Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate 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 Judge Dana Douglas, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Bradley Garcia, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Durbin focused his questions on differentiating between advocating for a client in private practice and the impartiality of a judge. "You ha… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan CHIPS And Science Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research capabilities: "America needs to be at the forefront of innovation and scientific research once again. This once-in-a-generation, bipartisan bill makes strategic investments to boost … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Nominations Hearing

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 Dana M. Douglas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Bradley N. Garcia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Frances Kay Behm, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Jerry W. Blackwell, to be United States Dis… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Federal Cannabis Policy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled "Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level: Necessary Steps to Address Past Harms." Durbin first commended Weldon Angelos, President and Co-Founder of The Weldon Project, for sharing his experience as someone who has been personally impacted by the "war on drugs," and for … Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Smith Press Fidelity On Bitcoin Exposure To Retirement Funds

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) requested answers from Fidelity Investments on their decision to allow 401(k) plan sponsors to offer plan participants exposure to Bitcoin, a highly volatile and unregulated digital asset. Fidelity is one of the largest 401(k) providers with around 40 million individual investors and around $11.3 trillion in assets under administration. The letter said in part, "we write to… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Decriminalizing Cannabis At The Federal Level

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled "Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level: Necessary Steps to Address Past Harms." Key Quotes: "There has been a sea change in the way cannabis has been addressed throughout this country. Thirty-eight states have now legalized the medical use [of cannabis]… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Congress To Extend ACA Tax Credits

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to extend the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) tax credits-which eliminated or reduced out-of-pocket premiums for millions of people. If Congress doesn't act soon, these tax credits will expire at the end of the year. Thanks to Democrats, who all supported the American Rescue Plan, a record 14.5 million people signed up for ACA plans during the 2022 open enrollment period. Durbin sai… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy Call On Administration To Take An Unequivocal Position Against The Use of Torture-Derived Evidence

WASHINGTON - In response to a new letter from the Biden Administration, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released a joint statement expressing disappointment with the Administration for failing to take a firm and unequivocal position against the use of torture-derived evidence: "This is not a difficult question: Are we going to stand on principle and r… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat America's Gun Violence Epidemic Poses To Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Law Enforcement Officer Safety: Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve." The hearing focused on the threat that our nation's gun violence epidemic poses to law enforcement officers. Firearm-related fatalities were the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in 2021 after COVID-19, according to the National Law Enforcement O… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Officer Ella Grace French Task Force Support Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Officer Ella Grace French Task Force Support Act of 2022, legislation that would authorize the use of Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhood funds to support multi-jurisdictional task forces that investigate and disrupt illicit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking activity. The bill is named after Chicago Police Officer Ella Grace French, who was tragically shot… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat America's Gun Violence Epidemic Poses To Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Law Enforcement Officer Safety: Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve." The hearing focuses on the threat that our nation's gun violence epidemic poses to law enforcement officers. Firearm-related fatalities were the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in 2021 after COVID-19, according to the National … Continue Reading

Chicago Law Enforcement Leader To Congress: Protecting Officers From Shootings Must Be A Priority

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Chicago Police Department Chief of Constitutional Policing and Reform Angel Novalez's prepared testimony during today's hearing entitled "Law Enforcement Officer Safety: Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve." A 21-year member of the Department, Chief Novalez previously served as deputy chief of Community Policing, the commanding officer of the Neighborhood Policing Initiative, and as a watch operations lieutenant in the 25th (Grand Central) … Continue Reading

Durbin: Instead Of Calming The January 6 Insurrection, Donald Trump Poured Gasoline On The Fire

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the revelations the bipartisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol has shared in its eight recent public hearings. Specifically, Durbin referenced the evidence that former President Donald Trump knowingly stood by during the attack, which threatened the lives of Members of Congress, law enforcement, and staff. … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Colleagues To Protect A Woman's Right To Access Critical Reproductive Care

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the conservative Supreme Court's majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade. In the speech, Durbin continued to call on his colleagues to support enshrining into law a statutory right to an abortion. Durbin also highlighted various instances where an abortion is necessary, including a 10-year-old… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi, Newman Urge Surface Transportation Board To Oppose Canadian Pacific And Kansas City Southern Rail Merger

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to oppose the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad merger as proposed because of concerns about noise pollution, blocked crossings, safety conditions, and commuter rail delays. "We write to express our… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi, Newman Urge Surface Transportation Board To Oppose Canadian Pacific And Kansas City Southern Rail Merger

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-8) and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Martin Oberman urging the STB to oppose the Canadian Pacific (CP) and Kansas City Southern (KCS) railroad merger as proposed because of concerns about noise pollution, blocked crossings, safety conditions, and commuter rail delays. "We write to express our… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Markey, Colleagues In Expressing Support For FDA's Proposed Ban On Menthol Cigarettes And Flavored Cigars

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA) and 18 of their colleagues sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in support of FDA rules proposed earlier this year that would ban menthol in cigarettes and flavored cigars. Menthol numbs the throat and masks the harshness of tobacco smoke, making menthol cigarettes more appealing to youth and people beginning to smoke. "By increasing youth smoking and making cessation … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1 Million For Chicago River Habitat Restoration And Conservation Efforts

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined officials from the Shedd Aquarium and Chicago Park District to announce $1 million in new federal funding he secured in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill to address habitat restoration and conservation needs in the polluted ecosystem on the South Branch of the Chicago River-commonly known as "Bubbly Creek." "For more than 100 years, this area was a dumping ground for animal waste, industrial waste, and sewage from the … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $49 Million for Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $49,068,220 for a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "With this robust federal funding, Illinois can invest in its wide-range of initiatives and programs aimed at keeping residents healthy. From efforts to end the HIV epidemic to treating Alzheimer's, these programs provide a vital service to Illinoisans through the toughest times … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $12.2 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $12,245,863 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from vascular diseases to mental health research. "Federal investments in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us new treatm… Continue Reading