Durbin Leads Members of Congress in Calling on VA to Investigate ITT Tech - The Third Largest Recipient of GI Bill Benefits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) asking the Department to investigate ITT Tech - a for-profit college that is the third largest recipient of GI Bill benefits despite being under investigation by at least 18 state Attorneys General and being sued by two federal agencies. "You know how critical GI Bill benefits are to our veterans and th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Decision by D.C. District Court to Uphold Gainful Employment Regulations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today praised the decision by the Washington, D.C. District Court to uphold the Department of Education's "gainful employment" regulation in its entirety, just as prior courts have concluded. The regulation was challenged in a lawsuit brought by a for-profit college group, the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities. "Today's ruling is good news for students - too many of whom have been lured into worthless for-profit college p… Continue Reading

Senators Seek to Reduce Drug Deaths With Overdose Prevention Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In an effort to prevent drug tragedies and combat a nationwide surge of lethal drug overdoses, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced the Overdose Prevention Act. This legislation would expand access to naloxone, as well as drug overdose prevention programs that have been proven to save lives. Drug overdose death rates in the U.S. have more than tripled since 1990, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C… Continue Reading

Senators Ask for Study on Feasibility of Single Food Safety Agency

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today called for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study into the feasibility of creating a single food agency to increase efficiencies, reduce costs and improve safety. Each year 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die from eating unsafe food. The annual costs associated with these foodborne illnesses, including medical costs… Continue Reading

Durbin, Army Corps and City Officials Cut Ribbon on Montrose to Irving Park Section of Chicago Shoreline Protection Project

CHICAGO - Another major portion of the Chicago Shoreline Protection Project is now open, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and officials from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Chicago Park District (CPD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced today at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Montrose Avenue to Irving Park Road section of the project. This section is part of the ongoing effort to restore and secure 9.5 miles of deteriorated revetment. The project, which … Continue Reading

Durbin and Franken Introduce Bill to Expand Student Loan Forgiveness Program to Adjunct Professors

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the reliance on part-time faculty grows at colleges and universities across the country, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation that would allow part-time faculty - who are often paid low wages with few benefits - to be eligible to participate in the federal student loan forgiveness program for public servants. In Illinois, more than half of all faculty at public and non-profit colleges and universities work on a part-time basis, whi… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Fair Elections Now Act

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Fair Elections Now Act, which would dramatically change the way Congressional elections are financed. Under the legislation, qualified Senate candidates would earn grants, matching funds, and television vouchers to run competitive campaigns based on small-dollar contributions, rather than rely on funding from wealthy donors and special interests. The Fair Elections Now Act would help reduce the influence of wealt… Continue Reading

Durbin and Duckworth Introduce Bipartisan Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) introduced the bipartisan Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act. Duckworth introduced the bill with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in the House and Durbin introduced the bill with U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in the Senate. The legislation would fix a provision in the Ser… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Naperville Chamber in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation Durbin introduced earlier this year which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. Attendees of today's meeting included Nicki Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and others. A photo from today's meeting is available here. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Leaders from McLean County in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce to discuss local transportation and economic development priorities. A photo from today's meeting is available here. "Last night, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that slashed funding for critical transportation programs like the TIGER Grant Program. The business and community leaders I met with today from McLean County know firsthand how important that fundi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce in Washington

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities including economic development, transportation improvements, and the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. Durbin met last week with Lieutenant General Stanley Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, to continue discussions regarding the future of Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing. A photo of today's meeting is available here. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Ukraine Caucus Meet with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to Discuss Russian Aggression, Increased Military Aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Anseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss increased military aid to Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. Durbin is co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) also attended today's meeting. "Ukraine is at a critical moment in its history. As Russi… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to Discuss Upcoming Legislation Reauthorizing Amtrak

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Congress preparing to consider a legislation to reauthorize Amtrak, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with representatives from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to discuss the continued growth of passenger rail service, and the importance of robust federal support for our national transportation network. "This year, Congress debates the future of our national transportation and infrastructure network, including Amtrak," Durbin said. "As pass… Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Appropriations Bill Protects Illinois Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which provides $575.9 billion in funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. "Illinois has long taken a leadershi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $6.7 Million in Federal Funding for Rockford Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced $6,698,797 in federal funding that will go toward infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Chicago Rockford International Airport. The grant will be used to build a terminal building expansion that will help travelers move more efficiently through the gate holding area. This funding will go towards the first phase of construction on the project, including design and construction fo… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Encourage Tracing of All Gun Crimes

[WASHINGTON, DC] - To help crack down on gun violence and gun trafficking, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation today that would encourage law enforcement agencies to take full advantage of federal crime gun tracing resources, one of the most powerful crime fighting tools available to target gun trafficking networks and solve violent crimes. Crime gun tracing can help generate leads in criminal investigations and reveal how guns are trafficked into criminals' hands. "One o… Continue Reading

Summary: Department of Defense FY2016 Appropriations Bill

WASHINGTON-The Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act, 2016 provides $575.9 billion in base and Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) funding, compared to $554.2 billion enacted in fiscal year 2015 and $577.9 billion in the President's budget request. The base budget appropriation is $489.1 billion with $86.9 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations of the Department of Defense, compared to $64 billion for DoD OCO enacted in fiscal year 2015. The Subcommittee's allocation confor… Continue Reading

Durbin: Monsanto's Corporate Inversion Would Cost U.S. Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions Each Year; Could Easily Be Stopped with Legislation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Syngenta AG released documents showing that Monsanto intends to move its corporate headquarters overseas as part of its proposed acquisition of Syngenta, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes - a process known as "inversion". Durbin's Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2015 would lower the 80% continuity of ownership test under Section 7874 of the tax code to 50%, effectively prevent… Continue Reading

Durbin and Blumenthal Statement on Department of Education's Announcement on Federal Debt Relief for Former Corinthian Students

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statement after being briefed on the Department of Education's announcement related to federal student loan debt relief to former students of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. "Thousands of students who attended Heald Colleges and those whose Corinthian campuses closed will see relief under today's announcement. Secretary Duncan deserves great credit for today's good news. We look forw… Continue Reading

Durbin, Dart: Law Enforcement Agencies Should Trace All Crime Guns

[CHICAGO] - To help crack down on gun violence and gun trafficking, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart today called on law enforcement agencies to take full advantage of federal crime gun tracing resources, one of the most powerful crime fighting tools available to target gun trafficking networks and solve violent crimes. They discussed legislation that Durbin is introducing in the Senate and a first-of-its-kind training initiative to prepare police departments to p… Continue Reading