Press Releases
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Confirmation Of Gregory Harris To Be Central District Of Illinois U.S. Attorney
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding the confirmation of Gregory Harris to be U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois: "Having served for nearly 30 years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, more than a decade in private practice, and several years in the Illinois Office of the State Appellate Defender, Greg Harris is well-qualified and … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Durbin Briefs Illinois State Senators On Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Wins
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with members of the Illinois State Senate Democratic Caucus to provide more details about the funding for Illinois included in the newly-signed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Durbin spoke in detail about the bill's $17 billion included for Illinois and the additional billions in competitive grants that Illinois will be eligible for. Durbin and the lawmakers discussed using the funding to accelerate … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Closing The Detention Facility At Guantanamo Bay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Brigadier General John D. Baker during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Closing Guantanamo: Ending 20 Years of Injustice," about pursuing plea agreements for those charged at the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, and why that is the most viable option for bringing a prompt resolution to the cases before the military commissions. Durbin noted that those … Continue Reading
December 07, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Closing The Detention Center At Guantanamo Bay
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled, "Closing Guantanamo: Ending 20 Years of Injustice." In his opening statement, Durbin argued that every day that the detention center at Guantanamo Bay remains open, it damages our moral standing and credibility around the world, weakens our national security, and wastes taxpayer dollars. Key quotes: … Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Durbin: The Senate Must Be United In Condemning Threats Of Violence Against School Boards
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the escalating violence and threats of violence against teachers, school officials, and school board members across the country. In October, Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the FBI and U.S. Attorneys' Offices to reach out to state and local law enforcement to address threats of violence made against school board members, teachers and workers in … Continue Reading
December 06, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Introduce Bill To Reauthorize The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Reauthorization Act, which would authorize the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (ALNHA) until 2038, an additional 15 years past the current expiration date of 2023. The bill would allow Illinoisans and Americans to visit and learn more about the historical and cultural impact of the ALNHA and Lincoln's legacy for years to come. … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement on Senate passage of the Continuing Resolution (CR), which will fund the federal government through February 18, 2022: "Keeping America's government open and functioning should never be a political issue. This time, Republicans delayed the bill over an anti-vaccine stunt to prevent Americans from staying safe during a deadly pandemic. "I'm … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Durbin Statement On Successful Discharge Vote For Rachael Rollins, Nominated To Be U.S. Attorney For The District Of Massachusetts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate voted to discharge Rachael S. Rollins, nominated to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, from the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 50-47. In September, Rollins' nomination advanced out of Committee by a vote of 11-11. Under the provisions of S. Res. 27, Leader Schumer had to file a discharge motion on … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Durbin Highlights Dangerous Dysfunction At Bureau Of Prisons, Calls On Attorney General Garland To Dismiss Director Carvajal
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the unacceptable dysfunction within the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the urgent need for new leadership. Durbin pointed to egregious examples of misconduct by BOP staff highlighted in a recent Associated Press report, such as prison workers convicted of crimes including sexual abuse, murder, and introducing contraband into prisons. "It's a recurring pattern … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Following School Shooting In Michigan, Durbin Calls For Passage Of Universal Background Check Legislation
WASHINGTON - On the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined U.S. Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) in requesting unanimous consent to pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2021, which would close gaping loopholes in the background check system and require FBI background checks for nearly all gun sales. Durbin's speech follows the school shooting at Oxford High School in Michigan … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Lead Senate Sponsors Laud Passage Of Judicial Security Bill Through Committee
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today passed out of committee the bipartisan Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act. The bill-named for Judge Esther Salas's son, who died protecting his family from a disgruntled litigant-would protect judges' sensitive personal information from being sold by commercial data brokers online, limit the posting of judges' personal information on government websites, and set up a process overseen by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts … Continue Reading
December 02, 2021
Judiciary Committee Advances Nominations Of Two Circuit Court Judges, Ten District Court Judges, And Four U.S. Attorneys
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Holly A. Thomas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit and Gabriel P. Sanchez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit. The Committee also advanced the nominations of Mary Katherine Dimke, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington; Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; Charlotte N. … Continue Reading
December 01, 2021
Durbin Questions Judicial Nominees In Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked Leonard Stark, nominated to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit, to discuss his tribute to Judge Walter Stapleton in the Delaware Law Review and the lessons he learned from him. Stark said he clerked for Judge Stapleton and was taught about the importance of careful scrutiny and respecting binding … Continue Reading
December 01, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement In Latest Circuit & District Court Nominations Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Judge Leonard Stark, nominated to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit; Victoria Calvert, nominated to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Judge Jacqueline Corley, nominated to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of … Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Urge Biden To Designate Cahokia Mounds As Unit Of National Park System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth today sent a letter to President Biden urging him to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to incorporate the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site under the National Park System and offer additional protections for the ancient mounds in St. Clair and Madison counties. In their letter, the Senators call back to Durbin's 2014 request for the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a reconnaissance study … Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Durbin Calls For Closure Of Guantanamo Bay In NDAA
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke about the importance of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and announced he had filed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to close the facility once and for all. During his speech, Durbin also honored the life and legacy of U.S. Army Major Ian Fishback, who spoke out against America's inhumane treatment of … Continue Reading
November 30, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth, LaHood, Bost, Bustos, Davis Urge FEMA To Review Levee Reimbursement Methodology Across Regions
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL-18), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requesting that the Agency's headquarters revisit the formulas being used across its regions to calculate Public Assistant reimbursements with regards to pumping costs. In their letter, the lawmakers said … Continue Reading
November 29, 2021
Durbin Statement On Select Committee Recommending Criminal Contempt Charges Against Former DOJ Official Jeffery Clark
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement in light of news that the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol will vote on a report recommending that the House of Representatives cite Jeffrey Clark for criminal contempt of Congress and refer him for prosecution: "The information uncovered in the recent Senate Judiciary Committee majority staff … Continue Reading
November 29, 2021
Durbin, Collins Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Improve Fairness In Criminal Justice System
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Criminal Judicial Administration Act (CJAA), a bipartisan bill that would improve fairness in the criminal justice system by facilitating court attendance by out-of-custody indigent federal defendants. The bill would authorize federal courts to direct the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to pay for round-trip travel and subsistence for … Continue Reading
November 24, 2021
Durbin Statement On Verdict In Ahmaud Arbery Trial
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement on the verdict in the trial for the killing of Ahmaud Arbery: "I hope today's verdict can provide some small solace to Ahmaud Arbery's family and friends, but the cold truth is that Mr. Arbery will never have a chance to marry, raise children, or grow old. These murderers carried out a modern-day lynching that snuffed out a promising young life and then … Continue Reading