Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today following President Obama's State of the Union address: "Tonight the President gave an optimistic speech about opportunity for American families, an economy on the rise and leveled a call to action to ensure this is a year of progress for the middle class." "From programs to grow the economy and create jobs like the launching of new manufacturing institutes and infrastructure … Continue Reading
January 13, 2014
Durbin, Bustos: Robust Funding for Prison Activation in Omnibus Appropriations Bill Is Good News for Thomson
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2014, which was filed in the House and Senate earlier today, includes funding for the activation of the Thomson correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. The bill, which reflects a budget agreement between the House and Senate must now be voted on in both chambers and signed into law by President Obama. Though today's … Continue Reading
January 10, 2014
Durbin, Brown, and Kirk Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Honor Famed Prohibition Agent Eliot Ness
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bipartisan resolution to honor Ohio resident and Illinois native Eliot Ness, the legendary law enforcement agent who fought to bring Chicago mob boss Al Capone to justice. The senators' resolution would name the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) headquarters in Washington D.C., the Eliot Ness ATF Building. "Chicago gangster Al Capone believed … Continue Reading
January 08, 2014
Durbin Introduces Southern District Judicial Nominee at Senate Committee Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced Nancy Rosenstengel at a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, to consider her nomination to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. Her nomination is expected to receive a vote in the committee within the next few weeks. If approved, her nomination will receive a vote by the full Senate. Durbin also met with Ms. Rosentengal following today's confirmation … Continue Reading
January 07, 2014
Durbin Holds Hearing on Syrian Refugee Crisis
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, held a hearing today on the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. "The ongoing civil war in Syria has created the world's worst humanitarian and refugee crisis since the Rwandan genocide and perhaps since World War II," Durbin said. "Of the nearly 2.3 million Syrian refugees that have fled the bloody civil war, nearly half are children. … Continue Reading
December 19, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Applaud New Task Force to Fight Violent Crime in Winnebago County
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following today's announcement of the formation of the Winnebago County Violent Crime Task Force, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) commended local law enforcement leaders for coordinating their efforts to address violent crime in the Winnebago County area. The new partnership is an outgrowth of a meeting Durbin and Bustos convened with law enforcement leaders in Rockford earlier this year to discuss strategies for coordinating crime … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
Durbin: White House Nominates Rosenstengel to Fill Federal Judicial Vacancy in Southern District
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Nancy J. Rosenstengel to fill an upcoming vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. "Nancy Rosenstengel is an excellent candidate for a federal judgeship in Illinois," said Durbin. "Throughout her legal career, she has gained a wealth of experience and knowledge which, once approved, will serve her well as the first female district court judge to serve … Continue Reading
November 07, 2013
With Illinois Poised to Become the 15th State Legalizing Gay Marriage, Durbin Heralds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to End LGBT Discrimination in the Workplace
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prior to Senate passage of the bipartisan Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke at a press conference in support of the measure, which is the most important gay-rights legislation to come before the Senate since the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In his remarks, Durbin praised his colleague U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), who has supported ENDA since he was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2001. The … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Durbin Discusses Thomson Prison at Senate Oversight Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee examining the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the important job creation that Thomson prison will bring to both Illinois and Iowa. "The opening of Thomson prison is going to create good paying jobs for people living in Iowa and my home state of Illinois," said Durbin. "It is going to lessen the overcrowding in the prison system and provide critical beds that are necessary for … Continue Reading
November 05, 2013
Durbin Introduces Kirk & Duckworth at Senate Committee Hearing on Disability Rights Treaty
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced two members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation - U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) - prior to their testimony before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Today, both Kirk - who suffered a life-threatening ischemic stroke last year - and Duckworth - who was injured while serving in the Illinois … Continue Reading
October 29, 2013
Durbin: It Is Time for Stand Your Ground Laws To Be Carefully Reconsidered
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, called for state "stand your ground" laws to be carefully reconsidered following recent and high profile shootings of unarmed young people. These laws, one of which played a key role in the trial surrounding the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, give individuals legal permission to use lethal force to … Continue Reading
October 16, 2013
Senate Confirms Zachary Fardon as New U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statements today after the Senate confirmed Zachary Fardon to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate unanimously approved his nomination. "Zachary Fardon will be an exceptional U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois," Durbin said. "His range of experience will serve him well in a city and region as diverse and challenging as the Northern … Continue Reading
October 07, 2013
Durbin: Senate Approves Federal Judicial Nominees in Northern & Central Districts of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has unanimously approved Sara Ellis for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Colin Bruce for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. "Both Sara Ellis and Colin Bruce have the experience, qualifications, and integrity to be excellent federal judges," said Durbin. "I was proud to recommend them both to … Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $1.4 Million in Funding for Peoria and Rockford Law Enforcement
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program has awarded the City of Rockford $625,000 in funding to hire or rehire five police officers and the City of Peoria $750,000 in funding to recruit or rehire six police officers. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $125 million in COPS grants that will be given to 263 … Continue Reading
September 05, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Brief Community Members on Progess of Thomson Prison's Activation
[THOMSON, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) met today with local community leaders to brief them on the progress and next steps in the activation of Thomson Prison, which the federal government purchased from the State of Illinois at Durbin's urging last year. The two were accompanied at today's meeting by Bill Dalius, the Assistant Director for Administration of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), who oversees facility and budget … Continue Reading
August 13, 2013
Durbin Urges Law Enforcement to Take Advantage of Federal Gun Tracing Resources
[EAST ST. LOUIS] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on law enforcement agencies to take advantage of the federal gun tracing resources available to help them crack down on gun violence. Crime gun tracing, which allows law enforcement to track guns used in violent crimes from their manufacturer to their first retail purchaser, can help generate leads in criminal investigations and reveal how guns are trafficked into criminals' hands. Last month, Durbin introduced legislation … Continue Reading
August 12, 2013
Durbin Statement on Drug Sentencing Reform Speech by AG Holder
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Attorney General Eric Holder announced reforms related to federal sentencing policy. Under Holder's new policies, some non-violent and lower-level offenders would receive greater flexibility in sentencing. Durbin and Holder discussed the need for reform in federal sentencing last week. "Mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenses have played a huge role in the explosion … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Meet with Federal Bureau of Prisons Director to Discuss Activation of Thomson Prison
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today met with the Director of the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons, Charles Samuels, to discuss the activation of Thomson Correctional Center. On July 18, Durbin and Bustos announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, had approved funding for the activation of Thomson at the level that was requested by President Obama in his fiscal year 2014 budget … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Durbin and Lee Introduce Smarter Sentencing Act
Washington, D.C. - With federal prison populations skyrocketing and nearly half of the nation's federal inmates serving sentences for drug offenses, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) have introduced the Smarter Sentencing Act, to modernize our drug sentencing polices by giving federal judges more discretion in sentencing those convicted of non-violent offenses. Making these incremental and targeted changes could save taxpayers billions in the first years of … Continue Reading
July 31, 2013
Durbin Statement on the Confirmation of B. Todd Jones to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate confirmed B. Todd Jones to be the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Although the ATF director position began requiring Senate confirmation in 2006, both President Bush and President Obama's nominees to the position were blocked, and the agency had not yet had a Senate-confirmed director. "Over the last 7 years, the gun lobby has done … Continue Reading