Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Education
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $58 Million for Head Start Programs in Chicagoland Area
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded a total of $58,065,218 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in the Chicagoland area. "This funding will help level the playing field for thousands of families in the Chicagoland area by promoting healthy development and school readiness for kindergarten and elementary school … Continue Reading
March 23, 2017
Durbin: ISAC Will Not Charge Fees To Students Who Rehabilitate Loans Within 60 Days of Default
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) announced it would not charge high collection fees to Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) borrowers who enter loan rehabilitation within sixty days of defaulting on their student loans. The announcement was made after the U.S. Department of Education withdrew guidance issued by the Obama Administration prohibiting guaranty agencies from charging borrowers fees … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Durbin, Rubio Reintroduce Legislation To Promote Education Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) today reintroduced legislation to expand educational opportunities for the world's poorest children. The Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act addresses barriers to school attendance, retention, and completion in developing countries by leveraging U.S. contributions through collaboration with governments, civil society, and global education initiatives. Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Dave … Continue Reading
March 14, 2017
Durbin, Murray, Warren Lead Group Of Senators Calling On Education Department To Explain Delay Of Gainful Employment Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) called on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to explain the Department's decision to delay the implementation of the Gainful Employment (GE) rule, which requires career training programs to provide students with reasonable return on their educational investment - good-paying jobs that allow them to repay their student debt. Last week, the Department of Education announced it would postpone the deadline … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Durbin, Wicker Introduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced the bipartisan Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program Act, which creates a competitive grant program for institutions of higher education to expand study abroad opportunities for American college students. Study abroad is an important component of a well-rounded post-secondary education, giving students the opportunity to engage with other cultures, enhance foreign language skills, and expand international … Continue Reading
March 07, 2017
Durbin Reintroduces Bill To Give Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges Their Day In Court
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) has reintroduced legislation designed to strengthen students' ability to hold for-profit colleges accountable in court for their misconduct. The Court Legal Access & Student Support (CLASS) Act prohibits any school receiving Title IV student aid funding from placing restrictions on students' ability to pursue legal claims, individually or with others, against higher education institutions in court. The CLASS Act aims to end the strategic use of … Continue Reading
February 23, 2017
Following Reports Jerry Falwell Jr. To Lead Presidential Task Force, Durbin Calls On Education Secretary Devos To Guard Against Potential Conflicts Of Interest
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) in a letter to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding reports that President Trump has asked Jerry L. Falwell, Jr., President of Liberty University, to lead a new "task force" to recommend changes to federal regulations, policies, and procedures in higher education. Such a task force could make recommendations … Continue Reading
February 13, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $2.5 Million For Head Start In Champaign County
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Administration for Children and Families has awarded Champaign County $2,570,465 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs."The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to succeed from elementary school to college and beyond," said Durbin. "Today's … Continue Reading
February 07, 2017
Durbin Opposes Betsy DeVos As Education Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin issued the following statement after voting against Betsy DeVos as U.S. Secretary of Education. DeVos was confirmed by a vote of 51-50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote. "More than 50 years ago, Lyndon Johnson signed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act into law, guaranteeing every child a free and equal, quality public education. By confirming Betsy DeVos, Senate Republicans have entrusted our children's success to an … Continue Reading
January 18, 2017
Durbin Statement On Consumer Watchdog Agency And Illinois Attorney General Lawsuits Against Delinquent Student Loan Servicer
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced lawsuits against Navient, the country's largest servicer of federal and private student loans, for mishandling accounts and misinforming borrowers about their eligibility for income-based repayment. "Student loan servicers, as contractors of the U.S. Department of Education, have an obligation to provide borrowers … Continue Reading
January 13, 2017
Durbin Praises Education Department Progress On Debt Relief For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the U.S. Department of Education's continued progress in providing federal student loan debt relief through the defense to repayment process for defrauded students of for-profit colleges. Today, the Department announced that former students of Massachusetts-based American Career Institute will receive automatic discharges of their federal loans and that it has approved additional claims filed by former students of Corinthian Colleges and ITT … Continue Reading
May 12, 2014
Durbin Discusses Legislation Allowing Student Loan Holders to Lower Their Interest Rates
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed legislation introduced in the Senate last week which will allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates currently offered to new borrowers. "Student debt has reached the breaking point in this country," Durbin said. "Millions of borrowers are looking at a lifetime of debt just because they wanted to do the right thing and get a college degree. The bill which I co-sponsored last week will … Continue Reading
April 29, 2014
Durbin Takes For-Profit Fight to Illinois Classrooms
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged high school principals across Illinois to ensure that their students are receiving honest and accurate information about their higher education options, and that they are aware of the risks associated with the for-profit college industry. Durbin wrote the principals to call their attention to the "often irresistible lure of for-profit colleges," many of which are facing increased scrutiny from federal and state regulators for a … Continue Reading
April 07, 2014
Durbin Announces $2.67 Million Federal Training Grant for Chicago Education and Manufacturing Coalition
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Manufacturing Careers & College Connect (MCCC) Program in Chicago, Illinois - led by Manufacturing Renaissance, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Daley College, and local employers - has received a $2,670,909 federal grant through the Department of Labor's Youth CareerConnect Program. "This federal funding is a direct investment in our students, our schools, … Continue Reading
April 03, 2014
Durbin, Harkin, Cummings: More Coordination Needed in Federal Oversight of For-Profit College Industry
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation that would improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry. Through the establishment of an interagency oversight committee, the Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act - which will be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings … Continue Reading
April 01, 2014
Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $22 Million for School Improvement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $22,060,358 in funding through the Department of Education's School Improvement Grant program. A total of more than $85 million was awarded to five states that are continuing efforts to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools. "We must ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive no matter where they live and no matter what school they … Continue Reading
March 27, 2014
Durbin Statement Following Senate Hearing on Student Loans
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the federal student loan program and the growing student loan debt crisis which has, for the first time in history, surpassed the total amount of credit card debt in America. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this growing pile of debt threatens current and future economic growth. Before 2009, young people with … Continue Reading
March 11, 2014
Inspector General Report on Campus Debit Card Use Confirms Need to Better Protect Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA) today said that a Department of Education Inspector General (IG) report they requested in 2012 recommends that the Department of Education should take action to better ensure that student interests are protected when colleges and universities use third-party servicers - such as Higher One and Sallie Mae - to deliver Title IV student financial aid dollars to students. "The Inspector General has … Continue Reading
February 28, 2014
Durbin Asks Department of Education to Investigate ITT Educational Services
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today once again asked the Department of Education to investigate a for-profit college over allegations of deceptive and misleading practices. It was announced yesterday that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) had filed suit against ITT Educational Services for predatory lending practices that include pressuring students into high cost loans, misleading students about job prospects and misleading students about the transferability of credits to … Continue Reading
February 12, 2014
Durbin Meets With Leaders From Illinois Community Colleges To Discuss Higher Education Issues
WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with leaders from Illinois community colleges to discuss higher education issues including reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, college textbook affordability, student loan debt, and the Community College to Career Fund Act. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "I was pleased to meet with representatives of the fine community colleges across Illinois," Durbin said. "Community colleges make up the largest and most … Continue Reading