Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Consumer and Financial Protection
Durbin Leads Senators In Raising Alarm About Gutting Of CFTC’s Chicago Division Of Enforcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and Adam Schiff (D-CA), all members of the Senate Agriculture Committee which has oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), sent a letter to Chairman of the CFTC Michael Selig about the Trump Administration’s move to gut the CFTC’s Division of Enforcement, including the Chicago office, just as cryptocurrency and prediction … Continue Reading
February 05, 2026
Durbin, Blumenthal, Pallone Introduce Bill To Prohibit Sale Of Tianeptine
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) today introduced the Prohibiting Tianeptine and Other Dangerous Products Act, legislation that would prohibit tianeptine from being marketed to consumers. Tianeptine is an unapproved drug that is marketed as a purported dietary supplement and sold under labels such as “Neptune’s Fix.” Ingestion of tianeptine has led to an increase in calls … Continue Reading
January 15, 2026
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Transparency And Safety Of Dietary Supplements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reintroduced the Dietary Supplement Listing Act, legislation to require dietary supplement manufacturers to register their products with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In 1994, Congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which provided FDA with authorities to regulate dietary supplements. However, DSHEA did not require dietary supplement companies to register their products with FDA, leaving … Continue Reading
January 09, 2026
Durbin Releases Data On How His INFORM Consumers Act Has Impacted Online Marketplaces
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released new data on how his Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act has helped clean up online marketplaces since the bill went into effect on June 27, 2023. Durbin’s staff collected data in response to a letter he and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), the bill’s co-lead, sent to 46 companies that operate … Continue Reading
December 18, 2025
Durbin, Tillis, Conaway, Maloy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen And Improve Enforcement Of Illegal Tobacco Products
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), along with U.S. Representative Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ-03) and U.S. Representative Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02), today introduced new bicameral and bipartisan legislation to crack down on illegal vape products that are targeted to children. The Strengthening Task Force Operations to Prevent Illicit Vaping Act (S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act) would … Continue Reading
October 27, 2025
ICYMI: Durbin Receives Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award From The National Consumers League
WASHINGTON—Last week, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) received the Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award from the National Consumers League (NCL) for his work championing consumers’ and workers’ rights and advancing social justice. During his remarks, Durbin highlighted overcoming the Big Tobacco lobby and successfully banning smoking on commercial airline flights. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker presented Durbin with the award. “Receiving the Lifetime Trumpeter Achievement Award … Continue Reading
August 27, 2025
Following Letter To The FTC, Durbin, Cassidy Send Letters To Online Marketplaces Requesting Information On The Senators' INFORM Consumers Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today sent 46 letters to companies that operate online marketplaces requesting information on the implementation and enforcement of the Senators’ Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act, which went into effect on June 27, 2023. The Senators sent a letter to the Federal Trade … Continue Reading
March 27, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against Republican Resolution That Would Overturn The CFPB Rule That Caps Overdraft Fees
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against a Republican resolution that would overturn the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that caps overdraft fees and helps everyday Americans. Durbin joined his Democratic colleagues on the floor, led by U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), to highlight the dangers of gutting this important CFPB rule. Recent polls show that consumer confidence in the economy has … Continue Reading
October 07, 2024
Durbin Files Amicus Brief In Support Of Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Durbin Amendment, filed an amicus brief in the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in support of the recently enacted Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA). IFPA, which was signed into law on June 7th, bars the charging of interchange fees on the tax and tip portions of credit and debit card transactions. Last month, the Illinois Bankers Association, … Continue Reading
September 26, 2024
Durbin Introduces Protect Your Points Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Protect Your Points Act, legislation that would strengthen consumer protections by requiring greater transparency from airlines’ frequent flyer, points, and loyalty programs. The Protect Your Points Act will give the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) explicit authority to ensure that airlines do not bait and switch consumers by offering them an enticing rewards … Continue Reading
June 21, 2024
Durbin Statement On FDA Authorizing First Menthol Flavored E-Cigarette Products
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement expressing his disappointment after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of four menthol e-cigarette products in the United States through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway. Today’s authorizations mark the first non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette products to be authorized by FDA. “Flavors like menthol are used by Big Tobacco companies to mask the … Continue Reading
June 10, 2024
Durbin Reacts To Creation Of Federal Multi-Agency Task Force To Combat Sale Of Illegal E-Cigarette Products
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. The task force aims to employ all criminal and civil enforcement tools to crack down on the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarette products. Joining DOJ and … Continue Reading
May 30, 2024
Durbin Applauds Illinois State Legislature On Passing Budget That Contains Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Illinois state legislature’s passage of a state budget that included the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act. This legislation, which—like Durbin’s Credit Card Competition Act—aims to curb the outrageous swipe fees on electronic transactions will prohibit credit card companies and financial institutions from charging merchants interchange fees on sales and excise taxes, as well as gratuities, added to electronic … Continue Reading
September 15, 2022
Durbin Slams FDA's Missed Deadlines To Protect Our Children From Nicotine Addiction
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency's orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. The court-ordered deadline for FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications was more than one … Continue Reading
September 09, 2022
On One Year Anniversary of FDA Failing To Meet Court-Ordered Deadline To Regulate E-Cigarette Products, Durbin Urges HHS To Step In
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra condemning the FDA for its failure to meet e-cigarette and synthetic nicotine deadlines, unwillingness to take action against companies that defy the agency's orders, and general lack of urgency when it comes to protecting children from the harms of tobacco and nicotine use. … Continue Reading
August 02, 2022
Durbin Raises Questions About Cryptocurrency On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) raised questions about cryptocurrency and the dangers it poses to personal finances. Durbin began his speech by highlighting various celebrities who have promoted cryptocurrency companies, including NBA star LeBron James and comedian Larry David, in commercials during the Super Bowl. During these commercials, LeBron James promoted Crypto.com, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Singapore, while … Continue Reading
July 28, 2022
Durbin, Marshall Introduce Bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act of 2022, legislation that would enhance competition and choice in the credit card network market, which is currently dominated by the Visa-Mastercard duopoly. Building off of debit card competition reforms enacted by Congress in 2010, the bill would direct the Federal Reserve to ensure that giant credit card-issuing banks offer a choice … Continue Reading
July 26, 2022
Durbin, Warren, Smith Press Fidelity On Bitcoin Exposure To Retirement Funds
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) requested answers from Fidelity Investments on their decision to allow 401(k) plan sponsors to offer plan participants exposure to Bitcoin, a highly volatile and unregulated digital asset. Fidelity is one of the largest 401(k) providers with around 40 million individual investors and around $11.3 trillion in assets under administration. The letter said in part, "we write … Continue Reading
July 18, 2022
Durbin: There Is No Excuse For FDA's Food Safety Failures To Persist
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted his Food Safety Administration Act of 2022, legislation he introduced with Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) that would establish the Food Safety Administration, a single food safety agency responsible for ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply. This new agency would take over food safety responsibilities currently housed at the Food … Continue Reading
July 13, 2022
Durbin, Blumenthal, DeLauro Introduce Food Safety Administration Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Chair of the House Appropriations Committee Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) introduced the Food Safety Administration Act of 2022, legislation that would establish the Food Safety Administration, a single food safety agency responsible for ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply. This new agency would take over food safety responsibilities currently housed at the Food and Drug Administration … Continue Reading