Durbin Meets With Illinois Veterans With Wounded Warrior Project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Illinois veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), an organization that focuses on supporting post-9/11 veterans, caregivers, and families of veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury during their service. During their meeting, Durbin and the veterans discussed the importance of adequately staffing VA medical centers with mental health profession… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cortez Masto Revive Push To Allow Dreamers To Work In Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) revived their push to increase diversity in government by reintroducing their legislation to allow Dreamers to work in Congress. The American Dream Employment Act lifts the current ban on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients from working or participating in paid inter… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Primary Health Care Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. One in nine patients in Illinois are served by community health centers across urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state-providing primary, behavioral, and even dental health care to patients regardless of their … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Social Media Platform Accountability & Opportunities For Reform

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Platform Accountability: Gonzalez and Reform." The hearing examined social media platform accountability and opportunities for reform. Key quotes: "We had a rather historic meeting of the Judiciary Committee just a few weeks ago… the hearing considered the sub… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions CFTC Chairman On Crypto At Agriculture Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), today, in a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing, questioned the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Rostin Behnam about the collapse of FTX-one of the world's largest crypto trading platforms. In November, FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, resigned. Durbin previously asked Chairman Behnam about FTX at an Agriculture Committee hearing in December. Durbin said… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Restoring Competition To Our Digital Markets

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Protection hearing titled, "Reining in Dominant Digital Platforms: Restoring Competition to Our Digital Markets." Durbin began his questioning by highlighting the challenges Congress faces when trying to keep up with the constant changes of technology. "My observation in general is that t… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their patients, … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their patients,… Continue Reading

Durbin Expresses Support For Railway Safety Act Of 2023 In Speech On The Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to sound the alarm on railway safety after news broke this morning of a third rail accident involving Norfolk Southern. The accident, in which a Norfolk Southern train collided with a dump truck in Cleveland and killed a rail employee, is the third incident in one month involving the rail company. In his speech, Durbin urged his colleagues to prioritize railway safety before another community loses a loved… Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen Meet With U.S Ambassador To Hungary, David Pressman

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today met with U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman to discuss Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO and Hungary's democratic backsliding under the government of Victor Orban. During the meeting, Durbin and Shaheen expressed their hope that Hungary would soon ratify the new NATO aspirants and their support for Pressman, and noted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that include… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Administration’s Decision To Impose Magnitsky Law Following Unjust Jailing & Killing Of Democratic Opposition Leaders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor applauding the Biden Administration's decision to impose Magnitsky Law related sanctions on several Putin henchmen involved in the jailing of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure who survived two poisoning attempts by the Kremlin. The news follows a letter from Durbin, Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to U.S. S… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Department Of Defense To Bolster Support For Mental Health Treatment In Military

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled "Briefing: A Review of the Department of Defense Health Program." During the hearing, Durbin questioned the witness, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martínez-López, on the stigma of seeking mental health support in the military. "Mental health counseling is so important for all … Continue Reading

ICYMI: Durbin, Senate Democrats Press Depts. Of Labor, HHS For Answers On Child Labor Violations In U.S.

WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, the New York Times outlined the efforts by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and top Senate Democrats to protect children from exploitation. Last week, Durbin led 16 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Marty Walsh requesting information on children's placement with sponsors and investigations into ch… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Memory Of Fallen Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring the memory of Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call that ended in a chase and an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. He was a resident of the Southside neighborhood that he served in. "The City of Chicago, which I represent, is a city in mourning today. Last Wednesday, Chicago Police Officer Andr&eacu… Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On Senate Floor On Eve Of Bloody Sunday Anniversary, Underscores Continued Efforts To Protect Voting Rights

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, underlined his commitment to protecting voting rights and ensuring important lessons on the history of racial injustice in America are shared - not erased. His speech comes on the eve of the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, marking 58 years since the Selma, Alabama, civil rights protests that ended in violence when marchers - most of whom were Black - were attacked … Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Successful Democratic Effort To Lower Cost Of Insulin

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about Eli Lilly's decision to cap the out-of-pocket cost for insulin at $35 a month, which can provide major relief for more than seven million patients, including more than 200,000 Illinoisans who rely upon insulin. While Durbin applauds this news, he slammed Eli Lilly for continuously raising the price of insulin for their own profits. Thanks to the leadership of Congressional Democrats, the Inflation … Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues In Calling For Update From Inter-American Commission On Human Rights On Investigation Into Death Of Cuban Political Reformer Oswaldo Payá

WASHINGTON - With this summer marking the eleventh year since Cuban political reformer Oswaldo Payá's suspicious death, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Mark Warner (D-VA), urged the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to provide an update on this case without further delay. In 2013, Durbin sent his first letter to previous Commiss… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Walgreens’ Decision To Not Offer Medication Abortion Pill

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement regarding Walgreens' decision not to offer the medication abortion pill mifepristone-which the Food and Drug Administration approved more than 20 years ago as safe and effective-in 21 states whose attorneys general threatened Walgreens and other pharmacies with legal action if they dispensed the medication in those states: "It is unacceptable that Republican… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Fallen Chicago Police Department Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement regarding Chicago Police Department Officer Andres Vasquez-Lasso who was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday, March 1: "The loss of fallen CPD Officer Vasquez-Lasso is heartbreaking. My prayers are with Officer Vasquez-Lasso's family, friends, and colleagues who are grieving. "Our heroic officers deserve to return home after every shift. Gun violence is tearing our communities apart, and I am d… Continue Reading

Durbin Leads Colleagues In Letter To HHS, DOL Requesting Information On Protecting Children From Exploitation

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 16 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Marty Walsh requesting information on children's placement with sponsors and investigations into child labor. The letter follows a New York Times article that raised serious concerns about the vetting of sponsors of unaccompanied non-citizen childr… Continue Reading