Press Releases
As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.” “Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has not learned that lesson. On … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
Durbin Introduces Bill To Create Interagency Committee To Expand Oversight On For-Profit College Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), today reintroduced the Proprietary Education Oversight Task Force Act, legislation that will establish an interagency committee tasked with improving coordination of federal oversight of for-profit colleges to ensure that students are not scammed out of an education and into a mountain of debt. … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Highlights Three Policy Decisions By The Trump Administration That Hurt The Farm Economy, Calls For Immigration Reform To Support Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today participated in an Agriculture Committee hearing entitled “Increasing Domestic Consumption of U.S.-Grown Agricultural Products.” Durbin first pointed out that the American agricultural industry does not have the workforce to keep up with demand, and he called for an immigration policy that accounts for foreign workers who are critical for farming … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses in today’s Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on birthright citizenship as President Trump continues his threats against it. Durbin pressed Peter Schweizer, President of the Government Accountability Institute (GAI), which he co-founded with Steve Bannon in 2012, about his ridiculous claims that American birthright citizenship policies are being exploited by … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Birthright Citizenship
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 on birthright citizenship as President Trump continues his threats against it. Last month, Durbin, along with U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), led a group of 216 House and Senate Democrats in filing a bicameral amicus brief standing up for the essential constitutional principle of birthright citizenship in … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Highlights His Amendments To Housing Bill That Address The Volatility And Corruption Of Cryptocurrency Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight three amendments he filed to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that would address the volatility and corruption of the cryptocurrency industry and provide important protections for American taxpayers and consumers. Specifically, Durbin’s amendments would crack down on crypto ATM fraud, prevent crypto companies from receiving a taxpayer-funded bailout, and make it explicitly … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Speaks Against Republicans’ So-Called SAVE America 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, spoke against Republicans’ SAVE America Act, which would make it more difficult for millions of Americans to vote. On Sunday, President Trump said he would not sign any legislation until Congress passes this bill. “Amidst a war in the Middle East and DHS funding negotiations, the President of the United States now insists that the SAVE America Act … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Recounts Secretary Noem’s Disgraceful Tenure Leading DHS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, yesterday spoke on the Senate floor about President Trump’s decision to fire U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, whose disastrous leadership led to a lawless and morally bankrupt mass deportation campaign in which U.S. citizens, legal residents, and immigrants with no criminal history were indiscriminately swept up. As Durbin made clear in his remarks, … Continue Reading
March 09, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Warnock, Booker, And Blunt Rochester Introduce Resolution Honoring The Late reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr. The resolution recognizes his significant leadership during the Civil Rights Movement and his decades of advocacy in pursuit of justice, equality, and human … Continue Reading
March 09, 2026
As Gas Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Criticizes President Trump’s War Of Choice On Iran
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing President Trump for entering a war on Iran with no clear strategy and despite the President campaigning on “no new wars” if he were elected. Durbin said, “President Trump has tried to position himself as the ‘Peace President,’ but his actions tell a different story. In the last year alone, he has conducted military operations across three continents and threatened to militarily takeover … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Call For Greater FAA Investment & Efficiency At Chicago O’Hare Airport
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford about the urgent need for greater FAA investment and efficiency at Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). Specifically, the Senators’ letter urged the FAA to prioritize ORD for Air Traffic Control (ATC) staffing and technology, to allow full use of ORD’s runway capabilities, and to give full and fair … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin Files Housing, Crypto Amendments To Road To Housing Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he filed five amendments to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan housing package that is being considered by the Senate next week. Durbin’s five amendments would ensure that families living in federally assisted housing are safe from lead poisoning; that housing is accessible and affordable for American families; that consumers are protected from fraudsters operating cryptocurrency ATM scams; that … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin Meets With MxD Leadership
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday met with Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD, one of the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DOD) leading manufacturing institutes. During the meeting, Durbin received an update on MxD’s latest projects, including efforts to equip U.S. factories with the digital tools, enhance cybersecurity, and improve workforce expertise to strengthen domestic manufacturing. “MxD’s work has shown how critical it is to invest in the advancement of … Continue Reading
March 05, 2026
Durbin, Fischer Urge USDA To Swiftly Implement Their Bipartisan Protecting Children With Food Allergies Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), both members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a bipartisan letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins urging her to swiftly implement their recently passed Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act. The bill, which was passed as an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, was signed into law in January. “We write to urge your … Continue Reading
March 05, 2026
Durbin Statement On Trump Firing Kristi Noem
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump fired Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and announced U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as his preferred replacement: “Kristi Noem was the face of an unpopular, illegal, and outright dangerous mass deportation campaign that claimed the lives of innocent Americans and terrorized many more. Our … Continue Reading
March 05, 2026
Following DHS Oversight Hearing With Secretary Noem, Durbin Calls Out Her Lying Under Oath
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 condemning the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem for lying under oath during Tuesday’s oversight hearing. Secretary Noem lied about DHS following court orders, denied that DHS has detained U.S. citizens, and lied about Corey Lewandowski’s role at … Continue Reading
March 05, 2026
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Bolster Public Health Efforts To Improve Dental Health
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Promoting Dental Health Act to reauthorize funding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Oral Health program for the next five years. The CDC’s Oral Health program receives $20.25 million in annual funding for a range of public health activities to promote oral health. This includes funding 15 states to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other painful and serious conditions through dental … Continue Reading
March 04, 2026
As One Of 23 Senators Who Voted Against The Iraq War, Durbin Releases Statement Following Failed Iran War Powers Resolution Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Senate Republicans voted against Senator Tim Kaine’s (D-VA) war powers resolution that would have blocked President Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran unless authorized by Congress. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution states that the power to declare war is an explicit power of Congress and Congress overwhelmingly reaffirmed this constitutional provision when it passed the War … Continue Reading
March 04, 2026
Durbin Meets With Director Of The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Director James Jennings to discuss water infrastructure in Metro East, the Calumet Confined Disposal Facility, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, and the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. In Congress, Durbin has secured federal funding to address the flooding issues in Metro East, the harms of PFAS, and has continuously worked with the Army Crops on … Continue Reading
March 04, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Join Merkley To Demand Independent Probe Of Funds To Carry Our Trump’s Cruel Mass Deportation Scheme
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 calling on the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to probe the cost of President Trump’s violent escalation of federal immigration enforcement. The Senators are requesting a comprehensive assessment and accounting of the supplemental funds, including the roughly $75 billion for Immigration … Continue Reading