CONGRESS FOR VOTERS
Richard J. Durbin

Richard J. Durbin

Democrat · U.S. Senator for Illinois

140 sponsored · 510 cosponsored

Age 82 · In office since 1997, in Congress since 1983

Contact their office: (202) 224-2152 · 711 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 · Official website

Overview Votes (459) Sponsored (140) Cosponsored (510)

In the 119th Congress (2025–2026)

What they got done

Most bills never get a vote. These are the ones they wrote or backed that got somewhere.

Became law (2)

  • Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)

    Cosponsored

    A bill to provide for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois, and for other purposes.

    S. 550 Native Americans

    A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor.

    Became law

    This bill provides for the equitable settlement of certain Indian land disputes regarding land in Illinois.

    Yes· 2 of 3

    • Scored +6

      Would Native Americans be better off under this?

      Directly benefits the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma by providing a path to settle land disputes.

    • Scored +4

      Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?

      Provides a legal pathway for a Native American tribe to seek redress for historical land disputes.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • John Cornyn (R-TX)

    Cosponsored

    Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act of 2025

    S. 1884 Law

    A Republican bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors.

    Became law

    This Act seeks to clarify and improve the existing 2016 Act. It aims to ensure that claims to recover Nazi-looted art are resolved on their actual merits rather than being dismissed due to various legal technicalities.

    Yes

    • Scored +7

      Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?

      The bill enhances legal recourse for victims by precluding time-based and discretionary defenses.

    No question was scored the opposite.

Passed one chamber, waiting on the other (20)

Halfway: the other chamber has to pass the same text before it can go to the President.

  • Richard Durbin (D-IL)

    Their bill

    CHILD Act of 2025

    S. 1528 Crime and Law Enforcement

    A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · Apr 22

    This Act seeks to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993. The primary goal is to expand the scope of background checks for those working with vulnerable populations.

    Yes· 2 of 4

    • Scored +5

      Would children be better off under this?

      The bill enhances protections for vulnerable populations, including children, through expanded background check mandates.

    • Scored +4

      Would people with disabilities be better off under this?

      The bill enhances safety oversight for those working with vulnerable populations, which often include people with disabilities.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • Richard Durbin (D-IL)

    Their bill

    DEFIANCE Act of 2025

    S. 1837 Crime and Law Enforcement

    A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · Jan 13

    This bill aims to improve rights to relief for people affected by non-consensual activities involving intimate digital forgeries.

    Yes

    • Scored +7

      Does this protect people from AI fakes, scams and automated decisions about their lives?

      The bill creates a civil cause of action for victims of intimate digital forgeries, allowing for liquidated damages and injunctions.

    • Scored +6

      Would women be better off under this?

      The act provides significant legal recourse and damages for victims of digital forgeries, which statistically impacts women disproportionately due to the nature of image-based abuse.

    No question was scored the opposite.

  • Gary Peters (D-MI)

    Cosponsored

    GLRI Act of 2026

    S. 528 Environmental Protection

    A Democratic bill with 3 Republican cosponsors.

    Passed the Senate

    With no one objecting, no names recorded

    Now: kept ready for the floor instead of being sent to a committee · Oct 5

    Its main purpose is to reauthorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Specifically, the legislation updates the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.

    Yes· 2 of 5

    • Scored +8

      Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?

      The bill provides $500,000,000 annually for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect water quality and ecosystems.

    • Scored +5

      Would Native Americans be better off under this?

      The Great Lakes are vital to the culture and resources of many Native American tribes.

    No question was scored the opposite.

And 17 more on their Sponsored and Cosponsored pages.

Resolutions of theirs that were adopted (8)

A resolution is a chamber speaking for itself — a position, a rule or a tribute. Adopting it puts it into effect, but it is not a law.

Still waiting, of the 140 bills they wrote: 6 cleared committee and wait for a first vote, 124 are in committee. Committee is where most bills end, whoever writes them — silence there, not a vote, is the usual way a bill dies.

What their bills would do

Every bill is scored against plain yes-or-no questions. These count their bills — the ones they wrote and the ones they cosponsored — by how each question was answered: yes, or the opposite. Open one to see those bills, where each stands, and why it was scored that way. Scores are made by AI ().

Who their bills would affect

What else they would change

How they voted lately

Their latest votes that decided something, and what each measure would do.

  • U.S. Senate · Sep 29, 2026

    Protect College Sports Act of 2026

    S. 4668

    The vote on whether to pass the bill This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.

    Their vote Yea

    Passed

    7722

    This bill sets national rules for student athlete name, image, and likeness rights. It creates protections for academic progress, medical coverage, and health and safety standards.

    • Scored +9

      Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?

      Significantly expands earning potential through NIL rights and provides medical and academic protections for college athletes.

    • Scored -5

      Does this leave more decisions to the states?

      Prevents states from enforcing their own NIL compensation and transfer laws that conflict with the federal framework.

  • U.S. Senate · Sep 29, 2026

    To increase the limitation on funding for post-eligibility insurance and catastrophic injury for student athletes.

    S.Amdt. 6805

    A vote on a proposed change to the bill A vote on one change, not on the bill. A bill can collect dozens of these, and losing one does not stop it.

    Their vote Yea

    Failed

    4950

    What the Amendment Does Mr. Booker, along with Mr. Blumenthal, submitted this amendment to change how a specific fund or program is paid for in the bill.

Every vote they cast, and how often they missed one →

On the President’s nominees

The President chooses federal judges, cabinet secretaries, ambassadors and military officers, and the Senate decides whether each one gets the job. Most are confirmed by voice vote, which records no one’s position. In the 119th Congress (2025–2026) the Senate put 224 confirmations to a recorded vote, and confirmed every one.

Their votes to confirm, of 224 recorded votes

  • Yes: 29
  • No: 189
  • Missed: 6

Those votes covered 444 nominees, because the Senate sometimes confirms many in a single vote.

The 5 most recent they voted against

How busy they have been

How many bills they have put their name to over time — volume, not results: most bills never get a vote.

Legislative activity over time