Durbin Meets with Fareway Stores CEO to Discuss Swipe Fees

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Reynolds Cramer, CEO of Fareway Stores, to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees.  Earlier this year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced their Credit Card Competition Act, bipartisan legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The legislation is esti… Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Airlines on How they Plan to Address Flight Delays and Increased Fees that are Disrupting Consumers' Ability to Fly

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to the leadership of United Airlines, American Airlines, and Airlines for America (A4A) to urge the companies to address customer frustration around flight delays and excessive fees for checked baggage, Wi-Fi service, seat assignments, and more.  Citing startling statistics around the skyrocketing number of travel disruptions and outrageous fees, Durbin pressed the companies for answers on how airlines, which are makin… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Democrats Reject Unfounded Refusals to Comply with Information Requests by Those Seeking to Influence Supreme Court Justices

WASHINGTON – Today, all U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats – led by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee – rejected refusals by Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley to comply with information requests from the Committee on involvement with Supreme Court Justices. In letters to all three, the Senators reject their separation of powers defense, citing existing law and the Supreme Court’s compliance with the laws. “Your position is at … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Speaker of the House

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Illinois Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch to discuss Illinois’ humanitarian response to the arrival of more than 15,000 migrants.  During their meeting, Durbin, Duckworth, and Speaker Welch spoke about the need for the Biden Administration to offer critical support to Illinois as it responds to migrants arriving in the state.  Durbin and Duckworth reaffirmed their commitment… Continue Reading

For a Fourth Time, Junior Senator From Ohio Blocks Durbin's Attempt to Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations on the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today on the Senate floor requested unanimous consent (UC) to schedule confirmation votes on two U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; and April M. Perry, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.  U.S. Attorneys are empowered to prosecut… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kelly Introduce Bicameral Bill to Increase Access to Broadband Service for Low-Income Americans

WASHINGTON – In conjunction with Digital Inclusion Week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced a bicameral bill that would increase access to broadband service for low-income urban and rural Americans.  ThePromoting Access to Broadband Act would help states increase awareness and enrollment in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline program and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provide a monthly subsi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Lead Colleagues in Letter to President Biden on U.S. Role in Potential Normalization Agreement Between Saudi Arabia and Israel

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT) in leading 15 of their Senate colleagues in a letter to President Biden, expressing their support for the prospect of normalization and sharing their views on the parameters of the United States’ involvement in a potential normalization agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel.  The Senators raised conce… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions District Court Nominees at Latest Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing

WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; Judge John Kazen, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas; and Judge Shanlyn Park, nominated to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii. Durbin began by asking Judge Kaz… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With President Biden's Nominee to Be the U.S. Ambassador to Lithuania

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and the Senate Baltic Caucus, today met with Kara McDonald, nominee to be the United States’ Ambassador to Lithuania.  During the meeting, they discussed the continued congressional support for the Baltic States, as well as ongoing Russian aggression and interference in the region.  “Time and time again, Lithuania has proved itself to be a champion of freedom and democracy.  Today, in the face of Ru… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Brown, Senators Call for Immediate Legislative Action to Support Ukraine

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), who is a member of the U.S. Senate’s Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), led five other Senators in a letter urging U.S. Senate and House leaders and the Chair and Ranking Members of the U.S. Senate and House Appropriations Committees toimmediately advance legislation that will prov… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing on Five District Court Nominations

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, to be United States District Judge for the District of Oregon; Judge John Kazen, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas; Judge Shanlyn Park, to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii; Jamel Semper, to be United States Distri… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Out Senate Republicans' Hypocrisy on Crime

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, took to the Senate floor to accentuate the stark contrast between Republicans’ “tough on crime” rhetoric and their inaction on the issue, including repeated refusals to act on further gun safety reform or U.S. Attorney nominees. Durbin began by highlighting Republicans’ infatuation with citing crime statistics in Chicago with neither nuance nor proposed solutions. “Mr. President, it is my… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Health & Hospital Association

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sat down with AJ Wilhelmi, President of the Illinois Health & Hospital Association (IHA), and leaders of Illinois-based hospitals to discuss the health care workforce staffing crisis and its impact on hospitals’ ability to serve the needs of patients.  To help address the shortage, Durbin secured $1 billion in theAmerican Rescue Plan for scholarship and loan repayment awards through the National Health Service Corps and Nurse Co… Continue Reading

Durbin Reaffirms Commitment to Ukraine; Calls on Colleagues to Pass Necessary Aid

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor on the need to pass additional funding to aid Ukraine after the 45-day bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government failed to do so.  “Keeping the lights on is a win for the American people.  It used to be considered just normal procedure…  I am disappointed it [the CR] did not include critical funding for the war in Ukraine.  It is impossible to explain to… Continue Reading

Durbin Praises General Mark Milley, Retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring General Mark Milley’s military career as his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ended on September 30.  In his remarks, Durbin spoke highly of General Milley’s service, particularly as he admirably led during a politically tumultuous period. “I heard the parting words of another military leader who has served our Nation with wisdom, courage, and unwavering devotion: General Mark… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Supreme Court to Create Code of Conduct As New Term Begins

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement calling on the United States Supreme Court to create a code of conduct as it begins a new term: “The Supreme Court’s new docket, which begins today, should start with one essential element: re-establishing the integrity of the Court.  “The public reports of lavish gifts, luxury vacations, and sordid political relationships go to the heart of this Court’s … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Keep Government Funded

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through November 17: “Extreme MAGA House Republicans failed.  The right-wing policies that they have been pushing for weeks were removed from the short-term government funding bill and hundreds of thousands of hardworking Americans and service men and women will not… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Announce $5 Million for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to Establish National University Rail Center of Excellence

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $5,000,000 for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence (CoE) program to establish and maintain a CoE to advance research and development that improves the safety, efficiency, and reliability … Continue Reading

For A Third Time, Senate Republican Blocks Durbin's Attempt to Confirm U.S. Attorney Nominations on the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today on the Senate floor requested unanimous consent (UC) to schedule confirmation votes on two U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio; and April M. Perry, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.  U.S. Attorneys are empowered to prosecut… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Two U.S. Attorney Nominees, Key Breakthrough of Sen. Vance's Justice Department Hold

WASHINGTON – Today, the Seante confirmed Todd Gee and Tara McGrath to be U.S. Attorneys for the Southern Districts of Mississippi and California, respectively. On their confirmations, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement: “Mr. Gee’s and Ms. McGrath’s confirmations are a welcome breakthrough in the logjam caused by Senator Vance’s misguided hold on Justice Department nominees. These two public servants will serve … Continue Reading