Press Releases
Durbin, Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Address the Rise in Threats Targeting Election Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, today introduced comprehensive legislation to address the rise in threats targeting election workers. The Election Worker Protection Act would provide states with the resources to recruit and train election workers and ensure these workers' safety, while also instituting federal safeguards to shield … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Durbin, Rubio, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Ban U.S. Recognition of Any Ukrainian Territory Annexed By Russia
WASHINGTON - In order to bolster support for Ukraine and defend against efforts to force Ukraine to give up its sovereign territory, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in introducing the Non-Recognition of Russian Annexation of Ukrainian Territory Act. The bill would require U.S. policy to not recognize any Russian claim of sovereignty over … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Durbin Meets with Nominee To Be Archivist of The United States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Dr. Colleen Shogan, nominee to be Archivist of the United States to administrate over the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Dr. Shogan's nomination has gained national attention after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence forclassified documents following NARA's discovery of classified materials … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Durbin, Colleagues Urge President Biden To Fully Fund Hurricane Relief in Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and 11 of his colleagues in a letter to President Biden asking him to waive any local cost-share for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aid to Puerto Rico. On September 18, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Puerto Rico, cutting off power to the entire island and leaving many areas under water. That same day, President Biden approved an emergency declaration to authorize the Department … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Senate Republicans Filibuster DISCLOSE Act
WASHINGTON - Today, Senate Republicans filibustered the DISCLOSE Act, legislation to combat the flood of anonymous special interest spending in American politics. The bill would require organizations spending money in federal elections to disclose their donors, allowing the American people to see who is attempting to sway their elections and gain control over their government. Durbin is a cosponsor of this legislation. Ahead of today's cloture vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin … Continue Reading
September 22, 2022
Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Journalism Competition and Preservation Act
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced Thomas E. Brown, to be United States Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia, and Kirk M. Taylor, to be United States Marshal for the District of Colorado, by voice vote. The Committee also advanced S. 673, the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), sponsored by Senators Klobuchar and Kennedy. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Judiciary Committee and cosponsor of the JCPA, released the … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
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 Julie Rikelman, nominee to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit, and Maria Araújo Kahn, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. Durbin began his questioning by asking Ms. Rikelman about her role as lead litigator in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. "You have spent half of your career … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Durbin, Graham, Shaheen, Portman Meet with Ukranian Prosecutor General
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin to receive an update on Putin's unprovoked war in Ukraine, and specifically on reports of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Russians. Durbin was also joined by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). "Perpetrators committing unspeakable war crimes, such … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Following Devastating Flooding in Pakistan, Durbin Joins Colleagues in Calling on President Biden to Designate Pakistan for Temporary Protected Status
WASHINGTON - Following unprecedented flooding that has left one-third of Pakistan underwater and affected approximately 33 million people, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and 10 of their Senate colleagues in writing a letter calling on President Biden to consider designating Pakistan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Such TPSdesignation would allow Pakistani nationals who are already in the … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
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 Maria Araújo Kahn, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Julie Rikelman, to be the U.S. Circuit Judge for the First Circuit; Margaret R. Guzman, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Araceli Martínez-Olguín, to be U.S. District Judge for the … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Durbin: Why Is It That When Republicans Want to Make A Point About Immigration, It Always Ends up Being The Children Who Are The Pawns?
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) failure to engage on immigration reform while migrant families are forcibly bused across the United States by Republican governors. Durbin reminded McConnell, who moments before had argued for improved legal immigration, that he voted against the last bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform … Continue Reading
September 21, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $1 Million in Pollution Prevention Grants for University of Illinois System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,049,196 awarded to the University of Illinois System by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic $100 million program investment. These pollution prevention (P2) grants will allow the University of Illinois System to provide businesses with technical assistance to help them implement P2 practices to prevent or … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Durbin Meets 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 improving access to health care for marginalized communities, including incarcerated individuals, immigrants, and people of color. Durbin, President Preckwinkle, and Mr. Rocha discussed the need to offer health care services to the migrants arriving in Chicago after being bused to the region by the Republican … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Durbin, Duckworth Join Lawmakers in Bicameral Push for President Biden to Issue a Major Disaster Declaration for Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (D-NY-07) in a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden urging him to issue a Major Disaster Declaration for all of Puerto Rico's municipalities in response to Hurricane Fiona. Just days before the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Maria, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history, Hurricane Fiona ravaged the island with catastrophic … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Hearing
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, "Oversight of Federal Enforcement of the Antitrust Laws." During his statement, Durbin discussed his longstanding efforts to bring fairness, transparency and competition to the credit and debit card systems, which have long been plagued by excessively … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Durbin, Grassley Meet with Speaker of Lithuania’s Parliament Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, met with the Speaker of Lithuania's Parliament Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to discuss the continued congressional support for the Baltic States as well as ongoing Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. During the meeting, the Senators also offered their support to Lithuania as the nation faces economic bullying from the … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Senate Unanimously Passes Resolution Condemning Violence and Threats of Violence Against the FBI
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the increased violence and threats of violence Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) employees have faced since the August 8 search executed at former President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort-and the need for swift Senate action condemning such behavior and the rhetoric that contributes to it. "I have repeatedly made clear that violence against law … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Senate Confirms Florence Pan to D.C. Circuit
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Florence Pan to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Pan's confirmation: "Judge Florence Pan is a highly qualified jurist. Her long tenure on the bench, along with her experience litigating at the trial and appellate level, will be an asset to the D.C. Circuit. Further, Judge Pan's nomination … Continue Reading
September 20, 2022
Durbin Slams Republican Governors for Exploiting Migrant Families for Cruel Political Stunts
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today told the story of a migrant family he met at the Salvation Army Rescue Center in the West Side of Chicago: Carlos, his wife, and their two young daughters, who sought asylum in the United States in order to escape danger in Venezuela. Carlos's family is one of the more than 500 migrant families whom Texas Governor Greg Abbott has put on a bus to Chicago in … Continue Reading
September 19, 2022
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Designating September As National Democracy Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2022 as National Democracy Month. The resolution asks Americans to reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable world. "Our democracy is only as strong as our commitment to relentlessly … Continue Reading