Durbin Statement On Senate Vote To Repeal 1991, 2022 Iraq AUMFs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted to repeal both the 1991 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq: "Our Constitution is clear-only the United States Congress has the power to declare war. For too long, Congress has abdicated this most serious of responsibilities. Administrations of both parties have used AUMFs on the books to justify military action without returning to Congress, and C… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Urge United Airlines To Reconsider Decision To Halt Service At Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport In Springfield

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), as well as Mayor of Springfield, Illinois, Jim Langfelder, today spoke by phone with Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, about the company's decision to cancel service at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport beginning in June. On the call, the lawmakers urged United Airlines to reconsider the decision. "It's disappointing to hear that Unit… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Dems Push Back On GOP Fentanyl Claims During Hearing With Mayorkas

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, The Hill highlighted Senate Judiciary Democrats' "forceful push" to clarify misinformation on the fentanyl crisis by Republicans in yesterday's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight hearing with Secretary Mayorkas. Data shows that the vast majority of fentanyl is smuggled into the United States by American citizens, not asylum seekers or other actors. "More than 90 percent of fentanyl seized by DHS is detected at border checkpoints, while an analy… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Vote To Repeal 1991, 2002 Iraq AUMFs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted to repeal both the 1991 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq: "Our Constitution is clear-only the United States Congress has the power to declare war. For too long, Congress has abdicated this most serious of responsibilities. Administrations of both parties have used AUMFs on the books to justify military action without returning to Congress, and C… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Online Video Game Industry To Do More To Identify & Remove Extremist Content From Their Platforms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent letters to publishers of several of the most popular online games-that have reported extremist content issues-requesting information regarding their actions to identify and remove content that broadcasts or promotes terrorism, violent extremism, or hate crimes, as well as any efforts they have made to address the use of their platforms by those who perpetrate such acts or who seek to recruit … Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins, Underwood, Wenstrup Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Make The VA Smoke-Free

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH-02) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to prohibit smoking at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. Supported b… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Representatives From The Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with representatives from the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and American Bar Association (ABA). During the meeting, they discussed Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which Durbin supports to help our legal community. They also discussed the bar association… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Expanding Workforce Opportunities And Apprenticeships With Illinois Members Of IBEW

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to discuss pressing labor issues, including expanding access to apprenticeships and job opportunities. During the meeting, Durbin expressed the need for union labor to be involved in the clean energy jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Durbin also spoke about the need for a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in Illinois.… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Secretary Mayorkas During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing Of The Department Of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security." Durbin first asked Secretary Mayorkas about the fentanyl crisis. "Tell me how we strike a relationship with Mexico to actively cooperate [with] the flow of individuals coming toward the United States while … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses BOP Staffing Crisis With National President Of The Council Of Prison Locals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Shane Fausey, National President of the Council of Prison Locals, to discuss the safety and working conditions of federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees. During the meeting, Durbin heard from Fausey about how BOP has been slow to fill thousands of vacant positions in correctional facilities, exacerbating the staffing crisis. Without proper staffing, BOP employees, including c… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Mayors To Talk Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Municipal League (IML) leadership and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding secured for Illinois infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP). During the meeting, Durbin spoke about $17 billion in formula funding coming to Illinois from the IIJA and the $1.8 billion in IIJA grant funding he helped secure in 2022 for infrastructure projects across … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With DHS Secretary Mayorkas

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 "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security," featuring testimony from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. During his remarks, Durbin spoke on the horrific mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, that left three children and three adults dead. Ye… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Repeal Iraq AUMFs

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to repeal two outdated Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) against Iraq. During his speech, Durbin reflected on the 2002 Iraq War AUMF vote, which he opposed over 20 years ago. "I remember that vote as clearly as if it were yesterday. It was a little more than a year after the vicious terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our nation felt deeply about what happened to 3,000 … Continue Reading

In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Reacts To Nashville School Shooting, Calls On Colleagues To Ban Assault Weapons

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor responding to the horrific mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, that left at least three children and three adults dead. The school shooting is the 129th mass shooting in America so far this year, despite being fewer than 90 days into 2023. "This morning, a shooter entered the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, reported… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Top Democrats Warn Biden: Don’t Restart Family Detentions

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, the Los Angeles Times highlighted the efforts by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and 18 Senate colleagues urging against the use of family detention. In a letter to President Biden, the Senators raise concerns over reports the Administration is considering a return to the ineffective and inhumane practice of detaining migrant families, after previously putting an end to family detention in December 202… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin, Graham, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urge President Biden To Support The ICC’s Investigation Into Atrocities In Ukraine

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, USA TODAY highlighted a bipartisan call for President Biden to use enhanced authority to assist the International Criminal Court (ICC) in its efforts to prosecute war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine. The letter is led by 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. The piece also included an exclusive ann… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan H-1B, L-1 Visa Reform Legislation To Protect Workers And Stop Outsourcing Of American Jobs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced bipartisan legislation to reform and close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs. The H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will reduce fraud and abuse in our immigration system, provide protections for American workers and visa holders, and require more transparency in the recruitment of foreign workers. The … Continue Reading

Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema, Neguse Introduce Legislation To Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), today introduced bicameral legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The legislation, known as theAffordable College Textbook Act, would authorize a competitive grant program to support the creati… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Letter To President Biden Urging Against The Use Of Family Detention

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 18 Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden raising concerns over reports the Administration is considering a return to the ineffective and inhumane practice of detaining migrant families, after previously putting an end to family detention in December 2021. The Senators wrote, "Under both the Obama and Trump Administrations, family detention had disastrous effects on migrant families… Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham, Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urge President Biden To Support The ICC’s Investigation Into Atrocities In Ukraine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Thom Tillis (R-NC), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to President Biden urging his Administration to support the International Criminal… Continue Reading