Press Releases
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
March 11, 2026
Durbin Sits Down With Illinois Soybean Association
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 Soybean Association and the American Soybean Association to discuss the severe downturn in the farm economy. Topics ranged from the importance of a full, five-year Farm Bill, strong crop insurance programs, and the financial harm caused by federal trade policies that have damaged the Chinese market for Illinois soybeans. … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
Durbin Calls On President Trump To Follow Through On Promise To Prevent Invasive Carp From Entering Great Lakes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about the Brandon Road Interbasin Project (BRIP) after President Trump posted via social media that he will work together with government officials from the Midwest to prevent invasive carp from entering the Great Lakes. In his remarks, Durbin spoke about the necessity of moving the project forward after the Trump Administration halted progress on BRIP to conduct an “administrative review,” despite the … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
Bipartisan Group Of Senators Call For Independent Audit Of Epstein Files Redactions Protocol
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) called for an independent audit and report to Congress about the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) practices in redacting information of the public release of the Epstein Files. Multiple reports have spotlighted DOJ’s failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act’s clear requirement … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blocking Bill To Fund TSA, FEMA, And More While DHS Funding Negotiations Continue
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 a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, slammed Senate Republicans for blocking a bill that would fund every agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—except U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary—while negotiations continue to rein in federal … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.” “Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has not learned that lesson. On … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Interagency Committee To Expand Oversight On For-Profit College Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act, legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain of debt. … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Highlights Three Policy Decisions By The Trump Administration That Hurt The Farm Economy, Calls For Immigration Reform To Support Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today participated in an Agriculture Committee hearing entitled “Increasing Domestic Consumption of U.S.-Grown Agricultural Products.” Durbin first pointed out that the American agricultural industry does not have the workforce to keep up with demand, and he called for an immigration policy that accounts for foreign workers who are critical for farming … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on birthright citizenship as President Trump continues his threats against it. Durbin pressed Peter Schweizer, President of the Government Accountability Institute (GAI), which he co-founded with Steve Bannon in 2012, about his ridiculous claims that American birthright citizenship policies are being exploited by … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Birthright Citizenship
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 Subcommittee hearing on birthright citizenship as President Trump continues his threats against it. Last month, Durbin, along with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), led a group of 216 House and Senate Democrats in filing a bicameral amicus brief standing up for the essential constitutional principle of birthright citizenship in … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Highlights His Amendments To Housing Bill That Address The Volatility And Corruption Of Cryptocurrency Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight three amendments he filed to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that would address the volatility and corruption of the cryptocurrency industry and provide important protections for American taxpayers and consumers. Specifically, Durbin’s amendments would crack down on crypto ATM fraud, prevent crypto companies from receiving a taxpayer-funded bailout, and make it explicitly … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Speaks Against Republicans’ So-Called SAVE America Act
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 Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. On Sunday, President Trump said he would not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill. “Amidst a war in the Middle East and DHS funding negotiations, the President of the United States now insists that the SAVE America Act … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Recounts Secretary Noem’s Disgraceful Tenure Leading DHS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor about President Trump’s decision to fire U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, whose disastrous leadership led to a lawless and morally bankrupt mass deportation campaign in which U.S. citizens, legal residents, and immigrants with no criminal history were indiscriminately swept up. As Durbin made clear in his remarks, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Warnock, Booker, And Blunt Rochester Introduce Resolution Honoring The Late reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. The resolution recognizes his significant leadership during the Civil Rights Movement and his decades of advocacy in pursuit of justice, equality, and human … Continue Reading
March 09, 2026
As Gas Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Criticizes President Trump’s War Of Choice On Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing President Trump for entering a war on Iran with no clear strategy and despite the President campaigning on “no new wars” if he were elected. Durbin said, “President Trump has tried to position himself as the ‘Peace President,’ but his actions tell a different story. In the last year alone, he has conducted military operations across three continents and threatened to militarily takeover … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Call For Greater FAA Investment & Efficiency At Chicago O’Hare Airport
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford about the urgent need for greater FAA investment and efficiency at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Specifically, the Senators’ letter urged the FAA to prioritize ORD for Air Traffic Control (ATC) staffing and technology, to allow full use of ORD’s runway capabilities, and to give full and fair … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin Files Housing, Crypto Amendments To Road To Housing Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he filed five amendments to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan housing package that is being considered by the Senate next week. Durbin’s five amendments would ensure that families living in federally assisted housing are safe from lead poisoning; that housing is accessible and affordable for American families; that consumers are protected from fraudsters operating cryptocurrency ATM scams; that … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin Meets With MxD Leadership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday met with Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD, one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) leading manufacturing institutes. During the meeting, Durbin received an update on MxD’s latest projects, including efforts to equip U.S. factories with the digital tools, enhance cybersecurity, and improve workforce expertise to strengthen domestic manufacturing. “MxD’s work has shown how critical it is to invest in the advancement of … Continue Reading