Ahead Of Confirmation Vote, Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support Judge Maldonado's Nomination To Serve As Circuit Court Judge For The Seventh Circuit

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the confirmation vote on the nomination of Judge Nancy Maldonado to be a United States Circuit Court Judge for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support Judge Maldonado’s nomination. Once confirmed, Judge Maldonado will be the first Hispanic judge to serve on the Seventh Circuit. Durbin said, “Since the beginning of the Biden Administration, the Senate has confirmed 201 highly… Continue Reading

Ahead Of Confirmation Vote, Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support Judge Maldonado's Nomination To Serve As Circuit Court Judge For The Seventh Circuit

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the confirmation vote on the nomination of Judge Nancy Maldonado to be a United States Circuit Court Judge for the Seventh Circuit, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to support Judge Maldonado’s nomination. Once confirmed, Judge Maldonado will be the first Hispanic judge to serve on the Seventh Circuit. Durbin said, “Since the beginning of the Biden Administration, the Senate has confirmed 201 highly… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Marking Two Years Since The Highland Park Shooting

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement marking two years since the shooting in Highland Park, Illinois: “On July 4, 2022, we lost Katie Goldstein, Irina and Kevin McCarthy, Stephen Straus, Jacki Lovi Sundheim, Nicolás Toledo, and Eduardo Uvaldo in an unspeakable act of violence. I share the grief of the Highland Park community today as we remember these seven lives taken too soon, the dozens who were wounded, and those left traumatized. “O… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Federal Approval Of Illinois Application For Medicaid 1115 Waiver

HICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) approval of Illinois’ application for a Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver to enhance the delivery of behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries across Illinois. The approval of the federal waiver accelerates efforts in Illinois to use the Medicaid program to address the opioid epidemic, maternal mortality, violence preventio… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Applaud Nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Hawley To Be Federal District Court Judge In The Central District Of Illinois

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the White House announced its intent to nominate U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley for the Peoria-based federal district court judicial vacancy in the Central District of Illinois: “We are pleased that President Biden is nominating Judge Jonathan Hawley to fill a judicial vacancy in the Central District of Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Merkley, Kaine, Welch Again Call For The End Of The Bangladeshi Government's Harassment Toward Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Yunus

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement on Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus’ upcoming court dates, where he could face up to six months in prison on dubious charges.  For more than a decade, Professor Yunus has faced more than 100 unsubstantiated cases brought against him in Bangladesh.  The harassment campaign against Professor Yunus has been denounc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Statement On Appointment Of Pam Monetti To Serve As Illinois Director For USDA Rural Development

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), a member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement regarding Pam Monetti’s appointment as the new Illinois Director for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development: “At our recommendation, the Biden Administration has made an excellent choice in appointing Pam Monetti t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Merkley, Kaine, Welch Again Call For The End Of The Bangladesh Government's Harassment Toward Nobel Peace Price Laureate Professor Yunus

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement on Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus’ upcoming court dates, where he could face up to six months in prison on dubious charges.  For more than a decade, Professor Yunus has faced more than 100 unsubstantiated cases brought against him in Bangladesh.  The harassment campaign against Professor Yunus has been denounc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Applaud NIH's Announcement Of UIC As Newest Maternal Health Research Center Of Excellence

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded the announcement by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that it has awarded two new grants to expand its Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence, including one at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). Launched last year as part of NIH’s Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) initiative, the Centers of Excellence develop and evaluate … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Applaud Illinois, Michigan & Army Corps Of Engineers For Signing The Project Partnership Agreement For Brandon Road To Help Protect The Great Lakes

CHICAGO – 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) applauded Illinois, Michigan, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for signing a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) regarding the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP).  The BRIP will construct a new engineered channel at Brandon Road in Joliet, Illinois, that will be used to test and deploy a range of technologies that will prevent invasive carp from movi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Announce Resolution Marking Two Years Since July 4th Shooting In Highland Park

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) announced the introduction of a resolution expressing the condolences of Congress and honoring the memory of the victims of the shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022.  The House version of the resolution was introduced last week and the Senate version will be officially introduced when the Senate is back… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling In Donald Trump Immunity Case

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. U.S., which held that “the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is n… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $4.4 Million In Medical Research Grants For Illinois

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $4,452,852 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put towards research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer research to metabolic research.    “Federal investment in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us new treatments for… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $6.2 Million In Health Care Related Grants For Illinois

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $6,218,045 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. The funding will be put towards programs across the state to support efforts to improve health equity.    “While we continue to make strides in the medical and health care fields, there are still clear inequities in outcomes that we must address,” said Durbin.  “Today’s announced funding … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $525,000 In Federal HHS Grants For Lawrence County Department Of Health

WASHINGTON – In  a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded President Joe Biden’s executive actions to offer relief to hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including allowing undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens to seek protection and streamlining the process for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) holders and other immigrants to change their immigration status. In March, Durbin led a group o… Continue Reading

Durbin Has Hip Replacement Surgery At Rush Oak Brook

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today underwent a successful hip replacement surgery for his left hip. The procedure was performed this morning at RUSH in Oak Brook, Illinois. Durbin will remain in Illinois until he is cleared for travel to Washington by his doctor.             “Today, I had a routine hip replacement surgery in Chicago. I’m grateful to the medical staff at RUSH for today’s successful procedure, and I look forward to a speedy recovery and climbing the Cap… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5.2 Million In Grant Funding For Head Start In West Central Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Parent & Child Together for West Central Illinois in Camp Point, Illinois, will receive $5,220,433 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grant funding to support the organization’s Head Start programming, which offers services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. “Education is one of the grea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Butler Urge DHS To Issue A Policy Ensuring Vulnerable Children Seeking Protection Through The Central American Minors Program Have Access To Counsel

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas urging the Department to issue a policy directive ensuring that vulnerable children seeking protection through the Central American Minors program (CAM) have access to counsel during their refugee interviews with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $42.4 Million In DOT Raise Grant Funds for Illinois Projects

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $42,454,810 in U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding for five Illinois-based transportation projects, ranging from planning freight rail connection to constructing electric vehicle charging stations and designing pedestrian trails. “Today’s funding is a major investm… Continue Reading

Durbin Issues Statement On President Biden's Pardon Of LGBTQ+ Service Members Who Wrongfully Received Dishonorable Discharges For Their Identity

CHICAGO – On the ninth anniversary of the Obergefell v. Hodeges ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s pardon for military service members who were convicted under a now-repealed military law because of their sexual orientation:  “On the anniversary of Obergefell, President Biden has taken another step forward in advancing the rights of LGBTQ+… Continue Reading