Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Scott, Menendez, Young, Duckworth, Kaine, Portman, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Children From Lead Poisoning
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Tina Smith (D-MN) today introduced the Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2019, which would require the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update its lead poisoning prevention measures to reflect modern science and ensure that families and children living in federally-assisted housing are … Continue Reading
May 14, 2019
Durbin Meets With Transportation For Illinois Coalition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC), a group of statewide and regional businesses, organized labor, industry, governmental, and nonprofit organizations that have joined together to support strong transportation investments for Illinois. Durbin discussed his priorities for the upcoming White House negotiations regarding a comprehensive transportation infrastructure bill and his work to secure federal funding for Illinois … Continue Reading
May 09, 2019
Durbin Meets With Mayor-Elect Lightfoot
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Chicago Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot to discuss Chicago priorities and how he can assist her in the Senate. Durbin and Lightfoot talked about reducing gun violence, the Chicago HEAL Initiative, the 2020 Census, public housing, and transportation infrastructure funding. "I want to thank Mayor-elect Lori Lightfoot for coming by and meeting with the Illinois Congressional Delegation. We spoke about the issues she'll face in her new … Continue Reading
May 07, 2019
Durbin Meets With Labor Groups
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with a large group of labor organizations to discuss trade, transportation infrastructure, and support for federal employees. Durbin also discussed his support for strengthening workers' rights to join unions and bargain collectively. "Our country was built on foundational labor rights - like fair wages, safe working conditions, and access to health care. As someone who grew up in a union household, I will always have their back in … Continue Reading
April 30, 2019
Durbin Statement On White House Transportation Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today released the following statement after attending today's meeting at the White House regarding transportation infrastructure: "In today's meeting, we agreed with the President that any transportation infrastructure plan must be big and bold. And we can't stop at roads and bridges - any proposal must include broadband, mass transit, and our waterways. The President now has … Continue Reading
April 11, 2019
Durbin Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators Urging Amtrak To Continue Support For Routes That Connect Rural Communities In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a bipartisan group of Senators today calling on Amtrak to continue service to rural communities in Illinois and across the U.S. by investing in long-distance and state-supported routes. In a letter to Amtrak, the Senators requested responses to questions about Amtrak's budgeting process and proposed changes to long-distance and state-supported routes that would have major implications for rural communities who rely on Amtrak service to … Continue Reading
April 09, 2019
Durbin Meets With Advocates For Highway Safety On Preventing Roadside Deaths
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Board of Directors of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety to discuss potential federal solutions to prevent roadside deaths and to accept their Highway Safety Hero Award for his work in Congress to make roads safer. In Illinois, there have already been 16 roadside crashes this year that have resulted in the deaths of three Illinois state troopers. Durbin has advocated for increased funding for federal highway safety grants, … Continue Reading
April 05, 2019
Durbin Discusses Highway Safety, Trooper Deaths With IDOT
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke to Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Omer Osman and Paul Loete, Director of IDOT's Office of Highways, to get an update on what IDOT is doing to prevent roadside deaths in the wake of three Illinois state troopers who died this year after being struck by vehicles on the side of the highway. Durbin urged IDOT to spend resources to better educate the public about the state's Move Over law, and offered to assist at the … Continue Reading
April 05, 2019
Durbin: 'Move Over' To Save Lives Of Police & First Responders
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to three Illinois State Troopers who have been killed after being struck by vehicles on the sides of roads and highways this year. Durbin honored Illinois State Troopers Brooke Jones-Story, Jerry Ellis, and Chris Lambert, and recognized the efforts of Lucy Kuelper, the daughter of an Illinois State Trooper who created a Facebook page to raise awareness about Scott's Law, which requires motorists to … Continue Reading
April 04, 2019
Durbin Presses Carson About Trump Administration's Cuts To Public Housing In East St. Louis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Services Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, pressed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson about the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2020 budget, which calls for deep cuts in federal funding to HUD's affordable housing programs. Durbin specifically mentioned his concerns about the proposal to eliminate the Public Housing Capital … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Durbin Presses Carson About Trump Administration's Cuts To Public Housing In East St. Louis
