U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Ayanna Pressley announced on May 20 the reintroduction of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act, which seeks to abolish the use of the death penalty at the federal level and require resentencing for those currently on federal death row.
The proposed legislation comes amid renewed attention to execution methods and policies following recent actions by the Department of Justice under President Trump, including bringing back firing squads and seeking to resume electrocution and lethal gas executions. Supporters say this measure addresses concerns about fairness, racial disparities, and effectiveness in deterring crime.
“The death penalty is not a punishment reserved for the worst of the worst; it is one reserved for the poorest of the poor. And it is a penalty disproportionately faced by Black Americans. It is far from clear that the death penalty even serves its primary purpose. There has yet to be any evidence conclusively demonstrating that the death penalty deters people from committing heinous crimes compared to the threat of life in prison,” said Durbin. “I am grateful to Representative Pressley for her partnership and our colleagues who are joining us in this important effort. It is time to end this cruel and unusual punishment once and for all.”
Pressley said, “The death penalty is a racist, discriminatory, and deeply flawed punishment and must be abolished once and for all. But with states across the country in the midst of an unprecedented execution spree and Trump shamefully reviving federal firing squads, America is doubling down on state-sanctioned killing instead of ending it. Our bill would get the federal government out of the business of executing its own citizens, and save lives… Congress must move with urgency to pass this bill.”
The legislation was first introduced by Durbin and Pressley in July 2019 after an announcement from DOJ during President Trump’s first term that it would resume use of capital punishment at a federal level. In July 2020, after a 17-year pause on federal executions ended with Daniel Lewis Lee’s execution followed by six more through September 2020, Durbin led efforts calling for oversight into what he described as an unprecedented pace during President Trump’s lame-duck period.
On his second term’s first day as president, Trump issued an executive order instructing pursuit of capital punishment wherever possible; Attorney General Pam Bondi lifted Biden-era moratoriums on executions soon after.
The Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act now has support from seventeen Senators—including Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, Alex Padilla—and twenty Representatives such as Shontel Brown, Troy Carter Sr., Emanuel Cleaver among others.
Durbin holds leadership roles including Senate Democratic Whip—the second-ranking position among Senate Democrats—and represents Illinois while serving on committees focused on judiciary matters as well as agriculture policy according to the official website. He also aids constituents with issues related to health programs like childhood asthma initiatives or medical research funding.
Supporters say passage could have broad implications by ending capital punishment at a national level while requiring new sentences for current inmates facing execution.
