Durbin Introduces Solicitor General, ONDCP, And Judicial Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General of the United States; Justice Beth Robinson to be a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Jennifer Sung to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Dr. Rahul Gupta to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Durbin said that the nominees … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Heroes Of 9/11 And Urges Colleagues To Confront Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the heroes of 9/11 and urged his Senate colleagues to confront the threat of homegrown domestic terrorism. Durbin shared the stories of Illinoisans who lost their lives on 9/11 - Dan Shanower, a Navy Officer at the Pentagon, and Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93. Durbin recalled how in the days that followed the 9/11 attacks, Americans were sustained by acts of heroism, sacrifice, … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Acting FDA Commissioner Woodcock To Finish Review Of E-Cigarette Products

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Janet Woodcock to receive an update on yesterday's announcement that FDA has rejected millions of e-cigarette applications for failing to show a public health benefit, but would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market. Durbin pressed Woodcock for swift action on JUUL and other flavored e-cigarette produc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Lightfoot Announce $55 Million In New Markets Tax Credits For Chicago Development Fund

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, today announced that the Chicago Development Fund has been awarded $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Treasury Department to invest in projects and businesses in low-income communities in Chicago. The New Markets Tax Credit Program, established by Congress in December 2000, helps economically distressed communities attract private investment capital and fill projec… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On FDA Review Of E-Cigarette Products

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market: "While I am pleased FDA has rejected all e-cigarette applications to date for failing to show a health benefit, it is unacceptable to delay evaluation of e-cigarettes most responsible for hooking children, like JUUL. FDA's years… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Chipman Nomination

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): "ATF is a federal agency focused on reducing gun violence by enforcing the law and prohibiting the sale of firearms to convicted felons and other dangerous individuals. The gun industry resents their work as it limi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the passing of former U.S. Senator Adlai Stevenson III (D-IL): "Adlai was my friend and partner in countless causes over the years. Like his father before him, Adlai was most at home in the cerebral world of politics. His most effective ally in retail politics was his beloved wife, Nancy. The two were inseparable and one of the best teams in Illinois Democratic politics. Loretta and I … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Biden's Nominee To Lead The Office Of National Drug Control Policy

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominee to be the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). During their meeting, Durbin and Gupta discussed the Doctor's work combatting the opioid epidemic in West Virginia and how he will draw upon his extensive public health experience to meet ONDCP's mission of reducing substance use disorders and the impact of addiction in Ame… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Staffing Concerns At USP Thomson With Local 4070 Of The Council Of Prison Locals

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke by phone with Jon Zumkehr, President of Local 4070 of the Council of Prison Locals (CPL), and Brian Mueller, CPL North Central Regional Vice President, about ongoing staffing challenges at USP Thomson and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities throughout Illinois. Durbin received an update on retention and recruitment efforts at USP Thomson, including the success of direct hiring … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With ICIRR To Discuss Urgent Need For Pathway To Legal Status For Undocumented Immigrants

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and coalition groups to discuss the urgent need to provide a pathway to legal status for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers through the budget reconciliation process. "For 35 years, Congress has repeatedly failed to provide a pathway to legal status for undocu… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee To Examine The Texas Abortion Ban And The Shadow Supreme Court's Abuse Of Its "Shadow Docket"

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 hearing examining the Supreme Court's abuse of its "shadow-docket," particularly its order permitting Texas's extreme new abortion restrictions to take effect this week. Late Wednesday night, the Court issued an order refusing to block the Texas law banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat-about six weeks from conce… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually With New AFL-CIO President

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the new President of AFL-CIO, Liz Shuler, to discuss her vision for the labor movement and congressional efforts to expand collective bargaining rights through the PRO Act. During their conversation, Durbin and Shuler spoke about labor priorities being considered in the upcoming budget reconciliation bill, including high-quality clean energy jobs. "Richard Trumka was a giant who led the labor movement in America… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million Telehealth Grant For Mercy Health System In Rockford

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Mercy Health System in Rockford was awarded $1 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grant, awarded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and established as part of the CARES Act, will allow Mercy Health Systems to purchase devices that will enable audio/video interaction between providers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic… Continue Reading

Durbin, Business Leaders Discuss Immigrant Legalization Through Reconciliation

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met virtually with Business Roundtable affiliates to discuss the urgent need to pass immigration reform through budget reconciliation, including measures to provide legal permanent residency to Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers. "We need to provide a path to legal status for Dreamers and others who are contributing to our economy every day," … Continue Reading

Durbin Talks E-Cigarettes, COVID-19 Relief, And Assistance For Afghan Refugees With HHS Secretary

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra about pressing public health priorities, including preventing youth e-cigarette use, addressing trauma and community violence, ensuring frontline hospitals and other health providers receive federal funding to assist with COVID-19 efforts, and the importance of swiftly assisting Afghan refugees with access to health and social services. In particular, … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Public Safety With Rockford Mayor, Police Chief, And Fire Department Chief

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually today with Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara, new Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd, and new Rockford Fire Department Chief Michele Pankow. Redd and Pankow are the first female chiefs to lead their Departments. During the meeting, Durbin offered his support to help enhance public safety and prevent violent crime in Rockford. "Our local leaders are critical in implementing strategies to prevent crime and keep our communities safe. It was grea… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Environmental Leaders For Discussion On Clean Energy, Infrastructure

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with leaders of Illinois environmental groups to discuss the state's clean energy and infrastructure priorities. On the call, Durbin provided details on the passed budget resolution and suggested provisions in the upcoming reconciliation bill, including a Clean Electricity Payment Program (CEPP), which would pay utilities to produce more clean energy each year. Durbin and the environmental leaders went on to discuss t… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses New Cancer Treatment Center With University Of Chicago

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Dr. Kenneth Polonsky, President of UChicago Medicine Health System, and Dr. Kunle Odunsi, Director of UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, about the University of Chicago's new Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCMC). On the call, Durbin spoke about federal funding to support the hospital's mission and the institution's National Institutes of Health (NIH) designation as a comprehensive cancer center. UCMC is… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Bombing Attacks in Afghanistan

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding the attacks outside the Kabul airport and the Baron Hotel in Afghanistan: "Today's heinous attacks in Kabul targeted American citizens, service members, diplomats, and vulnerable Afghans trying to flee for their safety. My heart is with families and loved ones of the service members and other innocent people who have been injured or killed in these acts of terror. "Once the airport and s… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Biden Administration To Take Advantage of Parole To Expedite Evacuation Of Afghans

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and 27 Senators this week in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to expedite efforts to evacuate Afghans at risk as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorates. In their letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the Senators specifically pushed for the Administration to explore the use of parole to speed up entry for Afghan… Continue Reading