Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth

JOLIET – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills this week for Energy and Water Development; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.  Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these appro… Continue Reading

Durbin, Whitehouse Statement On Senate Judiciary Committee Advancing Supreme Court Ethics Reform Bill To Full Senate

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act of 2023 to the full Senate. 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, released the following statement on the vote: "Public support of the Supreme Court is at an all-time low fol… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement Ahead Of Supreme Court Ethics Reform Vote

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement ahead of an expected vote to advance Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI) Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act to the full Senate. The bill would require Supreme Court Justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws, improve disclosure and transparency when a… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Trends In Vertical Merger Enforcement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights hearing entitled, "Trends in Vertical Merger Enforcement." Durbin began by asking Mr. Makan Delrahim, Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP and Former Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice, about clarifying or correcting court precedent i… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions SEC Chair On Crypto At An Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) budget, questioned U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler about the risks of cryptocurrency. In 2022 alone, fraud schemes involving cryptocurrencies totaled more than $9 billion. One in five Americans is estimated to have invested in or traded cryptocurrency. "This is an indus… Continue Reading

Durbin, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Retain International Graduates With Advanced Stem Degrees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would streamline the path for advanced Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) international graduates who studied at our nation's universities to remain in the United States. Today, nearly two-thirds of U.S. graduate students in key fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductor-related programs were born abroad. "America sh… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following The Joint Session Of Congress With Israeli President Herzog

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after today's Joint Session of Congress with Israeli President Isaac Herzog. This year marks 75 years of Israeli independence. "Israeli President Herzog has been a voice of political moderation and democracy, messages he reaffirmed today to the Joint Session of Congress. He has patriotically urged his country's political leaders to step back from the brink of recklessly damaging key democratic institut… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Support Supreme Court Ethics Reform Legislation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the need for the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct. Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will mark up and vote on Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's (D-RI)Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act. The bill would require Supreme Court Justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider, Carper Lead Letter To EPA In Support Of Proposed Rule To Reduce ETO Emissions

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), founder of the Environmental Justice Caucus, along with U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE), Chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led a letter signed by 40 Members of Congress to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supporting its proposed ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilizers rule. The new proposed rule would reduce EtO emiss… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Rachel Bloomekatz To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Rachel Bloomekatz to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Bloomekatz's confirmation: "Rachel Bloomekatz is an accomplished appellate litigator. She's proven herself to be a zealous and effective advocate for equal justice under the law, including by defending access to the ballot box, environmental protec… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Colleagues To Pass The Bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to pass the Senate's bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24). The Senate NDAA authorizes nearly $886 billion for the nation's defense and includes a five percent pay raise for our troops and the Pentagon's civilian workforce-the largest increase in decades. The bill also expands employment opportunities for military spouses, funding for … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Prohibit Plastic Pollution In Waterways

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, which would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic into waterways from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport pellets. The pellets are being consumed by fish and marine life-and in turn, humans-and create… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Prohibit Plastic Pollution In Waterways

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) today introduced the Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act, which would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets and other pre-production plastic into waterways from facilities and sources that make, use, package, or transport pellets. The pellets are being consumed by fish and marine life-and in turn, humans-and create… Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez, Schumer, & Gillibrand Lead Colleagues In Letter To DHS, State Urging Redesignation Of Venezuela & Nicaragua For Temporary Protected Status

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today led 22 of their colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to redesignate Venezuela and Nicaragua for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). TPS offers temporary relief from removal and access to work permits for eligible foreign nationals … Continue Reading

Durbin, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Prohibit Normalized Relations With Assad’s Syria

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today introduced new legislation to prohibit any official action to recognize or normalize relations with any Government of Syria that is led by Bashar al-Assad due to the Assad regime's prior and ongoing crimes against the Syrian people. The bipartisan Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act of 2023 would also make it U.S. policy to actively oppose recognition or normalization of relations by other govern… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1.5 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $1,509,844 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) medical research grant funding for Illinois institutions. The funding will be put toward research programs across the state to support advancements in sectors ranging from cancer to immunology. "By funding the pursuit of knowledge, we empower our scientists and researchers to unlock the cures and innovations that will … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $35 Million For Variety Of Illinois Health Care Programs And Initiatives

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $35,193,206 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support a variety of health care programs, initiatives, and community projects across the state. "This federal support empowers our communities to thrive, ensuring access to quality health care and fostering initiatives that address the unique needs of Illinois' diverse population," said Durbin. "By bolster… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Afghan Allies in the U.S. to Apply for Lawful Permanent Residence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) to reintroduce the Afghan Adjustment Act, bipartisan legislation to allow Afghans who sought refuge in the United States to obtain lawful permanent residence after undergoing rigorous additional vetting. Currently, Afg… Continue Reading

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced three Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and Legislative Branch. Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in these appropriations bills, both through Congressio… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Bipartisan Bill To Help Curb Illicit Drug Trafficking On Social Media Platforms, Four Nominations

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the bipartisan Cooper Davis Act, introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), to the full Senate on a bipartisan vote of 16-5. The bill, as amended, would require social media companies to take on a more active role in working with federal agencies to combat the illegal sale and distribution of drugs on their platforms. "We've been on a mission in the Senate Judiciary Committee: to protect children'… Continue Reading