Press Releases
Durbin: Instead Of Conducting Critical Oversight, Judiciary Committee Republicans Are Holding Partisan Hearing Armchair Diagnosing Former President Biden
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, slammed Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans for holding a partisan hearing today where they plan to armchair diagnose former President Biden. In his opening remarks, Durbin called out the lack of oversight the Committee has conducted so far under the Trump Administration, despite the numerous, critical challenges facing the nation that are under the Committee’s jurisdiction. By … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
As Republicans Aim To Eliminate Regulations On Predatory For-Profit Schools, Durbin & Cohen Introduce Legislation To Crack Down On The Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) today reintroduced bicameral legislation that would help deter the for-profit college industry from aggressively recruiting veterans, service members, and their families. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act would reinstate the 85/15 rule, which would prohibit for-profit colleges from receiving more than 85 percent of their revenue from the federal government, including … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Upholding Tennessee Trans Health Care Ban
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in favor of Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming health care in United States v. Skrmetti: “This ruling is nothing short of a full-fledged license for states to discriminate against vulnerable kids who are looking to live their lives authentically. Rather than using the full powers of the government to protect people, … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $30 Million In Federal Funding For O'Hare Airport Runway Extensions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $30,000,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Authority for O’Hare International Airport. The federal funding will be used to pave Runway 9R/27L an additional 3,290 feet in length to reduce delays, accommodate more passengers, and allow for increased aircraft operations. “O’Hare keeps millions of Americans connected with reliable … Continue Reading
June 17, 2025
Durbin Votes Against The GENIUS Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed the GENIUS Act, a bill meant to establish a regulatory regime for stablecoins. Durbin had pushed for an amendment to this legislation that would have helped prevent scammers from stealing Americans’ savings through cryptocurrency ATMs. Durbin’s amendment, based off his Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, aimed to crack down on scams by adding layers of protections to crypto ATM … Continue Reading
June 17, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Call On Secretary Noem To Testify Before The Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in calling on Chairman Grassley to schedule Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for testimony before the committee. In a letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the Senators write: “We request that you immediately convene a Judiciary Committee oversight hearing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to … Continue Reading
June 17, 2025
Durbin Introduces The Bicycles For Rural African Transport Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Bicycles for Rural African Transport Act, legislation that would establish within the United States Agency forInternational Development (USAID) a program to promote mobility in rural communities using affordable, sustainable bicycles to support access and key development objectives. “U.S. foreign assistance makes up less than one percent of the federal budget—yet, it can yield millions in returns, both … Continue Reading
June 17, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses On Crypto ATM Abuse During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Protecting Older Americans From Scammers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Scammers Exposed: Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Crime Networks.” Durbin first questioned the witnesses about crypto ATM scams involving older Americans. Crypto ATMs look like normal ATMs and can be found in your local grocery stores and gas stations. The big difference is that instead of … Continue Reading
June 17, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Protecting Older Americans From Scammers, Transnational Crime Networks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearingentitled “Scammers Exposed: Protecting Older Americans from Transnational Crime Networks.” The hearing focused on elder fraud and financial abuse to help raise public awareness about the recent increase in financial threats and scams targeting older Americans. The hearing provided an opportunity to discuss how … Continue Reading
June 16, 2025
Durbin Speaks About The Politically Motivated, Targeted, & Deadly Shooting Of Elected Officials In Minnesota
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the politically motivated, targeted, and deadly assassination and assassination attempt of elected officials in Minnesota this weekend and called on his colleagues from both sides of the aisle to speak out and condemn these violent acts. “Over the weekend, while most of the country slept, a gunman targeted two Minnesota state … Continue Reading
June 16, 2025
Ahead Of GENIUS Act Vote, Durbin Highlights President Trump's Shady Use Of Cryptocurrency For His Own Benefit
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning President Trump’s use of cryptocurrency ahead of the Senate vote on the GENUIS Act this week. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted that President Trump’s level of corruption is unprecedented. “Throughout his first term, President Trump was officially skeptical of crypto. In a social media post from July 11, 2019, the President said, ‘I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other … Continue Reading
June 16, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Grassley Lead Quad Cities Lawmakers In Support For Rock Island Arsenal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with U.S. Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), in a letter to U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll reemphasizing their request for a briefing to discuss any potential command and personnel changes at the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA). Members of the Iowa and … Continue Reading
June 14, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Padilla, Entire Senate Democratic Caucus In Demanding Trump Remove Military Forces From Los Angeles
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding that President Trump immediately withdraw all military forces from Los Angeles and cease all threats to deploy the National Guard or active-duty service members to American cities. The letter comes after Trump’s unprecedented move to federalize and deploy the California National Guard without the … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Durbin Joins Local Leaders, Army Corps Of Engineers To Celebrate Progress of Cahokia Heights Sewer Trunkline Project
CAHOKIA HEIGHTS - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined state and local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a news conference to celebrate the completion of Phase I of the city’s sewer trunkline project, which was supported by $3.5 million in federal funding Durbin secured through Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS)—more commonly known as an earmark—in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) government funding bill, as well as the announcement earlier this year of … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Durbin Leads Colleagues In Urging DOL To Reverse Decision To Rescind Guidance Warning Of The Risks Of Offering Cryptocurrency In Employees' 401(K) Plans
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee, and U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) sent a letter to Department of Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer urging the Department to reverse a recent action to rescind guidance warning of the risks of offering cryptocurrency in employees’ 401(k) plans. The Senators … Continue Reading
June 13, 2025
Durbin, 40 Senate Democrats Press Trump Administration To Resume Processing DACA Application
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, led 40 Senate Democrats in urging U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to resume processing applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, following a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that limited a nationwide injunction to Texas. The Senators began by highlighting the popular support for providing Dreamers a … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Durbin Presses Attorney General On Ed Martin's Planned Partisan Weaponization Of Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on Ed Martin’s stated plans to abuse his positions at the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help President Trump’s friends and punish his perceived enemies. After Mr. Martin’s failed nomination to be U.S. Attorney for D.C. was withdrawn, President Trump appointed him to serve in non-Senate-confirmed positions like Pardon Attorney and Director of the … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Durbin Statement On Federal Agents Forcefully Removing Senate Padilla From Noem's DHS Press Conference
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the manhandling, forceful removal, and handcuffing of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) at Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s press conference in Los Angeles: “The strong-arm tactics used against my colleague and friend, Senator Alex Padilla, in response to his peaceful conduct should convince all of us that the … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Durbin Hears From CEO Of SSM Health Health About Impacts Of Medicaid Cuts In Republicans' Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke by phone with the CEO of SSM Health, Laura Kaiser, to discuss the impact that President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will have on Medicaid, their hospitals, and the patients they serve. In short, the Republican bill will slash Medicaid coverage in order to pay for significant tax breaks for billionaires. In addition to serving the people of Illinois, SSM Health also has hospitals in Missouri, … Continue Reading
June 12, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth: Republicans' so-called 'Big Beautiful Bill' Will Leave Illinoisans Hungry & Harm Local Businesses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today highlighted what President Trump’s and Republicans’ reconciliation bill would mean for Illinois families based on new data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP)—including taking food assistance away from Illinoisans to provide large tax breaks to the wealthiest individuals. Under the Republican plan, an estimated 472,000 Illinoisans would be at risk of losing some of … Continue Reading