Press Releases
Senate Confirms Zachary Fardon as New U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statements today after the Senate confirmed Zachary Fardon to be the next U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The Senate unanimously approved his nomination. "Zachary Fardon will be an exceptional U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois," Durbin said. "His range of experience will serve him well in a city and region as diverse and challenging as the Northern District. … Continue Reading
10.07.13
Durbin: Senate Approves Federal Judicial Nominees in Northern & Central Districts of Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has unanimously approved Sara Ellis for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Colin Bruce for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. "Both Sara Ellis and Colin Bruce have the experience, qualifications, and integrity to be excellent federal judges," said Durbin. "I was proud to recommend them both to President … Continue Reading
10.03.13
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), Representative… Continue Reading
10.01.13
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 no … Continue Reading
09.27.13
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 different… Continue Reading
09.26.13
Durbin, Harkin, Rockefeller, Waxman & Members of Congress Call on E-Cigarette Makers to Explain Marketing Tactics Targeting Kids
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following new information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showing a dramatic increase in the use of e-cigarettes among children and youth, twelve members of Congress today called on nine e-cigarette makers to provide additional information regarding the sale, distribution, labeling, and marketing of their products to children and teens. Currently, e-cigarettes are not subject to federal laws and regulations that apply to traditional cigarettes such … Continue Reading
09.25.13
Durbin: NFL, NHL, NBA, US Soccer, NCAA Endorse Concussion Safety Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After receiving endorsements from six national professional and collegiate sports organizations, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to strengthen K-12 schools' procedures for preventing, detecting, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions while competing. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year though many go unreported. … Continue Reading
09.25.13
Durbin Meets with U of I President Bob Easter to Discuss Research Funding and Higher Education Issues
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met yesterday with University of Illinois President Robert Easter to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and the importance of funding student research and innovation. "The University of Illinois is a great institution that plays an important economic and education role for students from Illinois and across the world," Durbin said. "I was pleased to meet with President Easter today. We agree that investing in our students and preparing … Continue Reading
09.25.13
Durbin, Markey, Rockefeller, Blumenthal Call on Energy Drink Companies to Stop Marketing to Children
[WASHINGTON, DC] In the latest step in their ongoing investigation into the energy drink industry, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), today called on 17 major energy drink companies to commit to voluntary steps in the marketing and promotion of energy drink products, including not marketing to children nor selling products in K-12 schools. The requests to the companies come after the July Senate Comm… Continue Reading
09.24.13
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 inno… Continue Reading
09.24.13
Durbin Statement on Illinois Health Plan Rates
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the State of Illinois announced that the rates for health care plans in Illinois' new Health Insurance Marketplace will be more than 25 percent lower than initial estimates. The marketplace, created as part of the Affordable Care Act or "Obamacare," will open on October 1st. "Today's announcement by the State of Illinois confirms what many have been saying for years: Obamacare will lower health ca… Continue Reading
09.23.13
Durbin Announces $1.4 Million in Funding to Local Colleges to Bridge Supply Chain Management Skills Gap
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that William Rainey Harper College and Northwestern University have received a combined $1.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor supporting a new initiative to train workers for high-demand jobs in the fast-growing, high-need field of supply chain management. The schools are part of a multistate group of twelve colleges working to establish the Leveraging, Integrating, Networking, Coordinating Supplies (LINCS) in Supply Cha… Continue Reading
09.18.13
Durbin Announces Nearly $8.5 Million in Workforce Development and Training Grants for Illinois Community Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $8,460,255 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to four colleges and universities throughout Illinois. The funding announced today is intended to help create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. The National Associatio… Continue Reading
09.18.13
Durbin meets with University of Illinois - Chicago Student Trustees
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with the student representatives to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees outside the Capitol building. During the meeting, the group discussed issues in higher education including rising college costs and federal student aid. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Investing in our students and preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow's global economy must be one of our highest priorities," Durbin said. "I was pleased … Continue Reading
09.10.13
Durbin to Duncan: Time to Crack Down on For-Profit Medical Schools That Use Offshore Loophole
[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) raised the alarm about foreign medical schools that are not accredited by approved U.S. accrediting bodies, but are still eligible for federal Title IV funds due to a 1992 loophole that allowed a small number of these schools to qualify for federal funding under lower standards than other foreign medical schools. An investigative report that appeared today in Bloomberg Markets Magazine highligh… Continue Reading
09.09.13
National Park Service Interested in Telling the Pullman Story
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Congresswoman Robin Kelly today announced the National Park Service has released a study which concludes that the Pullman community in Chicago's South Side has unique historical significance and is worthy of serious consideration as a new National Park. The Illinois members have been working to secure national park status for the architecturally unique neighborhood which played important roles in Americ… Continue Reading
09.06.13
Durbin Visits Richland Community College to Discuss Closing "Skills Gap"
[DECATUR, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited Richland Community College (RCC) today to discuss legislation he introduced to help community colleges train workers for high-needs technical jobs, many of which are currently going unfilled due to a lack of qualified employees in the workforce. Durbin toured labs and met with students in RCC's Illinois Network for Advanced Manufacturing Earn and Learn Manufacturing Program, in which students complete industry-recognized certificates in di… Continue Reading
09.05.13
Durbin, Bustos Urge House to Pass Water Resources Development Act
[CREVE COEUR, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today urged their colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the Water Resources Development Act and include legislation they authored when the House considers the measure in coming weeks. A key provision of the Senate bill is modeled on the Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act, which authorizes improvements to the nation's water infrastructure-including locks and d… Continue Reading
09.05.13
Durbin, Blumenthal, Harkin, Carper, Brown, and Markey Warn Against Dangers of E-Cigs After CDC Release Data Showing an Increase in Use Among Youth
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Ed Markey (D-MA) warned against the dangers of electronic cigarettes after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released new data showing that use of these products has more than doubled among middle and high school students since the 2011-2012 school year. Electronic cigarettes or "e-cigs" are marketed as substitutes for tobacco smoking. However, in addition to r… Continue Reading
09.05.13
Durbin, Bustos Brief Community Members on Progess of Thomson Prison's Activation
[THOMSON, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) met today with local community leaders to brief them on the progress and next steps in the activation of Thomson Prison, which the federal government purchased from the State of Illinois at Durbin's urging last year. The two were accompanied at today's meeting by Bill Dalius, the Assistant Director for Administration of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), who oversees facility and budget development … Continue Reading