Durbin Announces More Than $1.7 Million in Justice Department Funding For Mentoring, Re-Entry Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded grants totaling $1,749,999 to two organizations in Chicago, Illinois to support mentorship programs that help reintegrate previously incarcerated youth and adults back into the community and reduce recidivism. "The funding announced today will enhance ongoing efforts in Chicago and throughout the state to provide services that support previously incarcerated young … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $1.4 Million Investment in Champaign First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $1,492,545 grant to the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois for fire prevention and safety. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders in the University of Illinois community to prevent and fight fires and prepare for other types of … Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Highlight Potential of Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute - Peoria

[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) today outlined the potential impact the new the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (or Digital Lab) will have on the Peoria region and throughout Illinois. The Digital Lab, run by UI Labs, is a first-of-its-kind manufacturing hub that will bring the future of American manufacturing to Illinois. Supported by $320 million-including $70 million in direct federal investment-the Digital La… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce More Than $4.9 Million in HUD Funding For Chicagoland Housing and Community Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in the Chicagoland area will receive a total of $4,913,538 in grant funding through four programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. Under today's announcement, Lake County will receive $3,904,349 in funding. "This funding will give local development agencies around C… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $2.8 Million in Funding for Transportation Improvements in Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that mass transit districts in both Bloomington-Normal and Springfield, Illinois have received grants totaling $2,802,400 grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Bus and Bus Facilities Program to purchase new buses for both the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System and the Springfield Mass Transit District. "Public transportation serves an important purpose in the daily lives of people in communities across I… Continue Reading

Durbin, Foster Announce More Than $1.2 Million in HUD Funding For Joliet Housing and Community Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in Joliet, Illinois will receive a total of $1,291,600 in grant funding through two programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. "This funding will give local development agencies in Joliet the ability to expand and improve existing affordable housing in their communities… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.2 Million in HUD Funding For Northern Illinois and Chicagoland Housing and Community Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies in Northern Illinois and the Chicagoland area will receive a total of $1,291,600 in grant funding through two programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help develop urban communities in the area. "This funding will give local development agencies in Illinois the ability to expand and improve existing affordable housing in their communities," Durbin said.… Continue Reading

Durbin and Kirk Name Screening Committee For Next U.S. Marshal For Illinois' Northern District and Announce Application Process

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting the next United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois. The task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to the Senators for filling this vacant position. The screening committee will be comprised of five distinguished Illinoisans drawn from the federal judiciary, the bar, and law enforcement. The c… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Administration Action on Corporate Inversions

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - a leading voice in Congress raising concerns regarding corporate tax inversion schemes - released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced several steps to address the troubling, growing trend toward U.S. corporate tax avoidance: "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay their fair share of taxes, they leave the rest of us to pick up the tab. That isn't right," Durbin said. "Today, the Obama Administratio… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $520,000 Investment in Illinois Justice Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $520,643 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system," said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice, help us more quickly analyze evidence and solve crimes, and help provid… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $300,000 in DOJ Funding For Northwestern University To Prevent Sexual Assault On Campus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $299,997 grant to Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois to help prevent sexual assaults on campus. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program, which was authorized by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. "Today's announcement is an investmen… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $2.7 Million in DOJ Funding To Support Illinois Drug-Free Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded $2,749,659 in grants to Illinois communities across the state to help reduce youth substance abuse and promote drug-free communities. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program. "Today's funding is an investment in the safety and well-being of the youth in Illinois communities. It is critical to support the work of the… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets WIth St. Louis Army Corps Commander To Discuss Metro East Levees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Colonel Anthony Mitchell, Commander of the Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District, to discuss the Metro East levee project and the Mel Price Dam project. "In our meeting today, I strongly urged Colonel Mitchell to require Project Labor Agreements on the levee improvement projects in the Metro East," said Durbin. "The local resident have taken the unique step of taxing themselves to make these improvements - an extraordinar… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Chicagoan and President of Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation Who Attended Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Marta Farion, from Chicago, Illinois, who was invited on Durbin's behalf to be his guest for a Joint Session of Congress earlier this morning. Farion currently serves as president of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation, a non-profit organization engaged in assisting higher education in Ukraine through innovative programs and exchanges with U.S. universities. During the Joint Session, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addressed Congress … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Illinois Constiutents Stranded in Mexico Following Hurricane

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement on his efforts to coordinate with the State Department to ensure that Illinois families stranded in Los Cabos, Mexico following Hurricane Odile are remain safe and are able to travel home as soon as possible. "I have heard from dozens of Illinois constituents with friends and family that are among the thousands stranded in Los Cabos, Mexico following Hurricane Odile. I have been working closely with the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $45,000 Investment in Rolling Meadows 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 $45,600 grant to the Rolling Meadows Fire Department in the Rolling Meadows, Illinois for fire prevention initiatives. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities they bravely serve," Durbin sa… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $136,000 Grant For University of Illinois and Parkland College To Help Boost Economic Development in Champaign, Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $136,625 in funding to the University of Illinois and Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois to help communities overcome economic development challenges through applied research and technical assistance. "Today's funding will support U of I and Parkland College as they research and develop innovative ways to sustain economic gr… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $756,000 Investment in Illinois Justice Program To Protect Children From Internet Crimes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $756,553 in grants to Illinois agencies to help train officials to investigate and properly prosecute offenders of Internet crimes against children. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Invited Awards. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system," said Durbin. "This initiative will … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A More Than $119,000 Investment in Libertyville First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded an $119,114 grant to the Libertyville Fire Department in the Libertyville, Illinois for operations and safety. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Decision to Raise Current Pay Scale at VA Hospitals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald for approving an adjustment to the maximum rates of annual pay for physicians and dentists. Earlier this week, Durbin wrote to McDonald urging him to offer more competitive pay in order to improve recruitment and retention of the best and brightest health care professionals. The letter can be found HERE. "The Veterans Health Administration serves as a critical tr… Continue Reading