Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Education
Durbin Asks National Urban League to Support Effort to Protect Students and Taxpayers from Abuses in the For-profit College Industry
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a speech to the National Urban League, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the organization to support the effort by the Obama Administration and members of Congress to protect students and taxpayers from abuses within the for-profit college industry. Acknowledging that many for-profit colleges are good actors and do important work, Durbin noted that the bad actors could cause us to repeat the mistakes of the subprime mortgage crisis by saddling a generation of … Continue Reading
March 23, 2011
Durbin: Cuts to Head Start Will Devastate Low-Income Families and Stunt Economic Recovery
[AURORA] - Thousands of low-income children and their families will lose critical access to education, health, and support service programs as the result of drastic federal spending cuts passed by the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today in Aurora. Funding for comprehensive early childhood services, including the Head Start program, is cut by more than 20 percent in the House spending bill (H.R.1) for the current fiscal year 2011, which was approved along party … Continue Reading
March 15, 2011
For-profit Colleges
I have come to the Senate floor a number of times over the past year to speak about my concerns about the rapid growth of for-profit colleges. I believe some for-profit colleges are quality institutions, but I also believe many are taking advantage of Federal taxpayer dollars and doing more harm than good for unsuspecting students. In no area is this issue more important than when it comes to our veterans. A few years ago, I proudly joined Senator James Webb of Virginia, who said to me … Continue Reading
March 14, 2011
Durbin Asks 60 Accrediting Agencies for Explanation of Standards They Use to Ensure Quality at Colleges and Universities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to 60 accrediting agencies around the country asking for an explanation of the accreditation standards to better understand the role they play in holding colleges and universities to high academic standards. Durbin's request comes after recent Congressional hearings and media reports that have highlighted serious problems with for-profit colleges and universities. "Accreditation agencies such as yours serve as the gateway to … Continue Reading
March 10, 2011
Durbin Statement on HELP Committee Hearing Investigating For-Profit Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for the record at a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing chaired by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on Bridgepoint Education, Inc, a for-profit college company. In his statement, Durbin focused on accreditation agencies which, he says, serve as the gateway to federal funding. "As Congress works to reduce the federal deficit, we are appropriately scrutinizing federal spending," Durbin said. … Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
Durbin asks Department of Defense to Step up Efforts to Protect Servicemembers from Poor-Performing Colleges and Abusive Recruiting
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In light of a recent GAO Report that found that the Department of Defense (DOD) lacks basic oversight mechanisms of the Tuition Assistance program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, to do more to protect students and taxpayers from the worst excesses of the for-profit industry. According to the study, less than a third of the courses offered to military members have been reviewed. "I understand that you have … Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
Durbin Calls on VA to Take More Aggressive Steps to Identify Colleges Abusing the GI Bill Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take more aggressive steps to identify colleges and universities that have taken advantage of GI Bill benefits and to remove them from the program. Specifically, Durbin asked the Secretary of the VA, Eric Shinseki, to look into the fourteen other Westwood College campuses including the four that are located in Illinois. "It is appropriate to cut off federal funding from colleges … Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
Durbin Meets With Champaign County First to Discuss Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Champaign County FIRST to discuss local priorities including transportation, local school improvements and high speed rail. Durbin asked for the group's help in opposing H.R.1 funding cuts that eliminate all unobligated funding for current and future high speed rail projects. The Champaign County FIRST committee serves as the unified voice of Champaign County to elected officials on the state and federal … Continue Reading
March 08, 2011
Durbin Op-Ed: College Tuition Tax Credit Offers up to $2,500 Per Year
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted the following opinion piece for publication to Illinois College and University newspapers. Durbin has been working to spread the word about the availability of the American Opportunity Tax Credit which can save students and their families up to $2,500 per year on college tuition and expenses. In 2009, eligible Illinois families failed to claim $1 billion in the tax credit. College Tuition Tax Credit Offers Up To $2,500 … Continue Reading
March 08, 2011
College Tuition Tax Credit Offers Up To $2,500 per Year
President Obama and Congress have taken steps to help students and their families pay for a good college education. However, fewer than half of eligible families have taken advantage of it. If you or your parents haven't claimed the American Opportunity Tax Credit, there is still time. Over the last 5 years, the combined cost of tuition, fees, room and board at four-year public colleges and universities increased by 42% - far outpacing inflation and increases in household income. And … Continue Reading
