Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Energy and the Environment
Durbin: No Special Exemptions for S.S. Badger
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today on the floor of the Senate criticized the operation of the coal-fired S.S. Badger which has dumped more than 35,400 tons of coal ash - enough to coat the entire floor of Lake Michigan in a 2.5 inch thick layer of ash - since it began running 1953. Earlier this week, Durbin spoke with the Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Susan Hedman, to urge the agency to deny a permit that would allow the S.S. Badger to … Continue Reading
December 19, 2012
Durbin Asks Energy Secretary to Approve Next Phase of FutureGen 2.0 Project in Meredosia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a vote today by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in favor of the power purchase agreement for the power that will be generated by the FutureGen plant in Meredosia, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu to approve the next phase of the FutureGen 2.0 project which includes preliminary design, pre-construction and engineering. "The ICC's decision today solidifies the FutureGen plant's financial viability. I thank Governor … Continue Reading
December 07, 2012
Durbin: Army Corps Believes Their Efforts Will Maintain Traffic Along the Mississippi River Despite Low Water Levels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will convene a meeting of stakeholders - including Senators from states bordering the Mississippi River, state and local officials and representatives from industries such as agriculture and shipping - for a briefing from the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss navigation on the Mississippi River through means other than releasing additional water from the Missouri River. Durbin also announced that the Army Corps … Continue Reading
December 05, 2012
Durbin: Language Protecting Coal-Fired S.S. Badger Stripped from House Passed Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the House of Representatives passed a bill to reauthorize the US Coast Guard - the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act - which is now clean of any language that would have allowed the S.S. Badger to continue dumping over 500 tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan each year. The original House bill included language that would have exempted the S.S. Badger from long-standing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) … Continue Reading
September 20, 2012
Durbin, Kirk, Levin, Casey Lead Effort to Restore Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, today joined Senate Great Lakes Task Force co-chairs U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Carl Levin (D-MI) and Task Force member, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to introduce the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act, a bill to address the most significant challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem. The legislation targets invasive species, nonpoint source and nutrient pollution, and will help remediate and … Continue Reading
August 02, 2012
Durbin, Senators Urge President Obama to Create Drought Task Force
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of 14 Senators called for the creation of an Interagency Drought Task Force to meet the wide ranging impacts and diverse needs arising from the ongoing drought. In a letter sent earlier today, the Senators asked President Obama to direct the task force to report on the severity of the drought, the impacts to all sectors of the economy, the options available to address drought and fiscally-responsible recommendations … Continue Reading
July 17, 2012
Durbin Chairs Hearing on Safety and Effectiveness of Flame Retardant Chemicals
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Dick Durbin (D-IL), chaired a hearing on the safety and effectiveness of flame retardant chemicals today, following a Chicago Tribune four-part investigative report on flame retardant chemicals and furniture flammability standards. The hearing focused on whether those chemicals and flammability standards are adequately protecting consumers and the … Continue Reading
May 14, 2012
Durbin Calls for Passage of Safe Chemicals Act
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for Senate passage of legislation that would overhaul an antiquated law that has left American families exposed to dangerous toxic chemicals included in everyday household products and furnishings and given the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) little recourse against the aggressive chemical companies that have exploited the lack of oversight. "The U.S. EPA, wittingly or unwittingly, has allowed the manufacturers of … Continue Reading
March 22, 2012
Durbin Announces His Opposition to S.S. Badger Effort to Secure New EPA Permit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the owner of the S.S. Badger, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will actively oppose the company's efforts to secure a permit that would allow the S.S. Badger to continue dumping over 500 tons of coal ash into Lake Michigan each year. Durbin's announcement comes after his meeting with the President and CEO of the Lake Michigan Carferry Service, Robert Manglitz, who proposed a plan to convert the S.S. Badger to liquefied natural gas … Continue Reading
March 21, 2012
Durbin Chairs Budget Hearing on CFTC
