Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Education
President Biden Signs Durbin, D. Davis, Underwood Bill Restoring Education Benefits To Veterans Into Law
WASHINGTON - Yesterday, President Joe Biden signed the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act, legislation introduced by U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL-7), and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), into law. The legislation will help more than 300 Illinois veterans who were scammed out of their benefits by the unaccredited, for-profit Future Tech Career Institute (FTCI) in Chicago. "During the pand… Continue Reading
06.02.22
Durbin Releases Statement On Department Of Education's Group Discharge Of Student Borrowers Who Attended Now-Shuttered Corinthian Colleges
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Department of Education announced the widespread discharge of all remaining federal student loans for those who attended any campus owned or run by the predatory Corinthian Colleges: "The day after Corinthian collapsed in April 2015, I stood in front of a Corinthian school in Chicago with then-Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to call on the Department of Education to issue widesprea… Continue Reading
06.02.22
Durbin, Duckworth, Bustos Call For Immediate Federal Investigation Into Inmate Deaths, Allegations Of Staff Abuses At USP Thomson
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead cosponsor of the First Step Act; U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL); and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) are calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General to immediately open an investigation into allegations concerning a Bureau of Prison (BOP) facility in Thomson, Illinois. In a letter to Inspector General Michael Horowitz, the lawmakers cite a disturbing new r… Continue Reading
05.24.22
Durbin, D. Davis, Underwood Urge VA To Quickly Implement Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration And Recovery Act Once Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Denis McDonough requesting an update about how the VA plans to implement the Veterans Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration and Recovery Act after it is signed into law by President Biden. The legislation, led by Durbin, Davis, and Underwood, will help more than 300 Illinois veterans wh… Continue Reading
04.28.22
Durbin Calls On Illinois Education Professionals To Raise The Alarm On For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON - As the conclusion of the academic year approaches and high school seniors make their final decisions about higher education, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) is enlisting the help of Illinois high school principals, counselors, and teachers to warn college-bound students and their families about the risks associated with attending for-profit colleges. As the COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to classrooms, a report from the National Student Clearing … Continue Reading
04.28.22
Durbin Statement On Proposed FDA Rules Prohibiting Menthol Cigarettes And Flavored Cigars
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced regulations banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars: "For years, Big Tobacco has added menthol flavor to mask the harshness of cigarettes, and targeted these addictive, deadly products particularly to Black smokers. Prohibiting menthol in cigarettes and banning flavored cigars will save lives, reduce disparities, and improve health. To… Continue Reading
04.27.22
Durbin, D. Davis, Underwood Mark Senate Passage Of Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration And Recovery Act
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) today marked Senate passage of their legislation, the Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance Program Restoration Act (S. 4089). The bill passed the Senate last night by voice vote. Once passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, the bill would give the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) authority to restore benefits under the American Rescue Plan's Vet… Continue Reading
04.25.22
Durbin, Warren, Warnock, Colleagues Ask Department Of Education For Its Plan To Provide A "Fresh Start" To Student Loan Borrowers In Default
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, asking the Department of Education (ED) for details about its plan to give a "fresh start" to student loan borrowers currently in default before loan payments resume. Their letter follows ED… Continue Reading
04.19.22
Durbin, Brown, Warren Applaud Biden Administration's Actions On Student Loan Program
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) today released the following statement after the Biden Administration announced it will take action to address problems with debt cancellation under the income-driven repayment (IDR) program. Today's action by the Administration follows a letter that the Senators sent last week to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Department of Education (ED) requesting … Continue Reading
04.14.22
Durbin, Brown, Warren Urge Review Of Loan Servicers' Student Loan Program Mismanagement
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent letters urging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Department of Education (ED) to review student loan servicers' reported mismanagement of the income-driven repayment (IDR) program, leading to significant harm for low-income borrowers. "A recent NPR investigative report found the IDR program is riddled with problems and mismanagement, even … Continue Reading
04.06.22
In Speech On Senate Floor, Durbin Highlights Corruption Of ITT Tech And For-Profit College Industry
WASHINGTON - Six years after the collapse of the infamous for-profit college chain ITT Tech, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senator floor calling out ITT Tech for defrauding students, many of whom are still waiting for their loans to be discharged by the Department of Education (the Department) under the Higher Education Act's borrower defense provision. In his written remarks, Durbin called on the Department to do more to provide former ITT Tech students … Continue Reading
04.01.22
Durbin Statement On Closure Of Lincoln College
SPRINGFIELD-U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement on the closure of Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois: "Since learning about the unfortunate closure of Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, my office has been in touch with the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). I feel for the students whose lives will be interrupted by this, but stand ready to do anything I can to ensure they are made aware of all of their options. "I urge IBHE … Continue Reading
03.31.22
Durbin, Schumer, Murray, Senators Call On Department Of Education, DOJ To Follow Through On Pledge To Improve Handling Of Student Debt Bankruptcy Claims
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today led 24 U.S. Senators in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Attorney General Merrick Garland requesting an update on efforts to improve how the agencies handle undue hardship claims by student borrowe… Continue Reading
03.29.22
Durbin, Rubio, Bass, Smith Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation To Extend Authorization On Global Basic Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), along with Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, and Chris Smith, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa (R-NJ), introduced bipartisan and bicameral legislation to reauthorize the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development (READ) Act of 2017 for an additional five years to equitably expand access to basic education … Continue Reading
03.10.22
Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema, Neguse Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable
WASHINGTON - In observation of Open Educational Resource Week, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-02), today introduced bicameral legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The legislation, known as the Affordable College Textbook Act, would authoriz… Continue Reading
02.16.22
Durbin Statement On Department Of Education Approving $415 Million In New Borrower Defense Relief For Students Defrauded By For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education approved more than 15,000 borrower defense claims for students defrauded by for-profit colleges totaling $415 million. This includes students who attended DeVry University, Westwood College, ITT Technical Institute's nursing program, and Minnesota School of Business/Globe University following approval of four new findings and the continued review of borrower defense c… Continue Reading
02.15.22
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls Out Nefarious For-Profit Operator Dr. Arthur Keiser For His Conflict Of Interest As Chair Of NACIQI
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a speech on the Senator floor calling out Dr. Arthur Keiser for his consistent underhanded dealings that include his questionable nonprofit conversion of Keiser University, his ownership of the for-profit Southeastern College, and his chairmanship of the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). NACIQI serves as the Department of Education's federal advisory board that approves the accreditors … Continue Reading
02.08.22
Durbin, Duckworth Meet With Illinois Community College Trustees Association
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today met virtually with board members, presidents, staff, and students from the Illinois Community College Trustee Association (ICCTA) to discuss continued support for community colleges. The Senators expressed their support for increasing the Pell grant and assistance for students' basic needs. In addition, they discussed the nursing shortage and support for undocumented students. "Our community … Continue Reading
01.11.22
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $3 Million For Illinois Communities To Advance School Safety And Violence Prevention
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced a total of $3,048,982 in U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) grants for Illinois communities to improve school safety and support school violence prevention efforts. The grants, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), provide funding for safety measures in and around primary and secondary sc… Continue Reading
12.09.21
On Senate Floor, Durbin Praises Build Back Better Expansion Of Pell Grant Program, Slams For-Profit College Taking Advantage Of Program
WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) highlighted how the Build Back Better Act will support college students by increasing the maximum Pell grant award by $550. The historic proposal would expand Pell grants and other forms of federal student aid to DACA students and help five million low-income students earn college degrees to build a better, more prosperous future. "It [Pell Grant program] was created in 1972 - almost 50 years ago. At the … Continue Reading