Durbin Meets With U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine, Bridget Brink

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance ahead of the incoming Administration. Senate Armed Services Chair Jack Reed (D-RI) also joined the meeting. “More than two and a half years after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy,” said Durb… Continue Reading

Durbin, Young's Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded President Biden for signing into law their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, legislation that extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability, and increase quality of life for the two-and-a-half million Americans living with congenital heart disease (CH… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Five Judicial Nominations, One Marshal Nomination, Patent Bill To Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced five judicial nominations and one U.S. Marshal nomination to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary and keep our communities safe. Under the leadership of Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 221 judges to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris administration. Following the markup and confirmation of Sharad Desai to the District of Arizona, sixteen l… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Matt Gaetz Withdrawing From Consideration To Be Attorney General

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement following Matt Gaetz withdrawing from consideration to be Attorney General: “A qualified nominee for the highest position in law enforcement in America must be honest and complete in disclosing his background. Mr. Gaetz did not meet that standard. “It’s time for Donald Trump to put forward a serious nominee for Attorney General who will fight for equal justice fo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley, & Duckworth Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation To Map Urban Flooding & Help FEMA Better Assess Risks

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today reintroduced the bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2024.  The bill would establish a pilot grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to allow cities to develop better methods for mapping, understanding, and mitigating urban flooding while sharing findings with the federal … Continue Reading

Durbin, Murray Introduce Legislation To Ensure Victims Of Discrimination Can Seek Damages In Court, Despite Harmful Supreme Court Ruling

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced their legislation to clarify that victims of discrimination can seek damages for emotional harm under federal law—after the Supreme Court curtailed their ability to do so in its devastating April 2022 ruling in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller.  The Clarifying Civil Rights Remedies Act of 2024 ensures that people who suffer emotional harm because o… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Vote To Suspend The Sale Of Some U.S-Made Weapons To Israel

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) motions to discharge S.J.Res.111, S.J.Res.113, and S.J.Res.115, which would suspend the sale of $1 billion in certain U.S.-made weapons to Israel: “I believe passionately that Israel has not only the right to exist, but the right to defend itself in the dangerous neighborhood of the Middle East. The terrorist attack of October 7 was truly horrific and th… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Fair Ball Act To Shore Up Labor Protections For Minor League Baseball Players

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Fair Ball Act, which would roll back the current broad exemption from federal wage and hour laws for Minor League Baseball players provided by the inaptly named Save America’s Pastime Act (SAPA) and replace it with a narrowly tailored exemption that would only apply if the players are being compensated pursuant to the terms of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). If the players … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.1 Million In Federal Funding For Health Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,104,451 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for medical research at Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from communication disorders to mental health research.   “Federal investments in medical research push our socie… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Two Judicial Nominees In Today's 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 Benjamin J. Cheeks, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California; and Serena Raquel Murillo, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. Durbin began his questioning by asking the nominees about their background as prosecutors. “It is interesting that we ha… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Two Judicial Nominations

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 Benjamin J. Cheeks, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of California; and Serena Raquel Murillo, nominated to be a U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. Durbin began the hearing by briefly introducing the judges before U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler… Continue Reading

Chair Durbin Leads Senate Judiciary Democrats In Letter Asking FBI For Complete Evidentiary File In The Investigation of Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led Senate Judiciary Democrats in a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray requesting that the FBI provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the complete evidentiary file, including documents memorializing interviews, in the closed investigation of former Congressman Matt Gaetz’s alleged sex trafficking of minors. The letter follows President-elect Donald T… Continue Reading

Durbin, Wicker, Senators Meet With Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine and the need to strengthen the NATO alliance. In addition to Durbin and Wicker, U.S. Senators James Risch (R-ID), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also attended.  “More than two and a half years after Putin began his brutal, crimi… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Funding For National Health Service Corps With HRSA Administrator

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with Carole Johnson, the Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), about reauthorizing funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which is set to expire at the end of December.  During their call, Durbin and Administrator Johnson spoke about Durbin’s bipartisanRestoring America’s Health Care Workforce and Readiness Act, which includes a three-year reauthorization that would m… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With MidAmerica Airport Director

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with MidAmerica St. Louis Airport Director Darren James to discuss federal funding for the airport as Congress considers appropriations funding for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).  During their meeting, Durbin and Director James spoke about the airport’s current projects, including a terminal apron expansion.   “MidAmerica Airport keeps Metro East residents connected to travel destinations around the country.  In speaking with Directo… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Visa Witness During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Enhancing Competition In The Credit Card Market, Lowering Fee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Mr. Bill Sheedy, Senior Advisor to the CEO of Visa, Inc., during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System.” The hearing examined the lack of competition in the credit card market and its impact on interchange fees, as well as legislative solutions like Chair Durbin’s Credit Ca… Continue Reading

Durbin, Daines Laud Passage Of Their Bipartisan Quantum Computing Legislation In Energy & Natural Resources Committee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today applauded the passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Department of Energy (DOE) Quantum Leadership Act, out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources by a voice vote.  The legislation aims to reinvigorate research and development (R&D) projects at DOE by authorizing $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years – well above the $625 million for DOE-related programs laid… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Enhancing Competition In The Credit Card Market, Lowering Fees

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Breaking the Visa-Mastercard Duopoly: Bringing Competition and Lower Fees to the Credit Card System.” The hearing will examine the lack of competition in the credit card market and its impact on interchange fees, as well as legislative solutions like Chair Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act to help protect c… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Judge Embry Kidd To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Eleventh Circuit

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Embry Kidd to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Kidd’s confirmation: “Judge Kidd’s experience in private practice and public service, in addition to his experience as a magistrate judge, has prepared him to serve with distinction on the federal bench. I congratulate Judge Kidd on becoming the… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Stabenow On The Senate Floor To Push For Passage Of Farm Bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today took to the Senate floor to highlight the efforts of U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to complete the Farm Bill, the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act.  In his remarks, Durbin asked Stabenow, who was also on the Senate floor, about several aspects of the Farm Bill, which must be passed or extended by the end of December to prevent agricultura… Continue Reading