Durbin Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the names of 43 individuals whom he has nominated to attend four of the nation’s service academies for the upcoming school year. “Each year, I have the privilege to nominate some of Illinois’ best and brightest young leaders to our nation’s esteemed service academies,” said Durbin. “I know that they will make their families—and our nation—proud as they continue their education and serve our country.” The academies include U.S. Militar… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Director of Illinois State Police Brendan Kelly

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Illinois State Police (ISP) Director Brendan Kelly and Illinois Drug Enforcement Officers Association (IDEOA) board members.  Durbin and the group discussed the importance of continued federal funding for initiatives related to the intersection of drugs, guns, and human trafficking, including funding for the Byrne-JAG federal grant program, which supports state and local drug enforc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cartwright, Nunn Introduce Legislation to Streamline Collection of Educator Workforce Data

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Matthew Cartwright (D-PA-08) and Zach Nunn (R-IA-03) today introduced bicameral and bipartisan legislation to collect demographic data on public school teachers and principals to improve the accuracy of educator workforce data.  The Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act would establish a permanent, national mechanism to collect teacher and principal data at the school district-level to assist in recruitment an… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Floor Speech on the Bipartisan Agreement on the National Security Supplemental and Border Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding the bipartisan agreement on the national security supplemental and border security.  During his speech, Durbin praised the inclusion of critical aid to Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan to meet their urgent national security and humanitarian needs.  During his speech, Durbin condemned Republicans’ dema… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committee, Application Process for Federal District Court in 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 announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Central District of Illinois.  The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications and fitness for t… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Bipartisan Agreement on the National Security Supplemental and Border Security

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement regarding the bipartisan agreement on the national security supplemental and border security: “Our broken immigration system cannot keep up with the unprecedented numbers of refugees coming to our border.  We need an orderly process to restore the integrity of our border, which I believe includes a path to citizenshi… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Chicago Children's Advocacy Center to Discuss Legislation to Crack Down on Online Child Sex Abuse

CHICAGO – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today visited Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) to discuss his Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act), which supports victims and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms. This comes following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Durbin led on Wednesday entitled “Big Tech and the Online Child S… Continue Reading

RECAP: Senate Judiciary Committee Presess Big Tech CEOs on Failures to Protect Kids Online During Landmark Hearing

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the Senate Judiciary Committee pressed the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X on their failures to protect kids from sexual exploitation online. The landmark, bipartisan hearing marked the first time a group of Big Tech CEOs testified about online child sexual exploitation before Congress, including first-time Congressional appearances from the CEOs of Discord, Snap, and X. “I’ve had the honor of serving in the House and Senate, and now as Chair of th… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Create Interagency Committee to Improve Oversight Over For-Profit College Industry

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act, legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain of debt.  The bill would require … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Discuss Chicago Hub Improvement Project with Union Pacific

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today met with Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena to discuss the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP), Amtrak’s multi-phased project to revitalize Chicago Union Station (CUS) and revolutionize Midwest passenger rail.  During the meeting, the congressional leaders and Vena spoke about the importance of CHIP to the Midwest, as the project is critical to the regio… Continue Reading

Durbin, Members of the Baltic Freedom Caucus Host Baltic Leaders in the Senate

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, met with Speakers of the Baltic countries and their ambassadors to discuss continued efforts to strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics, support Ukraine, and defend against increasing Russian and Chinese belligerence.  Durbin was joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ). The Senators met with Lauri Hussar, President of the Riigikogu of Estonia; Daiga… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks Infrastructure Improvements with Rock Island Mayor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Rock Island, Illinois, Mayor Mike Thoms and former U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos to discuss infrastructure improvements in the region.  During the meeting, Durbin, Mayor Thoms, and Bustos spoke about Rock Island’s 11th Street Project, which would redesign the street’s four-lane thoroughfare to create a designated bike lane and pedestrian walkway.  “My aim is always to bring Illinois communities the resources they need t… Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Big Tech CEOs to Protect Kids from Sexual Exploitation Online During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today pressed the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter) during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing that examined Big Tech’s failures to protect kids from sexual exploitation online.  During the hearing, Durbin received a commitment from X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, that X will support Durbin’s Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering f… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing Examining Big Tech's Failures to Protect Kids from Sexual Exploitation Online

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 hearing entitled “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis,” featuring testimony from the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter)—a consensus panel agreed to by Chair Durbin and Ranking Member Graham. The companies range in size, products offered, demographics served, and approac… Continue Reading

PREVIEW: Senate Judiciary Committee to Press Big Tech CEOs on Failures to Protect Kids Online During Landmark Hearing Today

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the Senate Judiciary Committee will press the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter) on their failures to protect kids from sexual exploitation online. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previewed the hearing in a speech on the Senate floor. The landmark, bipartisan hearing marks the first time a group of Big Tech CEOs will testify on online child sexual exploitation before Co… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Senate Confirmation of Joshua Kolar to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Joshua Kolar to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Kolar’s confirmation: “Judge Kolar is a dedicated public servant and an accomplished litigator who will be an asset to the Seventh Circuit. Among other things, his resume and service as a U.S. Magistrate Judge earned him bipartisan support, including… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Floor Speech on Big Tech's Failures to Protect Kids from Sexual Exploitation Online Ahead of Tomorrow's Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – Ahead of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the failures of Big Tech to protect kids from sexual exploitation online, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor outlining what he hopes to hear from the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter).  Durbin also called on his colleagues to support his Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with DOJ Inspector General Ahead of Release of Report on Deaths in BOP Custody

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz to discuss his office’s investigation into the non-medical deaths of those in Bureau of Prison (BOP) care.  At the request of Durbin, IG Horowitz previously agreed to review the reports of abuse and the death of seven incarcerated men at Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Thomson in 2022 as part of a larger repo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham, Klobuchar, Hawley Introduce DEFIANCE Act to Hold Accountable Those Responsible for the Proliferation of Nonconsensual, Sexually-Explicit "Deepfake" Images and Videos

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) today introduced the bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act), legislation that would hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images an… Continue Reading

Following New Vaping Restrictions in the U.K., Australia, Durbin Calls on FDA to Act to Protect Children in the United States

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the United Kingdom (U.K.), Australia, France, and other countries have advanced plans to ban kid-friendly e-cigarettes, including flavored and disposable vapes; and called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately act to protect public health in the United States: “Faced with an alarming rise in youth vaping, leaders in the UK, France, and Australia are finally acting to protect child… Continue Reading