Richard J. “Dick” Durbin is a Democratic U.S. senator for Illinois. He was elected in 1996, replacing retiring Sen. Paul Simon. Durbin has supported issues such as abortion rights, environmental protection and the DREAM Act for immigrants. Durbin is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as the Appropriations, Foreign Relations and rules committees. Before joining the Senate, he served in the House from 1983 to 1997, representing the 20th congressional district. Durbin was born in East St. Louis, Ill., in 1944. He received his bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University in 1966, followed by a law degree in 1969. Durbin, who lives in Springfield with his wife, has two adult children and three grandchildren.