Press Releases
Durbin, Cassidy, Kaine, Tillis, King, Cornyn, Coons, Armstrong Introduce Bipartisan Proposal To Initiate Congressional Action On Social Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), John Cornyn (R-TX), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Alan Armstrong (R-OK) today introduced a bipartisan proposal to initiate Congressional action on Social Security. The Protecting Retirement Opportunities and Maintaining Income Security for Everyone (PROMISE) Act follows the release of the Social Security Board of Trustees’ annual report, … Continue Reading
July 14, 2026
Durbin Statement On Fatal ICE Officer Shootings In Houston And Maine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the fatal shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastian Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers: “The fatal shootings of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and Joan Sebastian Guerrero are tragic, heartbreaking, and enraging. There must be full, fair, and independent … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026
Durbin Statement On Trump’s Decision To Slash Boundaries Of Bears Ears & Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reduce the boundaries of two national monuments—Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante. In 2017, the first Trump Administration put 27 national monuments under review with the requirement they were established after 1996 and were over 100,000 acres. Then-Secretary of Interior Ryan Zinke recommended six monuments for reduction, but … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026
Durbin Remembers Senator Lindsey Graham On The Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) recognized U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) lifetime of public service following his sudden passing this weekend. “Last week, I joined several of my colleagues from the Senate and the House at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye… Last Wednesday, we had a dinner hosted by the U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack. There must have been 50 or 60 people there, all shared the concerns of the Summit … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Legislation To Expand The Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Into Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Gateway Arch National Park Boundary Revision Act, bicameral legislation that would add nearly 50 acres to the Gateway Arch National Park into Illinois. Expanding the site into Illinois, including Malcolm Martin Park and East St. Louis, will promote economic development in Illinois by attracting more visitors to the Illinois side of the river. Expanding the site was part of … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026
Durbin Reflects On Recent Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Delegation Trip To The NATO Summit In Türkiye
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, reflected on his recent trip to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, Türkiye. During the summit, they discussed congressional support for the transatlantic relationship, the war in Iran, as well as continued Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. During his remarks, Durbin reflected on the life and legacy of … Continue Reading
July 13, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce NDAA Amendments To Prevent President Trump From Unlawfully Deploying The Military Into American Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a combat Veteran and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced five amendments to the Senate National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2027 to push back against the Trump Administration’s expansive use of the military for law enforcement or immigration … Continue Reading
July 12, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Senator Lindsey Graham
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “I was with Lindsey last week at the NATO Summit in Türkiye. At a private dinner at the Ambassador’s residence, he was working every Senator on a strategy to end the war in Ukraine. Typical Lindsey. “Lindsey was part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player in every Senate ‘gang’. He was a fierce Republican partisan one … Continue Reading
July 09, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $52 Million In Public Health Grants For Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $52,175,652 in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health grants for the Illinois Department of Public Health and the City of Chicago. Primarily sourced from the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program, this funding will assist state and local governments in effectively preparing for or responding to public health threats including … Continue Reading
July 08, 2026
Durbin Attends Launch Of Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry’s Mobile Meals Program
AURORA - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Aurora Mayor John Laesch at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry for the launch of its Mobile Meals Program. Durbin played an instrumental part in launching the program by securing $700,000 in federal funding through Congressionally Directed Spending in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill for the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. With this funding, the food pantry was able to add a commercial kitchen to prepare … Continue Reading
July 08, 2026
Bipartisan Codel Statement After Meeting With Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
ANKARA, TÜRKIYE - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mike Rounds (R-SD), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), and U.S. Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) issued the following statement after their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit: “Meeting with President Zelenskyy was a powerful reminder of … Continue Reading
July 06, 2026
Durbin Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Delegation To The NATO Summit In Türkiye
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is joining a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, Türkiye. The purpose of the summit is to discuss congressional support for the transatlantic relationship as President Trump continues to weaken our foreign relationships abroad, the war in Iran, as well as continued Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. “The United States has been a … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Durbin Welcomes 60 New Citizens At Naturalization Ceremony
URBANA, IL - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the naturalization of 60 new citizens from 25 countries at a ceremony presided over by the Honorable Eric I. Long, United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of Illinois. Durbin was joined by Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams. “Today, 60 new Americans from 25 countries took an oath that binds us all—not by birth, but by shared belief in our country's … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Senate Democrats Urge Justice Department To Reject Payouts For January 6 Rioters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led fourteen of their colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt any efforts to compensate January 6 rioters and commit to defending taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits. In their letter to … Continue Reading
July 01, 2026
Senate Judiciary Democrats Demand Todd Blanche Answer To Dozens Of Oversight Requests Ignored By Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing Todd Blanche for answers on dozens of oversight matters that remain outstanding, either due to no response, insufficient response, or only partial response from DOJ. In light of the unprecedented decision to combine Todd Blanche’s Attorney General nomination hearing with the annual Justice Department oversight hearing, the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Delivers Commencement Address At The Excel Center Graduation
ROCKFORD—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered the commencement address for the 2026 graduating class of the Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois’ Excel Center. The Excel Center is a free adult high school that helps adult learners earn a state-recognized high school diploma, workforce credentials, and dual credits, while also providing free child care, transportation assistance, life coaching, and wrap-around supports. With Durbin’s help, the City of Rockford was … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Visits Chestnut Health Dental Clinic In Bloomington, Talks Improving Access To Dental Care For Illinoisans Amid Critical Shortages
BLOOMINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited with leaders of Chestnut Family Dental, a part of Chestnut Health Systems—a critical Medicaid provider of oral health care in the Bloomington area—to tour the site and speak with dental care providers about expanding Illinoisans’ access to dental services. Illinois is facing a shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid despite 3.4 million Illinoisans relying on the program for health insurance coverage. Less than … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Congressional Democrats Press Trump Administration On Concerning Green Card Application Changes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration; U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Upholding Birthright Citizenship
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara to uphold automatic citizenship for babies born in the United States. The case reviewed the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s week-one executive order to strip the guarantee of citizenship provided to children born in America. “President Trump’s illegal birthright citizenship order … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling In Watson V. Republican National Committee
BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of a Mississippi law that permits counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day and arriving within five business days in Watson v. Republican National Committee: “There is nothing more fundamental in a democracy than the right to vote, whether that be in person at the polls or with a mail-in … Continue Reading