Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Members Of The Illinois Congressional Delegation In Letter Requesting Answers Regarding SBA Administration's Decision To Relocate Chicago Office
CHICAGO - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) along with members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, sent a letter to Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler requesting additional information over the Administration’s announcement to relocate six of its regional offices that do not “comply” with the Administration’s immigration policies, including Chicago. … Continue Reading
March 18, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Colleagues To Push Back On Proposed Cuts To Disaster Recovery Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), along with 40 of their Senate colleagues, in pushing back on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner’s proposed cuts to crucial disaster recovery programs that are under the umbrella of HUD. The cuts would reduce employees at HUD’s office of Community Planning and Development, which administers the … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Durbin Joins Schiff, Senate Democrats In Demanding USDA Reverse $1 Billion In Canceled Local Food Purchases For Schools, Farmers
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, along with 29 Senators, sent a letter demanding a reversal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) cancellation of food purchase programs across the United States, warning of the harmful impacts this move will have on both families and American farmers. Slashing funding for locally sourced, nutritious food in schools showcases the hypocrisy of … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Durbin, Padilla, Booker, Welch Statement On Trump Invoking The Alien Enemies Act To Target Immigrants Without Due Process
SPRINGFIELD - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Peter Welch (D-VT) issued the following statement after President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, claiming wartime power to deport noncitizens without due process: “Over the weekend, President Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens without due process. This attempt to use an … Continue Reading
March 17, 2025
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Raise Concerns About How Great Lakes Will Be Impacted By NOAA Firings
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with six of their colleagues, in pressing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for more information about the termination of probationary staff and the potential impact these firings will have on the Great Lakes. “We write to express our deep concern over the firing of probationary staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2025
Durbin Statement On The Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through September 30, 2025: “There is very little about this CR that I like—but there is even less I like about shutting down the government. With Donald Trump and Elon Musk taking a chainsaw to the federal government’s workforce and illegally freezing federal funding, the … Continue Reading
March 13, 2025
Durbin, Judiciary Committee Democrats Vote Against Three Trump DOJ Nominees
WASHINGTON - During an executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and all Committee Democrats voted against three of President Trump’s Department of Justice (DOJ) nominees: John Sauer to be Solicitor General, Harmeet Dhillon to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, and Aaron Reitz to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy. On the votes, Durbin issued the following … Continue Reading
March 13, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Business Meeting For Justice Department 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 executive business meeting on the nominations of Harmeet Dhillon, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division; Aaron Reitz, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy; and D. John Sauer, to be Solicitor General of the United States. During his opening remarks, Durbin … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Sits Down With Illinois Corn Growers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with the Illinois Corn Growers to discuss Illinois agricultural priorities. During their meeting, Durbin and the members of the Illinois Corn Growers spoke about the price downturns in the farming sector and the multiple economic uncertainties resulting from current federal actions, including the Trump Administration’s tariff policies, the delayed … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Members of National League Of Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois leaders with the National League of Cities as they visited Capitol Hill. During their meeting, Durbin and the local leaders spoke about a number of Illinois priorities, including continuing infrastructure and transportation projects that are impacted by President Trump’s decision to freeze federal funding. Earlier this week, Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy seeking clarity on the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Republicans AGAIN Reject Durbin's Unanimous Consent Request To Pass Resolution In Support Of Medical Research At NIH As Elon Musk, President Trump Continue To Slash Funding
WASHINGTON - Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) again asked for unanimous consent (UC) to pass a resolution he introduced with U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), as well as 21 other Senators, that would support the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources for researchers discovering cures at NIH. The resolution simply states that the … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Legislation To Strengthen Security Cooperation With The Baltics Amid Russian Aggression
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Co-Chairs of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, introduced the Baltic Security Initiative Act, bipartisan legislation to effectively codify the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI) effort, which will enhance and strengthen U.S. security cooperation with the Baltics amid an increase of Russian hybrid attacks in the Baltics and across Europe, and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. In Fiscal Year 2024, … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Renewable Fuels Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today met with members of the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) to discuss federal actions needed to help ethanol production in Illinois and nationally. Durbin has been a long-time supporter of biofuels production in Illinois. Attending the meeting was a representative from Big River Resources, which operates an ethanol plant in Galva, Illinois. “Today, I sat … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Protect Students And Taxpayers From Predatory Higher Education Practices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Preventing Risky Operations from Threatening the Education and Career Trajectories of Students Act, also known as the PROTECT Students Act. The bill will help safeguard students, including service members and veterans, and taxpayers from predatory and anti-student higher education practices and ensure that higher education meets the needs of hard-working students. The PROTECT Students Act represents common-sense … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Health Director As Trump Administration Threatens Public Health Programs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Sameer Vohra, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), to discuss protecting public health resources in Illinois as the Trump Administration continues to dismantle support for public health. In their meeting, Durbin and Dr. Vohra spoke about the potential $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid proposed by congressional Republicans in order to fund tax cuts for billionaires, which could endanger health … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Speaks On President Trump's Nominee To Lead FDA
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today shared more about his meeting with President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dr. Marty Makary. During his floor speech, Durbin highlighted ways Mr. Makary, if confirmed, and the Senator could work together, such as promoting healthy food, addressing the deceptive direct-to-consumer (DTC) prescription drug advertisements on TV, or better ensuring the safety of … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Statement On Trump Administration Cutting The Department Of Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced that it will fire more than 1,315 employees at the U.S. Department of Education: “Students, educators, and public servants are the victims of President Trump’s latest attempt to gut the federal government. This is appalling. “Make no mistake - this is not about ‘efficiency.’ This shameful decision to attack the Education Department is just the first … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Durbin, Warren, Welch, Sanders Demand Answers From Telehealth Companies Regarding Their Financial Relationship With Pfizer, Eli Lilly Amid Concerns Of Inappropriate Prescribing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent letters to five telehealth companies that have held contracts with Pfizer and Eli Lilly, inquiring about their financial relationships and possible influence on prescriptions for medications from those two pharmaceutical manufacturers. These new arrangements can use direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements that steer patients toward particular medications and create the potential for inappropriate prescribing that can increase … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On The STOP CSAM Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism hearing entitled “Ending the Scourge: The Need for the STOP CSAM Act.” Durbin’s bipartisan legislation, the STOP CSAM Act, which he announced he would soon reintroduce with U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), would crack down on the proliferation of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online … Continue Reading
March 11, 2025
Durbin Meets With FDA Commissioner Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Marty Makary, President Trump’s nominee to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). During their meeting, Durbin asked Dr. Makary about his views on regulating addictive and harmful e-cigarettes, which are used by two million children in the United States. For years, FDA has failed to follow the law that requires an e-cigarette to first prove it is “appropriate for the protection of public … Continue Reading