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

Durbin Honors the Late Senator Dianne Feinstein in a Speech on the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).  Key Durbin quotes: “Today we mourn the death of a trailblazer, my colleague and friend, Senator Dianne Feinstein.  I have been privileged to have known Dianne throughout her entire career in this chamber, and my entire time as well.  She was my friend and seatmate on the Senate Judiciary Committee for over 20 years.  When you're t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.8 Million to Enhance Performance-Based Compensation for Teachers in Cahokia Heights

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,800,000 for Cahokia Unit School District 187 through the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) to increase teacher and principal effectiveness by creating a performance-based compensation system. “Our teachers are the unsung heroes of our society, working tirelessly day in and day out to impart knowledge, instill values, and mold the leaders of tomorrow… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $8 Million to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Treatment

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $8,000,000 for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who seeks care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age—including developmentally appropriate care for children and youth. “Certified Communit… Continue Reading

DURBIN STATEMENT ON PASSING OF SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA): “Dianne was a trailblazer.  She spent her time in office fighting for causes that many overlooked, and she made history with passage of the Assault Weapons Ban, Violence Against Women Act, Respect for Marriage Act, and as Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee. “Dianne was my friend and seatmate on the Senate Judiciary Committee for more … Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Both Chambers to Pass the Senate CR 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 in both the Senate and the House of Representatives to pass the Senate Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the government until November 17th and avert an immediate government shutdown.  The bipartisan Senate CR provides vital funding to support communities struck by disaster; includes funds for Ukraine at a pivotal moment in its defe… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Votes to Advance Four Judicial and Executive Nominees to the Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four judicial and executive nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work filling judicial and executive vacancies with highly qualified, diverse candidates who help ensure the fair and impartial administration of the American justice system. “We just advanced four highly qualified nominees to lifetime judgeships and an executive position in the White House, including two circuit court nominees who received blue … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Department of Education's New Gainful Employment Rule

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement commending the Department of Education’s fortified Gainful Employment rule:   “Under the Trump Administration, when the Gainful Employment rule was eliminated, for-profit colleges had free rein to prey on students and raked in heaps of Title IV funding without adequate oversight.  We saw the damage these for-profit programs – or more appropriately called ‘scams’ – caused students when they went unch… Continue Reading

Senate Republican Once Again 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 confirm the U.S. Attorney nominations being held by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH)—Todd Gee, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi; Tara K. McGrath, nominated to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of California; Rebecca C. Lutzko, nominated to be United States Attorney for the N… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kelly Urge HRSA to Include Cook, Maricopa County Jails as Eligible Sites Under the National Health Service Corps Workforce Program

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) today urged the Health Resources and Services Administration(HRSA) to explore flexibilities to enable Cook County Jail in Illinois and Maricopa County Correctional Health in Arizona to participate as eligible sites under the National Health Service Corps (NHSC).  Under current law, doctors, nurses, dentists, and behavioral health care providers can obtain loan repayment under the NHSC forservice in a fed… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Engage in Refugee Consultation with Biden Administration

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, today participated in the statutorily-required refugee consultation between the Biden Administration and House and Senate Judiciary Committee leadership.  The Biden Administration announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 refugee admissions target of 125,000.  Antony Blinken, … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Electric Vehicle Infrastructure, Unionization Efforts with Rivian CEO

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe to discuss fortifying electric vehicle infrastructure and maintaining Illinois’ position as a leader in electric vehicle production.  During their meeting, Durbin also urged Mr. Scaringe to support any unionization efforts taken up by the more than 7,800 Rivian employees as UAW members nationwide strike for better pay and benefits.  Durbin has been a steadfast champion of unionization efforts, showin… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Senate to Take Action on Bipartisan Bills Protecting Child Safety Online, Including His STOP CSAM Act

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the Senate to take action on bipartisan bills that would protect child safety online, including his bipartisan STOP CSAM Act. Durbin’s bipartisan STOP CSAM Act – which advanced unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this year – would crack down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, support victims, and increase… Continue Reading

Durbin, Markey Press Administration to Track $50 Billion in Opioid Settlement Money from Drug Corporations, Ensure Used for public Health & to Address Opioid Epidemic

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative David Trone (D-MD-06) to urge the Biden Administration to more closely scrutinize and oversee over $50 billion in opioid settlement money.  State and local governments will receive this money over the next 15 years as a result of settlement agreements with the opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacies that fueled this epidemic.  This settlement funding includes … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Curb Firearms Trafficking from the United States to Mexican Drug Cartels

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of six Senate colleagues in introducing the Stop Arming Cartels Act. The bill would stem the “iron river” of firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico, enabled by weakAmerican gun laws and gun industry practices. The deadly stream of firearms trafficking exacerbates violence, enables cartels who smuggle migrants to our southern border, and facilitates the illicit tr… Continue Reading

Durbin: We're Five Days Away From A Government Shutdown, And House Republicans Still Haven't Taken Their Responsibility to the American People Seriously

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans for their failure to reach an agreement to fund the government.  The House Republicans’ proposal would cut millions from public health, child care, education, food safety, law enforcement, housing, and more.  During his speech, he also urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR… Continue Reading

Durbin: We're Five Days Away From A Government Shutdown, And House Republicans Still Haven't Taken Their Responsibility to the American Seriously

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took to the Senate floor to condemn Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans for their failure to reach an agreement to fund the government.  The House Republicans’ proposal would cut millions from public health, child care, education, food safety, law enforcement, housing, and more.  During his speech, he also urged his colleagues in the Senate to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR… Continue Reading

Durbin Reiterates Solidarity with UAW Members Amid Strikes Across the Country

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor reiterating his support for members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) as they strike across the country forbetter wages and benefits.  Durbin has repeatedly called on the Big Three Automakers – General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis – to negotiate in good faith with UAW to reach an agreement before UAW members began their strike earlier this month. “I heard my colleague earlier, Senator Schumer, … Continue Reading

Durbin, Wyden, Krishnamoorthi, Colleagues Introduce Bicameral Bill to Reduce Tobacco Use in America

WASHINGTON—U.S Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), today introduced the bicameral Tobacco Tax Equity Act of 2023.  The bill would close tax code loopholes for tobacco products by establishing a new federal tax on e-cigarettes, updating the federal cigarette tax rate to restore its public health impact, and harmonizing the tax rate across tobacco products to address gamesmanship … Continue Reading