During Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Stresses Importance Of Rejecting Draconian Budget Cuts And Fully Investing In Medical Research At NIH

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today participated in a subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).”  During the hearing, Durbin, a longtime advocate for funding NIH, stressed the importance of rejecting domestic budget cuts—proposed by House Republicans—which… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Stabenow, Peters Secure Increase In Federal Cost Share To Help Protect The Great Lakes In The 2024 Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) today announced that they secured an increase to the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which was unanimously passed out of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) earlier this week.  Under the provision, the federal government will… Continue Reading

Durbin, Young Applaud Committee Passage Of Their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-IN) today applauded the advancement of their Congenital Heart Futures Reauthorization Act, which passed out of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) with a strong bipartisan vote of 19-2.  The legislation extends funding for public health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve childhood survival rates, prevent premature death and disability,… Continue Reading

Durbin, Casten Introduce Legislation To Incentivize Energy Conservation For Additional Consumer Savings

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) today introduced the Responsive Energy Demand Unlocks Clean Energy (REDUCE) Act, legislation that would allow consumers to sell their energy use reduction into federal wholesale electricity markets by eliminating the “Opt Out” currently employed by 13 states that fully or partially ban “aggregated demand response” from these markets. “Incentivizing consumers to sell their energy reductions into … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Out Senate Republicans For Refusal To Address The Border On A Bipartisan Basis

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called out his Republican colleagues for their failure to help secure the border by once again voting against the bipartisan border bill on the Senate floor.  In a stunning reversal three months ago, Senate Republicans opposed the bipartisan border agreement, refusing to address these pressing issues, and instead prioritizing Donald Trump’s demands. “Once again, Senate Republicans are putti… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Speech At American Heart Association's 100th Anniversary Event

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, today delivered remarks at the American Heart Association’s 100th anniversary event.  In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the importance of strong and sustained funding increases for medical and scientific research centers to ensure that the U.S. moves medical research forward to prevent disease and improve treatments for patients.  Since 2015, Durbin has successfully secured a nearly … Continue Reading

Durbin: Justice Alito Must Recuse Himself From Cases Related To The 2020 Election After 'Appeal To Heaven' Flag Was Flown At His Home

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after a New York Times report that an “Appeal to Heaven” flag—a symbol carried on January 6—was flown at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation home: “This incident is yet another example of apparent ethical misconduct by a sitting justice, and it adds to the Court’s ongoing ethical crisis.  For the good of our country and the Court, Justice Alito must recu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer, Civil Rights Leaders Celebrate Milestone Of 200th Judge Confirmed During Biden Administration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and civil rights leaders today celebrated the milestone of 200 Article III judges confirmed during the Biden Administration.  These 200 confirmations highlight the Judiciary Committee’s work filling judicial vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “Th… Continue Reading

In Speech on Senate Floor, Durbin Celebrates Milestone Of 200 Judges Confirmed During Biden Administration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the confirmation of the 200th Article III judge confirmed during the Biden Administration.  These 200 confirmations highlight the Judiciary Committee’s work filling judicial vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “Over the past three years something profound … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations

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 on the nominations of Judge Michelle Court, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; Judge Anne Hwang, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California; Judge Sarah Netburn, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; Stacey N… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Prison Reform Efforts During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Prison Labor In America

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed his efforts to date to reform the federal prison system, including conducting rigorous oversight and reducing the use of solitary confinement, at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “An Examination of Prison Labor in America.” “I’ve tried in my time on the Judiciary Committee, and in the few years that I have been Chair, to have a fo… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Secretary Of State On Crisis In Gaza

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State.”  During the hearing, Durbin questioned the witness, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, about President Biden’s decision to suspend specific offensive weapons to Israel that could be u… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.”  The hearing examined prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families.  Durbin first questioned Dr. Will Feldman, a Physicia… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $17.8 Million In EPA Grant Funding To Clean And Redevelop Contaminated Illinois Sites

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 10 grants, totaling $17,833,610, to Illinois communities to assess, clean, and redevelop “brownfield” contaminated waste sites.  Brownfields are properties upon which expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by the pre… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee a hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families.  Durbin spoke on the Senate floor yest… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Confirmation Of Seth Aframe To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The First Circuit

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Seth Aframe to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Aframe’s confirmation: “Mr. Aframe is an experienced trial attorney and accomplished appellate practitioner who has over 20 years of legal experience. His significant litigation background and extensive experience in federal court ensure that he will … Continue Reading

Durbin Previews Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Prescription Drug Prices, Competition, And Innovation

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor highlighting tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Ensuring Affordable & Accessible Medications: Examining Competition in the Prescription Drug Market.” The hearing will examine prescription drug prices, competition, and innovation, and how to ensure medications are accessible and affordable for American families.  Durbin began his remarks by r… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Justice Alito To Recuse Himself From Cases Related To The 2020 Election After A 'Stop The Steal' Symbol Was Displayed In His Yard

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after a New York Times report that a “Stop the Steal” symbol—an upside-down American flag—was displayed in Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s yard: “Flying an upside-down American flag—a symbol of the so-called ‘Stop the Steal’ movement—clearly creates the appearance of bias.  Justice Alito should recuse himself immediately from cases related to the 2020 election a… Continue Reading

Durbin Receives Commitment From Assistant Secretary Of The Army For Civil Works That The Corps Will Prioritize The Brandon Road Project Partnership Agreement Ahead Of The June 30th Deadline

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, received commitment from the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael L. Connor that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) is prioritizing the Project Partnership Agreement in regards to the Brandon Road Project ahead of the June 30 deadline.  Failure to sign a Project Partnership Agreement with the Corps will result in further del… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Military Readiness With Chief of U.S. Air Force Reserves

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Lt. Gen. John Healy, Chief of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, to discuss military readiness.  Durbin also received an update about Scott Air Force Base’s 932nd Airlift Wing, which Durbin protected from divestment and for which he secured nearly $60 million for aircraft upgrades in recent fiscal years.  The 932nd Airlift Wing trains, equips, and employs C-40C aircra… Continue Reading