Senate Judiciary Committee Announces Majority Witnesses for Hearing on the Equality Act

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee Majority released the names of witnesses who will testify before a full committee hearing entitled "The Equality Act: LGBTQ Rights are Human Rights" on legislation that codifies federal civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans. The hearing will take place tomorrow, March 17 at 10:00 AM ET in 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Panel I The Honorable Jeff Merkley United States Senator (D-OR) Washington, DC The Honorable Tammy Baldwin … Continue Reading

Durbin: USPS Service in Illinois and Across United States is in Chaos

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the policies of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, which have slowed down the United States Postal Service (USPS) and unacceptably decreased service for millions of Americans who rely on it. Many Americans continue to face unacceptable problems in postal delivery performance, which has affected prescription medication delivery, mortgage and utility bill payments, insurance policies, small busine… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today met virtually with the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss agriculture priorities in Illinois, including strengthening the future marketplace for biofuels, federal funds for modernizing Illinois' locks and dams, and the ongoing conservation practices and future opportunities for farmers in addressing climate change. "I had an informative meeting wit… Continue Reading

Durbin: America Must Lead Efforts to Address Global Vaccine Shortage

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke about how helping the global COVID-19 vaccine effort will ultimately help America stem the pandemic at home. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin praised the Biden Administration for ramping up production and distribution of vaccines in the United States, noting that weekly vaccine shipments to Illinois have nearly doubled since President Biden took office. He also shared concerns about coronavirus variants and warned th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Ask HUD to Examine Issues at Concordia Place Apartment Complex in Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today urged the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region Five Office to swiftly examine reported issues raised by residents of the Concordia Place Apartment complex on the south side of Chicago. In a letter to James A. Cunningham, the HUD Deputy Regional Administrator, Durbin, Duckworth, and Kelly highlighted news reports on the unsafe and unsanitary living … Continue Reading

Durbin: Republicans Have Beaten the Filibuster to the Point it is Hardly Recognizable

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again voiced his support for reform of the filibuster. Durbin argued that as filibusters and threatened filibusters have increased in recent decades-especially under Senator McConnell's leadership-real debate and bipartisan cooperation has plummeted. From 1917 to 1970, the Senate took 49 votes to break filibusters - fewer than one each year. Since 2010, it has taken the Senate, on average, mo… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Time is Now for Filibuster Reform

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today voiced his support for reform of the filibuster and called on his colleagues to join him in this effort. Durbin argued that there are many options of reform worth considering, including the "standing filibuster." "Today, nearly 65 years after Strom Thurmond's marathon defense of Jim Crow, the filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy. The filibuster is still being misused by some S… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Senate Colleagues to Support Vanita Gupta's Nomination to be Associate Attorney General at DOJ

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of Vanita Gupta's nomination to be U.S. Associate Attorney General, the number three position in the Justice Department. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin addressed a few of the false attacks that are being leveled against Gupta, including right-wing claims that she supports defunding the police. Nothing could be further from the truth-Gupta does not support defundin… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Agriculture Subcommittee Assignments for the 117th Congress

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will be a member of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade; the Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy; and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security. As a member of these three subcommittees, Durbin will focus on a variety of issues that directly impact Illinois agriculture, the rural economy, and farmers. "I am hono… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Immigration Reform with Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with the Illinois Coalition for Immigration and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and coalition groups. Durbin and the group discussed the urgency of passing immigration reform legislation. "I am committed to fixing our broken immigration system and working with the Biden-Harris Administration on a path forward-so that we can finally succeed after more than 30 years of unsuccessful effo… Continue Reading

What they are Saying: Dept. of Justice Nominees Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta Deserve Swift Confirmation Following Strong Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - In their testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta demonstrated clear commitment to restoring integrity and the rule of law at the Justice Department, combating white supremacy and domestic terrorism, boosting morale of the dedicated career professionals at DOJ, and building a more equitable justice system. Both of their nominations have received bipartisan support from lawmakers, legal experts, law enforcement, national security experts, and civi… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Mail Delays with the National Association of Letter Carriers

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinois leaders from the National Association of Letter Carriers and Illinois State Association of Letter Carriers. Durbin and the group discussed changes by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that have resulted in significant mail delays. "Our letter carriers are essential. They keep Americans connected to their community and small businesses running. Our postal workers deserve adequate leadership that he… Continue Reading

Durbin, Axne Lead Colleagues in Urging Treasury & IRS to Help Americans Take Advantage of Tax Exclusion for Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cindy Axne (D-IA-03) led a group of bicameral colleagues in urging Department of Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Charles Rettig to take every effort to ensure that individuals who received unemployment compensation in 2020 are able to utilize the tax exclusion that was included in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Durbin and Axne's legislation to provide tax reli… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Expansion of Illinois Community Health Centers Included in Federal Vaccination Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the expansion of Illinois Community Health Centers (CHCs) that will be eligible to directly receive vaccines through the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Federally Qualified Health Center Program for COVID-19 Vaccination. The program will expand its reach to 35 CHCs across Illinois. Vaccines sent to Illinois CHCs through this new federal program are in addition to the existing weekly federal … Continue Reading

Durbin, Cortez Masto Introduce Legislation to Allow Dreamers to Work in Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) this week introduced the American Dream Employment Act, legislation to rescind the current prohibition on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients working or participating in paid internships in Congress. "I have met hundreds of Dreamers who are giving back to their communities as teachers, nurses, engi… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights His Efforts to Bring Fairness, Transparency, and Competition to Credit & Debit Card Swipe Fees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Protection hearing titled, "Competition Policy for the Twenty-First Century: The Case for Antitrust Reform." During his statement, Durbin discussed his longstanding efforts to bring fairness, transparency and competition to credit and debit card interchange, or swipe, fees. The 201… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Climate Solutions at Agriculture Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing titled: "Farmers and Foresters: Opportunities to Lead in Tackling Climate Change." During the hearing, Durbin shared his interest in learning more about how the agriculture community is working to reduce carbon emissions and how that can be integrated with federal policies. Durbin also introduced John Reifsteck, CEO of GROWMARK in Bloomington, Illinois,… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Baltic Groups

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Illinoisans from the Illinois Lithuanian-American Community and the American Latvian Association during their Baltic Advocacy Week. Durbin and the group discussed the importance of Baltic security in the face of Russian aggression and influence, as well as human rights in the region. "Baltic roots run deep in Illinois, including in my own family. Three decades after these brave nations broke free from the Soviets… Continue Reading

Durbin Slams Dark Money Influence in Federal Courts & Voting Rights

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing titled, "What's Wrong with the Supreme Court: The Big-Money Assault on Our Judiciary." During his statement, Durbin expressed support for exposing and addressing the special-interest, dark money influence over the federal courts, elections, and voting rights. Durb… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Improve and Maintain Public Health Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and 14 Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the Public Health Infrastructure Saves Lives Act (PHISLA). The legislation would establish a new core public health infrastructure program, which ramps up to $4.5 billion in annual funding to bolster the nation's efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and strengthen its ability to respond to other public heal… Continue Reading