Durbin, Welch, Shaheen Meet With Members Of The Ukrainian Parliament

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, hosted members of the Ukrainian Parliament to discuss continued Congressional support for Ukraine.  The members visiting also serve on Ukraine’s parliamentary delegation in the Council of Europe.  In addition to Durbin, U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also joined.  “More than two years after Putin began his brutal, criminal invasion, Ukraine remains on the frontlines of d… Continue Reading

Durbin, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Fund The Future Of Quantum Research At DOE

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced legislation to advance the United States’ capacity to invest in quantum information science and research and development (R&D) through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  As R&D advances quantum science, engineering, and technology, the DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2024 would reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing $2.5 billion in funding over the next five years… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing Examining Medical, Physical, And Emotional Abuse Of Pregnant & Postpartum Incarcerated Individuals

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 Human Rights and the Law hearing entitled “Birth Behind Bars.” Today’s hearing examined the medical, physical, and emotional abuse experienced by pregnant and postpartum incarcerated individuals. Today’s hearing included two powerful witness testimonials. Ms. Jessica Umberger testified to her experience being pregnant while incarc… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Latest Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations

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 Committee hearing on the nominations of Ryan Young Park, nominated to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Byron B. Conway, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Wisconsin; Jonathan E. Hawley, nominated to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois; April M. P… Continue Reading

Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Legislation To Lower Drug Prices By Promoting Generic Competition

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced a bipartisan bill to tackle certain efforts by the pharmaceutical industry to extend monopolies on lifesaving drugs.  The Reforming Evergreening and Manipulation that Extends Drug Years (REMEDY) Act, would promote competition by removing barriers to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for lower-cost generic drugs.  Many high-cost, brand-name drugs are shielded from compet… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Ensure Stable, Robust Funding For Biomedical Research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the American Cures Act, legislation that restores the United States’ commitment to breakthrough scientific and biomedical research.  The American Cures Act would create mandatory funds to provide steady, predictable funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies, allowing the U.S. to remain a leader in development and discovery for decades to come.  The American Cures Act would overcome the uncertai… Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins, Rep. Hank Johnson Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill To Improve Fairness In Criminal Justice System

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), along with U.S. Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet, today reintroduced the Criminal Judicial Administration Act (CJAA), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would improve fairness in the criminal justice system by facilitating court attendance by out-of-cust… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2.6 Million To Prevent Youth Substance Use In Illinois

WASHINGTON– U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,624,906 in federal funding going to 21 Illinois coalitions through the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program. This funding will be used by communities to achieve and sustain a reduction in local youth substance use, tackling issues ranging from tobacco prevention to opioid misuse.   “It is our duty to ensure that every Illinoisan has… Continue Reading

Durbin, Hirono, House Leaders Release GAO Report Constrained By AO Blocking Access To Federal Audit Of Sexual Harassment In the Judiciary System

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, alongside U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA-35), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), and Jerry Nadler (D-NY-12), released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report addressing the judiciary’s policies and practices to prevent and respond to workplace misconduct. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) failed to fully cooperate with the GAO audit, a pr… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions FBI, Secret Service During The Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committees' Bipartisan Joint Oversight Hearing On Trump Assassination Attempt

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Ronald L. Rowe, Jr., Acting Director of the United States Secret Service (USSS), and Paul Abbate, Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during a Senate Judiciary Committee, in partnership with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, hearing entitled “Examination of the Security Failures Leading to the Assassination Attempt on Former… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Kids Online Safety And Privacy Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act: “Today’s overwhelming vote should send a message to Big Tech that its days of policing itself are over.  “As the Senate Judiciary Committee has shown throughout this Congress, social media and other tech platforms pose serious dangers to the physical and mental health of our kids and grandkids. But mor… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary, Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committees' Bipartisan Joint Oversight Hearing On Trump Assassination Attempt

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, in partnership with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, hearing entitled “Examination of the Security Failures Leading to the Assassination Attempt on Former President Trump.” The committees will hear testimony from U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials … Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights the Supreme Court's Ethical Crisis on the Senate Floor

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 the urgent need for Supreme Court ethics reform following President Biden’s newly-released proposal to reform the Supreme Court.  “No other federal judge could get by with what Clarence Thomas did to receive millions of dollars’ worth of travel and gifts and not report them publicly.  I don't accept that as routine.  I think it is an aberration a… Continue Reading

Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Spending Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth

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) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced funding bills for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).  Durbin and Duckworth worked … Continue Reading

Durbin Previews Hearing Examining Security Failures that Led to Trump Assassination Attempt in Speech on the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, previewed tomorrow’s joint oversight hearing examining the security failures leading to the assassination attempt against former President Trump. In partnership with the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), the committees will hear testimony from U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) officials. Key Quo… Continue Reading

Durbin: With All Evidence Pointing to a Decisive Gonzalez Victory, He Should Be Considered President-Elect

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech condemning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for falsely claiming that the nation’s election was called in his favor, despite refusing to release actual ballot data and independent exit polls demonstrating widespread support for opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez.  In his remarks, Durbin emphasized the dangers of Maduro at the helm, and he emphasized that Gonzalez should be considere… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Improve Safety and Ensure Transparency of Dietary Supplements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act of 2024, legislation to require dietary supplement manufacturers to list their products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).  In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provided FDA with authorities to regulate dietary supplements.  However, DSHEA did not require dietary supplement companies to register their products with FDA, leaving… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Biden's Supreme Court Reform Proposal

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s newly-released proposal to reform the Supreme Court: “I thank President Biden for highlighting the Supreme Court’s ethical crisis. Through our ongoing investigation, the Senate Judiciary Committee has verified and reported lavish trips by sitting justices that were paid for by wealthy benefactors, including some previously unknown to the publ… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Quigley Announce The CTA Red Line Extension Project Is Receiving $746 Million In Federal Funding In The First Year

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) will now provide the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) Red Line Extension (RLE) Project with $746 million in the first year—an additional $396 million—as opposed to the $350 million originally planned.  These increased first-year funds will expedite the rate at which federal funding is disbursed to CTA over the cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Federally Funded Innovative Water Program At Argonne National Lab

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited Argonne National Laboratory to discuss the Great Lakes ReNEW initiative that will enable energy-efficient wastewater systems, reclaim critical minerals like cobalt and nickel, and remove harmful chemicals like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals,” from wastewater. This initiative was awarded $160 million in funding through the CHIPS & Science Act. Great Lakes ReNEW—which is backed by Illinois, Indi… Continue Reading