Durbin Statement on Senate Confirmation of Jack Lew to Serve as U.S. Ambassador to Israel

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Jack Lew to serve as the United States Ambassador to Israel: “The recent terrorist attack in Israel and ensuing overlapping challenges in the region are a reminder of the importance of having top American diplomats at our embassies.  Unfortunately, some Republican Senators have continued to block the confirmation of highly qualified U.S. ambassadors from key posts around t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Whitehouse Announce Vote to Authorize Subpoenas for Crow, Leo, and Arkley Related to Supreme Court Ethics Reform in Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II as it relates to the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation. “The Supreme Court is in an ethical … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges the Senate to Pass the "Minibus" and Fund the Government for the Sake of the American People

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to pass a package of three funding bills currently pending on the Senate floor, known as a “minibus,” which provides funding for military construction, as well as for the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development for fiscal year 2024 (FY24).  Durbin said, “Bipartisan efforts are necessary… Continue Reading

Durbin, Marshall Urge DOT, CFPB to Protect Consumers Against Unfair and Deceptive Practices in Airlines' Reward Programs

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) requested information from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) about the actions they are taking to protect consumers against unfair and deceptive practices in airlines’ frequent flyer and loyalty programs.  Millions of Americans participate in frequent flyer programs.  While these progr… Continue Reading

Senate and House Judiciary Democrats Outline Necessary Due Process Reforms for Noncitizens in Immigration Detention Center

WASHINGTON – Today, lead Senate and House Judiciary Committee Democrats wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas outlining necessary reforms to current procedures fornoncitizens in immigration detention to improve access to due process. The letter is signed by the top Democrat on both the Senate and House Judiciary Committees – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY) – and top Demo… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Out House Republicans for Dangerous Effort to Block Reauthorization of AIDS Relief

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor emphasizing the positive impact of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has saved more than 25 million lives worldwide in conjunction with its companion effort, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.  In his speech, Durbin criticized House Republicans for threatening to halt the reauthorization of PEPFAR despite the program’s effectiveness by falsely… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Require Insurers to Fully Cover Over-the-Counter Birth Control, With No Out-Pf-Pocket Costs or Prescription Barrier

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), along with 42 of their Senate colleagues, in sending a letter urging the Biden Administration to require federally and state-regulated health insurance plans to fully cover over-the-counter contraceptives, including Opill—the first-ever FDA-app… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Tentative UAW-Stellantis Deal to Restart Belvidere Auto Plant with Addition of A Battery Facility

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement expressing his support for the tentative deal reached between the United Auto Workers (UAW) and Stellantis, which includes restarting the Belvidere Assembly Plant in Belvidere, Illinois, as well as adding a battery plant to the facility: “From my very first meeting, and every one since, the President of UAW, Shawn Fain, made it clear that the future of Belvidere was a critical bargaining issue.  He kep… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks At EVBox's Launch Event for New Direct Current Fast Charger Technology

LIBERTYVILLE – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited EVBox’s manufacturing facility to deliver remarks at the launch of its new direct current (DC) fast charger technology, known as Troniq Modular. “Today, electric vehicles are more than a vision of the future; they are a tangible reality—affordable, accessible, and efficient,” said Durbin. “With innovators like EVBox reimagining the future of refueling with its new direct current fast charger technology, more Americans can make the tra… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Formally Welcomes Senator Laphonza Butler, Advances Four Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee formally welcomed Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) to the Committee, after it was announced that she would fill the seat left vacant following the passing of the late Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Approved at today’s business meeting, Senator Butler is now Chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution and filled Senator Feinstein’s three other subcommittee assignments on the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism; the Subco… Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Lawmakeers Call on Corizon Health, INC. to Answer for Use of 'Texas Two-Step,' Evasion of Liability By Abusing Bankruptcy System

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), along with U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today sent a letter to Corizon Health, Inc.-affiliated companies Tehum Care Services, Inc. and YesCare Corporation (together, “Corizon”), condemning Corizon’s use of the Texas Two… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Senate, House Ukraine Caucus Chairs, Key Members to Discuss Support for Ukraine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted Co-Chairs of the Senate and House Ukraine Caucus and additional key Members to discuss continued support for Ukraine, including President Biden’s emergency supplemental.  In addition to Durbin and Wicker, U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE), as well as U.S. Representative… Continue Reading

Durbin, Waters Introduce CLASS Act to Give Student Defrauded by For-Profit Colleges Their Day in Court

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) today reintroduced bicameral legislation designed to strengthen students’ ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct.  The Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act would enhance accountability for for-profit colleges and safeguard taxpayer dollars by prohibiting an institution of higher education from receiving Title IV federal student aid if the … Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues in Letter to DOL Urging the Department to Hold Companies Accountable for Violating Child Labor Laws

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 11 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Department to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws.  The letter follows a New York Times Magazine article that raised serious concerns about the influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children that are working long hours in dangerous conditions.  In the letter, th… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues in Letter to DOL Urging the Department to Hold Companies Accountable for Violating Child Labor Laws

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 11 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Acting Secretary Julie Su urging the Department to continue holding companies accountable for violations of child labor laws.  The letter follows a New York Times Magazine article that raised serious concerns about the influx of unaccompanied noncitizen children that are working long hours in dangerous conditions.  In the letter, th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Baldwin, House Members to Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Community and Tech College

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced bicameral legislation with Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM-03), Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), and Madeleine Dean (D-PA-03) to make two-year technical and community college accessible to more Americans by waiving tuition foreligible students. “Community colleges provide a springboard forstudents who wish to continue their education and a fou… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Biden's Address to the Nation

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Biden addressed the nation from the Oval Office on the United States’ response to the wars in Israel and Ukraine: “Thank you, Mr. President, for reminding America that we have a singular role in the world fighting against terrorists like Hamas and tyrants like the infamous war criminal, Vladimir Putin. “We are fortunate to have a President who knows the lessons of history and is determ… Continue Reading

Durbin Releases Statement for the Record for Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Immigration Courts

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released a statement for the record for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled “Preserving Due Process and the Rule of Law: Examining the Status of Our Nation’s Immigration Courts.” Key Quotes: “Our immigration courts are essential to a functional and orderly immigration system, but they are in desperate need of reform and improvement… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Ernst, Booker, Colleagues Urge President Biden To Do Everything in His Power to Rescue American Hostages

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), led 45 colleagues in urging President Biden to continue putting his full attention on the freeing of American hostages that were taken by Hamas during the terrorist organization’s October 7th attacks on Israel and supporting Israel’s efforts to dismantle the threat of Hamas. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “We appreciate that you have sent the U… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes Senator Butler to the Senate Judiciary Committee

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement welcoming U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) to the Senate Judiciary Committee after it was announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that she will serve on the Committee for the remainder of the 118th Congress: “It is an honor to welcome Senator Butler to the Senate Judiciary Committee.  She brings new ideas and a unique experience in public se… Continue Reading