworn to uphold must be held … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Durbin, Underwood Discuss Maternal Health Care At UIC Maternal Health Research Center Of Excellence
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) for a roundtable discussion with health care professionals about UIC’s selection by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence to develop innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths. “Every year in the U.S. we lose approximately one thousand pregnant or postpartum women. … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.27 Million In Medical Research Grants For Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,276,880 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put towards research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer research to research related to deafness. “Serious federal investment in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $7 Million In Federal Funding For Community-Based Residency Programs For Doctors In Underserved Areas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $7,040,000 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support new community-based medical residency programs for doctors in underserved areas in Illinois. Under the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, physicians train primarily in outpatient community sites, such as community health centers, to build the pipeline of primary care … Continue Reading
July 17, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $16.8 Million In HHS Grants For Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $16,894,039 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. Of this funding, $16,759,039 will be awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health for its Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement and $135,000 will go to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault to support the organization’s mission to provide sexual … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Durbin Calls On Senator Menendez To Resign After Guilty Conviction
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to resign after a jury of his peers found him guilty on all counts in a federal bribery case: “As Leader Schumer appropriately said, Senator Menendez should do what is right for his constituents, the Senate, and our country, and … Continue Reading
July 16, 2024
Durbin Launches Inquiry Into Medical and Mental Health Care In ICE Detention Centers
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today launched an inquiry into medical and mental health care for people in custody in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities, requesting information from ICE as well as requesting an audit of ICE’s mental health care services by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The inquiry follows a June report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Physicians for … Continue Reading
July 15, 2024
Durbin Meets With New Adjutant General Of The Illinois National Guard
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with new Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard Major General Rodney Boyd to discuss Illinois’ role in contributing to national military readiness. Durbin and General Boyd spoke about Peoria’s 182nd Airlift Wing as a basing location for new C-130J aircraft and Durbin’s successful effort to secure $350 million in Fiscal Year 2023 funding for 12 new MQ-1C Gray eagle aircraft for the National Guard. Durbin also … Continue Reading
July 15, 2024
Durbin Talks Frequent Flyer Programs, Rail Grants With Secretary Buttigieg
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about federal oversight of airlines’ frequent flyers programs. While these programs may have originated to incentivize and reward true “frequent flyers,” they have evolved to include co-branded credit cards and now often exclusively focus on dollars spent using these co-branded credit cards. Durbin received an update from Secretary Buttigieg about the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2024
Durbin Statement On Federal Judge Dismissing Classified Documents Case Against Donald Trump
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on Judge Aileen Cannon dismissing the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump on the grounds that the appointment of Special Counsel Jack Smith violated the Constitution: “This unprecedented decision goes far beyond this individual prosecution and undermines the entire system that our country has long relied on to protect the independence … Continue Reading
July 13, 2024
Durbin Statement On Shooting At Former President Trump's Rally in Pennsylvania
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on the shooting at former President Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania: “Political violence is never acceptable. I’m keeping the former president, the bystander who was tragically killed, and all who were injured or whose safety was threatened in my thoughts. Sending my deepest thanks to law enforcement for helping keep those in attendance … Continue Reading
July 12, 2024
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
CHICAGO - 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 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Legislative Branch for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these three appropriations … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson-Bush To Railroad Retirement Board
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding former Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson-Bush’s nomination to serve as the Chair of the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB): “At my urging, President Biden has made an excellent choice in nominating former Illinois Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson-Bush to serve as Chair of the Railroad Retirement Board. Congresswoman Halvorson-Bush’s career is steeped in public service, from her time in Congress … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Durbin, Cohen Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Crack Down On For-Profit College Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today introduced bicameral legislation that would help put an end to the for-profit college industry’s aggressive recruiting of veterans, service members, and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act would reinstate the 85/15 rule, which would prohibit for-profit colleges from receiving more than 85 percent of their revenue from the federal government, including … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Durbin Introduces Federal Firearm Licensee Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced legislation to update federal laws governing licensed firearm dealers, cracking down on rogue firearm dealers who engage in unlawful practices that lead to gun trafficking and violence. The Federal Firearm Licensee Act would establish new requirements for licensed firearm dealers to secure their business premises and conduct physical checks of their business inventories. It … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Eight Judicial Nominations To The Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced eight judicial nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary. The nominations advanced include one circuit court nominee and seven district court nominees. “In our first markup following the latest Supreme Court term, we’re reminded of the importance of the rule of law and judges who uphold it. Since Democrats took back the White House and the Senate majority in January … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Foster, Sorensen Announce $334.7 Million In Federal Funding For Retooling Of Stellantis Plant In Belvidere
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding Stellantis $334,763,050 in Domestic Auto Manufacturing Conversion Grant program funds to assist in the reopening of the Belvidere Assembly Plant and in the construction of the plant’s new electric vehicle battery production facility. Stellantis has pledged … Continue Reading
July 11, 2024
Durbin Announces Judiciary Committee Hearing On Supreme Court Ruling in Donald Trump Immunity Case
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a full committee hearing in September to explore the immediate legal and policy ramifications of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. United States: “The Court’s six Republican-appointed justices upended our constitutional landscape with their misguided ruling in Trump v. United States. This dangerous decision immunizes presidents … Continue Reading