Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Discusses Staffing Concerns At USP Thomson With Local 4070 Of The Council Of Prison Locals
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke by phone with Jon Zumkehr, President of Local 4070 of the Council of Prison Locals (CPL), and Brian Mueller, CPL North Central Regional Vice President, about ongoing staffing challenges at USP Thomson and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities throughout Illinois. Durbin received an update on retention and recruitment efforts at USP Thomson, including the success of direct … Continue Reading
September 03, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee To Examine The Texas Abortion Ban And The Shadow Supreme Court's Abuse Of Its "Shadow Docket"
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing examining the Supreme Court's abuse of its "shadow-docket," particularly its order permitting Texas's extreme new abortion restrictions to take effect this week. Late Wednesday night, the Court issued an order refusing to block the Texas law banning abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat-about six weeks from … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin Speaks On Officer French And Straw Purchases Of Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not lawfully buy a gun for himself. "I hope that justice is delivered swiftly and fairly for the perpetrators of this horrible crime," Durbin said. "As … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin To AG Garland: Prioritize Investigating And Prosecuting Straw Purchases Of Firearms
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Chicago firearms trafficking Strike Force to immediately prioritize the investigation and prosecution of straw purchases that supply firearms to individuals with felony convictions in the Chicago area. This past weekend, Chicago Police Officer Ella French was fatally shot and her partner critically … Continue Reading
August 10, 2021
Durbin Statement On Illegally Purchased Gun Used To Kill CPD Officer French
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement regarding charges that the gun used to kill Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French this weekend was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another man who had a felony record and could not buy a gun for himself: "The news that Officer French was killed and her partner wounded by a straw purchased Indiana handgun is infuriating. I have … Continue Reading
August 09, 2021
Durbin, Leahy, Booker, Colleagues: It's Time To End The Federal Death Penalty
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Cory Booker (D-NJ), both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today led 14 of their Senate Democratic colleagues in urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take further steps to end the federal death penalty once and for all. In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the Senators commend the recent decision to impose a moratorium on … Continue Reading
August 06, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Introduce Resolution Designating September As National Democracy Month
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today introduced a Senate resolution designating September 2021 as National Democracy Month. The resolution asks Americans to reflect on the contributions of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable world. "In some of his final words to us, Congressman John Lewis said, … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Durbin Calls On Colleagues To Support Nomination Of Eunice Lee To The Second Circuit Court Of Appeals
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in support of Eunice Lee's nomination to serve on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. During his speech, Durbin called on his colleagues to support Ms. Lee's nomination in order to continue bringing balance to our nation's courts and elevating the professional perspective of public defenders that is underrepresented within our federal judiciary. The Senate is … Continue Reading
August 05, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Myrna Pérez, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit; Jia M. Cobb, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Sarah A.L. Merriam, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut; Florence Y. Pan, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia; Karen McGlashan Williams, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin, Grassley Press BOP On Restitution For Victims Of Larry Nassar
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a second letter to Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Michael Carvajal requesting answers to reports that BOP's inmate Trust Fund/Deposit Fund program operates with little oversight, enables federal inmates to avoid paying child support and other debts, and fails to scrutinize inmate … Continue Reading
August 04, 2021
Durbin Honors D.C. Police Officers Who Responded To Insurrection On January 6 Who Recently Died By Suicide
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers Gunther Hashida and Kyle DeFreytag-both officers who responded to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6-who recently died by suicide. With their deaths, four police officers who responded to the January 6 insurrection have now died by suicide. Durbin called on his colleagues to do everything possible to support the officers who responded to the … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin Questions Witnesses At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned witnesses at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. Durbin asked Christopher Chapman, President and CEO of AccessLex Institute, and … Continue Reading
August 03, 2021
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Student Loan Bankruptcy
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 entitled "Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform." Currently 45 million Americans hold more than $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Unlike most other types of debt, student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy except in extremely rare circumstances. During his opening statement, Durbin shared stories from struggling … Continue Reading
July 29, 2021
Durbin Statement On Senate Passage Of Emergency Supplemental Bill To Pay National Guard, Capitol Police
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after the Senate passed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill, introduced by Senate Appropriations Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT), that addresses the urgent security needs facing the Capitol and the country. The $2.1 billion bill addresses the violent insurrection that took place on January 6, … Continue Reading
July 28, 2021
Durbin: McConnell's Efforts To Stop An Investigation Into January 6 Failed
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today commended the brave Capitol Police Officers and D.C. Metropolitan Police Officers who testified at yesterday's House Select Committee hearing to investigate the events that led up to and occurred on January 6, 2021, and once again slammed Senate Republicans' refusal to support the bipartisan, independent January 6 commission. "It continues to amaze me that an independent, bipartisan … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Durbin Questions DOJ and FBI On Combating Ransomware Attacks
WASHINGTON - During today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "America Under Cyber Siege: Preventing and Responding to Ransomware Attacks," U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned Richard Downing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Criminal Division about the role of cryptocurrency in ransomware attacks. "Cryptocurrency and Bitcoin are the coin of the realm when it comes to ransomware. … Continue Reading
July 27, 2021
Senate Confirms Todd Kim To Be Assistant Attorney General, Environment & Natural Resources Division
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Todd Kim to be the Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) at the Justice Department by a bipartisan vote of 58-41. Following the vote, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on Kim's confirmation: "With Mr. Kim leading ENRD, the American people can trust that our nation's public lands and natural resources will be … Continue Reading
July 26, 2021
Durbin Statement on First Slate Of Biden Administration U.S. Attorney Nominations
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding the first slate of U.S. Attorney nominations from the Biden Administration: "I'm pleased that the Biden Administration has announced its first slate of U.S. Attorney nominees. I look forward to timely consideration of these nominations in Committee." Today's slate of U.S. Attorney nominees include: Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney nominee for … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Durbin, Lightfoot, Attorney General Garland Discuss Gun Trafficking Strike Force, Investments In Community Violence Prevention Programs In Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot today joined Attorney General Merrick Garland in Chicago to discuss several initiatives to address gun violence in the city, including the Department of Justice's (DOJ) implementation of a firearms trafficking strike force in the city. Durbin, Lightfoot, and Garland visited the Chicago Police Department (CPD) 11th District Office for a briefing about law … Continue Reading
July 22, 2021
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Latest Slate Of Judicial & Executive Nominations
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nominations of Gustavo A. Gelpi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit; Angel Kelley, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts; Christine P. O'Hearn, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey; Helaine Ann Greenfeld, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legislative Affairs; and Christopher H. Schroeder, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of … Continue Reading