Press Releases
Durbin Statement On Whistleblower Disclosures By Erez Reuveni On Emil Bove's Nomination To Be A Circuit Court Judge
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the whistleblower disclosures of Mr. Erez Reuveni, formerly the Acting Deputy Director for the Office of Immigration Litigation at the Department of Justice, on Emil Bove’s nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit: “As a senior Justice Department official, Mr. Bove has abused his position in numerous ways, … Continue Reading
June 23, 2025
Durbin Questions State Attorneys General At Bicameral Spotlight Forum On Democrats' Legal Fight Against Trump's Lawlessness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned state Attorneys General at a bicameral spotlight forum entitled “Defending the Rights of the People: States and Congressional Allies Fight Back Against Trump's Constitutional Abuses,” with a panel of Democratic state Attorneys General who are combatting the Trump Administration’s egregious and unlawful actions through litigation. House Judiciary Committee Ranking … Continue Reading
June 23, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Bicameral Spotlight Forum With State AGs On Democrats' Legal Fight Against Trump's Lawlessness
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a bicameral spotlight forum entitled “Defending the Rights of the People: States and Congressional Allies Fight Back Against Trump's Constitutional Abuses,” with a panel of Democratic state Attorneys General who are combatting the Trump Administration’s egregious and unlawful actions through litigation. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member … Continue Reading
June 23, 2025
Durbin Statement On Successfully Removing Harmful Judiciary Provisions From Republicans' Reconciliation Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats successfully removed harmful Judiciary provisions from Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including a provision that would have gutted judicial independence, as well as a provision limiting Department of Justice grant funding to Chicago and other cities that don’t agree to engage in federal … Continue Reading
June 22, 2025
Durbin Statement on President Trump's Strikes Against Three Iranian Nuclear Sites
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced that the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in Iran: “During his first term, President Trump killed the Iran nuclear deal, which required mandatory inspections, and invited this dangerous situation. Iran without inspectors appears to have been developing dangerous weapons grade materials. “And now, President Trump’s actions in bombing Iran puts … Continue Reading
June 20, 2025
Durbin Visits St. Sabina's Food Pantry To Discuss Congressional Republicans' Efforts To Cut SNAP Benefits
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined parish leaders at St. Sabina’s Social Services Center to highlight plans by Congressional Republicans to make the largest cut to food assistance and SNAP in American history with their so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In Illinois, two million individuals receive SNAP—with 60 percent having children in the household, and 33 percent having elderly or disabled individuals in the household. In total, up to 460,000 … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
In Spotlight Forum, Durbin Exposes Republicans' Plan To Slash Funding For Medicaid, SNAP Benefits To Pay For Tax Cuts For Billionaires
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a spotlight forum entitled “The Big Beautiful Betrayal—Working Folks Pay While the Mega Rich Profit.” The forum, which was hosted by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT), focused on how the Republican tax bill funds massive tax breaks for the ultrawealthy by making the largest cuts in history to health care and food assistance programs that Americans rely on. During the hearing, Durbin … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
In Defense Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Questions Army Leaders About U.S. Involvement In Israel-Iran Conflict, Advocates For Rock Island Arsenal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the U.S. Army. During the hearing, Durbin questioned U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Chief of Staff of the Army General Randy George about the Trump Administration’s approach to the conflict between Israel and Iran before concluding his speaking … Continue Reading
June 18, 2025
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