Press Releases
Durbin Statement On ICE Detaining Several People At An Immigration Supervision Program Site In Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detained several people in Chicago: “This Administration is diverting historic levels of law enforcement personnel and resources away from narcotics and violent crime to Trump’s mass deportation effort. Individuals with no record of dangerous crime are being rounded up at great expense and removed even … Continue Reading
June 05, 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. Durbin’s opening statement outlined the Trump Administration’s systematic gutting of Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI anti-corruption efforts, gutting of independent ethics review at DOJ, Attorney General Bondi’s conflicts of interest, and more. Key Quotes: “Under the Trump … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin On Republicans' Reconciliation Bill: The American People Did Not Vote For This Disaster
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor exposing the disastrous provisions in the Republicans’ reconciliation plan that will slash health care and eliminate jobs to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that this legislation will harm Americans, as the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new estimates showing that 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under this plan. “What … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin: I Implore Our Israeli Allies To Purse A Renewed Ceasefire That Sees The Release Of All Remaining Hostagaes, Allows Sufficient Aid To Flow, And Advances A Serious Post-War Vision For Two States
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor reflecting on the tragic war in Gaza, the need for increased humanitarian aid, and the urgency of releasing the remaining hostages. Durbin said, “The Hamas attacks on Israel of October 7th, 2023, and taking of hostages, some 25 or 30 still left in captivity, left a stunned and grieving Israel with a difficult decision. From the start, I urged Israel to learn from our mistakes in the … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin Slams White House Rescissions Package That Slashes Critical Foreign Aid And Public Broadcasting Funding
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senate floor detailing the vicious, shortsighted $9.4 billion in cuts to foreign aid and public broadcasting proposed by the Trump Administration in a rescissions package meant to codify the destruction of federal agencies by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In his remarks, Durbin laid out the specific programs the package will cut, including bipartisan efforts to address … Continue Reading
June 05, 2025
Durbin Statement On Supreme Court Decision In SMITH & WESSON V. MEXICO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of gun manufacturers in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico: “Gun trafficking from the United States to Mexico is fueling a cycle of tremendous violence. Lawless gun manufacturers, international criminals, and drug cartels are weaponizing our lax gun laws in America to facilitate violence, traffic drugs, and … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Durbin Questions Five Judicial Nominees In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned five judicial nominees in a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin first questioned Whitney Hermandorfer, nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, if her loyalty would be to the rule of law and the Constitution or to the president, if confirmed. “Under Article III, is your loyalty is to the law and Constitution or to the … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
Durbin Meets With Three Federal Judges To Discuss Judicial Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after discussing judicial security with Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida, Judge Mark Norris of the Western District of Tennessee, and Judge Esther Salas of the District of New Jersey, whose son was murdered at the family’s home by a former litigant who posed as a deliveryman: “President Trump is openly threatening judges with … Continue Reading
June 04, 2025
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