Senators Durbin, Menendez, Portman Lead Letter Urging Biden Administration To Designate Ukraine For Temporary Protected Status

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus; U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today led 39 Senators in a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to grant Temporary Protected Statu… Continue Reading

Feinstein, Durbin, Grassley Call For Additional Information On FBI's Response To Nassar Case

Washington-Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and a bipartisan group of Senate Judiciary Committee members today called on FBI Director Christopher Wray to provide additional details about the FBI's approach to child sex abuse cases following its failures to properly investigate the Larry Nassar case. In November, the senators sent letters to the FBI and Office of the Inspector General following the OIG's investigation into the … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden announced his intention to nominate D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson-former clerk to Justice Stephen Breyer-to be the next Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court: "From a strong list of prospective candidates, President Biden has chosen an extraordinary nominee in D.C. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. To … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Russian Invasion Of Ukraine

CHICAGO-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine: "Let me be clear: Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine's sovereign land is a dire threat to the established international order and must be resolutely deterred. Ukraine and our NATO allies facing ongoing Russian belligerence have strong bipartisan, bicameral support in the U.S. Congress. As someone who has strong ties to the region, my prayers are wit… Continue Reading

Durbin in Poland, Lithuania to Discuss Russian Aggression, Support for Baltic States & NATO

WARSAW-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and the Baltic Freedom Caucus, is in Warsaw, Poland, today as part of travel to two eastern European nations to discuss Russian aggression and interference in western democracies, and congressional support for the transatlantic relationship and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Durbin was joined by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in Warsaw for meetings with senio… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Announce $1.8 Million Grant For Metrolink To Expand Ferry Service

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today announced that Rock Island County will receive $1,850,000 in federal funding to expand MetroLINK's passenger ferry service. The funding, awarded by the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Passenger Ferry Grant Program, will support the construction of a terminal near the newly developed "Bend District" on the Mississippi River in East Moline, Illinois. The new terminal… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin Led, Duckworth Cosponsored Resolution Showing Bipartisan Support For Ukraine Against Russian Aggression

WASHINGTON - Yesterday evening, the U.S. Senate voted unanimously in support of a bipartisan resolution led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip and Senate Ukraine Caucus Co-Chair Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Rob Portman (R-OH), and John Cornyn (R-TX). U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined as a cosponsor of the resolution in support of Ukraine in the face of increased Russian aggression. The resolution is a renewed bipartisan message from the U.S. Senate in fierce sup… Continue Reading

Durbin, Manchin, Barrasso, And Blackburn Introduce DOE Science For The Future Act Of 2022

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, John Barrasso (R-WY), Ranking Member of the Committee, and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Department of Energy (DOE) Science for the Future Act of 2022. This bipartisan legislation strengthens our nation's investment in world-leading scientific research by providing the first-ever comprehensive authorization for the DOE's Office of Sc… Continue Reading

Durbin To Join Congressional Delegation To Munich Security Conference

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) will join Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and 12 of his Senate colleagues in a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to this weekend's Munich Security Conference (MSC) amid increased Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. The MSC is widely considered the world's leading forum for international security policy. The conference is a "marketplace of ideas" where initiatives and solutions are dev… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through March 11th: "The CR that passed the Senate today is essential to keeping the government funded. However, we cannot keep kicking the can down the road - we need a comprehensive funding package. It is time for Congress to step up to the plate and mak… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Introduce Bill To Expand Mental Health Support For Survivors, First Responders After Emergencies & Disasters

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC), introduced the Post-Disaster Mental Health Response Act, bipartisan legislation that would expand eligibility for FEMA's Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP). CCP provides short-term mental health and trauma support resources for survivors and first responders. Currently, support through thi… Continue Reading

Durbin: If Republicans Were Serious About Violent Crime, They Would Get Serious About The January 6 Insurrection

WASHINGTON - Responding to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today condemned the Republican Party's hypocrisy on combating violent crime. "We are going through regular-sometimes daily, sometimes weekly-lectures from the Republicans about who's soft on crime," Durbin said. "Every single nominee that comes from the Biden White House is subject to being challenged as to wheth… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen, Portman Reaffirm Bipartisan Support For Ukraine, Lead New Resolution In Support Of Democratic Partners

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, led a bipartisan group of Senators, including Senate Foreign Relations Chairman and Ranking Member, Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), on a new, bipartisan resolution in support of Ukraine ami… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Approving $415 Million In New Borrower Defense Relief For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education approved more than 15,000 borrower defense claims for students defrauded by for-profit colleges totaling $415 million. This includes students who attended DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute's nursing program, and Minnesota School of Business/Globe University following approval of four new findings and the continued review of borrower defense c… Continue Reading

Senate Republican Blocks Durbin, Democrats' Attempts To Fill Critical Law Enforcement Positions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today requested unanimous consent to approve the nominations of six U.S. Attorney (USA) nominees and two U.S. Marshal (USM) nominees. USAs and USMs play a critical role in enforcing the law, promoting public safety, and protecting our communities. Despite their eminent qualifications and critical role in protecting our communities, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) objected to the unanimous consent… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Sherilyn Peace Garnett, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; and Trina L. Thompson, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. During the… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks With Acting NIH Director Dr. Tabak, Discusses Medical Research Funding, ACT for ALS Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dr. Larry Tabak, who has served in the position since December 2021 when former director Dr. Francis Collins stepped down. During their meeting, Durbin urged Dr. Tabak to begin implementing the new grant programs and partnerships authorized under ACT for ALS, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Biden late last year. The legislatio… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Nominations Hearing

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 Sherilyn Peace Garnett, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Nina Morrison, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York; Trina L. Thompson, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of California; and Paul Monteiro… Continue Reading

Durbin Responds To Senator Johnson Withholding Blue Slip For Eastern District Of Wisconsin Nominee

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, addressed a statement that Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) issued last night indicating he would not return a blue slip on Judge William Pocan, nominated to the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Judge Pocan was scheduled to appear at today's hearing, but the traditional practice of the Committee is not to proceed with hearings on district cou… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer, McConnell, Thune, Reed, Inhofe, Brown, Toomey, Menendez, Risch, Warner, Rubio Message Of Solidarity With The People Of Ukraine

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-SD), Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Senate Banking Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-ID), a… Continue Reading