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today, in a Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Services Appropriations Subcommittee Hearing, pressed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson about the Trump Administration's Fiscal Year 2020 budget, which calls for deep cuts in federal funding to HUD's affordable housing programs. Durbin specifically mentioned his concerns about the proposal to eliminate the Public Housing Capital … Continue Reading
March 28, 2019
Durbin Meets Federal Railroad Administrator To Discuss Amtrak On Time Performance, Chicago To Quad Cities Passenger Rail, And Blocked Crossings
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Ron Batory, the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), to discuss Amtrak on-time performance (OTP), increasing access to passenger rail service in Illinois including from Chicago to the Quad Cities, and the need for the FRA to take a more active role in preventing blocked crossings by freight trains. "While Illinois' economy benefits from being the nation's freight rail hub, my constituents deserve more accountability … Continue Reading
March 22, 2019
Durbin Questions FAA Safety Approval Process For Boeing 737 Max Series Planes
WASHINGTON-In the wake of the two recent Boeing 737 Max series plane crashes, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for answers following a New York Times report yesterday that detailed how a previously optional safety feature will now be added as a standard feature on all 737 Max series planes. In a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel Elwell, Durbin asked why such safety features were not originally required by the FAA to be included on … Continue Reading
March 13, 2019
Durbin: Public Deserves Transparency From The FAA On Safety Of Boeing 737 Max 8 Series Aircraft
WASHINGTON-Following the two devastating plane crashes involving Boeing's new 737 Max 8 series aircraft, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately provide the public with clear answers about the current safety of this aircraft and to work with both the manufacturer and the airlines to perform a thorough investigation of the aircraft to find and remedy any potential vulnerabilities. In a letter to FAA Acting Administrator Daniel … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Durbin Meets With Rock Island Army Corps Commander To Discuss Illinois Infrastructure Priorities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District including Colonel Steven Sattinger, Commander and District Engineer for the Rock Island District, to discuss the need for continued federal investment in Illinois' water infrastructure and flood risk management for the Upper Mississippi River region. Durbin also discussed the importance of preventing the spread of Asian Carp to the Great Lakes, and rehabilitation of the … Continue Reading
March 06, 2019
Durbin Meets With Metra CEO
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Metra CEO Jim Derwinski and members of Metra's Board of Directors to discuss transportation priorities in Illinois, including last week's Amtrak computer system failure at Chicago Union Station that resulted in 12 hours of delay impacting 100,000 Metra and Amtrak passengers. Durbin also discussed increased funding for Metra operations, the implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology, and service issues on Metra's … Continue Reading
March 05, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Press Trump Administration To Release New Bridge Repair Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today urged the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to immediately release $475 million in new federal funding for risk-based bridge repair and replacement that they secured in the recently passed Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bill. Illinois currently has the third largest bridge inventory in the country. Of the 26,775 bridges in Illinois, 2,303 bridges, or 8.6 percent, are classified as structurally … Continue Reading
March 01, 2019
Durbin, Duckworth Call On Amtrak To Make Changes To Prevent Another Equipment Failure At Union Station
WASHINGTON-Following yesterday's Amtrak computer system failure at Chicago Union Station, which lasted more than 12 hours, caused significant delays and overcrowding, and impacted both morning and evening commutes, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Amtrak CEO and President Richard Anderson asking for swift policy and operational changes to prevent future equipment failures. Today, Anderson admitted that Amtrak made a series of errors, including … Continue Reading
March 01, 2019
Durbin Statement On Amtrak Computer System Failure At Union Station
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after he spoke to Amtrak CEO and President Richard Anderson about yesterday's Amtrak computer system failure at Chicago Union Station, which lasted more than 12 hours, caused significant delays and overcrowding, and impacted both morning and evening commutes: I talked to Mr. Anderson this morning and in blunt terms, asked him what happened in Chicago yesterday? Why did thousands of commuters see their service … Continue Reading
February 14, 2019
Durbin Statement On Bipartisan Agreement To Fund The Government
WASHINGTON-Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the bipartisan, bicameral conference committee on Homeland Security, today released the following statement after voting for the bipartisan agreement negotiators reached to fund the nine remaining federal departments and their agencies. The bipartisan package rejects President Trump's demand for $5.7 billion for a border wall and makes responsible investments in border security long supported by Democrats. For 35 days, we said … Continue Reading