Press Releases
Durbin Slams The Trump Administration’s Extreme MAGA Nominees Who Will Help President Trump Further Weaponize The Justice System
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 slamming the Trump Administration for nominating extreme and unqualified nominees. During his opening, Durbin also condemned the Trump Administration for nominating Colin McDonald to be an Assistant Attorney General for the newly created National Fraud Enforcement Division. Over the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Introduces No Bailout For Crypto Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the No Bailout for Crypto Actto prevent taxpayers from footing the cost of a federal bailout for crypto companies if the industry causes an economic crash or sees mass bankruptcies. While the cryptocurrency industry has made sweeping promises of a decentralized financial system, faster payments, and financial inclusion, reality shows that crypto is volatile, and the industry is riddled with corruption. The 2008 … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin, McCollum Introduce Bill To Mitigate Use Of Toxic PFAS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) today introduced bicameral legislation to address the excessive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the nation’s supply chain, which has led to the harmful compounds contaminating water sources and infiltrating surrounding environments and communities. The Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act would mitigate PFAS exposure and contamination by … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Amid Surging Energy Costs, Durbin & Duckworth Call On Trump Administration To Release Energy Assistance Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a bipartisan group of 38 Senators to call on the Trump Administration to take action and provide energy assistance to those in need as utility costs skyrocket for Illinoisans. In their letter, the Senators urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly release the approximately $400 million in remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Talks Farm Economy With Illinois Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the current state of the farm economy as the military attacks on Iran, directed by President Trump, and the standstill of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have increased expenses for diesel and fertilizer. Durbin and the members of the Farm Bureau also discussed the importance of transportation … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Criticizes President Trump’s Decision To Lift Sanctions On Russian Oil As Putin’s War In Ukraine Continues
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing President Trump’s recent foreign policy decisions including lifting sanctions on Russian oil as gas prices continue to climb due to Trump’s war against Iran. Trump’s decision to lift these sanctions comes despite Vladimir Putin’s continued assault on Ukraine and his sharing intelligence with Iran, which is being used to target American … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin, Grassley Introduce The Baltic Security Assessment Act To Strengthen Diplomatic Relations, Security Cooperation Between U.S. & Baltic States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2026, legislation that requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Affairs, and Appropriations on emerging threats posed to the Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Receives Joint Baltic American National Committee’s Baltic Freedom Award
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, received the Baltic Freedom Award from the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) for his strong connections to the Baltic countries and his continued leadership in Congress to strengthen Baltic security. Durbin was presented the award from the Lithuania diaspora—the country his mother immigrated from. “As a proud son of a Lithuanian immigrant, I was honored to … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin, Cortez Masto Lead 39 Senate Colleagues In Demanding DHS Reduce Delays For DACA Renewals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led 39 of their Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues in a letter to outgoing U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow demanding DHS reduce the delays in processing renewal applications under the Deferred Action … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026
Durbin Asks Witnesses About Developmental Impact Of Immigration Detention On Children During Spotlight Forum On MAGA Mass Deportation Agenda
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at his spotlight forum entitled “The Kids Are Not Alright: How Mass Deportation is Traumatizing Children.” Today’s forum, which featured testimony from Chicago residents, examined how the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant campaign has terrorized both immigrant and U.S. citizen children and is leaving lasting emotional scars on innocent kids. Durbin … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In His Spotlight Forum On Children Traumatized By The MAGA Mass Deportation Agenda
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today hosted a spotlight forum entitled “The Kids Are Not Alright: How Mass Deportation is Traumatizing Children.” Today’s forum, which featured testimony from Chicago residents, examined how the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant campaign has terrorized both immigrant and U.S. citizen children and is leaving lasting emotional scars on innocent kids. Durbin delivered an opening … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026
Senate Passes Durbin, Duckworth, Warnock, Booker, And Blunt Rochester’s Resolution Honoring The Late Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the United States Senate passed by unanimous consent a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., that was led by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). The resolution recognizes Rev. Jackson’s significant leadership during the Civil Rights … Continue Reading
March 16, 2026
Senate, House Judiciary Leaders Refer Kristi Noem To Justice Department For Perjury Investigation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, referred embattled Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for investigation into potential perjury charges and for knowingly making false statements under oath following her appearances before the Committees on March 3 and 4, … Continue Reading
March 13, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Slam Trump EPA Proposed Weakening Of EtO Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), both members of the Senate Environmental Justice Caucus, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Ethylene Oxide Task Force, today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposal to roll back a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that protected Americans from harmful exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO), a known … Continue Reading
March 13, 2026
Durbin Slams Republicans’ SAVE America Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at Chicago-Kent College of Law with the League of Women Voters of Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois to speak out against Congressional Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. Earlier this week, President Trump said he would not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill. It is already illegal for noncitizens to register and vote in … Continue Reading
March 13, 2026
As The President Continues To Line His Pockets Off Cryptocurrency Schemes, Durbin Introduces No Crypto In Social Security Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the No Crypto in Social Security Act to ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds never invest in cryptocurrencies. The Social Security Trust Funds hold $2.56 trillion in assets (as of January 2026), which are invested in U.S. Treasury securities by law. However, given President Trump’s efforts to integrate cryptocurrencies further into the U.S. financial system, the Social Security Trust Funds must be safeguarded to ensure … Continue Reading
March 13, 2026
Senate Passes Durbin, Lankford, Quigley, Edwards, Pappas Resolution Honoring 175th Anniversary Of YMCA
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to honor the YMCA ahead of the organization’s 175th anniversary. Headquartered in Chicago, the YMCA has about 2,600 locations, serving more than 10,000 communities across the country. The resolution was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Susan Collins (R-ME), John Boozman (R-AR), Todd Young (R-IN), and Lindsey Graham … Continue Reading
March 12, 2026
Durbin Discusses Credit Card Competition Act With National Restaurant Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Restaurant Association to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees, one of the highest operating costs for restaurants. Earlier this year, Durbin reintroduced his bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which President Trump publicly endorsed in January. The legislation would require the largest banks in the country to offer two networks to be used to process credit card transactions … Continue Reading
March 12, 2026
Durbin Slams Trump Admin For Nominating January 6 Apologists To Judicial U.S. Attorney Positions
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 slamming President Trump for pardoning violent January 6 rioters who have gone on to commit heinous crimes. Durbin also criticized President Trump for nominating extreme and unqualified U.S. attorney nominees who defended the January 6 rioters and embrace the Big Lie that the 2020 … Continue Reading
March 12, 2026
Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 Ahead Of Its Expiration Next Month
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which is set to expire next month. Section 702 grew out of a secret warrantless surveillance program conducted by the Bush Administration after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. When this illegal spying program was exposed, Congress enacted Section … Continue Reading