Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee's Retirement
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on Jamie Rhee’s retirement as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation: “Since Jamie Rhee first started her career with the City of Chicago in 1994 as an airport information officer, she has amassed 30 years of service to the city. She spent the last seven years of that career as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, dedicated to making O’Hare and Midway the best they … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Help Unveil Bill To Raise Minimum Age To Buy Assault Weapons
WASHINGTON - On the seventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in announcing legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Entire Democratic Caucus To Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Pushing Illegal, Indiscriminate Funding Cuts To NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), as well as the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and setting progress back generations. The steps the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Support The Future Of Quantum Research At Energy Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the United States’ capacity to invest in quantum information science and research and development (R&D) through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As quantum science, engineering, and technology advances, the DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2025 would reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing more than $2.5 billion in funding over the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin Votes 'No' On Advancing President Trump's Pick To Be FBI Director, Kash Patel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against advancing President Donald Trump’s pick to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, in the Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting this morning. The Committee voted to advance his nomination on a party-line vote of 12-10. Key Quotes: “After reviewing Kash Patel’s record, meeting with him, and questioning him at his … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin Statement On Confirmation of RFK Jr. As Director Of The Department Of Health And Human Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): “HHS is a life or death department. Every day, federal health officials decide whether to approve a new medication, initiate a recall over a contaminated food, investigate new therapies for cancer clinical trials, or alert doctors about an … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin: RFK Jr. Is Unqualified, Unfit, And Dangerous To Lead The Department Of Health And Human Services
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) outlined his serious concerns with Robert F. Kenney, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to the lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). During his speech Durbin outlined why he opposes Mr. Kennedy’s nomination—pointing to the nominee’s long history of spewing harmful conspiracy theories about life-saving vaccines, the fact that he lacks a basic grasp of our health care system, and given … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Rural Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) to speak about the challenges of providing health care in rural communities. During their meeting, Durbin and the health care leaders discussed the importance of preserving Medicaid funding from Republican proposals to cut health insurance benefits and coverage from millions of Americans. They also discussed workforce initiatives to recruit and retain … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Questions Todd Blanche, Trump's Nominee To Be Deputy Attorney General, During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Todd Blanche, nominated by President Donald Trump to be Deputy Attorney General (DAG), during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Mr. Blanche represented President Trump in multiple criminal cases, including the hush money prosecution brought by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for which Trump was convicted on 34 counts. Mr. Blanche also … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing For Justice Department Executive Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General (DAG), and Gail Slater to be Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division (AAG-Antitrust). Key Quotes: “President Trump has vowed to use the Justice Department to advance his own interests and to seek ‘retribution’ against ‘the … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Recounts Crimes Of Insurrectionists Pardoned By President Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered remarks on the Senate floor detailing the crimes that January 6th insurrectionists have been charged with since President Trump’s reckless decision to pardon them for their crimes committed during the storming of the U.S. Capitol, including the violent assault on law enforcement officers. The events of that day resulted in the death of five law enforcement officers and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Condemns Tulsi Gabbard's Nomination To Serve As Director Of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) outlined his serious concerns with Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee to be the Director of National Intelligence ahead of her confirmation vote. Durbin began his remarks by highlighting the history of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which was established after the September 11th terrorist attacks. “[September 11 led to the creation] of the Office of the Director of National … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin, Illinois Delegation Members Send Letter To Protect Regional EPA Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Sean Casten (D-IL-06) led members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging him to reconsider reported plans to terminate more than 1,100 probationary EPA employees, including many based in Illinois. “We are deeply concerned about the negative impacts such terminations—done across the board without consideration for positional … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With The Illinois Community College Trustees Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with the board members, presidents, staff, and students from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association (ICCTA) to discuss improving access to higher education for Illinoisans. During their meeting, the Senators discussed the importance of federal student funding, including the Pell Grant and TRIO programs, for disadvantaged students. Durbin and Duckworth also pledged … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Delivers Speech At American Federation Of Government Employees Breakfast
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered remarks at the American Federation of Government Employees’ (AFGE) annual legislative breakfast. Durbin’s speech comes in the wake of the Trump Administration’s concerted attack on federal agencies and employees. On January 28, the Trump Administration sent a “deferred resignation” offer to more than two million federal employees, claiming that if employees resigned by February 6, they could stay on the federal … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing For Justice Department Executive Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General (DAG), and Gail Slater to be Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division (AAG-Antitrust). Key Quotes: “President Trump has vowed to use the Justice Department to advance his own interests and to seek ‘retribution’ against ‘the … Continue Reading
February 12, 2025
Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Tulsi Gabbard As Director Of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence: “Tulsi Gabbard is infamous for defending despots—including Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad—and traitors such as Edward Snowden. Her fondness for these oppressive, anti-democratic regimes does not go unreciprocated—they express fondness for her right back. Countries that do … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Recounts Crimes Of Insurrectionists Pardoned By President Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered remarks on the Senate floor detailing the crimes that January 6th insurrectionists have been charged with since President Trump’s reckless decision to pardon them for their crimes committed during the storming of the U.S. Capitol, including the violent assault on law enforcement officers. The events of that day resulted in the death of five law enforcement officers and … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Durbin Presses Zuckerberg On Meta's Role Directing Traffic To Problematic Nudify App
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his company’s role in directing traffic to Crushmate or Crush AI (“Crush”), an app used to create nonconsensual deepfake intimate imagery. Crush reportedly receives approximately 90 percent of its traffic from Meta platforms via thousands of explicit ads purchased by Crush in violation of Meta’s Advertising Standards, featuring nonconsensual nudity … Continue Reading
February 11, 2025
Durbin: Kash Patel Has Been Personally Directing The Ongoing Purge of FBI Officials
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealed that multiple whistleblowers have disclosed to Durbin’s staff highly credible information indicating that Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has been personally directing the ongoing purge of senior law enforcement officials at the FBI. Earlier today, Durbin sent a letter to … Continue Reading