Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Nomination Of Martha Pacold, Mary Rowland & Steven Seeger To Serve As U.S. District Judges 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 White House announced the nominations of Martha M. Pacold, Mary M. Rowland, and Steven C. Seeger to serve as District Judges on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, based in Chicago: "We are pleased that the President has nominated these three Illinoisans. They have the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction as district court … Continue Reading
May 24, 2018
Durbin, Duckworth, Kelly Introduce Resolution Establishing "National Gun Violence Awareness Month"
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) led 14 other Senators and 25 other Representatives to introduce a resolution in the House and Senate establishing the weekend of June 1-3, 2018 as "National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." Every day in America, an average of around 300 men, women, and children are shot, nearly one-third of them fatally. Establishing a month to … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Durbin, Booker, Harris, Lewis, Jackson Lee Statement On House Vote On "Prison Reform"
U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), and U.S. Representatives John Lewis (D-GA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) released the following statement on the FIRST STEP Act, a so-called prison reform bill that will be voted on in the House of Representatives later today: "Make no mistake: the FIRST STEP Act is not meaningful criminal justice reform, and would be a step backward from our shared goal of ending America's mass incarceration crisis. The bill … Continue Reading
May 22, 2018
Durbin Calls On President Trump & Republican Majority in Congress to Stand Up to the Gun Sales Lobby, Act to Help Prevent Gun Violence
Following last week's school shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas, which left eight students and two teachers dead and another 13 victims wounded, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress for still being unwilling to push for any gun reforms that the gun sales lobby opposes. "Congress is going to have to choose who to listen to - the students who are spending their class time thinking about whether their desks are in the line … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Durbin Statement On Nomination Of Gina Haspel To Head CIA
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on Gina Haspel, President Trump's nominee to be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency: America cannot close this sad chapter in our history of rendition, waterboarding, and enhanced interrogation techniques until we have accountability. Those who were part of the decision-making in those years must acknowledge that 'following orders' and trusting legal interpretations' are not sufficient to … Continue Reading
May 14, 2018
Senate Confirms Michael Scudder & Amy St. Eve For The 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm the nominations of Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. and U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to serve as Circuit Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago: "Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder have the experience, integrity, and judgment that we look for in federal judges, and we look forward to seeing them serve with distinction on … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Grassley, Durbin: Sentencing Reform Necessary For Senate Consideration Of Criminal Justice Reform
WASHINGTON-Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed optimism for continued consideration of criminal justice reform proposals, but warned that inclusion of key sentencing reforms is necessary to win Senate approval: "We are encouraged to see our House colleagues continue a serious discussion about necessary reforms to our nation's criminal justice system. However, as we move forward, reforms to federal sentencing … Continue Reading
May 09, 2018
Judiciary Committee Democrats Call On President To Withdraw Controversial Justice Dept Nominee Tied To Russian Bank
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats are calling on President Trump to withdraw his controversial nomination of Brian Benczkowski to lead the Department of Justice's Criminal Division. Mr. Benczkowski represented Alfa Bank, a massive private commercial bank in Russia closely allied with President Vladimir Putin and his government, and has refused to pledge to recuse himself from Russia-related matters if confirmed. With new revelations coming to light about Russia's … Continue Reading
May 08, 2018
Durbin Questions CIA Openly Lobbying For Haspel Nomination
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), vice chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today questioned the role of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in openly and actively using Agency resources to promote the nomination of Gina Haspel to serve as its next director. "These efforts to promote a national security nomination appear to be without precedent in recent history," said Durbin. "Congress is being lobbied aggressively, and we must consider whether our … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Senate Confirms Brendan Heffner To Be U.S. Marshal For Central District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm the nomination of Brendan O. Heffner to serve as United States Marshal for the Central District of Illinois: "Through many years of service to Illinois, Brendan Heffner has demonstrated strong qualifications to serve as United States Marshal. We expect him to serve with professionalism, responsibility, and a clear focus on the mission of the … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Durbin Statement On Committee Passage Of Bill To Protect Special Counsel Investigation
