Press Releases
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Deaths of Incarcerated Individuals in Federal Prisons
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters and Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Examining and Preventing Deaths of Incarcerated Individuals in Federal Prisons.” The hearing examined myriad issues related to the operation and management of BOP that contributed to deaths in … Continue Reading
February 27, 2024
Durbin Discusses Rock Island Arsenal with U.S. Army Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to discuss military readiness. Durbin and General George also spoke about modernization of the organic industrial base and advanced capabilities at Rock Island Arsenal. In addition, Durbin raised fielding of MQ-1C Gray Eagle 25M unmanned aerial systems in Illinois and Kentucky after securing $350 million … Continue Reading
February 27, 2024
In Speech on Senate Floor, Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Preventing Deaths of Incarcerated Individuals in Federal Prisons
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor previewing tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Examining and Preventing Deaths of Incarcerated Individuals in Federal Prisons.” In his remarks, Durbin reaffirmed his commitment to holding the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) accountable for the operational and managerial deficiencies that have created unsafe conditions and critical … Continue Reading
February 27, 2024
Following the Alabama IVF Ruling, Durbin Announces Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing to Examine the Continued Fallout Since the Supreme Court Overruled Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the Committee will hold a full committee hearing this work period to examine the devastating fallout since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, including Alabama’s recent State Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos created during the IVF process are “children” under state law. Durbin said, “Now, we live in the world of Dobbs—where … Continue Reading
February 27, 2024
Durbin Talks Military Readiness with U.S. Transportation Command
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today spoke by phone with the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) General Jacqueline D. Van Ovost. TRANSCOM, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, is tasked with providing air, land, and sea transportation around the world for the Department of Defense (DOD). During their call, Durbin and General Van Ovost discussed military logistical operations … Continue Reading
February 27, 2024
Durbin, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Inspector General Access Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct. Currently, the DOJ Inspector General (IG) has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ lawyers. DOJ is the only agency whose IG has such a jurisdictional carve-out. … Continue Reading
February 26, 2024
Durbin Slams Republicans for Continuing to Delay Reauthorization of PEPFAR
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on his Republican colleagues to stop delaying the reauthorization of the President’s Emergency Plan forAIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a Bush-era program that has saved more than 25 million lives worldwide in conjunction with its companion effort, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. In his speech, Durbin spoke about the importance of programs built to support nations in … Continue Reading
February 26, 2024
Durbin Calls Out House Republicans for Abandoning Aid to Ukraine Following Death of Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech emphasizing the necessity of delivering aid to Ukraine as it continues to fend off attacks from Vladimir Putin and following the tragic death of Russian opposition leader and anticorruption activist, Alexei Navalny. Durbin’s speech comes after the Senate passed the national security supplemental with strong bipartisan support, which provides aid … Continue Reading
February 26, 2024
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Rename Street Near the Russian Ambassador's Residence After Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - Following the tragic and inexcusable death of Alexei Navalny, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian Ambassador to the United States’ residence as “Alexei Navalny Way.” Mr. Navalny was an opposition leader and anticorruption activist who led the political opposition against Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than a decade. Putin tried to silence … Continue Reading
February 22, 2024
Durbin Leads Two Public Comments on Proposed Amendments to Federal Sentencing Guidelines
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led two groups of colleagues in submitting public comment letters to U.S. Sentencing Commission Chair Carlton Reeves regarding proposed amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Durbin’s letter addressing proposed amendments to limit consideration of acquitted conduct is joined by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism. Booker … Continue Reading
February 21, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nominations of Judge Nancy Maldonado to the Seventh Circuit, Georgia Alexakis to Serve as United States District Court Judge in 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 White House announced its intent to nominate Judge Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and Georgia Alexakis to be United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. “We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Nancy Maldonado to … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Durbin, Cassidy to Introduce Bill to Rename Street Near the Russian Ambassador's Residence After Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - Following the tragic and inexcusable death of Alexei Navalny, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today announced that they will introduce legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian Ambassador to the United States’ residence as “Alexei Navalny Way.” Mr. Navalny was an opposition leader and anticorruption activist who led the political opposition against Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than a decade. … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $2 Million to Prevent Violence, Support Children Exposed to Trauma
SPRINGFIELD - 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 $1,944,811 has been awarded to Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the University of Chicago through the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Strategies to Support Children Exposed to Violence program. Funding will be used by the two hospital systems to expand mental … Continue Reading
February 16, 2024
Durbin Statement on Additional CBP & Former Loyal Source Whistleblowers Alleging Systemic Failures at Agency to Ensure Proper Oversight of Medical Care Contractor
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding additional Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employee whistleblowers, as well as former Loyal Source—the agency’s medical care contractor—staff whistleblowers, alleging years of deficient medical care at CBP facilities and CBP’s failure to ensure proper oversight of Loyal Source. In November, Durbin issued a statement after an … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Durbin Statement on DOJ Inspector General Report on Deaths in BOP Custody
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General’s (IG) investigation into the non-medical deaths of those in Bureau of Prisons (BOP) care. At the request of Durbin, DOJ IG Michael Horowitz previously agreed to review the reports of abuse and the deaths of seven incarcerated men at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Thomson in 2022 as part … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues Urge Department of Education to Address FASFA Rollout Issues
WASHINGTON - As the traditional May 1st “college decision day” approaches, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Patty Murray (D-WA), along with more than 100 of their congressional colleagues, in writing to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) to call on the Department to urgently address the operational issues with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Secure Over $44 Million for Chicago O'Hare, Crawford County, and St. Louis Airport Renovations
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a combined $44,250,000 million in federal funding for Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Crawford County Airport, and St. Louis Downtown Airport from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Terminal Program (ATP)—which Durbin pushed to add to the bill. “Upgrading O’Hare, Crawford, and St. Louis Downtown airports means enhancing safety and creating a more efficient travel … Continue Reading
February 15, 2024
Durbin, Braun Urge FDA to Crack Down on Misleading Social Media Ads that Promote Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take swift action to update its enforcement tools to reflect the current social media platforms and tactics used to promote prescription drugs, and to prioritize the protection of children from harmful and inaccurate medical advice. With the dramatic rise in social media use—especially among youth—there has been an alarming proliferation of dangerous and … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Durbin Applauds Biden Administration Decision to Authorize Deferred Enforced Departure for Palestinians in the U.S.
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today applauded the Biden Administration’s decision to authorize Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Palestinians present in the United States. This authorization offers temporary relief from removal for eighteen months from today for eligible foreign nationals already in the United States who are unable to return safely to their home country. There is no application required for DED, but … Continue Reading
February 14, 2024
Durbin Attends Groundbreaking Ceremony for Starved Rock Breakwater Project
OTTAWA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Starved Rock Breakwater Project, a habitat restoration effort led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed to restore submerged aquatic vegetation in the Starved Rock Pool of the Illinois River. This is the third project within the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which Durbin helped secure $829 million for in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). NESP is a … Continue Reading