Durbin, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Boost Agricultural Research Funding

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), both members of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today reintroduced legislation that would require a five percent annual funding increase, plus inflation, each year for the next ten years for research activities at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). With federal agriculture research investments on the decline, the America Grows Act would restore the United States' commitment to publicly f… Continue Reading

Durbin: No American Is Immune To The Scourge Of Gun Violence In This Country

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging his colleagues to address the gun violence epidemic across our country. Durbin began his speech by honoring fallen Chicago Police Officer Aréanah Preston, who was murdered outside of her home. Officer Preston was set to graduate from Loyola University Chicago School of Law on Saturday, one week after she passed away. "Officer Preston was the best of Chic… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Oversight Of Artificial Intelligence

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence." The bipartisan hearing, led by Senators Blumenthal (D-CT) and Hawley (R-MO), examined the development of artificial intelligence (AI) with a focus on what safeguards and oversight are necessary to minimize risks as… Continue Reading

Durbin, Peters Introduce New Legislation To Respond To Immediate Needs At Our Southern Border

WASHINGTON – As Title 42 emergency health authorities expire, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), today introduced a legislative proposal to respond to the immediate needs on our southern border.  While not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform or legislation to address the root causes of migration, the Senators… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Commencement At Loyola Chicago Stritch School Of Medicine

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered the commencement address to Loyola Chicago Stritch School of Medicine's Class of 2023 during a ceremony Saturday at the Gentile Arena in Chicago. Durbin reflected on the resilience and hard work of this year's graduates and commended Loyola's commitment to preparing the next generation of doctors and researchers. "Just take the Blue Line from the Loop to the 'L' stop in East Garfield Park,… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Moldovan President

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. During the meeting, they discussed continued relations between the U.S. and Moldova and the ongoing Russian threat to Ukraine and the region. Durbin expressed appreciation for the Moldovan people's generosity to Ukrainian war refugees and continued support for Moldova's democracy and security. They also discussed Durbin's recent trip to Romania and Geor… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Gun Violence Prevention With Illinois Physicians From March Fourth

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Illinois-based physicians representing March Fourth, a gun violence prevention organization that was founded in the aftermath of the July 4, 2022, Highland Park shooting. During their meeting, Durbin and the physicians discussed garnering support for an assault weapons ban and how the federal government can use public health approaches to reduce gun violence. "What happened last yea… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center To Discuss Legislation To Crack Down On Online Child Sex Abuse

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, visited Chicago Children's Advocacy Center (CCAC) to discuss his legislation to crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, which cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday by a unanimous vote. The Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment (STOP CSAM) Act supports victims and increases accountability and transparency for on… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Secretary Of Defense To Support ICC’s Investigation Into The Atrocities Committed In Ukraine In Senate Appropriations Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today questioned Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing about the Department of Defense's (DoD) Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget request. Durbin asked Secretary Austin why the Department of Defense is not supporting sharing evidence of Russian atrocities in Ukraine with the International Criminal… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Three Bills To Stop Exploitation Of Kids Online, Six District Court Judge Nominations To The Full Senate

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to advance three bills as part of the Stopping the Exploitation of Kids Online legislative package - as well as six district court judge nominees - to the full Senate. On the successful votes of the three bipartisan pieces of legislation, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said: "In our February hearing that kicked off our legislative effort to protect children onl… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Rural Hospitals

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, which would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The legislation would update Medicare's "Critical Access Hospital" (CAH) designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services. Small and rura… Continue Reading

Durbin, Baldwin, Smith, Schneider, Stevens Introduce Bill To Address Teaching Shortages In Low-Income And Communities Of Color

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), today, during Teacher Appreciation Week, introduced a bicameral bill that would address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impact students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. Exacerbated by low pay, school leadership instab… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Durbin’s STOP CSAM Act To Crack Down On The Proliferation Of Child Sex Abuse Material Online

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to advance the Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act). The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cracks down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, supports victims, and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms. "In almost … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of Jeremy Daniel To Serve As District Court Judge For 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 nomination of Jeremy Daniel to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of Jeremy Daniel to fill a judicial vacancy for the … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Infrastructure With Mayor Of Murphysboro

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today met with Mayor of Murphysboro, Illinois, Will Stephens to discuss the Southwest Connector project. The proposed project would establish a 60-mile, four-lane rural expressway providing access from Southern Illinois to St. Louis. "Our government is at its best when local, state, and federal representatives work together on behalf of constituents. Today, I had a productive meeting wi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to discuss Chicago priorities and how they can assist him in the Senate. "I want to thank Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson for coming to the Capitol to meet with us today," said Durbin. "During our meeting, we discussed issues he will face in his new administration and reiterated our commitment to assist in any way we can. When he succeeds, Chicago an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham, Grassley Meet With ICC Chief Prosecutor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), met with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to receive an update on its investigation into the atrocities being committed in Ukraine.  U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also joined the meeting. “The ICC has… Continue Reading

Durbin Slams Proposed Republican Budget Cuts that Would Devastate Medical Research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate ALS Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the importance of robust federal funding for medical research to advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.  In his remarks, Durbin also called out Speaker McCarthy’s budget proposal which could drastically slash funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other important medical research.   Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Blasts Republican Budget Cuts, Questions National Institutes Of Health About Treating Trauma, Mental Illness In Youth

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today participated in a subcommittee hearing entitled "A Review of the President's FY 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)." During the hearing, Durbin, a longtime advocate of robust medical research funding, expressed his disapproval of House Republicans' proposal … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Rower Aurimas Valujavicius

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, met with Lithuanian rower Aurimas Valujavi?ius and Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S., Audra Plepyt?. During the meeting, they discussed the continued congressional support for the Baltic States, as well as ongoing Russian aggression and interference in the region. Durbin also congratulated Valujavi?ius for being the third person and first Lithuanian to row solo across the Atlantic Oc… Continue Reading