Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Justice and Civil Rights
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Judiciary Committee Hearing On U.S. Sentencing Commission Nominees
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 t… Continue Reading
06.07.22
Durbin Questions Witnesses In Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Professor Robert Pape, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on domestic terrorism following the mass shooting in Buffalo that killed ten Black Americans in a racist act of violence. Durbin asked Professor Pape about the threat of the "Great Replacement" con… Continue Reading
06.07.22
Durbin Delivers Opening Statement At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism Following Buffalo Massacre
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered an opening statement during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled "Examining the 'Metastasizing' Domestic Terrorism Threat After the Buffalo Attack." This hearing-the Committee's third on domestic terrorism this Congress-will explore the continued threat posed by violent white supremacists and other extremists, including those who have embraced the so-called "Great Repla… Continue Reading
06.07.22
Judiciary Committee Releases Garnell Whitefield, Jr.'s Testimony At Hearing On Domestic Terrorism
WASHINGTON - Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee released Garnell Whitfield, Jr.'s prepared testimony at today's hearing entitled "Examining the 'Metastasizing' Domestic Terrorism Threat After the Buffalo Attack." Mr. Whitfield's mother, Ruth, was one of the ten victims of the May 14, 2022, massacre in Buffalo, New York. Key quotes as prepared: "Our lives are forever changed… forever damaged by an act of profound hate and evil. Nothing will ever take away the hurt, the pain or the ho… Continue Reading
06.03.22
Durbin, Duckworth, Rep. Kelly Introduce Wear Orange Resolution For Gun Violence Awareness
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-2) have introduced a Congressional resolution establishing June 3, 2022, as "National Gun Violence Awareness Day" and designating June as "National Gun Violence Awareness Month." Today, communities across the country will participate in a Gun Violence Prevention Day of Action. Every day, 321 people are shot in the United … Continue Reading
05.27.22
Durbin Meets With Everytown, Discusses Common Sense Gun Legislation
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with John Feinblatt, President of Everytown for Gun Safety, following this week's mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas. During their meeting, Durbin and Feinblatt discussed legislative paths forward to curb gun violence, including bills focused on closing gaps in the gun background check system. "I cannot imagine the immense pain the families of those 19 children and two teachers who l… Continue Reading
05.27.22
Durbin Discusses Toll Of Gun Violence On Children With Chicago-Area Youth & Doctors
CHICAGO - Following the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met with Chicago-area youth and doctors from Ann & Robert H. Lurie's Children Hospital to discuss the need to act to protect our children from gun violence and the growing toll of trauma that gun violence is having on a generation of students and young adults. Durbi… Continue Reading
05.26.22
Durbin Urges Senate To Pass His Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke on the Senate floor urging Senate Republicans to join Democrats and pass his Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act (DTPA), legislation that aims to prevent and respond to domestic terrorism days after a gunman killed ten Black Americans at a Buffalo supermarket in a racist act of violence. Last year, the FBI reported that in 2020, our nation experienced the highest level of hate crimes in over a… Continue Reading
05.26.22
Durbin: Will Senators Set Politics Aside To Stop The Killing Of Innocent Children? Or Will They Protect The Gun Industry?
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke about the tragic mass shooting that claimed the lives of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Durbin also called on his Senate colleagues to support common sense gun safety legislation to prevent such appalling acts of mass murder in the future. "I cannot imagine what it was like… in Texas in the homes of the 19 … Continue Reading
05.25.22
Durbin Statement On President Biden's Executive Order On Effective, Accountable Policing
WASHINGTON - On the second anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on President Biden signing an Executive Order to advance effective, accountable policing and strengthen public safety: "Two years ago, George Floyd died on the streets of Minneapolis with the knee of a police officer on his neck-an image that haunts me to this day. The injustice of his killing is undeniable… Continue Reading
05.25.22
Durbin Questions President Biden's Nominee To Lead ATF During Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Steven M. Dettelbach, nominated to be Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) during a Senate Judiciary Committee nominations hearing. Durbin asked Mr. Dettelbach about the killing of Chicago Police Department Officer Ella French last year. The gun that killed Officer French was bought in a straw purchase by an Indiana man on behalf of another … Continue Reading
05.24.22
Durbin Statement On Shooting At Robb Elementary School In Uvalde, Texas
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today released the following statement regarding reports that 14 students and one teacher were killed in a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas: "Today's news is heartbreaking and tragic. Fourteen young lives and a teacher gone far too soon. My heart is with the families and friends of these lives lost. "I implore - beg - my Republican colleagues to join Democrats in finall… Continue Reading
05.19.22
Senate Commemorates National Police Week
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution marking National Police Week and reiterating support for the men and women in law enforcement. The bipartisan resolution was led by 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. It was also cosponsored by 84 of their Senate colleagues. "I could not be more grateful for the bravery federal, st… Continue Reading
05.18.22
Durbin, Grassley, Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Broaden War Crimes Jurisdiction
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Representatives David Cicilline (D-RI) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN), introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act, legislation that updates the current war crimes statute to enable prosecution of war criminals in the United States regardless of th… Continue Reading
05.17.22
Senate Confirms Rachelle Crowe To Serve As U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - Tonight, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement on her confirmation: "We are pleased that the Senate has confirmed Rachelle Crowe to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. After seven years without a confirmed… Continue Reading
05.17.22
During National Police Week, Durbin Meets With Illinois Law Enforcement Leaders
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today met virtually with Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly, Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria, Swansea Police Chief Steven Johnson, incoming Champaign Police Chief Timothy Tyler, Kane County Sheriff Ron Hain, and Carbondale Police Chief Stan Reno. During their meeting, Durbin thanked the law enforcement leaders for their service and discussed with them the need to provide funding and… Continue Reading
05.16.22
Following Buffalo Shooting, Durbin Announces Upcoming Judiciary Committee Hearing On Domestic Terrorism
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today delivered a speech on the Senate floor decrying another weekend of mass gun violence across the country, including a racially-motivated attack at a Buffalo, New York supermarket that killed ten, and shootings that claimed the lives of parishioners at a California church, shoppers at a Houston flea market, and five people in Chicago, including 16-year-old Seandell Holliday who was killed in M… Continue Reading
05.13.22
Durbin, Leahy Seek Clarification Of Administration's Position On Use Of Torture-Derived Evidence
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, are calling on the Biden Administration to uphold U.S. obligations under the Torture Convention by putting an end to the repeated efforts by Guantanamo military commission prosecutors to use evidence derived from torture. Guantanamo Bay military commission prosecutors again argued in court that evidence obtained … Continue Reading
05.13.22
Durbin Joins Colleagues To Urge Department Of Homeland Security To Help State And Local Governments Improve Election Security
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) this week joined U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Gary Peters (D-MI) in leading 11 of their colleagues in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help states effectively use funding from the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program and the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) to improve election security. "We write to urge the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to take steps to ensure that state and local gover… Continue Reading
05.12.22
Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Nomination Of Rachelle Crowe To Serve As U.S. Attorney For The Southern District Of Illinois
WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today advanced the nomination of Rachelle L. Crowe to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today released the following statement on Ms. Crowe's nomination: "We are pleased that the Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced Ms. Crowe's nomination. She has the qualifications, integrity, and judgment to serve with distinction as U.S. A… Continue Reading