Accountability record
See what they have said and done—and where the information comes from.
Richard J. Durbin
IL · U.S. Senate
Protect more public lands as parks, monuments, wilderness, and conservation areas
SupportsSupports protecting and expanding conservation protections for specified public lands, including Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, wilderness-study areas, Cahokia Mounds, and other named conservation sites.
The cited statements address specific monuments, wilderness proposals, national parks, or other named conservation sites; they do not establish a position on every public-land policy.
Sources for this position
Fully fund national parks and public-land agencies
SupportsSupports robust federal funding to address maintenance needs in national parks and public lands.
The cited statements focus on maintenance funding and do not establish positions on affordability, fees, staffing levels, or visitor-service access.
Restrict drilling, mining, and logging on sensitive public lands
Support depends onConditionally supports restricting oil and gas development in the specified fragile Utah wilderness landscape while recognizing that such activities may be appropriate in some other places.
They said: “Despite their pristine condition and their historical significance, these lands are threatened by oil and gas development as well as rampant off-road vehicle use. Although these activities are appropriate in some places, they don't belong in such a fragile landscape.”
Limit large federal land protections that block local use
OpposesOpposes reducing or dismantling protections for the specified national monuments and related wilderness areas.
This finding is limited to the cited monument-boundary reductions and related protections; it does not establish positions on federal land sales or all forms of local authority.
Sources for this position
Protect Tribal sacred sites and expand Indigenous co-management
SupportsSupports protecting Native American sacred lands from desecration and looting.
The cited joint statement supports protection of sacred lands but does not establish support for Indigenous co-management.
Prioritize quiet recreation and habitat over motorized use in sensitive areas
Support depends onConditionally supports limiting rampant off-road vehicle use in the specified fragile Utah wilderness landscape.
They said: “Despite their pristine condition and their historical significance, these lands are threatened by oil and gas development as well as rampant off-road vehicle use. Although these activities are appropriate in some places, they don't belong in such a fragile landscape.”
This answer uses the specific statements and actions below. We consider what each bill or vote actually did; a bill number by itself is not treated as a position.
What they said
“President Trump's decision to, once again, slash the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments is an attack on some of our nation's most extraordinary public lands.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)“In the wake of these unfortunate reductions, I urge Congress to pass my America's Red Rock Wilderness Act to protect and defend these lands for future generations.”
Read the full statement (opens in a new tab)We checked 17 of 17 bills Modern Action tracks on this subject.
Full record
Newest records with confirmed dates appear first.
Durbin statement on trumps decision to slash boundaries of bears ears and grand staircase escalante national monuments
“President Trump's decision to, once again, slash the boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments is an attack on some of our nation's most extraordinary public lands.”
Durbin introduces legislation to invest in a clean climate future and spur job creation
“The America's Clean Future Fund Act would invest in clean energy projects to spur economic growth across the country.”
Joined the bill as an original cosponsor. The record does not establish which bill text applied at that time, so this action alone does not establish what policy the official supported.
S.Res. 180 · A resolution designating the week of April 19 through April 27, 2025, as "National Park Week".
Durbin senators urge department of interior to protect lands by designing wilderness study areas
“We encourage you to use your authority under the Federal Land Policy Management Act (FLPMA) to provide protections for lands that demonstrate wilderness characteristics as Wilderness Study Areas.”
Durbin statement on restoration of grand staircase escalante and bears ears national monuments
“Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante are national treasures. I commend President Biden for restoring these unique places so Americans can experience them for generations to come. It's our duty to protect our awe-inspiring public lands.”
Durbin duckworth applaud senate passage of bipartisan great american outdoors act
“I'm glad the Senate could come together to pass this bill that provides robust federal funding to maintain our national parks and public lands for future generations of Illinoisans to enjoy,”
Durbin discusses enviromental protection and climate change with the nature conservancy
“my hope is that we continue to improve air and water quality, protect our National Parks, and find innovative ways to conserve land and water.”
Durbin duckworth colleagues introduce bipartisan great american outdoors act
“The backlog in maintenance and land management poses a serious threat to the beauty and upkeep of these national treasures. Our bill ensures the federal funding is there to maintain the parks for future generations,”
Durbin schumer pelosi hoyer statement on president trumps decision to shrink utahs national monuments
“Many of these are sacred land to Native Americans, and they will now be put at risk of desecration and looting. We must not allow this Administration to dismantle the protections that have been built for more than a century since Congress passed the Antiquities Act in 1906.”
Durbin to trump protect americas national parks and monuments
“Despite their pristine condition and their historical significance, these lands are threatened by oil and gas development as well as rampant off-road vehicle use. Although these activities are appropriate in some places, they don't belong in such a fragile landscape.”
Durbin asks president obama to make cahokia mounds a unit of the national park service
“I support protecting and sharing this important natural, archeological, and cultural resource that runs through Collinsville, Illinois, and represents the indigenous peoples and landscapes that once made up one of America's first cities in the Western Hemisphere.”
