Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.5 Million for Chicago Public Schools and Depaul University to Address Teacher Shortages

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $2,504,602 to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and DePaul University through the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program. This program uses innovative ways to recruit, prepare, and retain more educators, especially teachers of color. "We must do more to support our nation's educators to ensure students across Illinois have a… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with New Director of FDA's Center for Tobacco Products

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Dr. Brian King, to discuss FDA's long-standing failure to use its authority to effectively and efficiently regulate the e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine marketplace, which has led to dramatic increases in youth use of tobacco products. During the meeting, Durbin expressed hope that Dr. King, just a few months into his tenure at FDA, would bring a ne… Continue Reading

Durbin, Trone Send Letter Urging Federal Bureau of Prisons to Reduce Solitary Confinement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Congressman David Trone (D-MD) sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters urging BOP facilities to reduce the frequency and length of solitary confinement. The letter comes just four months after President Biden issued an Executive Order stating that people in prison must be "free from prolonged segregation" and that isolation must be "used rarely, applied fa… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with New President of Dominican University

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Glena Temple, the new President of Dominican University, which is based in River Forest, Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Temple discussed the affordability of higher education and Dominican's work in helping combat the nursing shortage. Durbin and Dr. Temple also touched on improving access to higher education for undocumented students. Dominican, a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), is one of the five … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Military Readiness with Commander of Air Mobility Command 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 the U.S. Air Force's operations related to airlift, air refueling, air mobility support, aeromedical evacuation, and senior leader transport. During their meeting, Durbin received an update on mission readiness, improvements across the base, and quality of life for military families. "Air… Continue Reading

Durbin: America Will Hold Russia Accountable for War Crimes

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, warned Vladimir Putin that he will be held accountable for the atrocities committed in Ukraine. This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing entitled, "From Nuremberg to Ukraine: Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity," which focused on the role the U.S. must play in holding Putin and Russi… Continue Reading

Durbin Continues to Call Out Governor Abbott's Political Stunts & Exploitation of Migrant Families

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, blasted Texas Governor Greg Abbott for exploiting a humanitarian crisis in an attempt to score political points by busing migrants from Texas to Chicago-most of whom have traveled from Venezuela to the U.S.-Mexico border. Durbin noted that the families fleeing Venezuela are seeking refuge from the same menace that the victims of communism faced decades ago: politic… Continue Reading

Durbin, Ossoff, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Overhaul Federal Prison Oversight

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) today introduced bipartisan legislation to overhaul federal prison oversight. The Federal Prison Oversight Act will require the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) to conduct comprehensive, risk-based inspections of the Federal Bureau of Prison's (BOP) 122 facilities to identify problems that affect incarcerated people and staf… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Ukraine and Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity

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 "From Nuremberg to Ukraine: Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity." Durbin and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previously introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony of Justice Department Official on Crimes Against Humanity in Ukraine

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Eli Rosenbaum, Director of Human Rights Enforcement Strategy and Policy and Counselor for War Crimes Accountability at the U.S. Department of Justice, during today's hearing entitled "From Nuremberg to Ukraine: Accountability for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity." Key quotes as prepared: "Given the shocking crimes that continue to be perpetrated by Russia's forces in the course of its unprovoked war against Ukra… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Talk with Quad Cities Leaders About Reducing Gun Violence

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 met with Quad Cities community leaders, including Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms, Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, and Davenport Mayor Mike Matson, to discuss ways to work together to combat gun crimes in the region. During their conversation, local leaders explained the importance of information-sharing and coordination between federal, state, and local… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act, legislation that would establish within the Office of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) a rural mobility program, using affordable, sustainable bicycles to support access and key development objectives. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted the legislation and Chicago-based World Bicycle… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Health Care Provisions In Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech about health care provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act that will save Medicare recipients thousands of dollars. Durbin began his remarks by sharing the story of a 73-year-old Illinoisan who relies on an expensive medication to control his diabetes. "Americans have paid the highest price in the world for prescription drugs… I have stories sent to me from time to time by peopl… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $37 Million To Combat Opioid Crisis in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the Illinois State Department of Human Services a total of $37,195,746 in federal funding through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response (SOR) and Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant programs and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Rural Com… Continue Reading

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances 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) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced two Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Related Agencies; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these app… Continue Reading

Durbin, Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Address the Rise in Threats Targeting Election Workers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today introduced comprehensive legislation to address the rise in threats targeting election workers. The Election Worker Protection Act would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure these workers' safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield e… Continue Reading

Durbin, Rubio, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban U.S. Recognition of Any Ukrainian Territory Annexed By Russia

WASHINGTON - In order to bolster support for Ukraine and defend against efforts to force Ukraine to give up its sovereign territory, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in introducing the Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act. The bill would require U.S. policy to not recognize any Russian claim of sovereignty over an… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Nominee To Be Archivist of The United States

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Dr. Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States to administrate over the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Dr. Shogan's nomination has gained national attention after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence forclassified documents following NARA's discovery of classified materials in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Colleagues Urge President Biden To Fully Fund Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 11 of his colleagues in a letter to President Biden asking him to waive any local cost-share for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid to Puerto Rico. On September 18, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico, cutting off power to the entire island and leaving many areas under water. That same day, President Biden approved an emergency declaration to authorize the Department o… Continue Reading

Senate Republicans Filibuster DISCLOSE Act

WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Republicans filibustered the DISCLOSE Act, legislation to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The bill would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, allowing the American people to see who is attempting to sway their elections and gain control over their government. Durbin is a cosponsor of this legislation. Ahead of today's cloture vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL)… Continue Reading