Press Releases
Key Unions Announce Endorsement Of Durbin, Marshal Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today announced that key unions, representing 4.5 million American workers, have endorsed their Credit Card Competition Act, which would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market that is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters; the Retail, Wholesale, Department … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Five Judicial Nominations
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 on the nominations of Whitney Hermandorfer to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; Zachary Bluestone to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri; Joshua Divine to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri and the Western District of Missouri; Maria Lanahan to … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Proposal To Codify Devastating DOGE Cuts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Trump released a rescissions package that, if passed by Congress, would codify cuts made by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency: “These sloppy and shortsighted rescissions slash public broadcasting and cut critical global health, HIV/AIDs, democracy, and other stabilization programs that save lives while helping to prevent wars and further develop markets for … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses On Nationwide Injunctions During Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled “The Supposedly ‘Least Dangerous Branch’: District Judges v. Trump.” Durbin first asked the witnesses about nationwide injunctions. Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trump v. CASA. In that case, the justices are considering whether they should stay the district courts’ … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee Hearing On District Court Judges & The Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during a Senate Judiciary Joint Subcommittee hearing entitled “The Supposedly ‘Least Dangerous Branch’: District Judges v. Trump.” During his opening, Durbin emphasized how President Trump’s rhetoric has sought to intimidate federal judges and how Senate Republicans refuse to stand up for the judicial branch in fear of retribution from the … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin Meets With Giffords, Brady To Discuss Gun Trafficking Amid New Foreign Terrorist Organization Designations By Trump Administration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after meeting with representatives from gun violence prevention groups GIFFORDS and Brady: United Against Gun Violence: “Lax gun laws in America are enabling international criminals. Drug cartels are acquiring weapons from our country to help facilitate violence and trafficking around the world. It’s a deadly, vicious cycle—one that we must cut off at … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin's Protecting Children With Food Allergies Bill Adopted As Amendment In Senate Agriculture Committee
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Children with Food Allergies Act, was adopted unanimously as an amendment to the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Durbin’s amendment would ensure school food service staff receive essential training about food allergies, so that they are better equipped to prevent, recognize, and respond to food allergic reactions, which … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
In Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Calls Out Secretary McMahon For Eliminating Support For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges
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 Department of Education (ED). During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of Education Linda McMahon about how ED is supporting students defrauded by for-profit colleges. Durbin began by … Continue Reading
June 03, 2025
Durbin Speaks On His Amendment To The GENIUS Act That Would Crack Down On Crypto ATM Scams That Prey On Seniors
WASHINGTON - As the Senate continues to consider the GENIUS Act, a bill meant to establish federal rules for stablecoins, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his colleagues to support his amendment to this legislation, which would help prevent scammers from stealing Americans’ savings through cryptocurrency schemes. Each year, Americans, especially seniors, lose tens of millions of dollars to scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs. The largely unregulated nature of … Continue Reading
June 02, 2025
Durbin To President Trump: The Whole World Is Watching To See If You Will Stand Firm Against Putin
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, warned President Trump that Russian President Vladimir Putin has no intention to end the war in Ukraine without greater pressure. Durbin began his speech by highlighting the horrific atrocities Putin has committed over the years—starting 11 years ago when he invaded Crimea. “Anyone following this war can clearly see that Vladimir Putin isn’t serious about ending … Continue Reading
June 02, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth, Rep. Kelly Introduce "Wear Orange" Resolution In Observance Of National Gun Violence Awareness Month, Honor Hadiya Pendleton
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) today introduced the bicameral “Wear Orange” Resolution, which designates June 6, 2025, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and the entire month of June as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. Each year, nearly 43,000 people in the United States are killed, and 97,000 injured by gun … Continue Reading
May 30, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump Justice Department No Longer Cooperating With ABA Vetting & Rating Process Of Judicial Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump-Bondi Justice Department overturning decades of precedent by no longer cooperating with the American Bar Association (ABA) process for vetting and rating of judicial nominees: “This is a seismic change in the judicial nominations process—an unjustified and blatantly political move by the Trump Administration. This decision … Continue Reading
May 29, 2025
Durbin Statement On Court Of International Trade Striking Down President Trump's Tariff Tax
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Court of International Trade (CIT) issued a unanimous opinion striking down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs. In reaching its conclusion, the court held that President Trump exceeded his authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) in issuing the tariffs on the basis of purported national emergencies relating to fentanyl trafficking and the threat of … Continue Reading
May 27, 2025
Durbin Requests Information from FDA on How the Agency Will Regulate Prescription Drug Advertisements Following Cuts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Martin Makary requesting information on FDA’s capacity to carry out its mission to regulate direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements for prescription drugs in light of recent workforce reductions. Durbin has introduced bipartisan bills to address the harms from DTC drug advertising, by requiring price disclosures and cracking down on misleading promotions … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Celebrate State Of Illinois Closing On Land Needed To Continue Construction Of Brandon Road Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today celebrated the State of Illinois closing on the acquisition of a nearly 50-acre parcel of property in Will County needed for the Brandon Road Interbasin Project, a federal project designed to prevent invasive carp from accessing the Great Lakes. The property, which includes riverbed access forthe Brandon Road lock, was donated to the state by Midwest Generation LLC. The Brandon Road Project … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Durbin Discusses Legislation To Combat Crypto ATM Fraud In Illinois
CHICAGO — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today held a press conference at SEIU Healthcare alongside consumer advocates to discuss his amendment to legislation currently being considered in the Senate to establish federal rules for stablecoins—a form of cryptocurrency. Durbin’s amendment is based on his Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act, which seeks to crack down on cryptocurrency scams by strengthening protections around crypto ATM transactions and increasing transparency from … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
Durbin, Murkowski Reintroduce Legislation To Bolster Crime Fund
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) reintroduced the Crime Victims Fund Stabilization Act. The bill bolsters the Crime Victims Fund (CVF), established by the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) of 1984, which supports state victim compensation and assistance programs. The legislation would transfer residual funds collected through the False Claims Act (FCA), which are currently directed to … Continue Reading
May 23, 2025
After Health Secretary Kennedy Claims Ignorance Of Cuts To Medical Research, Durbin Pens Letter To NIH Director Demanding Answers
WASHINGTON - Following repeated claims of ignorance by Trump Administration officials during Committee hearings, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies, sent a letter to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), requesting specific information on cancelled and paused grant funding for ALS, childhood cancers, Alzheimer’s Disease, … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin Statement On Republicans Voting To Overrule The Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding Senate Republicans voting to overrule a decision by the Senate Parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), therefore eliminating longstanding guardrails and paving the way for a future Senate majority to overrule the Parliamentarian to achieve its partisan goals. Last month, the Senate Parliamentarian, after analyzing the GAO’s opinion, ruled that Senate Republicans … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin Announces Hold On The Nomination Of The U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of Florida
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that he is holding the nomination of Jason Reding Quiñones to be a United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, as well as leaving open the possibility of holds on future U.S. Attorney nominees. During last week’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, Durbin noted that because of then-Senator J.D. Vance holding U.S. Attorney … Continue Reading