Chair Durbin Leads Senate Judiciary Democrats In Letter Asking House Ethics Committee To Release Ethics Report On Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in a letter to the House Ethics Committee urging the House Ethics Committee to preserve and transmit to the Senate Judiciary Committee all relevant documentation on former Congressman Matt Gaetz, including the report that the House Ethics Committee was reportedly prepared to vote to release tomorrow. The letter follows Mr. Gaetz’s resignation from Congress … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Two Judicial Nominations, One Marshall Nomination, Patent Bill To Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced two judicial nominations and one U.S. Marshal nomination to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary and keep our communities safe. Additionally, the Committee advanced a bill to improve the collection of information on barriers inventors face in accessing the patent system. At the top of the hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Commi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On House Ethics Committee Report On Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the preservation and sharing of the House Ethics Committee report with the Senate Judiciary Committee about allegations against former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who resigned from Congress yesterday after President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Mr. Gaetz to serve as Attorney General: “In light of Donald Trump’s selection of fo… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President-Elect Trump's Attorney General Nominee, Rep. Matt Gaetz

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he will nominate U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz to be U.S. Attorney General: “During his first administration, Donald Trump assaulted the Constitution, undermined the rule of law, and tried to use the Department of Justice to overturn the results of the 2020 election. He has made it clear that he now… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Democratic Senators-Elect

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Democratic Senators-elect, including Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), to congratulate them and discuss their goals for the 119th Congress.  “It’s an honor to welcome these newly-elected Senators to Washington. They each bring a unique experience in public service and new energy to our efforts to address the issues faci… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of U.S. Magistrate Judge Hawley To Serve As A District Court Judge For The Central District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON – 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 Senate voted to confirm the nomination of U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Central District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan Hawley to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge for t… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Confirm Every Possible Federal Judge In The Lame Duck Session

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged his colleagues to confirm every pending judicial nominee before the end of the 118th Congress. Thanks to Durbin, Leader Schumer, and the Biden-Harris Administration, Senate Democrats have confirmed 214 judges to lifetime positions on the federal judiciary in the last four years. Right now, there are 16 nominees pending on the Senate floor—four circuit nominee… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Gun Conversion Devices That Are Amplifying The Gun Violence Pandemic

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 “How Bump Stocks and Other Conversion Devices are Amplifying the Gun Violence Epidemic.”  The hearing examined how firearm conversion devices like Glock switches, auto sears, bump stocks, and pistol braces make firearms more lethal and enable evasion of commonsense gun regulations.  In 2018, the Bureau of Alcohol, Toba… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Gun Conversion Devices That Are Amplifying The Gun Violence Epidemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “How Bump Stocks and Other Conversion Devices are Amplifying the Gun Violence Epidemic.”  The hearing examined how firearm conversion devices like Glock switches, auto sears, bump stocks, and pistol braces make firearms more lethal and enable evasion of commonsense gun regulations.  In 2018, the Bureau of Alcoh… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Delegation Letter Urging GSA To Act To Remediate Elevated Levels Of Lead And Legionella Found In Federal Buildings In Chicago, Rockford

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) sent a letter to the leadership of the General Services Administration (GSA) requesting answers on how the agency w… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Senate Confirmation Of April Perry To Serve As A District Court Judge For The Northern District Of Ilinois

WASHINGTON – 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 Senate voted to confirm the nomination of April Perry to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the United States Senate has confirmed April Perry to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Ms. Perr… Continue Reading

Durbin Reflects On The Senate Judiciary Committee's Historic Achievements During Biden Administration; Vows To Continue These Efforts During The Incoming Trump Administration

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted the historic achievements of the Senate Judiciary Committee over the last four years. Thanks to the leadership of President Biden, Leader Schumer, and Chair Durbin, the Senate has confirmed 213 judges, and counting, to lifetime appointments on the federal bench during the Biden-Harris Administration. The Committee has also held hearings on the issues mo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $192 Million To Help Illinois Families Save On Home Energy Bills

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $192,607,773 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help Illinoisans afford the rising cost of home heating bills this winter. This announcement includes funding appropriated from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Durbin and Duckworth both supported. “In the f… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Billy Lawless Sr.

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the passing of Billy Lawless Sr.: “Billy Lawless Sr. was part of a long line of Irish immigrants to Chicago who made America a better nation. In the competitive world of hospitality and restaurants, he and his children worked hard to succeed and excel in Chicago. “I came to know Billy through his passionate advocacy for immigrants. Billy found a way to strike a balance between that man from Ireland w… Continue Reading

Durbin Celebrates Completion of Willard Airport Taxiway Project

SAVOY – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of University of Illinois’ Willard Airport’s midfield taxiway realignment project. This federally funded project is part of a broader effort by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure taxiways nationwide meet the latest safety standards. “By improving airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said Durbin. “T… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On The Outcome Of The 2024 Election

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: “To Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz—thank you. Thank you for running a campaign filled with hope, joy, and possibility. I am sorry that we will not see your vision for America come to be. “While the Administration will change in January, my belief in the promise of this country never will. I promise to work with all of my strength each day in the Senate to look out for the most vuln… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $87 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Rail System Improvements

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $87,078,200 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program for four rail infrastructure improvement projects across Illinois. “Illinois holds a unique position as the converging point for railroads that cross our nation,” said Durbin. “This significant federal investment will ensure our state rema… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin Holds Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing In Chicago On Reducing Prescription Drug Costs

CHICAGO – In case you missed it, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, held a Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in Chicago entitled “Reducing Prescription Drug Prices: How Competition Can Make Medications Affordable for Patients.”  During the hearing, Durbin examined the pharmaceutical industry’s anti-competitive tactics and highlighted the success of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in addressing high prescription drug prices for Medicare benefi… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Field Hearing In Chicago On Reducing Prescription Drug Costs

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during the Senate Judiciary Committee field hearing in Chicago, Illinois, entitled “Reducing Prescription Drug Prices:  How Competition Can Make Medications Affordable for Patients.” The hearing included two witness panels, including Members of Congress from Illinois and advocates for prescription drug pricing reform, to examine recent legislative successes to address anti-… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Field Hearing In Chicago On Reducing Prescription Drug Costs

CHICAGO – 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 field hearing in Chicago, Illinois, entitled “Reducing Prescription Drug Prices:  How Competition Can Make Medications Affordable for Patients.” The hearing includes two witness panels, including Members of Congress from Illinois and advocates for prescription drug pricing reform, to examine recent legislative successes to address… Continue Reading