Press Releases
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Comments About Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after President Donald Trump publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.” Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Stopping The Exploitation Of Children Online
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 entitled “Children’s Safety in the Digital Era: Strengthening Protections and Addressing Legal Gaps.” Reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have exploded in recent years. Between March 2009 and February 2022, the number of victims identified in CSAM rose tenfold from 2,172 victims to more than … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blindly Supporting Kash Patel For FBI Director Despite Serious Concerns On Fitness To Serve
WASHINGTON - Ahead of tonight’s procedural vote on the nomination of Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor regarding his serious concerns about Mr. Patel, which includes whistleblower reports that Mr. Patel has been personally involved in the ongoing purge of FBI officials. Key Quotes: “After meeting with Mr. Patel, reviewing his … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Art Of Appeasement To Russian President Vladimir Putin
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Russian President Vladimir Putin—where Trump announced key concessions to Putin regarding Ukraine, while apparently ignoring Ukraine’s key demands. Durbin began his speech by recounting history in which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain touted the now infamous Munich Agreement as the way to stave off Hitler’s Nazi Germany. One year later, Hitler … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bill To Rename Street Near The Russian Ambassador's Residence After Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - Surrounding the one-year anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s tragic death in a Russian prison, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian Ambassador to the United States’ residence as “Alexei Navalny Way.” Alexei Navalny was an opposition leader and anticorruption activist who led the political opposition against Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Durbin, Judiciary Committee Democrats Call For DOJ Inspector General Investigation Into Attempt To Dismiss Charges Against Mayor Adams In Exchange For Assisting Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz urging him to investigate Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove for seeking to dismiss the prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams for blatantly partisan reasons. They also requested that Mr. Horowitz immediately seek the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
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