Press Releases
Durbin: Metro East Port District Project to Receive Additional $8.5 Million in Funds
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded an additional $8,500,000 in funding Tri-City Regional Port District for a project to continue construction on a regional multimodal transportation hub in Metro East, Illinois. This award was part of $15,000,000 in Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program funding that was redistributed by the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, earlier today. … Continue Reading
07.20.11
Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $146 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved $146,742,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. The Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Army National Guard Readiness Center, Normal, Illinois. $10,000,000 to construct… Continue Reading
07.20.11
Durbin Announces Nearly $430,000 for Firefighter Recruitment in Godfrey, Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $429,603 grant to the Godfrey Fire Protection District, in Godfrey, Illinois, for recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselve… Continue Reading
07.19.11
Durbin Seeks Explanation of Ventilation Issues at Union Station
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the President and CEO of Amtrak, Joseph Boardman, for an update on their efforts to improve air quality in and around Union Station and an explanation of how the responsibility to ensure the air ventilation systems are operating properly is shared with private land owners near the station. "Amtrak, as the owner of Union Station, has a responsibility to ensure the air ventilation systems under their control are operating properly and … Continue Reading
07.19.11
Durbin Commends the Gates Foundation and USAID for Clean Water Initiatives in the Developing World
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for investing $8.5 million in the United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) new WASH for Life grant program. WASH for Life will use USAID's Development Innovation Ventures program to seek, test, and scale cost-effective and sustainable clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) delivery systems in developing countries. USAID will match The Gates Found… Continue Reading
07.14.11
Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in School-based Health Center Grants to Help Illinois Children
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 17 school-based health centers in Illinois will receive $4,516,733 in grant funding through the Affordable Care Act. The funding will help school-based health centers to establish new sites or upgrade their current facilities to better serve Illinois children. School-based health centers offer health screenings, health promotion programs, and disease prevention activities and they help children with… Continue Reading
07.14.11
Illinois & Iowa Delegation Members to General: Any Proposal to Relocate JMTC Would Face Bipartisan Resistance in Congress
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The bipartisan, bi-state delegation that represents the Rock Island Arsenal today made clear to General Ann Dunwoody, the Commanding General of the Army Materiel Command, that any proposal to close or relocate Rock Island Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC) would be met with strong resistance in Congress. In a meeting in Washington, Dunwoody reassured the Illinois and Iowa delegation that the Army currently has no plans to close the JMTC, but could not… Continue Reading
07.13.11
Durbin Discusses Consumer Protection with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Attorney General Lisa Madigan who was in Washington, DC to testify before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on a scam that involves unauthorized third-party charges on telephone bills - commonly known as "cramming". Durbin commended Madigan for her effort to strength protections for consumers when it comes to fraudulent phone charges and on other issues such as the effort to end the deceptive marketing and recruiting practice… Continue Reading
07.13.11
Durbin Asks Committee to Include Federal Taxpayer Protections in Next Surface Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) to include his Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act in their bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Also included in today's letter was a list of Illinois priorities that Durbin would like to see incorporated in the EPW committee's legislation including: funding formulas that ensure a more equitable share of federal highway dollars for Illin… Continue Reading
07.13.11
Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Prevention and Research
[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 two grants totaling $1,013,069 to two organizations in Illinois for Research and Fire Prevention. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tool… Continue Reading
07.13.11
Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Agricultural Priorities
WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a meeting with Illinois Farm Bureau President Phillip Nelson to discuss several issues regarding the upcoming Farm Bill, pending trade agreements, and the agricultural impact of the deficit negotiations. "It is important that the current deficit negations still focus on a Farm Bill that will keep American farm land among the most productive in the world," said Durbin. "Bringing groups like the Illinois Farm Bureau to the table… Continue Reading
07.12.11
Durbin, Bennet, Religious Leaders Announce DREAM Act Sabbath
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and more than a dozen religious leaders representing a broad variety of faith traditions, today announced a DREAM Act Sabbath - an initiative enlisting churches, synagogues, and mosques around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act. The nationwide event will talk place this fall on September 23rd, September 24th, and Septe… Continue Reading
07.09.11
Durbin Brings Together Federal, State, and Local Stakeholders to Discuss Path Forward for Springfield Rail Consolidation
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - In an effort to expedite the process that he hopes will identify the Springfield rail consolidation alternative that best promotes public safety, enhances the quality of life of residents, and boosts the local economy, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) brought together key federal, state, and local stakeholders today. Durbin opened the meeting by stating his goals for the day: to clear up confusion about cost estimates in Hanson Engineering's Springfield Rail Corridor Study… Continue Reading
07.08.11
Illinois Lawmakers Ask Army Corps to Expedite Permit Process Ahead of Metro East Levees Meeting
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following yesterday's meeting with the head of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council, Les Sterman, Illinois lawmakers today asked Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy of the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the approval process for upgrades to the Metro East levees system and ensure that the repairs are done quickly and cost-effectively. Over the last few weeks, Sterman and others have alerted the members of potential delays in the approval process. … Continue Reading
07.07.11
Durbin and Kirk Announce $50 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Runway Construction
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $50 million grant to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for runway construction. This announcement comes after the $1.17 billion agreement in March of this year between the City of Chicago and American and United Airlines that allowed the O'Hare Modernization Program to move forward. "The O'Hare Modernization Program is a project of national e… Continue Reading
07.06.11
Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges in the Northern District to White House
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Based on recommendations made by a bipartisan screening committee, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House for consideration when filling vacant judgeships on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin forwarded the names of the following four individuals to President Obama for consideration: Julie Bauer, Edward Feldman, John Lee and Sheldon Zenner. "Making recommendations to the White House on federa… Continue Reading
07.05.11
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves More Than $146 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $146,742,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. The Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Great Lakes Naval Station, Illin… Continue Reading
07.01.11
Durbin, Kirk, Costello, Shimkus Request Meeting with Army Corps of Engineers to Discuss Plans for Metro East Levee Upgrade
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today requested a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to discuss a plan to upgrade the levee systems in Metro East, Illinois and concerns from the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council about securing approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Illinois Members wrote: "While we want to ensure … Continue Reading
06.30.11
Durbin and Blumenthal Introduce Legislation Designed to Protect Consumers of Dietary Supplements
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation that would ensure that consumers have the information they need to distinguish between products that are safe and others that contain potentially dangerous ingredients which haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Dietary Supplement Labeling Act would improve the information available to consumers, and to curb the prevalence of drinks and foods that are ma… Continue Reading
06.30.11
Durbin Announces a More Than $650,000 FEMA Grant to Lincolnshire Firefighters
[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 $658,294 grant to the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, in Lincolnshire, Illinois, for recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and wom… Continue Reading