Durbin, Duckworth Statement on U.S. Attorney John Lausch's Decision to Step Down

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was announced that United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch will leave the Justice Department early this year: "We thank U.S. Attorney Lausch for serving the Northern District of Illinois with professionalism and without partisanship for the last five years. Although Mr. Lausch … Continue Reading

Durbin, Bipartisan Colleagues Joint Statement on Further Democratic Backsliding in Bolivia

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Jim Risch (R-ID) released the following joint statement on continued democratic backsliding in Bolivia, including the continued jailing of interim president Jeanine Áñez and recent arrest of local governor and opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho: "Bolivian President Luis Arce is facing a critical test of democratic lea… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Classified Documents Found At Penn Biden Center

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports that Attorney General Merrick Garland has assigned U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois John Lausch to review the discovery of classified documents from the Obama-Biden Administration at the Penn Biden Center, a Washington, D.C. based think tank: "I applaud President Biden and Attorney General Garland for their professional, no… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Biden Admin's New Expanded Legal Migration & Border Enforcement Actions

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Biden-Harris Administration announcing new expanded legal migration options and border enforcement actions: "Congressional Republicans who have repeatedly obstructed bipartisan immigration reform leave President Biden with no choice but to use the authorities he has under current law to establish a more orderly process at our southern border. I s… Continue Reading

Congress Passes Durbin, Duckworth Bill to Create National Heritage Area in Chicago's Bronzeville Community

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that at the conclusion of the 117th Congress, Congress passed their legislation to create a National Park Service (NPS) National Heritage Area in the greater Bronzeville community of Chicago. The Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area Actwill create a National Heritage Area from 18th Street to the North, 71st Street to the South, Lake Michigan to the East, and Canal Str… Continue Reading

Durbin, Pressley Call on DOJ to Rescind Trump Administration's Federal Execution Amendments

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), submitted a comment letter in response to a Department of Justice (DOJ) Request for Information (RFI) regarding the regulations governing federal executions. The comment letter urges DOJ to rescind all of the Trump Administration's November 27, 2020, amendments to the manner of execution regulations. These amendments allowed former Attorney General … Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes New Democratic U.S. Senators

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after attending the swearing in of the two new Democratic U.S. Senators: Peter Welch (D-VT) and John Fetterman (D-PA). "It is an honor to welcome Peter Welch and John Fetterman as newly sworn-in Democratic Senators to Washington. They bring new energy, ideas, and a unique experience in public service to our efforts to address the issues facing our nation. I look forward to working with them in the 1… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Swearing in of Tammy Duckworth to Second Term in the U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today accompanied U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) onto the floor of the U.S. Senate for her swearing in ceremony. Duckworth was sworn-in by Vice President Kamala Harris for her second term as a Senator from Illinois. "It was my honor to accompany Senator Duckworth to her swearing-in ceremony to serve a second term as a U.S. Senator. Having first met Senator Duckworth while she was recovering from her combat injuries at Walter Reed,… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Dems’ Success In Confirming Highly Qualified Judicial Nominees

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Judiciary Committee's and Senate Democrats' efforts to bring balance to the courts and confirm highly qualified judicial nominees during the 117th Congress. At the close of this Congress, the Senate has confirmed 97 lifetime judicial appointments, including one to the Supreme Court, 28 to the circuit courts, and 68 to the district courts-better… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Secure $182 Million For Illinois Projects In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) secured more than $182 million through Congressionally-directed spending for Illinois projects in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives. "This appropriations package makes significant investments in the future of Illinois," Durbin said. "The use of Congress… Continue Reading

Durbin, King, Smith, And Sinema Secure $12 Million For Open Textbook Pilot Program In Senate Appropriations Committee Annual Spending Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) today announced the inclusion of $12 million for the Open Textbook Pilot Program in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill. "With the already high costs of tuition, many students cannot afford to purchase expensive required textbooks for their coursework," said Durbin. "Open textbooks are a … Continue Reading

Durbin Secures $6.25 Million In Funding For Chicago HEAL Initiative In Fy23 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that he helped secure $6.25 million in federal funding for projects to prevent gun violence and improve health and wellbeing under the Chicago HEAL Initiative in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Omnibus Appropriations Act. The bill passed the Senate and now heads to the House of Representatives. "The Chicago HEAL Initiative is a community-wide effort that focuses on offering su… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Spending Bill With Key Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the millions in federal funding he secured for Illinois programs and priorities in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) omnibus appropriations bill. The bill, which passed the Senate, is awaiting passage in the House of Representatives. "After long bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, the Senate came together to pass a comprehensive spending bill that funds the federal government t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Bipartisan Bill To Broaden War Crimes Jurisdiction To Become Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applaud House passage of their Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of war criminals in the United States regardless of the location or targets of their atrocities. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for certain war crimes. Passage of the bill comes aft… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Applaud Senate Passage Of Their Inform Consumers Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) applauded Senate passage of their Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act. The legislation, which passed as part of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Act, will combat the online sale of stolen, counterfeit, and dangerous consumer products by ensuring transparency of high-volume third-party sellers in online retail marketpl… Continue Reading

Senate Passes Fy23 Government Funding Bill With Key Priorities Secured By Durbin

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill: "The omnibus spending package is a testament to the incredible progress we have made in the last year and makes significant investments for Illinois. It provides more than $45 billion to the people of Ukraine fighting tooth and nail to defend their freedom, the bipartisan… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy, Schakowksy, Lahood Legislation To Support Leading Rehab Hospitals Heads To President’s Desk

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), along with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) and Darin LaHood (R-IL-18) applauded House passage of their bipartisan legislation to support rehabilitation facilities that lead the nation in medical research and complex treatment. The Dr. Joanne Smith Memorial Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Act recognizes the unique role that a leading class of rehabilitation hospitals play in our health … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following Ukraine President Zelensky’s Address To A Joint Session Of Congress

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed a joint session of Congress: "For ten months, the Ukrainian people have put up a valiant fight against Russia's renewed aggression-and that few thought they could win, but here they are, still standing. That is in part due to President Zelensky's tireless leadership and courageous fight for his country. In fact, j… Continue Reading

Durbin, Menendez Meet Virtually With Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó & Chief Negotiator Gerardo Blyde

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today met virtually with Venezuelan Interim President Juan Guaidó and Mr. Gerardo Blyde, chief negotiator for the Unitary Platform, to discuss efforts to address the country's humanitarian crisis and negotiations for a credible 2024 presidential election. "In the face of Maduro's cruelty and criminal ineptitude, interim President Guaidó stands for a better fu… Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley Applaud Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Bill To Broaden War Crimes Jurisdiction

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applaud the Senate passage of their Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of war criminals in the United States regardless of the location or targets of their atrocities. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for war crimes discovered years after they occur… Continue Reading