Press Releases
Durbin Deliers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations, Nominee To Be The 'Drug Czar'
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 Committee hearing on the judicial nominations of Rebecca Taibleson, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; David Bragdon, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina; Lindsey Freeman, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina; … Continue Reading
September 17, 2025
Durbin Slams Republican Party's Failure To Extend The Affordable Care Act's Enhanced Subsidies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor yesterday highlighting the dangers of the upcoming expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits. First created in 2021 as part of theAmerican Rescue Plan, these credits have reduced the price of health insurance for millions of Americans, but they are now in jeopardy due to congressional Republicans’ callous inaction. Durbin began his speech by recounting his experience … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Durbin Exposes Harms Of Unregulated AI Chatbots During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots.” Durbin focused his questioning on the warning signs of children and adolescents being lured into unhealthy or harmful behavior, including self-harm or suicide, by AI chatbots. Durbin began by referring to a statistic in the opening … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing, Durbin Previews New Legislation That Would Hold AI Companies Accountable For Harms Caused By Their AI Products
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today previewed new legislation he plans to introduce to crack down on harm caused by AI companies during today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots.” The AI LEAD Act would establish a federal cause of action against AI companies for harms caused by their systems and would enable the Attorney General, state … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Democrats In Urging The Trump Administration To Grant Federal Disaster Declaration For Five Illinois Counties Following Severe Weather
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today led all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to President Trump urging the Administration to grant Governor J.B. Pritzker’s request for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Boone, Cook (including the city of Chicago), Kane, McHenry, and Will Counties. The letter follows a period … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Durbin Questions FBI Director Patel At Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing On Patel's Partisan & Incompetent Management Of The Bureau
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel at today’s Senate Judiciary Oversight Committee hearing. Durbin requested Patel respond to a variety of questions on the unprecedented purge of FBI officials, whether Patel initiated loyalty tests, reports of failed polygraph tests by FBI political appointees, the Trump Administration’s handling of Epstein-related … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing With FBI Director Patel
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 Oversight Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel. Durbin’s opening statement condemned Patel’s partisan and incompetent mismanagement of the FBI, highlighted the unprecedented purge of FBI officials, shared reports that Director Patel initiated loyalty tests, criticized his fumbling of … Continue Reading
September 15, 2025
Ahead of Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing With FBI Director Patel, Durbin Highlights FBI Officials Forced Out Under Patel's Direction
WASHINGTON - Ahead of tomorrow’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning Patel’s partisan and incompetent mismanagement of the FBI. During his speech, Durbin also highlighted senior FBI officials who have been forced out under the direction of Patel. Tomorrow’s hearing will be the first … Continue Reading
September 15, 2025
Durbin Discusses Amtrak Services With IDOT Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gia Biagi to discuss the recent disruptions to Amtrak service in Illinois. Between July and September, Amtrak suspended train service along select Illinois routes for maintenance. While Amtrak offered alternative bus service for riders during the suspension, the bus service may add significant time to riders’ commutes. During this service disruption, Durbin wrote … Continue Reading
September 15, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Van Hollen, Booker, Blumenthal Slam EPA Administrator For Proposal To Push Back Deadline To Monitor Toxic Coal Ash Sites
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin calling on the agency to preserve existing regulations covering the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR), more commonly known as “coal ash,” and further urged the agency to abandon its proposal to extend the deadline for CCR … Continue Reading
September 12, 2025
Durbin, Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Introduce Bill To Protect Consumers From Predatory, High Cost Lending
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced legislation that would cap fees and interest on consumer loans at an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 36 percent—the same limit currently in place for loans marketed to military service members and their families. Studies show that while lenders today offer easy credit, these transactions often come with high interest rates, steep late fees, and other … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Condemns Senate Republicans For Going Nuclear On President Trump's Nominations
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor denouncing Senate Republicans’ plan to change Senate rules to fast-track President Trump’s unqualified nominees. The move undermines the ability of the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent on nominations. “Before the recess, Senate Democrats worked in good faith with Senate Republicans to negotiate a package of … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Going Nuclear On President Trump's Nominations
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted to change Senate rules to fast-track President Trump’s unqualified nominees. The move undermines the ability of the Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty of advice and consent on nominations. “Before the recess, Senate Democrats worked in good faith with Senate Republicans to negotiate a package of nominations … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Durbin Speaks With Polish Chargé To Discuss Recent Russian Drone Incursions Into Poland
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the Head of Mission at the Polish Embassy, Bogdan Klich, to discuss Russia’s provocative incursion into Polish airspace over the last few days and weeks, creating a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine that marks the first time NATO planes engaged enemy targets in alliance airspace. “Repeated violations of NATO airspace by Russian drones are a fair warning that Vladimir Putin is testing our resolve to … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Durbin Meets With Cook County Board Of Commissioners, Toni Preckwinkle, and Cook County Health Leadership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Cook Country Board of Commissioners, Toni Preckwinkle, as well as leadership of Cook County Health to discuss Medicaid cuts in President Trump and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). They also discussed President Trump’s continued attacks on Chicago, in addition to his deployment of ICE agents to the city on Monday as part of his newly announced “Operation Midway Blitz.” “The Trump Administration, … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Durbin Delivers Remarks During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered remarks during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting where he spoke on President Trump’s extreme and unqualified judges. During his opening statement, Durbin first reflected on the anniversary of September 11th. The Committee voted on the nominations of Joshua Dunlap, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; Eric Tung, nominated … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
As Trump Administration Continues "Operation Midway Blitz," Durbin, Duckworth, & Schneider Meet With Navy Secretary About Naval Station Great Lakes
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) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today met with U.S. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan to discuss the limited logistical support provided by Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL) to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials as they ramp up increased immigration enforcement operations across the Chicago area during … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Durbin Meets 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 sat down with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the challenges in the farm economy, from low prices and high costs of equipment to fertilizer, the importance of updating farm loans to match current economic conditions, and the effects of Proposition 12. The group also discussed the critical role of foreign workers in keeping Illinois … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Durbin Statement After Senate Republicans Voted Against Releasing The Epstein Files
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against releasing the Epstein files: “The American people have asked for the truth about the Epstein files, but the Trump Administration has stalled, distracted, and fabricated falsehoods to prevent the release of the files. It’s about transparency in government and holding abusers accountable,” Durbin said. “The … Continue Reading
September 10, 2025
Durbin Highlights Importance Of Foregn Farmworkers During Meeting With Illinois Pork Producers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Pork Producers Association who shared their top policy priorities in the pork industry. Durbin and the group discussed the effects of California’s Proposition 12 on Illinois pork production, as well as the critical role of foreign workers in keeping the Illinois pork industry strong. “Illinois pork production relies heavily on … Continue Reading