Press Releases
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Releases Revealing Investigative Report On Inadequate Care In Customs And Border Protection Facilities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released an interim staff report and the findings of a months-long investigation into the chronic failure to provide adequate medical care to vulnerable individuals in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody, including a first-of-its-kind map of CBP medical processes, analyses of deficient medical care in CBP facilities, powerful testimony from impacted whistleblowers, … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Meets With Former Congressman Sean Duffy, President Trump's Nominee For Secretary Of Transportation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with former U.S. Congressman Sean Duffy, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Transportation. During their meeting, Durbin asked Duffy about President Trump’s recent executive order directing agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of funds appropriated through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and what that means for the future of transportation and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bill To Crack Down On Prescription Drug Advertisements, Boost Price Transparency
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), senior member and former chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the bipartisan Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Questions Brooke Rollins, Nominee For Secretary Of Agriculture, In Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today questioned Brooke Rollins, President Trump’s pick to be the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, during her nomination hearing. Durbin began his questioning by asking Ms. Rollins about President Trump’s promise to conduct a mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, many of whom are critical to farm operations. “I want to talk about one thing that is in … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against Unqualified Nominee For Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke out against Pete Hegseth’s nomination to serve as the Secretary of Defense. Durbin explained his objections to Hegseth’s nomination, including his inability to articulate a defense strategy in addressing threats to the U.S., his disparaging comments about women serving in the military, and troubling reports of financial mismanagement, alcohol abuse, and sexual misconduct. “Over the last … Continue Reading
January 23, 2025
Durbin Highlights Bill To Crack Down On Prescription Drug Advertisements, Boost Price Transparency On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor highlighting his Drug-price Transparency for Consumers (DTC) Act, a bill he is introducing with Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) that would require price disclosures on advertisements for prescription drugs in order to empower patients and reduce Americans’ colossal spending on medications. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that prescription drugs advertised directly to … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Ahead Of The Roe V. Wade Anniversary, Durbin Condemns Republicans' Sham "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act"
WASHINGTON - Ahead of the 52nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against Republicans’ so-called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that would threaten health care providers with jail time and make it harder for women to access comprehensive and compassionate health care. Durbin said, “As a result of Roe, America’s women took a giant step forward in gender equity—the … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Meets With Secretary Of Agriculture Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today met with Brooke Rollins, nominee to serve as the Secretary of Agriculture, in advance of her nomination hearing scheduled this week before the committee. During their meeting, Durbin shared the agriculture and nutrition priorities of Illinois, and Rollins spoke about her agriculture priorities if she were to be confirmed. Durbin raised the importance of preserving a strong … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Calls Out "Full, Complete, And Unconditional" Pardons Given by President Trump To January 6 Insurrectionists Who Violently Assaulted Police Officers
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced President Trump’s decision to pardon January 6th insurrectionists, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers. In his remarks, Durbin read from an NPR article, describing in detail the crimes committed by the insurrectionists. “We should reflect on these pardons and the people who received them,” Durbin began. “‘[Here … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin Statement On Voting Against Republicans' Failed "Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against cloture on the motion to proceed to Republicans’ so-called Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, legislation that would threaten health care providers with jail time and make it harder for women to access comprehensive and compassionate health care: “Instead of addressing the health care crisis that Dobbs has … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin: Kash Patel Has Neither The Experience, Temperament, Nor Judgement To Lead The FBI
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today outlined how Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has neither the experience, the temperament, nor the judgment to lead the FBI. Durbin met with Mr. Patel in his Capitol office yesterday. “It [the FBI] plays a critical role in keeping Americans safe from terrorism, violent crime, and … Continue Reading
January 22, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Stellantis Investment In U.S. Auto Plants, Including Belvidere
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement on Stellantis and United Auto Workers’ (UAW) announcement that Stellantis will invest in upgrading its U.S. auto plants across the country, including investing $1.2 billion in the Belvidere Assembly plant in Illinois. As a result of the investment, approximately 1,500 jobs will come back to the Belvidere Assembly plant, which was also selected to build … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Durbin Statement On Meeting With President Trump's FBI Director Nominee, Kash Patel
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 Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): “Kash Patel has neither the experience, the temperament, nor the judgment to lead the FBI. “We were reminded on 9/11 that the FBI is the first agency we rely on to keep America safe. The 30,000 professionals at the FBI have the … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against President Trump's Executive Actions Taken On Day One
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against executive actions taken by President Donald Trump on day one of his second term, including cracking down on immigrant communities, that, among other things, attempt to deprive U.S.-born children of citizenship, suspend refugee resettlement, and require the military to divert resources to the southern border. Durbin also spoke out … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against President Trump's Executive Actions Taken On Day One
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke out against executive actions taken by President Donald Trump on day one of his second term, including cracking down on immigrant communities, that, among other things, attempt to deprive U.S.-born children of citizenship, suspend refugee resettlement, and require the military to divert resources to the southern border. Durbin also spoke out … Continue Reading
January 21, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump's Pardons Of January 6th Insurrection—Including Those Who Violently Assaulted Law Enforcement Officers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after President Donald Trump granted pardons and commutations for those who participated in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers: “On January 6, 2021, a Constitutional proceeding was disrupted when a mob of Trump-inspired thugs attacked and trashed the U.S. Capitol in … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump's Day One Anti-Immigrant Executive Orders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed executive orders cracking down on immigrant communities, that, among other things, attempt to deprive U.S.-born children of citizenship, suspend refugee resettlement, and require the military to divert resources to the southern border: “We all agree that our border must be … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump's Day One Anti-Immigrant Executive Orders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today issued the following statement after President Donald Trump signed executive orders cracking down on immigrant communities, that, among other things, attempt to deprive U.S.-born children of citizenship, suspend refugee resettlement, and require the military to divert resources to the southern border: “We all agree that our border must be … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senator Marco Rubio's Confirmation As Secretary Of State
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate confirmed the nomination of Senator Marco Rubio to be the next U.S. Secretary of State: “Senator Rubio and I share many similar views on foreign policy and as a result, have worked closely together in the Senate regarding human rights, the challenges regarding China, and the recent sham election in Venezuela. When I met with him earlier this month, I reiterated the need to … Continue Reading
January 20, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of The Laken Riley Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the Laken Riley Act: “The loss of a child is something no parent should have to endure, and we should do everything possible to make sure what happened to Laken Riley never happens again. But as I have said numerous times, this bill will not accomplish its stated goal. I’m genuinely disappointed in the passage of this bill … Continue Reading