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Showing 562 posts from Richard J. Durbin.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- RD
Today, I joined Senator Wicker, Senator Shaheen, and a bipartisan group of Senators to host Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko in the Capitol. In our meeting, I told her I stand with Ukraine and that Congress and President Trump must also play their parts to end Putin’s bloody war.
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- RD
The decisions we make in Washington have a direct impact on Illinoisans. Today, @duckworth.senate.gov and I had a productive conversation with Champaign County First about how our federal government can best support Central Illinois’ economic development.
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- RD
No one should fear for their lives or face imprisonment for standing up for democracy. I joined Senator Cruz and a bipartisan group of Senators to call on President Xi to release political prisoners Pastor Jin Mingri, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, and Jimmy Lai.
- RD
Today, I met with Illinois members of the Joint Action Committee to discuss the dangerous rise of antisemitism, US-Israel relations, and gun violence. Hate in all its forms has no place in America, and I will continue to fight for the rule of law and democratic norms that shield us from such evils.
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- RD
Transportation and infrastructure undergird prosperity and development in Illinois, and across America. Today, I met with the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois to discuss federal investments into infrastructure that would connect Americans and fuel economic growth.
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- RD
Gas & diesel cost too much. Farmers need markets for crops—biofuels will help. But oil state Republicans stopped Congress from creating year-round E15 ethanol, & slowed USDA tools that let farmers benefit from Treasury biofuel tax credits. Yesterday, I met with Growth Energy to discuss fixing this.
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- RD
Navy Pier is a centerpiece of Chicago’s landscape and an important economic hub for our city. I spoke with Navy Pier CEO Marilynn Gardner about the federal investments we can make to allow the Pier to continue to attract millions of tourists to its many offerings.
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- RD
I met with leadership from the Knox County Area Partnership to discuss how Congress can support economic development and infrastructure in the region. It is always a pleasure to meet with organizations representing the interests of our state, and this was no exception.
- RD
President Trump’s tariffs, war with Iran, and farmworker intimidation have made farming expensive and unpredictable. Today, I met with the Illinois Pork Producers Association to discuss how to restore common sense into the farm economy.
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- RD
Six weeks into a war with easily foreseeable problems, thousands of service members at risk, and gas prices above $4 a gallon—yet Senate Republicans for the FOURTH time blocked a resolution requiring Congress to approve further military action against Iran. They are enabling this erratic President.
- RD
Like most, I’ve experienced the nuisance of robocalls. These calls often prey on non-consenting consumers. It’s got to stop, which is why I joined @schakowsky.house.gov and @kevinmullin.house.gov to introduce the Protecting American Consumers from Robocalls Act to guard against phone scammers.
- RD
Pleased to see that the Senate Energy Committee will be holding a Subcommittee hearing today on my REDUCE Act. This bill would put money back in the pockets of Americans doing their part to conserve energy, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels while delivering savings to homeowners and businesses.
- RD
I spent my morning with U of I System students, faculty, and leaders to welcome them to the Capitol. These bright students and staff are visiting Congress to advocate for increased federal investment into research and education, both of which I am a strong supporter of.
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- RD
What does the Democratic Whip from Illinois, Senator from Missouri, & New Mexico Attorney General have in common? A commitment to protect our kids from Big Tech. Proud to have joined Senator Hawley & AG Raúl Torrez to demand Congress do more to shield kids from online abuse and exploitation.
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- RD
People who defraud Americans and facilitate drug smuggling should face the consequences of their actions. But President Trump pardoned these very individuals because they supported his family business. The President is putting his wealth over the safety of Americans.
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- RD
On Yom HaShoah, we remember the six million Jews and millions of others who were killed in the Holocaust, as well as the strength and resiliency of those who fought back against Nazi oppression. May we keep their memory alive and continue their fight against hate and tyranny.