Press Releases
Durbin, Welch Lead Letter To DOJ Demanding Answers About The Legality Of Trump Administration’s Recent Boat Strikes Killing 57 People In The Caribbean Sea & Pacific Ocean
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in sending a letter to Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi to demand answers about the legality of military actions ordered by President Trump that have already killed 57 individuals in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. In their letter, the … Continue Reading
October 31, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump Administration’s Decision To Withhold SNAP Benefits From 42 Million Americans During Republican-Led Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to not process SNAP benefits in November as congressional Republicans keep the government shut down: “First, the Republicans cut almost $200 billion from the SNAP program in their so-called ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Now, the Republican shutdown and President Trump’s USDA will stop next month’s SNAP benefits … Continue Reading
October 31, 2025
Durbin Calls Out Republicans For Health Care Premium Spikes, Shares Constituent Stories
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a news conference at Access Living of Metro Chicago in response to the announcement that Affordable Care Act premiums for 2026 will skyrocket an average of nearly 80 percent across Illinois, due to Republicans in Congress refusing to extend a crucial tax credit policy that helps people nationwide afford health coverage. If these tax credits are allowed to expire, Illinoisans who purchase ACA plans in the northern part of the … Continue Reading
October 30, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Department Of Insurance Director To Discuss Skyrocketing Aca Premiums As Republicans Fail To Work With Democrats To Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) met virtually with the Illinois Department of Insurance Director, Ann Gillespie, to discuss the skyrocketing premium increase for Affordable Care Act (ACA) health plans. Instead of meeting with Democrats to address this health care crisis, Republicans have shut down the federal government. If these enhanced premium tax credits are allowed to expire at the end of the year, more than four million Americans are expected to lose their … Continue Reading
October 30, 2025
Durbin Slams Senate Republicans, Trump USDA For Blocking SNAP Funds For 42 Million Americans
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, criticized congressional Republicans for continuing their shutdown as 42 million Americans are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits. Despite the Trump Administration’s recent claims, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has between $8 and $9 billion in funds to pay out SNAP benefits to Americans for the month of November. “Forty-two million … Continue Reading
October 30, 2025
Durbin Leads Judiciary Democrats In Calling On Chairman Grassley To Allow Former Special Counsel Jack Smith To Testify Publicly Before Committee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led all Senate Judiciary Democrats in sending a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) calling on him to allow former Special Counsel Jack Smith to testify before the Committee. In their letter, the Senators also urged Chairman Grassley to request the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) release Volume II of the unredacted “Final Report of the Special … Continue Reading
October 29, 2025
Durbin Applauds The Hundreds Of High School Students In Little Village Who Walked Out Of School To Protest Ice
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 praising the hundreds of high school students in Little Village who walked out of class yesterday to protest the Trump Administration’s cruel “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicagoland area. Durbin has continuously gone to the Senate floor and made clear that the increased presence and enforcement actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs … Continue Reading
October 29, 2025
Durbin Slams Republicans For Having No Plan To Reduce Health Care Costs For Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor demanding that congressional Republicans work with Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits, which allow tens of millions of Americans nationwide to afford their health insurance premiums. Instead of meeting with Democrats to address this health care crisis, Republicans have shut down the federal government. If these enhanced tax credits are allowed … Continue Reading
October 29, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Probe Trump $230 Million Settlement Claims Before Justice Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in probing President Trump’s claims pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking $230 million of taxpayer dollars in alleged damages. In a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, the Senators began by characterizing the claims as “yet another attempt by President Trump to weaponize his position of power for personal financial gain … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Durbin Questions Former Biden Administration DHS Witness Who Specialized In Reducing Violent Extremism During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Political Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing that examined political violence. Durbin questioned Mr. William Braniff, who previously served as Director of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program was created under the Biden Administration to take a comprehensive approach to … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
After Bovino Appears In Court In Chicago, Durbin Again Denounces “Operation Midway Blitz” As Wreaking Havoc On Illinois Communities
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 again denounce the Trump Administration’s cruel so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area, which has sown fear among communities in the city. In his remarks, Durbin made clear that the increased presence and enforcement actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing, Debunking Republicans’ Claims That Political Violence Only Comes From The Left
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 Subcommittee hearing that examined political violence—following the recent assassinations of Charlie Kirk, Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted assassination of Minnesota State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. During his opening, Durbin recognized the law enforcement officers who … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, Durbin Questions Fertilizer And Seed Companies About High Costs For Illinois Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, questioned witnesses in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Pressure Cooker: Competition Issues in the Seed & Fertilizer Industries.” Durbin pressed witnesses to acknowledge that farmers are harmed by the series of mergers and acquisitions that have led to high costs and hindered agricultural innovation. During his … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Agricultural Competition, Durbin Criticizes Trump Administration For Prioritizing South America Over American Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, delivered opening remarks in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Pressure Cooker: Competition Issues in the Seed & Fertilizer Industries.” In his remarks, Durbin criticized the Trump Administration’s inconsistent trade policies which have created an uncertain market for Illinois’ farmers. Rather than providing … Continue Reading
October 28, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Join Merkley In Calling For CBO Probe Into Cost Of Trump’s National Guard Deployment To American Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in leading several of their Senate colleagues in calling on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of the Trump Administration’s brazen decision to deploy National Guard personnel to U.S. cities. President Trump has ordered troops into major cities across the country, including Chicago, … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
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