Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Delegation In Urging President Biden To Grant Federal Disaster Declaration For 5 Illinois Counties Following Severe Weather

CHICAGO - 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 JB Pritzker's request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for five counties. The letter follows tornadoes, high winds, hail, and flash floods that caused widespread damage across Boone, Crawford, DuPage, Marion, and Sanga… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Introduce “No Check, No Sale” Bill To Close The Charleston Loophole

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 U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to introduce the Background Check Completion Act, legislation to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed within a certain time period, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Hillside To Discuss The Importance Of Passing Fire Grants And Safety Act

HILLSIDE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Hillside to discuss the importance of passing the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which would reauthorize the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. These grant programs help with staffing and hiring as well as training and equipping personnel and are set to expire after September 30. In order to ensure there is no lapse in funding, the U.S. Senate is sch… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues In Introducing Legislation To Boost Gun Violence Prevention Research At CDC, Urge Stronger Action On Gun Safety In Wake Of Tragic School Shooting

WASHINGTON - As the nation reels from yet another tragic school shooting this week, 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. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and U.S. Representatives Elissa Slotkin (D-MI-07), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) to reintroduce legislation to fund research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand and address the n… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Trump Indictment By Manhattan Grand Jury

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the indictment of former President Trump by a Manhattan grand jury: "While there are many unknowns, we know a few things to be true: the Manhattan District Attorney must be allowed to continue his investigation without interference; any attempt to undermine this process is contrary to the rule of law; and political violence or threats of violence … Continue Reading

Durbin, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Lower Mandatory Sentences For Certain Drug Offenses

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the bipartisan Smarter Sentencing Act to modernize federal drug sentencing policies. "Outdated policies stemming from the failed War on Drugs continue to impose lengthy, one-size-fits-all sentences for many nonviolent drug offenses. It's costly, overcrowds our prisons, and strains budgets at the expens… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Criminal Justice Reform Priorities With The Marshall Project

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, met with the Board of Directors of The Marshall Project to discuss criminal justice reform priorities in Congress. During the meeting, Durbin discussed a broad range of issues and policies aimed at ensuring a fair system of justice for all and protecting public safety, including gun violence prevention, bringing diverse perspectives to the federal bench, building on the successes of his bi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.3 Million For School-Based Mental Health Training

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2.3 million from the U.S. Department of Education Mental Health Service Professionals Demonstration Program for DePaul University, Northeastern Illinois University, and the Illinois State Board of Education. This funding, which was provided by last year's landmark gun violence reduction law, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, will support the training of school-based mental health service pro… Continue Reading

Durbin To Republican Colleagues: Stop Blaming DHS And Start Working With Democrats To Reform Our Broken Immigration System

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about Tuesday's Judiciary Committee oversight hearing-the Committee's second oversight hearing of the year and the second oversight hearing of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since Durbin became chair in 2021. During his speech, Durbin called out his Republican colleagues for criticizing DHS Secretary Mayorkas-and President Biden-for the chal… Continue Reading

Durbin, Ossoff, Welch Introduce Legislation To Terminate AUMFs No Later Than 10 Years After Enactment

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) today introduced the Accountability for Endless Wars Act, legislation to terminate the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) and declarations of war no later than 10 years after the enactment of such authorizations or declarations. AUMFs set the legal framework, parameters, and constitutional basis for the United States' military engagements. Yesterday, the Senate voted… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen Meet With Moldovan Ambassador

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, today met with Moldovan Ambassador to the U.S., Viorel Ursu. During the meeting, they discussed continued relations between the U.S. and Moldova and the ongoing Russian threat to Ukraine and the region. Durbin and Shaheen expressed appreciation for the Moldovan pe… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Grant Funding For Rural EMS Agencies In Speech On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the importance of supporting rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. These rural EMS providers deliver timely, vital care to their communities often facing health care workforce shortages and long distances to access hospitals. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about his bipartisan law, the SIR… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Klobuchar Join Marshall, Shaheen, Young To Introduce Bipartisan Bill Holding Big Tech Accountable For Online Drug Deals

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Todd Young (R-IN) to introduce the bipartisan Cooper Davis Act, legislation that would require Big Tech companies to take a more proactive role against drug dealers preying on America's youth on social media. "Our cou… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Need To Address The Health Care Workforce Shortage

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to work together and pass legislation to address the health care workforce shortage, which affects about 100 million Americans in urban and rural communities. It is estimated that the United States will need 450,000 nurses over the next two years, and will face a shortage of 120,000 physicians over the next decade. "In the wealthiest nation in the world, nearly one in every t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lee, Coons, Wicker Introduce Bill To Eliminate Blanket Presumption Of Pretrial Detention For Most Federal Drug Charges

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Smarter Pretrial Detention for Drug Charges Act, providing judges additional flexibility when determining if pretrial detention is appropriate for those accused of nonviolent drug offenses. The Senators introduce the bill as pretrial detention rates in the federal system are increasing … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Ameren, Talks Clean Energy

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Ameren Corporation, a utility company that services more than two million customers in Illinois. During their meeting, Durbin heard about Ameren's plans to build out clean energy infrastructure, including a $10.2 million community solar project and learning center in East St. Louis, Illinois. "Illinoisans rely on Ameren's services to keep the lights on," said Durbin. "It's heartening to hear of new, inno… Continue Reading

Durbin Reads Out Death Tolls Of Deadliest Mass Shootings In Last Decade, Calls On Colleagues To Pass Gun Safety Legislation In Wake Of Nashville School Shooting

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today took to the Senate floor to discuss the devastating toll of mass shootings and the dangers of failing to implement proper gun safety legislation to regulate the ownership of assault weapons, including AR-15s. Durbin spoke about the heartbreak the families and community of the Nashville school shooting are feeling after a shooter killed three children and three adults earlier this week. "Th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Vote To Repeal 1991, 2022 Iraq AUMFs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted to repeal both the 1991 and 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq: "Our Constitution is clear-only the United States Congress has the power to declare war. For too long, Congress has abdicated this most serious of responsibilities. Administrations of both parties have used AUMFs on the books to justify military action without returning to Congress, and C… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Urge United Airlines To Reconsider Decision To Halt Service At Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport In Springfield

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), as well as Mayor of Springfield, Illinois, Jim Langfelder, today spoke by phone with Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, about the company's decision to cancel service at Springfield's Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport beginning in June. On the call, the lawmakers urged United Airlines to reconsider the decision. "It's disappointing to hear that Unit… Continue Reading

ICYMI: Dems Push Back On GOP Fentanyl Claims During Hearing With Mayorkas

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, The Hill highlighted Senate Judiciary Democrats' "forceful push" to clarify misinformation on the fentanyl crisis by Republicans in yesterday's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) oversight hearing with Secretary Mayorkas. Data shows that the vast majority of fentanyl is smuggled into the United States by American citizens, not asylum seekers or other actors. "More than 90 percent of fentanyl seized by DHS is detected at border checkpoints, while an analy… Continue Reading