Press Releases
Durbin Speaks Out Against Justin Smith’s Nomination, Slams Trump For Nominating His Personal Lawyers To The Federal Bench
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 the nomination of Justin Smith to be on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Durbin outlined how Mr. Smith has repeatedly proven himself to be unfit for this position because of his extreme partisan beliefs, his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, and his history as the President’s personal lawyer. Durbin … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Congressional Democrats Object to Justice Department Decision Weakening Legal Protections for DACA Recipients
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ); and U.S. Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) and Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29) led over 50 colleagues in pressing Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)’s recent decision to weaken legal protections for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) … Continue Reading
June 12, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $10.4 Million For Wildlife Conservation In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $10,407,776 in funding for two Illinois wildlife conservation projects - the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Lakes Mallards II project. The funding for Illinois’ wildlife refuge and wetland conservation project was approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), which is made up of congressional members, including U.S. Senators Martin … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call On DOT, FRA To Extend Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink urging them to grant an extension for the remaining federal funding previously secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers … Continue Reading
June 11, 2026
Durbin Delivers Floor Speech Denouncing The Trump Administration’s Attacks On Americans’ Health Care
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed the Trump Administration for their continued attacks on Americans’ health care through congressional Republicans’ ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ (OBBBA), which passed last year. Last week, the Administration announced, through the OBBBA, the implementation of Medicaid work requirements. “In that law, they created a requirement for all Medicaid recipients between the ages of 18 and 64 to either … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Durbin Calls On Congress To Act To Protect And Save Social Security
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke about the Social Security Board of Trustees’ report showing that the Social Security Trust Fund will face insolvency in 2032 and called on Congress to finally act to protect and save the program. “Each year, the Social Security Board of Trustees releases a report that tells us about the status of Social Security’s finances. Their 2026 report, released yesterday, should send alarm bells through … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees During A Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned judicial nominees during today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. During the first panel, Durbin questioned Judge Daniel Traynor, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, about blacklisting Columbia University law students. Judge Traynor was a contributing author and signatory of a letter to Columbia University, criticizing the university’s … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement 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 slamming President Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 cop-beaters, denouncing the nomination of Todd Blanche to be the Attorney General, and commenting on the longstanding blue slip practice. Key Quotes: “Late last week, the Republican majority jammed through nearly $70 billion … Continue Reading
June 10, 2026
Durbin, Cassidy, Kaine, Tillis Statement On Social Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) released the following statement regarding the Social Security Board of Trustees’ report showing that the Social Security Trust Fund will face insolvency in 2032: “It’s clear now that Congress shouldn’t delay any longer. Several of us have been coming together to talk about how we can strengthen Social Security for current and future generations of … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
Durbin Talks Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project With IDOT Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gia Biagi and Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS) CEO Joe Parsons to discuss the Chicago-Quad Cities Rail Project, which would connect Chicago and Moline, Illinois, with an Amtrak route. During their meeting, Durbin received an update on the project, as the necessary remaining funding for the project was included in the State’s Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act. … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
Durbin Slams Republicans For Failing To Address Affordability Concerns As Americans Are Paying Sky-High Prices For Gas, Groceries, & Health Care
WASHINGTON - During a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed congressional Republicans and the Trump Administration for failing to help struggling Americans with the rising cost of gas, groceries, housing, and health care. Instead, the President and congressional Republicans are pursuing policies—like tariffs, cuts to Medicaid, and a war of choice in Iran—that have caused the cost of living to skyrocket. “American families are struggling. They … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
Durbin Calls For Opposition To FISA Section 702 Reauthorization Without Serious Reforms & Removal Of Pulte
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, continued his calls for serious reforms to Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Section 702 allows the government to collect the private communications of foreigners overseas without a warrant. The problem is that millions, and potentially billions, of innocent Americans’ communications with friends, family members, or … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
100 Days Since President Trump Launched His War Of Choice In Iran, Durbin Again Criticizes The Administration For Their Unclear Strategy
WASHINGTON - Following the 100-day mark of the Iran War, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing President Trump’s unclear strategy and recent comments on “Meet the Press” in which he reiterated yet again that he is “very close” to a deal. “If that sounds like a familiar refrain, it is. President Trump has been saying some variation of that sentence almost every week since the war began over 100 days ago. Yet just hours after he made those … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
Durbin Enters Statement On Trump Nominating Todd Blanche To Be Attorney General Into Congressional Record
WASHINGTON - In a statement entered into the Congressional Record, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, discussed President Trump’s nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as the next U.S. Attorney General. “When Blanche was under consideration to be Deputy Attorney General, the number two position at the Justice Department, I reminded him of the importance of DOJ maintaining its independence from the President and the pull of politics. … Continue Reading
June 09, 2026
Congressional Democrats Release GAO Report Detailing Dangerous Expansion Of Immigration Detention Under Trump
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led the release of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) newly-completed report examining the Trump Administration’s immigration detention expansion, specifically regarding waste and performance issues at Camp East Montana. In addition to Durbin, the report was originally requested by U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; … Continue Reading
June 08, 2026
Durbin, Padilla Object To Trump Administration’s Refugee Program Solely For White Afrikaners, Condemn Illegal Consultation With Congress
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 Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration, objected to the Trump Administration’s flawed attempt at an appropriate consultation with Congress on May 21st and increase in the refugee admissions goal solely for white Afrikaners from South Africa. In a letter to President Trump entered into the … Continue Reading
June 08, 2026
Durbin Statement On Trump Formally Nominating Todd Blanche To Be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Trump formally nominating Todd Blanche to be Attorney General: “Donald Trump has been engaged in the most corrupt enterprise in the history of the Presidency. Todd Blanche apparently has not noticed.” … Continue Reading
June 08, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $9.1 Million In Medical Research Grants For Illinois Institutions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $9,148,321 in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to Illinois institutions for medical research. The grantees will use the federal funding to better understand neurological disorders, infectious diseases, addiction, and cancer while also providing federal support for medical research training and infrastructure programs. “Illinois is home to world-class … Continue Reading
June 05, 2026
On National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Durbin Meets With Organizations Addressing Root Causes
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) marked National Gun Violence Awareness Day today by meeting with community organizations that are members of the Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) initiative in the Back of the Yards neighborhood. CP4P engages residents in working on solutions to end gun violence while forging closer partnerships with public agencies and law enforcement. “On this day, we wear orange to honor the nearly 4,000 children and teens who are shot and … Continue Reading
June 05, 2026
Durbin Statement On Republicans Jamming Through $70 Billion In ICE, CBP Funding
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after Senate Republicans jammed through nearly $70 billion to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without any reforms to the agencies: “Not one penny included in this legislation will help struggling American families with the rising cost of gas, groceries, housing, or health care. But Republicans were … Continue Reading