Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Quad Cities Chamber Of Commerce In Washington
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce (QCC) to discuss the Trump Administration’s haphazard tariff policies that will harm Illinois’ agricultural industry, QCC’s priorities to help the Quad Cities remain competitive for new jobs and investment, and workforce development. QCC also raised its tax policy priorities, and Durbin discussed the dangerous Republican plan for cutting Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for … Continue Reading
April 10, 2025
Durbin Meets With Fareway CEO & President To Discuss Trump Tariffs, Senator's Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Fareway Stores CEO Reynolds Cramer and President Garrett Piklapp to discuss the Senator’s bipartisan legislation, the Credit Card Competition Act, which would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market that is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. Companies like Fareway would benefit from the Credit Card Competition Act, which, if enacted, would save merchants and consumers an … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin Questions META Whistleblower In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Sarah Wynn-Williams, Facebook’s former Director of Global Public Policy, at the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “A Time for Truth: Oversight of Meta’s Foreign Relations and Representations to the United States Congress.” Durbin first asked Ms. Wynn-Williams about protecting children online. “You made a reference in the … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin Meets With Bar Associations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with representatives from the Chicago Bar Association, Chicago Bar Foundation, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association and released the following statement: “I appreciated the chance to discuss legal aid, judicial security, and judicial independence with members of bar associations in Illinois and across the country today. Their work is crucial to our … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing With META Whistleblower
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement in the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “A Time for Truth: Oversight of Meta’s Foreign Relations and Representations to the United States Congress.” Today’s hearing includes testimony from one witness—Sarah Wynn-Williams, Facebook’s former Director of Global Public Policy. The hearing will highlight … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Amid Trump's Trade War, Durbin Meets With Illinois Pork Producers 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 the Illinois Pork Producers Association to discuss federal issues that affect the Illinois hog industry. Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in pork production. Producers emphasized the challenging market dynamics in the pork industry over the past several years, and the importance of maintaining free trade and strong export markets, including … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin: The Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Should Be Resumed And The Hostage Returned Immediately
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance of ending the war in Gaza and addressing the humanitarian crisis. During his remarks, Durbin reiterated the need to resume the ceasefire and return the hostages immediately. “I am proud of the fact that President Harry Truman was the first president to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and I certainly concur with that sentiment to this day. The creation of the state of Israel after … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Tariff Pause
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump announced he was temporarily dropping tariffs to 10 percent for 90 days. The President’s chaos has caused the markets to plummet in the last few days. In the week after President Trump’s tariff announcement, the S&P 500 dropped by nearly 19 percent from its last high on February 19—creeping eerily close to bear market territory. “The chaos, uncertainty, and real damage … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin, Hawley Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Employees When Businesses File For Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) today introduced the Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act. The bipartisan legislation would correct abuses of the bankruptcy process that deprive employees and retirees of their hard-earned wages, benefits, and retirement savings. As businesses’ bankruptcy filings have increased, jobs, pensions, and long-promised … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin: If The Trump Tariff Tax Continues Unabated, It's Going To Destroy This Economy
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor about the Trump Administration’s thoughtless and hazardous approach to trade policy that has already caused uncertainty in the stock market. In the week following President Trump’s tariff announcement, the S&P 500 dropped by nearly 19 percent from its last high on February 19, bringing the stock market dangerously close to a bear market. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that … Continue Reading
April 09, 2025
Durbin Leads Colleagues In Demanding Answers About Closure Of Head Start Office In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Tina Smith (D-MN) in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers about the closure of five regional Head Start offices across the country, including the Region 5 office in Chicago. The Region 5 office serves Head Start grantees in … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Demand Answers, Return Of Maryland Father Wrongfully Deported To El Salvador
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) today joined U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and 22 Senators in writing to U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Tedd Lyons. The Senators’ letter urged Secretary Noem and Acting Director Lyons to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father who was living legally, under a … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin Highlights Importance Of NIH Funding To Red States & Urges Republicans Senators To Stand Up For Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming the Trump Administration for its attempts to dismantle the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the harmful impacts it will have on medical research across the country, including in red states. Durbin began his remarks by highlighting the importance of NIH funding to patients nationwide. Durbin said, “There is certainty in funding medical research. Certainty in knowing that while not all … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciay Committee Hearing On Importance Of Transparency In Government
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Freedom of Information Act: Perspectives from Public Requesters.” Durbin began his questioning by asking Professor Margaret Benvignati Kwoka, a law professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, about her thoughts on the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) evading … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin Pushes DHS Secretary Noem, FBI Director Patel To Reverse Course On Cuts To Domestic Terrorism PPRevention Efforts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel to reverse course on their deprioritization of domestic terrorism prevention efforts, which leaves our nation less secure and Americans less safe. Durbin began by condemning recent actions, writing: “I write to strongly object to the Department of Homeland … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin, Padilla, Raskin, Jayapal Statement On SCOTUS Alien Enemies Act Ruling
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee; and U.S. Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court lifted a hold on removals … Continue Reading
April 08, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Hearing On Importance Of Freedom Of Information Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Freedom of Information Act: Perspectives from Public Requesters.” During his opening remarks, Durbin underscored the importance of transparency in government, and he further reiterated that the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) should be subject to the Freedom of … Continue Reading
April 07, 2025
Durbin Introduces Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a resolution designating the week of April 7, 2025, as “National Assistant Principals Week.” Amid a national educator shortage, the resolution expresses support for assistant principals’ commitment to instructional leadership and the role they play in addressing student and staff needs while establishing positive school learning environments with strong community relationships. “Assistant principals play a critical … Continue Reading
April 05, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Republicans Advancing Their Plan To Cut Medicaid & Social Security In Order To Pay For Tax Cuts For Billionaires
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans advancing their budget resolution, which proposes cuts to Medicaid, the Social Security Administration (SSA), veterans’ benefits, and more to pay for tax cuts for billionaires: “Last night, Senate Democrats were on the Senate floor fighting for working families one amendment at a time while Republicans struck down each one. Their message was clear: Let’s give billionaires … Continue Reading
April 04, 2025
Durbin, Sanders Call On Trump To Release Ozturk, Khalil, & All Those Targeted For Political Activities Protected By First Amendment
WASHINGTON - Following the arrests of Rumeysa Ozturk, Mahmoud Khalil, and reports of numerous other students, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today called on President Donald Trump to release all those targeted solely for political activities protected by the First Amendment and immediately terminate all … Continue Reading