Durbin Visits Genesis Medical Center To Address Health Care Workforce Shortages In Rural Illinois

ALEDO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference with Illinois health care leaders to highlight his "Roadmap to Grow Illinois' Rural Health Workforce." The partnership with hospitals, community health centers, medical and nursing schools, community colleges, dentists, physicians, and nurses will organize efforts and provide new funding to address health care workforce shortages and staffing crises in rural Illinois. The full Roadmap report can be viewed here. "For the past… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Over $360,000 In Federal Funding For Amboy Fire Protection District

AMBOY – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the Amboy Fire Protection District to discuss the $361,000 in federal funding they received through his Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, legislation that authorized new funding for a grant program to directly support rural fire/EMS agencies. Funding can be used to train and recruit staff, conduct courses to satisfy certification requirements, and purchase equipment—everything from naloxone and first aid kits, to power str… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Inform Consumers Act Goes Into Effect Today

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) released the following statement after their Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act went into effect today after passing as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that was signed into law in December. The legislation combats the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring trans… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Rock Island County State’s Attorney Dora Villarreal

ROCK ISLAND - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Rock Island County State's Attorney, Dora Villarreal, and other local attorneys to discuss criminal justice issues. During the meeting, they discussed mental health resources for kids who have witnessed traumatic events, support for restorative justice initiatives, and Durbin's efforts to protect kids online and combat child sex abuse material (CSAM). "I'm grateful to Rock Island Coun… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $1 Billion in Federal Funding for Affordable, Reliable High-Speed Internet Infrastructure in Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,040,420,751 in federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act's Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. This funding will help to deploy affordable, reliable high-speed internet infrastructure to help close the digital divide across Illinois. Today's announcement is part of more than $42 billion announced nationwide to expand high-speed internet … Continue Reading

Durbin Celebrates Amtrak’s Lincoln Service Schedule Changes

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Chicago Union Station to highlight schedule changes for Lincoln Service trains, which begin today following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project. The schedule changes for Lincoln Service trains will enable passenger rail service to reach 110 mph. With this new high-speed schedule, passengers will see their travel time reduced by 15 minutes from 90 mph runtimes and 30 minutes from 79 mph runtimes.… Continue Reading

Durbin & Graham Continue To Press The Biden Administration To Support The ICC’s Investigation Into Atrocities In Ukraine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to President Joe Biden once again urging his Administration to support the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the atrocities committed in Ukraine. Durbin and Graham previously wrote to President Biden in March to emphasize the… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Senate Dem Caucus To Introduce Resolution Recognizing June As LGBTQ Pride Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined their Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues to introduce a Senate resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month. The Senators' resolution highlights the contributions LGBTQ+ Americans have made to our country, notes several major milestones in the fight for equal treatment of LGBTQ+ Americans, and resolves to continue efforts to achieve full equalit… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth Resolution Marking One Year Anniversary Of July 4th Mass Shooting In Highland Park

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) expressing the condolences of the Senate and honoring the memory of the victims on the first anniversary of the mass shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022. Specifically, the Senators' resolution: 1) Expresses sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Katie Gold… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Greater Springfield Chamber Of Commerce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities, including economic development, transportation improvements through the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, and education initiatives at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and Lincoln Land Community College. "The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce and its members are an important backbone of our economy in Southern Illinois. Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Failed Republican Effort To Weaken The National Firearms Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against a Republican-sponsored Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal a vital gun safety regulation under the National Firearms Act. Reversing this common sense provision would have weakened the regulation of stabilizing braces that can convert pistols into short-barreled rifles and that have been used in multiple recent mass shootings. The resolution failed 49-50. Before the… Continue Reading

In Speech On The Senate Floor, Durbin Defends The Rights Of LGBTQ+ Americans

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the historic progress made in protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. He also called on his colleagues to remain steadfast in defending these rights against a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country, particularly targeting transgender youth. "This weekend, cities around the globe, including Chicago, will be h… Continue Reading

Durbin: It’s Now Up To Congress To Protect Women And Health Care Providers From The Results Of The Disastrous Dobbs Ruling

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about the dangerous consequences for women and the doctors who care for them post-Dobbs. Two months ago, Durbin held a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "The Assault on Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America." Durbin said, "We had ori… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin Vows Action On Supreme Court Ethics Legislation In Senate Judiciary Committee

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, the Washington Post highlighted the announcement by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, to hold a markup on Supreme Court ethics legislation after the July 4threcess. Key quotes: "Scrutiny of the Supreme Court intensified Wednesday after Justice Samuel A. A… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Grain And Feed Association Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois. During the meeting, they discussed the importance of transportation infrastructure, trade, and workforce needs in keeping Illinois agriculture strong. They also thanked Durbin for his work in securing federal funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to improve Illinois' locks and dams. … Continue Reading

During Pride Month, Durbin & Duckworth Join Merkley, Baldwin, Booker To Introduce The Equality Act

WASHINGTON - Despite significant steps forward, LGBTQ+ Americans around the country are facing an uptick in discrimination and dangerous state-sponsored legislation. To combat these hateful actions, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce the bicameral Equality Act. The Equality Act is historic, comprehensive l… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of 100th District Court Judge During The Biden Administration

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Natasha Merle to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, marking 100 district court judges confirmed during the Biden administration. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding this milestone: "With the confirmation of Natasha Merle to the Eastern District of New York, the Senate has now confirmed 100 district court judges during th… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With BOP Director Peters

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with Colette Peters, Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), to receive an update on the use of solitary confinement in federal facilities. They also discussed updates at the United States Penitentiary Thomson (USP Thomson). In February, the Department of Justice (DOJ) released a report on the use of solitary confinement. The report showed a troubling trajectory for the number of … Continue Reading

Durbin, Murphy, Welch, Coons Introduce Resolution Recognizing Tunisia’s Leadership In The Arab Spring & Calling Out Recent Democratic Backsliding

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Chris Coons (D-DE) today introduced a resolution recognizing Tunisia's leadership in the Arab Spring and expressing support for upholding its democratic principles and norms. Under the country's current President Kais Saied, Tunisia has seen a recent backslide of the democratic gains made in the years following the Arab Spring. This includes a notable increase in arrests of … Continue Reading

In Conjunction With Pride Month, Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Defending The Rights Of LGBTQ+ Americans

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Protecting Pride: Defending the Civil Rights of LGBTQ+ Americans." The hearing celebrated the historic progress made in protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans. It also served as a call to remain steadfast in defending these rights against a tidal wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being introduced across the country,… Continue Reading