Durbin, Leahy Urge President Biden To End Lethal Force Outside Of War Zones, Revise Nation's Counterterrorism Policies

WASHINGTON - 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 sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to revise our nation's policy regarding use of lethal force. Over the course of the past three administrations, Durbin and Leahy have raised questions about the legal bases and consequences of lethal strikes. As the Biden administration is reported… Continue Reading

Ahead Of Vote On Debt Ceiling, Durbin: This Is About Paying For Donald Trump's Debt & Averting Economic Catastrophe

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their continued refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. During his speech, Durbin noted that raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with approving new spending-it's about paying off the spending the government has already incurred. Much of the debt that Republicans are… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Visit Little Village, Discuss Federal COVID-19 Relief Efforts With Small Business Owners

CHICAGO - 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 Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today met with the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders to discuss several federal programs that helped workers and small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators also visited area businesses including La Chiquita Grocery St… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Support Leading Rehab Facilities

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research and complex treatment. The Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act recognizes the unique role that a leading class of rehabilitation facilities play in our health care system, by driving innovative research for the entire field, providing medical training to… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Life and Legacy of Dr. Joanne Smith

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute on the Senate floor to medical visionary Dr. Joanne Smith, longtime President and CEO of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, who passed away this month. In his remarks, Durbin said Dr. Smith was a once-in-a-lifetime leader and a national treasure, whose brilliance, determination, and compassion reinvented the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. She created the world's first-ever "translational" research hospital for reh… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Nominations & Legislation

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Toby J. Heytens, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Patricia Tolliver Giles, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael S. Nachmanoff, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Sarala Vidya Nagala, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Omar Antonio Williams, to be United States District Judg… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy, Ossoff Introduce New Legislation To Terminate AUMFs No Later Than 10 Years After Entactment

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), today introduced new legislation-the Accountability for Endless Wars Act of 2021-to terminate authorizations for the use of military force (AUMFs) and declarations of war no later than 10 years after the enactment of such authorizations or declarations. AUMFs set the legal framework, parameters, and constitutional basis for the United States' military engagements. "Th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With CEO Climate Dialogue

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the CEO Climate Dialogue, a large group of companies and environmental groups that support carbon pricing as a means to combat climate change. During the meeting, Durbin spoke about his legislation, America's Clean Future Fund Act. Durbin's legislation would reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the U.S. transition to a green economy by leveraging revenue raised by a carbon fee to fund a new federal agency calle… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Director Of U.S. Marshals Service

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ronald Davis's nomination to serve as Director of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) by unanimous consent. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Davis's confirmation: "Ronald Davis is an experienced law enforcement veteran who will be ready on day one to lead the U.S. Marshals Service-which is why it was no surprise that he won the support of virt… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bill Gates: We Must Focus On Global Vaccine Equity

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, about global COVID-19 vaccination efforts and barriers to achieving the Global Vaccine Alliance's distribution goal of 1.9 billion shots, including supply shortages, vaccine hoarding, and inadequate health care infrastructure in many nations. In particular, Durbin and Gates discussed the importance of preparing for the next pandemic and establishing… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Police Reform Negotiations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding bipartisan police reform negotiations: "Senator Booker, for nine months, exhausted every possible pathway to get to a bipartisan deal on policing reform. Even after Senator Booker secured the support of policing groups such as FOP and IACP for our proposals, we could not win GOP support for the effort. The challenge remains despite his extraor… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Florence Pan To District Court Of D.C.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Florence Pan to the District Court for the District of Columbia ahead of her cloture vote on the Senate floor. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Pan's professional experience and the historic nature of her nomination. "This week, the Senate will vote on Florence Pan's nomination for the District Court for the District of Columbi… Continue Reading

Durbin: If We Want This Pandemic To End, More Americans Have To Roll Up Their Sleeves And Get Vaccinated

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting the growing death toll from COVID-19 and the necessity of more Americans getting vaccinated in order to put the pandemic behind us. Durbin shared the story of Springfield, Illinois, resident Candace Ayers, who tragically passed away from COVID-19 this month. Ayers was fully vaccinated, but contracted a breakthrough infection in Mississippi. In her obituary, Ayers family wrote she "… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets British Prime Minister Boris Johnson

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and a group of bipartisan Senators to welcome British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the U.S. Senate. The group discussed a host of bilateral and global issues, including climate change, the recent AUKUS security agreement, trade, and demonstrating a united front against global autocracy. "The United States has a special relationship with the United Kingdom," said Durbin. "Our… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Illinois Manufacturers' Association Members For Discussion On Industry Priorities

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined the Illinois Manufacturers' Association (IMA) for a discussion about workforce development, infrastructure legislation, trade, and immigration. Durbin provided an overview of proposed text in the upcoming reconciliation bill to implement key workforce provisions from President Biden's Build Back Better plan. Durbin went on to highlight the importance of immigration reform in building and maintaining the manufacturing workforc… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Health Priorities With President Preckwinkle, Cook County Health Leadership

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Health & Hospital System CEO Israel Rocha about their top health priorities in the upcoming budget reconciliation bill, including expanded Medicaid coverage for new moms, hospital infrastructure, and funding for public health. Durbin also received an update on efforts to increase vaccination rates in suburban Cook County. Heeding lessons from the COVID-19 pand… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Farm Bureau Members

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met virtually with Illinois Farm Bureau members. During the meeting, Durbin discussed agriculture priorities for Illinois' farmers, including the importance of enacting strong infrastructure investments like rural broadband, improving ethanol production, and strengthening the role of immigrant farmworkers in the agriculture sector. Durbin also listened to the… Continue Reading

Durbin: Instead Of Paying Their Tab, Senate Republicans Are Trying To Dine And Dash

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. During his speech, Durbin noted that raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with approving new spending-it's about paying off the spending the government has already incurred. Much of the debt that Republicans are threateni… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Veronica Rossman To The Tenth Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Veronica Rossman's nomination to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 50-42. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Rossman's confirmation: "With her extensive appellate experience in both private practice and as a federal public defender, Ms. Rossman will be an outstanding addition to the Tenth Circuit. As I have said man… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Push For Immigration Reform Is Not Over

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the Senate Parliamentarian's ruling on Senate Democrats' proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to Congressional Republicans' continued refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigratio… Continue Reading