Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Meet with Mayor of Chicago
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 met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to examine steps for a humanitarian response to the arrival of more than 19,500 migrants to the city. During the meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Mayor Johnson discussed the federal government’s role in offering critical support to Illinois as it receives thousands of new arrivals. Durbin and Duckworth … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Senate Advances "Minibus" Spending Bills with Illinois Priorities Secured by Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the United States Senate passed three funding bills known as a “minibus” for Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Durbin, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage of Doctors, Nurses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), today introduced bipartisan legislation to quickly address our nation’s shortage of doctors and nurses. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture 25,000 unused immigrant visas fornurses and 15,000 unused immigrant visas for physicians that Congress has previously authorized—providing a desperately needed boost to our health care system … Continue Reading
November 02, 2023
Durbin Unveils Intended Motion for Subpoena Authorization at Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting
WASHINGTON - At today’s executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, unveiled his intended motion to issue subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II for refusing to cooperate with information requests as part of the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation. Durbin began by outlining the repeated refusals from Crow, Leo, and Arkley: “I am not requesting this authorization lightly. Over the past several … Continue Reading
November 01, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on Four Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Seth Aframe, to be United States Circuit Judge for the for the First Circuit Court of Appeals; Judge Edward Kiel, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Sarah Russell, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; and Christopher Fonzone, to be an … Continue Reading
October 31, 2023
Durbin Statement on Senate Confirmation of Jack Lew to Serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Jack Lew to serve as the United States Ambassador to Israel: “The recent terrorist attack in Israel and ensuing overlapping challenges in the region are a reminder of the importance of having top American diplomats at our embassies. Unfortunately, some Republican Senators have continued to block the confirmation of highly qualified U.S. ambassadors from key posts around … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Durbin, Whitehouse Announce Vote to Authorize Subpoenas for Crow, Leo, and Arkley Related to Supreme Court Ethics Reform in Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, today announced 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 Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation. “The Supreme Court is in an … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Durbin Urges the Senate to Pass the "Minibus" and Fund the Government for the Sake of the American People
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass a package of three funding bills currently pending on the Senate floor, known as a “minibus,” which provides funding for military construction, as well as for the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2024 (FY24). Durbin said, “Bipartisan efforts are … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Durbin, Marshall Urge DOT, CFPB to Protect Consumers Against Unfair and Deceptive Practices in Airlines' Reward Programs
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) requested information from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about the actions they are taking to protect consumers against unfair and deceptive practices in airlines’ frequent flyer and loyalty programs. Millions of Americans participate in frequent flyer programs. While these … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Senate and House Judiciary Democrats Outline Necessary Due Process Reforms for Noncitizens in Immigration Detention Center
WASHINGTON - Today, lead Senate and House Judiciary Committee Democrats wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlining necessary reforms to current procedures fornoncitizens in immigration detention to improve access to due process. The letter is signed by the top Democrat on both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) - and top … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Durbin Calls Out House Republicans for Dangerous Effort to Block Reauthorization of AIDS Relief
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor emphasizing the positive impact of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved more than 25 million lives worldwide in conjunction with its companion effort, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. In his speech, Durbin criticized House Republicans for threatening to halt the reauthorization of PEPFAR despite the program’s effectiveness by … Continue Reading
October 30, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Require Insurers to Fully Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control, With No Out-Pf-Pocket Costs or Prescription Barrier
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with 42 of their Senate colleagues, in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill—the first-ever … Continue Reading
October 28, 2023
Durbin Statement on Tentative UAW-Stellantis Deal to Restart Belvidere Auto Plant with Addition of A Battery Facility
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement expressing his support for the tentative deal reached between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Stellantis, which includes restarting the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, as well as adding a battery plant to the facility: “From my very first meeting, and every one since, the President of UAW, Shawn Fain, made it clear that the future of Belvidere was a critical bargaining issue. He … Continue Reading
October 27, 2023
Durbin Speaks At EVBox's Launch Event for New Direct Current Fast Charger Technology
LIBERTYVILLE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited EVBox’s manufacturing facility to deliver remarks at the launch of its new direct current (DC) fast charger technology, known as Troniq Modular. “Today, electric vehicles are more than a vision of the future; they are a tangible reality—affordable, accessible, and efficient,” said Durbin. “With innovators like EVBox reimagining the future of refueling with its new direct current fast charger technology, more Americans can make the … Continue Reading
October 26, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Formally Welcomes Senator Laphonza Butler, Advances Four Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee formally welcomed Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) to the Committee, after it was announced that she would fill the seat left vacant following the passing of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Approved at today’s business meeting, Senator Butler is now Chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and filled Senator Feinstein’s three other subcommittee assignments on the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism; the … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Durbin, Warren, Lawmakeers Call on Corizon Health, INC. to Answer for Use of 'Texas Two-Step,' Evasion of Liability By Abusing Bankruptcy System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today sent a letter to Corizon Health, Inc.-affiliated companies Tehum Care Services, Inc. and YesCare Corporation (together, “Corizon”), condemning Corizon’s use of the Texas … Continue Reading
October 25, 2023
Durbin Hosts Senate, House Ukraine Caucus Chairs, Key Members to Discuss Support for Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Co-Chairs of the Senate and House Ukraine Caucus and additional key Members to discuss continued support for Ukraine, including President Biden’s emergency supplemental. In addition to Durbin and Wicker, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), as well as U.S. … Continue Reading
October 24, 2023
Durbin, Waters Introduce CLASS Act to Give Student Defrauded by For-Profit Colleges Their Day in Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) today reintroduced bicameral legislation designed to strengthen students’ ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act would enhance accountability for for-profit colleges and safeguard taxpayer dollars by prohibiting an institution of higher education from receiving Title IV federal student aid if … Continue Reading
October 23, 2023
Durbin Leads Colleagues in Letter to DOL Urging the Department to Hold Companies Accountable for Violating Child Labor Laws
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 11 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Department to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws. The letter follows a New York Times Magazine article that raised serious concerns about the influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children that are working long hours in dangerous conditions. In the letter, … Continue Reading
October 23, 2023
Durbin Leads Colleagues in Letter to DOL Urging the Department to Hold Companies Accountable for Violating Child Labor Laws
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 11 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Department to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws. The letter follows a New York Times Magazine article that raised serious concerns about the influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children that are working long hours in dangerous conditions. In the letter, … Continue Reading