Durbin Again Urges Cardona To Grant Borrower Defense Discharges For Illinois Westwood College Students Following Corinthian College Student Loan Discharge

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to issue widespread federal student loan debt relief to the approximately 3,600 Illinois students who were defrauded by Westwood College. Referencing the Department of Education's recent move to provide $6 billion in relief to student borrowers who attended Corinthian Colleges or Marinello Schools of Beauty regardless of whether students applied for borrower def… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Two Circuit Court Judges, Three District Court Judges And Three U.S. Attorneys

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of John Z. Lee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit; Salvador Mendoza, Jr., to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Stephen Henley Locher, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa; Nancy L. Maldonado, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and Gregory Brian Williams, to be United States District Judge for the District of … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of John Lee To The Seventh Circuit And Nancy Maldonado To The Northern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations John Z. Lee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit and Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. 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 on their nominations: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Jud… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On FDA Commissioner To Do His Job To Protect Our Children From E-Cigarettes Or Step Aside

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement calling on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf to immediately clear the market of unauthorized, kid-friendly e-cigarettes or step aside. The court-ordered deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was September 9, 2021, exactly nine months ago, and yet the FDA has still not finished its review of these products-leaving dangerous, kid-friendly e-cigare… Continue Reading

Following Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism, Durbin Urges Senate To Act To Combat Hateful Ideology That Has Inspired Mass Shootings

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging the Senate to combat domestic terrorism and prevent the next mass shooting. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on domestic terrorism following the mass shooting in Buffalo that killed ten Black Americans in a racist act of violence. The hearing-the Committee's third on domestic terrorism this Congress-explored the continued threat posed by vio… Continue Reading

In Virtual Meeting, Durbin Thanks Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence For Its Advocacy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with the Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ILCADV) to personally thank the group for its continued advocacy for survivors of domestic violence. On the call, Durbin and ILCADV also discussed securing adequate funding for Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) programs in Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations. "Since its initial enactment, VAWA has saved countless lives. VAWA p… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Whitehouse, Cornyn Bill To Help Small Businesses & Families In Bankruptcy Heads To President Biden's Desk

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and John Cornyn (R-TX), applauded passage of their bipartisan legislation to help small businesses and individuals stay afloat during bankruptcy in the House of Representatives last night. The bill, which cleared the House on a vote of 392-21, was already passed unani… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With March For Our Lives To Discuss Common Sense Gun Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with representatives from March For Our Lives. During their meeting, Durbin discussed the ongoing negotiations in the Senate to address the scourge of gun violence that kills more than 100 Americans each day. Durbin expressed his own support for common sense gun violence prevention solutions like closing gaps in the gun background check system. "This week, we've heard the families of th… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions U.S. Sentencing Commission Nominees At Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned nominees to the bipartisan U.S. Sentencing Commission at the latest Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Congress created the bipartisan Sentencing Commission in 1984 and charged the Commission with the critical task of promoting transparency and consistency in federal criminal sentencing. "An amazing array of talent, strong resumes… thank you for being here to… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Judiciary Committee Hearing On U.S. Sentencing Commission Nominees

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 on the nominations of Carlton W. Reeves to be a Member and Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission; Laura E. Mate, Claire McCusker Murray, and Luis Felipe Restrepo to be Members and Vice Chairs of the United States Sentencing Commission; and Claria Horn Boom, John Gleeson, and Candice C. Wong to be Members of t… Continue Reading

In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Applauds Department Of Education For Group Discharge Of Student Loans For Borrowers Who Attended Now-Shuttered Corinthian Colleges

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senator floor applauding the Department of Education's recent decision to discharge all remaining federal student loans for those who attended any campus owned or run by the predatory Corinthian Colleges. In April 2015, after Corinthian abruptly closed all of its schools, Durbin first urged the Department to issue widespread relief as he stood in front of a Corinthian-operated school in Chicago with then-Illinois… Continue Reading

President Biden Signs Durbin, D. Davis, Underwood Bill Restoring Education Benefits To Veterans Into Law

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7), and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), into law. The legislation will help more than 300 Illinois veterans who were scammed out of their benefits by the unaccredited, for-profit Future Tech Career Institute (FTCI) in Chicago. "During the pand… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Professor Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on domestic terrorism following the mass shooting in Buffalo that killed ten Black Americans in a racist act of violence. Durbin asked Professor Pape about the threat of the "Great Replacement" con… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism Following Buffalo Massacre

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Examining the 'Metastasizing' Domestic Terrorism Threat After the Buffalo Attack." This hearing-the Committee's third on domestic terrorism this Congress-will explore the continued threat posed by violent white supremacists and other extremists, including those who have embraced the so-called "Great Repla… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Releases Garnell Whitefield, Jr.'s Testimony At Hearing On Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee released Garnell Whitfield, Jr.'s prepared testimony at today's hearing entitled "Examining the 'Metastasizing' Domestic Terrorism Threat After the Buffalo Attack." Mr. Whitfield's mother, Ruth, was one of the ten victims of the May 14, 2022, massacre in Buffalo, New York. Key quotes as prepared: "Our lives are forever changed… forever damaged by an act of profound hate and evil. Nothing will ever take away the hurt, the pain or the ho… Continue Reading

Durbin: This Senate Cannot Escape Our Responsibility To Act On Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging Senate Republicans to join Democrats and pass legislation to reduce gun violence following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers. Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among American children and teens. In 2020, 45,222 Americans died by gun violence. Next week, the Senate Jud… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Former Congressman John Porter On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring the legacy of former Congressman John E. Porter, who represented northern Illinois in Congress for 21 years. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about Porter's reputation as a principled, bipartisan leader within the Illinois congressional delegation. "John Porter was raised in a home where public service was a way of life…[He] believed that public service was a noble profession, that… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $245,000 In EPA Funding To Support Water Quality Monitoring

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $245,000, through the BEACH Act grant program, to Illinois. The grant funding will support the state in developing and implementing a beach monitoring and notification program that will protect the public by monitoring beaches for bacteria, identifying local pollution sources, and reporting these results to EPA. "The Gr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $6 Million For Runway Improvements At Springfield Airport

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $6,020,767 in federal funding awarded to Abraham Lincoln Capitol Airport in Springfield from the U.S. Department of Transportation to support the airport's reconstruction of taxiway lighting and runway updates. "Today's funding is a significant federal investment in the service and safety of those who fly in and out of Springfield's airport, which is a critical element of Illinois e… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Devastating Impact of Gun Violence During National Gun Violence Awareness Day

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today held a news conference with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and medical officials from Cook County Health to discuss the devastating impacts that gun violence has on victims and communities. Durbin thanked the medical staff at Cook County's John H. Stroger Hospital for their heroic efforts to save victims of gun violence, while highlighting the need for Congress to enact common sense gun safety… Continue Reading