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

Durbin Statement on Settlement Agreement for Families Separated at the U.S.-Mexico Border by the Trump Administration

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the settlement agreement in the Ms. L vs. Immigration and Customs Enforcement class action lawsuit: “Today’s announcement is a win for the hundreds of families who endured severe trauma due to the Trump Administration’s cruel and inhumane family separation policy—a policy that went directly against the values of this nation.  The prior Administration … Continue Reading

Durbin Releases Statement for the Record for Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Name, Image, And Likeness, And the Future of College Sports

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 Committee hearing entitled “Name, Image, and Likeness, and the Future of College Sports.”  Today’s hearing will examine different federal name, image, and likeness (NIL) legislative proposals and seek to establish what is truly in the best interests of college athletes. Key Quotes: “College sports is a big business that generates bi… Continue Reading

As Winter Approaches, Durbin, Duckworth Join Bipartisan Letter Urging Biden Administration To Help Reduce Energy Costs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a group of 26 lawmakers, led by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), in sending a bipartisan letter calling on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to reduce energy costs for Americans through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally f… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Announce Up to $1 Billion for Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen's Production And Distribution Hub

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today announced up to $1 billion in federal funding for the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen’s (MachH2) regional clean hydrogen production and distribution hub (H2Hub) through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, funded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(IIJA). In May, Durbin and Foster led a bipart… Continue Reading

DURBIN, DUCKWORTH, MEMBERS OF ILLINOIS DELEGATION URGE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO PROVIDE ILLINOIS WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO RECEIVE ASYLUM SEEKERS

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led members of the Illinois Democratic Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the Administration to provide Illinois and the City of Chicago with the necessary resources to receive asylum seekers in a safe and orderly fashion.  In the letter, the lawmakers call for government-wide provision of resources, streamlining work a… Continue Reading

ICYMI: ESPN: NCAA President, Big Ten Commissioner to Testify at Senate Judiciary Hearing on Name, Image, And Likeness Rights

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, ESPN highlighted yesterday’s announcement that the Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a full committee hearing on name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights in college sports on Tuesday, October 17th at 10:00 AM ET. This hearing will examine different federal NIL legislative proposals, seek to establish what is truly in the best interests of students participating in college athletics, and feature testimony from NCAA President Charlie Baker and Big Ten Co… Continue Reading

ICYMI: DURBIN, WELCH, OSSOFF, BOOKER, AND HIRONO LEAD 18 OF THEIR COLLEAGUES IN LETTER TO SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE LEADERS URGING CORRECTIONS TO PROPOSED FEDERAL DEFENDERS’ FUNDING

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) on Friday in leading 18 of their Senate colleagues, including every Senate Judiciary Committee Democrat, in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leaders emphasizing the importance of correcting a shortfall in the Fed… Continue Reading

Durbin Undergoes Knee Replacement Surgery At Rush Oak Brook

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today underwent a successful total knee replacement surgery for his left knee.  The procedure was performed this morning at RUSH in Oak Brook, Illinois.  Durbin will remain in Illinois until he is cleared for travel to Washington by his doctor. “As a result of my unremarkable high school football career, it was determined that I needed a full knee replacement for my left knee.  I’m grateful to the medical staff at RUSH for today’s successfu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Hamas Terrorist Attack on Israel

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel:     “Over the last 48 hours, my staff and I have received regular, direct updates from the White House on the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.  We have also been in touch with constituents who have family in Israel, helping provide the latest information on how to connect with our embassy in Israel.  The scale and viciousness of the Hama… Continue Reading