Press Releases
Durbin, Illinois Attorney General Raoul Urge FDA To Heed Lessons On Youth Vaping Epidemic From Recent Juul Settlement
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf to consider the findings from Illinois' recent $462 million settlement with JUUL and six other states, as part of the FDA's ongoing examination of the youth vaping epidemic and JUUL's e-cigarette application for marketing authorization. Attorney General Raoul had sued JUUL in 2019 alleging the company marketed its … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
Durbin, Thune Statement On Biden Administration Decision To Sell E15 Fuel Through Summer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) decision to allow summer sales of higher-ethanol E15 gasoline: "We are pleased that EPA heeded our calls and is using its existing authority to prevent the disruption of sales of E15 fuel this summer. It remains a … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
Durbin, Hirono, Wyden, Whitehouse, Booker Introduce Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act To Expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness To Adjunct Professors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the Adjunct Faculty Loan Fairness Act to allow part-time faculty at colleges and universities - who are often have high student debt loads and are paid low wages with few benefits - to be eligible to participate in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. PSLF is designed to encourage graduates to … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Judge Amanda Brailsford For Confirmation By Full Senate
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Judge Amanda Brailsford to the District of Idaho by voice vote for consideration by the full Senate. "Judge Amanda Brailsford's nomination embodies the good-faith cooperation that the American people expect when filling vacancies on the federal bench. She is experienced in both criminal and civil law matters, earned the support of both Republican Senators from Idaho, and would be the first woman to serve as district … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Durbin Statement Following The Joint Session Of Congress With South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after today's Joint Session of Congress with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Following the Joint Session of Congress, Durbin met with his guest, Julie Eunju Choi, the 35th President of the Korean American Association of Chicago. "Today's Joint Session of Congress is a reminder of the importance of reaffirming our critical international relationships that have been at the forefront of President … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Durbin Meets Illinois Teacher Of The Year
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Kimberly Radostits, who was awarded Illinois Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Ms. Radostits is an 8th to 12th grade Spanish teacher at Oregon High School in Oregon, Illinois, where she also leads a freshman mentoring program, Hawks Take Flight, with the goal of keeping students on track for four-year graduation. Hawks Take Flight uses an early warning system to identify students … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Durbin Statement On Failed Senate Vote On The Equal Rights Amendment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against S.J.Res.4, a bipartisan, joint resolution removing the deadline for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would enshrine gender equality into the Constitution: "Today, Senate Republicans failed to secure the rights of every American by voting against the Equal Rights Amendment. Right now, women … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats Ask Chief Justice Roberts For Information Regarding Supreme Court Ethics Ahead Of Hearing On May 2
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts seeking additional information on the "Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices" the Chief Justice attached in a letter to Durbin declining his invitation to testify before the Committee on May 2 at a public hearing regarding Supreme Court ethics reform. "On April 25, you sent a letter to the … Continue Reading
April 27, 2023
Ahead Of Senate Vote, Durbin Calls On His Colleagues To Support The Equal Rights Amendment
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on his colleagues to support the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), which would enshrine gender equality into the Constitution. The Senate is scheduled to vote on cloture on the motion to proceed to this resolution later today. In February, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the ERA, the first Senate hearing on the topic since 1984. "The … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Talks Water Infrastructure With Metropolitan Water Reclamation Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met Metropolitan Water Reclamation Department's (MWRD) leadership to discuss the organization's efforts to address excessive flooding in historically underserved communities in the Chicagoland area, including Harvey, South Holland, and Blue Island. Durbin and MWRD leadership also spoke about the dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Durbin emphasized the necessity of detecting PFAS contamination … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Meets With The Keep Kids Safe Coalition To Discuss Efforts To Protect Children From Exploitation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with the Keep Kids Safe Coalition to discuss efforts to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Durbin recently unveiled his new efforts to stop the exploitation of children online in a speech on the Senate floor. "Children are being bullied, harassed, and pressured into dangerous and even deadly behavior online. As lawmakers, it's our duty to impose stronger, … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Discusses Strengthening Unions With UAW President
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain to talk through the upcoming contract negotiations between the union and automakers at the end of the year. In the meeting, Durbin reiterated his support for unions in addition to building up workforce development initiatives and apprenticeships to recruit and prepare young Americans to enter the auto industry. Fain and Durbin also emphasized the importance of investing in … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Meets With President Of International Association Of Fire Fighters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Ed Kelly, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), to discuss union priorities. During their meeting, Durbin and Kelly discussed the health risks posed by fire fighter turnout gear. Studies show that fire fighter gear contains unnecessary per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of fluorinated chemicals known as "forever chemicals" that have been linked to cancer and other … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Introduces America's Red Rock Wilderness Act To Protect Wilderness Lands In Utah
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the America's Red Rock Wilderness Act to protect more than eight million acres of land in Utah that is rich in archaeological resources and home to numerous rare plant and animal species. These landscapes are also the access point for many national parks and offer unparalleled research, educational, and recreational opportunities for scientists, educators, outdoor enthusiasts, and American families. "The America's … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin, Ossoff, Braun Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Overhaul Federal Prison Oversight
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Mike Braun (R-IN) today to reintroduce bipartisan legislation, the Federal Prison Oversight Act, to overhaul federal prison oversight and strengthen security at federal prisons. The legislation would establish new, independent oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The bipartisan bill requires the Department of Justice's Inspector General … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
DURBIN QUESTIONS WITNESSES DURING SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARING ON THE DEVASTATING FALLOUT SINCE THE SUPREME COURT OVERRULED ROE V. WADE
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the devastating fallout since the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade in June 2022. "The Assault on Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America" is the first hearing focused on reproductive rights in the House or the Senate this Congress. Durbin began by sharing his sympathy for one of today's witnesses, … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Devastating Fallout Since The Supreme Court Overruled Roe V. Wade
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing to examine the devastating fallout since the U.S. Supreme Court overruledRoe v. Wade in June 2022. "The Assault on Reproductive Rights in a Post-Dobbs America" is the first hearing focused on reproductive rights in the House or the Senate this Congress. Today's hearing follows the full committee hearing Durbin … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Meets With Marshal Of The Polish Senate, Tomasz Grodzki
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today met with Marshal of the Polish Senate, Tomasz Grodzki, to discuss continued support for Ukraine following Putin's unjustified war. They also discussed their continued support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the strong U.S.-Polish bilateral relationship. "Poland has proven to be a key leader in Eastern Europe and a critical ally to our friends in Ukraine as Vladimir … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
Durbin Meets With Australian Ambassador To The U.S., Kevin Rudd
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bicameral Friends of Australia Caucus, met with Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd, to discuss U.S.-Australian cooperation and ongoing partnerships. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) also joined the meeting. "As the Friends of Australia Caucus Co-Chair, I was pleased to meet with new Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd," said Durbin. "He understand the … Continue Reading
April 25, 2023
Durbin Statement On Chief Justice Roberts Declining To Testify Before The Judiciary Committee Regarding Supreme Court Ethics
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after Chief Justice John Roberts declined Durbin's invitation for the Chief Justice, or another Justice whom he designates, to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 2 to testify at a public hearing regarding Supreme Court ethics reform. The Chief Justice's response is available here. "The Senate Judiciary Committee will proceed with our May … Continue Reading