Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a differen… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on EPA Agreement with S.S. Badger Operators

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement in reaction to the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have formally lodged a consent decree requiring the S.S. Badger to stop dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan by the end of the 2014 season. "The S.S. Badger, the filthiest ship on the Great Lakes, has been given two more years to dump hundreds of tons of dangerous coal ash into Lake Michigan. The millions of people who… Continue Reading

Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in Senate Vote

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 75 U.S. Senators showed their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. An amendment summarizing the bill - which was introduced in February - was added to the FY2014 Budget Resolution which is currently being debated on the Senate floor. "Today's vote proves that an overwhelming majority of Sen… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Fire Fighters, Announces a Nearly $462,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - 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 $461,778 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today, Durbin also met with the Illinois Association of Fire Fighters, led by Springfield Fire Captain Tom Roate, to discuss the importance of these grants and the group's priorities for the upcoming year. "Our nation's firefighters a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Protect Medicare Card Holders from Identity Theft

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today introduced legislation to require the federal government to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications to Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the Medicare program, has fallen behind most other public and private organizations in recognizing the danger of displaying Social Security numbers. The S… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers to Discuss Mississippi River Navigation and Other Agricultural Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to discuss bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced last week that would help the Army Corps of Engineers better maintain navigation on the Mississippi River during extreme weather and improve the nation's water infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Both bills were endorsed by the ICGA earlier today. At a speech today to members of the national Waterways … Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Bustos, Davis Bill Would Promote Public-Private Partnerships for Lock & Dam Modernization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve the nation's water infrastructure - including locks and dams along the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers - through public-private partnerships that would expedite projects and save taxpayers money. The Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act would c… Continue Reading

Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic catastro… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $750,000 Investment in 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 $754,254 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As… Continue Reading

Durbin and Duckworth Announce a Nearly $165,000 Investment in Hoffman Estates First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $164,960 grant to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department 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. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after da… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Chatham Mayor to Discuss Local Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Chatham Mayor Tom Gray and City Manager Del McCord to discuss local transportation and infrastructure priorities. "I was pleased to welcome Chatham's mayor Tom Gray and city manager Del McCord to Washington today to discuss the village's transportation priorities, including rail," Durbin said.… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Soybean Association to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss Mississippi River navigation the prospects for a new Farm Bill this year and other agricultural priorities. "Illinois' soybean farmers are a critical part of our state's economy," said Durbin. "Last year, severe drought conditions damaged crops throughout Central and Southern Illinois and nearly halted traffic along the Mississippi River. I commend the Army Corps of Engi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Death of Dawn Clark Netsch

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after learning of the death of Dawn Clark Netsch, former Illinois Comptroller, Illinois State Senator and the first women in Illinois history to win the Democratic nomination for Governor: "More than any other person in our state's history, Dawn Clark Netsch created the modern era of women in Illinois political leadership. As always, those who open the doors of opportunity must be extraordinarily gifted… Continue Reading

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 NIH … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Passage of Bipartisan Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed a five-year reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, sending the bill to the President for his signature. The legislation will help ensure that all victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are protected and that organizations across the country assisting these victims continue to have access to critical funding and resources. "Sin… Continue Reading

Durbin, VItter Introduce Bill to Regulate Online Puppy Sales

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety Act today, a bill which would require all breeders that sell more than 50 dogs a year to be licensed and to undergo inspections to ensure dogs are receiving proper care. "The media regularly reports stories about dogs rescued from substandard facilities -- where dogs are housed in stacked wire cages and seriously ill and injured dogs are routinely denied … Continue Reading

Durbin, Enyart Meet with Scott Air Force Base Leaders to Discuss Ways to Maintain Base's Long-Term Strength

[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL-12) today met with leaders at Scott Air Force Base to discuss the base's long-term strength and security. Durbin, who was recently named Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and Enyart were briefed on Scott's priorities, the future needs and the support necessary for the base to sustain its long-term health by Base Commander Colonel David Almand, General Paul Silva, the head… Continue Reading

Members of Congress Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Level the Playing Field for Local Merchants

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of 53 Senators and Representatives today introduced a bill that resolves the differences between bills introduced in the Senate and the House of Representatives last Congress that would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. The Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 would give states the option to require the collection of sales and use taxes already owed under State law by out-of-state busines… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Federal Bureau of Prisons Assessment of Its Solitary Confinement Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today announcing that the Federal Bureau of Prisons has agreed to a comprehensive and independent assessment of its use of solitary confinement in the nation's federal prisons. This first-ever review of federal segregation policies comes after Durbin chaired a hearing last year on the human rights, fiscal and public safety consequences of solitary confinement. Last week, Durbin and Bureau of Prison… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lautenberg, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Close Tobacco Tax Loopholes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was joined today by Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to introduce the Tobacco Tax Equity Act to close loopholes in the tax code that allow tobacco companies to avoid the federal cigarette and roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco tax. Because pipe tobacco is taxed at a lower rate than cigarettes, some companies have begun relabeling RYO tobacco as pipe tobacco to avoid paying the federal cigarette tax. The Joint Committee … Continue Reading