Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Military and Veterans
Durbin Statement on Investigation Into Possible Sexual Assaults and Misconduct at Fort Hood
[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, released the following statement after the Army announced an investigation into sexual assault by a noncommissioned officer assigned to sexual assault prevention office at Fort Hood, Texas: "Reports of widespread sexual assaults in the armed services show a disgraceful culture of abuse that must be stopped. Reports of a soldier at Fort Hood, Texas, assigned to … Continue Reading
February 25, 2013
Durbin, Enyart Meet with Scott Air Force Base Leaders to Discuss Ways to Maintain Base's Long-Term Strength
[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL-12) today met with leaders at Scott Air Force Base to discuss the base's long-term strength and security. Durbin, who was recently named Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Enyart were briefed on Scott's priorities, the future needs and the support necessary for the base to sustain its long-term health by Base Commander Colonel David Almand, General Paul Silva, the … Continue Reading
January 25, 2013
Durbin to Chair Defense Appropriations Subcommittee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will become the Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee when the panel organizes early next month. With the exception of military construction programs, the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee oversees funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. The Subcommittee also … Continue Reading
January 23, 2013
Durbin Meets with Secretary of Defense Nominee, Senator Chuck Hagel
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin met yesterday with President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, former Senator Chuck Hagel, to discuss his nomination and the challenges of supporting our troops and maintaining a strong national defense while reducing the national security threat of our budget deficit. They also discussed the important role the defense installations in Illinois, such as Rock Island Arsenal, Scott Air Force Base and Naval Station Great … Continue Reading
January 09, 2013
Illinois, Missouri Delegation Disappointed by Air Force's Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) expressed concern with the Air Force's decision not to select Scott Air Force Base as a candidate for its next generation aerial refueling tanker. The Air Force selected five candidate locations after a review of existing refueling bases and may consider Scott for later tranches of the KC-46A aircraft. The joint Illinois and Missouri delegation will review the details … Continue Reading
December 05, 2012
Bi-State Delegation Announces that Senate Approves Provisions from their Bill to Increase Workload at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced that major portions of their bill to help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The bill will now go to a House-Senate Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate version and House version of the defense … Continue Reading
December 04, 2012
Durbin: Senate Passes Defense Authorization Bill that Includes Provisions to Improve Mental Health Services for Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed today by a bipartisan vote in the U.S. Senate, includes portions of the Mental Health ACCESS Act, cosponsored by Durbin, which will improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)'s suicide prevention, counseling, and mental health staffing while expanding eligibility for some services to family members. "The Army says that when you draft a soldier today, you draft … Continue Reading
November 13, 2012
Durbin: Congress Should Honor Veterans By Passing Bipartisan Legislation to Create Jobs for Veterans and Improve Mental Health Services
Senator reports over 5,150 families nationwide - including more than 130 in Illinois - are part of the Family Caregivers Program created by his legislation Senator also honors former Joliet resident and WWI veteran, Joseph Ambrose [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that Congress can and should do more to honor those who answer the call of duty and risk everything to defend America. Specifically, Durbin called on members of the Senate to put aside partisan … Continue Reading
August 17, 2012
Durbin Encourages Post-9/11 Vets Families to Apply for Family Caregiver Program
[DECATUR, IL] - Over the past year, thousands of families who have taken on the enormous task of caring for America's most seriously wounded veterans have received financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program, which began one year ago, provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of … Continue Reading
July 07, 2012
Durbin Celebrates Rock Island Arsenal's 150th Anniversary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) entered a statement into the Congressional in honor of the Arsenal's impressive history and its impact on the Rock Island community and the nation. "I thank those who serve at the Arsenal today and those who have served in the past. And also to those who have join me in honoring Rock Island Arsenal in its 150 year anniversary celebration," said Durbin. "Rock Island is … Continue Reading
June 25, 2012
Durbin, Emanuel: City of Chicago to Receive More Than $3 Million to Hire Veterans for Law Enforcement Positions
