Durbin, Kirk, Donnelly And Coats Call For Extending Comment Period For Proposed Rule On Metropolitan Planning Organizations

CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Dan Coats (R-IN) today urged the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant a 60-day extension of the comment period for a proposed rule that could affect the way neighboring metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) interact. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the senators expressed concern that rather than improve coordination between Chicago and Northwest Indiana MPOs, the change c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $6 Million For Head Start And Early Head Start In Illinois

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start providers grants totaling $6,321,724 to support early education and comprehensive family support services for low-income infants and children. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to succeed … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Fourth Anniversary of the Implementation of DACA

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement marking the fourth anniversary of the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which grants temporary reprieve from deportation to certain young undocumented immigrants. "Four years ago today, I was honored to address thousands of DREAMers who lined up to attend a DACA application workshop at Navy Pier in Chicago. The enthusiasm and determination of these young people was a sign of thi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Madigan Call for Improved Protections and Benefits for Student Loan Borrowers

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today called on the U.S. Department of Education to improve protections and benefits for student borrowers by strengthening student loan servicing. They also called for the passage legislation that would allow current federal borrowers to refinance their loans at lower interest rates and allows private borrowers to refinance into federal loans. Durbin and Madigan have long advocated for increased protections … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Rural Development Grants for Southern Illinois

GRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $92,045 in federal funding to support rural development projects in southern Illinois. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Development grant program, will help the Illinois Solar Energy Association and the City of West Frankfort foster small business growth in the region. "This funding will help boost small and new businesses in southern Illinois," said Durbin. "This means new oppor… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Million for Early Head Start in Chicago

GRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,229,028 in federal funding for Early Head Start programs in Chicago's West Humboldt Park and Back of the Yards neighborhoods. Under this announcement, the Chicago Commons Association will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support early childhood development and comprehensive family support services for infants and toddlers from low-income households. "We know that a child's first years are … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $245,000 for Community Health Centers

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded seven health centers in Illinois a total of $245,000 to improve quality of care through the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) delivery model, which increases patient-doctor communication, provides comprehensive care, and empowers patients to take part in decisions about their own health. This funding was provided through the Affordable Care Act and builds on initia… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes U.S. Surgeon General to Chicago to Discuss Opioid Epidemic, Tour Substance Abuse Treatment Facility

CHICAGO - At the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy visited Chicago today as as part of his effort to address the country's prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. Durbin and Dr. Murthy toured Haymarket Center and met with staff and patients in recovery. "The prescription opioid and heroin crisis impacts every community across the country - urban, suburban, and rural. I'd like to thank Surgeon General Murthy for visiting Chicago and lending his s… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million for National Runaway Switchboard

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1.6 million in federal funding for the Chicago-based National Runaway Switchboard (NRS), which helps homeless and at-risk youths and their families access counseling, prevention services, and local resources. Today's funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will allow the NRS to continue operating 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, and promote its 1-800-RUNAWAY Hotline. "This is an important investment to … Continue Reading

U.S. Surgeon General to Visit Chicago at Senator Durbin's Invitation

CHICAGO - At the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy will visit Chicago next Wednesday as part of his effort to address the country's prescription opioid and heroin epidemic. Durbin and Dr. Murthy will visit a substance abuse treatment facility in Chicago and meet with patients, advocates, and health care professionals to discuss initiatives to combat the crisis. "In recent years, Illinois - like the rest of the country - has seen an alarming incre… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Proposed Rate Changes for Illinois Health Exchange

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the insurer-proposed rate changes that could impact Illinoisans purchasing individual health insurance through the Illinois' Health Marketplace next year: The Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) - which operates Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) in Illinois - sent their highest ranking officials to meet with me in Washington in April and told me they were losing money and considering pulling out of Illinois. Something … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Million for Early Head Start in Cook County

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,226,568 in federal funding for Early Head Start programs in Cook County. Under this announcement, the Proviso Leyden Council for Community Actions, Inc. will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support early childhood development and comprehensive services for infants and toddlers from low-income households. "We know that a child's first years are the most crucial in their brain development. Ea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Collins, Bipartisan Senators Urge CMS to Expand Substance Abuse Treatment Coverage

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) today led a bipartisan group of 29 senators urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve access to substance abuse treatment by amending the Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion. In a letter to CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt, the senators asked the agency to further expand covered services to include substance abuse treatment in all medically necessary care settings in response to A… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $615,000 to Develop Teaching Resources, Professional Development Opportunities in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today four Illinois education organizations will receive a total of $615,164 in grant funding through the Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Program, a federal grant program administered by the Library of Congress to develop teaching resources and professional development opportunities that focus on the effective use of digitized primary sources in K-12 classrooms. "The Library of Congress is an invaluable resource to students an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel, Members of Illinois Delegation Announce $25 Million TIGER Grant for Garfield Green Line Gateway

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-7) and Bobby Rush (D-IL-1), and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced $25 million in federal funding to create an updated, convenient transit gateway at the Garfield Green Line 'L' station in Chicago's Washington Park neighborhood. This investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER grant program, will support improvements to the existing operational Green Line station and resto… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $14 Million TIGER Grant for Springfield Rail Improvement Project

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $14 million in federal funding for the second phase of rail transit infrastructure improvements in Springfield, IL. Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's TIGER grant program, will support the construction of an underpass at Ash and Laurel Streets as well as the design and planning of a new multimodal facility, which will include an Amtrak station and a bus transfer location. Once the project is c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.7 Million for Head Start & Early Head Start in McHenry County

PHILADELPHIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $1,786,656 in federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in McHenry County. Under this announcement, the Community Action Agency for McHenry County, Inc. will receive a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support early education and comprehensive services for low-income children and families. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $5 Million for Maternal & Child Health

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the Illinois Department of Public Health $5,265,846 to improve health outcomes in women and children. Today's funding will support efforts by the Illinois Department of Public Health's Office of Women's Health and Family Services to improve health care access and provide preventive services for women, children, and adolescents. "We must ensure that all Illinois families… Continue Reading

Durbin, Quigley, Emanuel Announce More Than $3.6 Million to Expand CTA Electric Bus Fleet

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Federal Transit Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has awarded the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) $3,620,000 to expand its electric bus fleet. Today's funding will enable the CTA to purchase up to four electric buses and two chargers. The CTA was the first major transit agency to use all-electric buses as part of daily servi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Continuing Unrest in Turkey

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the continuing unrest and politically-motivated arrests occurring in Turkey: President Erdogan, who made great progress in his first term as prime minister strengthening both Turkey's economy and standing in the international community, should not use this attempted coup as an excuse to tighten his grip on Turkish society by rounding up political opponents. This is a critical moment for President Erdogan to demonstrat… Continue Reading