Durbin Statement On DOJ OIG Report That Found Former Attorney General Bill Barr Violated DOJ Policies When Releasing "Selective Details" In 2020 Pennsylvania Election Fraud Probe

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) report that former Attorney General Bill Barr authorized the release of “selective details” about the Luzerene County, Pennsylvania, case that supported former President Trump’s election fraud narratives despite DOJ having details that undermined this information: “The Attorney… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Statement After Briefings With Law Enforcement Officials Regarding Security At The Democratic National Convention In Chicago

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) issued the following statement after receiving briefings this week from law enforcement officials that discussed security at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August: “As we approach next month’s Democratic National Convention in our great city, we will continue working with our local law enforcement partners to ensure proper coordination and th… Continue Reading

Durbin Celebrates Passage Of His Bill To Tackle Nonconsensual, Sexually-Explicit Deepfakes 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, celebrated Senate passage of his bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act), legislation that will hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images and videos. Durbin began by showcasing how deepfakes are impacting women and girls everywhere, saying: “W… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Senate Passage Of His Bipartisan Bill To Tackle Nonconsensual, Sexually-Explicit Deepfakes

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded Senate passage of his bipartisan Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024 (DEFIANCE Act), legislation that will hold accountable those responsible for the proliferation of nonconsensual, sexually-explicit “deepfake” images and videos. “Countless apps that can create deepfakes are often advertised as harmless entertainment. But when they’re used to create and s… Continue Reading

Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Ahead Of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Joint Address To Congress

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reflected on the tragic suffering of so many people stemming from the October 7th Hamas attack and ensuing war in Gaza.  He urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to set aside his self-serving political interests ahead of his Joint Address to Congress.  In a statement released yesterday, Durbin stated he will not be attending today’s address. “I believe this invitation to speak was ill-timed—and one which t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Joint Judiciary-HSGAC Committee Classified Briefing, Hearing On Trump Assassination Attempt

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced that the Committee will receive a classified briefing with the Senate Homeland and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) on the assassination attempt against former President Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Durbin also announced a joint Judiciary-HSGAC hearing for next Tuesday morning on the attempt, where the Committees will hear from the Secret… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Support For Initial Senate Kids' Online Safety Package, Urges Further Action

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced his support for the kids’ online safety package under consideration by the Senate this week. The package, announced by Leader Schumer, includes the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Durbin began by outlining the leading role that the Judiciary Committee took this Congress pushing for acti… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Ahead Of Prime Minister Netanyahu's Joint Address To Congress

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Joint Address to Congress: “I am committed to Israel and its right to defend its people. “The Hamas attack on October 7 was unprovoked and cowardly, and its continued holding of hostages unconscionable. However, Israel’s execution of its war in Gaza under the direction of Prime Minister Netanyahu with 39,000 Palestinians dead and 90,000 injured is … Continue Reading

Durbin, DeLauro Introduce The Federal Food Administration Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) introduced the Federal Food Administration Act,legislation that would establish the Federal Food Administration, a single agency responsible for ensuring the safety of our nation’s food supply and promoting good nutrition. This new agency would take over food responsibilities currently housed at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “In recent years, FDA has been pl… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Accountability Of Foreign Medical Schools Receiving Federal Student Aid

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation that would protect students and taxpayers by closing a loophole that gives special treatment to a small number of overseas medical schools.  The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act would require all medical schools outside of the U.S. and Canada to meet the same minimum requirements to receive Title IV student aid dollars. Currently, some overseas medical schools, including those in the Caribbe… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On President Joe Biden

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement on President Joe Biden: “Throughout his public career, Joe Biden always put country first. His four years as President made it clear that he was determined to put our country back on track and restore the soul of our nation. America will be forever grateful for all he has given to this country. “Now the Democratic Party must unite behind a candidate who can defeat Donald Trump and keep America movin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Members Of The Illinois Congressional Delegation Urge Small Business Administration To Grant An Economic Injury Disaster Declaration For Jo Daviess County

SPRINGFIELD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Small Business Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman urging her to grant Governor JB Pritzker’s request for a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Declaration for Jo Daviess County, Illinois.  The letter comes after severe flooding in the area earlier this month. Led by Durbin and Duckworth, the letter was also signed by U.S. Representatives Jon… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Department Of Education To Support Students Left Out To Dry By For-Profit American Academy Of Arts And Northwestern College Closures

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to support students impacted by the unexpected closure of for-profit colleges American Academy of the Arts (Academy) in Chicago and Northwestern College (Northwestern) in Oak Lawn, Illinois, earlier this month.  The schools’ closures have left nearly 600 students with significant debt and no diploma. In their letter, the Senators called on Secretary Cardona to reach out … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls On Department Of Education To Support Students Left Out To Dry By For-Profit American Academy Of Arts And Northwestern College Closure

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to support students impacted by the unexpected closure of for-profit colleges American Academy of the Arts (Academy) in Chicago and Northwestern College (Northwestern) in Oak Lawn, Illinois, earlier this month.  The schools’ closures have left nearly 600 students with significant debt and no diploma. In their letter, the Senators called on Secretary Cardona to reach out … Continue Reading

Durbin Celebrates Quantum Innovation In Illinois

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) celebrated quantum technology innovation in Illinois with a visit to MxD to discuss integrating quantum technology into manufacturing processes. Earlier this week, Durbin joined Governor Pritzker, U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08) and Bill Foster (D-IL-11), and other Illinois leaders to announce a new partnership between the federal government and Illinois—Quantum Proving Ground—to promote quantum computing research, development, … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Sonya Massey

CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement in response to the announcement of charges in the death of Sonya Massey:  “My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sonya Massey during this difficult time.  Our law enforcement officers are called on to protect and serve their communities with honor and courage, but any who fail to follow the high standards they have sworn to uphold must be held accou… Continue Reading

Durbin, Underwood Discuss Maternal Health Care At UIC Maternal Health Research Center Of Excellence

CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) for a roundtable discussion with health care professionals about UIC’s selection by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Maternal Health Research Center of Excellence to develop innovative approaches to reduce pregnancy-related complications and deaths. “Every year in the U.S. we lose approximately one thousand pregnant or postpartum women. I… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.27 Million In Medical Research Grants For Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,276,880 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions. A large portion of the funding will be put towards research programs across the state to support medical advancement in various fields, ranging from cancer research to research related to deafness. “Serious federal investment in medical research pushes our society forward, bringing us n… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $7 Million In Federal Funding For Community-Based Residency Programs For Doctors In Underserved Areas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $7,040,000 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to support new community-based medical residency programs for doctors in underserved areas in Illinois.  Under the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, physicians train primarily in outpatient community sites, such as community health centers, to build the pipeline of primary care providers… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $16.8 Million In HHS Grants For Illinois

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $16,894,039 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions.  Of this funding, $16,759,039 will be awarded to the Illinois Department of Public Health for its Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement and $135,000 will go to the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault to support the organization’s mission to provide sexual assa… Continue Reading