Durbin Outlines Harmful Judiciary Committee Provisions Included In Republicans' Reconciliation Bill
In speech on Senate floor, Durbin also spoke against Senator Cruz’s provision that would leave the U.S. AI industry an unregulated wild west
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about some of the harmful Judiciary provisions included in Republicans’ so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which aims to slash Medicaid and Medicare coverage for hardworking Americans in order to pay for significant tax breaks forbillionaires. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, 16 million Americans will lose their health insurance under Republicans’ reconciliation bill.
Durbin began by highlighting several harmful Judiciary provisions Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats have successfully challenged and removed from the Republicans’ legislation.
“One example: the Republicans included a provision that would have limited the ability of individuals to challenge the Trump Administration’s executive actions by potentially putting them on the hook for millions of dollars when they try to defend their constitutional rights and go to court. Fortunately, the Senate Parliamentarian stuck this provision,” Durbin said. “Now I’m proud of what we accomplished in eliminating some harmful provisions, but there is a lot of problems with the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ The more we learn about this bill, the worse it looks. Perhaps that is why there is a hurry to get this done before the Fourth of July and people can take a close look at the details. And I cannot stand idly by as my Senate Republican colleagues try to steamroll this bill through Congress because the President wants to do something before the Fourth of July.”
Durbin then outlined Republicans’ wish-list of policy changes included in the reconciliation package to help carry out mass deportations of immigrants who have lived in our country for years and pose no threat to our safety.
“These policies of mass deportation of immigrants are cruel and mean. And they go beyond any question of public safety. This bill would impose exorbitant fees that would make it impossible forvulnerable immigrants to access humanitarian relief in the United States,” Durbin said. “This includes a $1,000 fee on asylum and a $5,000 bond for parents seeking to be reunited with their child. The fees also place barriers on due process—a $900 dollar fee for an appeal in immigration court. These fees are not just unconscionable—they are unfair.”
Durbin then discussed how the Republican bill prohibits using grant funds for community violence intervention and prevention programs, which are proven, evidence-informed strategies to reduce violence.
“We have a gun violence epidemic in America. Currently guns are the number one cause of death for American children and teens. Let me repeat that. In America, guns are the number one cause of death for American children and teens. Not auto accidents, not cancer. Guns. We need to support and strengthen community violence intervention and prevention programs. I’ve seen them. And I’ve seen them work in the City of Chicago and all around my state of Illinois to stop violent incidents before they happen. And we need to connect people with treatment and tools that decrease the risk of future violence,” Durbin said. “Instead of supporting valuable public safety measures, the Republicans’ ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ removes taxes and regulations on certain rifles, shotguns, and gun silencers. This is just what we need in America, isn’t it? Cheaper guns. Combatting this epidemic takes ingenuity and funding—not the reversal of lifesaving gun violence prevention policies. But Republicans’ reckless reconciliation bill will jeopardize the progress that’s been made in our communities.”
Durbin then spoke against Senator Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) provision that would leave the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) industry an unregulated wild west. The provision would give states the choice between regulating AI or accepting federal funding under the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program. This means states would have to choose between freezing all regulations on AI for the next decade or giving up specific federal funding. In addition to preventing new state regulations, it would make many of the laws already passed by states unenforceable regarding issues such as political deepfakes, face recognition, and algorithmic discrimination.
“We are currently living with the results of our failure to regulate Big Tech when it came to social media. Let’s not make the same mistake when it comes to AI,” said Durbin. “This provision by Senator Cruz will allow Big Tech and bad actors to prey on the lack of regulations in the AI space and develop deceptive, biased, and potentially dangerous tools that hurt ordinary Americans and diminish trust in technology… I promise to support any amendment that will remove the AI pause provision from this bill. And I hope my Republican colleagues will do the same.
Durbin concluded, “So now is the real test for my Senate Republican colleagues. Will they stand with President Trump and provide tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires? Or will they stand with their hardworking constituents and reject this betrayal? What’s more important, a tax break for Elon Musk or the health insurance of 16 million in America? What’s more important, a tax break for the wealthiest people in America or your rural hospital? I think people know that when it comes to the quality of life, the hospital is more important and health insurance is critical. I hope for the sake of our country, four Republican Senators will have the courage to step up and choose their constituents over special interest groups.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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