Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Judiciary Committee Hearing On U.S. Sentencing Commission Nominees
U.S. Sentencing Commission is charged with the critical task of promoting transparency and consistency in federal criminal sentencing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nominations of Carlton W. Reeves to be a Member and Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission; Laura E. Mate, Claire McCusker Murray, and Luis Felipe Restrepo to be Members and Vice Chairs of the United States Sentencing Commission; and Claria Horn Boom, John Gleeson, and Candice C. Wong to be Members of the United States Sentencing Commission. Congress created the bipartisan Sentencing Commission in 1984 and charged the Commission with the critical task of promoting transparency and consistency in federal criminal sentencing.
Key quotes:
“The Commission has long operated in a bipartisan manner—a reflection not just of the statutory mandate for bipartisan representation among Commission members, but also of the consensus-driven approach embraced by those who serve on this important body.”
“This Commission collects and analyzes data, and then employs its expertise to help guide Congress in setting sentencing policy and to guide the federal Judiciary in making important sentencing decisions.”
“Unfortunately, the Commission has not had a quorum since 2019. As a result, the Commission has been unable to update sentencing guidelines or provide clarity on issues confronting judges throughout the nation. Today, we take an important step to remedy that problem.”
“This bipartisan slate of seven nominees—selected with the input of senior Senate Democrats and Republicans—represents our best opportunity to restore the Commission’s quorum and enable the Commission to resume its important work.”
Video of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s opening statement is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s opening statement is available here for TV Stations.
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