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Showing 637 posts and replies from Richard J. Durbin.
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- RD
Voting rights used to be an overwhelming bipartisan cause. Donald Trump has changed that. We need an explicit guarantee to the right to vote in the Constitution. I just introduced it.
- RD
I welcome the long overdue release of Polish journalist Andrzej Poczobut who had been cruelly jailed in Belarus since 2021. It’s also time that Belarusian opposition leader and likely 2020 election winner Svetlana Tikhanovskaya be able to safely return.
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- RD
Every politician of any party should be denouncing political violence right now.
- RD
Secret Service has briefed me on the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. USSS answered my questions thoroughly. The Washington Hilton is a time tested venue, but we should let the post-incident investigation progress to identify what processes can be improved.
- RD
I just paid tribute to John Bartholomew. He was a loving father, a good man, and a committed Chicago PD officer fatally shot in the line of duty over the weekend. May he rest in peace.
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- RD
President Trump needs to spend less time with his billionaire golf buddies and more time speaking with working families. They will tell him that the rising cost of living is crushing them, and that they need help now.
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- RD
For too long, GSA has neglected to improve and maintain the facilities at the Dirksen and Roszkowski Courthouses, even as they face infrastructure failures. I joined @duckworth.senate.gov to demand GSA do its job and fix these unacceptable conditions that are impacting daily courthouse operations.
- RD
According to the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy, some of the largest corporations—including Tesla, Coinbase, & Palantir—paid $0 in federal income tax because of Republican’s “Big Beautiful Bill.” Why are mega corporations evading billions in taxes while families pay more for necessities?
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- RD
Grateful for the swift actions by law enforcement last night that kept everyone at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner safe. & relieved to hear that the Secret Service agent who was struck in his bulletproof vest was released from the hospital. Political violence has no place in America.
- RD
I’m heartbroken over the fatal shootingof Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew and praying for the recovery of the wounded officer. But, thoughts and prayers are not enough to end gun violence in America. Families, and police officers, deserve our best effort to make our communities safer.
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- RD
The Trump Admin has been slow walking DACA renewal and work permit processing. Now it is paving the way for them to be deported even before their DACA expires. Congress must finally act to protect these young people who know no other home. This is a matter of simple American fairness & justice.
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- RD
The El Gamal family may have been freed, but the conditions at the Dilley family detention facility have not changed. The Trump Administration’s cruel detention of families must end.
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- RD
Big update: the El Gamal family has been RELEASED from custody. Now more than ever: reform ICE and CBP.
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- RD
After facing months of inhumane conditions in ICE family detention, a judge ordered ICE to release Hayam El Gamal, and her five children. I’m relieved they are free. But too many families are still suffering from the MAGA mass deportation operation.
- RD
After facing months of inhumane conditions in ICE family detention, a judge ordered ICE to release Hayam El Gamal, and her five children. I’m relieved they are free. But too many families are still suffering from the MAGA mass deportation operation.
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- RD
This isn’t justice. It’s cruel, immoral, and discriminatory. Expanding the federal death penalty will be a stain on our history.
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- RD
The Trump Justice Department just expanded the barbaric federal death penalty protocols, including reinstating firing squads and lethal injections. Shameful.
- RD
The President has attacked Americans’ access to the ballot box and targeted mail-in voting. I joined @padilla.senate.gov to introduce the Absentee MVP Act to protect Americans’ right to vote from any presidential administration that tries to interfere with absentee and mail-in ballots.
- RD
The Trump Administration is trying to dismantle our legal immigration system piece by piece. It indefinitely paused processing for LEGAL immigration applications—with little explanation and zero plan to restart. Time to investigate.
- RD
Thank you to everyone who joined me and @duckworth.senate.gov for constituent coffee today. This is one of my favorite traditions in the Senate, and I am grateful to all who took the time out of their day to come visit us.
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- RD
In the middle of the night, Senate Republicans voted to give ICE billions to continue the President’s mass deportation campaign. When families are struggling to afford gas, groceries, & more, Senate Republicans proved they care more about President Trump’s wishes than the needs of Americans.
- RD
Americans are fed up with Republican leadership that would rather deport hardworking families than help them afford the basics.
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- RD
The Trump Administration’s crusade to dismantle our nation’s medical research infrastructure has slowed NIH spending by $1 billion, delaying or cutting research into cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. Their callous cuts are taking hope away from families.
link:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/22/science/trump-nih-funding-research.html?unlocked_article_code=1.c1A.4xh8.8tpcyxSCAu-M&smid=url-share
- RD
Trump’s tariffs and his reckless war with Iran have increased prices for all Americans over the past year. But when Senate Democrats tried to support Americans struggling because of rising costs, Senate Republicans voted it down so they could give money to mass deportations instead.
- RD
School should be a place for learning, not a place where students are hungry. But Senate Republicans just voted against funding school lunches.
- RD
Congressional Republicans made the largest cut to SNAP in history last year. Senate Democrats just gave them another chance to reverse this terrible decision as Americans face rising grocery prices. But Senate Republicans voted it down and refused to help Americans put food on the table.
