Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
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
July 14, 2021
Durbin, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Allow Sexual Assault & Harassment Survivors To Seek Justice & Accountability
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), along with U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), Morgan Griffith (R-VA-9), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-7) to announce the bipartisan, bicameral Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Harassment Act to empower sexual assault and harassment survivors. The legislation would stop perpetrators from being able … Continue Reading
July 14, 2021
Durbin Gives Remarks In Judiciary Committee Hearing For Circuit & District Judicial Nominees And Executive Nominee
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the nominations hearing for Myrna Pérez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Jia M. Cobb, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Sarah A.L. Merriam, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Durbin Presses For Increased Transparency And Competition To Lower Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses during a Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Protection hearing titled, "A Prescription for Change: Cracking Down on Anticompetitive Conduct in Prescription Drug Markets." During his questioning, Durbin discussed his longstanding efforts to bring transparency and competition to the pharmaceutical industry in order to lower drug prices … Continue Reading
July 13, 2021
Durbin: Congress Has A Responsibility To Gather A Full Accounting Of What Happened On January 6
WASHINGTON - Days after the fence around the U.S. Capitol building was removed and six months after the January 6 insurrection, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today once again slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan January 6 commission, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and applauded Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats for creating a select committee to investigate both the security … Continue Reading
July 12, 2021
Durbin: Congress Must Address Gun Violence In Chicago And Across The Country
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about President Biden's Gun Crime Prevention Strategy and what must be done to help prevent mass shooting tragedies in Chicago and across the country. "Did you hear that? This year, 23,000 gun violence deaths in America…Sadly, virtually every weekend is a mass shooting in the City of Chicago," Durbin said. "No other nation on Earth experiences this massive … Continue Reading
June 30, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Statement on Justice Department Responsiveness To Committee Members' Oversight Requests
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, released the following statement regarding a virtual meeting today between members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland about the Department of Justice's (DOJ) responsiveness to committee members' oversight requests: "Today's discussion was a step in the right … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Durbin Speaks In Support Of President Biden's Gun Crime Prevention Strategy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor to discuss President Biden's Gun Crime Prevention Strategy. Durbin shared his support for the President's initiative and discussed the deadly toll gun violence has had in Chicago, Illinois. Durbin also called on the Senate to pass background check legislation to prevent guns from ending up in the hands of criminals and mentally unstable people and to confirm David … Continue Reading
June 24, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Durbin, Grassley Bill To Put Cameras In Supreme Court
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15-7 to advance the bipartisan Cameras in the Courtroom Act, introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bipartisan bill would require the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of all open sessions of the Court, unless the Court decides, by a majority vote of the Justices, that doing so … Continue Reading