Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce New Bipartisan Bill To Help Reduce Police Officer Suicides
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Chris Coons (D-DE), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to introduce a new bipartisan bill to track law enforcement suicides. The Law Enforcement Suicide Data Collection Act requires the FBI to collect voluntary, anonymous data on police suicides and attempted suicides from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Collecting this data will help inform … Continue Reading
October 25, 2019
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Introduce New Legislation To Help Break The Cycle Of Urban Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to introduce new legislation to reduce urban gun violence in American cities. The Break the Cycle of Violence Act would provide federal grants to communities for evidence-based gun violence intervention and prevention programs designed to interrupt cycles of violence. "In Chicago and communities across the country, people are experiencing gun violence on a daily basis. Just last weekend, forty people in Chicago … Continue Reading
October 23, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Announce Nearly $11 Million In VAWA Funding For Illinois
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $10,918,475 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to help Illinois agencies and community groups provide critical support and protections for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Today's funding comes from various DOJ programs authorized by the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to prevent, combat, and investigate sexual assault and violence against women and … Continue Reading
October 17, 2019
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of John Knees 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 Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of 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 … Continue Reading
October 16, 2019
Durbin Meets With Families Who Lost Loved Ones In Parkland School Shooting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Tony Montalto, President of Stand With Parkland, as well as Tom Hoyer, Treasurer of Stand With Parkland, and his wife Gena Hoyer to discuss ways to prevent school shootings. Tony's 14-year-old daughter, Gina Montalto, and Tom and Gena's 15-year-old son, Luke Hoyer, were killed in the shooting massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. "My heart breaks for the … Continue Reading
October 09, 2019
Durbin Discusses Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform At Bradley University
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today addressed students and staff at Bradley University regarding his efforts to pass bipartisan criminal justice reform. Last year, Durbin and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) authored the landmark First Step Act, which reduces sentences for nonviolent drug offenses and establishes programs to reduce crime by better preparing inmates for productive reentry to society after release. The First Step Act, the most significant criminal justice reform … Continue Reading
September 30, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Celebrate Senate Passage Of Bipartisan Hispanic Heritage Month Resolution
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) continued the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by co-sponsoring a bipartisan Senate resolution recognizing September 15 through October 15, 2019, as a month to celebrate and honor Hispanic culture in the United States. Led by Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and co-sponsored by 42 other Senators, the resolution was adopted unanimously by the Senate last week. "I'm proud to stand alongside my Senate colleagues to … Continue Reading
September 26, 2019
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Criminal Justice Reform Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the lead sponsors of the landmark First Step Act, today introduced the bipartisan Prohibiting Punishment of Acquitted Conduct Act of 2019, which would end the unjust practice of judges increasing sentences based on conduct for which a defendant has been acquitted by a jury. "Under our Constitution, defendants can only be convicted of a crime if a jury of their peers finds they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. … Continue Reading
September 24, 2019
Durbin Calls For House To Begin Impeachment Inquiry Into President Trump
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Congressional Republicans to speak out against reports that President Donald Trump withheld $250 million in military aid from Ukraine unless the newly-elected Ukrainian president investigated one of President Trump's potential opponents, former Vice President Joe Biden. Durbin also called for the whistleblower complaint to be provided to the appropriate House and Senate committees. … Continue Reading
September 23, 2019
Durbin Calls For Senate Action On Gun Violence
The real estate numbers for August are in. Last month, 34 homes were sold and closed with prices from $2,800 to $185,000, making the average sale price $84,000, and 84 days on the market was the average and continues to decline as inventory continues to decline. Interesting fact: 14 buyers paid cash, pricing up to $149,000; and every business day, 1.5 homes are sold in the city of Freeport. These statistics are compiled from all three area multiple listing services. I would like to thank the … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Durbin To McConnell: Do Something On Gun Violence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined dozens of Democratic U.S. Senators in floor speeches tonight to talk about the impact of gun violence and the many actions legislators could take to respond. Following the mass shootings in El Paso, Dayton, and Odessa - and the daily toll of gun violence in Chicago - Durbin called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to do his job and hold votes on legislation that would help reduce the gun violence epidemic. More than … Continue Reading
September 17, 2019
Durbin Honors Civil Rights And Disability Rights Champion Marca Bristo On Senate Floor
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored the life of civil rights and disability rights champion Marca Bristo, who passed away on September 8th in her adopted hometown of Chicago at the age of 66. Marca was a nationally and internationally acclaimed leader in the disability rights movement who was instrumental in helping write and pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. "Remove the barriers, and people with disabilities can lead … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Durbin Statement On Recent Reporting On Justice Kavanaugh's Confirmation Process
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement regarding recent reporting around Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation process: "During the Kavanaugh confirmation process, I repeatedly called for a neutral, thorough, and impartial investigation into the allegations of sexual assault involving then-Judge Kavanaugh. FBI career investigators were not allowed to conduct that type of investigation. The consequences of that … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Senate Confirms Nomination Of Steven Seeger 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 the nomination of Steven C. Seeger to serve as a District Judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Steven Seeger. He has the qualifications and judgment to serve with distinction as a district court judge in the Northern District of Illinois. We appreciate the … Continue Reading
September 11, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Retirement Of Former Chief Judge Ruben Castillo
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement after District Judge Rubén Castillo, a Federal District Court Judge in the Northern District of Illinois (NDIL), announced that he will be retiring effective September 27, 2019: "Judge Castillo served with integrity and distinction in the Northern District of Illinois for more than 25 years. We thank him for his leadership and many contributions to the judiciary, especially … Continue Reading
August 13, 2019
Durbin Statement On Prison Understaffing Crisis Following Epstein Death
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the understaffing crisis at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which is receiving heightened attention following the apparent suicide of Jeffrey Epstein. The Bureau of Prisons has not had a permanent director since May 2018, a leadership vacuum that Attorney General William Barr has not addressed in his six months on the job. "Attorney … Continue Reading
August 12, 2019
Durbin, Senators Call Out Partisan 'Project' To Tip Supreme Court In Favor Of NRA-Backed Plaintiffs
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) to file a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case bringing the first major challenge to gun safety laws since 2010. Against the backdrop of shocking gun violence in America, the Senators detail how the National Rifle Association (NRA), the Federalist Society, and other dark money-funded partisan groups have announced … Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Durbin, Booker Call Out Barr, Wray For Inadequate Effort To Combat White Supremacist Terrorism
WASHINGTON-Following another devastating incident of domestic terrorism committed by a white supremacist, this time in El Paso, Texas, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) today pressed Attorney General William Barr and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wrayabout what the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI are doing to combat white supremacist violence. "After the horrific September 11th terrorist attacks, your agencies shifted focus from … Continue Reading
August 01, 2019
Durbin Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Illegal Straw Purchasing And Firearms Trafficking
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Susan Collins (R-ME), introduced bipartisan legislation to close loopholes that criminals exploit to obtain firearms through straw purchasing and firearms trafficking. The Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act of 2019 would, for the first time, make it an explicit federal crime to act as a straw purchaser of firearms. The bill would also create tough penalties for anyone who transfers a firearm with … Continue Reading
July 31, 2019
Durbin, Leahy, Booker Introduce Legislation To Ban The Death Penalty
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced legislation to immediately ban the use of the death penalty by the federal government. The legislation comes after Attorney General (AG) William Barr's announcement that federal executions will resume for the first time in more than 16 years. While there have been only three federal executions in the last five decades, AG Barr has ordered … Continue Reading