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Showing 506 posts and replies from Richard J. Durbin.
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- RD
Americans are struggling under higher grocery, housing, utility, and health care costs. The President promised to bring down prices on “day one,” but they continue to go up under this Administration.
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Illinois holds a special place in union history. From the Haymarket Riot to the Pullman Strike, workers in our state have given their lives to protect employees’ basic dignities. On May Day, we recognize their contributions to a more equal, prosperous, and democratic America.
- RD
Congress can protect the right to vote now. Pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
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Gas prices hit a wartime high, inflation is up, & Americans are feeling the pinch of higher prices. But Senate Republicans for the SIXTH time blocked a resolution requiring Congress approve further action against Iran. Their silence is an endorsement of the President’s questionable strategy.
link:https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/business/oil-gas-price-iran.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
- RD
I got my start in politics interning for Senator Douglas—he inspired generations of public servants, including myself, to serve with honesty and integrity. I am honored to receive the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government presented by @illinoisigpa.bsky.social
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- RD
Our students achieve greater academic success when taught by educators who reflect the communities they serve. I joined @ericsorensen.bsky.social to introduce the Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act to help recruit and retain educators who share their students’ backgrounds.
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For too long, Americans’ constitutional rights have been violated. I joined Senator Lee to introduce a bill to require government agents to obtain a warrant before viewing Americans’ private communications collected under 702. Let’s get this done.
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Republicans keep scheming to maintain their grip on power. Democrats rightfully responded and held the line in the short term. Long term… we need a permanent end to partisan gerrymandering.
- RD
As Justice Kagan wrote for the dissent, the Voting Rights Act was "born of the literal blood of Union soldiers and civil rights marchers." I agree that this decision is a disappointing exercise "in politics and partisanship."
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With its decision in Louisiana V. Callais, the Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority has again turned its back on the promise of an equal right to vote, further eroding the landmark Voting Rights Act.
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Pleased to see the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs include my Produce Prescriptions for Veterans Act in their legislative hearing today. Too many of our nation’s veterans lack access to fresh fruits and vegetables. My bill would help put these healthy foods in reach of our veterans.
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Because we care for our pets, we want a commitment from breeders to raise their dogs in humane conditions. I introduced the Puppy Protection Act to institute stronger standards for breeding facilities to ensure that all dogs are well-cared for & live a healthy life.
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Affordable and reliable internet is a necessity, but for many families, the cost is just too high. I introduced the Promoting Access to Broadband Act to increase awareness and enrollment in the FCC’s Lifeline program, giving more Americans access to the internet.
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FISA Section 702 is supposed to be for gathering intelligence on foreigners located abroad. But it has been used and abused for spying on Americans right here at home—including protesters, journalists, and even women on dating apps and rental tenants. Reform 702 now.
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DOJ’s political leadership is clearly desperate to continue appeasing Donald Trump by appealing to his worst instincts. This is another case of a weaponized Justice Department.
- RD
DOJ’s political leadership is clearly desperate to continue appeasing Donald Trump by appealing to his worst instincts. This is another case of a weaponized Justice Department.
quote:at://did:plc:x4kq5wkbme72y7yhjat4dkgq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mklnxelu5c2d
- RD
Families in rural Illinois deserve reliable, affordable energy, & electric co-ops are critical to this goal. Today, I spoke with the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives about how we can preserve programs that support rural communities as Trump indiscriminately cuts critical assistance.
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Children as young as four years old are repeatedly being forced to show up to immigration court, often without legal help. That’s not due process.
- RD
Children as young as four years old are repeatedly being forced to show up to immigration court, often without legal help. That’s not due process.
quote:at://did:plc:x4kq5wkbme72y7yhjat4dkgq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mklcitarkk2d
- 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.
quote:at://did:plc:ml6kkoa6cedlznz72k7fmhmx/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkkhamh7e22d
- 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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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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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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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.
quote:at://did:plc:jszy2fvtipwprnjhe7pxytfv/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkfsloabzj2u
- 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.
quote:at://did:plc:x4kq5wkbme72y7yhjat4dkgq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkdeeqspjs2a
- 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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Big update: the El Gamal family has been RELEASED from custody. Now more than ever: reform ICE and CBP.
quote:at://did:plc:laiahnygdvnd7lqdvbem64pf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mk47af52w22z
- 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.
quote:at://did:plc:x4kq5wkbme72y7yhjat4dkgq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkbbo4tkcc2f
- 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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The Trump Justice Department just expanded the barbaric federal death penalty protocols, including reinstating firing squads and lethal injections. Shameful.
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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.
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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.
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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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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.
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Americans are fed up with Republican leadership that would rather deport hardworking families than help them afford the basics.
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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
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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.
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School should be a place for learning, not a place where students are hungry. But Senate Republicans just voted against funding school lunches.
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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.
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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.
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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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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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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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