Press Releases
Durbin Continues To Call For Closure Of Guantanamo Bay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the importance of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called on the Biden Administration to do more to accelerate the closure of the facility once and for all. Durbin began his speech by highlighting Leila Murphy, a young law student who lost her father on September 11th, 2001, when the first plane hit the North Tower of the World … Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of Colleen Lawless To Serve As District Court Judge For The Central District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Colleen Lawless to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed the nomination of Judge Colleen Lawless to fill a judicial vacancy in the Central District of Illinois. Her … Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Additional $51.8 Million In Federal Funding To Help Illinois Families Save On Home Energy Bills
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced an additional $51,817,305 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans pay the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. This additional funding brings the total amount of LIHEAP funds released to Illinois in Fiscal Year 2023 to $259,987,786. For more than 40 years, … Continue Reading
March 02, 2023
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce Legislation To Close Divide On Digital Equity, Inclusion, And Literacy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to introduce the Digital Equity Foundation Act, legislation to establish a nonprofit foundation that would channel public and private investments into making progress in closing the divide on digital equity, digital inclusion, and digital literacy. … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Bloomington-Normal One Voice Coalition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council, accompanied by the One Voice coalition comprised of members of local government, labor, education, health, and business sectors. During their meeting, the Senators and the group discussed how the passage of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act can support infrastructure projects in Central Illinois. The … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin Questions Attorney General Garland During Hearing On Oversight Of The Department Of Justice
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Oversight of the Department of Justice." Durbin asked AG Garland about the Department's efforts to address gun violence, particularly after the July 4th Highland Park, Illinois, shooting. Specifically, Durbin asked how DOJ is using the authorities and resources provided by the Bipartisan … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin Talks Clean Energy With Illinois Municipal Electric And Utilities Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Municipal Electric/Utilities Association (IMEA/IMUA) to discuss clean energy tax incentives and grid security. During their conversation, Durbin discussed the impact of theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) on the energy sector, highlighting how Illinois is primed to become a leader in clean energy and a trailblazer in electric vehicle production. Durbin and IMEA/IMUA also spoke about … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Broadcasters Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Broadcasters Association (IBA) to discuss priorities for broadcasters, including the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA), which passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on a bipartisan vote last Congress. Additionally, Durbin spoke with IBA about the important role local broadcasting plays in covering news in their community. "Illinois broadcasters are essential to keeping our … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing On The Department Of Justice
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 entitled, "Oversight of the Department of Justice." In his opening statement, Durbin argued that the Department of Justice under Attorney General Merrick Garland has returned to its traditional and proper role-it is no longer the personal law firm of a sitting President, but rather the country's leading defender of … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Durbin, Duckworth Secure $66.5 Million For Chicago O’Hare, Peoria, And St. Louis Airport Renovations
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today announced a combined $66.5 million in federal funding for Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Peoria International Airport, and St. Louis Downtown Airport from theInfrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Airport Terminal Program (ATP). Chicago O'Hare International Airport, awarded $50,000,000, will use these funds to rehabilitate and expand the 60-year-old Terminal 3. This is the largest grant … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin Discusses Train Derailments And Union Agreements With CSC CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Joe Hinrichs, CEO of CSX Transportation, to discuss the recent derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio, and preventing future hazardous derailments. Durbin heard from Hinrichs about what additional safety measures could be implemented to alert conductors of potential malfunctions. The meeting concluded with Durbin and Hinrichs discussing the need to support improved working conditions for rail … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin Meets With CDC Director Walensky
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky to discuss the work being done at CDC to address the youth vaping epidemic, as well as efforts to address Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma at the root of community violence. Durbin and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) introduced the Resilience Investment, Support, and Expansion (RISE) from Trauma Act, a bipartisan bill to … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Chapters Of Boys And Girls Club Of America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders of Illinois chapters of the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) to discuss academic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, youth mentoring, and student mental and physical well-being. During their meeting, Durbin learned more about BGCA's after-school programing that focuses on addressing students' academic needs as well as health and wellness. "The Boys and Girls Club of America serve nearly four million … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin, Thune Urge Biden To Prioritize E15 Fuel, Utilize American Agriculture
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging President Biden to permit the year-round sale of E15 fuel in 2023 in order to reduce the United States' reliance on foreign sources of energy and utilize American agriculture as an energy solution. The Senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Equal Rights Amendment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "The Equal Rights Amendment: How Congress Can Recognize Ratification and Enshrine Equality in Our Constitution." At today's hearing, the witnesses testified to the necessity of enshrining gender equality into law and Congress' role in ERA ratification. Durbin first asked Kathleen Sullivan, Senior Counsel at Quinn … Continue Reading
February 28, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Equal Rights Amendment
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 entitled, "The Equal Rights Amendment: How Congress Can Recognize Ratification and Enshrine Equality in Our Constitution." The witnesses will testify to the necessity of enshrining gender equality into law and Congress' role in ERA ratification. Key quotes: "It was a long time ago, many years, I was a young lawyer … Continue Reading
February 27, 2023
Durbin Highlights Recent CODEL To The Munich Security Conference, Georgia, And Romania
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor highlighting his recent trip to the Munich Security Conference, as well as the countries of Georgia and Romania. Durbin began his speech by reflecting on the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and President Biden's recent trip to Kyiv. "Last week the world saw a stark contrast in global leadership. First, Presidents … Continue Reading
February 24, 2023
Durbin Visits Erie Family Health Centers To Highlight Efforts To Lower Prescription Drug Costs And Address Health Care Workforce Shortages
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Erie Family Health Centers to discuss efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs and address workforce shortages in the health care industry. "The hardships on patients and health care providers from the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrate the importance of places like Erie Family Health," Durbin said. "From helping their patients access discounted medications to providing quality care, Erie continues to be a beacon of hope … Continue Reading
February 24, 2023
Durbin Statement on the One-Year Anniversary of Russia's War on Ukraine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022: "One year ago today, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, an ill-fated throwback to the era when aggressor nations tried to seize their neighbor's territory by force-all in blind pursuit of some warped Soviet nostalgia trip. … Continue Reading
February 23, 2023
Durbin, DeLauro Continue To Urge FDA Commissioner Califf To Implement Reforms At The Agency’s Human Foods Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a follow-up letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf urging him to make critical reforms within FDA's Human Foods Program. Following the recent external evaluation and report by the Reagan-Udall Foundation, which outlined various flaws at FDA including their slow response to foodborne illness outbreaks, particularly with infant formula, and failure … Continue Reading