It's undeniable that the climate crisis is one of the greatest threats our nation is facing. We are already experiencing the disastrous effects of a changing climate—extreme weather events, chronic floods and droughts, deadly wildfired, and rising sea levels have increased in intensity and frequency in recent years and continue to compound as one disaster quickly followes another. Illinois has seen seen more rainfall events that exceed two inches, greater humidity, milder winters, and more days of extreme heat. Senator Durbin, including with his America’s Clean Future Fund Act, supports enacting commonsense federal laws that would dramatically reduce carbon emissions and prepare for the consequences of the climate crisis. Failing to combat this crisis will have significant repercussions for our economy, national security, and global ecosystems—it must be addressed before it's too late. 

Illinois is home to two of the nation’s most valued national research institutions—Argonne and Fermi National Laboratories. They are critical to U.S. economic growth and global competitiveness. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Durbin has worked to secure robust funding for researchers at Argonne, Fermi, and Illinois’ universities so that they can continue to conduct ground-breaking scientific advancements in fuel efficiency, high energy physics, drug discovery, nuclear energy, the climate crisis, and quantum information science. 

The Great Lakes contain approximately 20 percent of all the fresh water in the world are are the largest supply of fresh water in the United States. The Lakes serve as the source of drinking water for nearly 40 million peeople throughout the region and support a wide range of recreational and commercial pursuits. Durbin is dedicated to protecting Lake Michigan by fighting invasice species, reudicing pollution, and supporting Army Corps of Engineers' protects that protect our shorelines and rivers. He has consistently fought industry efforts to discharge increased pollutant into our water and worked with federal and state authorities to ensure that our drinking water standard protect public health.

Illinois is poised to become a leader in the electric vehicle revolution. Scientists and engineers at Illinois’ national labs have pushed the boundaries of vehicle and battery technology, while union workers across the state are building fleets of electric vehicles and the charging infrastructure. Durbin has secured significant funding to construct electric vehicle charging stations up and down Illinois, and he remains committed to ensuring Illinois is investing in the future of cleaner, electric transportation.