Press Releases
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 21, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 20, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
June 16, 2023
Durbin Joins Introduction Of Senate Resolution Honoring Juneteenth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in introducing a Senate resolution in honor of Juneteenth. Juneteenth, observed on June 19, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is also known as "Emancipation Day," "Jubilee Day," and "Juneteenth Independence Day." On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which announced that, in accordance with the Emancipation … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Durbin Celebrates 11th Anniversary Of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Pass The Dream Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today celebrated the 11th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and called on Congress to finally pass the Dream Act to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship. Twenty-two years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act-bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up in this … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Durbin, Collins Applaud Committee Passage Of SIREN Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today applauded the advancement of their bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act out of committee with a 20-1 vote. The legislation would extend funding through SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationwide. The funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), … Continue Reading
June 15, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill To Preserve Strong, Independent Journalism And News Organizations
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and John Kennedy (R-LA), to the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 14-7. The bill would allow news organizations to jointly negotiate fair compensation by Big Tech companies that profit from their news content. "We all know the vital role that local newspapers and broadcasters play in informing the public, ensuring accountability, … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Durbin Meets With Director Of The National Cancer Institute & NIH Director Nominee, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, current Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and nominee to serve as the next Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During their meeting, they discussed House Republican threats to cut NIH funding, women's health research, shortages of critical cancer drugs, and the rising costs of prescription drugs. "The National Institutes of Health is the preeminent medical research … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Durbin, Gillibrand, Graham Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Allow Victims Of Age Discrimination To Seek Justice And Accountability
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), along with Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC), announced the introduction of the bipartisan Protecting Older Americans Act. The legislation would invalidate forced arbitration clauses that prevent age discrimination victims from seeking justice and public accountability. Forced arbitration, or pre-dispute arbitration, … Continue Reading
June 14, 2023
Durbin Talks Credit Card Competition Act With National Restaurant Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Michelle Korsmo to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees, one of the highest operating costs for restaurants. Durbin recently reintroduced his bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which would require the largest banks in the country to offer two networks to be used to process credit card transactions with one being a network outside of the Visa-Mastercard … Continue Reading