Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the Paycheck Fairness Act: "The Paycheck Fairness Act would close loopholes that allow for pay discrimination and empower women to hold employers accountable when they're being underpaid. Senate Republicans blocked this common sense measure from consideration. The women who helped carry America's families through this pandemic should not have to wait any longe… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan U.S. Innovation And Competition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate voted to pass the bipartisan U.S. Innovation and Competition Act of 2021. The legislation represents the largest investment in U.S. science and technology leadership since the Apollo era. It will authorize more than $100 billion over five years to support breakthrough scientific discovery and technological innovation in 10 key areas that are vital to building an innovation economy … Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Confirmation Of Biden's First Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed, on a bipartisan basis, the nominations of Julien Xavier Neals, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; and Regina M. Rodriguez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. These are the first judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate during the Biden Administration. Mr. Neals was co… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Joins Gillibrand To Announce New Legislation To Clean Up PFAS At Military Installations With Highest Levels Of Contamination
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to introduce the Filthy Fifty Act, legislation directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to identify and clean up per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at U.S. military installations with some of the highest detections across the country. The hundreds of contaminated military sites across the country jeopardize the health, safety, and well-being of military communities who have suffere… Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Questions Secretary Of State Blinken On Afghanisatn
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the State Department's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Request, questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the United States' policy towards Afghanistan in the future. "It appears the Taliban is going to be a political force there. There is also a government in place. I'm not quite sure if there is any accommodation between them going on or expected," Durbin said. "I think … Continue Reading
06.08.21
Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support President Biden's First Judicial Nominees On The Floor Today
WASHINGTON - Ahead of their confirmation votes on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his Senate colleagues to support the nominations of Julien Xavier Neals, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; and Regina M. Rodriguez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. These will be the first judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate during the Biden Administration. In… Continue Reading
06.07.21
Durbin Urges Senate To Pass Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide a path to lawful permanent residency for undocumented farmworkers and their family members. During the speech, Durbin thanked the countless farmworkers who have kept American families fed durin… Continue Reading
06.04.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Announce $372,000 In CARES Act Funding For Southland Development Authority
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced that the Southland Development Authority in Cook County, Illinois, has been awarded $372,500 in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's funding will support the Southland Equitable Recovery Stimulus Program, which will provide businesses with immediate pandemic recovery ass… Continue Reading
06.04.21
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Senators In Bipartisan Request For Additional C-130J Aircraft
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), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support the additional procurement of at least eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of the modernization effort for the Air National Guard in the Fiscal year (FY) 2022 Defense Appropria… Continue Reading
06.03.21
Durbin, Duckworth Join 18 Senators In Calling On Federal Agencies To Share Data, Work Together To Expand Access To High-Speed Internet
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in leading a group of 17 additional Senators in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to share data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and work together to improve broadband connectivity. "The COV… Continue Reading
06.03.21
Durbin, Wicker Request Strong FY22 DOD Medical Research Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), are urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to uphold its commitment to our nation's service members by providing at least $2.89 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Health Program's Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) account. "Such an allocation will build upon an exempla… Continue Reading
06.02.21
Durbin Statement On Termination Of Cruel "Remain In Mexico" Policy
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas announced the termination of the former administration's Remain in Mexico policy. Under the Trump Administration, the policy-deceptively named Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)-blocked vulnerable asylum seekers from being in the U.S. while they awaited immigration court hearings, forcing them to wait in … Continue Reading
05.31.21
Durbin Releases Statement Observing Memorial Day, Thanks Servicemembers And Their Families
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a video statement in observance of Memorial Day and the service of military members and their families, who have made immense sacrifices for their country. "While no words, symbols, or memorials can adequately express our nation's debt to all who have lost their lives to defend our liberties, we take this time to honor their service and sacrifice to our country," said Durbin. "This Memorial Day, when thousands of American… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Durbin Statement On President Biden's FY2022 Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget proposal: "If America wants to lead in the 21st century, we can't be afraid of investments in our people. With this budget, President Biden prepares workers for the jobs of the future, rebuilds our infrastructure, gives families and children a foundation for success, and protects our… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of Bipartisan January 6 Commission
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against the motion to proceed to the bill to create the bipartisan January 6 Commission: "An insurrection without consequences-without even a proper investigation-is a dress rehearsal for another insurrection. When the Capitol police-who protect us with their lives-ask for this commission, we are ingrates to refuse. "There sh… Continue Reading
05.28.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Introduce Bill To Update Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced a bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards to reflect the stricter criteria outlined in a 2016 EPA study. Under the bill, any updates to the emissions standards would have to incorporate the maximum achievable control technology requirements to exhaust… Continue Reading
05.27.21
Durbin: An Insurrection Without Consequences Or Examination Is A Dress Rehearsal For The Next Insurrection
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan January 6 Commission, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that the bipartisan Commission is necessary in order to prevent Trump loyalists from rewriting the reality of what happened on January 6, 2021, and to honor the brave law enforcement officers who defended … Continue Reading
05.26.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Safe Gun Storage Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) to introduce legislation directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for firearm locks and firearm safes. "Too many families and friends have mourned a loved one lost to gun violence. Congress must step up and finally address this issue for what it is - an epidemic," said Durbin. "With this l… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Durbin Discusses Water And Mobility With USAID Administrator Power
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing about the success of the Paul Simon Water for the World Act. Durbin said that over the last 11 years, USAID helped provide approximately 57 million people with either improved or first time access to clean water and more than… Continue Reading
05.26.21
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Day"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate establishing June 4, 2021, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) has introduced a companion resolution in the House. Last year was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, with an estimated 19,300 individuals killed in gun homi… Continue Reading