Durbin Talks Trade With National Confectioners Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois members of the National Confectioners Association to discuss the current sugar program that sets price supports, domestic marketing allotments, and tariff-quotas to influence the amount of sugar available to the U.S. market. During their conversation, Durbin spoke in support of the Sugar Reform Act, which would eliminate the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) mandate to set the import quota at the mi… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Civil Rights Legend Timuel Black, Calls For Passage Of Freedom To Vote Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today paid tribute on the Senate floor to Chicago civil rights legend and historian Timuel Black, who passed away last week at the age of 102. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted how Black served his country in World War II, landing in Normandy on D-Day, then went on to join the Civil Rights Movement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1966, with Dr. King in Chicago, Black pressed for an end to dis… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Honoring Former Illinois Senator Adlai Stevenson III

WASHINGTON - This week, 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), honoring the life and legacy of the late Adlai Stevenson III, who served as U.S. Senator from Illinois from 1970 to 1981. The resolution commemorates Stevenson's deep dedication to public service, including his advocacy for researching alternative energy sources and establishing the first congressional study of terrorism thro… Continue Reading

With Temperatures Forecast To Fall And Energy Costs Projected To Rise, Durbin And Duckworth Join Call For Swift Release Of LIHEAP Heating Help

WASHINGTON - With colder weather around the corner and energy costs projected to precipitously increase this winter, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in leading a bipartisan coalition of 34 Senators in urging the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible.… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Life And Legacy Of Colin Powell

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute on the Senate floor to Secretary of State Colin Powell, who passed away at the age of 84 today. In his remarks, Durbin highlighted how Powell served his nation as a U.S. Army General, a National Security Advisor, the first Black Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the first Black Secretary of State. Durbin also spoke about Powell's upbringing as the son of Jamaican immigrants and his support for the Dream Act. "Bu… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Gustavo Gelpi To The First Circuit

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Gustavo Gelpi to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Gelpi's extensive qualifications, as well as the judicial experience he would bring to the First Circuit. The Senate will proceed to a confirmation vote on Judge Gelpi's nomination tonight. "Having served as a federal ju… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Appointment Of Debra Shore To Lead EPA Region 5

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced that Debra Shore, current Chicago Metropolitan Water District Commissioner and Illinois resident, will be appointed to lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5: "EPA Region 5 is home to some of the Midwest's greatest assets, including the Great Lakes. But protecting our precious resources from persistent air, water, and land pollution issues … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.5 Million In Telehealth Funding For Illinois Health Care Providers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that four Illinois health care providers have been awarded more than $1.5 million in federal funding to improve and expand telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The grants are part of Round 2 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) COVID-19 Telehealth Program, which was established as part of the CARES Act and continued under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The following Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Establishing An Enforcement Office Within Federal Student Aid

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced the reestablishment of an Office of Enforcement within Federal Student Aid. This action restores an office that was established in 2016, but dismantled by the previous Administration: "Reestablishing an aggressive enforcement office at the Department of Education is key to holding for-profit colleges accountable and protecting students and taxpayers. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committee, Application Process For Federal District Court In 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 announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates' qualifications… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Restoration Of Grand Staircase-Escalante And Bears Ears National Monuments

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced the restoration of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the restoration and expansion the Bears Ears National Monument: "Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are national treasures. I commend President Biden for restoring these unique places so Americans can experience them for generations to come. It's our duty to protect our awe-inspiring pu… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Venezuelan Opposition Leader Leopoldo Lopez

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), met with Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo López to discuss the ongoing political stalemate in Venezuela and the humanitarian crisis that has forced more than five million refugees and migrants to flee their homes under President Nicolás Maduro's regime. During their conversation, the Senators received an update on… Continue Reading

Durbin: The President's Vaccine Policy Is What Our Country Needs To Put The Pandemic Behind Us

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor in support of the Biden Administration's move to implement vaccine mandates for a majority of American workers. Since vaccination mandates have been announced, Illinois has experienced a nearly 40 percent decrease in new COVID-19 cases. Durbin went on to highlight how Illinois-based companies like United Airlines are benefitting from implementing a vaccine mandate despite skeptics questioning … Continue Reading

Durbin: We're Finally Making Good On Our Promise To Forgive Public Servants' Student Debt

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of the Biden Administration's recently announced changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The U.S. Department of Education projects that the changes will immediately eliminate the debt of 22,000 borrowers and result in a reduction in the amount of additional time more than 550,000 borrowers are required to make payments before qualifying for forgiveness. The lon… Continue Reading

Durbin: America Was Half-Step Away From A Full Blown Constitutional Crisis

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about an eight-month investigation report the Senate Judiciary Committee released today titled, "Subverting Justice: How the Former President and his Allies Pressured DOJ to Overturn the 2020 Election." Durbin said America was only a half-step away from a full blown constitutional crisis as President Donald Trump and his loyalists threatened a wholesale takeo… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Rahul Gupta & Elizabeth Prelogar

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Rahul Gupta, to be Director of National Drug Control Policy, and Elizabeth Prelogar, to be Solicitor General of the United States. Durbin delivered opening remarks highlighting the nominees' qualifications and experience. Gupta received a voice vote and Prelogar received a bipartisan 13-9 vote to advance out of Committee. Key quotes: "Dr. Gupta would be the first medical doctor to serve in [this] position, and he is … Continue Reading

Following 8 Month Investigation, Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Report On Donald Trump's Scheme To Pressure DOJ & Overturn The 2020 Election

WASHINGTON - Following an eight-month investigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee today released new testimony and a staff report, "Subverting Justice: How the Former President and his Allies Pressured DOJ to Overturn the 2020 Election." The report and testimony reveal that we were only a half-step away from a full blown constitutional crisis as President Donald Trump and his loyalists threatened a wholesale takeover of the Department of Justice (DOJ). They also reveal how former Acting Civil … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Restoring & Strengthening The Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Protecting a Precious, Almost Sacred Right: The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act" on the urgent need to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. Durbin co-led the introduction of the bill this week, which would update and restore critical safeguards of the origin… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke On Restoring The Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Kristen Clarke during a hearing entitled "Protecting a Precious, Almost Sacred Right: The John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act." The hearing addressed the urgent need to pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which will restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act. "Texas is the latest legislature thi… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statements In Latest Judicial & Executive Nominations Hearing

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 Lucy Haeran Koh, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; Jane M. Beckering, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan; Shalina D. Kumar, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Armando O. Bonilla, to be a Judge of the U… Continue Reading