Press Releases
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
June 24, 2026
Durbin Meets With Australian Ambassador To The U.S., Greg Moriarty
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Friends of Australia Caucus, met with the new Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Greg Moriaty, to discuss U.S.-Australian security cooperation and trade. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) also attended the meeting. “Australia has been a crucial partner to the United States for more than a century,” Durbin said. “That alliance has allowed us to maintain security and stability in the Indo-Pacific … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Ahead Of America’s 250th Anniversary, Durbin Delivers Statement On The Contributions Of Immigrants During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON - Ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement on the importance of recognizing our nation’s progress during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing. During his opening, Durbin reflected on the history of America—including the values our Founding Fathers envisioned and the many contributions from immigrants in the last 250 years. Key Quotes: “We must also … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Durbin, Graham Announce First Artificial Intelligence Company Endorsement Of DEFIANCE Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced the endorsement of their DEFIANCE Act by OpenAI, marking the first artificial intelligence (AI) company to endorse the bill. The bill would grant survivors the right to sue individuals who knowingly produce, distribute, solicit and receive, or possess with the intent to distribute nonconsensual sexually-explicit digital forgeries. In … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Durbin Slams Assistant Attorney General Nominee For Inflammatory, Discriminatory Tweets In Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations 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, questioned Daniel Desmond Domenico, nominated to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, and Konstantinos Ligris, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs. Pointing toward Judge Domenico’s record of siding with the Trump Administration’s mandatory detention policy of immigrants … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Fourth Anniversary Of The Dobbs Ruling
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court: “Today marks four years since the Supreme Court erased the constitutional right to abortion—a right that Americans had relied on for nearly five decades. It is astonishing that in America today, women have fewer rights than their mothers and … Continue Reading
June 24, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement On Blanche’s Ag Nomination, Blue Slip Process During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations 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, delivered an opening statement scrutinizing Todd Blanche’s record ahead of his nomination hearing to serve as Attorney General, as well as commenting on the longstanding blue slip practice. In response to Republicans’ shortsighted criticism about Democrats’ use of the blue slip, Durbin corrected the record by explaining … Continue Reading
June 23, 2026
Durbin Calls Out President Trump’s Ongoing Attacks To Americans’ Voting Rights & Our Free And Fair Elections
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called out the Trump Administration’s ongoing efforts to undermine America’s free and fair elections and restrict Americans’ voting rights ahead of the midterm elections, including President Trump’s repeated calls for Congress to pass the so-called SAVE America Act. Last week, Durbin joined a spotlight forum hosted by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) on this issue. “During the … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin, Padilla Sound Alarm On Historically High Number Of Deaths In Immigration Detention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, sounded the alarm over the dramatic increase in deaths among detainees in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody since January 2025. In a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and ICE Acting Director David Venturella, the Senators … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech On Recent Tornadoes That Killed Two Illinoisans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor offering condolences to the families and friends of Delores Shelton and Sarita Kimble—who were killed by the recent tornadoes in Illinois this weekend. According to the Chicago Tribune, Illinois has experienced more than 147 confirmed tornadoes over the past six months, nearly three times the state average of 54 from 1990 to 2020. In 2024, the previous record year for tornadoes in Illinois, … Continue Reading
June 22, 2026
Durbin Calls For Congressional Review Of Trump Administration’s Deal With Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor in which he criticized the Trump Administration’s vague framework to end the conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Durbin warned that the preliminary agreement fails to address critical issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and support for terrorist proxies. Durbin began by recalling Republican Senators’ outspoken opposition to and undermining of President Obama’s Joint Comprehensive Plan of … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Markey, Booker Lead Letter Slamming New Trump EPA Rule That Deregulates Coal Ash Clean Up
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), today led ten of their colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin to condemn the agency’s rollback of a Biden-era rule that regulated the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR), more commonly known as “coal ash.” The lawmakers underscored that when disposed of improperly, CCR is hazardous to … Continue Reading
June 18, 2026
Senate Judiciary Committee Passes Durbin, Grassley Bill To Put Cameras In The Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a bill by voice vote to require open proceedings of the Supreme Court to be televised. The bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act, introduced by U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the … Continue Reading
June 17, 2026
Durbin Condemns President Trump’s Inaction During Affordability Crisis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor condemning the Trump Administration for prioritizing policies—like tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, and a war of choice in Iran—over helping struggling American families make ends meet. Under President Trump, inflation has hit a three-year high, and Americans are feeling those price hikes at the grocery store and the gas pump. “Last week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported what Americans … Continue Reading