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

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $5 Million for Housing and Homeless Assistance in Northwest Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Northwest Illinois communities will receive a total of $5.7 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home," Durbin said. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Northwest Illinois, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $11 Million for Housing and Homeless Assistance in Central Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Central Illinois communities will receive a total of $11.7 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home," Durbin said. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Central Illinois, esp… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $8 Million for Housing and Homeless Assistance in the Metro East

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Metro East communities will receive a total of $8.5 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home," Durbin said. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout the Metro East, especially a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $168 Million for Housing and Homeless Assistance in the Chicagoland Area

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Chicagoland communities will receive a total of $168.8 million in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for affordable housing and homelessness programs. "Everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home," Durbin said. "These federal programs are critically important to addressing homelessness and housing insecurity throughout Chicagoland, especially a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Baldwin, Smith, Bustos Introduce Bill to Address Teaching Disparities in Low-Income Communities of Color

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), today introduced a bicameral bill that would address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impacts students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. Exacerbated by low pay, school leadership instability, and poor teaching conditions, schools in low-income communities… Continue Reading

Durbin to Republicans: Stop Lamenting & Start Working with Democrats to Fix our Broken Immigration System

WASHINGTON - As the Biden Administration seeks to address the backlog of migrant children seeking refuge at the U.S.-Mexico border, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to fix our broken immigration system. Durbin called out his colleagues on the other side of the aisle for lamenting the situation on the Senate floor, but refusing to roll up their sleeves and work with Democrats to… Continue Reading

On Bipartisan Basis, Senate Confirms Nomination of Merrick Garland to be Attorney General

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 the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be the next U.S. Attorney General by a bipartisan vote of 70-30: "Merrick Garland is determined to write a new chapter of public service in his life - and the Senate has finally given him that opportunity. He is the right person for this moment in history to lead the Department of Justice… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Invest in a Clean Climate Future and Spur Job Creation

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced the introduction of America's Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy. The bill would achieve critical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, facilitate a fair transition for workers from declining energy sectors, and renew America's commitment to remain a world leader in technology, innovation, and a sustainable future. The bill also would provide $50 billion in … Continue Reading