Dick Durbin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dick Durbin
Official portrait, 2022
Senate Minority Whip
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Leader	Chuck Schumer
Preceded by	John Thune
Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Lindsey Graham
Senate Majority Whip
In office January 20, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Leader	Chuck Schumer
Preceded by	John Thune
Succeeded by	John Barrasso
Party positions 2005–⁠2021 Senate Majority Whip In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2015 Leader Harry Reid Preceded by Mitch McConnell Succeeded by John Cornyn Senate Minority Whip In office January 3, 2015 – January 20, 2021 Leader Harry Reid Chuck Schumer Preceded by John Cornyn Succeeded by John Thune In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007 Leader Harry Reid Preceded by Harry Reid Succeeded by Trent Lott
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee
In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Lindsey Graham
Succeeded by	Chuck Grassley
United States Senator from Illinois
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 1997 Serving with Tammy Duckworth
Preceded by	Paul Simon
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois's 20th district
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1997
Preceded by	Paul Findley
Succeeded by	John Shimkus
Personal details
Born	Richard Joseph Durbin (1944-11-21) November 21, 1944 (age 80) East St. Louis, Illinois, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Loretta Schaefer ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	3
Residences	Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Education	Georgetown University (BS, JD)
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Richard Joseph Durbin (born November 21, 1944) is an American lawyer and politician. He is a United States senator for Illinois. He has held this important job since 1997.

As a member of the Democratic Party, Durbin is currently in his fifth term as a senator. Since 2005, he has been the Senate Democratic whip. This is the second-highest leadership role for Democrats in the Senate. Since 2025, he has also served as the Senate minority whip. From 2021 to 2025, he led the Senate Judiciary Committee. This committee handles laws about the justice system.

Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. He went to Georgetown University and studied law. Before becoming a senator, he worked as a lawyer. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives for 14 years. He was first elected to the House in 1982.

He became a U.S. Senator in 1996. He has been reelected four times since then. He is known for being the longest-serving Senate party whip in U.S. history. He is also the leader of the group of lawmakers from Illinois in Congress.

Early Life and Education

Dick Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Illinois. His father was Irish-American, and his mother was from Lithuania. He finished high school in 1962. During high school, he worked at a meatpacking plant.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University in 1966. While in college, he worked as an intern for Senator Paul Douglas. Durbin later earned his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1969. After law school, he started his own law practice in Springfield, Illinois. He also worked as a legal advisor for different government groups in Illinois.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

In 1982, Durbin was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He represented Illinois's 20th congressional district. He won by a small number of votes against a long-time politician. His campaign focused on helping people with unemployment and farmers facing money problems.

He was reelected six times to the House of Representatives. He usually won by a large number of votes. He served in the House for 14 years before running for the Senate.

Serving in the U.S. Senate

Durbin during the 108th United States Congress

Durbin speaks at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

In 1996, Durbin ran for the U.S. Senate. He won the election and became a senator for Illinois. He has been reelected to the Senate four times: in 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2020. Each time, he won by a significant margin.

What Committees Does He Serve On?

Senators work in groups called committees. These groups focus on different topics like farming, money, or justice. Durbin is part of several important committees.

For the current Congress, his committee jobs include:

• Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
  • Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade
  • Subcommittee on Rural Development and Energy
  • Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security
• Committee on Appropriations
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
  • Subcommittee on Defense
  • Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
  • Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
  • Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
• Committee on the Judiciary (Chair)

Caucus Memberships

A caucus is a group of lawmakers who share common interests. Durbin is a member of many caucuses, including:

• Bi-Cameral High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail Caucus
• Caucus on International Narcotics Control (co-chair)
• International Conservation Caucus
• Senate Diabetes Caucus
• Senate Hunger Caucus (co-chair)
• Senate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education Caucus (co-chair)
• Sportsmen's Caucus
• Congressional COPD Caucus (co-chair)
• Senate Ukraine Caucus (co-chair)
• Afterschool Caucuses
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption

Leadership Roles

Durbin eating lunch with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden

In 1998, Durbin became the Assistant Democratic Whip in the Senate. After the 2004 election, he became the main Democratic Whip. This made him the first senator from Illinois to be a Senate Whip since the 1950s. He was also the fifth senator from Illinois to hold a leadership position.

From 2005 to 2007, he was the assistant minority leader. When Democrats became the majority party, he became the assistant majority leader, also known as the majority whip. In 2021, Durbin became the Senate Majority Whip again. He also became the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This was the first time a whip also led this committee.

What Dick Durbin Believes In

Durbin with Venezuela's interim President Juan Guaidó

Durbin is known for having a liberal political viewpoint. This means he often supports government programs to help people and protect the environment.

Gun Control

Durbin supports stricter gun control laws. He has often called for new laws to control guns.

Immigration

Durbin is a strong supporter of the DREAM Act. This bill would help certain students who came to the U.S. as children without legal permission. It would give them a chance to become permanent residents if they meet certain requirements. These include graduating from a U.S. high school and passing background checks.

In 2013, Durbin was part of a group of eight senators. This group worked together to create ideas for a big immigration reform plan.

Child Care

Durbin meeting with Raj Date to discuss helping consumers compare bank fees

In 2019, Durbin and other senators introduced a bill called the Child Care for Working Families Act. This bill aimed to create many new child care jobs. It also wanted to make sure families with lower incomes would not have to pay for child care. The bill also supported free preschool for all three- and four-year-olds.

Environment

Durbin cares a lot about protecting the environment. He especially wants to protect places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Groups that work for environmental protection often give him high ratings.

Transportation

Durbin has been a big supporter of funding for Amtrak. Amtrak is the national passenger rail service in the U.S.

Personal Life

Durbin is married to Loretta Schaefer. They have three children: Christine, Jennifer, and Paul. Sadly, Christine passed away in 2008 at age 40.

Film and Television Appearances

Dick Durbin has appeared in a few documentaries:

Images for kids

• 

  Durbin speaks at a press conference in El Paso, TX

See also

In Spanish: Richard Durbin para niños

• Trump–Ukraine scandal