Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Questions Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco On Helping Young Victims Of Trauma & Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco during a hearing entitled "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act." Durbin asked Monaco about the impact of trauma on children and what resources the Department of Justice (DOJ) is using to assist victims of trauma or violence. "When you read the statistics of not only the number of spouses, but children of those spouses … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Hearing On Renewing And Strengthening The Violence Against Women Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during a hearing entitled "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act." The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which requires legislative renewal every five years, initially expired in late 2018 due to the government shutdown. After a brief reauthorization in the temporary spending bill, it expired again in February 2019. Though funding for … Continue Reading
October 05, 2021
Breaking: Following Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing, Justice Department To Review Earlier Decision To Decline Prosecution Of FBI Agents Who Mishandled The Nassar Case
WASHINGTON - During her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in today's hearing "Renewing and Strengthening the Violence Against Women Act," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told Chair Durbin that newly confirmed Assistant AG for the Criminal Division, Kenneth Polite, Jr, has opened a review of the Justice Department's earlier decision to decline prosecution of the agents who committed misconduct in the Larry Nassar sexual abuse case. This announcement comes three weeks after … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Durbin, Grassley, Booker, Lee Introduce Legislation To Clarify Retroactivity Of Crack Cocaine Sentencing Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee (R-UT), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee; introduced the bipartisan Terry Technical Correction Act, which clarifies that all offenders who were sentenced for a crack cocaine offense before the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 can apply for its … Continue Reading
October 01, 2021
Durbin, Schneider Introduce Legislation To Reduce Gun Violence From Stolen Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) introduced bicameral legislation aimed at reducing gun violence by preventing the theft of firearms from federally-licensed gun dealers (FFLs). The SECURE (Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective) Firearm Storage Act would address the problem of "smash and grab" gun store burglaries by requiring all firearms to be … Continue Reading
September 30, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of U.S. Attorney Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the following nominations: Jessica D. Aber, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Carla B. Freedman, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York; William J. Ihlenfeld, II, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia; Christopher R. Kavanaugh, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia; Darcie N. McElwee, to be United States Attorney … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Durbin: Texas Abortion Ban Is A Five-Alarm Fire For Due Process And Constitutional Rights
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today highlighted the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket," which examined the consequences of Texas's S.B. 8 abortion ban law and the increasing use of the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" to make drastic changes to legal and constitutional rights without full briefing, … Continue Reading
September 29, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Hearing On Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban And The Role Of The Shadow Docket
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Texas's Unconstitutional Abortion Ban and the Role of the Shadow Docket." Durbin began his questioning by highlighting how the Supreme Court's "shadow docket" has been used in recent years. "To argue that this shadow docket is just routine, it happens, nothing to see here, move along - the numbers don't tell that … Continue Reading
September 28, 2021
Senate Sponsors Laud House Passage Of EQUAL Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the bipartisan Senate sponsors of the EQUAL Act, issued the following statement: "Today, House Republicans and Democrats joined together in passing the EQUAL Act, legislation that will once and … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Senate Confirms Director Of U.S. Marshals Service
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Ronald Davis's nomination to serve as Director of the United States Marshals Service (USMS) by unanimous consent. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Mr. Davis's confirmation: "Ronald Davis is an experienced law enforcement veteran who will be ready on day one to lead the U.S. Marshals Service-which is why it was no surprise that he won the support of … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Durbin Statement On Police Reform Negotiations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding bipartisan police reform negotiations: "Senator Booker, for nine months, exhausted every possible pathway to get to a bipartisan deal on policing reform. Even after Senator Booker secured the support of policing groups such as FOP and IACP for our proposals, we could not win GOP support for the effort. The challenge remains despite his … Continue Reading
September 22, 2021
Durbin Urges Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Florence Pan To District Court Of D.C.
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke in support of the nomination of Florence Pan to the District Court for the District of Columbia ahead of her cloture vote on the Senate floor. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin highlighted Judge Pan's professional experience and the historic nature of her nomination. "This week, the Senate will vote on Florence Pan's nomination for the District Court for the District of … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Senate Confirms Veronica Rossman To The Tenth Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Veronica Rossman's nomination to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals by a bipartisan vote of 50-42. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding Ms. Rossman's confirmation: "With her extensive appellate experience in both private practice and as a federal public defender, Ms. Rossman will be an outstanding addition to the Tenth Circuit. As I have said … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Durbin, Cantwell Urge DOJ And FAA To Toughen Actions Against Dangerous Airline Passengers
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today sent separate letters to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in light of an increase in incidents involving unruly airline passengers. Nearly three-fourths of these incidents have reportedly been related to federal mask mandates and have put … Continue Reading
September 20, 2021
Durbin Joins Introduction Of Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to announce the reintroduction of the Democracy for All Amendment. The constitutional amendment would overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United v. FEC decision, as well as other alarming decisions around campaign finance that led to floods of corporate and dark money in politics and diminished … Continue Reading
September 15, 2021
Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray And Inspector General Horowitz On FBI's Mishandling Of Nassar Abuse Case
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Dereliction of Duty: Examining the Inspector General's Report on the FBI's Handling of the Larry Nassar Investigation," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, asked FBI Director Christopher Wray to explain the FBI's abdication of responsibility and failure to investigate the Nassar case. "What strikes me here is there doesn't ever seem to be a sense of urgency or immediacy … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Durbin Questions Office Of National Drug Control Policy Nominee Dr. Rahul Gupta 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, questioned Dr. Rahul Gupta, nominated to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), about his work addressing the opioid crisis in America. "I was struck by the fact that you didn't head to the bright lights in your life. You headed to the communities that needed your help and many times chose rural areas and … Continue Reading
September 14, 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, questioned Jennifer Sung, nominated to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, about her background and experience as a member of Oregon's Employment Relations Board. "You have been an appointed member of the Oregon Employment Relations Board since 2017…of the approximately 200 matters you have presided over, you … Continue Reading
September 14, 2021
Durbin Introduces Solicitor General, ONDCP, And Judicial Nominees At Senate Judiciary Committee Confirmation Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the nomination hearing for Elizabeth Prelogar to be Solicitor General of the United States; Justice Beth Robinson to be a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; Jennifer Sung to be a judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; and Dr. Rahul Gupta to be Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Durbin said that the … Continue Reading
September 09, 2021
Durbin Statement On Chipman Nomination
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after the White House withdrew the nomination of David Chipman to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF): "ATF is a federal agency focused on reducing gun violence by enforcing the law and prohibiting the sale of firearms to convicted felons and other dangerous individuals. The gun industry resents their work as it … Continue Reading