Press Releases
Durbin, Graham Announce January 2024 Hearing with Five Big Tech CEOs on Their Failure to Protect Children Online
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that the Committee’s previously announced hearing on online child sexual exploitation has been rescheduled for January 31, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. and will feature testimony from the CEOs of Meta, X (formerly known as Twitter), TikTok, Snap, and Discord. The CEOs of X, Discord, and Snap will testify pursuant to subpoenas … Continue Reading
November 29, 2023
Durbin Questions District Court Nominees at Latest Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Jacquelyn D. Austin, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Jacqueline Becerra, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Melissa Damian, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; David Seymour … Continue Reading
November 29, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on Six Judicial Nominations
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 Jacquelyn D. Austin, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Jacqueline Becerra, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Melissa Damian, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; David Seymour … Continue Reading
November 29, 2023
Durbin, Collins Introduce Legislation to Address Uptick in Attacks on Letter Carriers on the Job
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today led 10 of their colleagues in introducing bipartisan legislation to address the steep increase in armed robberies against postal workers, who are often targeted for their arrow keys. The Postal Police Reform Act would ensure that Postal Police Officers may be assigned to duty outside of Postal Service real property to offer protection to letter carriers on their routes. The Postal Inspection … Continue Reading
November 28, 2023
Durbin Joins Grassley in Attempt to Pass Bipartisan Bill to Require Price Transparency in Prescription Drug Advertisements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today on the Senate floor to request unanimous consent (UC) to pass their bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs, in order to empower patients and reduce excess spending on medications. U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID) objected to the unanimous consent request. In 2018, Durbin and Grassley … Continue Reading
November 28, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce CMS Funding to Address Physician Shortage in Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded new Medicare Graduate Medical Education funding to support an additional 23 residency slots for hospitals in Illinois. With this new federal funding, eight Illinois hospitals will be able to expand their medical training opportunities for new doctors, in order to help address the nation’s physician shortage. “This federal funding is … Continue Reading
November 28, 2023
Durbin Highlights New Medicare Coverage for Dental Care, Urges CMS to Expand Coverage for State Medicaid Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure urging her to notify states of recent Medicare changes in coverage and billing practices for oral health care services that were outlined in the 2024 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System final rule. As states often model their Medicaid coverage and … Continue Reading
November 28, 2023
Durbin Questions Public Health Experts During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned public health experts during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Gun Violence Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis.” The hearing featured expert testimony on specific public health initiatives that have recently shown promise in reducing gun violence, such as Chair Durbin’s Chicago HEAL Initiative. In 2022, there were more than 48,000 firearm-related deaths in the … Continue Reading
November 28, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Gun Violence as a Public Health Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Gun Violence Epidemic: A Public Health Crisis.” The hearing features expert testimony on gun violence as a crucial public health issue and specific public health initiatives that have recently shown promise in reducing gun violence, such as Chair Durbin’s Chicago HEAL Initiative. In 2022, there were … Continue Reading
November 27, 2023
Durbin Calls to Reopen Gaza Hospitals Under Neutral Third Part As Israel-Hamas Reach a Temporary Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor on the need to reopen key Gaza hospitals under the supervision of a credible, neutral third party in order to help the innocent civilians caught in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. During his speech, Durbin said he planned to speak with Secretary General António Guterres about implementing this proposal. He also called on Congress to pass President Biden’s emergency supplemental request, which includes … Continue Reading
November 22, 2023
Durbin Statement on Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal and Hostage Release
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the agreement reached between Israel and Hamas to release 50 hostages currently being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip over a four-day long ceasefire: “I am relieved and heartened that the deal to release 50 of the 240 hostages being held by Hamas over a four-day ceasefire has been reached, with the possibility to extend the ceasefire by an additional day for every ten hostages … Continue Reading
November 20, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Baldwin, Colleagues in Calling for Immediate Steps to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza and Protect Civilians
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) led their colleagues in urging President Biden to work with Israel and international partners to implement a plan that will protect innocent civilian life in Gaza, deliver sustained humanitarian aid, and work toward the long term goals of ending Hamas’s threat, bringing hostages home, and achieving … Continue Reading
November 20, 2023
Durbin, Graham Announce Subpoenas to Big Tech CEOs to Testify About Their Failure to Protect Children Online
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that subpoenas have been issued to the CEOs of Discord, Snap, and X (formerly known as Twitter) to testify at the December 6 full committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation. The Committee remains in discussion with Meta and TikTok and expects their CEOs—Mark Zuckerberg and Shou Zi Chew—will agree to testify … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Send Recommendations to be Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division to the White House
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 sent a list of names for the White House to consider for Federal District Court Judge vacancies in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division. Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established, Durbin and Duckworth have forwarded the names of the following individuals to President Biden for consideration: … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Legislation to Protect Domestic Abuse Survivors from Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to introduce the Lori Jackson - Nicolette Elias Domestic Violence Survivor Protection Act to protect domestic violence survivors from gun violence. “Lori Jackson, a mother of two, was a day away from obtaining a permanent restraining order against her abusive husband when a loophole allowed her abuser to purchase a firearm, which … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Durbin Joins Cardin, Colleagues in Letter Supporting the Biden Administration's Recent Diplomatic Efforts with Venezuela
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sent the following letter to the Biden administration expressing their support for the recent use of sanctions relief as leverage to … Continue Reading
November 17, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Release Statement on CDC Report on Public Health Impact of Sterigenics
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founder of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Ethylene Oxide Task Force, today issued the following statement on the report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry … Continue Reading
November 16, 2023
Durbin Meets With Predominantly Black Institutions of Illinois
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Presidents and staff from Chicago State University (CSU) and Malcolm X College to discuss federal support for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs) in Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin and the school leaders also discussed the struggles PBIs face in securing federal investments, and expressed support for increased federal funding to help PBIs build capacity and student support services. “Predominantly Black … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Keep Government Funded
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund various federal agencies through January 19th and February 2nd, respectively: “Funding the government is one of the essential parts of this job, and tonight, the Senate came together in a good-faith effort to pass the bipartisan House CR. We’re keeping the lights on through the … Continue Reading
November 15, 2023
Durbin, Graham Introduce National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension 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 bipartisan National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act to reauthorize relief for an additional four years for qualifying members of the National Guard and Reserves experiencing financial hardship. The legislation would protect a long-standing bipartisan carveout from … Continue Reading