Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Immigration Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during "The Essential Role of Immigrant Workers in America" Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing. U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Subcommittee, made history as the first Latino Chair of a Senate Judiciary subcommittee. During his opening statement, Durbin highlighted the need for Congress to pass legislat… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley, Rubio, & Duckworth Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Map Urban Flooding & Help FEMA Better Assess Risks

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act of 2021. The bill would enhance the mapping of urban flooding to prevent associated damage and help give cities and towns the tools they need to address flooding on the a local level. "Climate change brings … Continue Reading

Durbin Questions AG Garland & DHS Secretary Mayorkas On Domestic Terrorism & Border Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked questions during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on domestic violent extremism with Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Durbin asked Attorney General Garland how the Department of Justice (DOJ) is addressing the possibility that members of law enforcement were involved in the January 6 insurrection. "[After… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With ATF Director Nominee David Chipman

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with David Chipman, nominee to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). During their meeting, Durbin and Chipman discussed efforts to address the gun violence epidemic and protect public safety, including the President's proposal to stop the proliferation of ghost guns, combatting illicit firearm trafficking, and tracing crime guns. Th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Escalating Violence In Israel

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the escalating violence in Israel: "The heartbreaking violence between the Israeli and Palestinian people is the culmination of decades of neglect and lack of political will to find a lasting peace that provides an independent state for the Palestinians and lasting security for the Israelis. For too long, spoilers on both sides have sought short-term political gains at the expense of this… Continue Reading

Durbin: Donald Trump's 'Big Lie' Sowed Distrust In Our Election; We Must Pass The For The People Act To Defend Our Democratic Process

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke in support of the For The People Act, a measure that will combat voter suppression and protect our democratic process. Durbin argued that Donald Trump's 'Big Lie' that the 2020 election was stolen from him presents an existential threat to our democracy, and that Congress needs to uphold its constitutional obligation to defend our democratic process by passing the For The People Act. Since th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Letter In Support Of National Labs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-ID), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and 15 of their Senate colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) requesting the Endless Frontier Act be modified to recognize the leading role the Department of Energy (DOE) and National Laboratories play in shaping American innovation. … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Latest Slate Of White House Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House announced its latest slate of judicial nominations: Chief Judge Gustavo Gelpí, United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; Eunice Lee, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Veronica Rossman, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit; Judge Angel Kelly, United States District Court for the Dist… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Sexual Assault Prevention In The Military With Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Daniels

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Army Reserve Chief Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels to receive an update on the ongoing investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault allegations at the 416th Theater Engineering Command (TEC) and improving support for assault victims, protection against reprisal for whistleblowers, and accountability for Command leaders. On the call, Durbin and Lieutenant General Daniels also discussed the Army's recent … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Bills To Increase Youth Employment Opportunities

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) introduced two bills to expand and increase access to employment opportunities for underserved youth. The Helping to Encourage Real Opportunity (HERO) for Youth Act and the Creating Pathways for Youth Employment Act will increase federal resources for communities seeking to create or grow employment programs and provide tax incentives to businesses and emp… Continue Reading

Durbin, Young Lead Senators In Bipartisan Request For Strong FY22 International Affairs Budget

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led nearly half the Senate in urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to support strong Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 funding for the International Affairs Budget. In a bipartisan letter to Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Vice Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), the Senators highlight … Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Has The Chance To Become Leader In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to highlight the exciting progress in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure in Illinois. On the Senate floor, Durbin spoke about his recent visit to the Rivian plant in Normal, Illinois, ahead of the manufacturing facility beginning production of its inaugural line of electric trucks, SUVs, and delivery vans. Durbin emphasized that Rivian's new plant, which was redeveloped from an idle Mitsubishi plant, is a … Continue Reading

Durbin: "Tsunami" Of COVID-19 Lawsuits Never Arrived

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today defended the American Rescue Plan and Democrats' decision to keep the bill focused on helping families and small businesses, rather than including Republican proposals for a massive handout to big businesses in the form of liability immunity. Durbin referenced a proposal pushed by Republicans last year that would have given corporations sweeping federal immunity from accountability-both in court and… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Remarks In Hearing On Ghost Guns

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution hearing entitled "Stop Gun Violence: Ghost Guns." Durbin expressed his support for taking action to rein in the proliferation of untraceable ghost guns, which are currently being sold without background checks and are increasingly being used in shootings and recovered at crime scenes. Last week, the Departme… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Treasury Department Guidance On State And Local Government Funding In American Rescue Plan

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Department of the Treasury announced guidance for state and local government funding included in the American Rescue Plan: "Democrats and President Biden provided these federal relief dollars to prevent layoffs and save essential services. State and local governments will finally be able to fill revenue gaps to keep our teachers, first responders, and state employees serving our communities … Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Pandemic's Impact On Women, Slams Republicans For Promise To Take Away Enhanced Unemployment Benefits

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today highlighted the disparate impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and mothers in Illinois and across the country. "Some economists have another name for the recession caused by the COVID pandemic. They call it a 'she-cession' because the economic hardships and jobs losses have fallen disproportionately on women, especially working mothers…2.5 million American women have dropped out or … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces America's Red Rock Wilderness Act To Protect National Parks & Monuments

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act today to protect 8.4 million acres of land in Utah that is rich in archaeological resources and home to numerous rare plant and animal species. These landscapes are also the access point for many national parks and offer unparalleled research, educational, and recreational opportunities for scientists, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and American families. "With the America's Red Rock Wild… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Discuss COVID-19 Prevention And Vaccination Measures With IDVA

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and former Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA), today spoke with Acting IDVA Director Terry Prince and Acting IDVA Assistant Director Anthony Vaughn about addressing and preventing a fatal COVID-19 outbreaks at the Illinois Veterans Homes (IVH). The call came after a Illinois Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General's (OIG) report releas… Continue Reading

Durbin: Investment In Electric Vehicle Infrastructure In American Jobs Plan Key To Maintain U.S. Global Economic Edge

NORMAL - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Mayor Chris Koos to discuss the need to invest in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure as part of President Biden's American Jobs Plan (AJP). The AJP proposes a $174 billion investment in EVs, including new tax incentives to buy American-made EVs and a grant program for state and local governments and the private sector to build 500,000 charging stations by 2030. "Normal is stepping up to the plate to ensure the United States c… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press DOJ To Strengthen First Step Act Rule On Earned Time Credits To Incentivize 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 urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to direct the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to expeditiously revise the proposed rule published on November 25, 2020, regarding earned time credits authorized by the First Step Act of 2018 (FSA). In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Senators highlighted wh… Continue Reading