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

Durbin Statement On Senate Vote To Repeal 1991, 2002 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 Calls On Online Video Game Industry To Do More To Identify & Remove Extremist Content From Their Platforms

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent letters to publishers of several of the most popular online games-that have reported extremist content issues-requesting information regarding their actions to identify and remove content that broadcasts or promotes terrorism, violent extremism, or hate crimes, as well as any efforts they have made to address the use of their platforms by those who perpetrate such acts or who seek to recruit … Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins, Underwood, Wenstrup Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Make The VA Smoke-Free

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-OH-02) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to prohibit smoking at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation would repeal an antiquated 1992 law that requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to furnish and maintain designated indoor or outdoor smoking areas. Supported b… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Representatives From The Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with representatives from the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), and American Bar Association (ABA). During the meeting, they discussed Legal Services Corporation (LSC) funding and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which Durbin supports to help our legal community. They also discussed the bar association… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Expanding Workforce Opportunities And Apprenticeships With Illinois Members Of IBEW

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to discuss pressing labor issues, including expanding access to apprenticeships and job opportunities. During the meeting, Durbin expressed the need for union labor to be involved in the clean energy jobs created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Durbin also spoke about the need for a Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub in Illinois.… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Secretary Mayorkas During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing Of The Department Of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security." Durbin first asked Secretary Mayorkas about the fentanyl crisis. "Tell me how we strike a relationship with Mexico to actively cooperate [with] the flow of individuals coming toward the United States while … Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses BOP Staffing Crisis With National President Of The Council Of Prison Locals

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Shane Fausey, National President of the Council of Prison Locals, to discuss the safety and working conditions of federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) employees. During the meeting, Durbin heard from Fausey about how BOP has been slow to fill thousands of vacant positions in correctional facilities, exacerbating the staffing crisis. Without proper staffing, BOP employees, including c… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Municipal League, Illinois Mayors To Talk Infrastructure

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Municipal League (IML) leadership and Illinois mayors to discuss federal funding secured for Illinois infrastructure through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP). During the meeting, Durbin spoke about $17 billion in formula funding coming to Illinois from the IIJA and the $1.8 billion in IIJA grant funding he helped secure in 2022 for infrastructure projects across … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With DHS Secretary Mayorkas

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security," featuring testimony from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. During his remarks, Durbin spoke on the horrific mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, that left three children and three adults dead. Ye… Continue Reading