Press Releases
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
May 22, 2025
Durbin Questions Executive Branch Nominees During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Joseph Edlow, nominated to be the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, nominated to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, nominated to be the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); and … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
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 where he extended his thoughts and prayers to the two individuals, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, who were shot and killed last night outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington D.C. Durbin reiterated that violence has no place in our society and must be prosecuted to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin, Hawley Reintroduce Bill Combatting Online Child Sexual Abuse Material
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) reintroduced the STOP CSAM Act. The legislation will crack down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by allowing victims of child sexual exploitation to sue companies that promoted or facilitated the exploitation, or that host or store CSAM or make it available. It will also support victims and increase transparency for … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin Calls Out Republican Colleagues For Their Silence Around President Trump And His Family Profiting Off Of The Presidency
WASHINGTON - Shortly after the U.S. formally accepted a private jet as a gift from the royal family of Qatar as a new Air Force One for President Trump, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was on the Senate floor slamming this decision as just the latest in a long line of shady dealings by President Trump and his family. “Republicans have claimed for years that Joe Biden, during his administration and his time as Vice President, … Continue Reading
May 22, 2025
Durbin Statement On House Republicans Passing Their Billionaire Tax Giveaway Bill, Stripping Services From Americans
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement slamming House Republicans for passing their reconciliation bill—legislation that will pay for tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of working families: “Republicans’ reconciliation bill dismantles the American Dream and strips health care, food assistance, and more away from millions of hardworking Americans. Republicans are taking a chainsaw to critical services that American families depend … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
As Trump Administration Slashes Medical Research Funding, Durbin Underscores The Long-Term Impact It Will Have On Americans' Health
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today participated in a spotlight hearing on the Trump Administration’s drastic cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The forum, which was hosted by U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), detailed the dangerous outcomes of slashing funding for medical research and gutting federal agencies committed to public health. Durbin began by asking the panelists about what happens to researchers … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Durbin, Graham, Reps. Ocasio-Cortez & Lee Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Non-Consensual, Sexually-Explicit Deepfake Imagery
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14), U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and U.S. Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL-15) today reintroduced the Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act(DEFIANCE Act), bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would grant survivors the right to take civil action against individuals who knowingly produce, distribute, … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Durbin Warns Republicans Against Their Plan To Overrule The Senate Parliamentarian
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today cautioned his Senate Republican colleagues from overruling a decision by the Senate Parliamentarian and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which would eliminate longstanding guardrails and pave 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 … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing On Four Executive. Branch Nominees
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 Committee hearing on the nominations of Joseph Edlow, to be Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); Elliot Gaiser, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC); John Squires, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United … Continue Reading
May 21, 2025
Senate Passes Durbin's Bipartisan Resolution Honoring The Four American Service Members Who Died In Lithuania
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, today commended the unanimous Senate passage of his bipartisan resolution honoring the four American soldiers—including one Illinoisan—who were stationed in Lithuania and tragically died in March 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 … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Defending Against Drones
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Defending Against Drones: Setting Safeguards for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Authorities.” Today’s hearing highlighted the growing use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and how Congress can strike the right balance in response. It also examined the existing statutory … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
In An Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, Durbin Presses Secretary Rubio On The U.S.'s Response To The Humanitarian Crisis In Gaza
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Subcommittee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of State.” During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary of State Marco Rubio about the humanitarian crisis happening in Gaza and whether the response from the State Department has been adequate. According to UN estimates, 14,000 babies in Gaza … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Demand Answers On Access To Care For Illinoisans After Prime Healthcare Reduces Services Following Acquisition Of Eight Hospitals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to the CEO of Prime Healthcare, Dr. Prem Reddy, about the company’s recent acquisition of eight Illinois hospitals that were formerly owned by Ascension. Since acquiring these hospitals in March 2025, Prime has suspended or terminated pediatric, trauma, and maternal care services at some of the locations, creating even more barriers for Illinoisans to access health care. … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
Durbin Offers Amendment To The GENIUS Act To Crack Down On Crypto ATM Scams That Prey On Seniors
WASHINGTON - As the Senate considers the GENIUS Act this week, 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 these … Continue Reading
May 20, 2025
In Appropriation Hearing, Durbin Blasts HHS Secretary Kennedy For Cutting Medical Research, Hope For Patients
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 Health and Human Services (HHS). During the hearing, Durbin questioned Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about the dramatic cuts to medical research and the mass layoffs at … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025
Durbin Exposes The Costs Of Republicans; "One, Big, Beautiful Bill," Slams Republicans For Slashing Medicaid, Snap To Pay For Tax Breaks For Billionaires
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing congressional Republicans’ reconciliation bill for what it truly is - legislation that will pay for tax breaks for billionaires at the expense of 13.7 million Americans’ health care coverage. In his remarks, Durbin reiterated that Republicans’ “one, big, beautiful bill” will further push the American Dream out of reach for working families. “Let me tell you a story. It’s one of … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025
Durbin Meets With Associate Attorney General Nominee Ahead Of Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after meeting with Stanley Woodward, President Trump’s nominee to be the Associate Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice: “The Department of Justice is reeling from turmoil, as extremist loyalists dismantle longstanding programs and protections to appease the President. DOJ is causing a mass exodus of key staff, canceling hundreds … Continue Reading
May 19, 2025
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Reveals Devastating Insights Into ICE Detention In Exclusive Site Visit
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, revealed devastating insights into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities, following staff site visits to two Louisiana immigration detention facilities in April. On the exclusive site visits, Durbin released the following statement: “My staff’s visits to the ICE detention facilities reaffirm what we’ve already known: The cruelty and inhumanity of the … Continue Reading
May 16, 2025
Durbin Joins Health Care Leaders To Discuss Cost Of Prescription Drugs And Republican Cuts To Medicaid
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined health leaders at Springfield Memorial Hospital to highlight efforts to address high prescription drug prices, and how health insurance coverage for nearly 14 million Americans is at risk because of Republican plans to provide tax breaks for billionaires. Americans are paying the highest prices for prescriptions in the world. In addition to unjustifiable pricing and anticompetitive tactics by pharmaceutical … Continue Reading