Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Senator Meets with Argonne Board Chairman Following Committee Approval of Appropriations Bill That Preserves Essential Funding for Fermilab and Argonne National Lab
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Argonne National Laboratory Chairman of the Board and University of Chicago President, Robert Zimmer, following the Senate Appropriations Committee's approval a bill that preserves essential federal funding for scientific research and development programs that will support work at both Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. The two labs together employ roughly 4,725 Illinoisans. A photo of today's meeting is available here. … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Protects Illinois Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved a bill to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2014 fiscal year that will protect Illinois priorities, promote infrastructure investment and create jobs. TIGER Grant Program Created by Congress in 2009, the TIGER grant program directs the Department of Transportation to invest in … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Thanking Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood For His Service to America and Illinois
When President Obama was elected four years ago, I urged him to appoint Ray LaHood to be America's Secretary of Transportation. I was confident that Ray would serve our nation with the same integrity and inexhaustible energy he had shown while serving his Congressional district in central Illinois. As Secretary LaHood prepares to leave his cabinet post, I am pleased but not a bit surprised to say that I was right. Ray LaHood is a proud Republican. Yet, when President Obama asked him … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Durbin, Kirk Applaud Decision to Make Public Assistance Available to Fifteen Additional Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today applauded the decision by President Obama to make Public Assistance funding available to fifteen additional Illinois counties - Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Greene, Hancock, Lawrence, McDonough, Monroe, Morgan, Peoria, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazewell and Will - that were affected by flash and river flooding that occurred in April. Public Assistance eligibility allows the State of Illinois, local … Continue Reading
June 12, 2013
Durbin Praises Northern Illinois University at Senate Hearing Examining For-Profit Colleges & DOD Education Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - While chairing a hearing of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) praised the work that Northern Illinois University has done to make serving veterans and servicemembers a priority. During an April 3, 2013 visit to Northern Illinois University, Durbin sat down with several student veterans and program administrators to discuss their experience and hear how the Military Student Services office has improved their life on … Continue Reading
June 10, 2013
Durbin Statement on Senate Passage of Farm Bill That Provides Certainty for American Farmers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S.954) which will save roughly $24 billion over the next 10 years compared to pre-sequestration budget levels. The farm bill, which passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 66-27, makes significant reforms to American agriculture policy by ending four different commodity subsidy programs and replacing them with more market-driven programs that make payments … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Durbin and Kelly Meet to Discuss Transportation, Economic Development Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) to discuss constituent services and economic development priorities in Illinois's 2nd congressional district, including job-creating infrastructure projects and efforts to train and educate workers in advanced manufacturing. "I am pleased to welcome Congresswoman Kelly to Illinois' congressional delegation. In her first few weeks in office, Congresswoman Kelly has already proven … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Durbin Meets with New Energy Secretary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to discuss the Department of Energy's commitment to moving forward with FutureGen 2.0 in Meredosia, Illinois and the importance of continued federal funding for scientific research and development programs that support work at Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab. Prior to being confirmed last month by a vote of 97 to 0 in the U.S. Senate, Moniz was the Director of the Energy Initiative at … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Durbin Announces Senate Approval of His Legislation to Improve Mississippi River Management and Extreme Weather Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods was approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. Specifically, the legislation would authorize a study of the entire Mississippi River Basin, for the first time ever, in order to help better understand how the Basin functions as a system and how it can best be managed in order to … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Durbin, Senators Introduce Fully Paid for Legislation to Prevent Student Loan Rate Hike
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In an effort to protect taxpayers and shield college students from a sharp increase in federal Stafford loan interest rates, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and eight other Senators in introducing a fully paid for bill to ensure student loan interest rates for more than 7 million undergraduate … Continue Reading
May 14, 2013
Durbin Meets with Secretary of Commerce Nominee Penny Pritzker
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Commerce, Penny Pritzker, to discuss her nomination and the importance of supporting U.S. businesses and job creation through this economic recovery. "Penny Pritzker is an excellent choice to head the Department of Commerce," Durbin said after meeting with her this afternoon. "She has risen to the highest ranks of corporate America, understands the challenges American … Continue Reading
May 10, 2013
Durbin Announces Illinois Control Towers Previously Slated for Closure Will Remain Open
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed to him that control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will remain open. The control towers were previously scheduled to close on June 15, 2013 due to the impact of mandatory spending cuts, known as sequestration. Last month, … Continue Reading
May 09, 2013
Durbin, Kirk, Delegation Call on President to Provide Federal Relief for Flood Impacted Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today in sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois and to provide relief to the 11 Illinois counties affected by a flash and river flooding that occurred last month. A Presidential disaster declaration would allow people impacted by flooding to apply for federal loans and reimbursements to help … Continue Reading
May 08, 2013
While Chairing a Hearing on the Air Force's Budget, Durbin Highlights Importance of Scott AFB
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, spoke today about the critical role Scott Air Force Base has played in ongoing military actions around the globe at a hearing on the Air Force's FY2014 budget request today. "Scott Air Force Base in southern Illinois is our major air mobility hub, hosting Guard and active duty units as well as U.S. Transportation Command. Members of its Tanker Airlift Control Center have … Continue Reading
May 07, 2013
Durbin Meets with Champaign County Officials to Discuss Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Champaign County First who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss local economic development and transportation priorities, including job-creating high speed rail and road construction projects. A photo from today's meeting is available here. Attendees at today's meeting included: Champaign Mayor Don Gerard, Champaign County Board President Alan Kurtz, Champaign Councilman Tom Bruno, … Continue Reading
May 02, 2013
Durbin Statement on President Obama's Nomination of Penny Pritzker as Commerce Secretary
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama nominated Penny Pritzker as his next Commerce Secretary: "In the world of business Penny Pritzker has broken through the glass ceiling with her extraordinary intelligence and business acumen. I believe Penny will bring a new perspective to a Department that is charged with leading America forward in business growth and job creation. I look forward to supporting her nomination and … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in Senate Vote
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 75 U.S. Senators showed their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. An amendment summarizing the bill - which was introduced in February - was added to the FY2014 Budget Resolution which is currently being debated on the Senate floor. "Today's vote proves that an overwhelming majority of … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Durbin Meets with Chatham Mayor to Discuss Local Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Chatham Mayor Tom Gray and City Manager Del McCord to discuss local transportation and infrastructure priorities. "I was pleased to welcome Chatham's mayor Tom Gray and city manager Del McCord to Washington today to discuss the village's transportation priorities, including rail," Durbin … Continue Reading