Durbin, DeLauro Urge FDA Commissioner Califf to Implement Reforms At The Agency's Human Foods Program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf urging him to make critical reforms within FDA's Human Foods Program. This follows the Reagan-Udall Foundation's recent external evaluation and report, which outlined various flaws at FDA including their slow response to foodborne illness outbreaks, particularly with infant formula, and lack of implementing t… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Reported Abuses by Special Counsel Durham

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding a bombshell New York Times report about alleged misconduct by Special Counsel John Durham: "These reports about abuses in Special Counsel Durham's investigation-so outrageous that even his longtime colleagues quit in protest-are but one of many instances where former President Trump and his allies weaponized the Justice Department. "The Justice… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Tyre Nichols

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the killing of Tyre Nichols by five former Memphis police officers and the subsequent investigation: "First and foremost: my thoughts are with the family of Tyre Nichols and the Memphis community. As those who were blessed to call Mr. Nichols a family member, friend, or neighbor mourn, we must commit to pursuing justice for his death, which feels… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues In Calling On FTC To Investigate Continued Marketing To Kids Of The JR-15 Rifle By Wee 1 Tactical

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 joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Alex Padilla (D-CA), to call on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the continued marketing to children of the "JR-15" rifle by Illinois-based company Wee 1 Tactical. While children under age 18 ca… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Judiciary Committee Democratic Members For 118th Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the following Senators will serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee for the 118th Congress: Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Peter Welch (D-VT). Durbin will once again serve as Chair of the Senate… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Deny U.S. Visas To Those Who Undermine Free And Fair Elections

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, highlighted new legislation that he's introducing today to deny U.S. visas to foreign government officials who undermine free and fair elections or democratic transfers of power. The bill comes after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro traveled to Florida to skip his successor's inauguration and the subsequent attack on Brazil's governing institutions … Continue Reading

Durbin, Tillis, Coons, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Improve Coordination Between USPTO And FDA

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and coordination in implementing each agency's activities related to patents. Currently, there is limited collaborat… Continue Reading

Durbin To FDA: Follow The Law, Pull Unauthorized E-Cigarettes From The Market Immediately To Protect America’s Children

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) rebuked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its unacceptable failure to protect children from the dangers of vaping. The agency, which has failed for 16 months to meet a court-ordered deadline of September 9, 2021, to review e-cigarettes, submitted a filing this week disclosing that there will be another six-month delay before FDA completes the premarket review process for the most popular va… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Must Commit To Strong And Sustained Funding Increases For Our Nation’s Medical And Scientific Researchers

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, spoke about the significance of medical research conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that has led to major breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, COVID-19, and more. While Durbin emphasized the progress made in the medical field, he called on Congress to continue investing in medical research to ensure that the U.S. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Protecting Children With Food Allergies Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, which would require school food personnel to complete a food allergy training, so that they are better equipped to prevent and respond to emergency situations involving allergic food reactions. Over the past two decades, the number of children with food allergies in the U.S. has more than doubled. Now, more than eight percent of ch… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Booker, Schakowsky, García, Trahan Introduce Mentoring To Succeed Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), Jesús "Chuy" García (D-IL-4), and Lori Trahan (D-MA-3), introduced the bicameral Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. This legislation provides a strong, sustainable support system through mentorship to ensure that children who experience barriers like poverty, ina… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Environmental Quality Priorities With EPA Administrator Michael Regan

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan to discuss environmental quality initiatives impacting Illinoisans, ranging from removing lead service pipes to regulating harmful chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and ethylene oxide (EtO). During their conversation, Durbin and Regan focused on the pervasiveness of PFAS contamination, particularly in drinking water, and how to protec… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With U.S Ambassador To Mexico, Ken Salazar

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar to discuss U.S.-Mexico relations following President Biden's visit to Mexico as part of the North American Leaders Summit. They also discussed ongoing bilateral efforts to address migration and cross-border drug and weapons trafficking. "Ambassador Salazar understands the dynamic relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, "said Durbin. "We share many common interests with our neighbor… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions District Court Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned district court nominees in the first Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing of the 118th Congress. Durbin began by questioning Michael Farbiarz, nominee to be a United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey, about counterintelligence and counterterrorism cases he helped investigate and prosecute. "In 2010, the FBI arrested 10 Russian sleeper agents in the … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Committee Hearing On District Court Nominations

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 Committee hearing on the nominations of Charnelle Bjelkengren, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Matthew P. Brookman, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana; Michael Farbiarz, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Robert Kirsch, to be U… Continue Reading

Following The 50th Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade, Durbin Recommits To Protecting Reproductive Rights

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, recommitted to protecting reproductive rights following the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. During his speech, Durbin condemned the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned a nearly 50-year-old precedent that had been reaffirmed multiple times. "For those of us who were alive when Roe was decided, we rememb… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Judiciary Committee Hearing On Problems In America’s Ticketing & Live Entertainment Markets

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 examining the lack of competition in the ticketing industry titled, "That's the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment." Durbin began by asking Clyde Lawrence of the band Lawrence about the pricing of tickets before pressing Joe Berchtold, President and CFO of Live Nation Entertainment (Tick… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Cms Funding To Address Physician Shortage In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has awarded new Medicare Graduate Medical Education funding to support an additional 14 residency slots for hospitals in Illinois. With this new federal funding, five Illinois hospitals will be able to expand their medical training opportunities for new doctors, in order to help address the nation's physician shortage. "Our health care professio… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Association Of American Railroads To Discuss Employee Benefits

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Ian Jeffries, CEO of the Association of American Railroads (AAR), to discuss improving employee benefits for rail workers, including additional sick leave and personal time. While the most recent rail and labor agreement that Congress approved in December prevented a strike and provided rail workers with the largest wage increase in 50 years, it did little to reform point-based attendance policies - which enforce attendanc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Authorization On Global Basic Education

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act of 2017 for an additional five years to equitably expand access to basic education for children around the globe. In the 117th Congress, the legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Reps. Karen Bass (D-CA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). "Given the terrible learning loss a… Continue Reading