Statements and posts
96 press releases and posts, newest first.
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Durbin Receives Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter’s Inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award
Received Federal Bar Association's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for judicial confirmation work.
“Judge Harjani, thank you for that warm introduction and congratulations on the conclusion of your term as president of the Federal Bar Association’s Chicago Chapter.”
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Durbin, Duckworth Announce $300,000 In Funding For Jersey Community Hospital District
Announced $300,000 in federal funding for Jersey Community Hospital District rural EMS training.
“Across Illinois, rural EMS agencies are the first on the scene to respond to community emergencies, the opioid crisis, or natural disasters. But EMTs must have the proper training, equipment, and steady funding to support their efforts to care for their community.”
Rural Health CareAI-read
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Durbin Receives Distinguished Service Award From Illinois Health And Hospital Association
Received Distinguished Service Award for supporting hospitals and expanding health care access.
“Instead of building on the success of the Chicago HEAL Initiative and improving our nation’s health care system, Republicans in Washington have enacted some of the most drastic cuts to Americans’ health coverage by slashing funding for the ACA and Medicaid. Not only are Illinoisans losing their coverage, but hospitals…”
HealthAI-read
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Demanded Trump administration abandon plan to strip tax credits from 700,000 DACA and TPS recipients.
“The proposed rule is clear regulatory overreach that would have disastrous impacts for lawfully present immigrants and their families who are legally eligible for refundable tax credits.”
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Durbin Joins Joint Statement On Bill Pulte Shutting Down FHFA Watchdog
Joined statement opposing FHFA Director's budget cuts to Inspector General office.
“Bill Pulte is shutting down the independent watchdog that is responsible for investigating his misconduct—like his efforts to weaponize private mortgage data in sham investigations against the President’s perceived political enemies. Apparently it wasn’t enough for President Trump to remove the acting inspector general…”
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Durbin Statement On Senate Rejecting Republican Messaging Bills
Criticized Republican bills as messaging and voter suppression.
“In a last-minute gasp before the midterm election, Senate Republicans were hoping to pass a meaningless bill that does nothing to rein in data centers and a voter suppression bill masquerading as an inadequate congressional stock trading ban. Americans need real action, not Republican messaging.”
Stop Insider Trading Act VoteCongressional Stock TradingAI-read
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Questioned judicial nominees on voting rights protections during Senate hearing.
“For 60 years, under the Voting Rights Act, individuals could bring [private] causes of action under that Act. I imagine the theory behind it, and I think I am right, is that that’s the only way for an individual to have a voice questioning government action which denies or limits a person’s right to vote. Is that your…”
Voting AccessAI-read
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Introduced legislation requiring congressional approval before National Archives facility closures.
“Regional National Archives facilities, including Chicago’s Federal Record Center, ensure that Americans can access public and personal records without having to travel across the country. Closing these facilities without the oversight of Congress risks putting those records further out of reach for our communities.”
National Archives Protection ActGovernment Operations and PoliticsAI-read
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Durbin Delivers Opening Statement During Senate Judiciary Committee Nominations Hearing
Criticized Trump administration judicial nominees as extreme during Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“In rare interviews earlier this month, Judge Schiltz and other judges spoke out about the ‘grave threat to the rule of law’ posed by this Administration’s attacks. Last week, Chairman Grassley chastised Judge Schiltz and others, claiming that they violated the judicial canons by granting these interviews. In fact, the…”
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Criticized Trump administration's mass deportation campaign and TPS terminations at Senate forum.
“Yes, we’ve got to have sensible regulation of immigration, but this fear factor is unacceptable. It’s un-American.”
Immigration EnforcementAI-read
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Durbin Questions Former Special Counsel Jack Smith During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Questioned former Special Counsel Jack Smith about toll records and congressional investigations.
“There is, I think, appropriate concern by members of this Committee and members of Congress as to your activities related to their telephone conversations, text messages, and records. Please explain to us what involvement you had with any information from members of Congress?”
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Met with State Department official to discuss global water and sanitation programs.
“Having access to clean water is transformative for the poorest places in the world—it avoids conflicts between nations, keeps girls in schools, reduces infant mortality, and improves health and economic opportunity.”
International AffairsAI-read
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Delivered opening statement at Senate forum opposing Trump administration's TPS terminations.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. Americans are better people than that. We are not going to turn away innocent, hardworking people who are doing their best.”
