Press Releases
Durbin Slams Trump’s Nearly $2 Billion Slush Fund For January 6 Insurrectionists & Trump Allies During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the Trump Administration’s misuse of taxpayer dollars to line the pockets of January 6 insurrectionists and Trump’s political allies through a nearly $2 billion Department of Justice slush fund. Today’s nominations hearing includes Benjamin Flowers, to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; … Continue Reading
May 20, 2026
Durbin Urges HHS Secretary Kennedy To Intervene And Push Back On FDA Allowing Flavored Vapes That Harm Our Children
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging him to push back on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent misguided decisions regarding kid-friendly flavored e-cigarettes. Those actions include FDA authorizing the first-ever non-tobacco or menthol-flavored vaping products; FDA issuing final guidance permitting e-cigarettes that lack FDA authorization to remain on the … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement On The Trump Administration, Supreme Court’s Continued Attacks On Voting Rights During A Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “Enforcing Callais: Implementing the Supreme Court’s Command Against Racial Gerrymandering.” The hearing follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the Court further eviscerated the VRA and held that Louisiana’s congressional map is an unconstitutional racial … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Durbin Slams Trump’s $1 Billion Ballroom And Nearly $2 Billion Slush Fund For January 6 Insurrectionists & Trump Allies
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticized the Trump Administration and congressional Republicans for prioritizing a partisan reconciliation bill that will cost $70 billion in taxpayer dollars for President Trump’s cruel mass deportation campaign while Americans across the country are struggling to afford groceries or fill their gas tank. Durbin began his remarks by calling out … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Durbin Secures Promise From Secretary Of The Army To Protect Rock Island Arsenal From Drastic Job Cuts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today questioned the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll during a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense hearing about the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget request for the Army. During the hearing, Durbin spoke with Secretary Driscoll about supporting Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing attacks on the U.S. ally; preserving the United States’ relationship with Baltic … Continue Reading
May 19, 2026
Durbin, Hirono Introduce New Legislation To Expand Access To Lifesaving Lung Cancer Screenings
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) today introduced new legislation to expand access to lung cancer screenings. The Increasing Access to Lung Cancer Screening Act would aim to improve lung cancer screening rates by expanding Medicaid programs to cover these tests for patients who meet the eligibility parameters set by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Created by the Affordable Care Act, the USPSTF provides binding … Continue Reading
May 18, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Demand FDA Reverse Dangerous Authorization Of Flavored E-Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with six of their Senate colleagues, in calling on Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Kyle Diamantas to rescind FDA’s recent decision to authorize flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children. By authorizing fruit flavors, the FDA is once again enabling youth tobacco use and … Continue Reading
May 18, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Join Letter Raising Concerns About Reorganization Of USDA’s Research, Education, And Economics Mission Area
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and 21 of their Senate colleagues in raising strong concerns about the reorganization of the Research, Education, and Economics (REE) mission area at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a … Continue Reading
May 16, 2026
Durbin Statement On Democrats Stopping Republicans’ First Attempt To Include Trump’s Billion Dollar Ballroom In Reconciliation Bill
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Senate Parliamentarian ruled in favor of Senate Democrats’ challenge to Republicans’ $1 billion funding proposal for Donald Trump’s ballroom in their partisan reconciliation bill: “It shouldn’t take the Senate Parliamentarian ruling Ballroom Republicans out of line for this colossal waste of taxpayer dollars to be stopped, but it’s a good … Continue Reading
May 15, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Announce More Than $2.6 Million In Federal Funding For Greater Kankakee Airport
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today announced $2,658,742 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements at Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK). This funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration will rehabilitate 8,552 feet of existing paved Taxiway A at IKK to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement and to minimize foreign object … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
Durbin Speaks Against Extreme, Unqualified Trump U.S. Attorney Nominees
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke against several U.S. attorney nominees in the en bloc package currently being considered by the Senate who are extreme, unqualified Trump loyalists. During his remarks, Durbin noted that the change Senate Republicans made in the Senate’s rules last year has fundamentally undermined Senators’ ability to fulfill their constitutional duty of advice … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
Durbin, Wicker Reintroduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) today reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which renames a competitive grant program run by the Department of State to the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program. The grant encourages institutions of higher education to sustainably expand study abroad opportunities to nontraditional locations for underserved American undergraduate students. It is … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
During Police Week, Durbin Calls Out The Hypocrisy Of Confirming President Trump’s Anti-Law Enforcement Nominees
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 denouncing the Trump Administration’s anti-law enforcement nominees moving through the Senate during National Police Week. Durbin also called out the Trump Administration’s attacks on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects Dreamers from deportation and … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
Durbin Pays Tribute To Fallen Chicago Police Officer During National Police Week
WASHINGTON - In a Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, paid tribute to Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew, who was fatally shot as he and his partner were monitoring a robbery suspect at a hospital in Illinois last month. “Last week, Mr. Chairman, when we were home, I visited the memorial service to Officer John Bartholomew. It was at the Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago. … Continue Reading
May 14, 2026
Senate Passes Durbin, Cruz Resolution Urging The Release Of Political Prisoners In China
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution urging President Trump to prioritize securing the release of political prisoners during his current visit to China, including Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife, Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, Ekpar Asat, and Jimmy Lai. “No one should fear for their lives or suffer political imprisonment for standing up for democracy and … Continue Reading
May 13, 2026
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Protecting Kids Online
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing entitled “From the Courtroom to Congress: Why Landmark Social Media Verdicts Demand Federal Action to Protect Kids Online.” Today’s hearing highlighted the ongoing risk to children and the immediate need for Congress to act on the bipartisan bills reported by the Committee. During his remarks, Durbin reflected … Continue Reading
May 13, 2026
Durbin Urges GSA Administrator To Finally Address Critical Building Repairs Desperately Needed At Federal Courthouses In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in an Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget Request for the General Services Administration (GSA). During his questioning, Durbin emphasized the need to swiftly address infrastructure and deferred maintenance issues at federal buildings in Illinois, including the Everett McKinley … Continue Reading
May 13, 2026
Durbin Statement On Confirmation Of Kevin Warsh To Be The Next Federal Reserve Chair
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Kevin Warsh to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve: “Americans are struggling more than ever to afford basic goods, and yesterday, data showed that Trump’s war of choice in Iran has caused inflation to reach 3.8%—the highest in three years. Working families deserve a central bank that will fight for … Continue Reading
May 13, 2026
Durbin, Quigley, Duckworth Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation To Map Urban Flooding & Help FEMA Better Assess Risks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today reintroduced the bicameral Flood Mapping Modernization and Homeowner Empowerment Pilot Program Act. The bill would establish a pilot grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to allow cities to develop better methods for mapping, understanding, and mitigating urban flooding while sharing findings with the federal … Continue Reading
May 13, 2026
Durbin Condemns The Trump Administration’s FDA For Authorizing The First Ever Flavored E-Cigarettes And Allowing Illegal Vape Products To Remain On The Market
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed the Trump Administration’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the decision to approve the sale and marketing of fruit-flavored electronic cigarettes for the first time, and its decision to allow illegal vaping products—primarily used by children—to remain on the market indefinitely. Durbin’s speech follows the forced resignation of FDA Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary, who reportedly … Continue Reading