Durbin, Duckworth Urge HHS to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to Illinois Community Health Centers

WASHINGTON - Following an announcement by the Biden Administration about the launch of the Federally Qualified Health Center program to provide additional COVID-19 vaccines to certain Community Health Centers (CHCs) nationwide, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to prioritize Illinois CHCs in the next round of vaccine allotments. Illinois CHCs will be left out of the first round of this pr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Announce Subcommittees and Subcommittee Chairs and Ranking Members of Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee today announced the establishment of the Subcommittees of the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 117th Congress, and the assignment of Chairs and Ranking Members to these Subcommittees. Durbin reconstituted the Human Rights and the Law Subcommittee, the first standing body of the Senate dedicated to human rights… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes to Convict Donald Trump in His Second Impeachment Trial

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting to convict former President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection against our government: "For the last five days, the House Managers have carefully laid out a convincing case for conviction. The Managers had the facts, the law, the Constitution, and compelling evidence on their side. That is why I voted to convict Donald Trump for inciting an… Continue Reading

Judiciary Chair Durbin Participates in Midyear Refugee Consultation with Biden Administration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in a statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership. This mid-year consultation is required by law before the Administration can raise the number of refugees to be admitted during the current fiscal year. President Biden has proposed raising the Fiscal Year 2021 refugee admissions target from 15,000 to 6… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges CDC Director to Ramp Up Vaccine Distribution in Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky about the importance of increasing vaccine distribution in Illinois, including to Community Health Centers (CHCs). Durbin also asked Dr. Walensky how the State should prepare to combat the spread of new variations of the coronavirus. "On my call with CDC Director Walensky, I urged her to do everything in her power to assist Illinois in dist… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lee, Coons to Introduce Bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced they would introduce the bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act of 2021, a targeted bill that would eliminate the blanket presumption of pretrial detention for most federal drug charges. Pretrial detention rates in the federal system are at record high levels … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses COVID-19 Relief with Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with the Federation of Illinois Independent Colleges and Universities (FIICU) about the importance of providing additional COVID-19 relief that supports private, not-for-profit colleges and universities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Durbin supports additional funding for the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), created by the CARES Act, which provided assistance to institutions and emergency financial aid for stu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Announce Nomination Hearing Date for Judge Merrick Garland, Biden Nominee for U.S. Attorney General

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Committee will hold a nomination hearing for Judge Merrick Garland, President Joe Biden's nominee to be U.S. Attorney General, on Monday, February 22 and Tuesday, February 23. The Committee will vote to advance Judge Garland's nomination on Monday, March 1 after all Committee members ag… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Reform Elderly Home Detention and Compassionate Release Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

WASHINGTON - Amid the COVID-19 public health pandemic, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, authors of the bipartisan First Step Act, landmark criminal justice reform legislation, introduced bipartisan legislation to reform the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program and compassionate release from federal prisons. Sadly, more than 200 federal prisoners with … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Renew Request for U.S. Attorney John Lausch to Remain in His Position Until Confirmation of His Successor

WASHINGTON - Following an announcement by the Biden Justice Department that Senate-confirmed U.S. Attorneys appointed under the previous Administration were to submit their resignations by February 28, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) renewed their request that John Lausch, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, be permitted to remain in his position until the confirmation of his successor. In a letter to President Joe Biden, Durbin and Duckworth not… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bill to Address PPE Shortages, Boost Production in America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced new, bipartisan legislation to address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies. The Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Actwould boost domestic PPE and testing supply production and promote a more sustainable supply chain by ensuring more predictable, dedicated funding from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to American manufacturers of applicable medical su… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Second Impeachment Trial of Donald Trump is Constitutional

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting to confirm that former President Donald John Trump is subject to the jurisdiction of a court of impeachment for acts committed while President of the United States, notwithstanding the expiration of his term. Six Senate Republicans voted with every Senate Democrat to confirm that Donald Trump is subject to a court of impeachment. "What we heard to… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill to Implement and Expand Online SNAP Purchasing Nationwide

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with nine of their Senate colleagues, today introduced a bill to address hunger needs during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond by requiring the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand online Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchasing choices. The Expanding SNAP Options Act would provide funding for the creation of a universal online and app-based portal to make access to nutritious foods from … Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Put an End to Donald Trump's 'Big Lie' Once and for All

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the second impeachment trial for former President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the important responsibility the Senate has to move forward with this impeachment trial. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that no one, not even the President of the United States, has a First Amendment right to say whatever he or she wants-an argument the former President's lawyers are expected … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Introduce SECURE Act for TPS Recipients

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) to introduce the Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and in Emergency (SECURE) Act, legislation to allow qualified Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients to apply for legal permanent residency. "TPS recipients are vital contributors to our communities. More than 130,000 TPS re… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Introduce Bill to Help State and Local Governments Provide Paid Leave to Employees During Pandemic

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), along with U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced a key measure to help state and local governments provide paid leave to public employees who can't work due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, enacted last year, provided tax credits to private-sector employers to cover the costs of paid leave during the pandemic. Congress also extended those tax cre… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Termination of U.S. Attorney John Lausch

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that the Biden Administration will terminate John Lausch as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: "While we agree with the Biden Administration's criminal justice agenda, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate U.S. Attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our non-partisan screening committee gave its support for Mr. Lau… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Supporting Caregivers with NDWA and SEIU

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the status of a COVID-19 relief bill with Ai Jen Poo, Executive Director of National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA), Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Missouri and Kansas. During the call, Durbin discussed how Congress can better support caregivers and the essential work that these individuals provide. Nearly 90 percent of home… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Provide Quick Relief for Unemployed Americans

SPRINGFIELD - As millions of Americans continue to struggle with unemployment as a result of the pandemic, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the critical need to provide additional assistance to unemployed workers before federal unemployment programs expire in March. Joined virtually by several Illinoisans relying on unemployment insurance, Durbin called on Congress to pass President Biden's American Rescue Plan COVID relief package, which would extend federal unemployment programs… Continue Reading

Durbin meets with Everytown for Gun Safety

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, virtually met with John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the United States. Durbin and Feinblatt discussed key priorities for gun violence prevention efforts in the Senate, including passing universal background check legislation. "America must address its epidemic of gun violence, and that starts by finally passing commonsen… Continue Reading