Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin, Gillibrand Introduce Legislation to Promote Entrepreneurship and Innovation Through 'Fab Lab' Network
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced legislation to invest in the next generation of American entrepreneurs and innovators by establishing a national network of fabrication laboratories, known as "fab labs." Fab labs are small, community-based workshops that give members of the public - from students to small businesses - access to educational resources and high-tech equipment that can design, develop, and create new … Continue Reading
November 14, 2013
Durbin, Franken Introduce Legislation to Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors and the public for free. This bill, known as the Affordable College Textbook Act, would create a competitive grant program for institutions of higher education, working with professors and other organizations, to create and expand the use of textbooks that can be made available … Continue Reading
November 06, 2013
Durbin Discusses Thomson Prison at Senate Oversight Hearing
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee examining the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the important job creation that Thomson prison will bring to both Illinois and Iowa. "The opening of Thomson prison is going to create good paying jobs for people living in Iowa and my home state of Illinois," said Durbin. "It is going to lessen the overcrowding in the prison system and provide critical beds that are necessary for … Continue Reading
October 31, 2013
Durbin to Farm Bill Negotiators: Now Is Not the Time to Further Cut Food Assistance for Hard-Working Illinoisans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the floor of the Senate, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said the claims that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as 'food stamps', is growing out of control are false and that now is not the time to cut this important assistance for hard-working Illinoisans and their families. "The recent economic downturn caused hard-working people to lose their jobs. SNAP is an important safety net that caught those families while they … Continue Reading
October 30, 2013
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Advances Durbin-Sponsored Legislation to Expan Student Loan and Housing Assistance for Servicemembers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A hearing today of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee made legislative advances on three bills to provide additional assistance to servicemembers and military families sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL): the Servicemember Student Loan Affordability Act, the Servicemember Housing Protection Act, and the Benefits Fairness for Filipino Veterans Act. The bills must receive a vote by the full Committee before proceeding to a vote on the Senate floor. "Our … Continue Reading
October 03, 2013
Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Luncheon
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the fifth bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 113th Congress. The members discussed the impact the federal government shutdown is having on Illinoisans. The luncheon today was attended by thirteen members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation: Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), … Continue Reading
October 01, 2013
Durbin Statement on the Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the House failed to pass a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government. "Early this morning, the federal government shut down because the House of Representatives was unwilling to pass a short-term government funding measure," Durbin said. "So today, nearly a million federal workers were sent home without pay and government offices around the country were shuttered. This is … Continue Reading
September 27, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $1.4 Million in Funding for Peoria and Rockford Law Enforcement
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program has awarded the City of Rockford $625,000 in funding to hire or rehire five police officers and the City of Peoria $750,000 in funding to recruit or rehire six police officers. Today's funding is part of a nationwide announcement of $125 million in COPS grants that will be given to 263 … Continue Reading
September 24, 2013
Durbin Meets with Fermi Director to Discuss Support for National Labs and Funding for Scientific Research
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the new Director of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Dr. Nigel Lockyer to discuss the importance of continued federal funding for scientific research and development programs. "Research and innovation are a fundamental part of the basic infrastructure that builds this country," said Durbin. "It is critical that we maintain our commitment to the scientific research taking place at our national labs that fuels American … Continue Reading
August 30, 2013
Springfield to Receive $14.4 Million in Federal TIGER Grant Funds for Carpenter Street Underpass
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers today announced that the City of Springfield, Illinois has been awarded $14.4 million for the construction of a railroad underpass at Carpenter Street - an important component of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project and the entire Chicago-to-St. Louis passenger rail corridor. In June, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) united in … Continue Reading
August 15, 2013
Durbin Announces More Than $58,000 Investment in Quincy Area Communities to Create Jobs and Boost Development
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $58,165 in Economic Development District Planning funding to the Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials in Quincy, Illinois to create jobs and boost economic development in the region. "Today's funding will help Western Illinois create and implement a plan for continued economic growth - one that leverages new … Continue Reading
August 15, 2013
Durbin Announces a More Than $115,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $115,552 in grants to two fire departments and municipalities in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the departments to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "When fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Durbin, Bustos Meet with Federal Bureau of Prisons Director to Discuss Activation of Thomson Prison
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today met with the Director of the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons, Charles Samuels, to discuss the activation of Thomson Correctional Center. On July 18, Durbin and Bustos announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, had approved funding for the activation of Thomson at the level that was requested by President Obama in his fiscal year 2014 budget … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Durbin: THUD Bill Is the Latest Casualty of the Failed GOP Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke at a press conference today following a failed vote on the spending bill to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2014 fiscal year. Despite being passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 22-8, the measure failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold by a vote of 54-43. "Standing behind us are some men and women in the … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Durbin Announces More Than $1.6 Million at Chicagoland Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,643,138 in funding to the state of Illinois for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at two airports in the Chicagoland region. "Today's funding will help these airports continue serving their users safely and efficiently by making needed improvements and upgrades," Durbin said. The following investments in Illinois' transportation infrastructure were made … Continue Reading
July 26, 2013
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Student Loan Interest Rates Bill
[URBANA] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's passage of a bipartisan bill to lower the interest rates of federal student loans this year for all borrowers who have taken out, or will take out, a new loan after July 1, 2013. The legislation passed on an 81-18 vote on Wednesday. "This week, an overwhelming majority of Senators from both parties came together to lower interest rates on all student loans," Durbin said. "The 380,000 Illinois undergrads getting ready … Continue Reading
July 25, 2013
Durbin Announces $1.7 Million for Rural Development Project in Sangamon County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a loan of $1,700,000 to the Round Prairie Water Coop in Sangamon County, Illinois under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program. The project will construct extensions to the new water distribution system in Capital and Cotton Hill Townships that, when complete, will serve approximately 388 rural residents. The extensions will handle … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Meets with Former Macomb Mayor to Discuss His Re-Nomination to Amtrak Board
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with former Mayor of Macomb, Illinois and current member of the Amtrak Board of Directors, Thomas Carper who was recently re-nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the Amtrak Board. Carper's re-nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In the meeting, Durbin and Carper discussed the Senate's bill - which is currently being debated - to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Meets with Mayor of Macomb
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Macomb, Illinois Mayor Mike Inman. In today's meeting Durbin and Inman discussed the importance of continued federal transportation investment to stimulate economic growth and the need to repair aging infrastructure to revitalize communities. "I was pleased to welcome Macomb Mayor Mike Inman to Washington today to discuss the city's transportation priorities," Durbin said. "This week, I am working in the Senate to … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Announces a More Than $1.1 Million Investment in Chicagoland First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $1,125,195 in grants to fire departments and communities across Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department and community to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," … Continue Reading