Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth, Krishnamoorthi, Ramirez Statement on Surface Transportation Board's Decision To Approve Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Merger
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) today released the following statement regarding the U.S. Surface Transportation Board's (STB) decision to allow Canadian Pacific (CP) to acquire Kansas City Southern (KCS): "We are deeply disappointed that the Surface Transportation Board has sided with corporations over our constituents in the Chicago region. As we … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On Public Safety & Gun Safety Laws In A Post-Bruen America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned three witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Protecting Public Safety After New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen." Durbin first questioned Stephen Lindley, former member of law enforcement and current Program Manager for Combating Crime Guns Initiative at Brady, about how frequently law enforcement officers are called to respond to … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Durbin, Shaheen Introduce Legislation to Allow Romania to Join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, today introduced legislation granting Romania eligibility for participation in the U.S. visa waiver program. "Romania emerged from the ashes of Soviet tyranny to become a thriving member of the transatlantic community of democracies, NATO, and the EU,"said … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin Applauds President Biden’s FY24 Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted President Biden's outline of his Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget proposal. The proposal protects Social Security, strengthens Medicare, adds 25 additional years of solvency to the Medicare trust fund, improves access to affordable and reliable health coverage, including savings on prescription drugs, and invests in affordable housing and quality child care. The budget proposal also … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin, Booker, Hirono Express Support For Proposed Amendments To Federal Sentencing Guidelines To Implement First Step Act Reforms, Among Other Priorities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice & Counterterrorism, and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) submitted a public comment letter to U.S. Sentencing Commission Chair Carlton Reeves regarding proposed amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. This is the first amendment cycle of the newly-reconstituted Commission. In the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin, Padilla, Nadler, Jayapal Encourage USCIS To Maintain And Expand Access To Legal Immigration System In Proposed Fee Changes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, and U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12) and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Members of the House Committee on the Judiciary and Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, submitted a public comment to the U.S. Citizenship and … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin: If You Care About The Financial Security Of Working Families, Pass The Paycheck Fairness Act
WASHINGTON - In observation of Equal Pay Day, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the impact of the gender pay gap. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized that pay inequality has long-term impacts on women's ability to save for retirement, afford child care, or support their families. Despite the Equal Pay Act of 1963 that mandated that women should not be paid less for their work than men, the pay gap continues to exist. "Today is Equal Pay Day in … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Urge SBA To Evaluate Rule Allowing Fintech Companies To Participate In SBA’s 7(A) Loan Program
WASHINGTON - Following the Small Business Administration's (SBA) November 7, 2022, Proposed Rule on "Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) expressed concern that the proposed changes to SBA's 7(a) Loan Program may undermine the integrity of the program. The November 7th rule would lift the moratorium on licensing new SBLCs to … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Durbin, Booker, Whitehouse, Coons Raise Concerns About Proposed Changes To Bop Inmate Trust Accounts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a comment letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) and BOP's proposed rule on the Inmate Financial Responsibility Program. In the letter, the Senators … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Durbin, Booker Urge State Department To Impose Sanctions Following Renewed Reports Of Rebel Group M23’s Use Of Child Soldiers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding the rebel group M23's troubling activities in and around the Democratic Republic of Congo, and renewed reports of the group's use of child soldiers, and the consequences of such under the Child Soldier Prevention Act (Public Law 110-457). In the letter, the Senators urged Secretary Blinken to impose further sanctions on M23 under Public Law … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Durbin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Marking National Social And Emotional Learning Week
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating the week of March 6, 2023 as National Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Week. SEL is centered on developing the self-awareness, ability to manage emotions, and interpersonal skills that are necessary for school, the workplace, and life. Research shows that SEL promotes student academic outcomes, self-efficacy, and mental health, especially for … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Durbin Announces $14.4 Million In Federal Funding For Chicago Public Schools And Illinois State Board Of Education For Student Mental Health And Trauma-Informed Care
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. College Preparatory High School to unveil new federal funding totaling $14.4 million to Chicago Public Schools (CPS) and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to expand trauma-informed care and increase student mental health personnel in schools. This funding comes from the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act(BSCA), which was signed into law last year and is the most significant gun safety reform in nearly … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Durbin Statement On Temporary Conversion Of Thomson Prison To Low-Security Facility
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the decision by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to temporarily convert United States Penitentiary (USP) Thomson into a low-security prison and enhance training for the hundreds of Thomson staff who will all remain employed at the institution: "Today's announcement is good news for the Thomson facility-it remains … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Durbin Talks Protecting Wilderness Areas With Illinois Volunteers From Utah Wilderness Coalition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois volunteers from the Utah Wilderness Coalition to discuss protecting lands and wilderness areas across the country. Durbin plans to reintroduce his legislation, the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act, which would protect more than eight million acres of land in Utah that is rich in archaeological resources and home to numerous rare plant and animal species. "Our public lands are facing increasing pressure, both … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Durbin Calls On Congress To Protect Children From Exploitation & Fix Broken Immigration System
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 a recent New York Timesarticle that raised serious concerns about the vetting of sponsors of unaccompanied non-citizen children and found large numbers of such children are being placed with exploitative sponsors and working long hours in dangerous conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has reported a 69 percent increase in illegally … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Durbin, Brown, Warren, Smith Urge Department of Labor to Investigate Retirement Plans That Offer Investments In Crypto
WASHINGTON - Following the Department of Labor's (DOL) March 10, 2022, guidance related to 401(k) plan investments in cryptocurrencies, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to Secretary Marty Walsh urging DOL to expeditiously act on the announcement that it would investigate plans that offer investments in crypto. The Senators requested that DOL provide a detailed report outlining … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Statement On Bill To Revise And Strengthen The D.C. Criminal Code
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the landmark First Step Act, today released the following statement after voting against H.J.Res.26, a joint resolution disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) of 2022: "Partisan opponents of D.C.'s revised criminal code have claimed that the bill is 'soft on crime' because it reduces maximum sentences for … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With CEO Of Chicago Public Schools To Discuss Expanding Trauma-Informed Care For Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), to discuss helping our students thrive and succeed, including by addressing trauma and providing supportive school-based services through the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Durbin and Martinez also spoke about the implementation of grants, created through theBipartisan Safer Communities Act, that allocate $3 million to CPS for the hiring of school-based mental health … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois Farm Bureau members. During the meeting, they discussed agriculture priorities for Illinois' farmers, including the importance of the crop insurance safety net, keeping nutrition assistance programs strong, federal funding for conservation improvements, and protecting and expanding international markets for Illinois agriculture. "As the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Veterans With Wounded Warrior Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Illinois veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), an organization that focuses on supporting post-9/11 veterans, caregivers, and families of veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury during their service. During their meeting, Durbin and the veterans discussed the importance of adequately staffing VA medical centers with mental health … Continue Reading