Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Markwayne Mullin Confirmation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting against U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK) nomination to be Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary: “Kristi Noem presided over a DHS that steamrolled civil rights and violated court orders to carry out an anti-immigrant mass deportation campaign for Donald Trump. Failure is her legacy. “While the problems at DHS are larger … Continue Reading
March 23, 2026
Durbin, Hirono, Heinrich, Luján Introduce Resolution Recognizing National Assistant Principals Week
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) today introduced a resolution designating the week of April 6, 2026, 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 … Continue Reading
March 23, 2026
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Outlining His Concerns Over Markwayne Mullin’s Nomination To Lead DHS Ahead Of Confirmation Vote
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the confirmation vote of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor outlining his concerns regarding his nomination. Durbin announced that he will vote against Mullin’s nomination. Durbin began his speech by reflecting on Secretary Kristi Noem’s failed job as DHS Secretary. Earlier this month, … Continue Reading
March 23, 2026
On 16th Anniversary Of The Affordable Care Act, Durbin Highlights Law’s Improvements To Insurance Quality & Coverage, Bashes Republican Attempts To Undermine Access To Health Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to mark the 16th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being signed into law. Durbin, who attended the legislation’s signing at the White House in 2010, spoke about the landmark bill that changed the health care landscape in the U.S. by expanding health insurance coverage to 30 million Americans and ending the practice of insurance companies denying coverage for pre-existing … Continue Reading
March 23, 2026
Durbin Files Amendments To SAVE America Act, Calls For Voter Protections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that he filed 11 amendments to the Republicans’ SAVE America Act, a bill that would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters by implementing extreme voter ID requirements that are designed to prevent Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Durbin’s amendments range from protecting voters’ access to the ballot box and affirming the outcome of the … Continue Reading
March 20, 2026
Durbin Outlines Various Obstacles Americans Would Face When Attempting To Register To Vote Under The Republicans’ SAVE America Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, outlined the various obstacles that Americans would face when attempting to register to vote under Republicans’ SAVE America Act, legislation that is designed to prevent Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Under the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, driver’s licenses and other … Continue Reading
March 20, 2026
Durbin Denounces Republicans’ Voter Suppression Legislation On The Senate Floor
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 Republicans’ SAVE America Act, legislation that is designed to prevent Americans from exercising their fundamental right to vote. Under the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote, driver’s licenses and other government-issued IDs, including a REAL ID, alone would not be sufficient. According to a nonpartisan … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Denounces SAVE America Act & Republicans’ Efforts To Restrict Americans’ Fundamental Right To Vote
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor denouncing the Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. In his remarks, Durbin laid out the barriers to voting that the SAVE America Act would create by requiring all Americans who are registering to vote to show documentary proof of citizenship. “On August 6, 1965, President … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Meets With National Cancer Institute Director Amidst Widespread Concern About The Damage Being Done To Our Nation’s Medical Research Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate National Institutes of Health (NIH) Caucus, today met with National Cancer Institute (NCI) Director Dr. Anthony Letai to discuss the future of cancer research as President Trump and Health and Human Services’ Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. push forward with efforts to slash funding, delay grant awards, and otherwise dismantle our nation’s critical medical … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Slams The Trump Administration’s Extreme MAGA Nominees Who Will Help President Trump Further Weaponize The Justice System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting slamming the Trump Administration for nominating extreme and unqualified nominees. During his opening, Durbin also condemned the Trump Administration for nominating Colin McDonald to be an Assistant Attorney General for the newly created National Fraud Enforcement Division. Over the … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Introduces No Bailout For Crypto Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the No Bailout for Crypto Actto prevent taxpayers from footing the cost of a federal bailout for crypto companies if the industry causes an economic crash or sees mass bankruptcies. While the cryptocurrency industry has made sweeping promises of a decentralized financial system, faster payments, and financial inclusion, reality shows that crypto is volatile, and the industry is riddled with corruption. The 2008 … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin, McCollum Introduce Bill To Mitigate Use Of Toxic PFAS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN-04) today introduced bicameral legislation to address the excessive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across the nation’s supply chain, which has led to the harmful compounds contaminating water sources and infiltrating surrounding environments and communities. The Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act would mitigate PFAS exposure and contamination by … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Amid Surging Energy Costs, Durbin & Duckworth Call On Trump Administration To Release Energy Assistance Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined a bipartisan group of 38 Senators to call on the Trump Administration to take action and provide energy assistance to those in need as utility costs skyrocket for Illinoisans. In their letter, the Senators urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to swiftly release the approximately $400 million in remaining Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Talks Farm Economy With Illinois Farm Bureau
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau to discuss the current state of the farm economy as the military attacks on Iran, directed by President Trump, and the standstill of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have increased expenses for diesel and fertilizer. Durbin and the members of the Farm Bureau also discussed the importance of transportation … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Criticizes President Trump’s Decision To Lift Sanctions On Russian Oil As Putin’s War In Ukraine Continues
WASHINGTON -U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing President Trump’s recent foreign policy decisions including lifting sanctions on Russian oil as gas prices continue to climb due to Trump’s war against Iran. Trump’s decision to lift these sanctions comes despite Vladimir Putin’s continued assault on Ukraine and his sharing intelligence with Iran, which is being used to target American … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin, Grassley Introduce The Baltic Security Assessment Act To Strengthen Diplomatic Relations, Security Cooperation Between U.S. & Baltic States
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced the Baltic Security Assessment Act of 2026, legislation that requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense, to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, Foreign Relations and Affairs, and Appropriations on emerging threats posed to the Baltic countries—Estonia, Latvia, and … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin Receives Joint Baltic American National Committee’s Baltic Freedom Award
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, received the Baltic Freedom Award from the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) for his strong connections to the Baltic countries and his continued leadership in Congress to strengthen Baltic security. Durbin was presented the award from the Lithuania diaspora—the country his mother immigrated from. “As a proud son of a Lithuanian immigrant, I was honored to … Continue Reading
March 18, 2026
Durbin, Cortez Masto Lead 39 Senate Colleagues In Demanding DHS Reduce Delays For DACA Renewals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Dream Act, and U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) led 39 of their Senate Democratic Caucus colleagues in a letter to outgoing U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow demanding DHS reduce the delays in processing renewal applications under the Deferred Action … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026
Durbin Asks Witnesses About Developmental Impact Of Immigration Detention On Children During Spotlight Forum On MAGA Mass Deportation Agenda
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at his spotlight forum entitled “The Kids Are Not Alright: How Mass Deportation is Traumatizing Children.” Today’s forum, which featured testimony from Chicago residents, examined how the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant campaign has terrorized both immigrant and U.S. citizen children and is leaving lasting emotional scars on innocent kids. Durbin … Continue Reading
March 17, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In His Spotlight Forum On Children Traumatized By The MAGA Mass Deportation Agenda
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today hosted a spotlight forum entitled “The Kids Are Not Alright: How Mass Deportation is Traumatizing Children.” Today’s forum, which featured testimony from Chicago residents, examined how the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant campaign has terrorized both immigrant and U.S. citizen children and is leaving lasting emotional scars on innocent kids. Durbin delivered an opening … Continue Reading