Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $375,000 To Address Disparities In Chicago Communities Caused By Menthol And Tobacco Usage
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $375,000 for the City of Chicago through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) “Building Capacity to Reduce the Burden of Menthol and Other Flavored Commercial Tobacco Products in Communities that Experience Health Disparities Program.” This funding will help advance health equity through strategic partnerships and community engagement to address disparities caused … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Durbin Calls Out Johnson & Johnson’s Manipulation Of Bankruptcy During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) Worldwide Vice President of Litigation, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Evading Accountability: Corporate Manipulation of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.” The hearing examined Chapter 11 bankruptcy law and the threat posed to consumers and others by legal maneuvers like the “Texas Two-Step.” Durbin stated that Chapter 11 … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Durbin, Klobuchar, Welch, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Urging Court To Uphold Medicare’s Ability To Negotiate Lower Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), and colleagues in filing an amicus brief in Merck & Co. v. Becerra in the District Court for the District of Columbia urging the federal court to uphold the constitutionality of Congress allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices forconsumers. “We’re finally making progress on lowering families’ prescription drug costs … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Durbin, Klobuchar, Welch, Colleagues File Amicus Brief Urging Court to Uphold Medicare’s Ability to Negotiate Lower Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Peter Welch (D-VT), and colleagues in filing an amicus brief in Merck & Co. v. Becerra in the District Court for the District of Columbia urging the federal court to uphold the constitutionality of Congress allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for consumers. “We’re finally making progress on lowering families’ prescription drug costs … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Corporations Evading Accountability By Manipulating Bankruptcy
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 “Evading Accountability: Corporate Manipulation of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.” This hearing will examine Chapter 11 bankruptcy law and the threat posed to consumers and others by legal maneuvers like the “Texas Two-Step.” Key Quotes: “In October of 2021, Johnson & Johnson faced lawsuits from nearly … Continue Reading
September 19, 2023
Durbin Applauds Bipartisan Appropriations Negotiations In The Senate, Calls On House Leadership To Take Up Serious Effort To Fund Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor on the historic undertaking of passing 12 appropriations bills through the Senate as Congress has relied on funding the government through omnibus spending bills for more than five years. “What you’ve just witnessed here is, we hope, a new day in the United States Senate. You see, we have the responsibility of appropriating the money for the … Continue Reading
September 18, 2023
Durbin Discusses Enforcement And Compliance Initiatives With EPA Assistant Administrator
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with David Uhlmann, Assistant Administrator forthe Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During their meeting, Durbin and Assistant Administrator Uhlmann spoke on a range of issues impacting Illinoisans, including holding polluters accountable, regulation of harmful chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and tackling methane emissions and … Continue Reading
September 18, 2023
Durbin Urges Congress To Pass The Supplemental Funding Package To Aid Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass the supplemental funding package, which includes aid for Ukraine to combat Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked war. Later this week, Ukraine President Zelensky will visit Congress and the United Nations General Assembly. Durbin began his speech by highlighting Putin’s desperate pleas to restore Russia’s so-called “lost glory.” Durbin said, “It … Continue Reading
September 18, 2023
Following Their Letter, Durbin, Duckworth Commend Biden Administration For Approving Federal Assistance For Illinois Following Severe Summer Storms Across The State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today commended the Biden Administration for approving Governor JB Pritzker’s request for Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the State of Illinois, to support 19 Central Illinois counties to recover from storm damage. From late June to early July, severe storms passed through Central Illinois, producing heavy rainfall, flash flooding, hail, tornadoes, and … Continue Reading
September 18, 2023
Durbin Statement On U.S. Steel’s Decision To Temporarily Idle Granite City Works
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Steel’s announcement to temporarily idle blast furnace ‘B’ at the Granite City Works plant: “Steel production is a key component of our nation's economic health. It is also a major source of employment throughout the country and in the State of Illinois, where the steel industry supports thousands of jobs. Idling blast furnace ‘B’ at Granite City Works—even temporarily—will have a … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Durbin Secures $250,000 For Green Era’s Efforts To Combat Food Waste
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Green Era Campus to view their food digester and urban farm project that he secured $250,000 in federal funding for through Congressionally Directed Spending—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill. “The work happening at Green Era’s Campus exemplifies the power of collective action and the difference that passionate individuals can make when they come together with a common … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Durbin Joins USDA Under Secretary Dr. Homer Wilkes To Announce $23 Million For Illinois To Expand Green Spaces
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Natural Resources Dr. Homer Wilkes to announce Illinois received a $23 million federal investment through the Urban and Community Forests Program (UCF) from the Inflation Reduction Act to expand and improve tree canopy forcommunities across the state. “The USDA’s Urban and Community Forests Program not only mitigates the scorching heatwaves we endured this summer, but also … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Votes To Advance Twelve Judicial And Executive Nominees To The Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced twelve judicial and executive nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “We voted to advance nine highly qualified, diverse nominees for lifetime positions on our federal district courts, and we will continue to advance them at an efficient … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Durbin Statement On UAW Strike
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the news that the United Auto Workers (UAW) has announced a targeted strike against the Big Three auto manufacturers—General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford: “Since it was founded nearly 90 years ago, UAW has fought for—and won—victories that have helped to strengthen America’s working families, including better pay for its members, employer-funded pensions, health insurance, educational benefits—and … Continue Reading
September 15, 2023
Durbin, Murkowski Introduce The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) yesterday introduced bipartisan legislation to address the pay gap between clinical and faculty nursing positions—which is the primary economic disincentive fueling the nursing shortage crisis across the country. The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act is a bipartisan bill that would provide a federal wage differential for the salary gap between clinical nursing and nurse faculty roles—to help … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination of April Perry to Serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
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 released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of April Perry to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of April Perry to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi Lead Illinois Colleagues In Inquiry To Federal Agencies On Potential Risks Of Toxic Lead-Sheathed Telecommunications Cables
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), led nine members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in requesting information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the General Services Administration (GSA) regarding their knowledge of the lead-sheathed cables and next steps, such as the agencies’ coordination and cooperation … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Twelve Judicial and Executive Nominees to the Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced twelve judicial and executive nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “We voted to advance nine highly qualified, diverse nominees for lifetime positions on our federal district courts, and we will continue to advance them at an efficient … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Durbin & Blumenthal Request Review Of FDA’s Efforts To Protect The Nation’s Food Supply & Prevent Outbreaks Of Foodborne Illness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) wrote to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a review of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) efforts to address and prevent foodborne illness outbreaks. The Senators expressed the importance of ensuring the agency helps farmers, food manufacturers, importers, and others prevent contamination from production to sale. “We remain concerned that FDA’s oversight of our … Continue Reading
September 14, 2023
Durbin Meets with Home Depot CEO to Discuss Swipe Fees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Ted Decker, Chair, President, & CEO of The Home Depot, to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees. Earlier this year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced their Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. … Continue Reading