Dick Durbin
U.S. Senator
Democrat, Illinois
- Date of Birth: November 21, 1944
- Birthplace: East St. Louis, Ill.
- First Elected: 1996
Committee Assignments:
Joint Committee on the Library, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Senate Committee on the JudiciaryDick Durbin is serving his third term in the Senate and is the assistant to the majority leader, or majority whip. Durbin grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois near the state's southwest border. He earned his undergraduate degree in 1966 and his law degree in 1969, both from Georgetown University. During his senior year in college, Durbin interned for Illinois Sen. Paul Douglas. After law school, he served as legal counsel for then-Lt. Governor Paul Simon from 1969 until 1972 and for the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1972 until he was elected to the House in 1982. Durbin was elected to the Senate in 1996, winning the seat of his long time mentor, Simon, who had retired. Shortly after being elected to the Senate, Durbin authored legislation banning smoking on commercial airplanes. He is a member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which presides over congressional spending. In 2007, Durbin helped established the Subcommittee on Human Rights, of which he is chair. He was an active proponent of financial reform and healthcare reform and supports the strengthening of Medicare. In 2009, Durbin sponsored the DREAM Act, which would give immigrant students the opportunity to earn legal status if they arrived in the United States before the age of 15. He and his wife Loretta live in Springfield, Ill. and have three children and one grandchild.
Campaign Fundraising
2005 - Present| Top 5 Organizations | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| Simmons Cooper LLC | $0 | $110,035 | $110,035 |
| Kirkland & Ellis | $9,333 | $61,691 | $71,024 |
| Clifford Law Offices | $0 | $47,150 | $47,150 |
| UAL Corp | $10,000 | $36,175 | $46,175 |
| Citigroup Inc | $0 | $45,575 | $45,575 |
| Top 5 Industries | PACs | Individuals | Total |
| Lawyers & Law Firms | $17,500 | $98,900 | $116,400 |
| Misc. Manufacturing/Distributing | $20,000 | $17,200 | $37,200 |
| Lobbyists | $1,000 | $33,425 | $34,425 |
| Railroads | $31,500 | $0 | $31,500 |
| Food & Beverage | $28,500 | $1,000 | $29,500 |
Dick Durbin in the News
-
Roff: Blame Obama and Durbin for New Bank Fees
October 04, 2011
President Obama and Senator Durbin blame Bank of America when it was their legislation that led to new charges. -
House Approves Debt Deal; Senate Rejects It
July 29, 2011
Senate says no less than hours after the House approved emergency legislation. - L.A. TIMES: Obama's urgent jobs plan: Right now, 'right now' means sometime next month maybe. "Wel... L.A. TIMES: Obama's urgent jobs plan: Right now, 'right now' means sometime next month maybe. "Well, here we are on the next Monday after that next Monday and we've just learned from the No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, Dick…
- Durbin goes after Boehner on GOP tax stance (CNN) - Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin pointed his political arrow at House Speaker John Boehner on Sunday over the Republican...
- Dick Durbin: GOP Candidates 'Bow And Genuflect' To Tea Party GOP candidates "bow and genuflect" to the Tea Party, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "As I listen to the Republican presidential nominee candidates come forward and spot their ideas and bow and genuflect…