Immigration EnforcementAI-read
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Defended former Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into Trump at Senate hearing.
“There was nothing untoward about Special Counsel Smith and his fellow prosecutors conducting this investigation. The aspersions cast on Mr. Smith nonstop are petty, personal, and political.”
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Durbin Previews Tomorrow’s Judiciary Committee Hearing With Former Special Counsel Jack Smith
Previewed Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with former Special Counsel Jack Smith.
“Tomorrow, finally, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear from former Special Counsel Jack Smith.”
Jack Smith TestimonyGovernment Operations and PoliticsAI-read
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Durbin: President Trump’s Pocket Rescission Is “An Illegal Power Grab”
Criticized Trump administration's $810 million pocket rescission of congressionally-appropriated funding.
“On Friday night, the Trump Administration announced that the President had unilaterally rescinded nearly $1 billion in funds that Congress had approved for spending on a bipartisan basis. This funding was meant for education programs, health research, assistance for businesses, immigration services, and support to…”
Government SpendingAI-read
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Demanded OMB Director Vought abandon plans to exert political control over NIH funding.
“We write to call on you to abandon any plan to exert political control over NIH’s grant-making decisions — whether that’s through your proposed rule, a new executive order, or any other means—that would empower political appointees to deny funding for grant applications that have already been deemed meritorious by the…”
HealthAI-read
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Voted for Protect College Sports Act including amendment protecting student athlete safety laws.
“With ever-evolving NIL deals, we need real regulations to codify student athletes’ rights to earn money while participating in college sports, and this bipartisan bill does just that.”
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Durbin Statement On Trump’s Illegal “Pocket Rescission” Of Nearly $1 Billion
Criticized Trump's $1 billion rescission of congressionally approved funds for education, health, and other programs.
“Billion-dollar ballrooms are full speed ahead, but money for schools is cut. Vanity projects like the Golden Arch are a priority, but medical research for cancer cures is cut. Taxpayer funded political ads of the wartime President are a must, but medical care for children is cut.”
Government SpendingAI-read
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Criticized Supreme Court ruling allowing Trump administration voter screening database ahead of midterms.
“focuse[d] only on the harms the Government will purportedly suffer absent a stay, disregarding the harms that the modified SAVE system has caused, and will likely continue to cause, to lawful voters.”
2026 Midterm Election Interference ConcernsVoting AccessAI-read
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Durbin, Padilla Introduce New Legislation To Prevent Unlawful Immigration Arrests & Detentions
Introduced legislation to prevent unlawful immigration arrests and detentions by federal agents.
“The disturbing reality today is that many American citizens and immigrants with lawful status have been caught in the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate and violent immigration enforcement dragnet across the country.”
Immigration EnforcementAI-read
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Pressed DHS Secretary on refugee admission policies during statutory consultation.
“The Trump Administration’s agenda is clear: prioritize white-only Afrikaners as refugees and disregard the millions of men, women, and children from around the world who are trying to escape horrific violence and persecution.”
Afghan Refugee PolicyAI-read
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Urged Senate Judiciary Committee to investigate Trump Jr.'s gift from Russian oligarch.
“If we ignore this matter in the Senate Judiciary Committee, we run the risk of being complicit in this coverup.”
Fraud EnforcementAI-read
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Released GAO report detailing Trump Administration's flawed immigration detention expansion.
“This report has uncovered more of what we’ve come to expect from the Trump Administration—cavalier and wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars without any benefit to the American people. Remember when Donald Trump promised to get rid of ‘waste, fraud, and abuse’ in Washington? Well, GAO now has exposed a shocking pattern…”
Immigration EnforcementAI-read
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Durbin Introduces Care For Moms Act To Address Maternal Mortality
Introduced CARE for Moms Act to address maternal mortality crisis.
“In the U.S., Black women are three times more likely to die as a result of their pregnancy. It is unacceptable that in this country we are losing mothers and their babies to deaths that could have been prevented with the right interventions and health care.”
HealthAI-read
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Durbin Shares 153rd Dreamer Story On The Senate Floor
Shared 153rd Dreamer story on Senate floor, reaffirming commitment to immigration reform.
“For 25 years, I have come to the Senate floor with a simple request—for Congress to protect children who know no other home than the United States of America. I first made this request after I heard from a constituent—a young high school graduate in Chicago and a brilliant piano prodigy. She was brought to the United…”
ImmigrationAI-read
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Questioned witnesses on Flock surveillance cameras and privacy protections in Senate hearing.
