Senate Confirms Veronica Rossman To The Tenth Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Veronica Rossman's nomination to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 50-42. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Rossman's confirmation: "With her extensive appellate experience in both private practice and as a federal public defender, Ms. Rossman will be an outstanding addition to the Tenth Circuit. As I have said man… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Push For Immigration Reform Is Not Over

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the Senate Parliamentarian's ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to Congressional Republicans' continued refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigratio… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cantwell Urge DOJ And FAA To Toughen Actions Against Dangerous Airline Passengers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today sent separate letters to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in light of an increase in incidents involving unruly airline passengers. Nearly three-fourths of these incidents have reportedly been related to federal mask mandates and have put passe… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Introduction Of Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to announce the reintroduction of the Democracy for All Amendment. The constitutional amendment would overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision, as well as other alarming decisions around campaign finance that led to floods of corporate and dark money in politics and diminished the … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Biden Administration Refugee Admissions Goal For Fiscal Year 2022

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 refugee admissions target of 125,000. In April, Durbin led 33 of his Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden urging him to set a target of at least 125,000 refugee admissions in FY 2022 and to set the refugee admissions target at 62,500 for this fiscal year. The Administration has p… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Statement On Parliamentarian's Ruling Regarding Pathway To Legal Status Via Reconciliation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today released the following statement regarding the Parliamentarian's ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation: "We are deeply disappointed in the Parliam… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Announce Approval Of Retention Bonus For USP Thomson To Address Staffing Shortage

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has approved a 25 percent retention bonus for nearly all staff at USP Thomson that the lawmakers have been advocating for since August 2020. The approval comes amid an understaffing crisis at the facility worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and additional strain placed on current staff to a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Million To Support Mental Health Services In Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $1.02 million in federal funding for mental health awareness training and school-based mental health centers in the Chicago area. The funding, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to seven schools, health centers, and community organizations in Chicago and the suburbs. "Too many kids in … Continue Reading

Durbin, Angelina Jolie: We Must Reauthorize The Violence Against Women Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday met with Angelina Jolie, Special Envoy to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. During their meeting, Durbin and Jolie discussed the future of the Violence Against Woman Act (VAWA) and the need to strengthen services and protections for survivors of domestic abuse. "The Violence Against Women Act is a lifeline for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault," said Du… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray And Inspector General Horowitz On FBI's Mishandling Of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy in… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray and Inspector General Horowitz on FBI's Mishandling of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy i… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Gymnasts for Powerful testimony at Judiciary Committee Hearing on FBI's Mishandling of Nassar Abuse Case

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, commended elite gymnastic athletes Simone Biles, McKayla Maroney, Maggie Nichols, and Aly Raisman for their powerful testimony and willingness to share their stories of abuse by Larry Nassar. Durbin promised that the Sen… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing on FBI's Dereliction of Duty in Larry Nassar Case

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation." A recent Department of Justice Inspector General report documented the FBI's failure to properly investigate reports that Larry Nassar was assaulting young athletes, which enabled the continued abuse of dozens of a… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Delegation, Discusses U.S. Support For Baltic States

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today met with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and visiting Lithuanian delegates including former Ambassador to the U.S. and current member of the Seimas MP Žygimantas Pavilionis, current member of the Seimas MP Emanuelis Zingeris, and Ambassador Audra Plepyt?. The Lithuanian delegation shared a letter from Viktorija ?milyt?-Nielsen, the current Speaker of the Se… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Office Of National Drug Control Policy Nominee Dr. Rahul Gupta In Judiciary Committee 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 Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominated to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), about his work addressing the opioid crisis in America. "I was struck by the fact that you didn't head to the bright lights in your life. You headed to the communities that needed your help and many times chose rural areas and p… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Judiciary Committee 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 Jennifer Sung, nominated to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, about her background and experience as a member of Oregon's Employment Relations Board. "You have been an appointed member of the Oregon Employment Relations Board since 2017…of the approximately 200 matters you have presided over, you have… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Solicitor General, ONDCP, And Judicial Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General of the United States; Justice Beth Robinson to be a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Jennifer Sung to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Dr. Rahul Gupta to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Durbin said that the nominees … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Heroes Of 9/11 And Urges Colleagues To Confront Domestic Terrorism

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the heroes of 9/11 and urged his Senate colleagues to confront the threat of homegrown domestic terrorism. Durbin shared the stories of Illinoisans who lost their lives on 9/11 - Dan Shanower, a Navy Officer at the Pentagon, and Todd Beamer, a passenger on United Flight 93. Durbin recalled how in the days that followed the 9/11 attacks, Americans were sustained by acts of heroism, sacrifice, … Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Acting FDA Commissioner Woodcock To Finish Review Of E-Cigarette Products

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Acting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Janet Woodcock to receive an update on yesterday's announcement that FDA has rejected millions of e-cigarette applications for failing to show a public health benefit, but would delay a final decision on whether or not e-cigarette top sellers - like JUUL - can remain on the market. Durbin pressed Woodcock for swift action on JUUL and other flavored e-cigarette produc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Lightfoot Announce $55 Million In New Markets Tax Credits For Chicago Development Fund

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, today announced that the Chicago Development Fund has been awarded $55 million in New Markets Tax Credits from the U.S. Treasury Department to invest in projects and businesses in low-income communities in Chicago. The New Markets Tax Credit Program, established by Congress in December 2000, helps economically distressed communities attract private investment capital and fill projec… Continue Reading