Press Releases
Durbin Statement On The Confirmation Of Kash Patel, President Trump's Pick For FBI Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against President Donald Trump’s pick to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel. The Senate voted to confirm his nomination by a vote of 51-49. “After meeting with Mr. Patel, reviewing his record, and questioning him at his hearing, I am convinced that he has neither the experience, the judgment, nor the temperament to lead the FBI. My … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Senate Judiciary Democrats Slam DOJ Decision To Replace Apolitical Ethics Official With Inexperienced Political Appointees
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in an oversight letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, criticizing Department of Justice (DOJ) officials’ reported decision to replace a high-ranking career official handling sensitive ethics matters with two inexperienced political appointees. The decision is a dramatic departure from … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin: Kash Patel's Record Shows He Is A Dangerous, Inexperienced, & Dishonest Trump Loyalist Who Is Not Qualified To Serve As Next FBI Director
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered his closing argument against the nomination of Kash Patel to serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). In his remarks delivered shortly before the vote on Patel’s nomination, Durbin underscored Patel’s extremism, his blind loyalty to President Trump, his dangerous support of January 6 insurrectionists, and his … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin, Marshall Introduce Protecting Patients From Deceptive Drug Ads Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) today introduced the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act, bipartisan legislation that would protect public health and close regulatory loopholes by having the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) address false and misleading prescription drug promotions by social media influencers and telehealth companies. The prevalence of online promotions and direct-to-consumer advertisements … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Criticizes Trump And Musk For Dismantling Of USAID And Harming American Farmers In Senate Floor Speech
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) criticized President Trump and Elon Musk’s ill-advised mission to dismantle the U.S. Agency forInternational Development (USAID)—the largest distributor of humanitarian aid in the world. Consequently, programs that provide clean drinking water, treat debilitating disease, and advance human rights have been shut down, recklessly gutting American soft power and providing a huge strategic opening … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin: President Trump Is A Pushover For Russian President Vladimir 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, spoke on the Senate floor condemning President Donald Trump after he publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, President Trump also falsely claimed that Ukraine started the war against Russia. “Three years ago, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was not a partisan issue in the United States. Congressmen … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Stopping The Exploitation Of Children Online
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 “Children’s Safety in the Digital Era: Strengthening Protections and Addressing Legal Gaps.” Durbin questioned Mary Leary, a Law Professor at Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law, about Section 230 immunity. In his remarks, Durbin cited his own experience going after Big Tobacco and in … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin, Hawley Announce Reintroduction Of Stop CSAM Act
WASHINGTON - In conjunction with today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety online, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) announced that they will reintroduce the STOP CSAM Act. The bipartisan legislation would crack down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by allowing victims to sue companies that host this material, among other things. The Judiciary … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Comments About Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, released the following statement after President Donald Trump publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In the post, President Trump claimed the U.S. was “duped” into spending billions to help Ukraine defend itself following Russia’s 2022 full-scale military invasion and that President Zelenskyy is a “dictator without elections.” Further parroting a Kremlin propaganda point, … Continue Reading
February 19, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Stopping The Exploitation Of Children Online
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 entitled “Children’s Safety in the Digital Era: Strengthening Protections and Addressing Legal Gaps.” Reports of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) have exploded in recent years. Between March 2009 and February 2022, the number of victims identified in CSAM rose tenfold from 2,172 victims to more than … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin Slams Senate Republicans For Blindly Supporting Kash Patel For FBI Director Despite Serious Concerns On Fitness To Serve
WASHINGTON - Ahead of tonight’s procedural vote on the nomination of Kash Patel to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate Floor regarding his serious concerns about Mr. Patel, which includes whistleblower reports that Mr. Patel has been personally involved in the ongoing purge of FBI officials. Key Quotes: “After meeting with Mr. Patel, reviewing his … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin Condemns President Trump's Art Of Appeasement To Russian President Vladimir Putin
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Russian President Vladimir Putin—where Trump announced key concessions to Putin regarding Ukraine, while apparently ignoring Ukraine’s key demands. Durbin began his speech by recounting history in which British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain touted the now infamous Munich Agreement as the way to stave off Hitler’s Nazi Germany. One year later, Hitler … Continue Reading
February 18, 2025
Durbin, Cassidy Introduce Bill To Rename Street Near The Russian Ambassador's Residence After Alexei Navalny
WASHINGTON - Surrounding the one-year anniversary of Alexei Navalny’s tragic death in a Russian prison, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today introduced legislation to rename a section of the street near the Russian Ambassador to the United States’ residence as “Alexei Navalny Way.” Alexei Navalny was an opposition leader and anticorruption activist who led the political opposition against Russian President Vladimir Putin for more than … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Durbin, Judiciary Committee Democrats Call For DOJ Inspector General Investigation Into Attempt To Dismiss Charges Against Mayor Adams In Exchange For Assisting Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) Michael Horowitz urging him to investigate Attorney General Pam Bondi and Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove for seeking to dismiss the prosecution of New York City Mayor Eric Adams for blatantly partisan reasons. They also requested that Mr. Horowitz immediately seek the … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Durbin Statement On Chicago Department of Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee's Retirement
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on Jamie Rhee’s retirement as Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation: “Since Jamie Rhee first started her career with the City of Chicago in 1994 as an airport information officer, she has amassed 30 years of service to the city. She spent the last seven years of that career as the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, dedicated to making O’Hare and Midway the best they … Continue Reading
February 14, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Help Unveil Bill To Raise Minimum Age To Buy Assault Weapons
WASHINGTON - On the seventh anniversary of the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, 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 joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in announcing legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines from 18 to 21, the same age requirement that already applies to … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Entire Democratic Caucus To Raise Alarm Over Trump Administration Pushing Illegal, Indiscriminate Funding Cuts To NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Medical Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), as well as the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing serious alarm over the Trump Administration’s recent decisions that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and setting progress back generations. The steps the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin, Daines Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Support The Future Of Quantum Research At Energy Department
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the United States’ capacity to invest in quantum information science and research and development (R&D) through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). As quantum science, engineering, and technology advances, the DOE Quantum Leadership Act of 2025 would reinvigorate R&D projects at DOE by authorizing more than $2.5 billion in funding over the … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin Votes 'No' On Advancing President Trump's Pick To Be FBI Director, Kash Patel
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voted against advancing President Donald Trump’s pick to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, in the Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting this morning. The Committee voted to advance his nomination on a party-line vote of 12-10. Key Quotes: “After reviewing Kash Patel’s record, meeting with him, and questioning him at his … Continue Reading
February 13, 2025
Durbin Statement On Confirmation of RFK Jr. As Director Of The Department Of Health And Human Services
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after voting against the confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): “HHS is a life or death department. Every day, federal health officials decide whether to approve a new medication, initiate a recall over a contaminated food, investigate new therapies for cancer clinical trials, or alert doctors about an … Continue Reading