Durbin Secures Key Illinois Priorities In Water Resources Bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured several Illinois provisions in the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). These provisions include an increase in the federal cost share for the Brandon Road Lock and Dam Project to 90 percent that will save Illinois tens of millions in project costs. The project will construct a new engineered channel at Joliet's Brandon Road Lock, which will be used to test and dep… Continue Reading

Durbin, Marshall Introduce Bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act of 2022, legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. Building off of debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, the bill would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that giant credit card-issuing banks offer a choice of … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $5.3 Million In Federal Funding To Support Maternal Health In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has been awarded a total of $5,339,317 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This significant funding will support IDPH in identifying, reviewing, and characterizing maternal deaths, developing new treatments for pregnancy and postpartum complications, and identifying prevention opportuniti… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $519,000 In Funding For Rural EMS Agencies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $518,916 in funding for several rural fire and emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Illinois. The funding, which was created through Durbin's Supporting and Improving Rural EMS Needs (SIREN) Act, will go toward supporting EMS agencies in training and recruiting staff, conducting certification courses, and purchasing equipment. "Across Illinois, rural EMS agencies are first o… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances One Circuit Court Nominees, Two U.S. Attorneys, And Legislation To Improve Competition And Innovation

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Roopali H. Desai, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; E. Martin Estrada, to be United States Attorney for the Central District of California; and Gregory J. Haanstad, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, by voice vote. The Committee also advanced S.4430, Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2022, by voice vote. This bill-co-led by U.S. Senate Major… Continue Reading

Durbin Tests Positive For COVID-19

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after testing positive for COVID-19: "This morning, I tested positive for COVID-19. Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and double boosted and only experiencing minor symptoms. Consistent with CDC guidelines, I will quarantine and follow advice from my doctor while I continue to work remotely." -30-… Continue Reading

Durbin: With The CHIPS And Science Act, We Can Kick-Start A New Generation Of Discovery

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the Senate passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. During his speech, Durbin highlighted the need to increase domestic microchip production, as microchips are used in everything from refrigerators to smartphones to cars. In 1990, America … 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 Judge Dana Douglas, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Bradley Garcia, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Durbin focused his questions on differentiating between advocating for a client in private practice and the impartiality of a judge. "You ha… Continue Reading

Durbin: Women's Right To Contraception Is In Jeopardy In The Post-Roe America

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today detailed how the conservative Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is threatening the constitutional right to contraception-which is protected under the Court's 1965 ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut. Justice Thomas's concurring opinion in Dobbs called for Griswold, among other cases, to be reconsidered because they were, in his view, "demonstrably errone… 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 Judge Dana Douglas, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Bradley Garcia, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Durbin focused his questions on differentiating between advocating for a client in private practice and the impartiality of a judge. "You ha… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan CHIPS And Science Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing and scientific research capabilities: "America needs to be at the forefront of innovation and scientific research once again. This once-in-a-generation, bipartisan bill makes strategic investments to boost … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Nominations Hearing

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 Dana M. Douglas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; Bradley N. Garcia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Frances Kay Behm, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Jerry W. Blackwell, to be United States Dis… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Federal Cannabis Policy

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 Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled "Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level: Necessary Steps to Address Past Harms." Durbin first commended Weldon Angelos, President and Co-Founder of The Weldon Project, for sharing his experience as someone who has been personally impacted by the "war on drugs," and for … Continue Reading

Durbin, Warren, Smith Press Fidelity On Bitcoin Exposure To Retirement Funds

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) requested answers from Fidelity Investments on their decision to allow 401(k) plan sponsors to offer plan participants exposure to Bitcoin, a highly volatile and unregulated digital asset. Fidelity is one of the largest 401(k) providers with around 40 million individual investors and around $11.3 trillion in assets under administration. The letter said in part, "we write to… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Decriminalizing Cannabis At The Federal Level

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 Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism hearing entitled "Decriminalizing Cannabis at the Federal Level: Necessary Steps to Address Past Harms." Key Quotes: "There has been a sea change in the way cannabis has been addressed throughout this country. Thirty-eight states have now legalized the medical use [of cannabis]… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Congress To Extend ACA Tax Credits

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to extend the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) tax credits-which eliminated or reduced out-of-pocket premiums for millions of people. If Congress doesn't act soon, these tax credits will expire at the end of the year. Thanks to Democrats, who all supported the American Rescue Plan, a record 14.5 million people signed up for ACA plans during the 2022 open enrollment period. Durbin sai… Continue Reading

Durbin, Leahy Call On Administration To Take An Unequivocal Position Against The Use of Torture-Derived Evidence

WASHINGTON - In response to a new letter from the Biden Administration, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released a joint statement expressing disappointment with the Administration for failing to take a firm and unequivocal position against the use of torture-derived evidence: "This is not a difficult question: Are we going to stand on principle and r… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat America's Gun Violence Epidemic Poses To Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Law Enforcement Officer Safety: Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve." The hearing focused on the threat that our nation's gun violence epidemic poses to law enforcement officers. Firearm-related fatalities were the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in 2021 after COVID-19, according to the National Law Enforcement O… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Officer Ella Grace French Task Force Support Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced the Officer Ella Grace French Task Force Support Act of 2022, legislation that would authorize the use of Department of Justice Project Safe Neighborhood funds to support multi-jurisdictional task forces that investigate and disrupt illicit straw purchasing and firearms trafficking activity. The bill is named after Chicago Police Officer Ella Grace French, who was tragically shot… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Threat America's Gun Violence Epidemic Poses To Law Enforcement

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 "Law Enforcement Officer Safety: Protecting Those Who Protect and Serve." The hearing focuses on the threat that our nation's gun violence epidemic poses to law enforcement officers. Firearm-related fatalities were the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in 2021 after COVID-19, according to the National … Continue Reading