Durbin & Sessions Lead Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Calling For Investigation Into Abuses Within H-1B Visa Program

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) led a bipartisan group of ten United States Senators today in writing to three federal agencies - the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Labor - calling for an investigation into abuses within the H-1B visa program. This bipartisan group has different perspectives on immigration reform, but they are united in their belief that our immigration systems should not be exploited to faci… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2 Million In Federal Funding For Springfield Rail Improvement Project

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced that the federal Department of Transportation has awarded the Illinois Department of Transportation a $2,000,000 grant for the construction of a railroad underpass at Ash Street in Springfield, Illinois - an important component of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project and the entire Chicago-to-St. Louis passenger rail corridor. "I am pleased to announce $2 million in federal funding to advance another critical component of the Spr… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Together Local Stakeholders to Discuss Rail Safety and Delays

[BARRINGTON] - In response to safety concerns raised by the rapid increase of trains carrying crude oil and ethanol across the country and continued blockages on the tracks running through town, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) convened a meeting with Barrington Village President Karen Darch and local stakeholders to hear their concerns about rail safety and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (EJ&E). "The recent derailment in Galena-and too many other towns-should send policymakers a clea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Two Year Extension of Rock Island Arsenal's Humvee Ambulance Line

[ROCK ISLAND] - The Rock Island Arsenal's Humvee ambulance production line will be extended another two years as a result of $60 million which U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos added to the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill, the Congressmen announced today during a visit to the Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC). The Army intends to use that funding to extend the existing line through August 2017, producing an additional 658 Humvee … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Iran Nuclear Talks

BERLIN-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding today's announcement on international negotiations to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: I'm encouraged to hear that negotiators have agreed to a framework-a major step toward achieving a final deal. Our shared goal in the United States is clear: to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The stakes couldn't be higher and I commend Secretary Kerry and our entire negotiating team for their commitment to finding a d… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senator Robert Menendez

BERLIN-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ): The issues before Senator Menendez are now legal ones and can only be resolved in a court of law, where all Americans are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. I believe it was the right decision for Senator Menendez to step aside from his committee leadership post until the matter is resolved. -30-… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.1 Million To Preserve Illinois Historical Sites

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the National Park Service (NPS) will award $1,143,967 in grant funding to help preserve Illinois' historical sites. The funding was made possible through NPS's Historical Preservation Fund and will be used to support programs that safeguard Illinois' 56 historical sites. "Illinois is blessed to have so many areas rich with history," Durbin said. "These sites provide an important glimpse into our state's past and we must support… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $250,000 Investment In Chicago Clean Energy Sector To Spur Innovation And Development

[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 a $250,000 grant to the Clean Energy Trust (CET) in Chicago, Illinois to help spur entrepreneurship and boost economic development. In 2014, Durbin wrote a letter to the EDA urging the agency to consider CET's application for the DOC's Regional Innovation Grant program. A copy of that letter is available here. "Today's funding … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Retirement Announcement Of Senator Harry Reid

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the announcement that U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will not seek reelection in 2016: Harry Reid is one of the ablest leaders of the Senate Democratic caucus in modern history-he has served our country and the people of Nevada with a tenacity and passion rarely seen. The former boxer from Searchlight never forgot his roots and never went down without a fight. He and Landra have… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed Applaud New Initiative To Strike Back At Growing Heroin Epidemic

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-IL) welcomed today's announcement of a new targeted initiative through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the heroin epidemic. In December, Durbin and Reed led a group of twenty-one Senators in calling on HHS to prioritize programs that reduce heroin and other opioid overdose deaths in its national strategy to curb prescription drug abuse. Both Senators have been active in highlighting the need for exp… Continue Reading

Durbin Seeks Assistance For Granite City Steel Workers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling Granite City Works "a source of pride" for its employees and the Metro East, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked U.S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi to work with local labor leaders and the community to minimize the impact of U.S. Steel's decision to idle operations at Granite City Works and to re-open the steel plant as soon as possible. Durbin also wrote to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez seeking federal resources for displaced steel workers from Granite City Works… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On White House, CFPB Effort To Crack Down On Predatory Lending Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced plans for stronger regulations on payday lenders. President Obama is expected to address the issue in a speech later today. "For some unfortunate Americans, including our military families, payday lenders offer a quick way to make ends meet, but often with devastating consequences," said Durbin. "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau… Continue Reading

Illinois Members Renew Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort To Bring Fairness To FEMA Disaster Declaration Process

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced with U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), Mike Bost (R-IL) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) the introduction of the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster declaration process and bring fairness to our small communities in larger states like Illinois. Durbin and Kirk first introduced the bill… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Amendment To Preserve American Leadership In Biomedical And Scientific Research

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With a decline in federal biomedical and scientific research threatening our global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced an amendment to the FY2016 budget to preserve America's standing as a leader in discovery and innovation. During a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Durbin noted that federal funding for research and development has been on a downward trend for the past several decades. He urged his colleagues to not cut back on research that i… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With BNSF Chairman To Discuss Railway's Crude Oil By Rail Operations Following Galena Train Derailment

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the derailment of a BNSF Railway train carrying crude oil near Galena, Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose to receive an update on the accident and to discuss the rail company's crude oil by rail operations. BNSF is the largest shipper of crude oil in North America. A photo of today's meeting will be available shortly here. "In the days following the train derailment in Galena, Illinois, BNSF offici… Continue Reading

Durbin: Great Work At Lovell Should Be Applied To Other Healthcare Facilities Serving Servicemembers And Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a hearing today on the Defense Health Program Budget, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, pointed to the success of Lovell Federal Health Care Facility in North Chicago, Illinois as a model for healthcare facilities elsewhere. During the hearing, Durbin acknowledged the challenges confronting Department of Defense healthcare facilities and commended the work being done at Lovell to streamline services fo… Continue Reading

Durbin, Brown, Reed Introduce Budget Amendment To Reward Companies That Invest In American Workers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Jack Reed (D-RI) today introduced an amendment to the FY2016 Budget designed to provide a tax credit to companies that provide fair wages and good benefits to workers while closing a tax loophole that incentivizes corporations to send jobs overseas. The loophole costs the U.S. Treasury approximately $50 billion each year at a time when outsourced jobs and stagnant wages force more American families to turn to safet… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Budget Amendment To Reward Companies That Invest In American Workers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for a vote on his amendment to the FY2016 Budget designed to provide a tax credit to companies that provide fair wages and good benefits to workers while closing a tax loophole that incentivizes corporations to send jobs overseas. The loophole costs the U.S. Treasury approximately $50 billion each year at a time when outsourced jobs and stagnant wages force more American families to turn to safety net programs to make ends meet. … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With The Illinois Farm Bureau

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Farm Bureau today to discuss the importance of continuing to support and invest in Illinois' agricultural communities. The group discussed the impact of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) delay in setting production levels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2014, increased opportunities for Illinois farmers associated with opening trade with Cuba, and other agricultural priorities. A photo of Durbin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Boxer, Senators Introduce Bill To Crack Down On Predatory Lending Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barbara Boxer (D-C) today joined U.S. Senators, Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in introducing the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act - a bill to eliminate the excessive rates and fees that some consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans and other types of credit. The bill - introduced today in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwrig… Continue Reading