Durbin Convenes Meeting Between STB, Amtrak and Local Officials to Discuss Record Rail Delays

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Record levels of freight train interference and poor Amtrak on-time performance are threatening the success of passenger rail in Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at meeting between Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott, Amtrak Board of Directors member Tom Carper and local stakeholders. At Durbin's urging, Elliott is meeting with communities throughout Illinois to discuss the persistent Amtrak delays along routes operated by Canadian National… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Together Local Mayors and Federal Transportation Officials to Discuss Rail Safety

CHICAGO - In response to safety concerns raised by the rapid increase of trains carrying crude oil and ethanol across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) convened a meeting with mayors from the Chicago metropolitan area, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Joe Szabo, and Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott to hear their concerns about rail safety and an increase in rail delays."With one quarter of all U.S. freight traffic rolling through the Chicago a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Hiring of Warden at Thomson Prison

[THOMSON, IL] - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has taken an essential step in the activation of Thomson Correctional Center by hiring a warden for the new federal prison, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) announced today at the facility in Thomson. They were joined at the community leaders update meeting by Charles Samuels, Jr., BOP Director, Donald Hudson, Thomson prison's new warden, and other senior BOP staff. Hudson has worked for BOP since 1… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds USDA Rule To Implement More Stringent Safety Standards For Important Puppies

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) announcement of final regulations that will require that dogs imported to the United States meet stronger health and safety standards. The new rule - which is based on an amendment Durbin included in the 2008 Farm Bill - ensures that dogs imported for resale are vaccinated, in good health, and under six months of age. Buyers and veter… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois-Based Hospira Not To Turn Its Back On America To Dodge Taxes

[CHICAGO, IL] - In a letter to the CEO of Lake Forest, Illinois-based Hospira, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the company not to turn its back on American taxpayers and consumers by taking advantage of a tax loophole called "inversion" which allows a company to move its headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "Hospira's success, including second-quarter profits that more than doubled, depends on the educated workforce, transportation infras… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $29,000 Investment in Georgetown, 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 a $29,450 grant to the Georgetown Fire Protection District in the city of Georgetown, Illinois for operations and safety. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emerg… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.3 Million in Department of Labor Grants For Illinois Youth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $3,300,000 in grants to organizations throughout Illinois to support academic and occupational skills training programs for at-risk youth. The funding is made available through DOL's YouthBuild program, which assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Under this announcement, the followi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Kelly Applaud Opportunity To Discuss National Park Designation For Pullman

DURBIN, KIRK, KELLY APPLAUD OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION FOR PULLMAN Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will host public meeting on August 21 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will host a public meeting on August 21 to discuss possible options for including Chicago's Pullman neighborhood within the national park system, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-2) announced today. T… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Greater Investment in Biomedical Research

[CHICAGO] - The United States will lose its position as the world leader in health innovation and discovery if the federal government does not make funding medical research a priority, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. Durbin met with a group of University of Chicago medical researchers to hear how cuts in federal funding may be affecting their work and career decisions. Earlier this year, Durbin introduced the American Cures A… Continue Reading

Dubrin Cautions Students Against For-Profit Colleges

SPRINGFIELD - Too many unscrupulous for-profit schools are taking advantage of students and federal taxpayers by taking enormous resources from the federal student loan program yet failing to provide quality education that leads to employment, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a roundtable discussion at Lincoln Land Community College. The for-profit college industry received more than $25 billion in federal dollars last year, which is enough funding to make it the ninth largest feder… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $100,000 Investment in Illinois Community And Law Enforcement Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded more than $100,000 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to the communities of Aurora, Naperville and Urbana to support local law enforcement officers. "Making sure our nation's law enforcement officers are equipped with the best tools to fulfill their duties safeguards the security of the communities they serve," Durbin said. The following Illinois comm… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Law Enforcement Grants For Rockford & Peoria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, Congresswoman U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that the City of Rockford and the City of Peoria will be receiving Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) from the Department of Justice (DOJ). Details are below. The City of Rockford will receive a $196,685 JAG award that will be used by local law enforcement to purchase equipment. The City of Peoria will receive an $87,590 JAG award that will be used for law enfor… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Walgreens' Decision To Remain Headquartered in Illinois

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) released the following statement after Walgreens announced that it would proceed with the purchase of the remaining stake in Swiss-based Alliance Boots GmbH, but that it will remain headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois: Earlier this morning, I spoke with the CEO of Walgreen's, and am thrilled to say that the corner of happy and healthy is still right here in Illinois. As Walgreens themselves noted, Illinois has been their home for more than 110 years,… Continue Reading

Following Collapse of Corinthian Colleges, Senators Call on Obama Administration To Perform Better Oversight of the Financial Integrity of For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and four of their Senate colleagues in asking President Barack Obama to immediately provide more information on current efforts by the Administration to better protect students and ensure that the situation with Corinthian does not repeat itself at other large publicly traded for-profit education companies. "The recent announcement that Corinth… Continue Reading

Durbin: White House Nominates Two To Fill Federal Judicial Vacancies In Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated two Illinoisans to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. The first, Jorge Alonso, was recommended by Durbin after he conducted extensive interviews with the finalists chosen by a bipartisan screening committee. The second, John Blakey, was submitted by U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) under a long-standing Illinois tradition that allows the highest r… Continue Reading

CTA Awarded $35 Million In Funding Through Core Capacity Program Created By Durbin

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced that the CTA will receive $35 million in funding through the Federal Transit Authority (FTA)'s Core Capacity Program CTA became the first transit system accepted into the FTA's new Core Capacity Program in November 2013 and has begun moving forward on the environmental work necessary for design and construction of the planned rebuilding of the Red and Purple Line… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Passing of Former White House Press Secretary James Brady

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of former White House Press Secretary James Brady: "Jim Brady of Centralia, Illinois never let an assassin's bullet stop his smile or his determination to make America a safer nation. "Jim and Sarah Brady played a key role in my 1996 campaign and appeared with me around the state. Jim was a proud Republican but he strongly supported my position calling for background checks before firea… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Passing of Gene Callahan

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the passing of Gene Callahan: "Gene Callahan was my trusted friend. I never made an important decision in my political life without calling Gene. He was totally honest, painfully candid, and completely loyal. You knew that if the world turned on you, Gene would be the last person standing by your side. "I lost my top spot in his political hierarchy when his daughter, Cheri Bustos, was elected to Congress. His prid… Continue Reading

Members of Congress: More and More Children Being Exposed To E-Cigarette Marketing Are Picking Up Habit

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Thirteen Members of Congress today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action to protect young people from predatory e-cigarette marketing and distribution tactics that are straight out of big tobacco's playbook. According to the journal Pediatrics, the number of children aged 12 to 17 years exposed to e-cigarette marketing increased by 256% between 2011 and 2013. This increased exposure has coincided with a dramatic rise in the use of e-cigare… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Passage of Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act

CHICAGO - The nation's veterans will have faster and easier access to health care under legislation designed to repair the overwhelmed Veterans Health Administration, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014, which was approved across party lines in the Senate on Thursday night, begins to fix some of the problems identified by the Inspector General investigation of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities earlier this year. The $17 bi… Continue Reading