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that seven Illinois agencies including the City of Chicago will receive a total of $5,250,000 in funding from the Department of Justice's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) to recruit and hire post-9/11 veterans to serve as police officers and firefighters. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $111 million in COPS grants that will be given to 220 different … Continue Reading
May 09, 2012
Illinois / Iowa Senators Introduce Bill to Require Strategic Plan for Workload Increases at Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation that would help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal. The Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act of 2012 would require the Army to create a strategic plan to increase workload and ensures arsenals around the nation are considered for military contracts Defense-wide rather than just within … Continue Reading
February 02, 2012
Durbin Says Secretary of the Army Confirms No Decision Yet on Rock Island Arsenal's Future
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After months of speculation and rumor about the future of Rock Island Arsenal, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced, after a personal call with Army Secretary John McHugh, that no decisions have been made and no changes will occur at the Rock Island Arsenal without the Illinois / Iowa Congressional Delegation and the Quad Cities region being fully engaged. "I have heard a lot of speculation and rumor over the last few months about the future of Rock Island … Continue Reading
January 25, 2012
Durbin Meets with Quad Cities Officials to Discuss Rock Island Arsenal and Other Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with officials from the Quad Cities area to discuss their priorities for Rock Island Arsenal and the region. Participants in today's meeting included: Rock Island County Board Chairman, Jim Bohnsack and Moline Mayor Dan Welvaert. "The Quad Cities region has a great history of coming together to build the economy of the entire region," said Durbin. "Meeting with local leaders like Chairman Bohnsack and Mayor Welvaert we can … Continue Reading
January 24, 2012
Durbin will Host Illinois Soldier for Tonight's State of the Union
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In what has become an annual tradition, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) will host a wounded Illinois soldier as his guest for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address. U.S. Army Specialist Jacob Owens from the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, will also attend the Secretary of the Senate's dinner immediately preceding the President's address. Durbin has invited soldiers who have served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as his … Continue Reading
January 23, 2012
Durbin, Harkin: Congress Must Remove Loophole that Encourages For-profit Colleges to Target Veterans
[CHICAGO, IL] - At a forum examining aggressive recruiting and marketing tactics practiced by some members of the for-profit college industry to target veterans and service members, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced legislation that would further limit federal government subsidies to for-profit colleges and eliminate the incentive for these extremely profitable schools to aggressively target veterans and service members. The Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers (POST) Act is … Continue Reading
December 15, 2011
Durbin Announces Over $315,000 in HUD Grants to Reduce Homelessness Among Illinois Veterans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that three Illinois communities will receive a total of $315,179 in Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) grant funding to help homeless veterans find shelter as they receive health and other services. "Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,000 homeless veterans were on the street," said Durbin. "This country can do better-and must do better-for … Continue Reading
December 01, 2011
Durbin: Provision to Give National Guard Full Membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff Approved by Senate
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the National Defense Authorization Act approved late tonight by the U.S. Senate included a provision that gives the Chief of the National Guard full voting membership on the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the biggest change since the Marine Corps was given full membership in 1979. This bipartisan measure was strongly support by the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard Major General William L. Enyart. "This bill … Continue Reading
November 10, 2011
Durbin Statement on Passage of the Veterans Jobs Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Senate passed the VOW to Hire Heroes Act - a bill that will help tens of thousands of unemployed veterans get back to work - by a wide bipartisan margin: "More than 75,000 veterans in Illinois are out of work, and as we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, that number will likely grow. These veterans fought for America, and it's our duty to see that they are given a helping hand when they … Continue Reading
November 10, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Announce Nearly $500,000 in DOT Funding to Help Illinois' Veterans Literally "Get to Work"
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $362,000 competitive grant to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and a $131,325 competitive grant to Lee County, Illinois, to enhance access to affordable transportation for wounded warriors as well as military families and spouses. The funding, which comes through DOT's new Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative, … Continue Reading