Press Releases
Durbin: Ukraine’s Future Is In The European Union And The Nato Alliance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting Ukraine's future as a member of the European Union and the NATO alliance. Durbin began his speech by reflecting on D-Day and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley's trip to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France last week. Durbin said, "In the audience were veterans-some over 100 years old-who … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce High Speed Rail Service From Chicago To St. Louis
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded the Illinois Department of Transportation’s new schedule changes for Amtrak’s Lincoln Service trains following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project. Having supported the testing and implementation of high-speed rail for more than two decades, Durbin secured roughly 80 percent of the project’s nearly $2 … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce High Speed Rail Service From Chicago To St. Louis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today applauded the Illinois Department of Transportation's new schedule changes for Amtrak's Lincoln Service trains following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project. Having supported the testing and implementation of high-speed rail for more than two decades, Durbin secured roughly 80 percent of the project's nearly $2 billion cost, including $1.66 … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
On World Day Against Child Labor, Durbin, Delauro Introduce Bill to Ban Child Labor on Tobacco Farms
WASHINGTON - In observation of World Day Against Child Labor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, including nicotine poisoning. The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or … Continue Reading
June 12, 2023
On World Day Against Child Labor, Durbin, Delauro Introduce Bill To Ban Child Labor On Tobacco Farms
WASHINGTON - In observation of World Day Against Child Labor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced legislation to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, including nicotine poisoning. The Children Don't Belong on Tobacco Farms Act amends the Fair Labor Standards Act to prohibit children under the age of 18 from working in tobacco fields and coming into direct contact with tobacco plants or … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Durbin, Boyle Introduce Bicameral Legislation To End Cycle Of Republican Default Brinkmanship
WASHINGTON - After Republicans manufactured another near catastrophic default crisis, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and House Budget Committee Ranking Member Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-02) introduced the Debt Ceiling Reform Act, legislation to permanently end the weaponization of the debt ceiling while protecting Congress's oversight responsibilities. The Debt Ceiling Reform Act authorizes the Treasury Department to continue paying … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Durbin Statement On Trump Indictment By The Justice Department In Classified Documents Case
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the indictment of former President Donald Trump by the Department of Justice on his alleged mishandling of classified documents he took when leaving office and then obstructing the government's efforts to reclaim them: "While this historic and very serious case continues to play out, Special Counsel Smith must be allowed to continue his … Continue Reading
June 09, 2023
Durbin Statement On Trump Indictment By The Justice Department In Classified Documents Case
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the indictment of former President Donald Trump by the Department of Justice on his alleged mishandling of classified documents he took when leaving office and then obstructing the government's efforts to reclaim them: "While this historic and very serious case continues to play out, Special Counsel Smith must be allowed to continue his … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Circuit Court Nominations To Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance two circuit court nominations to the full Senate: Judges Ana de Alba to the Ninth Circuit and Irma Carrillo Ramirez to the Fifth Circuit. "We continued our work advancing highly qualified, diverse candidates to lifetime appointments on the federal bench at our executive business meeting. The two nominees advanced today - including one who would be the first Latina to serve on the Fifth Circuit - are accomplished litigators … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Durbin Calls On His Colleagues To Support Bipartisan Package Of Bills To Protect Kids From Online Sexual Exploitation
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support a package of bipartisan bills that aim to stop the exploitation of children online. In his remarks, Durbin described how social media companies design their products to keep children hooked to their platforms, and discussed the serious, even deadly, harms that children face online, as well as the inadequate efforts of Big Tech … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Durbin, Warnock Statement On Supreme Court Decision Striking Down Alabama Congressional Map
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) today released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-4 decision that Alabama had diluted the power of Black voters and violated theVoting Rights Act by drawing a congressional voting map with a single district in which they made up a majority: "The Court's decision today to affirm decades of precedent and … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Durbin Joins Schatz, Pocan To Reintroduce Legislation To End Student Loan Debt Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) to reintroduce the Debt-Free College Act, legislation that will reverse the growing student debt crisis in the United States. The bill restores a path to an affordable college education by providing incentives to states through matching grants to increase investments in public higher education and providing students with debt-free college. "Americans … Continue Reading
June 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Pedro Pierluisi, to discuss the renewable energy investments underway on the island, critical workforce shortage issues, and the nutrition assistance limitations of the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP). They also discussed Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory and options for Puerto Ricans to determine their own political future. Last Congress, Durbin was a cosponsor of the Puerto Rican … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Durbin Questions District Court Nominees At Latest Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Loren AliKhan, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Susan DeClercq, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Julia Munley, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and Vernon Oliver, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing On District Court Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Loren AliKhan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Susan DeClercq, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Julia Munley, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; and Vernon Oliver, to be United States … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $34 Million For Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $34,248,791 million in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "This federal funding will help Illinois fortify its diverse array of health care programs that are dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of our residents," said Durbin. "From efforts to prevent … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $13 Million For Head Start Programs In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $13,306,253 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support Head Start services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. "This significant federal investment lays the groundwork for a lifetime of achievement for our children, bolstering their early learning, health, and overall … Continue Reading
June 07, 2023
Durbin, Marshall, Welch, Vance Introduce Bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), Peter Welch (D-VT), and J.D. Vance (R-OH) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Credit Card Competition Act of 2023, legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. Building off of debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, the … Continue Reading
June 06, 2023
Durbin Fires Back After Harlan Crow Refuses To Voluntarily Cooperate With Information Requests Regarding Gifts To Justice Thomas
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fired back after receiving a letter from a law firm representing Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow refusing to share key information regarding gifts and travel given to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. "Sadly, he [Harlan Crow]'s made it clear that he refuses to voluntarily cooperate. Harlan Crow has based this refusal on a dangerous, undemocratic argument … Continue Reading
June 06, 2023
Durbin Marks 10th Anniversary Of Hadiya Pendleton’s Death, Calls Out Republicans For Attempts To Dismantle Existing Gun Safety Laws
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, marked the 10th anniversary of the death of Chicago teenager Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot and killed outside a park on the South Side when she was only 15 years old. Stressing that gun deaths like Hadiya's are far too common in America, Durbin went on to denounce Republican efforts to weaken gun safety laws. "It was ten years ago roughly when the … Continue Reading