“We are concerned in Illinois with Operation Midway Blitz, where ICE and the Department of Homeland Security came into our state and started looking for people to deport… It turned out that the majority of people they were deporting were not committing any crimes. Our state passed a law which limits law enforcement from…”
Flock Surveillance Camera MisusePrivacy and SurveillanceAI-read
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Spoke at Senate hearing on Flock surveillance cameras, calling for privacy protections on license plate readers.
“We have got to find a way to balance, in America, privacy and security. I think there is a balance. Congress needs to lead the way.”
Flock Surveillance Camera MisusePrivacy and SurveillanceAI-read
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Durbin Denounces Judiciary Committee Republicans’ Hearing On Transgender Athletes
Criticized Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on transgender athletes as misaligned with constituent priorities.
“For these reasons, I refuse to treat this hearing like a responsible exercise of this Committee. I will not ask questions, and the minority did not call any witnesses.”
Sports and RecreationAI-read
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Durbin Backs Senator Curtis’ Call For Senate Judiciary Committee Investigation Into Donald Trump Jr.
Backed Republican senator's call for Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding funding.
“We have enough resources, staff, and talent on a bipartisan basis to call Donald Trump Jr. before the Committee for a deposition, to answer some basic questions about who paid for his wedding ceremony.”
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Durbin, Young Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Children From Lead Poisoning
Introduced bipartisan legislation to update HUD's lead poisoning prevention standards in federally-assisted housing.
“Children should not be at risk from lead poisoning in their own home. We have to do more to address this health hazard before it harms more kids.”
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Durbin Statement On Call for Senate Judiciary Committee Investigation Into Donald Trump Jr.
Called for Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into Donald Trump Jr.'s acceptance of gifts from Russian oligarch.
“In fairness, Hunter Biden has already given a sworn deposition to Congress on this issue of corrupt activity. Donald Trump Jr. has not. For the Committee to ignore this matter is to run the risk of being complicit in a coverup. I will join in supporting Senator Curtis’ request of the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
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Durbin Sounds The Alarm On Trump’s Attacks On A Free & Open Press
Criticized President Trump for banning CNN, MSNBC and Politico from White House grounds.
“President Trump has done more to undermine, belittle, and attack the free and open press than any President in modern history.”
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Led Great Lakes senators in demanding answers on Trump administration's pauses of Brandon Road Interbasin Project.
“We look forward to meeting with you to discuss the project’s pauses and the Administration’s plan to keep the project on schedule.”
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Called on President Trump to press China for release of political prisoners during Xi Jinping visit.
“The meeting between the leaders of our two countries is important and timely. Both nations have a great deal to discuss, including areas of shared concern and disagreement.”
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Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Withholding Air Traffic Controllers’ Pay Raise
Criticized Trump administration for withholding congressionally authorized air traffic controller pay raise.
“Later this afternoon, I’ll take an airplane ride from Washington to Chicago… Once again, as I’ve done thousands of times, I will entrust my safety and my future and my survival to a competent air crew, as well as the air traffic controllers of America. It is one of the most stressful jobs in the world. They work…”
Air Traffic Controller PayAI-read
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Criticized Trump administration for diverting up to $2 billion from NIH to Pentagon.
“There are a lot of issues that come before us in Congress, and there are a lot of political opinions on those issues. What I have found over the years is that there are few issues that transcend politics—medical research is one of those issues. It’s a situation where I don’t care if the researcher, scientist, or doctor…”
Medical Research FundingAI-read
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Durbin Meets With SMART-TD Leadership About Funding Illinois Transit Projects
Met with rail union leaders to discuss surface transportation reauthorization and rail safety.
“Our rail workers serve an integral role in our state’s economy, keeping our transit systems in top shape so they can deliver for riders. The federal government can do its part to support our union workers and our transit systems by pushing for a robust surface transportation reauthorization and greater rail safety…”
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Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing
Questioned judicial nominee's criticism of drug courts during Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“doing great harm by validating and encouraging excuse making and promoting a lack of accountability.”
Crime and Law EnforcementAI-read
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Durbin Meets With United Counties Council Of Illinois
Met with Illinois county officials to discuss SNAP, Social Security, and data center impacts.
“Our government is at its best when our local, state, and federal officials are working together. I hosted county officials from across Illinois for a conversation about how our federal government can support counties in achieving our shared goals.”
Constituent ServicesAI-read