Press Releases
Durbin Calls On Congress To Protect Children From Exploitation & Fix Broken Immigration System
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about a recent New York Timesarticle that raised serious concerns about the vetting of sponsors of unaccompanied non-citizen children and found large numbers of such children are being placed with exploitative sponsors and working long hours in dangerous conditions. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has reported a 69 percent increase in illegally … Continue Reading
March 09, 2023
Durbin, Brown, Warren, Smith Urge Department of Labor to Investigate Retirement Plans That Offer Investments In Crypto
WASHINGTON - Following the Department of Labor's (DOL) March 10, 2022, guidance related to 401(k) plan investments in cryptocurrencies, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to Secretary Marty Walsh urging DOL to expeditiously act on the announcement that it would investigate plans that offer investments in crypto. The Senators requested that DOL provide a detailed report outlining … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Statement On Bill To Revise And Strengthen The D.C. Criminal Code
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the landmark First Step Act, today released the following statement after voting against H.J.Res.26, a joint resolution disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Revised Criminal Code Act (RCCA) of 2022: "Partisan opponents of D.C.'s revised criminal code have claimed that the bill is 'soft on crime' because it reduces maximum sentences for … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With CEO Of Chicago Public Schools To Discuss Expanding Trauma-Informed Care For Students
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Pedro Martinez, CEO of Chicago Public Schools (CPS), to discuss helping our students thrive and succeed, including by addressing trauma and providing supportive school-based services through the Chicago HEAL Initiative. Durbin and Martinez also spoke about the implementation of grants, created through theBipartisan Safer Communities Act, that allocate $3 million to CPS for the hiring of school-based mental health … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
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 the crop insurance safety net, keeping nutrition assistance programs strong, federal funding for conservation improvements, and protecting and expanding international markets for Illinois agriculture. "As the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Veterans With Wounded Warrior Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Illinois veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), an organization that focuses on supporting post-9/11 veterans, caregivers, and families of veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury during their service. During their meeting, Durbin and the veterans discussed the importance of adequately staffing VA medical centers with mental health … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin, Cortez Masto Revive Push To Allow Dreamers To Work In Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) revived their push to increase diversity in government by reintroducing their legislation to allow Dreamers to work in Congress. The American Dream Employment Act lifts the current ban on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) recipients from working or participating in paid … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Primary Health Care Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Illinois Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. One in nine patients in Illinois are served by community health centers across urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state-providing primary, behavioral, and even dental health care to patients regardless of … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Social Media Platform Accountability & Opportunities For Reform
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 Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law hearing entitled, "Platform Accountability: Gonzalez and Reform." The hearing examined social media platform accountability and opportunities for reform. Key quotes: "We had a rather historic meeting of the Judiciary Committee just a few weeks ago… the hearing considered the … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Questions CFTC Chairman On Crypto At Agriculture Committee Hearing
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 the collapse of FTX-one of the world's largest crypto trading platforms. In November, FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and its CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, resigned. Durbin previously asked Chairman Behnam about FTX at an Agriculture Committee hearing in December. Durbin … Continue Reading
March 08, 2023
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Restoring Competition To Our Digital Markets
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Protection hearing titled, "Reining in Dominant Digital Platforms: Restoring Competition to Our Digital Markets." Durbin began his questioning by highlighting the challenges Congress faces when trying to keep up with the constant changes of technology. "My observation in general is that … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Meets With Illinois Public Health & Medicaid Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra and Medicaid Administrator at Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) Kelly Cunningham to discuss workforce shortages in the health care sector, and public heath funding to ensure Illinoisans can continue to get the high quality, affordable care they need. "Our health care professionals put their all into caring for their … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Expresses Support For Railway Safety Act Of 2023 In Speech On The Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to sound the alarm on railway safety after news broke this morning of a third rail accident involving Norfolk Southern. The accident, in which a Norfolk Southern train collided with a dump truck in Cleveland and killed a rail employee, is the third incident in one month involving the rail company. In his speech, Durbin urged his colleagues to prioritize railway safety before another community loses a … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin, Shaheen Meet With U.S Ambassador To Hungary, David Pressman
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today met with U.S. Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman to discuss Sweden and Finland's entry into NATO and Hungary's democratic backsliding under the government of Victor Orban. During the meeting, Durbin and Shaheen expressed their hope that Hungary would soon ratify the new NATO aspirants and their support for Pressman, and noted the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 omnibus appropriations bill that … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Applauds Administration’s Decision To Impose Magnitsky Law Following Unjust Jailing & Killing Of Democratic Opposition Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor applauding the Biden Administration's decision to impose Magnitsky Law related sanctions on several Putin henchmen involved in the jailing of Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure who survived two poisoning attempts by the Kremlin. The news follows a letter from Durbin, Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) to U.S. … Continue Reading
March 07, 2023
Durbin Urges Department Of Defense To Bolster Support For Mental Health Treatment In Military
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled "Briefing: A Review of the Department of Defense Health Program." During the hearing, Durbin questioned the witness, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs Dr. Lester Martínez-López, on the stigma of seeking mental health support in the military. "Mental health counseling is so important for … Continue Reading
March 06, 2023
ICYMI: Durbin, Senate Democrats Press Depts. Of Labor, HHS For Answers On Child Labor Violations In U.S.
WASHINGTON - In case you missed it, the New York Times outlined the efforts by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and top Senate Democrats to protect children from exploitation. Last week, Durbin led 16 Senate colleagues in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Marty Walsh requesting information on children's placement with sponsors and investigations into … Continue Reading
March 06, 2023
Durbin Honors Memory Of Fallen Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor honoring the memory of Chicago Police Officer Andrés Vásquez Lasso, who was killed while responding to a domestic violence call that ended in a chase and an exchange of gunfire with the suspect. He was a resident of the Southside neighborhood that he served in. "The City of Chicago, which I represent, is a city in mourning today. Last Wednesday, Chicago Police Officer … Continue Reading
March 06, 2023
Durbin Speaks On Senate Floor On Eve Of Bloody Sunday Anniversary, Underscores Continued Efforts To Protect Voting Rights
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, underlined his commitment to protecting voting rights and ensuring important lessons on the history of racial injustice in America are shared - not erased. His speech comes on the eve of the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, marking 58 years since the Selma, Alabama, civil rights protests that ended in violence when marchers - most of whom were Black - were … Continue Reading