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

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

Durbin: I'll Do Everything In My Power To Ensure That Donald Trump Cannot Turn DOJ Into His Personal Law Firm

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a stark warning to his colleagues about President-elect Donald Trump’s vision for the Department of Justice (DOJ) during his Administration. “Last week, Mark Paoletta, who is overseeing the Trump transition team for the Department of Justice, warned that ‘career DOJ lawyers must be fully committed to implementing President Trump’s policies or they should… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For GAO Investigation Into ICE Detention Facilities, Medical Care, Dangerous Conditions

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to expand its pending investigation of mental health care to include medical care and mismanagement of federal contracts in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. He also called on ICE to halt intake of individuals at Baker County Detention Center during the investigation. The call for an investigation follows a bomb… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Department Of Health And Human Services Nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): “Mr. Kennedy is entirely unqualified to lead our federal health programs. While masquerading as a crusader against corporate influence or for the concerns of children and parents, Mr. Kennedy pushes quack science that will cause mo… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Justice Department Nominations

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intent to nominate Todd Blanche as Deputy Attorney General and John Sauer as Solicitor General: “Coupled with the announcement that he intends to nominate former Congressman Matt Gaetz to be Attorney General, these selections show Donald Trump intends to weaponize the Justice Department to seek vengeance. Donald Trump vi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly, Underwood Announce $82 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Port Upgrades

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today announced $82,091,644 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) administered by the Maritime Administration. PIDP grants support efforts by ports and industry stakeholders to improve port and related freight infrastructure to meet the nation’s frei… Continue Reading

Durbin Duckworth Announce $31.9 Million In Federal Funding For Low Carbon Construction Materials

WASHINGTON  ?  U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $31,933,577 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Fiscal Year 2022 Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive this federal funding to implement and use low carbon materials on Federal-aid construction projects statewide. “As … Continue Reading