Durbin: We Must Work In Good Faith To Fund The Government. Time Is Of The Essence.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to offer his support for the bipartisan funding agreement that was reached over the weekend to fund the government through December 20, preventing a shutdown from occurring on October 1.  In his speech, Durbin expressed his frustration at the broken funding process, which has led to repeated threats of a shutdown every year. “We’re one week away from the deadline to fund the government.  It is an embarrassm… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley, Announce More Than $300 Million In Federal Funding For Transportation Infrastructure Improvements In Chicago

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $305,467,517 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Mega Program. With this federal funding, the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $209,877,984 for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program and $95,589,533 for the I-290/IL171 (1st Avenue) Interchange Project. Th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty To Discuss Ongoing Conflict In Gaza

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and Iranian-sponsored instability.  During the meeting, they also discussed a path for post-war Gaza.  In addition to Durbin, U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) also joined the meeting. “Egypt is an important voice in the Middle East and remains a critical voice in helping humanitarian aid enter Gaza and assisting negotiations toward a ceas… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces America's Clean Future Fund Act To Invest In A Clean Future And Spur Job Creation

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the America’s Clean Future Fund Act, a bill that would spur job creation by investing in a clean energy economy.  The bill seeks to drive significant carbon emissions reductions to combat the climate crisis; provide transition assistance to environmental justice (EJ) communities, farmers, and fossil fuel-reliant communities; and provide financing for climate resilience and clean energy projects.  “We are already seeing … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Create National Historic Park In Honor Of Julius Rosenwald

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Historical Park Act, legislation to establish a Rosenwald Schools National Historic Park network with locations in both Chicago and Maryland in honor of Julius Rosenwald.  The legislation would also require the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to provide information on the life and legacy of Rosenwald at his boyhood home in Springfield, Illinois, which is already part of… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Four Judicial Nominations, Two Marshal Nominations To Full Senate

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced four district court judicial nominations and two U.S. Marshal nominations to the full Senate, continuing the Committee’s work to bring balance to the federal judiciary and keep our communities safe. “Confirming judges is a top priority for the remainder of this Congress. These even-handed arbiters of justice will bring balance to the federal judiciary, and Senate Democrats are in a strong position to make judicial confirmations a … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances April Perry, Jonathan Hawley To Serve As United States District Court Judges In Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nominations of April Perry to serve as a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois and U.S. Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley to serve as a United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois: “We are pleased that the Sen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Democrats Urge USPTO, Drug Companies To Address Errors In Patent Term Adjustment To Prevent Unwarranted Pharma Monopolies

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of five Senate Democrats in sending a letter to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director Kathi Vidal regarding recent research that found pharmaceutical companies may be benefitting from errors in USPTO’s calculation of patent term adjustment (PTA).  Those errors can extend the lives of drug patents held by the companies beyond the expiration dates dictated by statute.  As… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Announce $8 Million In Federal Funding For New Battery-Electric Ferry On Mississippi River

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced $8 million in federal funding for Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK) through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant will be used to make land-side improvements along the Mississippi Riverfront and for a new, zero-emissions, battery-electric ferry and charging equipment. “MetroLINK’s passeng… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks In Support Of Haitian Immigrants Amid Ongoing Lies From Republican Presidential & Vice-Presidential Candidate

WASHINGTON –  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today addressed the particularly vile lie being circulated by former President Trump, his Vice-Presidential candidate, J.D. Vance, and their supporters, and the real-life consequences of spreading this lie—that the Haitian immigrant community in Springfield, Ohio, are abducting, killing, and eating people’s pets. “This claim is not only outrageous, and patently f… Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins Celebrate Their Bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act Heading To President's Desk

ASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), applauded passage of their bipartisan SIREN Reauthorization Act by the House of Representatives, sending the legislation to President Biden’s desk for signature.  Once signed by President Biden, the legislation will extend funding for five additional years for SIREN Act grants to rural fire and EMS agencies nationw… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen Meet With Vladimir Kara-Murza Following Recent Biden-Harris Administration Prisoner Swap With Russia

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) and Chair of the Europe and Regional Security Cooperation Subcommittee, met today with Vladimir Kara-Murza who was recently freed from imprisonment in Russia as part of the Biden-Harris Administration prisoner swap in early August.  Kara-Murza is a Russian opposition figure who survived two poiso… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kaine, Cassidy Meet With Five Latin American Democracies' Ambassadors To Discuss The Current Electoral Crisis In Venezuela

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today met with Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S., Maria Luiza Ribiero Viotti; Chilean Ambassador to the U.S., Juan Gabriel Valdés; Colombian Ambassador to the U.S., Daniel García-Peña Jaramillo; Guatemalan Ambassador to the U.S., Hugo Beteta; and Panamanian Ambassador the U.S., José Miguel Alemán, to discuss the current electoral crisis in Venezuela.  Following the Jul… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Voting Against Nationwide IVF Protections For The Second Time

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against the Right to IVF Act for the second time this Congress.  The legislation, which Durbin is a cosponsor of, establishes a clear and enforceable nationwide right to receive, provide, or cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) services and other assisted reproductive technologies.  It also expands insurance coverage for such care… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduced Puppy Protection Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Puppy Protection Act, which would create stronger standards for veterinary care, housing, and breeding for dogs.  The legislation would ensure that dogs within breeders’ care have suitable and safe enclosures, access to outdoor areas, and regularly interact with other dogs and humans. “As many Americans welcomed a dog into their family during the pandemic, we must ensure that the demand for pets is met with a commitm… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Stemming The Rise Of Hate Crimes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America.”  The hearing examined the threats facing marginalized communities and how the federal government can better protect the civil rights and safety of all Americans, including Jewish, Arab, and Muslim Americans.  Building on the Committee’s work… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Committee On Rise Of Hate Crimes In America

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement in the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America.”  The hearing will examine the threats facing marginalized communities and how the federal government can better protect the civil rights and safety of all Americans, including Jewish, Arab, and Muslim Americans.  Building on the Comm… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Kevin Ritz To The U.S. Court Of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Mr. Kevin Ritz 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 Mr. Ritz’s confirmation: “Mr. Ritz is a seasoned trial attorney and an accomplished appellate practitioner with nearly 20 years of legal experience. His significant litigation background and extensive experience in federal court ensure that he will be a va… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican Will Have Another Chance To Show The American People Where They Stand On IVF With Right to IVF Act Vote Tomorrow

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on Senate Republicans to show the American people where they stand on in vitro fertilization (IVF) when the Senate votes on the Right to IVF Act tomorrow.  The legislation, which Durbin is a cosponsor of, establishes a clear and enforceable nationwide right to receive, provide, or cover IVF services and other assisted reproductive technologies.  It also expa… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On House To Pass Siren Reauthorization Act To Support Rural EMS Agencies

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling on the House of Representatives to pass his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the SIREN Reauthorization Act, which is scheduled for a vote this week, after having already passed the Senate last December.  During his remarks, Durbin emphasized the importance of SIREN Act grants, explaining that these fire and EMS agencies are often the only nearby medical car… Continue Reading