Press Releases
Durbin Delivers Remarks At National Center For Victims Of Crime’s Annual Training Institute
CHICAGO—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered brief remarks at the National Center for Victims of Crime’s (NCVC) National Training Institute (NTI), an annual conference providing nearly 800 victim service professionals an opportunity to engage and learn from leaders in the victim advocacy community. In his remarks, Durbin focused on the need for Congress to hold Big Tech accountable for its failure to protect … Continue Reading
September 11, 2026
Durbin Statement On The 25th Anniversary Of The 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: “Twenty-five years ago today, I vividly recall looking down the National Mall from the Capitol Building and watching as black smoke billowed up from the Pentagon. That image is seared into my mind. But what I also remember about that day was the outpouring of compassion and common purpose that united us. “Twenty-five years after … Continue Reading
September 10, 2026
Durbin Statement On Tom Kotarac’s Election As Chair Of The New Northern Illinois Transit Authority
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement applauding the election of Tom Kotarac as Chair of the new Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA): “There are few people I have met in my career that are more committed to improving our transportation systems than Tom Kotarac. Tom is a dedicated public servant who knows how to yield results by working across the aisle and building regional partnerships that support Illinois’ transit … Continue Reading
September 10, 2026
Durbin Attends Will County Problem Solving Courts Graduation Ceremony
OLIET—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered brief remarks at the Will County Problem Solving Courts graduation ceremony, congratulating 23 individuals on completing the program. Officially launched in 2000 with the drug court program, the Will County Problem Solving Courts aim to reduce recidivism by offering participants a structured treatment program which could include individualized counseling, substance abuse recovery support, and access to workforce training … Continue Reading
September 09, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Call For Replacement Mission For 183rd Wing In Springfield Following Announcement Of Planned Deactivation Of The Wing’s Repair Facility
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 sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink and the National Guard Bureau Director General Steven Nordhaus urging the leaders to establish a new Air Operations Group at the 183rd Wing in Springfield, Illinois, following the July announcement that the 183rd Wing’s Central Repair Facility (CRF) would be deactivated in the … Continue Reading
September 08, 2026
Durbin Statement On Lonnie Bunch’s Retirement From The Smithsonian After 38 Years Of Service
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding Lonnie G. Bunch III’s announcement that he will be retiring from his position as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution at the end of the year: “Our nation’s historical and cultural institutions are better because of the leadership of Lonnie Bunch, whom I’ve proudly called a friend since his time leading the Chicago Historical Society. The caliber of his many remarkable … Continue Reading
September 08, 2026
Durbin Tours Site Of OSF Healthcare’s Outpatient Dental Clinic In Peoria
PEORIA - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited OSF HealthCare in Peoria to tour the site that will soon be converted into a dental sedation clinic, allowing patients in Central Illinois to receive oral surgery without traveling across the state. Made possible by a $2 million earmark secured by Durbin in the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding bill, the renovated clinic will focus on providing care to underserved children and adults, many of whom rely on Medicaid to … Continue Reading
September 01, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Announce Funding Extension For Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced that the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has approved a grant extension for the remaining federal funding previously secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. The extension will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to use the … Continue Reading
September 01, 2026
Durbin Joins Illinois Wesleyan University For Roundtable Discussion On Health Care Workforce Shortage
BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined students and faculty at Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) School of Nursing and Health Sciences for a roundtable discussion on educating health care professionals to address the troubling health care workforce shortage. During the event, Durbin learned about IWU’s Nursing and Health Sciences Innovation Program, which is supported by a $1 million earmark Durbin secured for the program in the Fiscal Year 2026 government … Continue Reading
August 27, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Ask FRA, Amtrak For Additional Information On Amtrak's Plans To Relocate Its 14th Street Maintenance Facility
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today requested additional information from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Amtrak regarding a maintenance facilities award after fielding concerns from residents and local elected officials in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood. In a letter to FRA and Amtrak leaders, the Senators requested greater transparency and communication as Amtrak seeks to relocate its current 14th Street … Continue Reading
August 26, 2026
Durbin Continues To Raise Alarms About Severe Due Process Violations Targeting Unaccompanied Children At The Chicago Immigration Court Under The Trump Administration's Cruel Immigration Policies
CHICAGO - After observing the removal proceedings of unaccompanied children (UACs) appearing on the “mega masters” court docket at the Chicago Immigration Court, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today raised concerns about severe due process violations targeting unaccompanied children due to the Trump Administration’s cruel immigration policies. Durbin was joined this morning by the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), the … Continue Reading
August 26, 2026
Durbin Statement On Meta Paying Landmark Settlement Over Child Safety Concerns
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding Meta reaching a landmark settlement with attorneys general from 52 U.S. states, territories, and the District of Columbia, agreeing to pay more than $17 billion in penalties and make major changes to its products, Facebook and Instagram, over claims it endangers children with addictive social media platforms: “Time and time again, we have … Continue Reading
August 25, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court’s Temporary Order On President Trump’s Attempted Mail-In Voting Restrictions
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court temporarily permitted President Trump to move forward with portions of an executive order that seek to restrict mail-in voting while litigation on the merits of the case continues. The Supreme Court stayed a lower court injunction that had blocked provisions of the executive order in 23 states and the District of Columbia, though … Continue Reading
August 21, 2026
Durbin Attends Austin Hope Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Austin HOPE Center, which is designed to be a welcoming space for youth and families to seek clinical care and access community-based services. The newly unveiled facility will provide high-quality pediatric behavioral and specialty health care services; community responsive health education and training; gathering space for youth development and other community organizations; … Continue Reading
August 20, 2026
Senate Democrats Sound Alarm On Trump Administration Attacks On Unaccompanied Children’s Legal Representation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) sounded the alarm on the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks on legal services for unaccompanied children, requesting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (IG) conduct a full investigation into the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) process for entering into … Continue Reading
August 20, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Release Statement Applauding Resequencing Of Chicago O’Hare Airport Terminal Area Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the resequencing of constructing satellite terminals as part of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Terminal Area Project (TAP). Today, the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) announced that TAP will be resequenced to build the first phase of the Concourse E during Concourse D construction. Concourse E will house the majority of the additional 25 … Continue Reading
August 19, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski Welcome 300 New Citizens At Illinois 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 300 new citizens from 52 countries at the Illinois State Fair Naturalization Ceremony. The Honorable Colleen Lawless, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, presided over the ceremony and administered the Oath of Allegiance to the new citizens. “We are a nation of immigrants, and … Continue Reading
August 18, 2026
Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Lead Illinois Democratic Delegation In Calling On Trump Administration To End Mass Immigration Hearings Scheduling Up To 185 People At A Time
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, today led 13 of their Illinois colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Todd Blanche calling on the Trump Administration to end its use of so-called “mega master” immigration hearings, mass proceedings in which as many as 185 noncitizens can be called to … Continue Reading
August 17, 2026
Durbin Visits ImpactLife Blood Donor Center Amid National Shortage
SPRINGFIELD—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the ImpactLife Blood Center to discuss the importance of addressing the nation’s blood product supply shortage and thank the medical officials and donors who are working to maintain adequate supplies. Durbin was joined by officials from ImpactLife and Memorial Health. “The American Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis in the U.S. last month for just the second time ever, which has impacted patients’ ability … Continue Reading
August 14, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Announce More Than $7.95 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Airports
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) today announced a total of $7,951,873 in federal funding for the Chicago Executive Airport and the Decatur Airport. This funding stems from the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Airport Improvement Program, which supports the planning and development of public-use airports. “Investing in our airports is laying the foundation for increased … Continue Reading