Durbin Statement On Retirement Of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after reports that Justice Stephen Breyer plans to announce his retirement from the Supreme Court: "I thank Justice Breyer for his decades serving the Court and the nation. He has been a trusted voice on the bench with a first-rate legal mind. "With this Supreme Court vacancy, President Biden has the opportunity to nominate someone who will bring diversit… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights New Funding Available For Illinois Rural EMS Agencies

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged rural communities in Illinois to apply for a new grant opportunity to support fire and emergency medical services (EMS). The funding, created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, supports EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment-for everything from naloxone and personal protective equipment (PPE), to power stretchers or new ambulances. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Urge Treasury To Provide Additional Federal Rent Relief To Keep Most Vulnerable Americans Housed

WASHINGTON- As our country continues to face the impacts of the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in leading a group of Senators in calling on the Treasury Department to reallocate federal rent relief funding to communities most in need. In a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, the Senators requested new guidelines for the distribution of reallocated Emergency R… Continue Reading

In Letter To Illinois Health Providers, Durbin Highlights American Rescue Plan Funding For Health Care Workers

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) this week sent a letter to Illinois health care providers, clinics and hospitals, and schools of medicine, nursing, and dentistry urging them to publicize the availability of an historic $1 billion in National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and Nurse Corps scholarship and loan repayment funding for health care workers. The funding, which Durbin helped secure, was set aside in the American Rescue Plan to remedy health workforce shortages in u… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce New Upcoming Funding Opportunities For Infrastructure Improvements

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced 25 upcoming infrastructure grant opportunities for local governments as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Local governments throughout Illinois will be able to apply for funding to improve roads, bridges, public transit, water infrastructure, broadband access, and more. In addition to these grant opportunities, Illinois will receive more than $17 billion in dedicated funding as a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Urge Department Of Interior To Protect Lands By Designing Wilderness Study Areas

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in sending a letter to Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland urging her to use her authority under the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) to provide protections for lands that demonstrate wilderness characteristics as Wilderness Study Areas. Designating these areas as Wilde… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Holly Thomas To Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Holly Thomas's nomination to serve on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by a vote of 48-40. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Thomas's confirmation: "Judge Holly Thomas is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist with a distinguished record of public service. Her varied professional background, extensive appellate experience, and tenure as a judg… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances One Circuit Court Nominee, Eleven District Court Nominees

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Alison J. Nathan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Victoria Marie Calvert, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; John H. Chun, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; Sarah Elisabeth Geraghty, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Dale E. Ho, to be United States District Judge for the Southe… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues Urge President Biden To Include Funding For Emergency International Food Aid In Any Supplemental Request To Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 17 of his Senate colleagues today in a bipartisan letter to President Biden urging him to include funding for emergency international food aid in any upcoming supplemental request to Congress. Recently, the Biden Administration provided an additional $308 million in aid and eased procedures for humanitarian groups. However, the Senators noted in their letter that both the United Nations and World Food Programme (WFP) indicate far mo… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans' Filibuster Of Historic Voting Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans filibustered the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act: "Sadly, many Republican lawmakers would rather repeat the twice impeached former President's 'Big Lie' than face his wrath. And tonight, that revealed itself as Senate Republicans used the filibuster once again to kill legislation that would protect Americans' fundamental right to… Continue Reading

Durbin Votes For Rules Change Following Senate Republicans' Filibuster Of Historic Voting Rights Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted to support a change to Senate rules that would allow for a talking filibuster on the historic voting rights legislation-the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act-after Senate Republicans filibustered it earlier in the evening: "Unfortunately, a majority of Senators have pledged allegiance to the filibuster. But I believe there is something more critical than a Senate rule that has been … Continue Reading

DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, BLUNT, GRASSLEY, BUSTOS, HINSON ANNOUNCE $829 MILLION IN FUNDING TO MODERNIZE LOCK AND DAMS ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI & ILLINOIS RIVERS

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has allocated $829.1 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) on the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Spec… Continue Reading

Durbin: To Restore The Power Of The Voting Rights Act Is To Restore The Promise Of America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Republican colleagues to support critical voting rights legislation that will come before the Senate tonight. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act combines the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also discussed the continued threat to our democracy posed by Donald Trump's "Big Lie." "App… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Mayor Lightfoot, Members Of Chicago Delegation Announce $1.5 Million In Funding From Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal To Restore Chicago Shoreline

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), and Marie Newman (D-IL-03) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has allocated $1.5 million in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to the Chicago Shoreline Storm Damage Reduction Project. The funding will suppo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $225.8 Million In Funding For Brandon Road Project

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $225.8 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) for the Brandon Road Project to prevent invasive Asian Carp from reaching the Great Lakes. "The threat of invasive Asian Carp to the economic and environmental resources of the Great Lakes is serious. It's vital that we protect one of the Midwest's greatest asse… Continue Reading

Following Hostage Situation At Texas Synagogue, Durbin Moves To Close Gun Loophole In Visa Waiver Program

WASHINGTON - Following the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced his intention to reintroduce legislation to close a loophole in federal law that permits foreign nationals who have entered the United States through the Visa Waiver Program to purchase firearms. Current law prohibits visa holders from other countries from purchasing guns, but excludes travelers fro… Continue Reading

Durbin To Senate Republicans: Join Us In Defending American Democracy

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his colleagues to support important voting rights legislation that will come before the Senate tomorrow. The Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act combines the bipartisan John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with the Freedom to Vote Act. "Today, our democracy needs the Voting Rights Act of 1965 restored to its full power and potential. In the p… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Hostage Situation At Texas Synagogue

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the hostage situation at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas: "I'm relieved that the Texas Synagogue hostage taking ended with innocent victims unharmed, but the warning is clear. Terrorism-both foreign and domestic-is a danger to targets of hate. "To our Jewish brothers and sisters: we owe you a special effort to protect you fr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Markey Introduce Legislation To Improve, Assess, And Inform Federal Air Quality Management Strategies

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) to introduce the Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act, legislation to authorize $55 million over five years for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to annually update and expand its online air quality toolbox with best-available monitoring technologies and associated uses of data, connect the toolbox with environmental justice … Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley: New Justice Department Rule Will Implements First Step Act's Earned Time Credits Program And Incentive Rehabilitation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following joint statement in light of news that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a new earned time credit rule that will encourage the dispersal of credits earned by inmates to reduce risks of recidivism, which is a crucial component of the landmark First Step Act: "Establishi… Continue Reading