Durbin, Schneider Introduce Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from federally-licensed gun dealers (FFLs). The SECURE (Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of "smash and grab" gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be securel… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through December 3, 2021: "Why is keeping America's government open and functioning a political issue? "I'm glad we passed a bill to fund the government through December 3, but cannot understand the Republican default wish that keeps us lurching from one deadli… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republicans Are Deliberately Manufacturing Economic Uncertainty

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today once again slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their continued refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to suspend the debt ceiling. During his speech, Durbin also urged his colleagues to support Congressional Democrats' Continuing Resolution (CR), which keeps the government funded and open through De… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of U.S. Attorney Nominations

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Jessica D. Aber, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Carla B. Freedman, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; William J. Ihlenfeld, II, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia; Christopher R. Kavanaugh, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Darcie N. McElwee, to be United States Attorney for… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Speech On MOMMA Act At Illinois Maternal Health Summit

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday joined the first-ever Maternal Health Summit sponsored by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to deliver a speech on his efforts to reduce and close the racial disparity gap in maternal and infant mortality. After being introduced by Director of the IDPH Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Durbin spoke to doctors, health care providers, health researchers, public health officials, midwives, and doulas about the MOMMA Act and its provisi… Continue Reading

Durbin: Texas Abortion Ban Is A Five-Alarm Fire For Due Process And Constitutional Rights

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today highlighted the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket," which examined the consequences of Texas's S.B. 8 abortion ban law and the increasing use of the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" to make drastic changes to legal and constitutional rights without full briefing, deliberation,… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Hearing On Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban And The Role Of The Shadow Docket

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket." Durbin began his questioning by highlighting how the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" has been used in recent years. "To argue that this shadow docket is just routine, it happens, nothing to see here, move along - the numbers don't tell that story.… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban And The Role Of The Shadow Docket

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket." The hearing will examine the consequences of Texas's S.B. 8 abortion ban and the increasing use of the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" to make drastic changes to legal and constitutional rights without full briefing, deliberation, or transparency. Key quotes… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Philippines Foreign Minister And Ambassador

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Philippines Foreign Minister Teodor Locsin and Philippines Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez to discuss U.S.-Philippines cooperation and the ongoing detention of Filipina Senator Leila de Lima. Durbin raised several human rights concerns under Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, including extrajudicial drug-related killings, harassment of journalists such as Maria Ressa, and jailing of opposing voices such as de L… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Refugee Consultation With Biden Administration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after participating in a statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden-Harris Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership: "The number of refugees admitted in Fiscal Year 2021 - around 12,000 - is a disappointment. The dismantling of programs by the Trump Administration has hindered our efforts to accept more of the world… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Disappearances Of Family Members Of Illinois Resident With Egyptian Ambassador

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today spoke by phone with Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. Motaz Zahran about reports of harassment, forced disappearances, and human rights violations in Egypt. During their conversation, Durbin followed up on a letter he and Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Booker sent earlier this year to Zahran, advocating for the release of three family members of Aly Hussin Mahdy… Continue Reading

Senate Sponsors Laud House Passage Of EQUAL Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the bipartisan Senate sponsors of the EQUAL Act, issued the following statement: "Today, House Republicans and Democrats joined together in passing the EQUAL Act, legislation that will once and for… Continue Reading

Durbin: Immigration Reform Will Drive Our Nation's Economic Recovery For Years To Come

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the economic impact of immigration reform to our nation's economic recovery and Senate Democrats' continued efforts to include immigration provisions in the Build Back Better reconciliation package. He also discussed his visit to Little Village in Chicago last week with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA). They met wi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Voting Against House-Passed CR & Debt Ceiling

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding every Senate Republican voting against the House-passed Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the government and avoid catastrophic default: "Right now, our number one priority should be keeping the nation's economy on the path to recovery. Instead, Republicans are playing reckless political games with the economy and the full faith and credit of the United States by refusing to pay the bill… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy Urge President Biden To End Lethal Force Outside Of War Zones, Revise Nation's Counterterrorism Policies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today sent a letter to President Biden urging the administration to revise our nation's policy regarding use of lethal force. Over the course of the past three administrations, Durbin and Leahy have raised questions about the legal bases and consequences of lethal strikes. As the Biden administration is reported… Continue Reading

Ahead Of Vote On Debt Ceiling, Durbin: This Is About Paying For Donald Trump's Debt & Averting Economic Catastrophe

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed Senate Republicans-led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)-for their continued refusal to join Senate Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. During his speech, Durbin noted that raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with approving new spending-it's about paying off the spending the government has already incurred. Much of the debt that Republicans are… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Visit Little Village, Discuss Federal COVID-19 Relief Efforts With Small Business Owners

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today met with the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders to discuss several federal programs that helped workers and small businesses stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senators also visited area businesses including La Chiquita Grocery St… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Support Leading Rehab Facilities

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research and complex treatment. The Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act recognizes the unique role that a leading class of rehabilitation facilities play in our health care system, by driving innovative research for the entire field, providing medical training to… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Life and Legacy of Dr. Joanne Smith

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute on the Senate floor to medical visionary Dr. Joanne Smith, longtime President and CEO of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, who passed away this month. In his remarks, Durbin said Dr. Smith was a once-in-a-lifetime leader and a national treasure, whose brilliance, determination, and compassion reinvented the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation. She created the world's first-ever "translational" research hospital for reh… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Nominations & Legislation

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Toby J. Heytens, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Patricia Tolliver Giles, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael S. Nachmanoff, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Sarala Vidya Nagala, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Omar Antonio Williams, to be United States District Judg… Continue Reading