Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy
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 "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. During his opening statement, Durbin shared stories from struggling … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Emergency Supplemental Bill To Pay National Guard, Capitol Police
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, introduced by Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), that addresses the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $2.1 billion bill addresses the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Durbin: McConnell's Efforts To Stop An Investigation Into January 6 Failed
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today commended the brave Capitol Police Officers and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers who testified at yesterday's House Select Committee hearing to investigate the events that led up to and occurred on January 6, 2021, and once again slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan, independent January 6 commission. "It continues to amaze me that an independent, bipartisan … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Durbin Questions DOJ and FBI On Combating Ransomware Attacks
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "America Under Cyber Siege: Preventing and Responding to Ransomware Attacks," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Richard Downing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division about the role of cryptocurrency in ransomware attacks. "Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin are the coin of the realm when it comes to ransomware. … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Senate Confirms Todd Kim To Be Assistant Attorney General, Environment & Natural Resources Division
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) at the Justice Department by a bipartisan vote of 58-41. Following the vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Kim's confirmation: "With Mr. Kim leading ENRD, the American people can trust that our nation's public lands and natural resources will be … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Durbin Statement on First Slate Of Biden Administration U.S. Attorney Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the first slate of U.S. Attorney nominations from the Biden Administration: "I'm pleased that the Biden Administration has announced its first slate of U.S. Attorney nominees. I look forward to timely consideration of these nominations in Committee." Today's slate of U.S. Attorney nominees include: Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney nominee for … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Durbin, Lightfoot, Attorney General Garland Discuss Gun Trafficking Strike Force, Investments In Community Violence Prevention Programs In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today joined Attorney General Merrick Garland in Chicago to discuss several initiatives to address gun violence in the city, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) implementation of a firearms trafficking strike force in the city. Durbin, Lightfoot, and Garland visited the Chicago Police Department (CPD) 11th District Office for a briefing about law … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Gustavo A. Gelpi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit; Angel Kelley, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Christine P. O'Hearn, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Helaine Ann Greenfeld, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legislative Affairs; and Christopher H. Schroeder, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Durbin, Booker: We Should Not Force Individuals On Home Confinement To Return To Prison
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, today responded to reports that the Biden Administration has decided that thousands of nonviolent inmates who were released on home confinement to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will be required to return to prison one month after the official state of emergency for the … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Durbin Speaks On Bipartisan & Bicameral Legislation To Sustain Crime Victims Fund
WASHINGTON - Ahead of a vote on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the bipartisan, bicameral VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act, which strengthens the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is funded. Specifically, the bill redirects monetary penalties from federal deferred prosecution and non-prosecution agreements into the CVF to increase funding for … Continue Reading
July 20, 2021
Senate Confirms Kenneth Polite, Jr. To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Criminal Division
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Kenneth Allen Polite, Jr. to be Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division. Ahead of the confirmation vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor in support of Mr. Polite, Jr.'s nomination. He was confirmed by the Senate on a bipartisan vote of 56-44. "As an experienced prosecutor who has served his community throughout his career, … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021
Durbin: Gun Violence Has Become As American As Baseball
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor decrying another weekend of mass gun violence across the country, including a shooting outside a Washington Nationals game and the shooting of more than 50 people in Chicago, including seven children. In his remarks, Durbin called out the continued normalization of gun violence in American life despite the unrelenting trauma and deaths caused by daily … Continue Reading
July 19, 2021
Senate Confirms Tiffany Cunningham To The Federal Circuit On Bipartisan Vote
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Tiffany P. Cunningham to be United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit by a bipartisan vote of 63-33. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Cunningham's confirmation: "This is a truly historic confirmation-Ms. Cunningham will serve as the first Black judge on the Federal Circuit. She will not only bring much-needed diversity to the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee To Hold Oversight Hearing On FBI's Dereliction Of Duty In Larry Nassar Case
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) dereliction of duty in the Larry Nassar case, which enabled the continued abuse of dozens of victims. "The FBI's … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Tiffany Cunningham To The Federal Circuit
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Tiffany P. Cunningham, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit, ahead of her cloture vote on the Senate floor. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted that Ms. Cunningham will bring much-needed diversity to the bench as well as impeccable credentials. The Senate voted to advance Ms. Cunningham's nomination by a … Continue Reading
July 15, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Circuit & District Court Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Eunice C. Lee, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Veronica S. Rossman, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit; David G. Estudillo, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; Lauren J. King, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington; and Tana Lin, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Following Meeting With Biden, Durbin Speaks On Protecting Voting Rights
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about defending the right to vote for every American. Durbin commended President Biden for speaking forcefully about protecting voting rights yesterday and urged Congress to step up to end the assault on voting rights in states across the country. "Sixty years later I'm afraid, Jim Crow is still around," Durbin said. "We are witnessing a coordinated, relentless, … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Durbin: We Need David Chipman, Nominee To Lead ATF, To Help Enforce Nation's Gun Laws & Reduce Crime
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today voiced his strong support for David Chipman, President Biden's nominee to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin said Mr. Chipman would be essential in helping the nation enforce the gun laws already on the books and helping reduce gun crime. The ATF has been without a Senate-confirmed Director since … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Announce Senate Judiciary Committee To Hold Hearing This Month On Ransomware Attacks
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that on July 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the growing wave of ransomware attacks affecting businesses, non-profits, and local governments across the nation. Durbin and Grassley have asked the Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Durbin Questions Latest Circuit & District Court Nominees To Come Before Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON - During today's Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Myrna Pérez, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. Durbin asked Ms. Pérez about her thoughts on the right to vote, which has been under assault in recent years. "Speak to me, if you will though, about the right to vote. That is the central issue we are discussing in so many aspects. A group of … Continue Reading