Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin, Duckworth Join Booker, Harris, Colleagues To Introduce Justice In Policing Act Of 2020
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today joined Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-CA), and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, the first-ever bold, comprehensive approach to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement, and build trust between law enforcement and our communities. "We cannot call ourselves … Continue Reading
June 08, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Join Harris, Colleagues In Letter Demanding Answers On ICE & CBP Involvement In Policing Ongoing Protests
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) on Friday in a letter to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Matthew Albence demanding answers on the agencies' involvement with the ongoing protests against police brutality in light of reports of law enforcement using force … Continue Reading
June 04, 2020
Durbin Votes Against Nomination Of Justin Walker To D.C. Circuit Court In Senate Judiciary Committee
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee markup, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) voted against the nomination of Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit Court. Durbin argued that Walker was nominated for this lifetime appointment to the second highest court in the land for two main reasons: because he's a family friend of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and because he's an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Durbin also called out Senate … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Durbin: Instead Of Addressing Challenges Facing Our Nation Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Criticizing The Mueller Investigation
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Oversight of Crossfire Hurricane Investigation: Day 1," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called out Senate Republicans for using today's hearing as a distraction from the important work Congress should be doing to address the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and the other challenges facing our nation today. Durbin noted that the Senate Judiciary Committee could and should be focused on the COVID-19 … Continue Reading
June 03, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Senate Democrats Introduce Resolution Supporting Constitutional Right To Peacefully Protest & Condemning President Trump's Order To Tear Gas Peaceful Protestors Last Night
WASHINGTON - Today, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and fellow Senate Democrats attempted to pass a new resolution that affirms the constitutional rights of Americans to peaceably assemble, exercise freedom of speech, and petition the government for redress of grievances. The resolution also condemns the President of the United States for ordering federal officers to use gas and rubber … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Durbin: We Cannot Ignore The Impact Of The COVID-19 Pandemic On Incarcerated Individuals
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Examining Best Practices for Incarceration and Detention During COVID-19," U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on incarcerated individuals and to take advantage of smart, safe alternatives to incarceration that are readily available in order to protect inmates, detainees, staff, and the surrounding communities. Durbin noted … Continue Reading
June 02, 2020
Durbin Speaks On The Killing Of George Floyd And The Need To Address Fundamental Issues Of Racial Injustice In America
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke about the death of George Floyd, the anger and pain that has been expressed in recent days across our country, and the need for America to address fundamental issues of racial injustice. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin paid tribute to the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other Black Americans whose lives were cut far too short in incidents of inexplicable and inexcusable violence. Durbin … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Durbin Discusses Death Of George Floyd And Gun Violence With 100 Black Men Of Chicago
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke with 100 Black Men of Chicago yesterday evening about the death of George Floyd and gun violence in Chicago. Durbin shared his outrage over the death of Mr. Floyd and called for answers and accountability. "It was a reprehensible, heartbreaking moment when I opened up the paper and saw Mr. Floyd on the ground, with an officer with a knee on his neck. It just broke my heart and it enraged me at the same time, to think that we are still … Continue Reading
May 21, 2020
Durbin Votes Against President Trump's Nominee To Be Director Of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today released the following statement after voting against Congressman John Ratcliffe (R-TX-04), President Donald Trump's nominee to be Director of National Intelligence: "Several months ago, the White House withdrew John Ratcliffe's name to serve as Director of National Intelligence. There were serious concerns about his experience, his resume claims, and his … Continue Reading
May 20, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Day"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a resolution in the Senate establishing June 5, 2020, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) will introduce a companion resolution in the House. Every day in America, an average of around 300 men, women, and children are shot, nearly one-third of them fatally. Designating a day to bring … Continue Reading
May 18, 2020
DOJ IG Commits To Public Reports In BOP COVID-19 Investigation Following Dubin, Grassley Request
WASHINGTON - In a letter to U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General (IG) said he will consider a broader set of concerns in his investigation into whether facilities housing Bureau of Prison (BOP) inmates are complying with available guidance and best practices regarding preventing, managing, and containing COVID-19 outbreaks to address several serious issues affecting the safety of federal correctional officers and inmates … Continue Reading
February 28, 2020
Durbin, Senators Blast Facebook's Continued Failure To Monitor And Enforce Gun Sales Ban
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Ed Markey (D-MA), along with 10 of their Senate colleagues, in calling out Facebook for its continued failure to enforce and monitor its own ban on guns sales, pointing to a recent report that shows sellers and buyers have simply moved their transactions to private Facebook groups in order circumvent the social media giant's own ban. "[D]espite Facebook's ban of gun sales on its platforms, users are … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Durbin Statement On Commutation Of Former Gov. Blagojevich
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after President Donald Trump commuted the 14-year prison sentence of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich: "Former Governor Blagojevich betrayed the people of Illinois and engaged in a pattern of corrupt behavior for which he was held accountable and which cost him more than seven years of freedom. "At a time when corruption by elected officials is still in the headlines, Illinois and Washington should … Continue Reading
February 18, 2020
Durbin To USPS: Investigate Reports Of Discrimination At Cesar Chavez Post Office In Pilsen
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the United States Postal Service (USPS) to move swiftly to investigate reports of discriminatory treatment of non-English speaking customers and missing translation-friendly signage at the Cesar Chavez Post Office, located in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. In a letter to USPS, Durbin asked for findings and recommendations for corrective action as soon as possible and for USPS to provide a summary of its investigation when … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Senators Press AG Barr On Politicization Of Immigration Courts
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and a group of their colleagues, pressed Attorney General William Barr for information and documents related to the brazen politicization and maladministration of American immigration courts under President Donald Trump. Against the backdrop of President Trump's extreme and cruel anti-immigrant rhetoric, the Trump Justice Department has quietly undermined immigration … Continue Reading
February 14, 2020
Durbin, Senators Introduce Gun Safety Bill To Allow Preservation & Disclosure Of Federal Gun Data
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) to introduce bicameral legislation to greatly enhance the ability of law enforcement to investigate and solve gun crimes, crack down on gun trafficking and negligent gun dealers, and allow researchers to study gun violence and its impact on communities across the country. The Gun Records Restoration and Preservation Act would enable the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, … Continue Reading
February 12, 2020
Senate Confirms John Kness To Serve As U.S. District Judge For The Northern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate confirmed John Kness to serve as District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago. The Kness nomination accompanies the previous nominations of Mary Rowland, Martha Pacold, and Steven Seeger to serve on the Northern District of Illinois bench: "We are pleased that the Senate confirmed Mr. Kness to be a District Judge. Mr. … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nominations Of David Dugan, Iain Johnston, Franklin Valderrama To Serve As U.S. District Judges
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after the White House announced the nominations of David Dugan to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, Iain Johnston to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and Franklin Valderrama to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. "We are … Continue Reading
February 05, 2020
Durbin Votes Guilty On Both Articles Of Impeachment Against President Trump
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today voted guilty on both Articles of Impeachment against President Donald Trump - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Shortly before the votes on the Articles of Impeachment, Durbin gave a speech on the Senate floor where he implored his colleagues to think carefully about what the acquittal of this President will mean for our democracy. "So let us open our eyes to the morning after a judgment of acquittal. Facing a … Continue Reading
February 04, 2020
Durbin Statement On President Trump's State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on President Donald Trump's State of the Union address: "He brought us to the brink of war with Iran. He continues to sow deep divisions by inciting violence, hate, and mistrust in our democracy. He has put Dreamers on notice for deportation. He continues to threaten health care for millions of people with pre-existing conditions. He diverts money from our service members and their families in … Continue Reading