Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On The Fentanyl Crisis
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “The Poisoning of America: Fentanyl, its Analogues, and the Need for Permanent Class Scheduling.” Durbin began by talking about the need to hold social media companies accountable for peddling fentanyl to our nation’s kids, as well as the related action the Committee took last Congress with Durbin as Chair to hold Big Tech accountable.
“We passed bills in this Committee holding Big Tech and social media responsible. Unanimously. There are four or five new members of the Committee, but every member of the Committee two years ago voted for it. Democratic and Republican, conservative and liberal, all voted for the measures,” Durbin said. “And what happened as a result of that combined, bipartisan effort? Nothing!”
Durbin continued, “Why? Why would something as popular and as obvious as that fail before the Congress? Because there were powerful forces that have a lot of money at stake and don’t want liability who will piously and publicly say that they love this measure and it makes all of the sense in the world. And then when the doors close and they get a chance to speak to members individually, they flip and they take the opposite position, and nothing happens… I’m sick and tired of excuses being made and people dying as a result of it. And I think it is time for us on a bipartisan basis to find things we agree with.”
Durbin then asked Ms. Bridgette Norring, who is a survivor parent to her son Devin and a social media reform advocate, “What are the families that you have gathered with doing to hold Snapchat and others liable?”
Ms. Norring responded that she and other families have filed suit against Snapchat. Ms. Norring founded the Devin Norring Foundation to raise awareness and educate children, parents, caregivers, and communities about the dangers of illicit drugs and fentanyl. Her son, Devin, died of a poisoning from a counterfeit pill that he bought on Snapchat, and which contained a lethal dose of fentanyl. Ms. Norring is also a member of Parents for Safe Online Spaces, which advocates for online safety for kids.
Mr. Jaime Puerta is also a survivor parent of Daniel Puerta-Johnson, who died of fentanyl poisoning after ingesting a pill he purchased on Snapchat. Mr. Puerta, who is also President of Victims of Illicit Drugs and part of the suit that Ms. Norring and others filed against Snapchat, told Durbin, “No other lawsuit against any major social media company has gotten as far as ours.”
Durbin concluded, “I wish you well. We are dealing with fentanyl and the deadly aspects of that drug, and we are also dealing with sexual exploitation, particularly of children. A number of members here have shown real leadership… We can do this… It is our job to make sure that it does happen and do the right thing for you and your families.”
Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
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