Press Releases
Durbin Talks 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 members of the Illinois Soybean Association. During their meeting, they discussed the expensive costs of farming, the high price of losing Illinois soybean markets in China to Brazil as a result of U.S. trade policy, and the broken Farm Bill process. The group also advocated for keeping biodiesel goals strong when approving the all-year sale of E-15 - … Continue Reading
February 13, 2026
Durbin, Senate Democrats Sound Alarm On Dramatic Increase In Deaths In Immigration Detention
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led 22 Senate Democrats in sounding the alarm on the dramatic increase in deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention, with over 30 deaths since the start of the Trump Administration. In a letter to Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE senior official Todd Lyons, the Senators write: “Even as the country reels from the senseless deaths of Americans killed or … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Durbin Statement On Drawdown Of Federal Immigration Agents In Minnesota; Votes Against DHS Funding Bill
WASHINGTON - 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 after Trump’s border czar Tom Homan announced that the Administration will be pulling back its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. Durbin also voted against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill. “I’m happy that ICE has announced it is leaving Minnesota, and I salute … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Terminating Federal Funding For Health Grants In Illinois
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) released the following statement regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) terminating more than half a billion dollars in funding for four Democratic-led states, including Illinois, which is used to prevent deadly disease outbreaks and to keep Americans safe and healthy. At least $170 million of this funding may be part of … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Durbin, Warnock, Schneider Introduce Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), today introduced bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin Sounds The Alarm On President Trump’s Threats To Election Integrity
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s threats to election integrity. Durbin began his remarks by commenting on the Administration’s outrageous attempt to convince a grand jury to indict Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and U.S. Representatives Jason Crow (D-CO-06), Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH-02), and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin Meets With Rural Health Care Providers After Congressional Republicans Slash Funding For Medicaid, Affordable Care Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA), who presented him with their Rural Health Legacy Award for his dedication to protecting access to health care in rural communities. During today’s meeting, Durbin spoke with the health care leaders about providing care to Illinoisans after congressional Republicans rammed through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which cut $1 trillion from Medicaid … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin, Reed, Doggett Introduce Bill To Stop Tax-Dodging Corporate Inversion Schemes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), today introduced the Stop Corporate Inversions Act, a bill to stop business practices known as inversions—corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, while keeping their executives and headquarters in the United States. This is accomplished by merging … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin Commends Ruling That Upholds The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act and the Durbin Amendment, released the following statement after a federal judge ruled against the banks in Illinois Bankers Association v. Raoul, a lawsuit brought by the banks to prevent the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) from taking effect. In the ruling, Chief Judge Virginia Kendall agreed with the arguments in … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing, Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Wreaking Havoc On Immigrant Communities
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 on Border Security and Immigration hearing on fraud in Minnesota. Rather than examining causes of fraud across the United States—particularly within the Trump Administration, which has allowed its officials to financially profit off the government—the hearing attempted to degrade Somali Americans and refugees as the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin Criticizes President Trump For Disparaging Somali Americans, Refugees During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
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 on Border Security and Immigration hearing on fraud in Minnesota. Rather than examining cases of fraud across the United States—particularly within the Trump Administration, which has allowed its officials to financially profit off the government—the hearing attempted to degrade Somali Americans and refugees as the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Community Colleges To Talk Job Training Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today spoke with leaders and members of the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) to discuss their efforts to ensure higher education remains accessible and affordable as the Trump Administration attempts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and the programs that support students in attending college. The Senators also discussed job training programs provided at … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin Celebrates $61 Million In Federal Funding Secured Over The Course Of Eight Years For His Open Textbook Pilot Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the inclusion of $7 million for the Open Textbook Pilot Program in the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2026 bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Since 2018 when Durbin helped create the Open Textbook Pilot Program, he has secured $61 million in total federal funding to support college students across the country in accessing textbooks … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin Questions Telecommunication Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Arctic Frost
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Arctic Frost Accountability: Oversight of Telecommunications Carriers’ Responses to Jack Smith’s Witch Hunt.” Instead of allowing Jack Smith to testify, Senate Judiciary Republicans are proceeding with a wasteful series of eight subcommittee hearings to relitigate the 2020 presidential election and whitewash the … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Arctic Frost
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Arctic Frost Accountability: Oversight of Telecommunications Carriers’ Responses to Jack Smith’s Witch Hunt.” This morning, Durbin led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in again calling for Special Prosecutor Jack Smith to testify publicly under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as he has … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Senate Judiciary Democrats Call For Jack Smith To Publicly Testify Under Oath
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in again calling for Special Prosecutor Jack Smith to testify publicly under oath before the Senate Judiciary Committee, as he has offered to do, as well as request an unredacted version of Smith’s reports and all underlying materials from the Justice Department. Senate Judiciary Republicans plan to proceed with a highly unusual series of eight … Continue Reading
February 10, 2026
Durbin Requests Bondi, Pirro Preserve All Records Related To Investigations Of Senators Kelly, Slotkin, And Four House Members
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro preserve all records related to investigations of U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), as well as four Members of the House of Representatives. Senate Judiciary Democrats’ earlier oversight request on the matter has gone unanswered for weeks. In a letter to Bondi and Pirro, Durbin wrote: … Continue Reading
February 09, 2026
Durbin Reiterates Senate Democrats’ Demands To Rein In ICE As Republicans Stall Negotiations Ahead Of Friday’s DHS Funding Deadline
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, urged his Republican colleagues to join Democrats to pass common sense reforms to rein in President Trump’s immigration enforcement operations. The Senate passed a two-week stop gap funding measure for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which expires Friday, while Democrats negotiate with … Continue Reading
February 09, 2026
Durbin, Reed, Delauro Introduce American Business For American Companies Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced the bicameral American Business for American Companies Act, legislation that would extend the year-to-year government wide ban on federal contracts for inverted corporations by moving it out of the annual appropriations process and into permanent law. Corporate inversions allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship … Continue Reading
February 06, 2026
Durbin Secures Support For Illinois Priorities In Recently Passed Package Of Five Government Funding Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the various priorities for Illinois he secured in the recently passed package of five government funding bills for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Defense; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and State and Foreign Operations for Fiscal Year 2026. “With … Continue Reading