Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of Rachelle Crowe To Serve As U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement on Ms. Crowe's nomination: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Ms. Crowe's nomination. She has the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction as U.S. A… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin, Risch Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing Gambia For Democratic And Peaceful Elections

WASHINGTON - The U.S Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recognizing the free, fair, and peaceful December 4, 2021, presidential and April 9, 2022, legislative elections in The Gambia. The resolution also calls on the Gambian government to follow through on recent Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission recommendations. … Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances U.S. Attorneys, Bipartisan Mental Health Legislation

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Rachelle L. Crowe to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Jesse A. Laslovich to be United States Attorney for the District of Montana, and Alexander M.M. Uballez to be United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico, by voice vote. The Committee also advanced S. 3846, the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022, by voice vote. Ahead of votes, U.S. Senate M… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With ATF Director Nominee Steven Dettelbach

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Steve Dettelbach, nominated to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). During their meeting, Durbin asked Dettelbach about his plans for ATF to help reduce the unacceptably high levels of gun violence in cities like Chicago. Durbin and Dettelbach additionally discussed the importance of reducing illicit gun trafficking and straw purchases.… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Biden's Nominees To The United States Sentencing Commission

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on President Biden's announcement of seven nominees to the bipartisan U.S. Sentencing Commission: "President Biden's bipartisan slate of nominees have the experience and expertise needed for the important work of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. I look forward to holding a confirmation hearing for these nominees in the Senate Judiciary Committee in the near f… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing On Global Food Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today questioned David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Program; Tjada D'Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer at Mercy Corps; and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing on global food security and the COVID-19 response. Durbin began his questioning ask… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Failed Cloture Vote On The Women's Health Protection Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting to proceed to the Women's Health Protection Act, which would codify the right to provide and obtain an abortion free from medically unnecessary restrictions. The measure failed to garner the 60 votes needed to advance. "Today's results, while not surprising, are still deeply disappointing. In a matter of weeks, a half-century guarantee that th… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Illinois Judicial Nominees In 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 John Z. Lee, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and Salvador Mendoza Jr., nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. During the hearing, Durbin highlighted their extensive qualifications and asked them about their unique life experiences. Judge Lee came to this coun… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Nominations Hearing Featuring Two Illinois Judicial Nominees

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 John Z. Lee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, Salvador Mendoza Jr. to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Stephen Henley Locher to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States District Judge for … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Support For Community Policing Funding, Law Enforcement Officer Mental Health Resources With President Of Major Cities Chiefs Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met virtually with Chief Jeri Williams, President of the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). During their meeting, Durbin and Williams discussed the challenges of officer recruitment and retention, particularly with regards to mental health assistance. Durbin and Williams also discussed the importance of confirming federal law enforcement positions to aid state and local officers. "The trau… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Fermilab Director

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Fermilab Director Lia Merminga to discuss basic science research and projects at Fermilab like the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE). Durbin secured $189 million for LBNF/DUNE in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) omnibus appropriations bill Congress passed in March. "National labs, like Illinois' own Fermilab, have pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery with unmatched dedica… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Meet With United Counties Council Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with members of the United Counties Council of Illinois to discuss how the American Rescue Plan is impacting communities in Illinois. During their conversation, the Senators received an update on the $14 billion allocated to Illinois through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery (SLRF) Program to aid counties and municipalities in covering pandemic costs, replacing lost revenue, and investi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With 'I Am ALS' Founders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with 'I Am ALS' founders and Illinois constituents Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya to discuss increased federal funding for ALS research and the latest developments regarding the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) implementation of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act (ACT for ALS). ACT for ALS directs the NIH and FDA to make grants to clinical trial… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support The Women's Health Protection Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor on the future of Roe v. Wade following the leak of the Supreme Court's draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. "Last week, Americans woke up to the news that was perhaps not unexpected but still stunning. It appears that in a matter of weeks, we may soon live in a country where women have fewer constitutional rights than their pare… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Secretary Of The Army And Chief Of Staff Of The Army At Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today questioned Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Chief of Staff of the Army General James McConville at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing about the Army's Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) budget request. Durbin began his questioning asking about the importance of keeping our military nonpartisan. "There's always been an effort to keep a bright line between our mi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4.8 Million For Runway Improvements At Quincy Regional Airport

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4.85 million in federal funding awarded to Quincy Regional Airport from the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Airport Improvement Program (AIP) to support the airport's runway reconstruction project. "Today's funding will help improve service, safety, and efficiency at Quincy Regional Airport, which is a critical economic engine and transportation link for Western Illinois," Durbin said. "Senator Du… Continue Reading

In Speech On The Senate Floor, Durbin Highlights Impact Of American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law In Creating American Jobs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor praising the Biden Administration for the uptick in American jobs shown in the April 2022 jobs report and the unemployment rate of 3.6 percent, which reflects pre-pandemic levels. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted the efforts of Congressional Democrats and President Biden in passing the American Rescue Plan to provide relief to families and small businesses and Democrats' leadership succes… Continue Reading

Durbin: There Will Be A Victory Day Parade In Ukraine To Honor The Valiant Ukrainians

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor to condemn Vladimir Putin's cynical Victory Day speech, in which Putin tried to justify the heinous war crimes he has committed against Ukraine. Durbin also praised First Lady Dr. Jill Biden's visit with Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska in Ukraine on Mother's Day. The visit further strengthened relations between the U.S. and Ukraine. Durbin said, "Putin disgraced hims… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Cardin Press DOJ On Egregious Conditions At Prison Facility In Nation's Capitol

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) are pressing the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the egregiously bad conditions at the District of Columbia Central Detention Facility (CDF), which is operated by the D.C. Department of Corrections (DOC). A surprise October 2021 inspection of CDF by the U.S. Marshals Service (USM… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schakowsky Call For Passage Of Bipartisan INFORM Consumers Act

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today joined consumer protection advocates and local business leaders to call for the passage of their bipartisan Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. This legislation would combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring transparency and verification of high-volume third-party sellers in online r… Continue Reading