Bill Text: IL HR0936 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Congratulates United States Senator Richard J. Durbin on his retirement following an immensely successful political career. Sincerely thanks him for his service and dedication to the State of Illinois and to the United States of America.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Passed) 2026-06-01 - Resolution Adopted 076-022-000 [HR0936 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HR0936-Introduced.html

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HR0936 LRB104 22070 LAW 38204 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, United States Senator Richard J. Durbin has
served the State of Illinois and its people with the heart of a
true public servant across both chambers of the federal
legislature over the course of 22 consecutive congressional
assemblies, and he is now approaching a well-deserved
retirement; and
WHEREAS, During his senior year at Georgetown University,
Senator Durbin began his career in politics as an intern in the
office of United States Senator Paul Douglas of Illinois
before pursuing a Juris Doctor at Georgetown University and
being admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1969; and
WHEREAS, As a member of the legal profession, Senator
Durbin began practicing in Springfield, where he served as
legal counsel to then Illinois Lieutenant Governor and later
United States Senator Paul Simon from 1969 to 1972, followed
by serving as legal counsel to the Illinois State Senate
Judiciary Committee from 1972 to 1982; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin showcased his dedication to
Illinois' development in education while serving as an
associate professor at Southern Illinois University School of
Medicine from 1978 to 1983; and

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WHEREAS, Senator Durbin attended the Democratic National
Convention as a delegate in 1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996, and he
became chairman of the Illinois state delegation in 1996; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin won his election as a Democrat to
the United States House of Representatives in November of
1982, and he began his public service representing Illinois'
20th congressional district and the Springfield area on
January 3, 1983, which continued for six consecutive terms
before ending on January 2, 1997; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin was elected as a Democrat to the
United States Senate by a margin of 15 points on November 5,
1996, and he proceeded to be reelected by at least 10 points in
2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020; he began serving as Senate
Democratic Whip in 2005, and he has served on the Senate
Committee on the Judiciary, the Senate Committee on
Appropriations, and the Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Nutrition & Forestry; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin's initiatives in the legislature
included The Dream Act, which gave way to increased
diversification of the United States and an increased chance
for undocumented immigrants to become American citizens in
conjunction with President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for

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Childhood Arrivals program; and
WHEREAS, In his tenure as a leader in the Senate Committee
on the Judiciary, Senator Durbin led the initiative to confirm
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black
woman to ever serve on the nation's highest court in April of
2022; and
WHEREAS, During his time in the legislature, Senator
Durbin has prioritized national healthcare, attending to it
with action as the author of legislation banning smoking on
commercial airline flights, active participation in the
development of the Affordable Care Act, and the securement of
increased federal funding to combat childhood asthma,
increased immunizations, expanded medical research, and
federal funding to combating AIDS internationally; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin has maintained a focus on the
State of Illinois as his top priority and pride throughout his
congressional career, as evidenced by his advocacy for
Illinois' transportation infrastructure, including the
expansion of Chicago O'Hare International Airport and the
preservation and expansion of Amtrak, as well as the State's
economic development, health care systems, and veteran care;
and

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WHEREAS, Senator Durbin has given decades of himself, his
time, and his talents, and he is deserving of immense
gratitude and honor for his prioritization of the people of
Illinois and his commitment to the betterment of the United
States of America; and
WHEREAS, Senator Durbin will conclude his incumbency in
the United States Senate on January 3, 2027, thus beginning
his well-earned retirement; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we congratulate United States Senator Richard J. Durbin on his
retirement following an immensely successful political career,
and we sincerely thank him for his service and dedication to
the State of Illinois and to the United States of America; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Senator Durbin as an expression of our esteem and
respect.