Press Releases
Following Comey Indictment, Durbin Slams Trump Administration’s Blatant Politicization Of DOJ
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor yesterday, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reprimanded the Trump Administration for weaponizing the Department of Justice (DOJ) to attack President Trump’s personal enemies. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that political retribution was the true intention behind President Trump and Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi’s move to force Erik Siebert, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the … Continue Reading
September 29, 2025
Durbin, Hawley Introduce Bill Allowing Victims To Sue AI Companies
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced a new bipartisan bill today to hold artificial intelligence (AI) companies accountable for harm caused by their systems while allowing companies to continue innovating and developing beneficial AI systems. “Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much these days, but we’ve struck a remarkable bipartisan note in protecting children … Continue Reading
September 29, 2025
Durbin, Schiff, Cassidy, McGovern Urge Tunisian President To Release Sonia Dahmani
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), today sent a letter to President of the Republic of Tunisia Kais Saied to request the release of Sonia Dahmani. “We write regarding the troubling case of Sonia Dahmani, a Tunisian lawyer and political commentator currently serving nearly five years in prison for her peaceful expression of speech,” the lawmakers … Continue Reading
September 26, 2025
Following Comey Indictment, Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats Demand Answers On The Politicization Of DOJ As President Trump Pursues Criminal Charges Against His Political Enemies
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led eight Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in demanding answers from Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi about the continued weaponization of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in light of the forced resignation of Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Erik Seibert and the indictment of former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey. In the … Continue Reading
September 26, 2025
Durbin Statement On Indictment Of Former FBI Director James Comey
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Trump-Bondi Department of Justice indictment of former FBI Director James Comey: “The Department of Justice has become a political tool of a vengeful President. President Trump wears his corruption like a badge of honor and defies anyone daring to challenge him. The Attorney General willingly complies with every order from the White House. “Is … Continue Reading
September 25, 2025
Durbin Discusses Critical Bee Research At University Of Illinois
URBANA — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today held a roundtable discussion at the University of Illinois with scientists, administrators, and beekeepers regarding their bee genomics research—which is sequencing the genomes of more than 4,000 domestic bee species. Over the last five years, Durbin has secured nearly $8 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding for such research, which has critical implications for food … Continue Reading
September 25, 2025
Durbin, Grassley Take Aim At Labor Exploitation In Tech, Finance, Retail Sectors
CHICAGO - 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, are scrutinizing major corporations who are the biggest users of the H-1B visa program for filing thousands of H-1B visa petitions after conducting mass layoffs of American employees. In letters to ten major corporations, the Senators are requesting information and data from each company regarding their … Continue Reading
September 24, 2025
Durbin Attends Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For New Illinois National Guard Complex
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Illinois National Guard’s new Base Civil Engineer (BCE) Complex at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for the Springfield 183rd Wing. Durbin secured $10.2 million in federal funding through Congressionally Directed Spending, also known as an earmark, in the Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Omnibus appropriations bill for its construction. “This new facility will stand as a testament to the … Continue Reading
September 23, 2025
Durbin Leads Illinois Democrats In Demanding An End To Dangerous And Reckless Immigration Operations
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Democratic members of the Illinois delegation in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem demanding answers about the extreme immigration enforcement operations in Illinois under “Operation Midway Blitz” and “Operation at Large.” In the letter, the lawmakers reprimanded DHS, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and U.S. Immigration and Customs … Continue Reading
September 23, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Launch Inquiry Into Closure Of Tom Homan Corruption Investigation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee launched an inquiry into the reports that Trump Administration officials intervened to close an investigation into former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and current White House Border Czar, Tom Homan, despite evidence of Homan allegedly collecting bribes in exchange for … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Durbin Joins Senate Democrats In Requesting Information From DHS On Mistreatment Of Pregnant Women In ICE Detention
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 26 other U.S. Senators to express grave concerns about the prevalence and treatment of pregnant, postpartum, and nursing women in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. In a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, the lawmakers urgently requested that ICE stop … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Durbin Joins Blumenthal & Merkley To Urge FDA To Finalize Bipartisan Rule Capping Nicotine Levels For Cigarettes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) to send a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary and Center for Tobacco Products Acting Director Bret Koplow urging FDA to finalize a bipartisan rule that would establish maximum nicotine levels in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products. In the letter, the Senators called on FDA to move swiftly to finalize the proposed … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Durbin, Cleaver Introduce The Spur Housing Act To Increase Housing Supply And Economic Development
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, jointly announced the introduction of the Sparking Production of Urban and Rural (SPUR) Housing Act. The SPUR Housing Act establishes a fund to increase the capacity of emerging developers - those with limited development experience and limited resources - who are undertaking affordable housing and … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Durbin Joins In Introduction Of Bipartisan Bill Protecting Documented Dreamers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Representatives Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) to reintroduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to provide a pathway to citizenship for long-term residents who were brought legally to the United States as children as dependents on their parents’ work visas. The America’s CHILDREN Act … Continue Reading
September 20, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump Gold Card Grift
DURBIN STATEMENT ON TRUMP GOLD CARD GRIFT SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s announcement of $1 million “gold card” visas: “President Trump can’t help trying to act like a king. From new ballrooms and gilded Oval Office decor to over-the-top foreign trips filled with pomp and circumstance to a lavish Qatari plane, his grift knows no limit. “He’s … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Durbin Introduces Bill To Expand Concussion Safety In School Sports
WASHINGTON—In observation of National Concussion Awareness Day, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act to strengthen elementary and secondary school procedures for preventing, identifying, and treating students who sustain concussions. U.S. Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) sponsors the bill in the House. While athletics are important to helping students learn team-building skills and connect with their peers, … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Durbin Statement On Voting Against Republicans’ CR Proposal That Fails To Address Rising Health Care Costs For Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the Republicans’ Continuing Resolution (CR) that fails to extend critical tax credits for the Affordable Care Act. Durbin voted in support of Democrats’ CR proposal that would reverse the damaging policies instituted by Republicans under the Trump Administration, including $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid; the freezing of … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Durbin, Cramer, Schneider, Bacon Introduce Bipartisan Bill Addressing Shortage Of Doctors, Nurses
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), along with U.S. Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02), today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to quickly address our nation’s shortage of doctors and nurses. The Healthcare Workforce Resilience Act would recapture 25,000 unused immigrant visas for nurses and 15,000 unused immigrant visas for physicians that … Continue Reading
September 18, 2025
Durbin: RFK Jr. is a Danger to the Children of America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor slamming Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for unjustly firing Dr. Monarez from her position as Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after she pushed back against Secretary Kennedy’s dangerous skepticism of vaccines and medical research. In his remarks, Durbin emphasized that Secretary Kennedy’s crusade to spread distrust in safe and effective vaccines and to … Continue Reading
September 18, 2025
Durbin Delivers Remarks At Anti-Trafficking In Persons Roundtable, Calls For Federal Action To Rein In Big Tech
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined members of the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking (ITHT) to deliver remarks at the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Global Policy Summit and roundtable, where he spoke of federal efforts to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. In his remarks, Durbin urged the passage of his STOP CSAM Act and DEFIANCE Act—two pieces of legislation that would … Continue Reading