Press Releases
Durbin Leads Release Of GAO Report Recommending Improved Oversight Of Medical Care In CPB Custody
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of colleagues in releasing the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) newly-completed report on systemic failures at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that resulted in years of deficient medical care. The report was requested in December 2023 after the death of Anadith Danay Reyes Álvarez, an eight-year-old girl with sickle cell and congenital heart disease who … Continue Reading
January 24, 2026
Durbin To Vote Against Department Of Homeland Security Funding Bill
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding bill: “I will not vote to fund the illegal DHS and ICE operations that terrorize Chicago, Minneapolis, and many other communities. The deaths of innocent Americans and the detaining of thousands of innocent people are a national disgrace. … Continue Reading
January 23, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Secure Support For Illinois Priorities In Recently Passed Package Of Three Government Funding Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced the various priorities for Illinois they secured in the recently passed package of government funding bills for Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). “This government funding package had a strong showing of bipartisan support, a step in the right … Continue Reading
January 21, 2026
Durbin Slams Trump’s Child Care Funding Freeze At Rockford YWCA
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at the YWCA of Northwestern Illinois in Rockford to call out the Trump Administration’s heartless decision to freeze $10 billion in funding for child care, community programs, and financial support for families in five Democratic-led states—including $1 billion for Illinois. The YWCA of Northwestern Illinois serves families who qualify for the Illinois Child Care Assistance Program, which is partially … Continue Reading
January 21, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Release Data On Rising Cost Of Living In Illinois Under Trump Administration
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared data from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) showing that the average Illinois household has paid $1,781 in higher costs since President Trump took office one year ago. Despite numerous claims that the second Trump Administration will lower the cost of living for Americans, President Trump has instead focused his energy on slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid funds, pricing out … Continue Reading
January 20, 2026
Durbin Blasts Kristi Noem On Targeting, Racial Profiling Of American Citizens By ICE Agents
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called out U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on her department’s threats to American citizens, as well as misstatements of law by senior Trump Administration officials. In a letter to Noem, Durbin wrote: “I am outraged at the repeated targeting and racial profiling of U.S. citizens facing warrantless searches and detainment by federal immigration … Continue Reading
January 20, 2026
Durbin Joins Small Business Owners In Springfield To Discuss Credit Card Competition Act
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined small business owners at Café Moxo in Springfield to discuss how his recently reintroduced bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act will increase competition in the credit card market and put an end to the Visa-Mastercard duopoly that is squeezing small businesses—and, ultimately, consumers. Today, Visa and Mastercard control about 85 percent of the credit card market and refuse to negotiate fair terms with Main Street … Continue Reading
January 20, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Weaponization Of The Justice Department Against Minnesota Politicians
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Justice Department reportedly opened investigations into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison over an alleged conspiracy to impede immigration agents: “During his campaign and his presidency, President Trump promised ‘retribution’ against his enemies. He has made good on his … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Delegation To Copenhagen
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is joining a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to Copenhagen, Denmark to highlight the more than 200 years of friendship between the United States and the Kingdom of Denmark, including enduring national security ties and decades of economic cooperation. The delegation will be in Copenhagen on Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17. “President Trump’s continued threats toward Greenland are unnecessary and would only … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin, Shaheen Host Bipartisan Meeting With Venezuelan Opposition Leader, María Corina Machado
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, hosted Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, María Corina Machado, for a bipartisan meeting with United States Senators. In attendance at today’s meeting along with Durbin and Shaheen were U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Curtis (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ruben Gallego … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Peters, Slotkin Push OMB To Resume Brandon Road Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), today sent a letter to Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle urging the leaders to resume work on the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP), which was halted for administrative review despite the project having been previously reviewed, authorized, … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin, Britt Urge CDC To Study Rise Of Youth Sports Betting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging the agency to further study the alarming rise in sports gambling among America’s youth and the potential adverse effects on teens and young adults. “We write to urge the United States Centers for Disease Control … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Urges Senate Colleagues To Support His Bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged his Senate colleagues to support his bipartisan legislation with U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS), the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), which would increase competition in the credit card market and put an end to the Visa-Mastercard duopoly that is squeezing small businesses—and, ultimately, consumers. Durbin and Marshall re-introduced the legislation earlier this week, which was … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Transparency And Safety Of Dietary Supplements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act, legislation to require dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provided FDA with authorities to regulate dietary supplements. However, DSHEA did not require dietary supplement companies to register their products with FDA, leaving … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Condemns Trump Admin’s Whitewashing Of January 6 In Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting condemning the Trump Administration’s whitewashing of the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Durbin also again called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to testify in front of the Committee and urged Chairman Grassley to consider issuing a subpoena … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Joint Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Vetting Afghan Nationals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Department of State, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Department of Defense (DOD) officials during a Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled “Biden’s Afghan Parolee Program - A Trojan Horse with Flawed Vetting and Deadly Consequences.” The hearing was scheduled in the aftermath of a horrific tragedy on November 26, when a gunman killed two National … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Condemns Dark Money In Politics On Anniversary Of Citizens United Supreme Court Decision
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined his Senate Democratic colleagues in marking the sixteenth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, which opened the floodgates for dark money in our politics. Durbin began by reflecting on the campaign finance landscape during his first Congressional run in 1982. “In 1982, I decided to run for the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time… I … Continue Reading
January 14, 2026
Durbin Statement On Republicans’ Vote Against Venezuela War Powers Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate failed to pass the bipartisan war powers resolution, which would block the use of the U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities within or against Venezuela unless authorized by Congress. The resolution previously advanced in the Senate by a vote of 52-47. “The U.S. Constitution explicitly says that the power to declare war resides with Congress. The Trump Administration is … Continue Reading
January 14, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Joint Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Vetting Afghan Nationals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled “Biden’s Afghan Parolee Program - A Trojan Horse with Flawed Vetting and Deadly Consequences.” The hearing was scheduled in the aftermath of a horrific tragedy on November 26, when a gunman killed two National Guard members in Washington, DC. During his opening, Durbin condemned the Trump … Continue Reading
January 14, 2026
Durbin, Fischer’s Protecting Children With Food Allergies Bill Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today celebrated that their bipartisan Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act became law through an amendment in the newly signed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act. Durbin and Fischer’s legislation will ensure school food service staff receive essential training about food allergies, so that they are better equipped to … Continue Reading