Durbin, Duckworth, Newman, Quigley Urge FRA To Consider Illinois For Location Of Future University Rail Research And Development Center Of Excellence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Marie Newman (D-IL-3) and Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) today sent a letter to Federal Railroad Administrator (FRA) Amit Bose urging him to consider Illinois as a home for the future University Rail Research and Development Center of Excellence. The Members authored language in the historic bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requiring FRA to establish the rail research … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Senate To Ban Military-Style Assault Weapons Following Highland Park Hearing

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on his colleagues to ban military-style assault weapons that can be used to kill large numbers of people in mere seconds. Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the Independence Day Parade mass shooting in Highland Park, Illinois - the 309th mass shooting this year. The hearing was the Judiciary Committee's tenth hearing held in th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $46.8 Million For Head Start Programs In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $46,851,870 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. "This federal investment will be put toward building the foundation for lifelong success for children by supporting their early learning, health, and family well-being… Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Advances Ten Nominees, Including Two Judicial Nominees, Seven Sentencing Commission Nominees, And An Assistant Attorney General

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Florence Y. Pan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; and Elizabeth Wilson Hanes, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. Pan received a vote of 13-9; and Hanes received a vote of 15-7. The Committee also advanced Carlton W. Reeves, to be a Member and Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission; Laura E. Mate, to be a Member of the United States… Continue Reading

Durbin: If Republicans Really Care About Inflation, Why Are They Opposing Plans To Lower Prescription Drug Prices?

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged Republicans to join Democrats and lower the cost of prescription drug prices. Due to Big Pharma's price gouging, Americans pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs, an average of nearly 4 times more than other Western countries for the exact same medications-many of which are developed in the United States using research paid for by American taxpayers. During his speech, Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Dangers Of Civilian Access To Military-Style Assault Weapons

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned today's witnesses during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "After the Highland Park Attack: Protecting Our Communities from Mass Shootings." This hearing-the Judiciary Committee's tenth hearing held in the 117th Congress on aspects of the nation's gun violence epidemic-focused on the dangers of widespread civilian access to military-style assault weapons that can be used … Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Dangers Of Civilian Access To Military-Style Assault Weapons

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 "After the Highland Park Attack: Protecting Our Communities from Mass Shootings." This hearing-the Judiciary Committee's tenth hearing held in the 117th Congress on aspects of the nation's gun violence epidemic-focuses on the dangers of widespread civilian access to military-style assault weapons that can … Continue Reading

Judiciary Committee Releases Testimony Of Mayor Of Highland Park During Hearing On Civilian Access To Military-Style Assault Weapons

WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee released Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering's prepared testimony during today's hearing entitled "After the Highland Park Attack: Protecting Our Communities from Mass Shootings." Rotering has been the mayor of Highland Park, Illinois, a suburban city of just over 30,000 residents, since 2011. She led efforts to pass a municipal ordinance to ban military-style assault weapons in Highland Park following the mass shooting in Sandy Hook Elementary School… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Judge Childs To D.C. Court Of Appeals

WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Judge Juliana Michelle Childs to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit with a bipartisan vote of 64-34. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Judge Childs's confirmation: "With over 15 years of experience on the bench, Judge Childs is exceptionally qualified to serve on the D.C. Circuit. Her outstanding qualifications make … Continue Reading

Durbin Questions Director Of DOJ Kleptocapture Task Force At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Seizing Illicit Russian Assests

WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "KleptoCapture: Aiding Ukraine through Forfeiture of Russian Oligarchs' Illicit Assets," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Andrew C. Adams, Director of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) KleptoCapture Taskforce, about the task force's progress and if there is cooperation with foreign governments to track and seize high value Russian assets. "We've made a lot of no… Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Nomination Of Nancy Maldonado To Be District Judge For The Northern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate today confirmed the nomination of Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on her confirmation: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Ms. Maldonado's nomination to be a United … Continue Reading

Durbin: Democrats Propose Fairness When It Comes To Prescription Drug Prices

WASHINGTON - Today in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against Senate Republicans' inaction as Big Pharma continues to earn astronomical profits while Americans struggle to pay for the cost of their prescription medications. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized Senate Democrats' efforts to allow Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription medications, mirroring laws already successfully in effect with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to ease… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Pass the CHIPS Act Without Delay

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his colleagues to pass the CHIPS Act of 2022, critical legislation for our economy and national security that provides billions to boost our domestic semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. In 1990, the U.S. produced 37 percent of the world's semiconductors. Today, just 12 percent of semiconductors are manufactured in the United States. Durbin began his speech by highlighting the impacts thi… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Seizing Illicit Assets Of Russian Oligarchs

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 "KleptoCapture: Aiding Ukraine through Forfeiture of Russian Oligarchs' Illicit Assets." Key Quotes: "Today's hearing focuses on an important tool for holding Vladimir Putin and his corrupt allies accountable after Russia's unprovoked, illegal invasion of Ukraine: seizing the illicit assets of Russia's ol… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges His Colleagues To Support The Nomination Of Nancy Maldonado To Be District Judge For The Northern District Of Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today urged his colleagues to support the nomination of Nancy L. Maldonado to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin argued that Ms. Maldonado's extensive experience and long record of service to the state of Illinois would make her an asset to the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate is scheduled to vote on her nominat… Continue Reading

Durbin Highlights Efforts By Senate Democrats To Lower Prescription Drug Prices

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today took to the Senate floor to deliver a speech on the indefensible price gouging of prescription drugs and the efforts by Senate Democrats to lower these prices for American patients. In his speech, Durbin called for legislation to allow the federal government to negotiate the price of prescription drugs, which would significantly ease the cost of living for many households across the country. "I wonder if Americans think that the… Continue Reading

Durbin: There Is No Excuse For FDA's Food Safety Failures To Persist

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted his Food Safety Administration Act of 2022, legislation he introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) that would establish the Food Safety Administration, a single food safety agency responsible for ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply. This new agency would take over food safety responsibilities currently housed at the Food and … Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Blumenthal, Lee Seek Information From MLB About Antitrust Impact On Minor League Baseball

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chair of the Subcommittee on The Constitution; and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, today sent a bipartisan request to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball for information regarding… Continue Reading

Durbin: Overturning Roe Has Unleashed A Health Care Crisis In This Country

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, detailed the unfolding health care crisis across the United States in the wake of the conservative Supreme Court's majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also continued to call on his colleagues to support enshrining into law a statutory right to an abortion. "In the weeks since the Alito-Thomas Supreme Court majority erased the … Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Casten, Quigley, Newman Urge Postmaster General DeJoy To Protect Letter Carriers After Uptick In Mail Carrier Robberies

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-6), Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), and Marie Newman (D-IL-3) today sent a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging him to take action to protect letter carriers after crimes against U.S. Postal Service (USPS) employees tripled since 2018. In their letter, the lawmakers call on Postmaster General DeJoy to implement an alerting policy to ensure that all USP… Continue Reading