Press Releases
Durbin Calls For Abolition Of Special Management Unit, Continued Reforms To Prevent Abuse At USP Thomson
BLOOMINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding new reports by The Marshall Project and NPR, as well as Washington Lawyers' Committee, of abuse at USP Thomson: "Throughout my congressional career, I've sought to address injustices facing incarcerated people and their families. Last summer, I was deeply disturbed by reports of abuses at USP Thomson. I called for an investigation, which the … Continue Reading
July 05, 2023
Durbin Discusses Preserving National Historical Sites With Looking For Lincoln Leaders
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Sarah Watson, Executive Director of Looking for Lincoln and the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA), and Dr. Collin Hitt, the Board Chair of Looking forLincoln, to discuss the importance of preserving national historical sites in Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin received an update on Looking for Lincoln's efforts to promote the story of recently-established New Philadelphia National Historical Site, … Continue Reading
July 05, 2023
Durbin Visits Simmons Cancer Institute To Discuss Nationwide Shortage Of Cancer Drugs
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today held a news conference at the Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU Medicine to discuss the shortage of life-saving drugs for cancer patients. Last month, Durbin urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use the Agency's authority to immediately address the ongoing shortage as it threatens the lives of patients nationwide. FDA has since agreed to import one of the drugs for which U.S. hospitals are … Continue Reading
July 04, 2023
Durbin Statement Marking One Year Since The Highland Park Shooting
HIGHLAND PARK - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement marking one year since the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois: "As we mark one year since the shooting in Highland Park, my sincerest condolences go to the families, friends, and loved ones of Katie Goldstein, Irina McCarthy, Kevin Michael McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sundheim, Nicolás Toledo, and Eduardo Uvaldo-as well as those who were injured or subjected to the trauma of … Continue Reading
June 30, 2023
Durbin, Graham Lead Bipartisan Judiciary Committee Letter To Mark Zuckerberg On Child Sexual Abuse Material On Instagram
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a bipartisan group of ten Judiciary Committee members in a letter to Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Meta, regarding recent reporting that Instagram's algorithm promotes and facilitates sexual interest in and activity with children, including the production and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse … Continue Reading
June 30, 2023
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Striking Down Biden Administration’s Student Loan Debt Relief Plan In Overreaching Decision
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in Biden v. Nebraska: "Today's ruling by the Supreme Court hurts the tens of millions of Americans who are plagued by student loan debt in pursuit of a quality education, particularly low-and middle-income borrowers and communities of color. Working families are buried in so much student debt that they can't afford to … Continue Reading
June 30, 2023
Durbin Statement On The Supreme Court Allowing Businesses To Discriminate Against LGBTQ+ Customers
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis: "It's shameful that the Supreme Court just issued a ruling that mistakes freedom of expression as a reason to deny service to LGBTQ+ people - on the final day of Pride Month. It's nothing short of a license to discriminate, signed by the highest court in the land. "Yet again, the … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Durbin Announces $6.3 Million For Rockford Mass Transit Electric Vehicles
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senator Durbin (D-IL) today announced $6.3 million in federal funding to help convert the Rockford Mass Transit District's (RMTD) fleet to electric vehicles. This funding comes from $2.3 million in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) Durbin secured in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and $4 million from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Low-No Emission Bus Grants Program, which Durbin pushed to … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Durbin Discusses Ukraine’s Future In The Eu & Nato With Chair Of The Verkhovna Rada
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today discussed Ukraine's future in the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) with Chair of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Ruslan Stefanchuk, ahead of the NATO Summit. Durbin will travel to Vilnius, Lithuania next week for the NATO Summit with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC), where he will express his support for Ukraine's future in the EU and … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Durbin, Padilla Ask Secretary Becerra For Answers Regarding Reports That Warnings Of Threats To The Safety And Well-Being Of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Were Dismissed
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 Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, sent a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra requesting information related to reports that HHS received warnings that unaccompanied children were being released from HHS custody into situations that presented a risk of labor exploitation and … Continue Reading
June 29, 2023
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Rejecting Affirmative Action In College Admissions
ROCKFORD - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court's ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. University of North Carolina: "I'm disappointed in the Supreme Court's ruling effectively barring the use of race as a factor in college admissions. The Court's conservative majority just upended … Continue Reading
June 28, 2023
Durbin Meets With March Fourth To Discuss Gun Violence Prevention Efforts
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with members of March Fourth, a gun violence prevention organization that was founded in the aftermath of the Highland Park shooting on July 4, 2022. "Next week marks one year since the horrific mass shooting at a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park. That gunman scarred a community for a lifetime, shooting more than 80 rounds in 60 seconds, at what was supposed to be a joyful … Continue Reading
June 28, 2023
Durbin Delivers Remarks On “Bidenomics” & Democratic Efforts To Grow The Middle Class
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks before President Joe Biden's address touting "Bidenomics" in Chicago. Durbin spoke about the sustained economic growth we've seen under the Biden Administration and how it is growing America's middle class, as well as how legislation passed last Congress-including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS and Science Act-is contributing to this growth. Key Durbin quotes: "Under President Joe … Continue Reading
June 28, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nomination Of April Perry To Serve As U.S. Attorney 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 April Perry to serve as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. "We are pleased that President Biden is nominating April Perry to serve as the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. She was highly regarded by our screening committee … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Durbin Statement On DOJ OIG Report On Death Of Jeffrey Epstein In BOP Custody
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General's (OIG) report on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) custody, care, and supervision of Jeffrey Epstein at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, New York: "I thank the Inspector General for conducting a thorough investigation that reiterates many concerns I have long raised … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Durbin Visits Genesis Medical Center To Address Health Care Workforce Shortages In Rural Illinois
ALEDO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference with Illinois health care leaders to highlight his "Roadmap to Grow Illinois' Rural Health Workforce." The partnership with hospitals, community health centers, medical and nursing schools, community colleges, dentists, physicians, and nurses will organize efforts and provide new funding to address health care workforce shortages and staffing crises in rural Illinois. The full Roadmap report can be viewed here. "For the … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Durbin Highlights Over $360,000 In Federal Funding For Amboy Fire Protection District
AMBOY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Amboy Fire Protection District to discuss the $361,000 in federal funding they received through his Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, legislation that authorized new funding for a grant program to directly support rural fire/EMS agencies. Funding can be used to train and recruit staff, conduct courses to satisfy certification requirements, and purchase equipment—everything from naloxone and first aid kits, to power … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Durbin, Cassidy Inform Consumers Act Goes Into Effect Today
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after their Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act went into effect today after passing as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that was signed into law in December. The legislation combats the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring … Continue Reading
June 27, 2023
Durbin Meets With Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal
ROCK ISLAND - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Rock Island County State's Attorney, Dora Villarreal, and other local attorneys to discuss criminal justice issues. During the meeting, they discussed mental health resources for kids who have witnessed traumatic events, support for restorative justice initiatives, and Durbin's efforts to protect kids online and combat child sex abuse material (CSAM). "I'm grateful to Rock Island … Continue Reading
June 26, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Billion in Federal Funding for Affordable, Reliable High-Speed Internet Infrastructure in Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,040,420,751 in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This funding will help to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed internet infrastructure to help close the digital divide across Illinois. Today's announcement is part of more than $42 billion announced nationwide to expand high-speed … Continue Reading