Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Marking One Year Anniversary Of July 4th Mass Shooting In Highland Park

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims on the first anniversary of the mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022. Specifically, the Senators' resolution: 1) Expresses sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Katie Gold… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Greater Springfield Chamber Of Commerce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities, including economic development, transportation improvements through the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, and education initiatives at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Lincoln Land Community College. "The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and its members are an important backbone of our economy in Southern Illinois. Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Failed Republican Effort To Weaken The National Firearms Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against a Republican-sponsored Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal a vital gun safety regulation under the National Firearms Act. Reversing this common sense provision would have weakened the regulation of stabilizing braces that can convert pistols into short-barreled rifles and that have been used in multiple recent mass shootings. The resolution failed 49-50. Before the… Continue Reading

In Speech On The Senate Floor, Durbin Defends The Rights Of LGBTQ+ Americans

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the historic progress made in protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. He also called on his colleagues to remain steadfast in defending these rights against a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country, particularly targeting transgender youth. "This weekend, cities around the globe, including Chicago, will be h… Continue Reading

Durbin: It’s Now Up To Congress To Protect Women And Health Care Providers From The Results Of The Disastrous Dobbs Ruling

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the dangerous consequences for women and the doctors who care for them post-Dobbs. Two months ago, Durbin held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "The Assault on Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America." Durbin said, "We had ori… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin Vows Action On Supreme Court Ethics Legislation In Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, the Washington Post highlighted the announcement by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, to hold a markup on Supreme Court ethics legislation after the July 4threcess. Key quotes: "Scrutiny of the Supreme Court intensified Wednesday after Justice Samuel A. A… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Grain And Feed Association Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois. During the meeting, they discussed the importance of transportation infrastructure, trade, and workforce needs in keeping Illinois agriculture strong. They also thanked Durbin for his work in securing federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve Illinois' locks and dams. … Continue Reading

During Pride Month, Durbin & Duckworth Join Merkley, Baldwin, Booker To Introduce The Equality Act

WASHINGTON - Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ+ Americans around the country are facing an uptick in discrimination and dangerous state-sponsored legislation. To combat these hateful actions, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the bicameral Equality Act. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive l… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of 100th District Court Judge During The Biden Administration

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Natasha Merle to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, marking 100 district court judges confirmed during the Biden administration. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding this milestone: "With the confirmation of Natasha Merle to the Eastern District of New York, the Senate has now confirmed 100 district court judges during th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With BOP Director Peters

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Colette Peters, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), to receive an update on the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities. They also discussed updates at the United States Penitentiary Thomson (USP Thomson). In February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report on the use of solitary confinement. The report showed a troubling trajectory for the number of … Continue Reading

Durbin, Murphy, Welch, Coons Introduce Resolution Recognizing Tunisia’s Leadership In The Arab Spring & Calling Out Recent Democratic Backsliding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Chris Coons (D-DE) today introduced a resolution recognizing Tunisia's leadership in the Arab Spring and expressing support for upholding its democratic principles and norms. Under the country's current President Kais Saied, Tunisia has seen a recent backslide of the democratic gains made in the years following the Arab Spring. This includes a notable increase in arrests of … Continue Reading

In Conjunction With Pride Month, Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Defending The Rights Of LGBTQ+ Americans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans." The hearing celebrated the historic progress made in protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. It also served as a call to remain steadfast in defending these rights against a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country,… Continue Reading

Following Propublica Report Regarding Justice Alito, Durbin & Whitehouse Announce Markup In Senate Judiciary Committee On Supreme Court Ethics Reform Legislation During Next Work Period

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, today released the following statement regarding aProPublica report that alleges that Justice Samuel Alito accepted and failed to disclose a luxury fishing vacation with GOP billionaire Paul Singer who later had cases before the Court: "The Suprem… Continue Reading

In Conjunction With Pride Month, Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Defending The Rights Of LGBTQ+ Americans

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 entitled, "Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans." The hearing will celebrate historic progress made in protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. It will also serve as a call to remain steadfast in defending these rights against a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced acros… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Julie Rikelman To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The First Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Julie Rikelman to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Rikelman's confirmation: "Julie Rikelman is a highly skilled litigator who has almost 25 years of experience in private practice, as in-house counsel, and in public interest law. She's worked on a wide range of matters at both the trial and appellate l… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $7.9 Million To Support Background Checks For Gun Sales

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 announced a total of $7,904,683 in Department of Justice (DOJ) awards to assist state record repositories and state courts in sharing eligible National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) records to improve the firearm background check system in Illinois. The funding, awarded through DOJ's National Criminal History Improvement Program and … Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Reauthorize Missing Children’s Assistance Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Missing Children's Assistance Reauthorization Act of 2023, which renews funding for the Missing Children's Assistance Act (MCAA) through Fiscal Year 2028 and updates the statute concerning the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). "NCMEC has been leading the figh… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $6.6 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $6,651,233 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from neurological disorders to cancer research. "Federal investments in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us new treatment… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues In Urging Department Of Education To Reinstate The Gainful Employment Rule

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led six of his colleagues in sending a public comment letter to Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, urging him to reinstate the Gainful Employment Rule. The proposed Gainful Employment Rule uses a debt-to-earnings (DTE) ratio and an earnings premium (EP) test to determine whether career education programs, including all programs at for-profit colleges, are providing value and preparing their students for "gainful emp… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Kaskaskia Regional Port District, Highlights Coming Improvements Made Possible by Federal Funding

NEW ATHENS - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Kaskaskia Regional Port District (KRPD) to highlight the upcoming upgrades planned for KRPD, which were made possible by the $8 million federal grant Durbin and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured for the project through the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). The grant will improve safety, efficiency, and reliability of the rail corridor that connects Lenzburg to … Continue Reading