Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Help Introduce Bicameral Bill To Ensure DHS Detainees Can Speak To A Lawyer, Contact Their Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and U.S. Representative Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03) in introducing the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, a bill to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. The bill comes after months of credible reporting that ICE and … Continue Reading
November 17, 2025
Durbin Statement Rejecting Proposed Settlement Between Visa, Mastercard & Merchants
CHICAGO - 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, released the following statement on a recent proposed settlement between Visa and Mastercard and the merchants. The settlement comes after two decades of class-action litigation over swipe fees that merchants pay to Visa, Mastercard, and the banks. “As Americans are trying to make ends meet, the biggest Wall Street banks, Visa, and … Continue Reading
November 17, 2025
Durbin, Schiff To Introduce Bill To Block Trump From Getting $230 Million Taxpayer Payout From DOJ
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) in announcing that they will be introducing the No Torts for Trump Act, legislation to prohibit sitting presidents from seeking taxpayer-funded payouts under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). This follows recent reporting that President Trump is pressing the Justice Department to pay him roughly $230 million as a settlement for proper … Continue Reading
November 17, 2025
Durbin Secures Support For Illinois Priorities In Newly Enacted Military Construction And Veterans Affairs And Agriculture 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 newly enacted funding bills for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; and Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). “As the government reopens under a continuing resolution, Congress also passed appropriations bills that bolster our … Continue Reading
November 14, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Reed, Collins, Murkowski, & Colleagues To Urge The Trump Administration To Swiftly Release LIHEAP Home Heating Aid
WASHINGTON - As utility rates continue to rise, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in a bipartisan push for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to release funds for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as swiftly and at the highest level possible. Currently, the Trump Administration is sitting on $4 billion in federal LIHEAP … Continue Reading
November 14, 2025
Durbin, Illinois Democrats Release Fact Sheet Debunking The DHS Misinformation Campaign
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Illinois Congressional Democrats in releasing a comprehensive fact check of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) misinformation campaign regarding its dangerous immigration enforcement actions. “The Trump Administration continues to peddle outright lies since its unprovoked, unnecessary, and unhelpful enforcement activity in Illinois. The photos and videos out of Illinois … Continue Reading
November 10, 2025
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Outlining His "Yes" Vote On The Continuing Resolution And "Minibus" Spending Bills
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, outlined why he voted to proceed with the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through January 30, 2026, and the “minibus” package of spending bills for: Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. The minibus fully … Continue Reading
November 10, 2025
Senate, House Democrats File Amicus Brief to Supreme Court Supporting Illinois’s Legal Challenge to Trump’s Use of National Guard
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force, led by Task Force Chair Joe Neguse (D-CO-2), House Judiciary Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY-8), and House Armed Services Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA-9), spearheaded a group of 155 Senate and House Democrats in support of Illinois’s legal challenge to President Trump’s … Continue Reading
November 09, 2025
Durbin Statement On The Continuing Resolution And "Minibus" Spending Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through January 30, 2026, and the “minibus” package of spending bills for: Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies. The minibus fully funds SNAP through Fiscal Year 2026 … Continue Reading
November 06, 2025
Durbin Statement On Federal Judge Issuing Critical Injunction Limiting Use Of Force By Immigration Agents
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis issued an injunction limiting the use of force by immigration agents in Chicago: “This is a much-needed ruling. As Judge Ellis said, the aggressive use of unnecessary force by immigration agents ‘shocks the conscience.’ The Trump Administration is racially profiling and arresting citizens, zip-tying kids, and … Continue Reading
November 06, 2025
Following Yesterday’s Cruel DHS Operation At A Preschool In Illinois, Durbin Again Calls For Secretary Noem To Testify In Front Of The Senate Judiciary Committee
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, in which he condemned the Trump Administration’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in Illinois. Just yesterday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents arrested a preschool teacher inside the school where she worked. Durbin has repeatedly called on DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to … Continue Reading
November 06, 2025
Durbin Slams Congressional Republicans For Refusing To Address Health Care Costs As Tuesday’s Elections Prove Americans Are Rejecting President Trump’s Policies
WASHINGTON - As open enrollment has begun and Americans across the country are seeing the rise in their monthly premiums, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor about the health care affordability crisis, which has been manufactured by congressional Republicans as they refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits and end the government shutdown. If these enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, … Continue Reading
November 06, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging Armed Services Conferees To Include Provisions To Support Rock Island Arsenal
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, and combat Veteran U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth led U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), as well as U.S. Representatives Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-02), in sending a letter to the four Senate and House leaders of the Armed Services Committees to urge them to include provisions that support Rock Island Arsenal in … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Durbin Calls Out The Trump Administration For Their Efforts To Undermine Voting Rights Across The Country
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Senate Democrats in speaking on the floor condemning the Trump Administration’s efforts to undermine the right to vote. The floor speech comes after a successful election night for Democrats—where the American people overwhelmingly rejected the Trump Administration’s disastrous policies. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted the numerous ways the Trump Administration is … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Throwing Parties, Remodeling The White House While Negating Its Responsibility To Pay Out Snap Benefits For 42 Million Americans
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized the Trump Administration for attempting to abandon its responsibility to pay out SNAP benefits after two courts ruled that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does have the authority to use emergency funds to provide SNAP benefits to the 42 million Americans who rely on the program. As Durbin makes clear in his remarks, the President is halting SNAP benefits and harming the … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Durbin Shares Story Of Green Card Holder Who Went Missing For Two Weeks After Being Unlawfully Detained By DHS Agents During So-Called “Operation Midway Blitz”
WASHINGTON - Two months after President Trump launched his so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor to again denounce the extreme tactics of U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as they routinely and unlawfully detain residents of Illinois. In his … Continue Reading
November 05, 2025
Durbin Presses ICE Acting Director On Denying Members Of Congress Access To Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons on denials of Members of Congress to visit ICE facilities and meet with detainees, including multiple attempts by Durbin to visit the Broadview ICE Facility in Illinois. In a letter to the Acting ICE Director, Durbin began by admonishing the Trump Administration for impeding on Congress’s oversight … Continue Reading
November 04, 2025
Durbin Slams Congressional Republicans For Refusing To Address Health Care Costs As Americans Are Notified Of Rising Premiums
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senate Democrats in speaking on the floor about the health care affordability crisis, which has been manufactured by congressional Republicans as they refuse to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits and end the government shutdown. If these credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, more than four million Americans are expected to lose their health care coverage, including more … Continue Reading
November 04, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Three Resolutions To Terminate President Trump’s Harmful Tariffs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed three resolutions, all with bipartisan support, to terminate the President’s disastrous tariffs on Brazil and Canada, as well as his global “reciprocal” tariffs on nearly every country: “The President has decided to gamble with our economy by recklessly implementing sky-high tariffs against our trading partners. These haphazard trade policies have threatened our nation’s … Continue Reading
November 04, 2025
Durbin Reprimands DHS Agents For Cruel Treatment Of U.S. Citizen And Chicagoan Who Was Ripped From Her Car, Aggressively Arrested And Detained For Hours Without Cause
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor to criticize the Trump Administration’s cruel so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area, which has sown fear among communities in the city. In his remarks, Durbin denounced the aggressive immigration enforcement actions taken by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs … Continue Reading