Press Releases
Durbin: Amtrak On-Time Performance Suffering From CN Obstructions & Delays
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With both Amtrak delays and blocked rail crossings reaching record levels on Canadian National's (CN) rail lines, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) invited Surface Transportation Board (STB) Members to visit Illinois and observe firsthand the results of CN's failure to meet its obligations to local communities. This week, Durbin met with STB Chairman Dan Elliot to discuss these and other ongoing issues resulting from CN's 2009 acquisition of the EJ&E Railway. A photo of Du… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Durbin Introduces Bill To Expand Student Loan Forgiveness Program to Adjunct Professors
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the reliance on part-time faculty grows at colleges and universities across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation that would allow part-time faculty - who are often paid low wages with few benefits - to be eligible to participate in the federal student loan forgiveness program for public servants. In Illinois, more than half of all faculty at public and non-profit colleges and universities work on a part-time basis, which often makes them ine… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Durbin Joins Donnelly, Kirk and Great Lakes Senators Urging Action on Asian Carp Threat
[WASHINGTON, DC.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Joe Donnelly (D-IN) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), along with other Great Lakes Senators, sent a letter to White House Council on Environmental Quality Asian Carp Director John Goss expressing their continued commitment to practical, immediate solutions to the threat of Asian carp and other invasive species to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River basin. "While disagreements about prevention measures remain, the Asian carp threat persists, a… Continue Reading
07.31.14
Durbin Calls For Action On Gun Reform At Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Protecting Women From Gun Violence
[WASHINGTON, DC] - During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on protecting women from gun violence, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin thanked Elvin Daniel, of McHenry, Illinois, who testified in support of common sense gun reform legislation. Daniel's sister, Zina, was shot and killed by her estranged and abusive husband in Wisconsin in 2012. The restraining order placed on Zina's husband did not stop him from purchasing a weapon through an internet site, where he was not subject to a background check.… Continue Reading
07.30.14
Durbin Announces A More Than $417,000 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 $417,325 in grants to five communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and fi… Continue Reading
07.30.14
Durbin Joins Shaheen, Senate Democrats To Introduce Legislation To Expand Access To Contraception For Military Women, Dependents
(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Senate Democrats to introduce legislation, the Access to Contraception for Women Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2014, which would overhaul current Department of Defense's policy on contraceptive coverage and family planning counseling. The bill would bring health care provided by the military in line with current law for civilian populations by ensuring that all women who receive health care … Continue Reading
07.30.14
Durbin Statement on Committee Report Revealing Questionable Business Practices In For-Profit College Industry
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released a statement after reviewing a new report by the majority staff of Chairman Tom Harkin's (D-IA) Senate HELP Committee shows that for-profit colleges are collecting billions of taxpayer dollars from veterans using their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits. The report found that although overall student enrollment has decreased at each of the eight top for-profit Post-9/11 GI Bill beneficiaries, their enrollment of veterans has dramaticall… Continue Reading
07.29.14
Durbin Meets With FutureGen Alliance CEO Ken Humphreys
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with FutureGen Alliance CEO Ken Humphreys today to discuss the status of the FutureGen 2.0 project. The FutureGen Industrial Alliance is a non-profit membership organization that includes some of the largest coal producers, coal users, and coal equipment suppliers in the world. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "The FutureGen 2.0 project has the potential of making a lasting reduction in carbon dioxide while still using coal to generate energy. I … Continue Reading
07.29.14
Durbin Statement on Passage of Highway Trust Fund Extension
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after the Senate passed a bill to finance the Highway Trust Fund through December 19, 2014. The bill will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration. "I am pleased this bill will help us continue work on the construction projects around Illinois that are creating jobs and improving our roads, bridges, highways and mass transit. The Senate bill includes sufficient funding to avoid a transpo… Continue Reading
07.29.14
Durbin Statment on the Confirmation of Robert McDonald to be VA Secretary
