Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Announce Nearly $1 Million To Support University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Public Health Research

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) today announced $991,796 for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Program to evaluate the environmental, behavioral, and financial benefits of electrification and energy efficiency for underserved communities. "Investing in research and innovation is key to … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing With Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko

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 "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Key Quotes: "Twitter now plays an outsized role in politics, culture, and even democracy itself." "In July 2020, two teenagers hacked into the accounts of Twitter employees and gained access to a number of high-profile accounts-including no… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Should Work Together to Create an Immigration System that Reflects the Best of America

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reflected on his recent visit to the Salvation Army Freedom Center in the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago to meet with migrant families who were forced to come to Chicago from Texas by Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX). During his speech, Durbin praised Chicago's agencies for stepping up to support these migrants. Durbin's mother is an immigrant who came from Lithu… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Twitter Whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released prepared testimony from Twitter whistleblower Peiter "Mudge" Zatko during today's hearing entitled "Data Security at Risk: Testimony from a Twitter Whistleblower." Zatko, a data security expert and former head of security at Twitter, recently blew the whistle on alleged data security failures, foreign infiltration, and misrepresentations to regulatory agencies by Twitter. Key quotes as prepared: "[I] am here today because I believe that Twit… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee to Investigate New Reports of Political Interference During Trump Presidency

WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Attorney General Garland seeking information on reports of political interference during the Trump presidency by then-Attorney General Barr and other Trump loyalists. In his letter, Durbin points to recent claims made by Geoffrey Berman, the former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), including that high-ranking Trump administration appointees pressured… 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

Senate Confirms Salvador Mendoza To Ninth Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Salvador Mendoza to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Mendoza's confirmation: "Judge Mendoza is a highly experienced jurist with a life-long commitment to public and community service. He has distinguished himself on the bench, presiding over dozens of trials and demonstrating evenhande… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $3 Million for Illinois State Board of Education

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $3,000,000 in Competitive Grants for State Assessments for the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). This funding will allow ISBE to create innovative assessments for Spanish language arts students in grades 9 and 10, as well as significantly expand educator professional learning and parent/student engagement activities. "Today's students are tomorrow's future - it is critical t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $19 Million For Health Care Research In Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $19,453,291 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) biomedical research grants for Illinois institutions. The funding, which comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), will be put toward research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer prevention to mental health research. "Investing in the development of… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $44 Million For Head Start Programs In Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $44,270,775 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support Head Start services for children under the age of five in receiving wrap-around support in early learning and development. "Head Start and Early Head Start programs grant our children equal access to achieving their full potential," said Durbin. "This significant investment will help build th… Continue Reading

On One Year Anniversary of FDA Failing To Meet Court-Ordered Deadline To Regulate E-Cigarette Products, Durbin Urges HHS To Step In

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra condemning the FDA for its 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. Th… Continue Reading

Durbin: Democrats Are Rebuilding America And Rewarding American Workers

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted how the legislative accomplishments of Congressional Democrats and President Biden are improving the lives of Americans and boosting our economy. Durbin began his speech by highlighting the CHIPS and Science Act, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to expand our domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research capabilities. He also… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Two Members Of The Privacy And Civil Liberties Oversight Board, Two U.S. Marshals

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Richard E. DiZinno and Travis LeBlanc to be Members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board by voice vote. The Committee also advanced Brian A. Kyes, to be United States Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Stephen D. Lynn, to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Georgia, by voice vote. In light of this week's progress on nominations, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), C… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Amtrak Board Of Directors Nominee And Mayor Of Normal, Illinois, Chris Koos

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Normal, Illinois, Mayor Chris Koos during his visit to Washington for his nomination hearing, in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, for the Amtrak Board of Directors. As a result of Durbin's recommendation, President Biden nominated Mayor Koos to the Amtrak Board earlier this year. "Mayor Koos has long been a powerful voice in Illinois' transportation industry. He understands the importance of … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Springfield Community Leaders

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a resident of Springfield, Illinois, today met with Springfield community leaders, including Mayor Jim Langfelder, to discuss the city's upcoming infrastructure projects. During their meeting, Durbin received an update about the Springfield Rail Improvement Project (SRIP), which will alleviate rail congestion in the city by building new underpasses and overpasses at critical rail crossings, and the construction of the Springfield-Sangamo… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Andre Mathis To Sixth Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Andre Mathis to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Mathis's confirmation: "Andre Mathis is a lifelong Tennessean-dedicating his life and career to his state and his community. Looking at his record of service and extensive experience as a litigator, it is no wonder Mr. Mathis enjoys support from… Continue Reading

Durbin Expresses Support For Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness Plan In Speech On Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor addressing the burdensome cost of higher education, which has quickly become one of the biggest worries facing middle- and low-income families in America. Durbin began his speech by recalling the inception of the National Defense Education Act, which was enacted to counter the Soviet Union's exploration of space and their growing technology industry. As a result of the legislation, students were offe… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Judge John Lee To Seventh Circuit

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge John Lee to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Lee's confirmation: "Judge Lee is an embodiment of the American dream. Born to Korean parents and immigrating to Chicago at the age of four, he has dedicated his career to public service and the evenhanded administration of justice. When h… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Cindy K. Chung, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, and Justice Tamika R. Montgomery-Reeves, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. Durbin first questioned Justice Montgomery-Reeves on her reasoning in Doe v. Coupe, in which she considered a Fourth Amendment challenge to… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Accountability Of Foreign Medical Schools Receiving Federal Student Aid

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation that would protect students and taxpayers by closing a loophole that gives special treatment to a small number of overseas medical schools. The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act would require all medical schools outside of the U.S. and Canada to meet the same minimum requirements to receive Title IV student aid dollars. Currently, some overseas medical schools are exempt from meeting the min… Continue Reading