Press Releases
Durbin Statement Amid Reports President Trump Is Planning To Deploy The Military To Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement today amid reports that the Trump Administration is planning to deploy the military to Chicago: “What President Trump is doing in DC is purely political theater. His actions are creating chaos and sowing fear rather than making our nation’s capital safer, and now he says Chicago will be his next target. Chicago is a beautiful, vibrant city with people from all walks of life, which I see firsthand all … Continue Reading
August 22, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Illinois Democrats In Urging President Trump To Grant Federal Disaster Declaration For Illinois Counties Following Severe Summer Weather
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today led all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to President Trump urging the White House 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 Illinois, to help Calhoun, Cook, and Jersey Counties recover from severe storm damage. In late July, severe storms … Continue Reading
August 21, 2025
Durbin Admonishes Attorney General Bondi For Politicized Firing Of Nonpartisan Immigration Judges As Trump Administration Carries Out Mass Deportation Scheme
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi about the continued arbitrary firing of immigration judges despite an unprecedented backlog of immigration cases. In his letter, Durbin criticizes the Trump Administration’s political motives for firing these immigration judges, 15 of whom the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), which … Continue Reading
August 20, 2025
Durbin, Cassidy Call On FTC To Disclose How The Senators' Inform Consumers Act Has Been Implemented, Citing Lack Of Action
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requesting information on the implementation and enforcement of the Senators’ Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which went into effect on June 27, 2023. The legislation, which was sponsored by Durbin and Cassidy … Continue Reading
August 14, 2025
Durbin Demands The Acting Inspector General Investigate The Trump Administration's Purging Of FBI Officials
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged the Department of Justice’s Acting Inspector General William Blier to investigate the arbitrary removals, forced retirements, and reassignments of senior Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executives, special agents in charge (SACs), and other supervisory agents and the impact these decisions have had on the Bureau’s national security and law enforcement operations, as well as … Continue Reading
August 14, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Urge Robust Funding For Federal Defenders In FY26 Appropriations Bill
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today led nine Senators in a letter to Appropriations Committee leadership urging robust funding for federal defenders in the FY26 appropriations bill. As outlined in the letter, the Senators urge the Committee to mitigate the continued funding shortfall for federal public defenders, including filling the significant funding … Continue Reading
August 13, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Welcome 400 New Citizens At State Fair Naturalization Ceremony
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today celebrated the naturalization of 400 new citizens from 72 countries at the Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony. “We are a nation of immigrants, and I proudly display my mother’s naturalization certificate on my desk in the Capitol as a reminder of the pursuit of the American Dream,” said Durbin. “I was honored to welcome 400 new … Continue Reading
August 13, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, And Wyden Lead Senate Democrats In Slamming Trump Administration For Disabling Lawfully Obtained Social Security Numbers Of Immigrants
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) led six Senate Democrats in demanding answers over reports that the Trump Administration is maliciously deeming thousands of Social Security Numbers (SSN) as “fraudulent” as a part of its continued effort to push legally-present immigrants out of the country. The Trump Administration is labeling immigrants as … Continue Reading
August 12, 2025
Durbin, Booker Urge Supreme Court To Maintain Of Landmark Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Law In Fernandez V. United States
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) filed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging the justices to maintain the strength of their landmark bipartisan criminal justice reform law, the First Step Act. In the upcoming case Fernandez v. United States, the justices will consider whether there are limitations on what circumstances may serve as the extraordinary and compelling reasons that … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Durbin Urges Amtrak To Swiftly Resume Service Of Illinois Routes After Suspending Service Without Adequate Notice For Riders
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Roger Harris, President of Amtrak, to express his frustration at the suspension of Amtrak service along select Illinois routes. In his letter, Durbin called on Amtrak to resolve the suspensions as quickly as possible. “I write to express my disappointment and concern with the recent handling of the suspension of several roundtrips of Illinois Amtrak service,” Durbin wrote. As the train service is suspended, … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $12.7 Million In Federal Funding For Mathematical And Statistical Innovation
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $12.7 million in federal funding through the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) to be disbursed over 5 years for the Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation, a partnership between the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Maintaining a strong STEM workforce strengthens … Continue Reading
August 07, 2025
Durbin Visits Erie Family Health Center During National Health Center Week
CHICAGO - Today U.S. Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) held a press conference with health care leaders at Erie Family Health Center to discuss recent funding cuts to Medicaid and mark National Health Center Week. “I’ve been honored to work alongside Erie Family Health Centers for years in the fight for affordable health care and lower prescription drug costs,” said Durbin. “This week is National Health Center Week, a time to recommit to protecting health centers, many of whom will suffer … Continue Reading
August 04, 2025
Durbin Meets With Former Federal Immigration Judges
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with former Assistant Chief Immigration Judge (ACIJ) Jennifer Peyton, and three other Chicago-based immigration judges, some of whom were also recently fired by the Trump Administration. “The firing of federal immigration judges is the Trump Administration’s most recent expansion of its cruel and harmful mass deportation effort,” said Durbin. “We cannot allow forthese fear tactics to weaponize our immigration system. That’s … Continue Reading
August 02, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Confirmation of Jeanine Pirro To Be U.S. Attorney For The District Of Columbia
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Jeanine Pirro to be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia: “As I’ve said for weeks, Ms. Pirro’s record is deeply troubling. She’s a January 6 apologist, siding with violent insurrectionists over law enforcement and supporting criminal charges against line prosecutors who handled insurrection-related … Continue Reading
August 02, 2025
Senate Passes Military Construction And Agriculture Government Funding Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate passed a funding bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, as well as for Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in the appropriations bills, both through Congressionally Directed Spending requests and through … Continue Reading
August 02, 2025
Durbin Joins Senator Merkley In Floor Block Calling On The Trump Administration Release The Epstein Files
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in a speech on the Senate floor calling on the Trump Administration to release the full Epstein files and all information from interviews with Ms. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s co-conspirator and fellow sex trafficker, with appropriate redactions to protect victims. “Two weeks after the Senate confirmed Pam Bondi as Attorney General, … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Senate Appropriations Committee Advances Labor, Health And Human Services & Defense Funding Bills With Illinois Priorities Secured By Durbin, Duckworth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a funding bill for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, as well as for Defense for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Durbin and Duckworth worked to secure various priorities for Illinois in the appropriations bills, both through Congressionally Directed Spending … Continue Reading
August 01, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Pen Letter To Illinos' Public Broadcasting Stations Seeking Answers On Impact Of Republicans' Drastic Rescissions Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to every public radio and TV station in Illinois requesting answers about the projected impact of the Republicans’ rescissions package that clawed back $1.1 billion in previously appropriated funding to public broadcasting. “This month, President Trump and Republicans in Congress rescinded funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) as a result of the … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Durbin, Coons, Schiff Introduce Resolution Recognizing Decaded-Long Human Rights Abuses In Eritrea
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) today introduced a resolution recognizing decades-long human rights abuses in Eritrea, including indefinite imprisonment, inhumane prison conditions, and expressing support for the rights and freedom of the Eritrean people. “The Eritrean people have endured widespread human rights abuses for decades, without freedom of the press, free speech, or functioning democratic … Continue Reading
July 31, 2025
Durbin Offers Amendment To Reinstate All NIH, Other Critical Grants That Have Been Unlawfully Terminated By The Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin’s (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, submitted an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations bill to reinstate NIH and other critical grants that were arbitrarily and unjustifiably terminated by the Trump Administration. Durbin spoke about his amendment during today’s Committee markup on the Labor-HHS-Ed appropriations bill. Durbin’s amendment was voted down … Continue Reading