Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth, Brown, Senators Call for Immediate Legislative Action to Support Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who is a member of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), led five other Senators in a letter urging U.S. Senate and House leaders and the Chair and Ranking Members of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees toimmediately advance legislation that will … Continue Reading
October 04, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on Five District Court 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 Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; Judge John Kazen, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas; Judge Shanlyn Park, to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii; Jamel Semper, to be United States … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Durbin Calls Out Senate Republicans' Hypocrisy on Crime
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, took to the Senate floor to accentuate the stark contrast between Republicans’ “tough on crime” rhetoric and their inaction on the issue, including repeated refusals to act on further gun safety reform or U.S. Attorney nominees. Durbin began by highlighting Republicans’ infatuation with citing crime statistics in Chicago with neither nuance nor proposed solutions. “Mr. President, it is … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Durbin Meets with Illinois Health & Hospital Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sat down with AJ Wilhelmi, President of the Illinois Health & Hospital Association (IHA), and leaders of Illinois-based hospitals to discuss the health care workforce staffing crisis and its impact on hospitals’ ability to serve the needs of patients. To help address the shortage, Durbin secured $1 billion in theAmerican Rescue Plan for scholarship and loan repayment awards through the National Health Service Corps and Nurse … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Durbin Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine; Calls on Colleagues to Pass Necessary Aid
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor on the need to pass additional funding to aid Ukraine after the 45-day bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government failed to do so. “Keeping the lights on is a win for the American people. It used to be considered just normal procedure… I am disappointed it [the CR] did not include critical funding for the war in Ukraine. It is impossible to explain … Continue Reading
October 03, 2023
Durbin Praises General Mark Milley, Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring General Mark Milley’s military career as his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ended on September 30. In his remarks, Durbin spoke highly of General Milley’s service, particularly as he admirably led during a politically tumultuous period. “I heard the parting words of another military leader who has served our Nation with wisdom, courage, and unwavering devotion: General … Continue Reading
October 02, 2023
Durbin Calls on Supreme Court to Create Code of Conduct As New Term Begins
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement calling on the United States Supreme Court to create a code of conduct as it begins a new term: “The Supreme Court’s new docket, which begins today, should start with one essential element: re-establishing the integrity of the Court. “The public reports of lavish gifts, luxury vacations, and sordid political relationships go to the heart of this … Continue Reading
September 30, 2023
Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Keep Government Funded
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through November 17: “Extreme MAGA House Republicans failed. The right-wing policies that they have been pushing for weeks were removed from the short-term government funding bill and hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans and service men and women will … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Announce $5 Million for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to Establish National University Rail Center of Excellence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $5,000,000 for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence (CoE) program to establish and maintain a CoE to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, and … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
For A Third Time, Senate Republican 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 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 … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Senate Confirms Two U.S. Attorney Nominees, Key Breakthrough of Sen. Vance's Justice Department Hold
WASHINGTON - Today, the Seante confirmed Todd Gee and Tara McGrath to be U.S. Attorneys for the Southern Districts of Mississippi and California, respectively. On their confirmations, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “Mr. Gee’s and Ms. McGrath’s confirmations are a welcome breakthrough in the logjam caused by Senator Vance’s misguided hold on Justice Department nominees. These two public servants will … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Durbin Honors the Late Senator Dianne Feinstein in a Speech on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Key Durbin quotes: “Today we mourn the death of a trailblazer, my colleague and friend, Senator Dianne Feinstein. I have been privileged to have known Dianne throughout her entire career in this chamber, and my entire time as well. She was my friend and seatmate on the Senate Judiciary Committee for over 20 years. When you're … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.8 Million to Enhance Performance-Based Compensation for Teachers in Cahokia Heights
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,800,000 for Cahokia Unit School District 187 through the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) to increase teacher and principal effectiveness by creating a performance-based compensation system. “Our teachers are the unsung heroes of our society, working tirelessly day in and day out to impart knowledge, instill values, and mold the leaders of … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $8 Million to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Treatment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8,000,000 for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who seeks care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age—including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth. “Certified … Continue Reading
September 29, 2023
DURBIN STATEMENT ON PASSING OF SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “Dianne was a trailblazer. She spent her time in office fighting for causes that many overlooked, and she made history with passage of the Assault Weapons Ban, Violence Against Women Act, Respect for Marriage Act, and as Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Dianne was my friend and seatmate on the Senate Judiciary Committee for … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
Durbin Urges Both Chambers to Pass the Senate CR and Fund the Government for the Sake of the American People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the government until November 17th and avert an immediate government shutdown. The bipartisan Senate CR provides vital funding to support communities struck by disaster; includes funds for Ukraine at a pivotal moment in its … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
September 28, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
September 27, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
September 27, 2023
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 … Continue Reading