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Durbin Statement on House Passage of Bill to Lower Rates for All Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the House passed a bipartisan bill to lower interest rates for 100% of borrowers who have taken out, or will take out, a new federal student loan after July 1, 2013. "This agreement will ensure students loan rates will fall below the 6.8 percent rate that kicked in on July 1," said Senator Durbin. "Once again we've shown that when both sides work together, we can reach fair … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Durbin, Duckworth: Change Needed to Help Servicemembers with Student Loan Assistance Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With average student loan debt for active-duty servicemembers at more than $25,000, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today introduced a bill that would fix a provision in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) - created in 1940 - that unintentionally discourages servicemembers from consolidating or refinancing pre-service student loans. For servicemembers with Perkins or Federal Family Education Loans, consolidation of … Continue Reading
July 26, 2013
Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Student Loan Interest Rates Bill
[URBANA] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's passage of a bipartisan bill to lower the interest rates of federal student loans this year for all borrowers who have taken out, or will take out, a new loan after July 1, 2013. The legislation passed on an 81-18 vote on Wednesday. "This week, an overwhelming majority of Senators from both parties came together to lower interest rates on all student loans," Durbin said. "The 380,000 Illinois undergrads getting ready … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Statement on Passage of Bill to Lower Rates for All Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed a bipartisan bill to lower interest rates for 100% of borrowers who have taken out, or will take out, a new federal student loan after July 1, 2013. "This agreement will ensure students loan rates will fall below the 6.8 percent rate that kicked in on July 1," said Senator Durbin. "Once again we've shown that when both sides work together, we can reach … Continue Reading
July 18, 2013
Bipartisan Group of Senators Reach Deal to Lower Rates for All Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Richard Burr (R-NC), Angus King (I-ME), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced a bipartisan compromise to lower interest rates for 100% of borrowers who have taken out, or will take out, a new federal student loan after July 1, 2013. "This agreement will ensure students loan rates will fall below the 6.8 percent rate that kicked in … 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
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 03, 2013
Durbin, Kirk, Schneider Visit Great Lakes Naval Station LEARN Charter School
[NORTH CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Great Lakes Naval Station with Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10) to discuss the future of the station with Base Commander CAPT Randy Lynch and other leaders. Earlier this year Durbin was named the chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the military and intelligence community, the nation's security requirements and the daily needs of over two … Continue Reading
May 01, 2013
Durbin, Enyart to Students and Parents: Beware Dramatic Differences Between Student Loan Options
[GRANITE CITY, IL.] - College-bound high school seniors who must decide today which school they will attend in the fall should take care to exhaust every federal financial aid option available to them before turning to private student loans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today while meeting with students and their parents at Granite City High School. Noting that two-thirds of student loan borrowers were not aware of the difference between federal students loans and risky, … Continue Reading
March 01, 2013
Durbin: Sequester Poses Imminent Threat to Bio-Medical Research in Illinois
[CHICAGO, IL] - Illinois' leading research universities and hospitals stand to lose nearly $40 million in funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) as a result of the sequestration budget cuts that take hold today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at a news conference at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Illinois received a total of $746 million in NIH funding last year. "Sequestration was meant as a budget threat, not a budget strategy, and the cuts to … Continue Reading
January 23, 2013
As Student Loan Debt Surpasses $1 Trillion, Senators Introduce Legislation to Address Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) in reintroducing two pieces of legislation - the Fairness for Struggling Students Act of 2013 and the Know Before You Owe Act of 2013 - to restore transparency, fairness and common sense to the student loan process. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the student loan debt … Continue Reading
November 27, 2012
Durbin to Accreditor: Audit Baseless Job Placement Rates of For-Profit College Company EDMC
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to audit all job placement rates reported by Education Management Corporation (EDMC), a for-profit college company that was recently featured in an ABC news report. The report highlighted a lawsuit against EDMC by a former employee which raises serious concerns about the validity of EDMC's reported job placement rates. "While I appreciate the Southern Association of … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Senators to FTC: Investigate Companies That Use Deceptive Online Marketing to Recruit for For-Profit Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate third-party online marketing companies, so called "lead generators," that recruit for for-profit colleges often using deceptive practices. The Senators also urged the FTC to do more to protect consumers from deceptive lead generators by creating meaningful guidelines and strengthening their oversight. … Continue Reading
September 18, 2012
Durbin Statement on Announcement That Chicago Public Schools Will Resume Classes on Wednesday
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after learning that the Chicago Teachers Union voted to end the strike and resume classes at Chicago Public Schools tomorrow morning. "I am glad that both sides have found a path forward that will put 350,000 students back in the classroom tomorrow morning," said … Continue Reading
September 10, 2012
Durbin Statement on Chicago Public Schools Teachers Strike
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commented on the decision by the Chicago teachers union to go on strike today, after negotiations over a new contract stalled. "While most kids in the country were heading off to school this morning, 400,000 students in Chicago stayed home because there is no agreement on a new contract," said Durbin. "Instead of getting an education, these kids are being put in the middle of a fight between adults. I've reached out to Chicago … Continue Reading
August 20, 2012
Durbin to Students and Parents: Beware Dramatic Differences Between Student Loan Options
[CHICAGO] - Students preparing to begin college this month should take care to exhaust every federal financial aid option available to them before turning to private student loans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today while calling for passage of the Know Before You Owe Act of 2012, a bill he introduced earlier this year which would ensure students understand the full range of their available loan options before borrowing. Durbin noted that two-thirds of student loan borrowers were not … Continue Reading
July 18, 2012
Durbin Invites Members of Illinois Job Training Program to Address Senators in Washington, DC
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Partners in Harper College's new Advanced Manufacturing Training Program were invited by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) to speak today at a meeting of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee about their innovative job training and certification program. Developed in close partnership with regional manufacturers, Harper's program helps workers develop the skills they need to find employment in their communities and fill critical job openings at growing … Continue Reading
July 13, 2012
Senators Call for Plan to End Unreasonable Fees and Practices Associated with Some Campus Debit Card Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) called on institutions of higher education to develop a plan to put an end to a number of unreasonable fees and practices associated with campus debit and prepaid card programs that are being increasingly pushed by financial institutions. According to a report released in June from the U.S. … Continue Reading
June 25, 2012
Durbin Discusses Looming Deadlines for Transportation and Student Loan Bills, Applauds Senate Passage of Bipartisan Farm Bill
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - While calling attention to end-of-the-week-deadlines for transportation and student loan interest rate legislation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today that this week's Senate passage of the bipartisan Farm Bill demonstrates that Congress can still take effective action in the midst of an election year. Farm Bill "The Senate's bipartisan farm bill represents a major step towards putting our agriculture policy on the right track, while also saving more than … Continue Reading
June 12, 2012
Durbin, Kirk Praise the Establishment of a Public Charter School in North Chicago
[NORTH CHICAGO] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced their support for the establishment of the LEARN Public Charter School in North Chicago on the edge of Great Lakes Naval Station. The Senators congratulated the Navy, the LEARN Charter School Network, the Illinois State Board of Education and the community of North Chicago for their efforts in working together to establish the elementary charter school, which is scheduled to open on September 4, 2012 in … Continue Reading