Dick Durbin is the senior United States Senator from Illinois, having served in the Senate since 1997. A member of the Democratic Party, he was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, in 1944 and earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Before his election to the Senate, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives for ten years representing the Springfield area. He was elected Senate Democratic Whip in 2004 and held that position for nearly two decades, making him one of the longest-serving members of the Senate Democratic leadership in history.
Durbin chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and has been a central figure in Senate deliberations on immigration, criminal justice, and judicial nominations. He is the author of the DREAM Act and has been one of Congress's most persistent advocates for a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children. His long tenure and leadership experience have made him one of the most influential Democratic senators, known for his skills as a floor manager and dealmaker across a wide range of legislation.
- Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
- Subcommittee on Commodities, Derivatives, Risk Management, and Trade
- Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, and Food Safety
- Senate Committee on Appropriations
- Subcommittee on Department of Defense
- Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
- Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
- Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies
- Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
- Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary — Ranking Member
- Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism — Ranking Member
- S. 5632: A bill to amend title 44, United States Code, to prohibit the closure of Federal records centers, and for other purposes. — Introduced
- S. 5560: A bill to improve fairness and accountability with respect to the arrest and detention of noncitizens. — Introduced
- S. 5515: A bill to improve Federal efforts with respect to the prevention of maternal mortality, and for other purposes. — Introduced
- S. 5455: Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2026 — Introduced
- SJRES. 213: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media". — Introduced