Press Releases
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Curb Food Waste
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Hunger Caucus and member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today introduced the bipartisan Reduce Food Loss and Waste Act, legislation that would prevent and reduce food waste across the country. Each year, the U.S. produces and imports 237 million tons of food annually, but 31 percent of this food is never sold or eaten, while millions of Americans experience food … Continue Reading
March 04, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against Trump's Tariffs On Mexico & Canada
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke out against President Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. As of today, President Trump has instituted a 25 percent tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, as well as an additional 10 percent on goods from China, bringing the total to 20 percent tariffs on China. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that the Trump tariffs would not lower prices, as he promised during his campaign, … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin: We Need To Stand Behind NATO And Ukraine, Hitching Our Star To Vladimir Putin Is A Fool's Errand
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, slammed President Trump and Vice President Vance’s tense and embarrassing meeting in the Oval Office on Friday with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Durbin began his remarks by reflecting on Casimir Pulaski Day—a local holiday observed in Illinois on the first Monday of March in memory of Casimir Pulaski, a Revolutionary War cavalry officer born in Poland. This … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin Speaks Out Against Republicans' So-Called "Protection Of Women And Girls In Sports Act"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor against the so-called Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act—a Republican bill that would revoke federal funding from schools with athletic programs that allow trans girls to participate on sports teams for women or girls. The bill—which lacks a clear enforcement mechanism—could subject women and girls to physical inspection by an adult if someone … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin Announces Dr. Sokol, Pediatric Oncologist And NIH-Funded Researcher, As Guest For President Trump's Joint Address To Congress
WASHINGTON - Today in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that he will host Dr. Elizabeth Sokol, a pediatric oncologist and researcher from Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, as his guest for President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress tomorrow evening. In his remarks, Durbin underscored that President Trump and Elon Musk’s move to gut funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will have disastrous, long-term impacts for Americans … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin, Boozman, Shaheen, Coons Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase U.S. Exports To Africa
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR); Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Chris Coons (D-DE); and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve America’s competitiveness throughout the African continent and in Latin America and the Caribbean. TheIncreasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa and Latin America Act will force better coordination between U.S. … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin, Wyden, Krishnamoorthi Introduce Legislation To Reduce Tobacco Use In America
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), and several Senate Democratic colleagues today introduced the End Tobacco Loopholes Act, legislation that would close tax code loopholes for tobacco products to lower tobacco use and reduce health care spending. The legislation would establish a federal tax on e-cigarettes as 30 states have done, update the federal cigarette tax rate for the first time … Continue Reading
March 03, 2025
Durbin, Senate Judiciary Democrats Press Justice Department On Diversion Of Law Enforcement To Purported Immigration Enforcement Initiative
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led all Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in pressing Attorney General Pam Bondi on her reallocation of resources from mission-critical Department of Justice (DOJ) projects to purported “immigration enforcement initiatives.” The Justice Department recently issued a directive to take legal action against so-called “sanctuary cities,” demanded an increase in immigration-related … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
Durbin Visits UW Health Women And Children's Hospital To Highlight $1 Million Earmark For NICU
ROCKFORD — U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited UW Health Women and Children’s Hospital to tour their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As part of the Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus bill, Durbin secured a $1 million earmark to expand the NICU and increase available maternal and infant health services in Rockford. The NICU operated by UW Health is the only NICU in Winnebago County that provides services to all Medicaid patients. With the earmark secured by Durbin, the … Continue Reading
February 28, 2025
Durbin Statement On President Trump's Oval Office Remarks To Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
ROCKFORD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, today released the following statement after President Trump and Vice President Vance’s tense and embarrassing meeting in the Oval Office with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy: “After calling the President of Ukraine ‘a dictator’ and blaming him for invading his own country, President Trump and Vice President Vance berated President Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude. With 46,000 Ukrainians … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Durbin: President Trump Is Testing The Limits Of Our Constitution Like They Have Never Been Tested In My Lifetime
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s executive business meeting. In his remarks, Durbin recalled yesterday’s Judiciary Committee nominations hearing in which Justice Department nominees suggested that elected officials are allowed to defy federal court orders. Key Quotes: “During my time on this Committee, my respect has grown for this … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Durbin Introduces Legislation To Terminate AUMFS No Later Than 10 Years After Enactment
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Accountability for Endless Wars Act, legislation to terminate the Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) and declarations of war no later than 10 years after the enactment of such authorizations or declarations. AUMFs set the legal framework, parameters, and constitutional basis for the United States’ military engagements. Durbin was one of 23 Senators to vote against the 2002 Iraq War AUMF. “If the … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Durbin To Trump: Whose Side Are You On? The Police Or The January 6 Rioters?
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, detailed the list of crimes committed by January 6thinsurrectionists, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers, pardoned by President Trump on his first day back in office. The grim result of the insurrection was the subsequent deaths of five law enforcement officers and the injuries to approximately 140 others, many of whom are … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Durbin Statement On Senate Judiciary Committee Vote on The Nomination Of Todd Blanche To Be Deputy Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Committee advanced Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General on a party-line 12-10 vote: “Far too many of President Trump’s nominees simply don’t understand that they swear an oath to the Constitution, not the President. Todd Blanche falls into that category, which he has shown throughout his nomination process. “He repeatedly deflected … Continue Reading
February 27, 2025
Durbin Joins All Agriculture Committee Democrats To Press USDA On Indiscriminate Layoffs
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, this week joined U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in leading all Committee Democrats in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explain recent mass layoffs at the Department. The Senators asked how many USDA employees were fired and for a breakdown by state, agency, job position, and veteran status—all details the Administration has not provided to … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Discusses Illinois' Leadership In Quantum Computing With IBM
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Dr. Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM Quantum, to discuss Illinois’ position as a leader in quantum computing. During their meeting, Durbin received an update on IBM’s plans to join the Illinois Quantum Microelectronics Park (IQMP) on the South Side of Chicago. IBM plans to build a commercial quantum computer at the park and train the needed quantum workforce through the National Quantum Algorithms Center. Illinois … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Exposes Trump's Phony "Energy Emergency," Which Will Only Cut American Jobs And Enrich Big Oil Billionaires
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) disparaged the Trump Administration’s fabricated “energy emergency,” which President Trump declared in a vile effort to use additional presidential authority to fast-track the construction of oil pipelines and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, among many other pro-fossil fuel projects. The false emergency is a thinly veiled effort to appease President Trump’s wealthy donors at the expense of the … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Announces Murkowski As New Cosponsor Of Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
WASHINGTON - Following the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, announced U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is a cosponsor of his Protecting our Guests During Hostilities in Ukraine Act, legislation that would provide temporary guest status to Ukrainians and their immediate family members who are already in the United States … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Talks Transformers, Clean Energy With IMEA/IMUA
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Municipal Electric/Utilities Association (IMEA/IMUA) to discuss clean energy tax credits and addressing the supply chain issues that have led to a shortage of transformers, which are an essential component of electrical infrastructure that adjusts the voltage of currents moving through electrical wires. Due to a sluggish supply chain, building sectors and utilities are grappling with an … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Meets With Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Nominee For NIH Director
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Co-Chair of the Senate NIH Caucus, today met with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, President Trump’s pick to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During the meeting, Durbin questioned Dr. Bhattacharya about President Trump and Elon Musk’s illegal funding cuts at NIH. President Trump and Musk are attempting to cap “indirect costs” at 15 percent for lab capacity, which would be … Continue Reading