Durbin Questions Secretary Of State Blinken On Afghanisatn

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing about the State Department's Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Budget Request, questioned Secretary of State Antony Blinken about the United States' policy towards Afghanistan in the future. "It appears the Taliban is going to be a political force there. There is also a government in place. I'm not quite sure if there is any accommodation between them going on or expected," Durbin said. "I think … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support President Biden's First Judicial Nominees On The Floor Today

WASHINGTON - Ahead of their confirmation votes on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his Senate colleagues to support the nominations of Julien Xavier Neals, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; and Regina M. Rodriguez, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. These will be the first judicial nominees confirmed by the Senate during the Biden Administration. In… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Senate To Pass Bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, today urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would provide a path to lawful permanent residency for undocumented farmworkers and their family members. During the speech, Durbin thanked the countless farmworkers who have kept American families fed durin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Announce $372,000 In CARES Act Funding For Southland Development Authority

CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced that the Southland Development Authority in Cook County, Illinois, has been awarded $372,500 in federal funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Today's funding will support the Southland Equitable Recovery Stimulus Program, which will provide businesses with immediate pandemic recovery ass… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Senators In Bipartisan Request For Additional C-130J Aircraft

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today led a bipartisan group of Senators in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support the additional procurement of at least eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft as part of the modernization effort for the Air National Guard in the Fiscal year (FY) 2022 Defense Appropria… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join 18 Senators In Calling On Federal Agencies To Share Data, Work Together To Expand Access To High-Speed Internet

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) in leading a group of 17 additional Senators in calling on the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to share data to identify communities without high-speed internet access and work together to improve broadband connectivity. "The COV… Continue Reading

Durbin, Wicker Request Strong FY22 DOD Medical Research Funding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), are urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to uphold its commitment to our nation's service members by providing at least $2.89 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations for the Department of Defense (DOD) Defense Health Program's Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) account. "Such an allocation will build upon an exempla… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Termination Of Cruel "Remain In Mexico" Policy

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Mayorkas announced the termination of the former administration's Remain in Mexico policy. Under the Trump Administration, the policy-deceptively named Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)-blocked vulnerable asylum seekers from being in the U.S. while they awaited immigration court hearings, forcing them to wait in … Continue Reading

Durbin Releases Statement Observing Memorial Day, Thanks Servicemembers And Their Families

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a video statement in observance of Memorial Day and the service of military members and their families, who have made immense sacrifices for their country. "While no words, symbols, or memorials can adequately express our nation's debt to all who have lost their lives to defend our liberties, we take this time to honor their service and sacrifice to our country," said Durbin. "This Memorial Day, when thousands of American… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Biden's FY2022 Budget

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after President Joe Biden unveiled his Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget proposal: "If America wants to lead in the 21st century, we can't be afraid of investments in our people. With this budget, President Biden prepares workers for the jobs of the future, rebuilds our infrastructure, gives families and children a foundation for success, and protects our… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Republican Filibuster Of Bipartisan January 6 Commission

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against the motion to proceed to the bill to create the bipartisan January 6 Commission: "An insurrection without consequences-without even a proper investigation-is a dress rehearsal for another insurrection. When the Capitol police-who protect us with their lives-ask for this commission, we are ingrates to refuse. "There sh… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Introduce Bill To Update Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced a bicameral bill that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions standards to reflect the stricter criteria outlined in a 2016 EPA study. Under the bill, any updates to the emissions standards would have to incorporate the maximum achievable control technology requirements to exhaust… Continue Reading

Durbin: An Insurrection Without Consequences Or Examination Is A Dress Rehearsal For The Next Insurrection

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan January 6 Commission, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that the bipartisan Commission is necessary in order to prevent Trump loyalists from rewriting the reality of what happened on January 6, 2021, and to honor the brave law enforcement officers who defended … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Introduce Safe Gun Storage Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) to introduce legislation directing the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to establish safety standards for firearm locks and firearm safes. "Too many families and friends have mourned a loved one lost to gun violence. Congress must step up and finally address this issue for what it is - an epidemic," said Durbin. "With this l… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Water And Mobility With USAID Administrator Power

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Samantha Power, Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing about the success of the Paul Simon Water for the World Act. Durbin said that over the last 11 years, USAID helped provide approximately 57 million people with either improved or first time access to clean water and more than… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Day"

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate establishing June 4, 2021, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) has introduced a companion resolution in the House. Last year was one of the deadliest years on record for the United States, with an estimated 19,300 individuals killed in gun homi… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Nominees To Lead ATF And DEA In Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - During the Senate Judiciary Committee's sixth nominations hearing of the 117th Congress, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned David H. Chipman, nominee to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); and Anne Milgram, nominee to be Administrator of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Durbin noted that Mr. Chipman's nomination is already facing baseless attacks from the political fringe… Continue Reading

Durbin Gives Opening Remarks In Judiciary Committee Hearing For Judicial & Executive Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nominations hearing for Tiffany P. Cunningham, to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit; Margaret Irene Strickland, to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Mexico; David H. Chipman, to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Ur Mendoza Jaddou, to be Director, United States Citizenship and Immigration Serv… Continue Reading

Durbin, Scott Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Children From Lead Poisoning

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) today introduced the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2021, which would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update its lead poisoning prevention measures to reflect modern science and ensure that families and children living in federally-assisted housing are protected from the devastating consequences of lead poisoning. "Children continue to be at risk from lead poisoni… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Update On Cook County Drug Court And Veterans Treatment Court From Judges

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Cook County Court Judge Neera Walsh, who presides over Cook County Access to Community Treatment (ACT) Drug Court; and Cook County Court Judge Michael Hood, who presides over the Cook County Veterans Treatment Court; to receive an update on the courts' programming and services to provide individualized, evidence-based treatment and recovery support to defendants. During th… Continue Reading