Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues Blast Trump Administration's Attacks On Head Start, Demand RFK Jr. Immediately Release Funding And Reverse Firings
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in sending a letter to Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling out the Trump administration’s direct attacks on Head Start, reminding him of his legal obligation to administer the program, and demanding the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) … Continue Reading
April 29, 2025
Amid Trump Administration's Threats To Defund Public Broadcasting, Durbin Meets With CEO Of Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the CEO of the Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association (WETA), Sharon Percy Rockefeller, to discuss the need to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). During the meeting, they also discussed the Trump Administration’s threats to defund National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). “The ruthless cuts and attacks on our federal government was not enough for the … Continue Reading
April 29, 2025
Durbin Honors Four American Service Members Who Died In Lithuania
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor to honor the four American soldiers—including one Illinoisan—who were stationed in Lithuania and tragically died last month while on a mission to recover a vehicle immobilized during a training exercise. The soldiers include Staff Sergeant Jose Dueñez Jr. from Joliet, Illinois; Staff Sergeant Edvin F. Franco; Staff Sergeant Troy S. Knutson-Collins; and Private First-Class Dante D. … Continue Reading
April 28, 2025
Durbin Reflects On The Life And Legacy Of The Late Pope Francis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor commemorating and honoring the late Pope Francis. This weekend, Durbin attended the late Pope’s funeral in the Vatican along with U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Ed Markey (D-MA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO). “Today I join people across the world and mourn the passing of Pope Francis. He was forgiving, hopeful, and committed to the notion of peace. Francis taught us … Continue Reading
April 28, 2025
Durbin, Senate Democrats Push Trump Administration To Reconsider Student Visa Revocations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led a group of 35 Senate Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration to reconsider recent decisions to revoke student visas in a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Todd Lyons. The Senators began by urging the Administration to undo unlawful student visa … Continue Reading
April 28, 2025
Durbin Files Second Amicus Brief In Support Of Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Durbin Amendment, filed an amicus brief in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in support of the state’s Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA), a state law that bars charging interchange fees on the tax and tips portion of credit and debit card transactions. In August 2024, the Illinois Bankers Association filed a lawsuit, Illinois Bankers Association v. … Continue Reading
April 26, 2025
Durbin Statement After Attending Late Pope Francis' Funeral
ROME - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after attending the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City today. The bipartisan Senate delegation was led by Durbin and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) also attended. Durbin said, “It was a great honor to pay my respects to the late Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square today, along with so many others from around the world who … Continue Reading
April 25, 2025
Durbin Statement On The Arrest Of A Wisconsin Judge By The FBI For Allegedly Obstructing An Immigration Operation
ROME - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on charges of obstruction and concealing a person from arrest over allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant “evade arrest,” according to FBI Director Kash Patel: “The Trump Administration continues to test the limits of our … Continue Reading
April 25, 2025
Durbin, Markey To Attend Late Pope Francis' Funeral On Saturday
ROME - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) announced today that they will attend the late Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican City on Saturday. The bipartisan Senate delegation is being led by Durbin and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME). Along with Markey, Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO) are also attending. Following his death, Durbin wrote, “We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to … Continue Reading
April 25, 2025
Durbin Recounts Legislative Accomplishments Over His House & Senate Career
SPRINGFIELD - In a video message shared with Illinois voters earlier this week, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reflected on some of his most meaningful accomplishments as a member of the House of Representatives for seven terms and as a member of the U.S. Senate for five terms. This followed the Senator’s announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2026. “I’ve given over half of my life to House and Senate Congressional service. I’ve always tried to stand up to power on … Continue Reading
April 23, 2025
Durbin Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026
CHICAGO - In a video message shared with Illinois voters today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will not seek re-election in 2026. “The decision of whether to run for re-election has not been easy. I truly love the job of being a United States Senator. But in my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch. So, I am announcing today that I will not be seeking re-election at the end of my term,” Durbin said in the video. “The people of Illinois have honored me … Continue Reading
April 22, 2025
Durbin, Senators Demand President Trump Rescind Harmful Claims That He Will Transfer Incarcerated U.S. Citizens To A Foreign Prison
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 25 of his Democratic colleagues in a letter to President Donald Trump calling for him to immediately rescind the dangerous and offensive claim that he may transfer incarcerated U.S. citizens to El Salvador. In the letter, the Senators also urge the President to follow the law and adhere to all applicable court orders and immediately facilitate the return to the United States … Continue Reading
April 22, 2025
Durbin Statement On Secretary of State Rubio Announcing "Sweeping Reorganization" At The State Department
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Secretary of State Marco Rubio unveiled a plan to significantly reorganize the State Department, including targeting human rights programs and others focused on war crimes and democracy: “The chaos and cruelty of this Administration knows no bounds. After dismantling USAID, the Trump Administration is now going after the State Department—a critical department that executes our foreign policy goals, … Continue Reading
April 21, 2025
Durbin, Merkley, Blumenthal, Markey: President Trump's Cuts To Tobacco Prevention Will Make Americans Sicker & Cause More Tobacco-Related Deaths, Diseases
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) today slammed the Trump Administration for staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that will devastate tobacco use prevention efforts across America. “Dozens of staffers at the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) have been placed on administrative leave, including the … Continue Reading
April 21, 2025
Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Pope Francis
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the passing of Pope Francis: “We have lost the messenger, but we must hold fast to the message of Pope Francis to love and respect one another. In a world of hate and fear, Pope Francis’ message of peace and understanding is needed now more than ever. “We should honor the Pope with a ‘Francis Day’ of world peace: stop the bombing in Ukraine and Gaza; feed the dying in Sudan and around … Continue Reading
April 16, 2025
Durbin Statement On Ed Martin's Undisclosed Appearances On Russian State Media
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding reportsthat Ed Martin, President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.S. Attorney for D.C., appeared on RT and Sputnik—networks funded and directed by the Russian government—150 times as a guest commentator from August 2016 to April 2024, something he failed to disclose in his Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire: “It is well-documented … Continue Reading
April 15, 2025
Durbin Joins Klobuchar to Press U.S. Trade Representative On Impacts Of Tariff Taxes On Farmers
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and 17 of their colleagues to ask U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer for information on how the Administration’s tariff taxes will impact farmers across the nation. “We write with great concern about the impact of the Administration’s reckless tariff agenda on our nation’s farmers,” wrote … Continue Reading
April 15, 2025
Durbin Holds Roundtable On Tax Day To Discuss Using Tax Dollars Responsibly To Support Critical Programs
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a roundtable in Springfield with labor leaders, senior advocates, retirees, and small business owners to discuss the need to use tax dollars wisely to fulfill the promise of critical programs like Social Security, instead of cutting taxes for billionaires and raising prices forAmerican families and small businesses via tariffs. More than two million Illinoisans depend on the Social Security Administration (SSA) to deliver … Continue Reading
April 15, 2025
Durbin, Congressional Democrats Fight Back Against Trump's Attacks On The FTC and Independent Agencies
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, led Senate and House Democrats in an amicus brief opposing President Donald Trump’s unlawful attempt to fire members of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). FTC Commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya are duly appointed, Senate-confirmed Commissioners at an independent … Continue Reading
April 15, 2025
Durbin Continues to Call For The Immediate Return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement calling for the immediate return of Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a father who was living legally in Maryland with his family until he was wrongfully deported without due process by the Trump Administration last month to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador notorious for human rights abuses. The Trump Administration has admitted that Mr. Abrego … Continue Reading