Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Duckworth Press Trump To Fully Fund Fastlane Grants
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today called on President Trump to fully fund the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) fiscal year 2017 FASTLANE grants after the Administration announced that DOT will hold funding for large project awardees and call for new and separate applications with "updated" criteria. This latest delay of much needed transportation grant funding by the Trump Administration will directly impact transportation infrastructure … Continue Reading
June 22, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth, Colleagues to Trump: Act On Russian Cyber Intrusions to U.S. Energy Infrastructure
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth, along with U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senate colleagues today sent a letter to President Trump urging the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to conduct an analysis of Russian capabilities with respect to cyber-attacks on U.S. energy infrastructure. In the letter, the members request that President Trump, "direct the Department of Energy, in consultation with other relevant agencies, to within 60 days conduct a … Continue Reading
June 21, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Warn of Illinois Transportation Shut Down if State Budget Agreement Isn't Reached
WASHINGTON - As Illinois rapidly approaches the end of the state's fiscal year, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today pressed Governor Bruce Rauner and Illinois state legislative leaders to reach a budget agreement in order to avoid an unnecessary transportation shut down that could cost tens of thousands of jobs across the state. In a letter to Governor Bruce Rauner, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno, … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Durbin Pushes HUD Secretary Carson for His Support for the Families Impacted by Cairo Housing Crisis
WASHINGTON-During a hearing of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD), U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to commit to ensuring that the 183 affected households living at Elmwood and McBride housing complexes in Cairo, Illinois, will have the full support of HUD as they transition to new housing. "Cairo is Exhibit A in mismanagement in … Continue Reading
May 31, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $900,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $939,214 to ten communities across Illinois through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Each department awarded will use the funds for operations and safety including professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefighting … Continue Reading
May 25, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $18 Million in Federal Funding to IDOT for Safety Technology Implementation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will receive $18,869,888 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on the Terminal Railroad in St. Louis, Missouri. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other accidents caused by … Continue Reading
May 24, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley, Lipinski Announce $20 Million in Federal Funding to Metra for Safety Technology Implementation
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (IL-05) and Dan Lipinski (IL-03) today announced that Metra will receive $20,168,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for implementation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology on its Milwaukee North and West lines. PTC is a federally mandated computerized system that prevents certain types of train-to-train collisions, helps avoid derailments and other … Continue Reading
May 22, 2017
Senators to Trump Admin: Cutting Off Funding for Public Transit Projects Threatens Jobs & Stifles Economy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Tom Carper (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing … Continue Reading
May 16, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $250,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Resources
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded a total of $281,167 to Forest Park Fire Department, Mattoon Fire Department, Oak Park Fire Department, and Wauconda Fire District through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. Each department awarded will use the funds for operations and safety including professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Durbin Announces Illinois Transportation Priorities Included in Omnibus Appropriations Bill
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 includes numerous transportation priorities for the State of Illinois. President Donald Trump's proposed budget would have dramatically cut transportation infrastructure funding, which would have had a devastating impact on projects across Illinois. "Investing in our transportation infrastructure creates jobs, revitalizes neighborhoods, … Continue Reading
April 21, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $100,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Training and Resources in Adams County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $108,182 to Adams County Ambulance & EMS through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This program is administered by the DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Adams County Ambulance & EMS will use the funds for operations and safety including professional training, wellness … Continue Reading
April 13, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $600,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Training and Resources
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $628,017 to Brown County Ambulance Service and the State Fire Training Academy at the University of Illinois through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. This program is administered by the DHS's Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth, Great Lakes Senators Urge Trump Administration to Release Army Corps Brandon Road Study to Stop Spread of Asian Carp
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) joined Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) in calling on the Trump Administration to release a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study that recommends specific measures to prevent Asian Carp from reaching beyond the Brandon Road Lock and Dam, a crucial chokepoint in the Chicago waterway system. The study, which is critical to stopping the flow of Asian Carp and other invasive species, was set to be released at the end of February … Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Statement on HUD Plans to Offer Vouchers to Residents of Distressed Public Housing in Cairo
CHICAGO-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it would make housing vouchers available to residents of the Elmwood and McBride housing complexes located in Cairo, Illinois. HUD will also offer relocation counseling to the 183 affected households, helping relocate them to available nearby public housing or public housing anywhere in the United States. "After years of … Continue Reading
April 10, 2017
Durbin Sounds Alarm Over Potential Russian Takeover of U.S. Energy Infrastructure
NEW YORK - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a bipartisan letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin expressing serious national security concerns over the potential takeover by Russia's state-controlled oil company of critical U.S. energy infrastructure that could put Vladimir Putin and his associates in position to influence American gas prices and oil refinery production. The … Continue Reading
March 30, 2017
Durbin Meets with CTA and CDOT to Discuss President Trump's Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) President Dorval Carter and Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Managing Deputy Commissioner Kevin O'Malley to discuss President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts and the devastating impact they could have on transportation infrastructure projects around Chicago. They also discussed progress on the Red and Purple Modernization Program, CREATE's 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, … Continue Reading
March 28, 2017
Durbin Meets with CDA Commissioner Evans to Discuss President Trump's Budget
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Ginger Evans to discuss President Donald Trump's proposed budget cuts and the harmful impact they could have on airport security. They also discussed ongoing initiatives at O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport, the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP), O'Hare's Fly Quiet Runway Rotation program, and the Elgin O'Hare Western Access (EOWA) project. "President Trump says he … Continue Reading
March 15, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $82,000 In Federal Funding For Rural Community Development Throughout Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $82,000 in federal funding for projects in Williamson, Carroll, Brown, and Massac Counties to support rural community development projects. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), will provide assistance to purchase new police vehicles in Hurst, Illinois, complete handicap accessibility improvements in Lanark, Illinois' city park, purchase a fully-equipped, four-wheel … Continue Reading
March 09, 2017
Durbin, Chicago Delegation Members Meet With Illinois Tollway In Support Of Elgin O’hare Western Access Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Danny Davis (IL-07) today met with Illinois Tollway Chairman Bob Schillerstrom to express their support for the Tollway's petition to the U.S. Surface Transportation Board (STB) regarding their ongoing dispute with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) over the Elgin O'Hare Western Access (EOWA) project. The project creates new western road … Continue Reading
March 08, 2017
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $4 Million Loan To Expand Broadband Service In Moultrie County
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a $4,000,000 federal loan for the Moultrie Independent Telephone Company (MITCO) to expand broadband service in the Moultrie County area. MITCO will use the funds to make upgrades to fiber service in a portion of its service territory. Today's funding is provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Telecommunications Programs of the Rural Utilities Service. "Without reliable access to … Continue Reading