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted unanimously to confirm Robert McDonald to be Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): "Bob McDonald is a veteran, a West Point grad, and he is from Arlington Heights, Illinois," Durbin said. "I met with Bob soon after he was nominated for this position and there is no doubt he is eager to take on the task of seeing that the VA honors its promise to the men and women who ser… Continue Reading
07.29.14
Durbin & Leading Congressional Democrats Introduce the No Federal Contracts For Corporate Deserters Act
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Leading Democrats from both chambers of Congress - Senators Dick Durbin and Carl Levin and Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Lloyd Doggett - today introduced the No Federal Contracts for Corporate Deserters Act. The legislation would bar contracts from going to businesses that incorporate overseas, are majority-owned by shareholders of the old U.S. corporation, and do not have substantial business opportunities in the foreign country in which they are incorporating. "With… Continue Reading
07.28.14
Durbin: State of Illinois Takes Decisive Action to Protect Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the decisive action taken by the Illinois Board of Higher Education which ordered Corinthian Colleges - owner of six "Everest College" campuses in Illinois - to immediately stop all sales, advertising, marketing and enrollment activities in Illinois. Durbin has been warning Illinois students and calling for an end to enrollments since the Department of Education increased scrutiny of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. on June 20, 2014 … Continue Reading
07.25.14
Durbin Visits Chicago Crime Gun Intelligence Center with ATF Director
[CHICAGO] - After a spate of shootings and gun deaths in Chicago in recent weeks, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Director of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), B. Todd Jones, at Chicago's new Gun Crime Intelligence Center for a briefing on the center's role in combating gun violence."For far too long, Chicago has been plagued with unacceptable levels of gun violence," Durbin said. "I came here today to learn more about the innovative strategies being u… Continue Reading
07.24.14
Durbin To Defense Secretary: Failing For-Profit College Shouldn't Be Recruiting Servicemembers On-Base
WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Department of Defense should protect servicemembers by prohibiting for-profit colleges run by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. - like WyoTech, Heald and Everest - from participating in on-base job training, education, and career events and fairs. Durbin sent a copy of today's letter to Education Secretary Arne Duncan. Durbin's letter follows a Marine Times report from earlier this … Continue Reading
07.23.14
Durbin Announces A More Than $1.6 Million 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 $1,607,356 in grants to eight communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Senate Confirms Illinois Native Andrew Schapiro As New U.S. Ambassador to Czech Republic
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate confirmed Andrew Schapiro of Chicago, Illinois, to be the next U.S. Ambassador to Czech Republic. The Senate approved his nomination by voice vote. "Andrew Schapiro, the son of a Czech immigrant to the United States, brings with him important experience to serve as our next Ambassador to the Czech Republic," said Durbin. "Given the Kremlin's recent actions in Central and Eastern Euro… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Durbin, Pallone Meet With MLB and MLB Player's Association To Discuss Spit Tobacco
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At the height of Major League Baseball's season, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) met today with representatives of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association (MLBPA) to discuss efforts to cut back on smokeless tobacco use among players and fans. Today's meeting was also attended by Matt Myers, President of Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "As the recent death of H… Continue Reading
07.23.14
Durbin: Inverters Are Deserters
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to discuss a tactic called corporate inversions, a move many companies are considering. These companies move their headquarters overseas, but only on paper, to avoid U.S. taxes. In his speech, Durbin highlighted the fact that these companies are effectively renouncing their American corporate citizenship. "Corporate tax inversion is a strategy used by companies to dodge U.S. taxes, plain and simple. This clever tax strategy has be… Continue Reading
07.22.14
Durbin Lauds Committee Passage of Treaty on the Rights of the Disabled
DURBIN LAUDS COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF TREATY ON THE RIGHTS OF THE DISABLED [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to pass a resolution ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a treaty to recognize fundamental values of non-discrimination and equal access for persons with disabilities around the world: "The United States has led the world in f… Continue Reading
07.22.14
Durbin to Walgreens: Renouncing Your American Corporate Citizenship Hard to Defend
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the CEO of Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed his strong opposition to the speculation that Walgreens will buy Swiss-based retailer and wholesaler Alliance Boots and use a strategy called "inversion," to move the company's headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "Customers have many choices about where to shop and where to have their prescriptions filled. I believe yo… Continue Reading