Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Join Majority of Senate Democratic Caucus in Push for More Information Around Strategy to Defeat Hamas, Protect Civilians in Gaza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Jack Reed (D-RI) led the majority of the Senate Democratic Caucus in a letter to President Biden condemning the brutal terror attacks by Hamas, expressing support for immediatefunding to replenish Israel’s defensive systems, and seeking … Continue Reading
November 08, 2023
At A Senate Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Secretary Mayorkas About Meaningful Immigration Reform
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) and Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) supplemental budget request, questioned DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the need to address the flow of fentanyl, which is mostly coming through ports of entry into the United States. Durbin asked, “Secretary … Continue Reading
November 08, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Expand Lincoln Home National Historic Site
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), today reintroduced the Lincoln Home National Historic Site Boundary Modification Act, legislation that would expand the boundary of the Lincoln Home National Historic site to include a replica 1844 Lincoln cottage and the Elijah Iles home. The bill would also require the National Park Service to increase the height of the road in front of the Lincoln home and at the intersection of 8th … Continue Reading
November 08, 2023
Durbin Applauds Confirmation of 150th Judge During Biden Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the confirmation of the 150th lifetime judicial appointment during the Biden Administration in a speech on the Senate floor. The Senate has confirmed more women nominated by President Biden to the federal bench than any previous Senate in any previous President’s first term. “We have been building one of the most important accomplishments of the Biden-Harris Administration: the … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
At A Senate Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Secretaries Blinken, Austin on the President's Emergency National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on President Biden’s national security supplemental funding request, which includes emergency funds for Israel, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises. Durbin, Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, first questioned Secretary Austin about the need to continue to provide Ukraine with … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Speaks on Need to Authorize Subpoenas for Crow, Leo, and Arkley Related to Supreme Court Ethics Reform
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed his recent announcement that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II as it relates to the Judiciary Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation. “Last night, I announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will vote to subpoena Harlan Crow, Robin Arkley, … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve AI Testing and Evaluation Systems, Safeguard Americans Against Risks
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate National Labs Caucus, joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and John Thune (R-SD), to introduce the bipartisan Testing and Evaluation Systems for Trusted Artificial Intelligence (TEST) AI Act, legislation that would improve the federal government’s capacity to test and evaluate Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems to drive innovation, protect national … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Help Runaway and Homeless Youth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023. This bipartisan legislation will reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. “This legislation is an investment in the future of our nation and a promise not to give up on any child,” said … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Junior Senator from Ohio Continues to Block Durbin's Attempt to Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today on the Senate floor requested unanimous consent (UC) to schedule confirmation votes on two U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; and April M. Perry, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. Attorneys are empowered to … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees at Latest Judicial 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 Seth Aframe, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit Court of Appeals; Sarah Russell, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; and Judge Edward Kiel, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Durbin began by asking Mr. Aframe … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Meets with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine to Discuss Emergency National Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink to discuss President Biden’s national security supplemental funding request, which includes emergency funds for Ukraine, Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and humanitarian crises. In addition to Durbin, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also joined. “More than … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Discusses Protecting Children Online with National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Michelle DeLaune, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), along with NCMEC General Counsel Yiota Souras, to discuss NCMEC’s Congressional appropriation and Durbin’s efforts to protect children online. “I’ve worked hand-in-hand with Ms. DeLaune and her team since the Senate Judiciary Committee began its legislative push to protect … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $176 Million to Help Illinois Families Save on Home Energy Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $176,702,627 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans pay the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. This announcement includes funding appropriated for Fiscal Year 2024 from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Durbin and Duckworth both … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Ensuring the Safety And Well-Being of Unaccompanied Children
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 “Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of Unaccompanied Children, Part II.” The hearing builds on the committee’s hearing on this issue in June, which featured testimony from child welfare and labor experts, and follows Chair Durbin’s letter with 11 Senate colleagues to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Reflects on Horrific Violence in the Middle East and Need for Long Term Peace Between Israelis and Palestinians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. During his speech, Durbin remembered the victims of the October 7th horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and commended President Biden’s emergency supplemental request to provide security aid to Israel, as well as the recent provision of humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians caught in the conflict. “The wanton slaughter of more than 1,000 Israelis and an … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin, Cortez Masto, Hirono, Gillibrand, Menendez, Merkley Introduce New Legislation to Reform Government's Care & Custody of Unaccompanied Noncitizen Children
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) today introduced new legislation to provide a comprehensive framework to reform the federal government’s care and custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children (UC). The Protecting Unaccompanied Children Act would address gaps in our system by improving … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Questions Administration Officials During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Ensuring the Safety and Well-Being of Unaccompanied Children
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Administration officials at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about the safety and well-being of unaccompanied noncitizen children (UC), who arrive in the United States without immigration status and without a parent or guardian to care forthem. Durbin first questioned the State Department’s Director for Central America, Bureau for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Joseph Salazar, … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Junior Senator From Ohio Once Again Blocks Durbin's Attempt to Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations on the Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today on the Senate floor requested unanimous consent (UC) to schedule confirmation votes on two U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; and April M. Perry, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. Attorneys are empowered to … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Senate Resolution in Solidarity with UAW Workers on Strike
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), along with 30 of their colleagues in the Senate, to introduce a resolution in solidarity with 150,000 members of United Auto Workers (UAW) bargaining for a fair contract, with 34,000 currently on strike. Auto workers voted to go on strike in September, in one of the largest U.S. strikes in the past three decades, calling … Continue Reading
November 07, 2023
Durbin Applauds President Biden's Emergency Supplemental Request to Provide Security Aid to Israel and Ukraine
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement in support of President Biden’s emergency supplemental request to provide security aid to Israel and Ukraine: “The scale and viciousness of the Hamas terrorist attack against the Israeli people are reprehensible, and I support President Biden’s emergency aid request to help Israel defend itself and free any hostages. Violence against the innocent—both Israelis … Continue Reading