U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, today delivered an opening statement at a spotlight forum he is hosting on the need to protect Dreamers, threats to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and the urgency to pass the bipartisan Dream Act. Beginning in 2001, Durbin introduced the Dream Act to give young immigrants the chance to earn U.S. citizenship. He has introduced the legislation e… Continue Reading
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the resignation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary: “I voted for Dr. Makary to head the FDA based upon his commitment to say ‘no’ if President Trump asked him to do something that would harm America. Dr. Makary kept his word. He resisted Trump’s plan to expose millions of children to the dangers of vaping. “I hope Dr. Makary will inspire others within the Trump Administration… Continue Reading
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Defense (DoD) where he questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. Durbin first brought up international security cooperation. Durbin urged Secretary Hegseth and General Caine to obligate the stalled $400 mi… Continue Reading
May 11, 2026