March 02, 2011
Durbin: VA Disqualifies Three Westwood College Campuses From GI Bill Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has withdrawn education benefits from Westwood College's Houston South, Dallas and Fort Worth campuses. This announcement by the VA comes in the response to a February 14 letter to the Secretary of the VA, Eric Shinseki, in which Durbin requested a list of colleges and universities where the VA has suspended or withdrawn GI Bill and education benefits after discovering … Continue Reading
February 24, 2011
Durbin Statement on Decline in For-Profit College Enrollment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement after reading reports that new enrollments in Kaplan University declined by 47% in the fourth quarter of last year. In January, the University of Phoenix reported a 42% decline over the same period. "Despite spending millions of dollars on advertising and securing a favorable vote by House Republicans to shield their industry from oversight, for-profit schools across America are facing a wholesale exodus … Continue Reading
February 22, 2011
Durbin: Illinois Families Leaving More Than $1 Billion Unclaimed in College Tuition Tax Credit
[CARBONDALE] - Illinois families left more than $1 billion on the table by not claiming a tax credit for college tuition on their 2009 income tax return, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The American Opportunity Tax Credit would allow families to receive a tax credit of up to $2,500 per student on their 2009 and 2010 tax returns. The college tuition tax credit was originally part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. A two-year extension of the tax credit was included in … Continue Reading
February 14, 2011
Durbin: VA Suspends GI Bill Benefits From Some For-Profit Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for a list of colleges and universities from which it has suspended or withdrawn GI Bill and education benefits after discovering questionable recruiting practices used by these institutions. In a response to a December 2010 letter from Durbin, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki explained that the VA had taken these measures after compiling information about erroneous, deceptive or misleading … Continue Reading
February 01, 2011
Durbin Calls on College and University Heads to be "Better Stewards of Taxpayer Dollars"
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the leaders of over 300 colleges and universities to become 'better stewards of taxpayer dollars' by doing more to ensure those investments are matched with student achievement. Durbin called on schools to make certain students are completing degrees and gaining useful knowledge, not just piling up mountains of student loan debt. "I'm here to tell you that you cannot afford to stand on the sidelines of this conversation … Continue Reading
February 01, 2011
National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
Remarks as Prepared by Senator Richard J. Durbin I want to thank Dr. Warrick Carter - the maestro - for that generous introduction, and for his leadership as chairman of the Federation of Independent Illinois Colleges and Universities. I also want to acknowledge NAICU chairman Dr. John Bassett, and President David Warren. And welcome all of you, especially my fellow Illinoisans, to Washington. When President Obama said in his State of the Union Address, "This is our generation's … Continue Reading
December 09, 2010
Durbin: Report Shows Veterans and Servicemembers Charged Highest Tuition by For-Profit Colleges, Leading to Record Student Loan Defaults
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After reviewing the findings of a report showing that for-profit colleges are charging the highest tuition rates to veterans and servicemembers leading to a record number of student loan defaults, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today vowed to work to increase scrutiny of for-profit colleges and universities. The report issued by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee shows a nearly 700% growth over the last four years in the amount of Department of … Continue Reading
November 15, 2010
Durbin Meets with Principal of Blue Ribbon School, Edison Elementary
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Principal Jim Pluskota of Edison Elementary School in Elmhurst which was recently recognized as a Blue Ribbon School by the Department of Education. Lynn Krizic, Superintendent of Elmhurst School District 205 and Nancy Galas, a fifth-grade teacher at Edison, also attended today's meeting. On September 9, Secretary Duncan announced 304 schools from across the country had been awarded Blue Ribbon status. Of the Blue Ribbon … Continue Reading
September 15, 2010
Durbin: Illinois Prosecutors and Public Defenders Eligible for More Than $350,000 in Student Loan Assistance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $365,309 through the Department of Justice's John R. Justice student loan repayment program. The funding, administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, will be used to help prosecutor and public defender offices retain and attract talented attorneys by providing student loan repayment assistance to state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who … Continue Reading
September 15, 2010
Durbin Applauds Subcommittee Passage of Legislation to Restore Fairness in Student Lending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law for approving a bill that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. Earlier this year Durbin introduced identical legislation in the Senate - the Fairness for Struggling Students Act (S. 3219) - with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN). U.S. … Continue Reading