- RD
Tonight, Senate Republicans will begin the process to give Trump’s mass deportation operations another $140 billion. @democrats.senate.gov will be on the Senate floor all night to show how Republican leadership is putting their anti-immigrant agenda hatred over American families.
- RD
Amid the affordability crisis, what are Senate Republicans focusing on this week? Partisan legislation that would give ICE and CBP another $140 billion to fuel the President’s mass deportation campaign. That money should go toward combatting the rising cost of living instead.
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- RD
Rail infrastructure is essential to the future of American transportation. Today, I heard from leaders from the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce about progress on the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, which will better connect Illinois while creating jobs and reducing rail congestion.
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- RD
The price of gas is up 21%, service members are at risk, & there is no end to the war with Iran in sight. But Senate Republicans for the FIFTH time blocked a resolution requiring Congress to approve further military action against Iran. When will my colleagues stand up to this erratic President?
- RD
A judge found that DHS deliberately violated the El Gamal family’s due process rights & recommended they be released from detention. They are not a flight risk or a threat to their community. Further detention is unjustified & would be an expression of this Administration’s anti-immigrant animus.
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- RD
I joined my Democratic colleagues to demand that USPS follow the law regarding Trump’s unconstitutional attempts to restrict mail-in voting. Any attempt to implement the President’s restrictions would corrupt the independent mission of USPS & threaten the foundations of American democracy.
- RD
Donald Trump lost and desperately tried overturning the 2020 election. Now Republicans are wasting time and resources in Congress to relitigate it.
- RD
Republicans can just bring in Jack Smith—and ask their questions. They’ll hear for themselves. Donald Trump’s desperate efforts to *overturn an election* merited investigation.
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- RD
Today, I met with the Illinois Health & Hospital Association to discuss the harms of the Trump Admin’s $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. I heard directly from these hospital leaders about how the Trump cuts will impact their ability to provide critical care to their patients.
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- RD
Today, I met with the Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation to discuss how we can fight back against the Trump Administration’s unprecedented attacks against immigrant communities. I am the son of an immigrant, and I will never turn my back on the people who built this country.
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- RD
Rock Island Arsenal is a pillar of the region and a center of innovation. But the Army executed significant personnel changes at the Arsenal without consulting Congress. I joined @duckworth.senate.gov, Senator Grassley, & @ericsorensen.bsky.social to demand answers from the Army about this shift.
- RD
I come from a union family, and I know firsthand what unions have done for millions of Americans. I spent my morning with the Chicago & Cook County Building & Construction Trades Council and the Illinois AFL-CIO to thank them for the hard work they do maintaining the American dream.
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- RD
States have been forced to pick up the pieces after President Trump & Congressional Republicans’ disastrous health care cuts. Today, I met with the leadership of Get Covered Illinois to discuss how we can respond to these unprecedented attacks on Americans’ access to quality, affordable health care.
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- RD
Kash Patel should be replaced immediately.
- RD
Like I said… and Senate Republicans confirmed Kash Patel anyway. Dangerous.
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- RD
I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barbara Flynn Currie. From free preschool to legalizing same-sex marriage, Barbara fought tirelessly for the rights & dignities of everyone in our state. She paved the way for a generation of women in the Springfield Capitol. Barbara will be missed.
- RD
If America hopes to remain competitive in a global market, we must reinvigorate our publicly-funded agriculture innovations. I joined Senator Moran to introduce the America Grows Act to boost USDA funding for more breakthroughs and to push our nation forward in the agricultural industry.
- RD
The President and his family don’t even try to hide their corruption. Last year alone, they made at least $1.4 billion through backroom deals and legal threats. And the American people are fed up.
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- RD
Every week, someone is dying in ICE custody. Republicans want to use the reconciliation process to give ICE a blank check to continue Trump’s cruel mass deportation policies. I say we should negotiate basic reforms to these inhumane conditions instead.
- RD
Every week, someone is dying in ICE custody. Republicans want to use the reconciliation process to give ICE a blank check to continue Trump’s cruel mass deportation policies. I say we should negotiate basic reforms to these inhumane conditions instead.
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- RD
Predatory for-profit colleges provide low-quality education, worthless degrees, & crushing student debt. I sent a letter to Illinois principals, counselors, & teachers to encourage them to warn college-bound students & their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges.
- RD
Senator Mike Lee and I disagree on a lot. But we both are deeply concerned about warrantless government surveillance of Americans. Read our op-ed in NYT below about how we can reform FISA Section 702 to protect our national security while upholding Americans’ constitutional rights.
link:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/17/opinion/section-702-surveillance-safe-act.html
- RD
Another member of the Admin’s mass deportation apparatus is leaving after terrorizing families & communities with indiscriminate immigration raids. I hope the departures at DHS will give Congressional Republicans pause before they pour more money into the President’s anti-immigrant agenda.
- RD
Another member of the Admin’s mass deportation apparatus is leaving after terrorizing families & communities with indiscriminate immigration raids. I hope the departures at DHS will give Congressional Republicans pause before they pour more money into the President’s anti-immigrant agenda.
quote:at://did:plc:x4kq5wkbme72y7yhjat4dkgq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjpaj24jqc2w