Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Statement On Trump Firing Attorney General Pam Bondi
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi: “Pam Bondi’s legacy will be the weaponization of the world’s preeminent law enforcement agency for Donald Trump’s personal benefit, but apparently even she didn’t go far enough to appease him. “Donald Trump wants an unyielding loyalist who will cover up his crimes, prosecute his perceived … Continue Reading
March 25, 2026
Durbin, Whitehouse, Hawley Call On Supreme Court To Reject Georgia-Pacific’s Attempt To Use A Bankruptcy Maneuver To Evade Accountability To Hundreds Of Thousands Of Asbestos Victims
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in Official Committee of Asbestos Claimants of Bestwall LLC v. Bestwall LLC, supporting the hundreds of thousands of victims of exposure to Georgia-Pacific’s asbestos-linked products. To avoid facing the legal claims of victims in court, Georgia-Pacific “moved” to … Continue Reading
March 19, 2026
Durbin Introduces No Bailout For Crypto Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the No Bailout for Crypto Actto prevent taxpayers from footing the cost of a federal bailout for crypto companies if the industry causes an economic crash or sees mass bankruptcies. While the cryptocurrency industry has made sweeping promises of a decentralized financial system, faster payments, and financial inclusion, reality shows that crypto is volatile, and the industry is riddled with corruption. The 2008 … Continue Reading
March 13, 2026
As The President Continues To Line His Pockets Off Cryptocurrency Schemes, Durbin Introduces No Crypto In Social Security Act
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the No Crypto in Social Security Act to ensure that the Social Security Trust Funds never invest in cryptocurrencies. The Social Security Trust Funds hold $2.56 trillion in assets (as of January 2026), which are invested in U.S. Treasury securities by law. However, given President Trump’s efforts to integrate cryptocurrencies further into the U.S. financial system, the Social Security Trust Funds must be safeguarded to ensure … Continue Reading
March 12, 2026
Durbin Discusses Credit Card Competition Act With National Restaurant Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois members of the National Restaurant Association to discuss the impact of credit card swipe fees, one of the highest operating costs for restaurants. Earlier this year, Durbin reintroduced his bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, which President Trump publicly endorsed in January. The legislation would require the largest banks in the country to offer two networks to be used to process credit card transactions … Continue Reading
March 11, 2026
As Prices Continue To Rise, Durbin Condemns Trump Administration Policies That Continue To Hurt American Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today criticizing the Trump Administration for disregarding Americans’ concerns with the rising costs of food, power, housing, health care, and more. President Trump has previously dismissed the affordability crisis we are facing in the U.S. as a “hoax.” “Our job as elected officials is to give Americans a helping hand to afford these necessities. Sadly, the Administration has not learned that lesson. On … Continue Reading
March 10, 2026
Durbin Highlights His Amendments To Housing Bill That Address The Volatility And Corruption Of Cryptocurrency Industry
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor to highlight three amendments he filed to the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act that would address the volatility and corruption of the cryptocurrency industry and provide important protections for American taxpayers and consumers. Specifically, Durbin’s amendments would crack down on crypto ATM fraud, prevent crypto companies from receiving a taxpayer-funded bailout, and make it explicitly … Continue Reading
March 06, 2026
Durbin Files Housing, Crypto Amendments To Road To Housing Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he filed five amendments to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bipartisan housing package that is being considered by the Senate next week. Durbin’s five amendments would ensure that families living in federally assisted housing are safe from lead poisoning; that housing is accessible and affordable for American families; that consumers are protected from fraudsters operating cryptocurrency ATM scams; that … Continue Reading
February 24, 2026
Durbin Reacts To Supreme Court Striking Down Trump’s Tariff Tax
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reacted to last week’s Supreme Court ruling to strike down most—70 percent—of the tariffs enacted by President Trump. “Tariffs can be useful when used strategically, but President Trump exceeded these authorities, as clearly defined by Congress, and the Supreme Court, by a vote of 6-3, told him as much. He defied basic economic sense,” Durbin said. “Just ask any American business or consumer who … Continue Reading
February 23, 2026
Durbin Files Amicus Brief In Support Of The U.S. District Court For The District Of North Dakota's Ruling In Corner Post, Inc. V. Board Of Governors Of The Federal Reserve System
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and author of the Durbin Amendment, filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in support of the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota's ruling in Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In August 2025, the District Court ruled that the Federal Reserve’s Regulation II (Reg II) rule, which establishes whether … Continue Reading
