Press Releases
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Privacy & National Security Implications Of The 23andMe Bankruptcy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “23 and You: The Privacy and National Security Implications of the 23andMe Bankruptcy.” Today’s hearing will examine the bankruptcy of 23andMe, Inc., and the potential sale of the company’s database of customers’ personal genetic information. The hearing also will provide an opportunity to examine … Continue Reading
June 11, 2025
Durbin, Waters Introduce CLASS Act To Give Students Cheated By For-Profit Colleges Their Day In Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) today reintroduced bicameral legislation designed to strengthen students’ ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access and Student Support (CLASS) Act would enhance accountability for for-profit colleges and safeguard taxpayer dollars by prohibiting an institution of higher education from receiving Title IV federal student aid if … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Denounces Political Violence, Criticizes Trump's Decision To Deploy National Guard Troops To California Without Consent Of California State Officials
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate floor in response to President Trump’s abuse of power in deploying National Guard troops to California without the request or consent of California state leaders. Durbin began by condemning political violence of all kinds while reiterating that Americans have a right to peacefully protest. “I condemn violence, vandalism, including violence against … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin Celebrates Upcoming 13th Anniversary of DACA, Calls On Congress To Finally Provide A Pathway To Citizenship For Dreamers
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, celebrated the upcoming 13th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and called on Congress to finally provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. Twenty-four years ago, Durbin first introduced the Dream Act—bipartisan legislation that would give undocumented immigrants who grew up … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin Meets With Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce in his Washington office to discuss economic development and infrastructure investment in Central Illinois. During the meeting, Durbin and the local leaders spoke about the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, which Durbin has helped secure more than $247 million in federal funding to complete. Durbin also responded to the organization’s concerns that the Trump … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin Hears From UnityPoint, BJC Hospital Systems About Impacts Of Medicaid Cuts In Republicans' Reconciliation Package
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke by phone with leadership of BJC Health System, which has hospitals in both Illinois and Missouri, as well as UnityPoint Health, which has hospitals in both Illinois and Iowa, to discuss the impact that President Trump’s and congressional Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will have on Medicaid, their hospitals, and the patients they serve. In short, the Republican bill will slash Medicaid coverage in order to pay for … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin Demands DOJ, FBI Investigation Into Spiking Threats Against Federal Judges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today again demanded that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate the ongoing and increasing threats against federal judges in a letter to Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Patel. Durbin began by admonishing Bondi and Patel for leaving his May 6 investigation request unanswered, writing: “Over a month has passed since my … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Help Runaway And Homeless Youth
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize key federal grant programs to provide states with funding to help thousands of homeless young people nationwide. “Every child deserves a safe home, but far too many children are experiencing homelessness, are being forced out of their homes, or are escaping a … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
Durbin Meets With FDA Commissioner, Dr. Makary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Food and Drug Administration’s Commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary. During their meeting, Durbin pressed Commissioner Makary on FDA’s inadequate regulation of addictive and harmful e-cigarettes, which are used by two million children in the United States. For years, FDA has failed to follow the law that requires an e-cigarette to first prove it is “appropriate for the protection of public health” to gain market entry. A … Continue Reading
June 10, 2025
In Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Decimating Medical Research Funding At NIH
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During the hearing, Durbin pressed Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of NIH, on the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts and delays to medical research funding, … Continue Reading
June 09, 2025
Durbin On Republicans' Reconciliation Bill: It's A Big, Beautiful Betrayal Against American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor, making clear that Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act will only raise prices and slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for working Americans in order to pay for significant tax breaks for billionaires. Durbin reiterated in his remarks that the legislation will harm Americans as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released an estimate showing that 16 million Americans will lose their health … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Durbin Discusses Damage Republican Reconciliation Bill Would Do To Health Care
CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at La Rabida Children’s Hospital to discuss the Congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill, which includes $800 billion in cuts to Medicaid—in addition to cuts to Medicare and the Affordable Care Act—and is estimated to cause 16 million Americans to lose their health insurance. “Medicaid is the health insurance program that covers one in four people in Illinois—3.4 million in our state—including 1.5 … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Durbin Visits Hackmatack Wildlife Refugee To Celebrate Expansion
RICHMOND - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge—the first such Refuge in the Chicago metropolitan area—to celebrate a major milestone in regional conservation. Durbin has championed Hackmatack for more than a dozen years, including by helping secure federal funding for the Refuge. Durbin’s visit to Hackmatack highlights the recent acquisition of Tamarack Farms, the refuge’s largest acquisition, which connects to existing protected … Continue Reading
June 06, 2025
Durbin Statement On ICE Detaining Several People At An Immigration Supervision Program Site In Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained several people in Chicago: “This Administration is diverting historic levels of law enforcement personnel and resources away from narcotics and violent crime to Trump’s mass deportation effort. Individuals with no record of dangerous crime are being rounded up at great expense and removed even … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
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. Durbin’s opening statement outlined the Trump Administration’s systematic gutting of Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI anti-corruption efforts, gutting of independent ethics review at DOJ, Attorney General Bondi’s conflicts of interest, and more. Key Quotes: “Under the Trump … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin On Republicans' Reconciliation Bill: The American People Did Not Vote For This Disaster
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing the disastrous provisions in the Republicans’ reconciliation plan that will slash health care and eliminate jobs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that this legislation will harm Americans, as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new estimates showing that 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under this plan. “What … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin: I Implore Our Israeli Allies To Purse A Renewed Ceasefire That Sees The Release Of All Remaining Hostagaes, Allows Sufficient Aid To Flow, And Advances A Serious Post-War Vision For Two States
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor reflecting on the tragic war in Gaza, the need for increased humanitarian aid, and the urgency of releasing the remaining hostages. Durbin said, “The Hamas attacks on Israel of October 7th, 2023, and taking of hostages, some 25 or 30 still left in captivity, left a stunned and grieving Israel with a difficult decision. From the start, I urged Israel to learn from our mistakes in the … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin Slams White House Rescissions Package That Slashes Critical Foreign Aid And Public Broadcasting Funding
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor detailing the vicious, shortsighted $9.4 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting proposed by the Trump Administration in a rescissions package meant to codify the destruction of federal agencies by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In his remarks, Durbin laid out the specific programs the package will cut, including bipartisan efforts to address … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision In SMITH & WESSON V. MEXICO
WASHINGTON - 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 unanimously in favor of gun manufacturers in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico: “Gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico is fueling a cycle of tremendous violence. Lawless gun manufacturers, international criminals, and drug cartels are weaponizing our lax gun laws in America to facilitate violence, traffic drugs, and … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Durbin Questions Five Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned five judicial nominees in a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin first questioned Whitney Hermandorfer, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, if her loyalty would be to the rule of law and the Constitution or to the president, if confirmed. “Under Article III, is your loyalty is to the law and Constitution or to the … Continue Reading