{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-thanks-attorney-general-lynch-discusses-need-for-action-on-high-priority-issues", "Durbin Thanks Attorney General Lynch, Discusses Need For Action On High-Priority Issues", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.06.16\n\t\t\t Durbin Thanks Attorney General Lynch, Discusses Need For Action On High-Priority Issues \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to thank her for her dedication and service in the Department of Justice.\u00a0 They also discussed high-priority issues that still need to be addressed by Congress and the Department of Justice, like reforms to federal sentencing law.  \u00a0  \u201cI want to thank Loretta Lynch for her outstanding service as our nation\u2019s 83rd Attorney General. She has been a dedicated advocate for the civil and constitutional rights of all Americans,\u201d said Durbin. \u201cI have appreciated working with her on many issues important to Illinois, including reforming our criminal justice and prison systems and combating the scourges of gun violence, opioid abuse, and hate crimes. She broke down barriers as America\u2019s first African-American woman to lead the Department of Justice, serving as an inspiration to young people across the country of all backgrounds.\u201d  \u00a0  On November 8, 2014, President Obama nominated Lynch to succeed Eric Holder as U.S. Attorney General. On April 23, 2015, Lynch was confirmed by the Senate by a 56\u201343 vote, making her the second African-American, the second woman, and the first African-American woman to be confirmed for the position.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-thanks-attorney-general-lynch-discusses-need-for-action-on-high-priority-issues"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.132667927071452, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}