Press Releases
Durbin Talks Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects With Rock Island Army Corps District Commander
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District Commander Colonel Jesse T. Curry to receive an update on several Illinois infrastructure projects, including the Brandon Road project to protect the Great Lakes from the spread of invasive Carp. Durbin secured nearly $226 million in funding for the project in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in addition to $47.2 million in the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus … Continue Reading
March 14, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Applaud New EPA Rule Restricting Dangerous Ethylene Oxide Emissions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force, today applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finalizing its new rule, Final Amendments to Strengthen Air Toxics Standards for Ethylene Oxide … Continue Reading
March 14, 2024
Durbin Announces Bipartisan Legislation To Reform FISA Section 702 On The Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - With the April 19 sunset of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) approaching in just a few weeks, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced new, bipartisan compromise legislation that protects Americans from foreign threats and from warrantless government surveillance in a speech on the Senate floor. The Security and Freedom Enhancement (SAFE) Act reflects a carefully crafted, pragmatic … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Durbin Meets with Bangladesh Ambassador to the U.S. to Urge an End to the Government's Troubling Harassment of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Yunus
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Bangladesh Ambassador to the U.S., Muhammad Imran, to discuss the persistent harassment of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus. For more than a decade, Professor Yunus has faced more than 100 unsubstantiated cases brought against him in Bangladesh. The harassment campaign against Professor Yunus has been denounced by more than 100 Nobel Prize winners, including former President Obama. Durbin led the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Durbin Statement Condemning Attack on Navalny's Former Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON - Following the seemingly targeted attack against Alexei Navalny’s former Chief of Staff, Leonid Volkov, in Lithuania, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement: “Lithuania has been a resolute and important safe haven fordemocratic leaders facing repression in their home countries, including those from Belarus and Russia. While yesterday’s attack on Leonid Volkov was despicable, I am encouraged by the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2024
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, met with the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) who shared priorities of Illinois’ agricultural sector for the upcoming year. During their meeting, ICGA spoke about the importance of crop insurance, increased trade dollars, and the farm conservation incentives provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. ICGA also highlighted the importance of expanding … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Joins Senate Democrats On The Floor To Call For Passage Of Veterans Families Health Services Act, Protection For IVF
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined his Democratic colleagues in speaking in support of the Veterans Families Health Services Act, which Durbin cosponsored, ahead of U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) request to pass the bill by unanimous consent. Despite the importance of providing accessible health care to female veterans and claims that Republicans support IVF, U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) objected to the passage of the bill. Durbin began his … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Attends National Association of Convenience Stores Day on the Hill to Discuss Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) Day on the Hill to discuss his Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced that if enacted, will help convenience stores and small businesses across the United States. The bill he introduced with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Senate Confirms Judge Sunil Harjani To Serve As Federal District Court Judge In The Northern District Of Illinois Eastern Division
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 U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Judge Sunil Harjani to serve as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division: “We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Judge Sunil Harjani to serve as a District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Discusses Air Mobility Command’s Mission With General Minihan
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Commander of Air Mobility Command (AMC) General Mike Minihan to discuss U.S. Air Force operations related to airlift, air refueling, and air mobility support. During their meeting, Durbin and General Minihan spoke about AMC’s role in providing humanitarian support to Gaza and the delivery of weaponry to Ukraine, as well as discussed a proposal for a new … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Voting Rights
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 “The Right Side of History: Protecting Voting Rights in America.” Durbin first questioned Sophia Lin Lakin, Director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, about voter ID requirements, and how these laws disproportionally impact people of color. During his questioning, Durbin referenced a study the Brennan Center … Continue Reading
March 12, 2024
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Protecting Voting Rights
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 “The Right Side of History: Protecting Voting Rights in America.” The hearing will feature testimony from two panels: a member panel featuring U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), as well as an expert panel featuring voting rights advocates and litigators. The hearing follows reintroduction of the John R. … Continue Reading
March 11, 2024
Durbin Statement on President Biden's FY2025 Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled an outline of his Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget proposal: “Following the momentum from President Biden’s strong State of the Union Address last week, he once again has laid out a vision for the American people that we can all get behind. The President’s budget will lower costs for working families, reduce … Continue Reading
March 11, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Voice Concerns Over FASFA Form Error Harming Students in Mixed-Status Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and 22 additional Senators in urging U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to address the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form error that is preventing students with contributors, including parents and spouses, who do not have a Social Security number (SSN) from completing the new FAFSA form. With the passage … Continue Reading
March 09, 2024
Senate Advances "Minibus" Spending Bills with Illinois Priorities Secured by Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - 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 United States Senate passed six funding bills known as a “minibus” for Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and … Continue Reading
March 08, 2024
Durbin Statement on Passage of "Minibus" of Six Government Funding Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the Senate passed six funding bills, known as a “minibus,” for Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban … Continue Reading
March 08, 2024
Durbin Defends Adeel Mangi Amid Baseless, Islamophobic Attacks by Senate Republicans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, took to the Senate floor to defend Adeel Mangi, nominee to be a U.S. Circuit Court Judge for the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, amid baseless, Islamophobic attacks by Senate Republicans throughout his nomination process. Durbin began by highlighting the unprecedented nature of the attacks on Mr. Mangi, which are inconsistent with his record and reality. “Mr. Mangi is a highly qualified … Continue Reading
March 07, 2024
Durbin Statement on President Biden's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address: “With President Biden at the helm, we have seen tremendous progress in our country. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is building new infrastructure and pushing our transportation industry forward. Belvidere, Illinois, has its Stellantis operation up and running again and is awaiting a new battery plant because of the deal struck by UAW … Continue Reading
March 07, 2024
Durbin Meets with His State of the Union Guest, MedGlobal President and Illinoisan, Dr. Zaher Sahloul
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with his guest for President Biden’s State of the Union address, Dr. Zaher Sahloul, President of MedGlobal, a nonprofit that provides critical medical services in areas of crisis. Through MedGlobal, Dr. Sahloul has been coordinating humanitarian and medical relief services for innocent people in Gaza caught in the crossfire spurred by the horrific October 7 Hamas attacks. Gaza hospitals have been in desperate need of medical … Continue Reading
March 07, 2024
Durbin Statement on Google Endorsement of Stop CSAM Act, Package of Kids' Online Safety Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Google announced its endorsement of the STOP CSAM Act and other bills aimed to protect children online: “For too long, Big Tech used every trick in the book to halt legislation holding social media companies accountable, while still trying to win the PR game. I’m glad to see that some tech companies are beginning to make good on their word to work with … Continue Reading