Durbin, Schatz Introduce Legislation to Combat Overuse of Solitary Confinement in Immigration Detention

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) today introduced legislation to combat the rampant and unnecessary overuse of solitary confinement in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-operated and ICE contract facilities.  Today’s bill introduction comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s full committee hearing tomorrow entitled “Legacy of Harm: Eliminating the Abuse of Solitary Confinement… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Must Uphold The Constitution, Respect The Framers’ Intentions, And Quickly Dispose Of Unjustified Articles Of Impeachment Against Secretary Mayorkas

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the partisan charade House Republicans have made of the impeachment process.  During his speech, Durbin called the two impeachment articles filed against U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, “nothing more than an attempt to politicize this solemn constitutional tool to distract from the very real fact that the H… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Fermilab Director

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Fermilab Director Dr. Lia Merminga to receive an update on the lab’s research projects, particularly the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility/Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (LBNF/DUNE).  Durbin secured $251 million in funding for the project in the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) government funding bill passed by Congress in March.  “National labs, like Illinois’ own Fermilab, have pushed the boundaries of scientific discovery wi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Coons Introduce Bill To Limit Use Of Solitary Confinement

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) and the U.S. Marshals Service’s use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for adults in custody separated from the general prison population.  Today’s bill introduction comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s full committee hearing tomorrow entitled “Legacy of Harm: Eliminating… Continue Reading

Following Iran’s Attack On Israel, Durbin Urges House Republicans To Finally Pass The National Security Supplemental

WASHINGTON – Following Iran’s attack on Israel this weekend, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged House Republicans to finally pass the national security supplemental, which passed the Senate in February on a bipartisan basis and would provide aid for Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan.  During his speech, Durbin reflected on the ongoing threats that Iran posed prior to the attack on Israel. “I had the privilege of visiting our American service members stationed with the U.S.… Continue Reading

Durbin, Pingree Send Letter To Va Requesting Details On Produce Prescription Programs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough requesting information about the implementation of “produce prescription” initiatives at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  In 2022, President Biden called on VHA to begin the implementation of “produce prescriptions,” which allow patients who have diet-related chronic health conditions to be “prescribed” vouchers to purchas… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges OMB, Army Corps To Include $71.5 Million In Funding To Support Morgan Shoal Shoreline Restoration Project In Army Corps Of Engineers Fy24 Work Plan

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), and Johnathan Jackson (D-IL-01) today sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael Connor and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Shalanda Young calling for $71.5 million for the Chicago Shoreline Morgan Shoal Project to be included … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Iran's Attack on Israel

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding reports that Iran launched attacks on Israel: “Putin’s ally Iran has been a destabilizing regional spoiler, arming Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis foryears, using proxies to attack U.S. interests, and inching ever closer to a nuclear weapon—a situation made worse since Trump petulantly withdrew the U.S. from the nuclear agreement that had constrained that dangerous program.  I hope wise… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls FDA and DOJ Officials into Washington Office to Receive Briefing on Lack of Enforcement Against Unauthorized E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center forTobacco Products Director, Dr. Brian King, and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Brian Boynton, to his Washington office yesterday to brief him on the lack of enforcement against unauthorized e-cigarettes that are addicting millions of children across America. Durbin convened this meeting after repe… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Federal Funding Headed to Illinois to Help Address Migrant Crisis

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on today’s announcement that the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency are releasing the first installment of congressionally-approved federal funds as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) “minibus” to help cities and states address the migrant crisis, of which $19.3 million will go to Illinois and be split equally between the state an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $9 Million to Protect and Rebuild Illinois' Infrastructure Impacted by Severe Weather Events

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $9,026,212 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant program to study and improve infrastructure across the state of Illinois. “Through the PROTECT grant program, we are embarking on a crucial endeavor to study and address the vulnerabilities of our transportation sy… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Send Recommendations for Federal District Court Judge in the Central District of Illinois to the White House

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 sent a list of names for the White House to consider for a forthcoming Peoria-based federal district court judicial vacancy in the Central District of Illinois.  Based on recommendations made by the screening committee the Senators established in the Central District, Durbin and Duckworth have forwarded the names of the following individuals to Preside… Continue Reading

Durbin, Thune Urge Biden Administration to Prioritize E15 Fuel, Leverage American Agriculture

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today led a bipartisan group of their colleagues in urging the Biden Administration to permit the summertime sale of E15 fuel.  The Senators note that American biofuels are a clean and reliable energy solution that will help drive down fuel costs forconsumers. “[W]e must pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy, which inclu… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Illinois Water Infrastructure Projects with Rock Island Army Corps District Commander

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Chicago District Commander Colonel Kenneth P. Rockwell to receive an update on several northern Illinois infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Shoreline Storm Damage Reduction Project to restore the Chicago shoreline after coastal storm damage.  Durbin secured $1.5 million in funding for the project in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) in addition to securing lan… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following the Joint Session of Congress with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after today’s Joint Session of Congress with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.   Before the Joint Session of Congress, Durbin met with his guest, Ross Harano, former Managing Director of the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment and former Chair of the Commission of Asian American Affairs for the City of Chicago.  Mr. Harano was born in an “Assembly Center” in California’s Fresno County Fairgrounds … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Six Nominations to the Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced six nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary. The nominations advanced include four judicial nominees and two U.S. Marshal nominees. “We’ve reported over 200 lifetime judicial nominations to the full Senate, and we’re quickly approaching 200 judicial confirmations under President Biden. Today’s votes continue our effort to bring balance to the federal judiciary by ad… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Drug Overdose Crisis with DEA Administrator Milgram

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram.  During their meeting, they discussed the need to address the unacceptable, growing rate of drug overdose deaths across the United States, driven primarily by fentanyl and illicit drug distribution on social media platforms. “DEA is tasked with the serious responsibility of stopping the opioid crisis,” said Durbin. “… Continue Reading

Durbin, Peters, and Wyden Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Fraud, Recover Stolen Pandemic Funds, and Protect Taxpayer Dollars

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Gary Peters?(D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, introduced legislation to address historic levels of fraud within federal funds that were passed to help Americans through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fraud Prevention and Recovery Act includes key resources and programs t… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions COPS Office Director During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Oversight of the COPS Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) Director Hugh T. Clements during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Oversight of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant Program.”  Today’s hearing, the first full Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the COPS Program since its creation in 1994, examined the COPS Program and its ef… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Oversight of the COPS Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Oversight of the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant Program,” which will examine the COPS program and its efforts to promote community-oriented policing practices at law enforcement agencies across the country.  Today’s hearing is the first full Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversigh… Continue Reading