Durbin Meets Virtually With Nominee To Lead ICE

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, who has been nominated by President Biden to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). During their meeting, Durbin emphasized the need for the Biden Administration to reform ICE detention and removal policies and invited Gonzalez to visit Chicago and meet with community members. "After four years of disastrous and irresponsible leadership at th… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Protect Communities From "Forever Chemicals" Contamination

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about a recent story in the Chicago Sun-Times that revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) - also known as "forever chemicals" - in water systems in Chicago, Lake Forest, Waukegan, and South Elgin. Durbin called on the Senate to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which includes $10 billion to address PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, wit… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. Durbin asked Christopher Chapman, President and CEO of AccessLex Institute, and E… Continue Reading

Before Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loans, Durbin Meets With Illinois Attorney General Raoul

WASHINGTON - Prior to today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on student loan bankruptcy reform, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul. During the hearing, AG Raoul testified about the need for student loan bankruptcy dischargeability as a last resort to assist struggling student borrowers, particularly for students misled by for-profit schools that fail to provide adequate education. During their… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cornyn Introduce New, Bipartisan Bill To Allow Federal Student Loan Borrowers To Discharge Loans In Bankruptcy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced the introduction of the FRESH START Through Bankruptcy Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill that would restore the ability for struggling borrowers to seek a bankruptcy discharge for federal student loans after a waiting period of ten years. Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in studen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5.7 Million In American Rescue Plan Funding To Increase Vaccine Access

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announce a total of $5.7 million in American Rescue Plan funding awarded to six Chicagoland health care providers to increase COVID-19 vaccinations in underserved communities. The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), will go to community-based organizations that are working to build vaccine confidence, share factual… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy

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 entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. During his opening statement, Durbin shared stories from struggling stud… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois AG Raoul To Testify At Tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul will testify at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." AG Raoul will testify about the need for student loan bankruptcy dischargeability as a last resort to assist struggling student borrowers, including those who were misled into taking out large loans to attend for-profit schools that did not … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Former For-Profit College Student To Testify At Tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that Diane Barta, a former Ashford University student, will testify at tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Barta will testify about her experience attending Ashford University - a for-profit college recently purchased by University of Arizona that has long been the subject of numerous state and federal investigations and lawsuits… Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Brown Urge Department Of Ed To Protect Students During Closure Of Fradulent Center For Excellence In Higher Education Schools

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to assist students impacted by the closure of Center for Excellence in Higher Education (CEHE) schools. Last year, a Colorado state court found CEHE had defrauded students by using predatory tactics and false advertising. In previous letters, the Senators called on the Department to withhold Title… Continue Reading

Durbin: Judiciary Committee Will Not Entertain Bad-Faith Efforts To Derail Chipman's Nomination

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today pressed back on a letter he received from Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee seeking a second hearing on the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In his response, Durbin called out the request for what it is: the lates… Continue Reading

Durbin: Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Makes Smart And Necessary Investments In America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal. The deal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-build our nation's roads, railways, transit, and bridges; to make high-speed internet and clean water a reality for every household in America; and to create millions of good-paying, family-supporting union jobs across the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is currently being debated on the Senate floor.… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Ur Jaddou To Lead USCIS

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ur Jaddou to be Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by a vote of 47-34. Ahead of the confirmation vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke in support of Ms. Jaddou's nomination on the Senate floor. "Ms. Jaddou may be the most qualified person ever to be nominated for this job. She has nearly 20 years experience in immigration law, policy, and administration. She's… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Former Senator Carl Levin On The Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to former U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) on the Senate floor who passed away earlier this week at the age of 87. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about his friendship with Levin and honored his legacy as a model of integrity and a champion of America's military families and veterans. "When he [Levin] retired in 2014, he left a legacy in the Senate, certainly of important and good legislation, but more importantly of the im… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Pass A Pathway To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants Via Reconciliation

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 made the case for passing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants through the budget reconciliation process. During his speech, Durbin argued that due to four years of former President Donald Trump's 'zero-tolerance,' anti-immigrant policies and Congressional Republicans' refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan im… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually With Secretary Of The Air Force

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with the newly-confirmed Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall to discuss Kendall's new role and Air Force priorities. On the call, Durbin and Kendall discussed the need to strategically position the Air Force to counter China. Durbin also advocated for continued support for Air Force installations in Illinois, including Scott Air Force Base. "It was a pleasure to speak with Secretary Kendall as he assumes his new… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With President Biden, Democratic Lawmakers On Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Dream Act, met yesterday with President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress in the White House to discuss the plight of Dreamers following the recent federal court decision by Judge Hanen and the need to finally offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. "Two weeks ago, a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of DACA placed the lives and fu… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With President Biden, Democratic Lawmakers On Path To Citizenship For Undocumented Immigrants

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Dream Act, met yesterday with President Joe Biden and Democratic members of Congress in the White House to discuss the plight of Dreamers following the recent federal court decision by Judge Hanen and the need to finally offer a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. "Two weeks ago, a federal court ruling in Texas on the legality of DACA placed the lives and fu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Emergency Supplemental Bill To Pay National Guard, Capitol Police

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, introduced by Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), that addresses the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $2.1 billion bill addresses the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, provides … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bills To Address Lack Of Competition In Pharmaceutical Industry & Rising Cost Of Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted unanimously to advance four pieces of bipartisan legislation to address the lack of competition in the pharmaceutical industry and rising cost of prescription drugs. Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights-Chaired by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)-held a hearing entitled, "A Prescription for Change: Cracking Down on Anticompetitive Conduct in Prescription Drug Markets," wher… Continue Reading