Durbin, Quigley, Schakowsky, Duckworth Announce $20 Million For Noise Mitigation For O’hare Area Homeowners

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL-8) today announced $20 million in federal funding for aircraft noise mitigation efforts near O'Hare International Airport. Today's funding, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will help soundproof residences with noise levels between 65 and 69 DNL. "This welcome investment by the FAA will improve the quality of life of O'Hare area re… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $279,269 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin. Under this announcement, the following cit… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Department of Education Actions Against ITT Tech

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it would place additional restrictions on ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech) to protect students and taxpayers. As part of today's announcement, ITT Tech will be banned from enrolling new students using federal financial aid, must notify current students that the institution is not in compliance with accreditor standards, and will be required to pay an additional… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces DOJ Funding To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $879,227 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. These investments, awarded though the Department of Justice, will be used to purchase vehicles and equipment, support personnel costs, and enhance existing programs. "Today's funding will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin. Under this announcement, … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Rural Development Projects In Illinois

SPRINGFIELD -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $22,527,700 in federal funding, including $5,107,700 in grant awards, to support rural development projects across Illinois. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Development grant and loan programs, will support water and waste infrastructure projects, small business initiatives and local economic development. "This funding will help boost small and new businesses in Illinois," said Durb… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces DOJ Award To Support Law Enforcement In Rock Island

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $29,003 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts in Rock Island County. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase Tasers and other security equipment. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $14 Million To Safeguard Illinois Emergency Communications

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $ 14,025,250 in federal funding to relocate the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's communications from its current network to a nationwide public safety broadband network, ensuring emergency communications remain reliable and secure. This grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, will help Illinois relocate and reprogram its public safety communications systems on other … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces DOJ Award To Support Law Enforcement In Kankakee

SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $18,382 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts in the City of Kankakee. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase and install mobile audio and video systems, laptops, Tasers, and GPS equipment. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Du… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $2 Million To Improve Community Health In Suburban Cook County

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,232,726 in federal funding to support efforts by the Cook County Department of Public Health to improve community health and reduce the prevalence of chronic disease in thirty-three low-income communities across suburban Cook County. This grant award, provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) program, will help promote tobacco-free recreational areas, improve acces… Continue Reading

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