Press Releases
ICYMI: Durbin Receives Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award From The National Consumers League
WASHINGTON—Last week, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) received the Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award from the National Consumers League (NCL) for his work championing consumers’ and workers’ rights and advancing social justice. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted overcoming the Big Tobacco lobby and successfully banning smoking on commercial airline flights. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker presented Durbin with the award. “Receiving the Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
Durbin Praises Religious Leaders For Condemning ICE Actions In Chicago, Asks Americans To Join
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised religious leaders for condemning the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for unlawful raids, encouraging Americans to join in condemning the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda. Durbin began by praising and entering a homily by the Archbishop of Washington and a … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
Durbin Urges Congress To Finally Pass A Sanctions Bill Against Russia
WASHINGTON - As Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his assaults against Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging his Republican colleagues to pass the Sanctioning Russia Act in an effort to increase pressure on Putin. “Over the weekend we witnessed yet another brutal Russian onslaught against Ukraine, a scene brazenly repeated after overtures made to Russian President Putin to … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
As Illinoisans Are Notified Of Their Rising Health Care Premiums, Durbin Slams Republicans For Failing To Address Expiring ACA Tax Credits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor as Illinoisans with marketplace health plans begin to receive notifications that their health insurance premiums for 2026 will skyrocket an average of nearly 80 percent because congressional Republicans have refused to work with Democrats to save the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. If Republicans allow these tax credits to lapse, more than four million Americans … Continue Reading
October 24, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Call Out Bondi’s Inappropriate Stonewalling At Hearing, Re-Upping Critical Oversight Requests
WASHINGTON - Responding to Attorney General Bondi’s inappropriate and unprecedented stonewalling at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s recent Justice Department oversight hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Committee, and all Committee Democrats requested bipartisan cooperation from Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in conducting rigorous oversight of the Justice Department. In a letter to Grassley, the Democratic Senators begin by admonishing Bondi for … Continue Reading
October 24, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Call Out Bondi’s Inappropriate Stonewalling At Hearing, Re-Upping Critical Oversight Requests
WASHINGTON - Responding to Attorney General Bondi’s inappropriate and unprecedented stonewalling at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s recent Justice Department oversight hearing, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Committee, and all Committee Democrats requested bipartisan cooperation from Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in conducting rigorous oversight of the Justice Department. In a letter to Grassley, the Democratic Senators begin by admonishing Bondi for … Continue Reading
October 24, 2025
Durbin Joins Booker, Klobuchar, Luján, 42 Colleagues To Urge Trump USDA To Immediately Release November Snap Benefits
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and 42 of their Senate Democratic colleagues on Wednesday to send a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins calling on the USDA to release the billions of dollars at its disposal to ensure Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits continue in November. The … Continue Reading
October 24, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Denying Illinois Two Federal Disaster Declarations Following Severe Summer Weather
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Trump Administration denied Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s requests for Individual Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following two bouts of severe storms on July 25-28 and August 16-19: “Denying two disaster declarations for Illinois is yet another troubling example of the Trump Administration putting politics ahead of … Continue Reading
October 23, 2025
Durbin: When Will My Colleagues On The Other Side Of The Aisle Decide The Cruelty And Fear Tactics Of This Administration Must Stop?
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to condemn “Operation Midway Blitz” in Illinois. During his speech, Durbin reflected on the cruel tactics coming from this Administration—ripping families apart, with ICE and CBP showing up at schools, churches, health departments, and more. Last Friday, the Trump Administration asked the Supreme Court to greenlight the deployment of … Continue Reading
October 23, 2025
Durbin, Rick Scott, Shaheen, Cruz, Gallego, Bennet Introduce Resolution Honoring Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, María Corina Machado
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced a resolution honoring Nobel Peace Prize recipient, María Corina Machado. Durbin and Shaheen spoke to Machado last week. “Ms. Machado is a worthy recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize for her steadfast and courageous fight for … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Meets With American Business Immigration Coalition To Discuss Dreamers, DACA, And Essential Workers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with members of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) and impacted business leaders to discuss a variety of issues, including the Dream Act and the impact of the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda on essential workers and the future of the economy. “Immigrants helped build our nation, and they contribute to our society and economy. They’re business … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Higher Education Leaders To Discuss Impact Of “Operation Midway Blitz” And Meeting The Moment For Their Students
WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the University of Illinois (U of I) System President Tim Killeen and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda to discuss the impact of President Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” and militarized immigration enforcement efforts on student and school safety, as well as how UIC is continuing to step up for its students through the uncertainty and fear. The meeting follows reporting on a viral video … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Questions Andrew Duva To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division, Two 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, today questioned Andrew Tysen Duva, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, about the Public Integrity Section (PIN) at the Department of Justice (DOJ). PIN staff has been reduced from approximately 30 prosecutors at the end of the Biden Administration to now only two attorneys. Earlier this week, Durbin met with Mr. Duva, who reassured the Senator that … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Nomination Of Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division, Two Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Andrew Tysen Duva, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division; William Jerrol Crain, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana; and Alexander Coker Van Hook, nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of … Continue Reading
October 22, 2025
Durbin Implores Colleagues To Reform The Centuries-Old Insurrection Act
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, encouraged his colleagues to support commonsense reforms to the outdated Insurrection Act. Introduced by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Insurrection Act of 2025 would reform centuries-old legislation that gives the President broad and vague authority to deploy troops—either with or without the … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin Meets With The Association of American Cancer Institutes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Association of American Cancer Institutes’ (AACI) President, Dr. Robert Winn, to discuss the Trump Administration’s devastating cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Trump Administration has frozen or cancelled billions in NIH grant funding; fired thousands of NIH staffers; and proposed a Fiscal Year 2026 budget that requests a 40 percent cut to medical research … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin Applauds Senate Ag Committee Passage Of His Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act; Legislation To Protect More Than 13,000 Acres Of Shawnee National Forest
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member Senate Agriculture Committee, applauded the Committee for advancing his Shawnee National Forest Conservation Act, legislation that would establish 12,700 acres of special management areas and 750 acres of wilderness in the Shawnee National Forest. Securing this designation for these acres would offer critical protections. Now that the bill has advanced out of the Agriculture Committee, it could now go to the Senate floor for … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin Presses Noem On Lax ICE Hiring Standards, Inflammatory Recruitment Messaging
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on recent changes to hiring practices at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following a massive funding increase by Congress, ICE is recruiting new staff by employing polarizing and inflammatory recruitment messaging while also lowering age and training requirements with signing bonuses. In a letter to … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin On ACA Premium Crisis: No American Should Be Forced To Choose Between Their Home And Health Care
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor criticizing congressional Republicans for allowing the government shutdown to continue because their caucus refuses to negotiate with Senate Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits. If these enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, more than four million Americans could lose their health coverage, and more than 20 … Continue Reading
October 21, 2025
Durbin Statement On Forced Cutbacks For Federal Judiciary Due To Trump Shutdown
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement as today marks the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts’ reported trigger date forcing curtailed operations of the federal courts due to the Trump shutdown: “The impacts of the Trump government shutdown are now reaching our justice system. Because Republicans are choosing to put billionaire tax cuts ahead of affordable health care for all Americans, … Continue Reading