Press Releases
Durbin Calls Out President Trump’s Ongoing Attacks To Americans’ Voting Rights & Our Free And Fair Elections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called out the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to undermine America’s free and fair elections and restrict Americans’ voting rights ahead of the midterm elections, including President Trump’s repeated calls for Congress to pass the so-called SAVE America Act. Last week, Durbin joined a spotlight forum hosted by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) on this issue. “During the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin, Padilla Sound Alarm On Historically High Number Of Deaths In Immigration Detention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, sounded the alarm over the dramatic increase in deaths among detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since January 2025. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella, the Senators … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On Recent Tornadoes That Killed Two Illinoisans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor offering condolences to the families and friends of Delores Shelton and Sarita Kimble—who were killed by the recent tornadoes in Illinois this weekend. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois has experienced more than 147 confirmed tornadoes over the past six months, nearly three times the state average of 54 from 1990 to 2020. In 2024, the previous record year for tornadoes in Illinois, … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin Calls For Congressional Review Of Trump Administration’s Deal With Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor in which he criticized the Trump Administration’s vague framework to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Durbin warned that the preliminary agreement fails to address critical issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorist proxies. Durbin began by recalling Republican Senators’ outspoken opposition to and undermining of President Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Markey, Booker Lead Letter Slamming New Trump EPA Rule That Deregulates Coal Ash Clean Up
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today led ten of their colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to condemn the agency’s rollback of a Biden-era rule that regulated the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR), more commonly known as “coal ash.” The lawmakers underscored that when disposed of improperly, CCR is hazardous to … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Durbin, Grassley Bill To Put Cameras In The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill by voice vote to require open proceedings of the Supreme Court to be televised. The bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act, introduced by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Durbin Condemns President Trump’s Inaction During Affordability Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the Trump Administration for prioritizing policies—like tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, and a war of choice in Iran—over helping struggling American families make ends meet. Under President Trump, inflation has hit a three-year high, and Americans are feeling those price hikes at the grocery store and the gas pump. “Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported what Americans … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Durbin Calls For Senate To Pass Russian Sanctions Legislation As Putin Continues His Assault On Ukraine
WASHINGTON - As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his assaults against Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor calling for the Senate to finally pass Russian sanctions legislation. On Monday, Russia fired a barrage of missiles at several major Ukrainian cities, killing at least 11 people and sparking a massive fire at one of the most important Orthodox monasteries, a UNESCO world … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Durbin Talks Housing Affordability With Illinois Realtors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of Illinois Realtors, part of the larger National Association of Realtors, to discuss housing affordability and the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which is moving through the Senate this week. The legislation includes provisions to increase the supply of affordable housing, address homelessness, better support communities with disaster recovery, invest in rural housing, and prevent large … Continue Reading
June 16, 2026
As President Trump Attacks Americans’ Voting Rights, Durbin Delivers Opening Statement Calling To Protect Election Security During Spotlight Forum
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a spotlight forum on protecting election security as the Trump Administration continues to restrict Americans’ voting rights and President Trump and some congressional Republicans continue to push the SAVE America Act. The spotlight forum comes after the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the Court further … Continue Reading
June 16, 2026
Durbin Speaks Out Against Trump Administration’s Dismantling Of Legal Immigration System
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, delivered remarks ahead of the Senate’s vote on his and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overturn an interim final rule by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that would prevent any meaningful opportunity to appeal an immigration court case to the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), essentially stripping … Continue Reading
June 16, 2026
Durbin: Congress Should Reauthorize FISA Section 702 With Reforms & Put An End To The Unconstitutional Surveillance Of Americans
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans’ communications with friends, family members, or … Continue Reading
June 15, 2026
Durbin Reflects On 14th Anniversary Of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Provide A Pathway To Citizenship For Dreamers
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, reflected on the 14th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and called on Congress to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. Twenty-five years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act—bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up in this … Continue Reading
June 15, 2026
Durbin Calls For Transparency Of The Trump Administration’s Preliminary Deal With Iran
WASHINGTON - After the Trump Administration announced a preliminary deal to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted holes in the framework in a speech on the Senate floor, including those that fail to address critical issues related to Iran’s nuclear program and Iran’s support for terrorist proxies. Durbin said, “While I am glad that we might be seeing an end to the hostilities, I am deeply concerned about what might be in that … Continue Reading
June 15, 2026
Durbin Speaks Out Against Justin Smith’s Nomination, Slams Trump For Nominating His Personal Lawyers To The Federal Bench
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke against the nomination of Justin Smith to be on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Durbin outlined how Mr. Smith has repeatedly proven himself to be unfit for this position because of his extreme partisan beliefs, his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and his history as the President’s personal lawyer. Durbin … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Congressional Democrats Object to Justice Department Decision Weakening Legal Protections for DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ); and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) led over 50 colleagues in pressing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)’s recent decision to weaken legal protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $10.4 Million For Wildlife Conservation In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $10,407,776 in funding for two Illinois wildlife conservation projects - the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Lakes Mallards II project. The funding for Illinois’ wildlife refuge and wetland conservation project was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), which is made up of congressional members, including U.S. Senators Martin … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call On DOT, FRA To Extend Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink urging them to grant an extension for the remaining federal funding previously secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Denouncing The Trump Administration’s Attacks On Americans’ Health Care
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the Trump Administration for their continued attacks on Americans’ health care through congressional Republicans’ ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA), which passed last year. Last week, the Administration announced, through the OBBBA, the implementation of Medicaid work requirements. “In that law, they created a requirement for all Medicaid recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 to either … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Durbin Calls On Congress To Act To Protect And Save Social Security
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke about the Social Security Board of Trustees’ report showing that the Social Security Trust Fund will face insolvency in 2032 and called on Congress to finally act to protect and save the program. “Each year, the Social Security Board of Trustees releases a report that tells us about the status of Social Security’s finances. Their 2026 report, released yesterday, should send alarm bells through … Continue Reading