Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Three Bills To Stop Exploitation Of Kids Online, Six District Court Judge Nominations To The Full Senate

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on a bipartisan basis to advance three bills as part of the Stopping the Exploitation of Kids Online legislative package - as well as six district court judge nominees - to the full Senate. On the successful votes of the three bipartisan pieces of legislation, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said: "In our February hearing that kicked off our legislative effort to protect children onl… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Support Rural Hospitals

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Closure Relief Act, which would support financially vulnerable rural hospitals facing risk of closure. The legislation would update Medicare's "Critical Access Hospital" (CAH) designation so more rural hospitals can qualify for this financial lifeline and continue to serve their communities with quality, affordable health care services. Small and rura… Continue Reading

Durbin, Baldwin, Smith, Schneider, Stevens Introduce Bill To Address Teaching Shortages In Low-Income And Communities Of Color

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), today, during Teacher Appreciation Week, introduced a bicameral bill that would address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impact students from low-income backgrounds and students of color. Exacerbated by low pay, school leadership instab… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Durbin’s STOP CSAM Act To Crack Down On The Proliferation Of Child Sex Abuse Material Online

WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to advance the Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment Act of 2023 (STOP CSAM Act). The legislation, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cracks down on the proliferation of child sex abuse material online, supports victims, and increases accountability and transparency for online platforms. "In almost … Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of Jeremy Daniel To Serve As District Court Judge For 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 released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of Jeremy Daniel to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced the nomination of Jeremy Daniel to fill a judicial vacancy for the … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Infrastructure With Mayor Of Murphysboro

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today met with Mayor of Murphysboro, Illinois, Will Stephens to discuss the Southwest Connector project. The proposed project would establish a 60-mile, four-lane rural expressway providing access from Southern Illinois to St. Louis. "Our government is at its best when local, state, and federal representatives work together on behalf of constituents. Today, I had a productive meeting wi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Chicago Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met with Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to discuss Chicago priorities and how they can assist him in the Senate. "I want to thank Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson for coming to the Capitol to meet with us today," said Durbin. "During our meeting, we discussed issues he will face in his new administration and reiterated our commitment to assist in any way we can. When he succeeds, Chicago an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Graham, Grassley Meet With ICC Chief Prosecutor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), met with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan to receive an update on its investigation into the atrocities being committed in Ukraine.  U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) also joined the meeting. “The ICC has… Continue Reading

Durbin Slams Proposed Republican Budget Cuts that Would Devastate Medical Research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate ALS Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the importance of robust federal funding for medical research to advance treatments for neurodegenerative diseases like ALS.  In his remarks, Durbin also called out Speaker McCarthy’s budget proposal which could drastically slash funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other important medical research.   Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Blasts Republican Budget Cuts, Questions National Institutes Of Health About Treating Trauma, Mental Illness In Youth

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, today participated in a subcommittee hearing entitled "A Review of the President's FY 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)." During the hearing, Durbin, a longtime advocate of robust medical research funding, expressed his disapproval of House Republicans' proposal … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Lithuanian Rower Aurimas Valujavicius

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, met with Lithuanian rower Aurimas Valujavi?ius and Lithuanian Ambassador to the U.S., Audra Plepyt?. During the meeting, they discussed the continued congressional support for the Baltic States, as well as ongoing Russian aggression and interference in the region. Durbin also congratulated Valujavi?ius for being the third person and first Lithuanian to row solo across the Atlantic Oc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Security Cooperation With The Baltics As Putin Continues His Unprovoked War

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act, bipartisan and bicameral legislation to effectively codify the Baltic Security Initiative, which will enhance and strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics amid Russia's unprovoked war in Ukraine and heightened tensions with China. U.S. Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02) and Ruben Gallego (D-A… Continue Reading

Durbin: The Republican Speaker Is Manufacturing An Economic Crisis

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today slammed House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy for his threats to default on America's debt for the first time in history unless Democrats agree to slash funding for working families, veterans, law enforcement, and small businesses across the country. "Right now in the U.S. House of Representatives, Speaker McCarthy is threatening our econo… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Lashonda Hunt To Serve As District Court Judge For 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 released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of LaShonda Hunt to serve as a District Court Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Judge LaShonda Hunt to serve as a District Court Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. Judge Hunt's l… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Haymarket Center To Announce $775,000 For Addiction Treatment, Reducing Recidivism In Chicago

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today visited Haymarket Center to discuss the $775,000 in federal funding he secured through Congressionally-directed spending in the Fiscal Year 2023 Omnibus appropriations bill. This new funding will be used to reduce recidivism among adults in Chicago who have completed inpatient treatment for substance use disorder and remain at high risk of re-engagement with the criminal justice system. "America is facing … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Propublica Report & Supreme Court Ethics Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a ProPublica reportthat alleges that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted and failed to disclose private school tuition payments for his grandnephew made by prominent Republican donor Harlan Crow: "Today's report continues a steady stream of revelations calling Justices' ethics standards and practices into question. I hope that the Chief Justice under… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $480,000 In Funding From National Scenic Byways Program For Illinois Department Of Transportation

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $480,000 in grant funding awarded to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) through the Department of Transportation's (DOT) National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) for the rehabilitation and enhancement of the Gilbert Lake Division of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge. National Scenic Byways or All-American Byways provide historic, recreational, cultural, archeological, and natural benefits t… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Governor Abbott’s Continued Political Stunts & Exploitation Of Migrant Families, Calls For More Funding For Chicago

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) sent a letter to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot stating that he will continue his inhumane practice of busing migrants from Texas to Chicago: "It is disappointing, but not surprising, that the Texas Governor is again choosing to inflict further suffering upon immigrant families. He also continues to waste taxpayer dollars on… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues In Penning Letter To Departments Of Education, Defense, And Veterans Affairs Warning Against Predatory For-Profit College University Of Phoenix

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough warning the agency leaders about the predatory for-profit college University of Phoenix's (Phoenix) latest tactics to recruit students using misleadi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez, Kaine, Welch Meet With Opposition Leader & Former Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Peter Welch (D-VT), met with opposition leader and former interim President of Venezuela Juan Guaidó who recently fled Venezuela for his safety. Guaidó was elected by the Venezuelan National Assembly as interim leader after the 2018 sham election left the country without a legitimately elected pre… Continue Reading