Durbin, Senators To FDA Commissioner: Remove All Unauthorized E-Cigarettes From Market Immediately

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a letter with ten Senators to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf urging the FDA to immediately remove all unreviewed e-cigarettes from store shelves until the agency completes its public health review of these vaping products. Currently, addictive, kid-friendly e-cigarettes like JUUL are on the market illegally but are being granted a free pass to be sold due to FDA's decision to grant enforcement… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Historic New Federal Investment In Community-Based Medical Residency Program At Lawndale Christian Health Center

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Lawndale Christian Health Center (LCHC), located on Chicago's West Side, has been awarded $960,000 in federal funding to support its community-based medical residency program. By training physician residents in a Community Health Center setting, rather than a traditional hospital, this program will help address racial health disparities and workforce shortages by expanding the pipeline of health care pr… Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Social Media Platforms On Their Roles In Promoting Extremist Context

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is pressing Discord and Twitch about the role the platforms play in disseminating extremist content, asking how they are addressing such content and requesting relevant documents. In two letters sent to Discord Co-Founder and CEO Jason Citron and Twitch Co-Founder and CEO Emmett Shear, respectively, Durbin requests information regarding both platforms' actions to identify and remove content that … Continue Reading

House Passes Durbin, Schneider Bipartisan Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act

WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA), a bipartisan bill introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, in the Senate, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) in the House. The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act is designed to combat the growing threat of domestic violent extremist groups and individuals (DVEs), including racially and ethnically motiv… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Swedish, Finnish, Lithuanian Leaders

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the NATO Summit in Madrid in June, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine and Baltic caucuses, met with Swedish and Finnish heads of state to discuss Russia's continued war in Ukraine and their countries' interest in joining NATO. Durbin joined Senate colleagues to meet with Her Excellency Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Sweden and His Excellency Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland. In their meeting, Durbin offered his su… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Failed Vote To Provide Relief To Small Businesses

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate failed to pass the Small Business COVID Relief Act, legislation that would provide $48 billion in relief to restaurants and other small businesses: "Illinois small businesses, including restaurants, are the lifeblood of our communities. In the face of an unprecedented pandemic, Illinois small businesses showed resilience while Democrats worked persistently to provide them with the a… Continue Reading

Durbin: I Support The Succession Of Sweden And Finland To NATO

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor in support of Sweden and Finland's intention to apply for rapid NATO membership. Yesterday, Durbin met with members of the Lithuanian Members of Parliament to discuss Russia's continued war in Ukraine, efforts to bolster security across Europe, and Sweden and Finland's interest in joining NATO. Durbin, Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, praised the Baltics includ… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Four Bipartisan Bills Supporting Law Enforcement During Police Week

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Committee advanced four bipartisan bills, by voice vote, that will help support law enforcement officers and their families by providing more support for mental health needs and helping to make sure officers have the resources and training they need to provide safe and effective community policing. Key Durbin quotes: "Being a police officer has always been a challenge. … Continue Reading

Senate Commemorates National Police Week

WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement. The bipartisan resolution was led by U.S. Senate Majority 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. It was also cosponsored by 84 of their Senate colleagues. "I could not be more grateful for the bravery federal, st… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate-Passed Supplemental Aid For Ukraine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement after the Senate passed an emergency funding package to assist Ukraine following Russia's unjustified and unprovoked war. The legislation provides funding for military and humanitarian aid, public health and medical support for Ukrainian refugees, and emergency food aid around the world. "The $40 billion in emergency aid will help Ukraine withstand the next br… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Inclusion Of Important Dietary Supplement Provisions In Bipartisan Senate Committee's FDA User Fee Package

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the inclusion of a modified version of his Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) Committee's recently-released draft Food and Drug Administration (FDA) User Fee package. The Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2022 requires dietary supplement manufacturers to list their products with FDA. In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), … Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Broaden War Crimes Jurisdiction

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN), introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of war criminals in the United States regardless of th… Continue Reading

Foreign Relations Committee Advances Durbin, Grassley Bipartisan Resolution To Celebrate 100 Years Of Diplomatic Relations Between U.S. And Baltic States

WASHINGTON - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today advanced a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, to celebrate 100 years of diplomatic relations with the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The resolution also reaffirms the United States' commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) amid increasing Russian aggression in Eastern Eur… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With eBay CEO To Discuss INFORM Consumers Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with eBay's CEO, Jamie Iannone, to discuss his Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which passed the House as part of the America COMPETES Act and is currently being conferenced with the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). The bipartisan legislation will combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ens… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With eBay CEO To Discuss INFORM Consumers Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with eBay's CEO, Jamie Iannone, to discuss his Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which passed the House as part of the America COMPETES Act and is currently being conferenced with the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (USICA). The bipartisan legislation will combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ens… Continue Reading

Durbin: I'm Calling On FDA To Immediately Halt Its Enforcement Discretion And Remove All Unauthorized E-Cigarettes From The Market

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for failing to meet a court deadline to complete its public health review of e-cigarette premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). The deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was September 9, 2021, more than eight months ago-leaving dangerous, kid-friendly e-cigarettes available on store shelves to hook children. On Friday, F… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Rachelle Crowe To Serve As U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - Tonight, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on her confirmation: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Rachelle Crowe to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. After seven years without a confirmed… Continue Reading

During National Police Week, Durbin Meets With Illinois Law Enforcement Leaders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria, Swansea Police Chief Steven Johnson, incoming Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, and Carbondale Police Chief Stan Reno. During their meeting, Durbin thanked the law enforcement leaders for their service and discussed with them the need to provide funding and… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Funding For Fermilab LBNF/DUNE With Secretary Of Energy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm about federal funding requests for the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE), a project run by Fermilab in Illinois. In March, Durbin secured $189 million for LBNF/DUNE in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations bill. On the call, Durbin explained the importance of Fermilab's research and urged the Secretary to join … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Loukas Kozonis, Guest To Greek Prime Minister's Joint Meeting Of Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Loukas Kozonis, his guest to today's Joint Meeting of Congress by His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic. Mr. Kozonis is a resident of Bannockburn, Illinois, founding member of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), and Vice Chair of the Chicago-Athens Sister Cities Committee. Durbin was a member of the leadership escort committee for today's Joint Meeting. "It was a great h… Continue Reading