Durbin, Duckworth Announce Screening Committee, Application Process For Federal District Court in the Northern District of 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 announced that they will begin accepting applications from those interested in serving as a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.  The Senators will be assisted by a screening committee whose task is to review and vet District Court candidates and advise the Senators regarding the candidates’ qualifications… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Double Black Diamond Solar Farm

VIRDEN – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Double Black Diamond, one of the largest planned solar farms in the country, to receive updates on its construction and discuss the upcoming one-year anniversary of theInflation Reduction Act (IRA). “Swift Current Energy’s 600 megawatt bet on Illinois is a testament to our state’s potential as a leader in clean energy innovation,” said Durbin. “The Inflation Reduction Act triggered a tidal wave of change,… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Appointment of U.S. Attorney Weiss As Special Counsel to Investigate Hunter Biden Matters

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Attorney General Merrick Garland’s appointment of U.S. Attorney David Weiss as Special Counsel to continue investigating matters related to Hunter Biden: “Attorney General Garland has committed to avoiding even the appearance of politicization at the Justice Department, and his appointment of a Special Counsel in this matter demo… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health Association to Highlight $500,000 for Community Health Workers

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Public Health Association (IPHA) to discuss the $500,000 in federal funding he secured through Congressionally Directed Spending—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill for IPHA to conduct trainings and build the capacity of the Community Health Workers (CHW) workforce. “The COVID-19 pandemic exposed our health system’s fractures, revealing… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $700,000 For Shedd Aquarium Sustainability Research

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Shedd Aquarium received $700,000 through the Institute of Museum and Library Services National Leadership Grants for Museums Program to conduct supply chain research to ensure they are making sustainable choices when acquiring living collections. “By supporting Chicago’s esteemed museums and institutes like Shedd Aquarium, we not only promote environmental st… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on ProPublica Report Regarding Justice Clarence Thomas' Undisclosed, Lavish Network of Wealthy Patrons

BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding ProPublica reporting providing the fullest public account yet of Justice Clarence Thomas’ undisclosed gifts and troubling ethical conduct, to the tune of at least 38 destination vacations, 26 private jet flights, and numerous other luxury gifts: “The latest ProPublica revelation of unreported lavish gifts to Justice Clarence Thomas mak… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds President Biden's Emergency Supplemental Request To Support Ukraine

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement on President Biden’s emergency supplemental request, which includes funds to continue supporting Ukraine: “Nearly 18 months after Putin began his full-scale invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of democracy.  And as I saw recently in Vilnius, during this year’s NATO summit, the Ukrainian people’s heroism continues to … Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Carle Health Methodist Hospital to Discuss Nationwide Shortage of Cancer Drugs, New Hospital Funding

PEORIA – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference at Carle Health Methodist Hospital to discuss the shortage of life-saving drugs for cancer patients. In June, Durbin urged the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) to use the Agency’s authority to immediately address the ongoing shortage as it threatens the lives of patients nationwide. FDA has since agreed to import one of the drugs for which U.S. hospitals are seeing a shortage, but widespread problems with the drug… Continue Reading

Durbin Demands Answers on Actions USPS and DOJ Will Take to Protect Letter Carriers From Attacks While on Mail Routes

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a follow-up letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) to institute additional safety measures and investigate the continued uptick in attacks against mail carriers as they complete their routes.  In addition to the direct trauma to letter carrier victims, these crimes may have downstream effects such as exacerba… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with FBI Director Wray

SPRINGFIELD – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray and other FBI officials to discuss a range of matters. Among other topics, Durbin and Wray discussed the reauthorization and reform of Section 702, children’s online safety, the fentanyl crisis and online drug trafficking, and border security. In June, Durbin and the Senate Judiciary Committee held an ove… Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Roundtable on Rural Health Care Challenges, Solutions with Quincy-Area Medical Providers

QUINCY – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a rural health care roundtable discussion with leaders of local Quincy-area medical institutions to discuss the challenges that patients and providers in rural communities face.  Durbin spoke about his new “Roadmap to Grow Illinois’ Rural Health Workforce,” a partnership with hospitals, community health centers, medical and nursing schools, community colleges, dentists, physicians, and nurses to organ… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With McDonough District Hospital Leaders to Discuss Rural Health Care Priorities

MACOMB – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with McDonough District Hospital’s leadership team to discuss the challenges that patients and providers in rural communities face.  During the visit, Durbin discussed his Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, legislation he introduced with Senator James Lankford (R-OK), that would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure.  Durbin also spoke about his new “Roadmap to Grow Illinoi… Continue Reading

DURBIN, DUCKWORTH LEAD ILLINOIS DELEGATION IN URGING PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GRANT FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION FOR ILLINOIS FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER IN COOK COUNTY

QUINCY – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led every member of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Biden urging the White House to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Illinois, to help Cook County recover from storm damage.  From late June to early July, severe sto… Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Roundtable on Rural Health Care Challenges, Solutions With Quincy-Area Medical Providers

QUINCY – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a rural health care roundtable discussion with leaders of local Quincy-area medical institutions to discuss the challenges that patients and providers in rural communities face.  Durbin spoke about his new “Roadmap to Grow Illinois’ Rural Health Workforce,” a partnership with hospitals, community health centers, medical and nursing schools, community colleges, dentists, physicians, and nurses to organ… Continue Reading

DURBIN REACTS TO JUSTICE KAGAN’S COMMENTS ON SUPREME COURT ETHICS REFORM

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on Justice Elena Kagan’s public comments on Supreme Court ethics reform at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Portland, Oregon: “Justice Kagan’s response to the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis provides a sharp contrast to the ‘back off’ warning we heard from Justice Alito in the Wall Street Journal. Justice Kagan rig… Continue Reading

Durbin Reacts to Justice Kagan's Comments on Supreme Court Ethics Reform

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on Justice Elena Kagan’s public comments on Supreme Court ethics reform at the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in Portland, Oregon: “Justice Kagan’s response to the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis provides a sharp contrast to the ‘back off’ warning we heard from Justice Alito in the Wall Street Journal. Justice Kagan rig… Continue Reading

Durbin, Judiciary Committee Dems urge Chief Justice to Address Justice Alito's Wall Street Journal Interview That Violates The Court's Statement on Ethics

WASHINGTON – Following Justice Samuel Alito’s public criticism of Supreme Court ethics reform legislation in a recent Wall Street Journal interview, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led Judiciary Committee Democratic colleagues in a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts urging the Chief Justice to take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any future cases concerning legislation that regulates … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Announce Amtrak's Federal Grant Application for Chicago Hub Improvement Project to Modernize Union Station

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) today announced Amtrak’s $873 million federal grant application, with $218 million in matching funds from project sponsors, for the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) to modernize Chicago Union Station.  The application was submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal-State Partnerships for Intercity Passenger Rail g… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $14.7 Million in Federal Grant Funding for Illinois EPA

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $14,772,472 in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants for Illinois EPA (IEPA). The funding, split across two separate grants, will support IEPA’s mission to provide a clean, livable environment and clean air and water sources forIllinoisans.  “Illinoisans deserve safe air to breathe and clean water to drink.  Illinois EPA works diligent… Continue Reading

Durbin Responds to Justice Alito Comments on Supreme Court Ethics Reform

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement on Justice Samuel Alito’s public criticism of Supreme Court ethics reform legislation in a recent Wall Street Journal interview: “Thus far, the Supreme Court has resisted efforts by the Senate Judiciary Committee to engage on ethics reform beginning with Chief Justice Roberts, who has rebuffed information requests and an invitation to discuss t… Continue Reading