Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Designating September As National Democracy Month

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2022 as National Democracy Month. The resolution asks Americans to reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable world. "Our democracy is only as strong as our commitment to relentlessly pursu… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Benefits of Inflation Reduction Act on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted the historic benefits of the now-signed Inflation Reduction Act, which reduces the cost of prescription drugs, combats climate change, and addresses inflation. Durbin began his remarks by noting a long-overdue provision in the legislation that allows Medicare to negotiate the prices of prescription drugs. Durbin said, "After years of candidates going out on the campaign trail and telli… Continue Reading

Durbin Praises the Release of American Hostage Mark Frerichs

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the release of Mark Frerichs today, an Illinoisan held hostage for more than two and a half years after being abducted in Afghanistan in 2020. After Frerichs was abducted by the Taliban, Haqqani network, or their affiliates in Afghanistan, Durbin and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have repeatedly called on both the Trump and Biden Administrations to prioritize his safe return. "Two and a half year… Continue Reading

Durbin & Duckworth Relieved by Release of American Hostage in Afghanistan Mark Frerichs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statements after the family of Mark Frerichs, an Illinoisan held hostage for more than two and a half years after being abducted in Afghanistan in 2020, announced that Mark has been freed from Taliban custody: "I am deeply heartened by Mark's long overdue release and the relief it will bring to him and his family. The tragic and cruel use of him as a hostage has finally come to an end. I want t… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Quincy Bay, Discusses Restoration Project

QUINCY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Quincy Bay, one of the largest natural bays of the Upper Mississippi River, to discuss its restoration project. This project aims to reverse the impact of sedimentation and erosion at Quincy Bay to improve the quality and diversity of waterfowl, fish, and wildlife populations, aquatic and forest habitat, and other ecologically significant features such as water depth and wetlands.Durbin pushed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $800,000 For the Knowledge Center At Chaddock Rennovation and Expansion

QUINCY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited The Knowledge Center at Chaddock to discuss $800,000 in federal funding he and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured through Congressionally Directed Spending-more commonly known as an earmark-in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill for the second phase of its renovation and expansion to improve child and adolescent mental health care. Specifically, the funding will be used for the complete construction of two additi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Padilla Request Additional Humanitarian Assistance Funding For Communities & Organizations Aiding Migrant Families

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, led eight of their Senate colleagues in a letter to Senate Appropriations Committee leadership urging them to provide additional humanitarian assistance funding for FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) in the upcoming government funding stop-gap bill. As R… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions CFTC Chairman at Agriculture Committee Hearing on Digital Assets

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 financial market stability given the extreme volatility of the crypto market. "My concern is this: I'm glad we're talking about regulation. We have to have it. But I worry we are doing enough to salve our conscience, but not doing enough to put up guardrails and stop signs on … Continue Reading

Durbin Slams FDA's Missed Deadlines To Protect Our Children From Nicotine Addiction

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency's orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. The court-ordered deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was more than one year… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Sarah Merriam To Second Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Sarah Merriam to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Merriam's confirmation: "Judge Sarah Merriam is a highly qualified and evenhanded jurist who has served as a federal judge for over seven years. Having previously worked as an Assistant Federal Defender, serving clients who could not otherwi… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Two Circuit Court Nominees, Three District Court Nominees, One U.S. Attorney

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Dana M. Douglas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Bradley N. Garcia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Frances Kay Behm, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Jerry W. Blackwell, to be United States District Judge for the District of Minnesota; and Anne M. Nardacci, to be United States District Judge for the Northern Distri… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with Illinois Farm Bureau members. During the meeting, they discussed agriculture priorities for Illinois' farmers, including the importance of crop insurance, strengthening ethanol production, tackling climate change, fertilizer costs, and the critical role of immigrant farmworkers. They also thanked Durbin for his work to secure $829 million in federal … Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez, Senators Unveil Resolution Urging International Cooperation to Address Sri Lanka's Political and Economic Crises

WASHINGTON – As the United Nations General Assembly convenes in New York this week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced a Senate resolution calling for a comprehensive international approach to address Sri Lanka’s current political and economic crises, including challenges related to poor governance and economic policy under the Rajap… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing on Our Health Care Workforce

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 Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing will explore how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deser… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee Hearing On Our Health Care Workforce

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety hearing entitled "Flatlining Care: Why Immigrants Are Crucial to Bolstering Our Health Care Workforce." Today's hearing explored how immigrants can help fill gaps in our health care system to ensure that our communities have access to the health care they need and deserve. The U.S. heal… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Manufacturers Association

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Manufacturers Association (IMA) to discuss opportunities for electric vehicle production in Illinois, the CHIPS and Science Act, which will help relieve supply chain issues, and the economy. Durbin also secured key priorities in the Inflation Reduction Act that will benefit the more than 550,000 manufacturing workers in Illinois. "I appreciate the opportunity to hear firsthand about the concerns and priorities… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Lara Montecalvo To First Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Lara Montecalvo to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Montecalvo's confirmation: "Lara Montecalvo is a seasoned litigator with a demonstrated commitment to equal justice. Her career representing indigent defendants ensures that she appreciates the real world impact of judicial decisionmaking and… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Press Twitter CEO on Reports of Security Failures and Foreign Infiltration at Twitter

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Twitter Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Parag Agrawal seeking information regarding a recent whistleblower report concerning the social media platform. On August 23, 2022, multiple news outlets released a lengthy disclosure containing allegations made by Peiter "Mudge" Zatko, the former h… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blackburn Bill to Support Survivors of Child Sex Abuse Headed to President's Desk

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S.3103, the Eliminating Limits to Justice forChild Sex Abuse Victims Act of 2021, a bipartisan bill first introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). The bill now heads to the President's desk. "The science of trauma is clear: it often takes years for victims to come forward," Durbin said. "Our bipartisan bill honors the ba… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Durbin began by questioning Mr. Zatko about the type of information that Twitter collects from its users. "Can we get into the real world now and talk about whether or not consumers across America have a right to be warned if they are opening a Twi… Continue Reading