Press Releases
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
May 15, 2025
Durbin, Wyden, Senate Democrats Urge Social Security Administration To Reverse Decision To Maliciously & Illegally List Immigrants As "Dead"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) today led a group of fourteen Senate Democrats in condemning and urging reversal of the Social Security Administration’s recent decision to list certain immigrants as “dead” in the master files. The Senators began by condemning the decision, writing: “We write to strongly object to the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) apparent decision to list … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
In Appropriations Hearing, Durbin Presses Secretary Duffy To Obligate Promised DOT Funding For Illinois Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today participated in a Committee hearing entitled “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Transportation.” During the hearing, Durbin questioned U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy about delays in obligating federal funding to Illinois transportation and infrastructure projects, as well as improving transparency over airlines’ … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois NPR As Trump Administration Threatens Public Media
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leadership from National Public Radio (NPR) stations across Illinois to discuss the importance of continuing to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), NPR, and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) after President Trump issued an executive order seeking to prohibit these programs from receiving any federal funds. “As a democracy, we should pride ourselves on having freedom of the press. Yet, the Trump … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Durbin Calls On Trump White House To Honor Blue Slip Rule For U.S. Attorneys During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting
WASHINGTON - During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called on the White House to work in good faith with Senators from both sides of the aisle to find U.S. Attorney candidates who will have home state support. Durbin cautioned that while this has been the case for filling some vacancies, not all Democratic Senators have been afforded the same opportunity to consult … Continue Reading
May 15, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement On Oversight Of The Justice Department 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 outlined how Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi’s Justice Department is already stonewalling the Committee’s oversight efforts. Durbin also reiterated his calls for AG Bondi to provide to the Committee a memo she purportedly gave to the White House Counsel’s Office deeming … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Durbin Meets With Nominee To Serve As Chairman Of CFTC
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Brian Quintenz, who has been nominated to serve as Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). During their meeting, Durbin emphasized the need for regulation and steady oversight on cryptocurrency, as well as explicit consumer protections within the industry. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Durbin also discussed funding that is needed to enforce cryptocurrency regulation at … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Durbin Calls Out Republicans' As Trump Administration Slashed Funding For Mental Health Grants, Gun Violence Prevention Efforts That Had Bipartisan Support
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against the Trump Administration’s cuts to critical mental health programs and gun violence prevention efforts. Despite strong bipartisan support for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022, congressional Republicans have remained silent about these disastrous funding cuts that erode efforts to mitigate gun violence. “Currently, … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Durbin Meets With USCIS 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 Joseph Edlow, President Trump’s nominee to be the Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a fee-funded agency tasked with keeping our lawful immigration system functioning. Mr. Edlow currently serves as a Senior Advisor at USCIS. “The Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant record is a shameful … Continue Reading
May 14, 2025
Durbin Joins Ernst To Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Improve USDA Conservation Programs For Farmers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, joined U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) to introduce bipartisan legislation, the Streamlining Conservation Practice Standards Act, that would remove bureaucratic barriers and better support farmers in implementing conservation practices that improve soil health and water quality. “Illinois ranks fourth in the nation in planted cropland, but for years, has ranked … Continue Reading