U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat from Springfield, is the 47th U.S. Senator from the State of Illinois, the state’s senior senator, and the convener of Illinois’ bipartisan congressional delegation. Durbin also serves as the Senate Majority Whip, the second highest ranking position among the Senate Democrats. Senator Durbin has been elected to this leadership post by his Democratic colleagues every two years since 2005. Durbin serves as Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and sits on the Appropriations and Agriculture Committees. Elected to the U.S. Senate on November 5, 1996, and re-elected in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020, Durbin fills the seat left vacant by the retirement of his long-time friend and mentor, U.S. Senator Paul Simon. Senator Durbin makes approximately 50 round trips a year between Washington and Illinois. He is married to Loretta Schaefer Durbin. Their family consists of three children--Christine (deceased), Paul, and Jennifer--as well as six grandchildren. They reside in Springfield.

Recent News About U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

Durbin: Consumers should have alternatives to 'payday loans'
Government

Durbin: Consumers should have alternatives to 'payday loans'

Small-dollar loans have become increasingly popular nationwide, with the“payday loan” industry growing so fast that U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) recently sent a letter to the Community Bankers Association of Illinois, the Illinois Credit Union League and the Illinois League of Financial Institutions, urging them to work with community banks and credit unions to develop alternative lending options for the nearly 12 million Americans who take out such loans annually.

Durbin speaks out against EDMC 'recruitment mill' after settlement
Government

Durbin speaks out against EDMC 'recruitment mill' after settlement

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) released a statement this week in response to the decision by the Department of Justice, Department of Education and states' attorneys general to settle litigation with Education Management Corporation (EDMC) over the company’s alleged use of illegal incentive compensation with recruiters, as well as other deceptive recruitment tactics.

Durbin promotes citizenship-loan programs to help immigrants prosper
Government

Durbin promotes citizenship-loan programs to help immigrants prosper

Illinois has become home to more and more lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are eligible to naturalize, but who have yet to do so, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited Second Federal Credit Union’s Brighton Park location late last week to discuss citizenship-loan products the institution is now offering.

Durbin helps shape VA-funding bill passed by Senate
Government

Durbin helps shape VA-funding bill passed by Senate

The U.S. Senate passed legislation earlier this week to authorize funding for both the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and military construction projects in Illinois and across the nation, and the legislation contains several provisions that were spearheaded or influenced by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Durbin, other lawmakers defend same-sex couples in Social Security agency lapse
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Durbin, other lawmakers defend same-sex couples in Social Security agency lapse

U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and 119 other fellow legislators submitted a letter on Monday to Carolyn Colvin, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Attorney General Loretta Lynch, urging them to ensure that the Supreme Court’s recent landmark same-sex marriage decision is implemented into policy practices and that the Social Security Administration (SSA) treats all marriages equally.

Durbin, Fermilab director discuss funding, praise Nobel Prize winners
Government

Durbin, Fermilab director discuss funding, praise Nobel Prize winners

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Nigel Lockyer, director of the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, or Fermilab, last week in Washington to discuss the importance of continued federal funding for scientific research and development programs. They met on the same day the Nobel Prize in physics was awarded to two scientists for their work discovering neutrinos.

Durbin supports bill to boost regulation of flame-retardant chemicals
Government

Durbin supports bill to boost regulation of flame-retardant chemicals

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Ed Markey (D-MA) have announced their support for the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. “Following a Chicago Tribune series in 2012 that revealed that flame-retardant chemicals added to furniture and other household goods are useless and toxic for American families, I began calling for reform of the antiquated law regulating toxic chemicals,” Durbin said.