February 20, 2026
Durbin Statement On The Supreme Court Striking Down President Trump’s Tariffs
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement after the Supreme Court dealt a blow to the Trump Administration by ruling against the President’s sweeping tariff policy: “Despite his promises to ‘lower costs on Day One’ and that his tariffs would somehow ‘liberate the American taxpayer,’ in reality, the misguided Trump Tariff Tax on goods imported into the United States created a burden on families and … Continue Reading
February 12, 2026
Durbin, Warnock, Schneider Introduce Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), today introduced bicameral legislation that increases federal investments in worker training and helps prepare workers for the jobs of the future. The Investing in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would ensure that American workers have the skills needed to successfully navigate the transition into higher-skilled positions and in-demand … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin, Reed, Doggett Introduce Bill To Stop Tax-Dodging Corporate Inversion Schemes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), along with U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX-37), today introduced the Stop Corporate Inversions Act, a bill to stop business practices known as inversions—corporate deals that allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship from the United States to a low-tax foreign jurisdiction, while keeping their executives and headquarters in the United States. This is accomplished by merging … Continue Reading
February 11, 2026
Durbin Commends Ruling That Upholds The Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead sponsor of the Credit Card Competition Act and the Durbin Amendment, released the following statement after a federal judge ruled against the banks in Illinois Bankers Association v. Raoul, a lawsuit brought by the banks to prevent the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act (IFPA) from taking effect. In the ruling, Chief Judge Virginia Kendall agreed with the arguments in … Continue Reading
February 09, 2026
Durbin, Reed, Delauro Introduce American Business For American Companies Act
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), and U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) today reintroduced the bicameral American Business for American Companies Act, legislation that would extend the year-to-year government wide ban on federal contracts for inverted corporations by moving it out of the annual appropriations process and into permanent law. Corporate inversions allow U.S. companies to shift their corporate citizenship … Continue Reading
February 06, 2026
Durbin Secures Support For Illinois Priorities In Recently Passed Package Of Five Government Funding Bills
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced the various priorities for Illinois he secured in the recently passed package of five government funding bills for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Defense; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; and State and Foreign Operations for Fiscal Year 2026. “With … Continue Reading
February 03, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth, Foster Introduce New Legislation To Boost Housing Stock Across The Country
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today introduced new legislation that would address the housing shortage in the United States, which has priced millions of Americans out of home ownership. To mitigate barriers to home ownership and incentivize builders to focus on constructing resilient and affordable homes, the Advancing Better Options for Dwellings Everywhere (ABODE) Act would … Continue Reading
January 30, 2026
Durbin Statement On President Trump Nominating Kevin Warsh To Be The Next Federal Reserve Chair
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding President Trump announcing Kevin Warsh as his pick to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve: “The Federal Reserve, called by some our nation’s ‘central bank,’ has a straightforward mission: guide monetary policy to increase employment, corral inflation, and keep America’s economy on a stable, positive course. Key to the Fed’s effectiveness is its credibility and independence. … Continue Reading
January 29, 2026
Durbin Statement On Senate Agriculture Committee Advancing Partisan Crypto Market Structure Legislation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after the Committee advanced cryptocurrency market structure legislation along party lines. Republicans also voted to reject two amendments that Durbin offered in order to strengthen the bill. Durbin’s amendments attempted to crack down on crypto ATM fraud and ban some crypto intermediaries from receiving a federal bailout. “The 2008 financial crisis was … Continue Reading
January 21, 2026
Durbin, Duckworth Release Data On Rising Cost Of Living In Illinois Under Trump Administration
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) shared data from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) showing that the average Illinois household has paid $1,781 in higher costs since President Trump took office one year ago. Despite numerous claims that the second Trump Administration will lower the cost of living for Americans, President Trump has instead focused his energy on slashing $1 trillion in Medicaid funds, pricing out … Continue Reading