Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nomination of Jeffrey Cummings & Lashonda Hunt to Serve As District Court Judges For the Northern District Of Illinois
CHICAGO - 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 White House announced its intent to nominate Jeffrey Cummings and LaShonda Hunt to serve as District Court Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Jeffrey Cummings and Judge LaShonda Hunt to fill judicial vacancies for the N… Continue Reading
01.18.23
Durbin Visit Bloomington-Normal Connect Transit to Celebrate 15.8 Million in Federal Funding For Electric Vehicles
NORMAL – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Connect Transit, the Bloomington-Normal Transit Agency, to celebrate the $15.8 million in federal funding they received from the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations bill and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to help convert the agency’s transit fleet to electric vehicles. With this earmark and grant funding, more than 50 percent of Connect Transit’s fleet will be electric by 2024. “The green technology that is ad… Continue Reading
01.17.23
Durbin Visits Sangamon Mass Transit District to Celebrate $5.9 Million in Federal Funding From Department of Transportation's Low-No Emissions Bus Program
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) to celebrate the $5.9 million in federal funding they received from the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Low-No Emissions Bus Program. This federal funding will allow SMTD to replace eight of their diesel buses with four natural gas buses and four hybrid electric/diesel buses. "Low emission vehicles are quickly becoming the backbone of our nation's infrastructure," said Durbin. "With publi… Continue Reading
01.12.23
Durbin Statement On The Appointment of A Special Counsel to Investigate Classified Documents
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Attorney General's appointment of Robert Hur as Special Counsel to investigate the reported discovery of classified documents at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, D.C. and the Bidens' personal residence in Wilmington, Delaware: "Attorney General Garland has committed to avoiding even the appearance of politicization at the Justice Department, … Continue Reading
01.12.23
Durbin Urges President Biden to Revoke Former President Bolsonaro's U.S. Visa Following Attacks on Brazil's Government Institutions
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to review the U.S. visa of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who is now in Florida, after his supporters stormed and ransacked Brazil's Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace in an attempt to undermine the recent free and fair election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Durbin also announced plans t… Continue Reading
01.12.23
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on U.S. Attorney John Lausch's Decision to Step Down
CHICAGO - 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 it was announced that United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch will leave the Justice Department early this year: "We thank U.S. Attorney Lausch for serving the Northern District of Illinois with professionalism and without partisanship for the last five years. Although Mr. Lausch … Continue Reading
01.11.23
Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues Joint Statement on Further Democratic Backsliding in Bolivia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Jim Risch (R-ID) released the following joint statement on continued democratic backsliding in Bolivia, including the continued jailing of interim president Jeanine Áñez and recent arrest of local governor and opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho: "Bolivian President Luis Arce is facing a critical test of democratic lea… Continue Reading
01.10.23
Durbin Statement on Classified Documents Found At Penn Biden Center
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports that Attorney General Merrick Garland has assigned U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to review the discovery of classified documents from the Obama-Biden Administration at the Penn Biden Center, a Washington, D.C. based think tank: "I applaud President Biden and Attorney General Garland for their professional, no… Continue Reading
01.05.23
Durbin Statement on Biden Admin's New Expanded Legal Migration & Border Enforcement Actions
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Biden-Harris Administration announcing new expanded legal migration options and border enforcement actions: "Congressional Republicans who have repeatedly obstructed bipartisan immigration reform leave President Biden with no choice but to use the authorities he has under current law to establish a more orderly process at our southern border. I s… Continue Reading
01.03.23
Congress Passes Durbin, Duckworth Bill to Create National Heritage Area in Chicago's Bronzeville Community
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that at the conclusion of the 117th Congress, Congress passed their legislation to create a National Park Service (NPS) National Heritage Area in the greater Bronzeville community of Chicago. The Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Actwill create a National Heritage Area from 18th Street to the North, 71st Street to the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and Canal Str… Continue Reading
01.03.23
Durbin, Pressley Call on DOJ to Rescind Trump Administration's Federal Execution Amendments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), submitted a comment letter in response to a Department of Justice (DOJ) Request for Information (RFI) regarding the regulations governing federal executions. The comment letter urges DOJ to rescind all of the Trump Administration's November 27, 2020, amendments to the manner of execution regulations. These amendments allowed former Attorney General … Continue Reading
01.03.23
Durbin Welcomes New Democratic U.S. Senators
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the swearing in of the two new Democratic U.S. Senators: Peter Welch (D-VT) and John Fetterman (D-PA). "It is an honor to welcome Peter Welch and John Fetterman as newly sworn-in Democratic Senators to Washington. They bring new energy, ideas, and a unique experience in public service to our efforts to address the issues facing our nation. I look forward to working with them in the 1… Continue Reading
01.03.23
Durbin Statement on Swearing in of Tammy Duckworth to Second Term in the U.S. Senate
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today accompanied U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) onto the floor of the U.S. Senate for her swearing in ceremony. Duckworth was sworn-in by Vice President Kamala Harris for her second term as a Senator from Illinois. "It was my honor to accompany Senator Duckworth to her swearing-in ceremony to serve a second term as a U.S. Senator. Having first met Senator Duckworth while she was recovering from her combat injuries at Walter Reed,… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin Statement On Senate Dems’ Success In Confirming Highly Qualified Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Judiciary Committee's and Senate Democrats' efforts to bring balance to the courts and confirm highly qualified judicial nominees during the 117th Congress. At the close of this Congress, the Senate has confirmed 97 lifetime judicial appointments, including one to the Supreme Court, 28 to the circuit courts, and 68 to the district courts-better… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin, Duckworth Secure $182 Million For Illinois Projects In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
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) secured more than $182 million through Congressionally-directed spending for Illinois projects in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives. "This appropriations package makes significant investments in the future of Illinois," Durbin said. "The use of Congress… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin, King, Smith, And Sinema Secure $12 Million For Open Textbook Pilot Program In Senate Appropriations Committee Annual Spending Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) today announced the inclusion of $12 million for the Open Textbook Pilot Program in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill. "With the already high costs of tuition, many students cannot afford to purchase expensive required textbooks for their coursework," said Durbin. "Open textbooks are a … Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin Secures $6.25 Million In Funding For Chicago HEAL Initiative In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that he helped secure $6.25 million in federal funding for projects to prevent gun violence and improve health and wellbeing under the Chicago HEAL Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives. "The Chicago HEAL Initiative is a community-wide effort that focuses on offering su… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Senate Passes Spending Bill With Key Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the millions in federal funding he secured for Illinois programs and priorities in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill. The bill, which passed the Senate, is awaiting passage in the House of Representatives. "After long bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, the Senate came together to pass a comprehensive spending bill that funds the federal government t… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin, Grassley Bipartisan Bill To Broaden War Crimes Jurisdiction To Become Law
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, applaud House passage of their 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 the location or targets of their atrocities. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for certain war crimes. Passage of the bill comes aft… Continue Reading
12.22.22
Durbin, Cassidy Applaud Senate Passage Of Their Inform Consumers Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) applauded Senate passage of their Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. The legislation, which passed as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act, will combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring transparency of high-volume third-party sellers in online retail marketpl… Continue Reading