Biography of Senator Dick Durbin

Dick Durbin was elected in 1996 to fill the seat vacated by his political mentor, U.S. Sen. Paul Simon. Durbin has worked in his two terms on education, economic development, more efficient transportation, stronger healthcare and targeted tax relief.

Dick Durbin's personal and political beliefs are deeply rooted in his childhood experience in East St. Louis, IL. Durbin's mother immigrated to the United States from Lithuania. His mother and father worked on the railroad.

Senator Durbin worked his way through college and law school at Georgetown University - working on the railroad during his summer vacations at home and interning on Sen. Paul Douglas's Capitol Hill staff. After graduating from law school in 1969, Durbin went to work for then-Lt. Gov. Paul Simon and spent 13 years as the Illinois state Senate Parliamentarian.

Working for Illinois

Durbin began his public service to the state of Illinois in 1982, when he was elected to represent the 20th Congressional district. There, Durbin became known for his understanding of parliamentary procedure and his ability to build effective political coalitions. He served as an House Appropriations Committee Cardinal, chairing a subcommittee on the powerful panel. In 1988, he won an uphill battle to ban smoking on commercial air flights. He continues to push for FDA regulation tobacco as a health hazard. Having lost his father to lung cancer, Durbin's fight against big tobacco means a lot to him personally. The American Lung Association awarded Durbin with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work to stop the marketing of tobacco products to kids.

As a U.S. Senator, Durbin has focused on economic development and transportation, helping local governments to forge partnerships with neighboring communities and businesses to work toward the long-term future of the state. Durbin is the first Illinois senator in 25 years to serve on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, a position which allows him to advocate for federal money for local projects. In his four years on the Appropriations committee, Durbin has helped to secure funding for everything from child care centers and schools to highways and military bases.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Durbin used his Appropriations Committee perch to advocate for Homeland Security funding, especially Illinois security projects. He worked across party lines with Republican Rep. Judy Biggert to revive the U.S. Coast Guard station at Chicago's Navy Pier. The new facility will provide a home base for a federal, state and local partnership to protect the Lake Michigan shoreline.

A National Leader

Durbin has taken a leading role in shaping the Democratic party both in Illinois and on the national level. In 1999, he was invited to join Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle's leadership team, and was appointed the Assistant Democratic Floor Leader.

After serving in this role for five years, Senator Durbin was elected by his fellow Senators to be the Assistant Minority Leader, also known as the Democratic Whip - marking only the fifth time that a Senator from Illinois has served as a Senate leader.

As the Democratic Whip, Senator Durbin assists Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid in coordinating activities on the Senate floor. In this role, Senator Durbin also counts votes on key legislation and encourages Senators to support the Democratic Caucus position on votes.

In April of 2006, Senator Durbin was named one of the ten best Senators by Time Magazine.

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