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing which reviewed the funding request of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), one of the nation's primary financial market regulators. CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler testified before Durbin's Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. "With our markets on the rebound, record high gas prices and vast new regulatory responsibilities, CFTC's roles in protecting … Continue Reading
February 06, 2012
Congress Approves Durbin Provision to Encourage Sustainable Airport Design
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A provision, authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), that would help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) create a standardized, voluntary set of best practices to help airports operate and build sustainable facilities was included in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act which was approved today by the U.S. Senate. The provision would establish a working group to develop these standards and help create a voluntary rating system. … Continue Reading
February 01, 2012
Durbin, Kirk, Quinn, Emanuel: EPA Designation Will Allow Chicago Area to Maintain Eligibility for Federal Funds to Reach Eventual Air Quality Attainment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - At the urging of U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that the City of Chicago and surrounding areas should remain eligible for federal funding through the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program. It is estimated that losing this eligibility would have cost Illinois roughly $80 million in federal funding and … Continue Reading
January 09, 2012
Durbin and Quinn Announce $7.7 Million in Investment to Help Illinois Communities Recover from Storms
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced a more than $7.7 million investment in Illinois communities to help cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by storms last year. Today's funding is provided through the Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program which funds the repair and reconstruction of federal highways and roads that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters and other outside … Continue Reading
December 15, 2011
Durbin, Kirk, Senators Welcome FEMA Proposal to Move Toward a More Realistic Analysis of Flood Risk
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today encouraged community leaders, engineers and the people in flood prone areas to assess and then comment on a new risk assessment process that will replace the original method which was criticized by the lawmakers earlier this year. They argued that the original method disregarded the existence of uncertified levees and flood control structures and … Continue Reading
December 07, 2011
Durbin Discusses Progress at FutureGen 2.0 Site With FutureGen Alliance CEO Ken Humphreys
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the progress of FutureGen 2.0 with the CEO of the FutureGen Alliance, Ken Humphreys. Recently, the FutureGen Alliance announced it will move forward with FutureGen 2.0 by purchasing portions of the Meredosia Energy Center from Ameren Energy Resources Company with the Department of Energy - a move that, according to the FutureGen Alliance, could save several million dollars. "The FutureGen Alliance is a strong … Continue Reading
November 28, 2011
Durbin Statement on FutureGen Alliance Decision to Take Full Control of Plant Retrofit at Meredosia
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the FutureGen Alliance announced it will move forward with FutureGen 2.0 by purchasing portions of the Meredosia Energy Center from Ameren Energy Resources Company. "It is good news that the Alliance reached an agreement today with Ameren to negotiate the purchase of the Meredosia Energy Center. "With a strong FutureGen Alliance in full control of the plant retrofit, the FutureGen 2.0 … Continue Reading
November 18, 2011
Durbin Announces a Nearly $1.1 Million FEMA Grant for Flood Protection Efforts in Winnebago County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Winnebago County has been awarded a $1,084,525 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for flood protection efforts. "This project will protect the health, safety and welfare of Winnebago county residents," said Durbin. "By supporting flood control efforts, this federal funding will help reduce costs to the local government for emergency rescue, infrastructure repair, debris removal and emergency … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011
Durbin Announces More than $8.2 Million in DOT Funding to Reduce Illinois' Reliance on Foreign Oil
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that three Illinois transportation service providers and organizations have been awarded a total of $8,208,000 in competitive grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This funding will be used by the grant recipients to reduce their reliance on foreign oil, promote use of clean fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Increasing use of cleaner, more energy efficient vehicles in public transportation throughout … Continue Reading
November 09, 2011
Durbin Opposes Landmark Status that Would Allow SS Badger to Continue Dumping Coal Ash in Lake Michigan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and the Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee to oppose efforts to protect the SS Badger from having to comply with EPA standards. "Lake Michigan is the primary source of drinking water for more than ten million people and a key component of the $7 billion Great Lakes fishing industry. … Continue Reading
October 27, 2011
Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation
[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by … Continue Reading