Durbin Questions BOP Director Carvajal On Use Of Solitary Confirnement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked questions during the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) oversight hearing with BOP Director Michael Carvajal. Durbin asked Carvajal about BOP's use of solitary confinement and whether the Bureau is working to reduce its use. Solitary confinement - or restricted housing as defined by BOP - places an inmate in an isolated cell for approximately 22 hours per day with only an hour or two of t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Maloney Introduce Legislation To Expand Family Leave Protections

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY-12), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, today introduced legislation that would modernize the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for the 21st Century. The Family Medical Leave Modernization Act will guarantee small necessities leave and make important updates to the definition of family to ensure a broader range of caregiving relationships are covered by FMLA's prot… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets Virtually with University of Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with University of Illinois trustees, administrators, faculty, and students to discuss higher education affordability, including Pell Grants and open textbooks, and the recently passed American Rescue Plan. On the call, Durbin also praised the COVID-19 testing program developed by the university, SHIELD, which is now being used in more than 80 facilities across Illinois. "The University of Illinois is an institution that o… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Colleague Introduce Black Maternal Health Week Resolution

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) to introduce a resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, "to bring national attention to the maternal health crisis in the United States and the importance of reducing maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women and birthing persons." Black Maternal Health Week is observed from April 11 through April 17. "Too many families h… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Kristen Clarke On Police Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kristen Clarke, President Biden's nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, during her nomination hearing. Durbin asked Clarke to discuss her views on police reform, racial justice in America, and how to improve law enforcement training and social services. "We do need more social workers. They are a necessary part of law enforcement as far as I'm c… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Kristen Clarke On Police Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kristen Clarke, President Biden's nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, during her nomination hearing. Durbin asked Clarke to discuss her views on police reform, racial justice in America, and how to improve law enforcement training and social services. "We do need more social workers. They are a necessary part of law enforcement as far as I'm c… Continue Reading

Durbin: Clarke And Kim Are The Leaders DOJ Needs For Critical Divisions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nominations hearing for Kristen Clarke to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division and Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). In it, Durbin said that Clarke and Kim are experienced leaders who can restore integrity and independence to the Department of Justice, … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Climate Leadership Council

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with the Climate Leadership Council to discuss carbon pricing and climate change policy. On the call, Durbin spoke about his own legislation, America's Clean Future Fund Act. Durbin's legislation would reduce carbon emissions and accelerate the U.S. transition to a green economy by leveraging revenue raised by a carbon fee to fund a new federal agency called the Climate Change Finance Corporation. Durbin and the Climate Lea… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Todd Kim's Opening Remarks Ahead Of Hearing To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Environment And Natural Resources Division

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Todd Kim's opening statement ahead of his nomination hearing to be U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). His nomination hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 14 at 10:00 AM ET. Key quotes: "In my seven-and-a-half years [at ENRD], I also learned firsthand the skill, dedication, professionalism, and integrity of the career staff that work day in and day out enforcing environmental law… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Kristen Clarke's Opening Remarks Ahead Of Hearing To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Civil Rights Division

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Kristen Clarke's opening statement ahead of her nomination hearing to be U.S. Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. Her nomination hearing will take place on Wednesday, April 14 at 10:00 AM ET. Key quotes: "When I left DOJ, I carried the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as my guide: 'Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. M… Continue Reading

Durbin Slams Georgia Voting Restrictions As Deliberate Effort To Suppress Voters Of Color

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today slammed Georgia's new voting restrictions that will make it harder for Georgians of color to vote. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin criticized the provisions included in the new law that will reduce the number of drop boxes available to voters in the Atlanta area, restrict access to and implement strict voter ID requirements for absentee ballots, and make it a criminal offense to pro… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Todd Kim, Nominee To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Environment And Natural Resources Division

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Todd Kim, President Biden's nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice. On the call, Durbin and Kim discussed their mutual commitment to environmental policy that both combats climate change and stimulates our economy. They additionally discussed Kim's pending role at the Department of Justice,… Continue Reading

Durbin On Gun Violence: Are We Going To Give Up, Or Stand Up?

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the public health crisis of gun violence in Illinois and across the nation. During his speech, Durbin called for the Senate to act on common sense, constitutional steps that can reduce gun violence in America, including passing legislation to close gaps in the firearm background check system. Durbin also shared the story of one-year old Kayden Swann, who is in… Continue Reading

Durbin Champions Illinois' Recently Signed Waiver To Extend Health Care Coverage For New Moms

WASHINGTON - During Black Maternal Health Week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), in a speech on the Senate floor, today applauded the Biden Administration for approving and signing Illinois' 1115 waiver, which will extend health care coverage for new moms on Medicaid in Illinois from 60 days after pregnancy to a full year. In February 2020, Durbin and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) led 14 members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to the Departm… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth & Colleagues Urge President Biden To Return To Iran Nuclear Agreement

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Chris Murphy (D-MA), and 23 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Joe Biden expressing the need to rejoin the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to peacefully and effectively stem the threat of Iran's nuclear program. In the letter, the Senators emphasized the importance of also addressing Iran's taking of U.S. hostages as well as destabilization of the region … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos, Rush Urge USDA To Finalize Conservation Program Agreement For Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and Bobby Rush (D-IL-01), both members of the House Agriculture Committee, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to finalize the long-awaited Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) agreement for Illinois. CREP is one of USDA's flagship conservation programs, usin… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Ensure Our Defense Innovation Investments Allow Us To Compete With Our Adversaries

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today participated in a hearing on Department of Defense (DOD) Research and Innovation. Witnesses from DOD Research and Engineering and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) testified about how to better engage DOD's technology strategy and capabilities. During the hearing, Durbin raised concerns about the rise of adversaries like Russia, China, Iran, and North … Continue Reading

Durbin, Maloney Introduce Bicameral Bill To Increase Access To Broadband Service For Low-Income Americans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY-18) today introduced a bicameral bill that would increase access to broadband service for low-income urban and rural Americans. The Promoting Access to Broadband Act would help states increase awareness and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Lifeline Program. The Lifeline Program helps low-income households pay for their telephone and broadband service charges by… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Call On Department Of Interior To Restore Grand Staircase-Escalante And Bears Ears National Monuments

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to express their strong support for President Biden's restoration of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and restoration and consideration of expanding the Bears Ears Nation… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Call On Department Of Interior To Restore Grand Staircase-Escalante And Bears Ears National Monuments

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), wrote to the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to express their strong support for President Biden's restoration of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and restoration and consideration of expanding the Bears Ears Nation… Continue Reading