Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Slams Georgia Voting Restrictions As Deliberate Effort To Suppress Voters Of Color
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today slammed Georgia's new voting restrictions that will make it harder for Georgians of color to vote. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin criticized the provisions included in the new law that will reduce the number of drop boxes available to voters in the Atlanta area, restrict access to and implement strict voter ID requirements for absentee ballots, and make it a criminal offense to … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Durbin Meets With Todd Kim, Nominee To Be Assistant Attorney General For The Environment And Natural Resources Division
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Todd Kim, President Biden's nominee to be Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice. On the call, Durbin and Kim discussed their mutual commitment to environmental policy that both combats climate change and stimulates our economy. They additionally discussed Kim's pending role at the Department of … Continue Reading
April 13, 2021
Durbin On Gun Violence: Are We Going To Give Up, Or Stand Up?
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor about the public health crisis of gun violence in Illinois and across the nation. During his speech, Durbin called for the Senate to act on common sense, constitutional steps that can reduce gun violence in America, including passing legislation to close gaps in the firearm background check system. Durbin also shared the story of one-year old Kayden Swann, who is … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Durbin To Senate Republicans: Don't Filibuster Solutions To Strengthen American Democracy & Our Economy
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on his Senate Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to pass critical legislation like the For The People Act-a democracy defense bill-and the American Jobs Plan-President Biden's bold plan to invest in American infrastructure and create good-paying jobs-as opposed to killing the legislation by using the filibuster. Durbin also called out dark-money special interests' influence in our … Continue Reading
April 12, 2021
Durbin Statement On Key Department Of Homeland Security Nominees
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 announced its nominations for key leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including: John Tien, nominee for DHS Deputy Secretary; and Ur Jaddou, nominee to lead U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over USCIS nominees. "I am pleased that … Continue Reading
April 09, 2021
Durbin Statement On President Biden's Creation Of The Presidential Commission On The Supreme Court
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden signed an executive order creating the "Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States." The Commission's report is required by the executive order to be issued within 180 days of the Commission's first meeting. "With today's executive order, the Biden Administration has pledged to study potential reforms to the … Continue Reading
April 08, 2021
Durbin Statement On Biden Executive Action On Gun Violence
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement after President Biden announced several executive actions to address gun violence: "When it comes to the sickening gun violence in our streets we have a choice: give up or stand up. President Biden is prepared to lead with common sense, constitutional steps to stop this uniquely American gun madness. It's time for Congress to stop making excuses and start … Continue Reading
March 11, 2021
Durbin Slams Dark Money Influence in Federal Courts & Voting Rights
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, delivered an opening statement during a Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights hearing titled, "What's Wrong with the Supreme Court: The Big-Money Assault on Our Judiciary." During his statement, Durbin expressed support for exposing and addressing the special-interest, dark money influence over the federal courts, elections, and voting rights. … Continue Reading
March 09, 2021
Durbin Questions Lisa Monaco and Vanita Gupta on Domestic Terrorism and Supporting Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today chaired the nomination hearing for Lisa Monaco to be U.S. Deputy Attorney General and Vanita Gupta to be U.S. Associate Attorney General. Durbin asked Monaco to discuss the rising threat of white supremacy and domestic terrorism. "If you take a look at the course of American history, the Ku Klux Klan seems to appear and reappear about every 50 years. 1865, 1910 to 1915, then again in the … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Durbin, Grassley, Cohen, Armstrong Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the lead sponsors of the landmark First Step Act, today introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2021. This legislation would end the unjust practice of judges increasing sentences based on conduct for which a defendant has been acquitted by a jury. U.S. … Continue Reading
March 04, 2021
Durbin, Graham, Bipartisan Senators Lead Legislation to Strengthen the Victims of Crime Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of Members to introduce critical legislation to strengthen the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) by fixing how the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) is funded. This legislation will … Continue Reading
March 03, 2021
Durbin Calls on Senate Colleagues to Support Judge Garland's Nomination to be Attorney General
ASHINGTON - U.S. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on his Senate colleagues to support Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to be the next U.S. Attorney General. On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of Judge Garland by a bipartisan vote of 15-7. In his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin explained that there was an objection by Senate Republicans to expedite Judge Garland's nomination on the floor, meaning it … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Durbin Questions FBI Director Wray on Domestic Terrorism
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked questions during the domestic terrorism oversight hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. Durbin asked Wray why the FBI did not issue a threat assessment ahead of January 6th, despite intelligence that suggested a violent and planned attack might be possible. "I was surprised to learn the FBI did not issue a threat assessment before January … Continue Reading
March 02, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Remarks During Domestic Terrorism Oversight Hearing with FBI Director Wray
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered his opening statement during the domestic terrorism oversight hearing with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray. Durbin argued that the January 6th attack on the Capitol demonstrated that the federal government has failed to address the growing threat of white supremacist violence and domestic terrorism. He called for aggressive oversight of the federal … Continue Reading
March 01, 2021
On Bipartisan Basis, Senate Judiciary Committee Advances the Nomination of Merrick Garland to be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be the next U.S. Attorney General by a bipartisan vote of 15-7. Ahead of the vote, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, argued that Judge Garland is the right leader to restore integrity and the rule of law in the Justice Department and combat domestic terrorism and systemic racism following four tumultuous years under the previous … Continue Reading
February 25, 2021
Ahead of Oversight Hearing Next Week, Durbin Speaks with FBI Director Wray About Domestic Terrorism Threat
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray on how the Bureau is allocating its resources to respond to and address the threat of violence by white supremacists and other far-right-wing extremists following the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. Today's call comes ahead of an FBI oversight hearing next Tuesday, March 2, in the Senate Judiciary … Continue Reading
February 24, 2021
Durbin, Lee Introduce Bipartisan Inspector General Access Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced bipartisan legislation to expand the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General to include alleged DOJ attorney misconduct. Currently, the DOJ Inspector General (IG) has no authority to investigate professional misconduct by DOJ lawyers. DOJ is the only agency whose IG has such a jurisdictional … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Justice Department's Decision to Retain U.S. Attorney John Lausch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that the Biden Justice Department will retain John Lausch as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois until his successor is confirmed. Durbin and Duckworth first voiced their desire to retain Mr. Lausch until his successor is confirmed in November 2020. On February 9, they wrote a letter to the President renewing this request. "We are … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on Justice Department Decision to Retain U.S. Attorney John Lausch
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after it was reported that the Biden Justice Department will retain John Lausch as United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois until his successor is confirmed. Durbin and Duckworth first voiced their desire to retain Mr. Lausch until his successor is confirmed in November 2020. On February 9, they wrote a letter to the President renewing this request. "We are … Continue Reading
February 23, 2021
Durbin Questions Outside Witnesses For Judge Garland's Nomination to be Attorney General
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today asked questions to the outside witness panel for the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be U.S. Attorney General. Durbin posed a question to Andrea Tucker, who is a parent of students Judge Garland has tutored. "How have your kids taken to Judge Garland in a personal way?" Durbin asked. Tucker answered by stating her son and daughter seem to love Judge Garland, and that he has … Continue Reading