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Judiciary Committee, released the following statement after the Committee voted 14-7 to pass bipartisan legislation to protect the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller: "Senators of both parties have made comments in the press that the Special Counsel's investigation must be allowed to proceed. We are dealing with a President who has repeatedly attempted to undermine the integrity of that investigation. This … Continue Reading
April 20, 2018
Durbin, Democratic Senators Introduce Bill To Limit Use Of Solitary Confinement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Coons (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) today introduced legislation to reduce the Federal Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) use of solitary confinement and improve conditions for inmates separated from the general prison population. The Solitary Confinement Reform Act limits solitary confinement to the briefest term and under the least restrictive conditions possible, improves access to mental health … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Durbin Statement On 7th Circuit Upholding Injunction Against Sessions Threat To Chicago Violence Prevention Funding
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a federal injunction blocking an attempt by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to deny Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants ("Byrne-JAG") to communities that refuse to cooperate with the Trump Administration's deportation agenda: "The Trump Administration exceeded its legal authority by trying to cut off the federal funds our police use to fight gun … Continue Reading
April 19, 2018
Judiciary Committee Unanimously Approves Nominations Of Michael Scudder & Amy St. Eve For The 7th Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Judiciary Committee voted unanimously to advance the nominations of Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. and U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve to serve as Circuit Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, based in Chicago: "Judge St. Eve and Mr. Scudder have the experience, integrity, and judgment that we look for in federal judges, and we expect them to serve with … Continue Reading
April 18, 2018
Durbin Grills Justice Department On Politicization Of Immigration Courts
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), ranking member of the Senate Immigration Subcommittee, today grilled a Justice Department official at a hearing entitled, "Strengthening and Reforming America's Immigration Court System," about the Department under Attorney General Jeff Sessions politicizing America's immigration court system at the expense of due process for immigrants. The Justice Department last week halted the Legal Orientation Program (LOP). Created by the Bush … Continue Reading
April 11, 2018
Durbin Questions Trump Administration On Its New War On Drugs
Calls for greater oversight of pharmaceutical industry and focus on public health prevention and treatment WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today questioned Kemp Chester, Associate Director of the National Heroin Coordination Group in the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and Christina Nolan, U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism entitled "Defeating Fentanyl: Addressing the … Continue Reading
March 28, 2018
Durbin Calls On Top Justice Department Officials To Commit To Protect The Special Counsel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with a group of eight other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is calling for a public commitment to protect the integrity and independence of Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation by the top officials who follow Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in the Department of Justice's line of succession. The Senators' request follows growing concern about possible political interference in Mueller's inquiry. "We … Continue Reading
March 22, 2018
Ahead of March For Our Lives, Durbin Calls On Republicans To Stand Up To The NRA & Support Meaningful Gun Violence Prevention Legislation
WASHINGTON-As tens of thousands of students and supporters of gun violence prevention prepare to march in Washington D.C., Chicago, and cities and towns across America, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today slammed President Trump and the Republican majority in Congress for still being unwilling to push for any gun reforms that the gun sales lobby opposes. "On March 24, students and Americans of all ages will march in the streets to honor those who have been lost to senseless gun violence … Continue Reading
March 15, 2018
Durbin Joins Colleagues In Calling On Key Senate Committee To Take Action On Legislation To Fund Gun Violence Research At CDC
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and 25 other Senators in calling on leaders of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee to immediately act on legislation to fund gun violence prevention research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A Republican appropriations rider, first authorized by then-Congressman Jay Dickey (R-AR) in 1996, prohibits the CDC from using federal funds to advocate or promote gun … Continue Reading
March 08, 2018
Durbin: Why Hasn't The Gun Violence Debate Reached The Senate Floor?
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Republican leaders to bring the debate over gun violence to the floor of the U.S. Senate. "97% of the American people believe in universal comprehensive background checks to keep guns out of the hands of those who would misuse them: convicted felons, mentally unstable people," Durbin said. "97%. The overwhelming majority of gun owners feel exactly the same way. So why-why in God's name have we not taken that up since … Continue Reading