Press Releases
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Senator Lindsey Graham
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC): “I was with Lindsey last week at the NATO Summit in Türkiye. At a private dinner at the Ambassador’s residence, he was working every Senator on a strategy to end the war in Ukraine. Typical Lindsey. “Lindsey was part of every important policy issue and an indispensable player in every Senate ‘gang’. He was a fierce Republican partisan one … Continue Reading
July 09, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $52 Million In Public Health Grants For Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $52,175,652 in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) public health grants for the Illinois Department of Public Health and the City of Chicago. Primarily sourced from the federal Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Program, this funding will assist state and local governments in effectively preparing for or responding to public health threats including … Continue Reading
July 08, 2026
Durbin Attends Launch Of Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry’s Mobile Meals Program
AURORA - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Aurora Mayor John Laesch at the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry for the launch of its Mobile Meals Program. Durbin played an instrumental part in launching the program by securing $700,000 in federal funding through Congressionally Directed Spending in the Fiscal Year 2023 government funding bill for the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry. With this funding, the food pantry was able to add a commercial kitchen to prepare … Continue Reading
July 08, 2026
Bipartisan Codel Statement After Meeting With Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
ANKARA, TÜRKIYE - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Mike Rounds (R-SD), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), and U.S. Representative Mike Turner (R-OH) issued the following statement after their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the 2026 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit: “Meeting with President Zelenskyy was a powerful reminder of … Continue Reading
July 06, 2026
Durbin Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Congressional Delegation To The NATO Summit In Türkiye
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is joining a bipartisan, bicameral congressional delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Ankara, Türkiye. The purpose of the summit is to discuss congressional support for the transatlantic relationship as President Trump continues to weaken our foreign relationships abroad, the war in Iran, as well as continued Russian aggression and interference in western democracies. “The United States has been a … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Durbin Welcomes 60 New Citizens At Naturalization Ceremony
URBANA, IL - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today celebrated the naturalization of 60 new citizens from 25 countries at a ceremony presided over by the Honorable Eric I. Long, United States Magistrate Judge for the Central District of Illinois. Durbin was joined by Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams. “Today, 60 new Americans from 25 countries took an oath that binds us all—not by birth, but by shared belief in our country's … Continue Reading
July 02, 2026
Senate Democrats Urge Justice Department To Reject Payouts For January 6 Rioters
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) led fourteen of their colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to halt any efforts to compensate January 6 rioters and commit to defending taxpayers in any January 6-related lawsuits. In their letter to … Continue Reading
July 01, 2026
Senate Judiciary Democrats Demand Todd Blanche Answer To Dozens Of Oversight Requests Ignored By Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing Todd Blanche for answers on dozens of oversight matters that remain outstanding, either due to no response, insufficient response, or only partial response from DOJ. In light of the unprecedented decision to combine Todd Blanche’s Attorney General nomination hearing with the annual Justice Department oversight hearing, the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Delivers Commencement Address At The Excel Center Graduation
ROCKFORD—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered the commencement address for the 2026 graduating class of the Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois’ Excel Center. The Excel Center is a free adult high school that helps adult learners earn a state-recognized high school diploma, workforce credentials, and dual credits, while also providing free child care, transportation assistance, life coaching, and wrap-around supports. With Durbin’s help, the City of Rockford was … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Visits Chestnut Health Dental Clinic In Bloomington, Talks Improving Access To Dental Care For Illinoisans Amid Critical Shortages
BLOOMINGTON - Yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited with leaders of Chestnut Family Dental, a part of Chestnut Health Systems—a critical Medicaid provider of oral health care in the Bloomington area—to tour the site and speak with dental care providers about expanding Illinoisans’ access to dental services. Illinois is facing a shortage of dentists who accept Medicaid despite 3.4 million Illinoisans relying on the program for health insurance coverage. Less than … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Congressional Democrats Press Trump Administration On Concerning Green Card Application Changes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration; U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and … Continue Reading
June 30, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Upholding Birthright Citizenship
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Barbara to uphold automatic citizenship for babies born in the United States. The case reviewed the constitutionality of President Donald Trump’s week-one executive order to strip the guarantee of citizenship provided to children born in America. “President Trump’s illegal birthright citizenship order … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Ruling In Watson V. Republican National Committee
BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of a Mississippi law that permits counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day and arriving within five business days in Watson v. Republican National Committee: “There is nothing more fundamental in a democracy than the right to vote, whether that be in person at the polls or with a mail-in … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Supreme Court Decision In Trump V. Cook Denying The President’s Efforts To Fire Federal Governor Lisa Cook
BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. Cook, in which the Supreme Court ruled that Lisa Cook, a member of the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, can remain in her position while her challenge to President Trump’s efforts to fire her moves forward: “President Trump’s politically motivated criminal investigation of Lisa Cook, without … Continue Reading
June 29, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision Allowing Weaponization Of Independent Federal Agencies
BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after today’s Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Slaughter that allows the President to fire members of independent agencies without cause: “The Supreme Court just overturned well-established precedent to greenlight Donald Trump’s threats to independent federal agencies. “Now, this President can fire whomever he perceives as his enemy at these … Continue Reading
June 27, 2026
Durbin Receives Marjorie Kovler Center’s Kirschner Award For Global Activism
CHICAGO - Yesterday, On the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) was presented with the Heartland Alliance International’s Marjorie Kovler Center’s Dr. Robert H. Kirschner Award for Global Activism for his work in the Senate to condemn torture and genocide, and his contributions to human rights. Durbin was presented the award by Dr. Kirschner’s son, Daniel S. Kirschner. During his remarks, Durbin reflected on his … Continue Reading
June 26, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Release Data On Sky-High Cost Of Living In Illinois Under Second Trump Administration
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared data from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) showing that the average Illinois household has paid more than $3,400 in higher costs because of President Trump’s policies and war of choice in Iran. Despite numerous claims that the second Trump Administrationwould lower the cost of living for Americans, President Trump has focused his energy on slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid funds; … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Join Democratic Caucus In Demanding USPS Abandon Proposed Rule To Carry Out President Trump’s Illegal Executive Order Restricting Vote By Mail
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) joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus in demanding the United States Postal Service (USPS) abandon its proposed rule to implement President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order to restrict voting by mail. Durbin and Duckworth previously joined a group of colleagues in urging USPS not to carry out the executive order, which would force … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Schneider Introduce Resolution Marking Four Years Since July 4th Shooting In Highland Park
WASHINGTON - 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 the introduction of a Senate resolution expressing the condolences of Congress and honoring the memory of the victims of the shooting at the Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, on July 4, 2022. Specifically, the Senators’ resolution: Expresses sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of Katherine … Continue Reading
June 25, 2026
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision To Limit Judicial Review Of TPS Decisions, Allowing Trump Administration To End TPS For Syrians And Haitians
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after today’s Supreme Court decision that allows the Trump Administration to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Syrian and Haitian nationals: “The Trump Administration just got the greenlight to terminate TPS without any judicial review to ensure that Trump officials followed the TPS statute, paving the way for this Administration to … Continue Reading