Press Releases
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations of Judge Nancy Maldonado to the Seventh Circuit, Georgia Alexakis to Serve as United States District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of Judge Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and Georgia Alexakis to be United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has … Continue Reading
April 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Conduct Special Resources Study on Cahokia Mounds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Cahokia Mounds Mississippian Culture Study Act to require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a Special Resources Study (SRS) on Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and its satellite sites. Durbin and Duckworth have long pushed for Cahokia Mounds to receive a National Historical Site designation from NPS, but in a congressional hearing last Congress, NPS indicated that a SRS … Continue Reading
April 18, 2024
Durbin, Marshall Hold Press Conference with the National Restaurant Association to Highlight the Impact of Swipe Fees on Local Restaurants
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) along with the National Restaurant Association and restaurant operators from Illinois and Kansas, held a press conference on the need to pass their Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. Swipe fees are … Continue Reading
April 17, 2024
Durbin Questions Nominees at Latest Judiciary Committee Judicial 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 Kevin Gafford Ritz, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Brian Edward Murphy, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Rebecca L. Pennell, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; and Jeannette A. Vargas, … Continue Reading
April 17, 2024
Durbin Votes to Dismiss Unjustified Articles of Impeachment Against Secretary Mayorkas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting to dismiss the two impeachment articles filed against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: “This charade was nothing more than an attempt to politicize this solemn constitutional tool to distract from the very real fact that House Republicans are struggling to govern. Neither article that we received from … Continue Reading
April 17, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing on Four Judicial Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Kevin Gafford Ritz, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Brian Edward Murphy, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Rebecca L. Pennell, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; and Jeannette A. Vargas, to be … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Durbin Meets with Illinois DACA Recipient Alyssandra Abrenica
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Alyssandra Abrenica, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient from Illinois who moved to America from the Philippines when she was four years old. Ms. Abrenica is currently pursuing a career in psychiatry as a resident at the University of Wisconsin, and she is a passionate advocate for DACA. The pair discussed Durbin’s Dream Act, bipartisan legislation that … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Durbin Joins Community, Business, & Labor Advocates at Briefing on Tax Contributions of Immigrant Spouses of U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON - Following Tax Day, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined American Families United, American Business Immigration Coalition, FWD.us, and UNITE HERE Local 1 for a briefing on why President Biden should use his administrative authority to grant work permits to immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens. In March, Durbin led a lettersigned by 18 other Senators calling on the Biden Administration to extend work permits to undocumented … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Legacy of Harm: Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary Confinement.” The hearing examined the frequent abuse of solitary confinement in federal custody, including members of vulnerable populations and those suffering from mental illness. Durbin first questioned Gretta Goodwin, the Director of Homeland Security and … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Legacy of Harm: Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary Confinement.” The hearing will examine the frequent abuse of solitary confinement in federal custody, including members of vulnerable populations and those suffering from mental illness. The hearing follows the introduction of two bills—the Solitary … Continue Reading
April 16, 2024
Durbin Delivers Remarks at American Hospital Association Annual Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks at the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Meeting. In his speech, Durbin thanked the health care workers in attendance for tirelessly caring for their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic while putting their own health and safety on the line. Durbin acknowledged the workforce shortages of critical hospital personnel that place extra stress on those in the medical field, and exacerbate challenges … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Combat Overuse of Solitary Confinement in Immigration Detention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) today introduced legislation to combat the rampant and unnecessary overuse of solitary confinement in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-operated and ICE contract facilities. Today’s bill introduction comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s full committee hearing tomorrow entitled “Legacy of Harm: Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin: Senate Must Uphold The Constitution, Respect The Framers’ Intentions, And Quickly Dispose Of Unjustified Articles Of Impeachment Against Secretary Mayorkas
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the partisan charade House Republicans have made of the impeachment process. During his speech, Durbin called the two impeachment articles filed against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, “nothing more than an attempt to politicize this solemn constitutional tool to distract from the very real fact that the … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin Meets With Fermilab Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Fermilab Director Dr. Lia Merminga to receive an update on the lab’s research projects, particularly the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE). Durbin secured $251 million in funding for the project in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) government funding bill passed by Congress in March. “National labs, like Illinois’ own Fermilab, have pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin, Coons Introduce Bill To Limit Use Of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) and the U.S. Marshals Service’s use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for adults in custody separated from the general prison population. Today’s bill introduction comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s full committee hearing tomorrow entitled “Legacy of Harm: … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Following Iran’s Attack On Israel, Durbin Urges House Republicans To Finally Pass The National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON - Following Iran’s attack on Israel this weekend, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged House Republicans to finally pass the national security supplemental, which passed the Senate in February on a bipartisan basis and would provide aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan. During his speech, Durbin reflected on the ongoing threats that Iran posed prior to the attack on Israel. “I had the privilege of visiting our American service members stationed with the … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin, Pingree Send Letter To Va Requesting Details On Produce Prescription Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough requesting information about the implementation of “produce prescription” initiatives at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). In 2022, President Biden called on VHA to begin the implementation of “produce prescriptions,” which allow patients who have diet-related chronic health conditions to be “prescribed” vouchers to … Continue Reading
April 15, 2024
Durbin Urges OMB, Army Corps To Include $71.5 Million In Funding To Support Morgan Shoal Shoreline Restoration Project In Army Corps Of Engineers Fy24 Work Plan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Johnathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael Connor and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young calling for $71.5 million for the Chicago Shoreline Morgan Shoal Project to be … Continue Reading
April 13, 2024
Durbin Statement on Iran's Attack on Israel
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding reports that Iran launched attacks on Israel: “Putin’s ally Iran has been a destabilizing regional spoiler, arming Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis foryears, using proxies to attack U.S. interests, and inching ever closer to a nuclear weapon—a situation made worse since Trump petulantly withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement that had constrained that dangerous program. I hope … Continue Reading
April 12, 2024
Durbin Calls FDA and DOJ Officials into Washington Office to Receive Briefing on Lack of Enforcement Against Unauthorized E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center forTobacco Products Director, Dr. Brian King, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Brian Boynton, to his Washington office yesterday to brief him on the lack of enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes that are addicting millions of children across America. Durbin convened this meeting after … Continue Reading