Durbin Meets With U.S. Ambassador To Japan, Rahm Emanuel

WASHINGTON - Last week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with U.S. Ambassador to Japan and former Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel. During the meeting, they discussed the continued strong relationship between U.S. and Japan as well as President Biden's visit to Japan, where he launched the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity economic initiative. "Japan is an important strategic partner in Asia, particularly in light of continued challenges with North Korea and China," said… Continue Reading

Durbin In Lithuania, Sweden, Spain To Discuss Support For NATO & Baltic States, Opposition To Russian Agression

VILNIUS-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Baltic Freedom Caucus and the Senate Ukraine Caucus, is in Vilnius, Lithuania, today as part of travel to three European nations to discuss congressional support for the transatlantic relationship and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as continued Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. In Vilnius, Durbin received the Aleksandras Stulginskis Star Award-only the second individual and … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision To Overturn Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Durbin also announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on July 12 that will examine a post-Roe America. "Today's decision eliminates a federally protected constitutional right that has been the law for nearly half a century. As a result, millions of Americ… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, legislation to help keep America's children and communities safe from the gun violence epidemic: "This Senate just accomplished what hasn't been possible in decades-passing bipartisan legislation that makes our nation safer from gun violence. To be clear: this bill doesn't have everything I … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Settlement In Sweet v. Cardona

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Education reaching a settlement in Sweet v. Cardona, formerly Sweet v. DeVos, that will approve the borrower defense applications of roughly 200,000 students whose claims have been stalled, totaling $6 billion in relief: "Under the Trump Administration, former Secretary DeVos cruelly ignored the pleas of students defrauded by schools like Westwood College and left them to … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds FDA Decision To Remove All JUUL Products From The Market

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to remove all JUUL Lab Inc.'s products from the market, after finding these e-cigarettes fail to meet the agency's public health standard for authorization. "I'm happy to report that the Food and Drug Administration has announced this morning a dramatic, historic step forward to protect the children across America from e-cigarette and v… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision To Strike Down Longstanding Gun Law As Nation Grapples With Record-High Gun Violence

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen: "Every day, parents across America are burying children they have lost to gun violence. And yet, as our nation still mourns the horrific massacres in Uvalde and Buffalo, and as we work to combat the daily toll of the gun violence epidemic in cities like Chicago, this de… Continue Reading

Durbin: Coming Together To Pass Common Sense Gun Legislation Will Make Our Nation Safer

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today highlighted his support for the legislation introduced yesterday by a bipartisan group of Senators that will help protect our children and communities from gun violence. "Let's be clear: this bill is a compromise," Durbin said. "In a 50-50 Senate, you expect nothing less… But the reforms and investments made in this bill represent an important step t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman Meet With U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink to discuss the latest events regarding Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. They also discussed how the Senate can continue to better support our ally through military, economic, and humanitarian assistance. "As Putin's military continues to attack, innocent Ukrainians are forced to flee and f… 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 Rachel Bloomekatz, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, and Florence Y. Pan, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Durbin centered his questions on Bloomekatz's and Pan's support from conservative organizations and leaders as a nominee chosen by the Biden … Continue Reading

Durbin Investigation Finds More Than 750,000 Kids Have Picked Up Vaping Since FDA's Missed Deadline To Regulate E-Cigarettes

WASHINGTON - Following an investigation by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) of multiple health surveys and retail sales data, Durbin announced findings that more than 750,000 children have started to use e-cigarettes over the last nine months, in the period of time during which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has defied a court order to regulate all e-cigarettes on the market. This examination was based upon data from the National Institute of Health's Monitoring the Future su… 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 Rachel Bloomekatz, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit; Elizabeth Wilson Hanes, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; Ana C. Reyes, to be United States Dis… Continue Reading

Durbin: If We Want To Ease Inflation And Help Solve America's Worker Shortage, We Need To Drastically Increase The Number Of Immigrants We Welcome To America

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 pressure inflation is putting on working American families and one way that Congress can help - drastically increasing the number of immigrants we welcome into the United States to help ease labor shortages. "Inflation is the word on everyone's mind. We see proof of it plastered on gas stations throughout the country and in the aisles of our … Continue Reading

Durbin, Grassley, Whitehouse, Cornyn Bill To Help Small Businesses And Families In Bankruptcy Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), today released the following statements after President Biden signed into law their bipartisan legislation to help small businesses and individuals stay afloat during bankruptcy. "Too many mom-and-pop shops are getting caught up in a complicate… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Release Of Bipartisan Gun Safety Legislative Text

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the bipartisan group of Senators working on legislation to help keep America's children and communities safe from the gun violence epidemic released legislative text: "This bipartisan agreement will not end gun violence, but it is an important step towards making our nation safer. "I want to commend my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working… Continue Reading

Durbin: Amid Putin's War, NATO Is Stronger Than Ever

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, condemned Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine. Durbin highlighted the bipartisan meeting with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), also Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, and members of the Ukrainian Parliament last week. They discussed how the U.S. Senate can continue to better support Ukraine through military, economic, and humanitarian assi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Portman, Blumenthal, Grassley Urge Department Of Defense To Send More Advanced Artillery Rocket Systems To Ukraine

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, along with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urging him to send more advanced artillery rocket systems and ammunition to Ukraine, as the systems are vital in Ukraine's defense against Russia's brutal invasion. The Senators commended the decision by the Biden administration earlier… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schakowsky, Chicago Delegation Urge EPA To Expand Eligibility Guidelines For Clean School Bus Program

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9) today led 12 of their Illinois colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan urging him to expand eligibility for the new EPA Clean School Bus Program (CSBP) to improve its accessibility to Chicago-area schools and correct additional oversights in the implementation process. The program, a $5 billion effort established under the bipartisan I… Continue Reading

Durbin, Tillis, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Improve Coordination Between USPTO And FDA

WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced bipartisan legislation that would establish a task force between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve communication and… Continue Reading

Durbin, Illinois Congressional Delegation Meet With Census Bureau Director On Illinois Count

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today met virtually with U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert L. Santos about the results of the 2020 Decennial Census after Illinois was found to likely have been undercounted at a rate of 1.97 percent. During their meeting, Durbin pressed Director Santos to correct the undercount by incorporating the Census Bureau's Post-Enumeration Survey (PES) data into the Bureau's annual Population … Continue Reading