Press Releases
Durbin Introduced Bill To Halt U.S. Investments In Venezuela's Energy Sector Until Legitimate 2024 Election Results Are Respected
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced a bill terminating all U.S. petroleum cooperation and petroleum-related trade with Venezuela until the legitimate results of the recent Venezuelan election are respected. On July 28, 2024, more than 10 million Venezuelans peacefully voted in the presidential election, with results meticulously compiled by credible election monitors showing an overwhelming victory for opposition candidate, Edmundo González, over … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Introduction Of Resolution Condemning Pardons Of Individuals Found Guilty Of Assaulting Capitol Police Officers On January 6
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Andy Kim (D-NJ), as well as 40 of their colleagues in the Senate, in introducing a new resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s pardons of individuals who were found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers. The resolution follows the move by President Trump, on the first day of his second … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Durbin Requests Materials Related To FBI Nominee Kash Patel's Involvement In Hostage Recovery Mission After Allegations Of Endangering American Citizens
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Defense (DOD), the State Department, and the Department of Treasury requesting they produce all relevant materials related to alleged misconduct by Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of the FBI, related to the rescue of two Americans held captive by Iranian-backed militants in Yemen. … Continue Reading
January 27, 2025
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce Resolution Warning Of Serious Public Health Threats From Trump Administration Freeze On Critical Health Alerts, Including Disease Outbreaks And Food Contamination
WASHINGTON - Following reports that the Trump Administration has paused critical communications from federal health agencies, including warnings on disease outbreaks and food contamination, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) to introduce a resolution calling for uninterrupted health warning services for the American people. “Doctors, researchers, and patients nationwide depend on federal health agencies to alert them to disease outbreaks or … Continue Reading
January 26, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump's Mass Deportation Actions In Chicago
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 issued the following statement after President Donald Trump’s administration started mass deportation actions in and around Chicago: “We can all agree that we must remove any dangerous individuals from our country who are here illegally. But the mass deportation actions being undertaken by President Trump’s administration go far beyond … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025
Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Kristi Noem To Lead The Department Of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the confirmation vote of Governor Kristi Noem to be Secretary of Homeland Security, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor about his concerns regarding her nomination. Durbin voted “no” on Governor Noem’s nomination. “The Department of Homeland Security, which Governor Noem is seeking to lead, is now embarking on a new era, the new Trump 47 era, where ‘mass deportation’ is the catch … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump Unlawfully Firing Independent Inspectors General Across Multiple Federal Agencies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump unlawfully fired at least 12 independent inspectors general across multiple federal agencies: “President Trump’s firing of at least 12 independent inspectors general at important federal agencies is a continuation of his efforts to reshape the federal government without oversight or accountability—and with loyalty to … Continue Reading
January 25, 2025
Durbin Statement On Confirmation On Pete Hegseth
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense: “Today, I voted against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense. We must have military leaders who have proven good judgement for when they are sitting in the Situation Room. From the outset, Pete Hegseth has failed to position himself as someone who can be … Continue Reading
January 24, 2025
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Releases Revealing Investigative Report On Inadequate Care In Customs And Border Protection Facilities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released an interim staff report and the findings of a months-long investigation into the chronic failure to provide adequate medical care to vulnerable individuals in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, including a first-of-its-kind map of CBP medical processes, analyses of deficient medical care in CBP facilities, powerful testimony from impacted whistleblowers, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Meets With Former Congressman Sean Duffy, President Trump's Nominee For Secretary Of Transportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with former U.S. Congressman Sean Duffy, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Transportation. During their meeting, Durbin asked Duffy about President Trump’s recent executive order directing agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and what that means for the future of transportation and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bill To Crack Down On Prescription Drug Advertisements, Boost Price Transparency
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Questions Brooke Rollins, Nominee For Secretary Of Agriculture, In Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today questioned Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s pick to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, during her nomination hearing. Durbin began his questioning by asking Ms. Rollins about President Trump’s promise to conduct a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, many of whom are critical to farm operations. “I want to talk about one thing that is in … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against Unqualified Nominee For Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke out against Pete Hegseth’s nomination to serve as the Secretary of Defense. Durbin explained his objections to Hegseth’s nomination, including his inability to articulate a defense strategy in addressing threats to the U.S., his disparaging comments about women serving in the military, and troubling reports of financial mismanagement, alcohol abuse, and sexual misconduct. “Over the last … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Highlights Bill To Crack Down On Prescription Drug Advertisements, Boost Price Transparency On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting his Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill he is introducing with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Ahead Of The Roe V. Wade Anniversary, Durbin Condemns Republicans' Sham "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act"
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Republicans’ so-called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that would threaten health care providers with jail time and make it harder for women to access comprehensive and compassionate health care. Durbin said, “As a result of Roe, America’s women took a giant step forward in gender equity—the … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Meets With Secretary Of Agriculture Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today met with Brooke Rollins, nominee to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture, in advance of her nomination hearing scheduled this week before the committee. During their meeting, Durbin shared the agriculture and nutrition priorities of Illinois, and Rollins spoke about her agriculture priorities if she were to be confirmed. Durbin raised the importance of preserving a strong … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Calls Out "Full, Complete, And Unconditional" Pardons Given by President Trump To January 6 Insurrectionists Who Violently Assaulted Police Officers
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced President Trump’s decision to pardon January 6th insurrectionists, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers. In his remarks, Durbin read from an NPR article, describing in detail the crimes committed by the insurrectionists. “We should reflect on these pardons and the people who received them,” Durbin began. “‘[Here … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Statement On Voting Against Republicans' Failed "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against cloture on the motion to proceed to Republicans’ so-called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that would threaten health care providers with jail time and make it harder for women to access comprehensive and compassionate health care: “Instead of addressing the health care crisis that Dobbs has … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin: Kash Patel Has Neither The Experience, Temperament, Nor Judgement To Lead The FBI
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today outlined how Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has neither the experience, the temperament, nor the judgment to lead the FBI. Durbin met with Mr. Patel in his Capitol office yesterday. “It [the FBI] plays a critical role in keeping Americans safe from terrorism, violent crime, and … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Stellantis Investment In U.S. Auto Plants, Including Belvidere
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement on Stellantis and United Auto Workers’ (UAW) announcement that Stellantis will invest in upgrading its U.S. auto plants across the country, including investing $1.2 billion in the Belvidere Assembly plant in Illinois. As a result of the investment, approximately 1,500 jobs will come back to the Belvidere Assembly plant, which was also selected to build … Continue Reading