Press Releases
Durbin, King, Smith, Wyden Introduce Legislation To Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) today introduced legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The legislation, known as the Affordable College Textbook Act, would authorize a competitive grant program to support the creation and expansion of open college textbooks—textbooks that are … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Questions Justice Department Executive Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Justice Department executive nominees at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today. Durbin first questioned Aaron Reitz, nominated to be Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy (OLP), if he has ever supported the idea that an elected official may defy a federal court order. In his questioning, Durbin recalled that on March 30, 2020, U.S. District Judge … Continue Reading
February 26, 2025
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing For Justice Department Executive 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 hearing 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 (OLP); and D. John Sauer, to be Solicitor General of the United States. During his opening remarks, Durbin condemned President … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Announces Resolution With Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Other Senate Democrats To Support Critical Work 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) 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 pledge support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as President Trump and Elon Musk continue to illegally cut funding and resources at NIH. The resolution simply says that the work of NIH should not be … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Durbin, Schiff, Senate Judiciary Democrats Oppose Use Of Federal Prisons As Part Of President Trump's Mass Deportation Efforts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) led a group of Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats in a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi stating opposition to the Trump Administration’s intended use of Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities to detain immigrants. The move is a policy revival from President Trump’s first Administration, where detained immigrants described allegations of … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Following The Third Anniversary Of Russia's War In Ukraine, Durbin Meets With Members Of The Illinois Ukrainian American Community To Offer Support
WASHINGTON - Following the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, met with members of the Illinois Ukrainian American community to offer support as President Trump continues his affinity for Russian President Vladimir Putin and harmful rhetoric toward Ukraine and President Zelenskyy. During the meeting, Durbin condemned President Trump’s appeasement to Putin—with Trump … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Durbin Meets With Harmeet Dhillon, President Trump's Nominee For Assistant Attorney General For Civil Rights Division
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after meeting with Harmeet Dhillon, President Trump’s nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division: “We’re witnessing an unprecedented weaponization of the Justice Department right now, at the direction of President Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel. Ms. Dhillon’s record as a … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Announces Introduction Of Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act To Crack Down On Crypto Scams That They Prey On Seniors
WASHINGTON - Today, in a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, announced the introduction of the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act to help prevent scammers from stealing Americans’ savings through cryptocurrency schemes. Each year, Americans, especially seniors, lose tens of millions of dollars to scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs. The largely unregulated nature of these machines, coupled with the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Join Pritzker And Illinois Congressional Delegation In Pressing White House On Withholding $1.8 Billion From Taxpayers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and members of the Illinois congressional delegation in issuing a joint letter to White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought demanding action and accountability from OMB on the approximately $1.88 billion in funding that is illegally being withheld from Illinois taxpayers despite the funding being appropriated by Congress … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
Durbin, Crapo Celebrate Senate Passage of Bipartisan Resolution To Designate February As American Heart Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Heart and Stroke Caucus, today celebrated Senate passage of their bipartisan resolution to designate February 2025 as American Heart Month. The resolution reaffirms the government’s commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease by supporting research and improving access to affordable, quality care to reduce long-term disability and mortality. “As the leading cause … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
On Third Anniversary Of Russia's Full-Scale Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Reiterates Bipartisan Congressional Support For Ukraine
WASHINGTON - On the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, spoke on the Senate floor in support of Ukraine. During his speech, Durbin 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 reflecting on President Reagan’s … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
On The Third Anniversary Of Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine, Durbin Introduces Bill To Grant Ukrainians Already In The U.S. Temporary Guest Status
WASHINGTON - On 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, today introduced the 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 through the “Uniting for Ukraine” parole process. The bill … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
Durbin, Senate Judiciary, Approps Democratic Leaders Denounce President Trump's Unlawful Transfer Of Immigrants To Guantánamo
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, led Democratic leaders of the Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees in a letter to President Trump denouncing his transfer of immigrants from the United States to Guantánamo as unlawful and asking for answers to basic questions yet to be provided to Congress. The Senators begin by denouncing the transfers, writing: “We write to object to your illegal and unjustified … Continue Reading
February 24, 2025
Durbin Reintroduced Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Rural Postal Processing Facilities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced bipartisan legislation that would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to protect mail processing centers in rural communities by mandating a study on the consequences of downsizing or closing these facilities, which is already required before the closure of a storefront post office, but not forProcessing and Distribution Centers (P&DCs). The Postal Processing Protection Act … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Republicans Block Durbin-Murray Amendment To Reverse Devastating And Illegal Cuts To NIH Medical Research
SPRINGFIELD - Last night during the Senate’s vote-a-rama, Senate Republicans blocked U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) amendment that would reverse massive, arbitrary cuts to lifesaving medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to make earlier this year by freezing federal grant funding and setting the maximum reimbursement rate … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Republicans Block Durbin-Murray Amendment To Reverse Devastating And Illegal Cuts To NIH Medical Research
SPRINGFIELD - Last night during the Senate’s vote-a-rama, Senate Republicans blocked U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) amendment that would reverse massive, arbitrary cuts to lifesaving medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that President Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to make earlier this year by freezing federal grant funding and setting the maximum reimbursement rate … Continue Reading
February 21, 2025
Durbin Joins Introduction Of Legislation To Defund Implementation Of Trump's Unconstitutional Attempt To Eliminate Birthright Citizenship
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) to introduce the Born in the USA Act to effectively block the implementation of President Trump’s unconstitutional Executive Order attempting to end automatic citizenship for children born in the United States. This bill would prevent any government funds from being used to carry out or enforce this directive, which violates the U.S. … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin Stresses Need To Remove Big Tech's Liability Shield To Protect Kids From Online Fentanyl Sales
WASHINGTON - During an executive business meeting to consider the HALT Fentanyl Act, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the importance of allowing people to sue social media companies when they or their loved ones are harmed by online fentanyl sales. Durbin offered an amendment to the bill to repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which he ultimately withdrew after securing an agreement with U.S. Senator … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin Files Amendments To Republicans' Budget Bill
WASHINGTON - Ahead of tonight’s vote-a-rama, where Senate Democrats will expose the truth about Republicans’ reconciliation budget bill, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, filed amendments that reflect his priorities as Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee. “Overnight, Senate Republicans will attempt to advance a budget resolution that clears the way to cut taxes for President Trump and Elon Musk’s billionaire friends. And … Continue Reading
February 20, 2025
Durbin Rebukes Trump Administration's Dangerous, Unprecedented Actions Undermining The Rule Of Law
WASHINGTON - At today’s Senate Judiciary Committee executive business meeting, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, began the meeting by detailing how unprecedented, dangerous actions by the Trump Administration are actively undermining the rule of law and making Americans less safe. Today marks one month since Donald Trump was inaugurated. Key Quotes: “On Monday, President Trump posted on social media ‘He who saves his Country … Continue Reading