Durbin, Bustos Hold Roundtable Discussion on Women's Economic Security - Rock Island

[ROCK ISLAND] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) held a roundtable discussion with several local women about a range of economic challenges they face today at Skip-a-Long Child Development Services. The discussion looked at how issues such as minimum wage, pay equity, access to child care and health care affect women's financial stability and success. "Too many women face financial pressures simply because of outdated policies that limit economic op… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $26.1 Million in Funding For Illinois Housing and Community Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that communities and housing agencies throughout Illinois will receive a total of $26,128,915 in grant funding through three 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 around Illinois the ability to expand and improve affordable housing and other critical services in their communities," Durbin said.… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Administration's Move To Increase Security & Prevent Fraud For Credit and Debit Cards

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded President Obama's decision to issue an Executive Order that is intended to better secure financial transactions and safeguard sensitive consumer data. The Order requires government payment cards - such as the prepaid debit cards that Treasury uses to distribute Social Security benefits - to incorporate secure "chip-and-PIN" technology to store card information instead of relying on the unencrypted magnetic stripe on the back o… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Proposal to Lower Student Loan Interest Rate with SIU Students and Alums

[CARBONDALE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the impact of student loan debt and college affordability with students, alumni and staff at Southern Illinois University. While America is home to the best colleges and universities in the world, tuition and fees have more than doubled over the past two decades. An estimated 1.7 million Illinoisans hold a combined $47 billion in student loan debt. Durbin has worked on a variety of proposals to make college more affordable, including… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Reports of AbbVie Reconsidering Inversion

[CHICAGO] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after North Chicago-based AbbVie announced that it will reconsider a decision to exploit a tax loophole called "inversion" which allows a company to move its headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes: "I'm encouraged by reports that AbbVie will reconsider its decision to move its tax address out of the United States," said Durbin. "When corporations choose to invert and don't pay thei… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Hold Roundtable Discussion on Women's Economic Security

[EAST PEORIA] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) held a roundtable discussion on women's economic security today at Illinois Central College. The discussion looked at how issues such as minimum wage, pay equity, access to child care and health care affect women's financial stability and success. "Too many women face financial pressures simply because of outdated policies that limit economic opportunities. We have a problem in this country when women… Continue Reading

Durbin and Blumenthal Call on FDA to Inspect Products Containing Designer Stimulant DMBA

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to inspect products containing the designer, unapproved and untested stimulant, known as 1,3-Dimethylbutylamine (DMBA) which has been found to be chemically similar to DMAA, a harmful pharmaceutical stimulant banned by the Food and Drug Administration. In a study released today and reported by USA Today, researchers found DMBA in 12 of 14 supplements that cl… Continue Reading

U.S. Secretary of the Army Visits Rock Island Arsenal

[MOLINE] - At the invitation of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17), U.S. Secretary of the Army John McHugh visited the Rock Island Arsenal today for the first time since 2010. McHugh toured the Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center and met with local mayors and community leaders to discuss the importance of investing in the Arsenal's future. Durbin is the chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees discretionary spending… Continue Reading

Fourteen Attorney's General Support Durbin, Harkin, Cummings Bill To Improve Federal Oversight of For-Profit College Industry

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Tom Harkin (D-IA) and U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) today announced that fourteen Attorneys General from around the country have expressed support for their legislation to improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry. A copy of the letter is available HERE. Given the financial collapse of Corinthian Col… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $500,000 Investment in Chicago Communities To Help Create Jobs and Boost 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) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) has awarded a total of $500,000 in funding to help create jobs, boost economic development, and grow minority owned businesses in Chicago, Illinois. "Today's funding will help Chicago's manufacturing cluster create and implement a plan for continued regional growth. It will also give local mino… Continue Reading

FAA Administrator to Visit Aurora Air Traffic Facility

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) today announced that the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Michael Huerta, will visit the damaged Aurora FAA facility and meet with members of the Congressional Delegation on the afternoon of Friday, October 3. The visit comes after a fire was set at the Aurora air traffic control facility last week that resulted in a massive air traffic shutdown across the county. Huerta will meet… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $130,000 in Funding to Clean and Redevelop South Cook County Neighborhoods

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS,) has awarded a $130,000 grant to the University of Illinois for a "brownfields" health community pilot project in South Cook County, Illinois. The University of Illinois will use this funding to develop and lead a committee of regional stakeholders to assess, clean, and redevelop "brownfields" contaminated w… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $19 Million in DOJ Funding To Support 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 $19,036,189 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 promote school safety, provide vital assistance to those who have been the victims of crimes, and enhance community-oriented policing an… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $13.8 Million Investment In Illinois Health Care Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $13,881,968 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several health care and refugee programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in Illinois' public health system," said Durbin. "It will support the essential health research done at our hospitals and universities and promote primary care programs that keep … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $10 Million in Workforce Development and Training Grants For Consortium Led By Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $9,956,011 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to a consortium led by Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville of four community colleges in Southern Illinois. The Building Illinois' Bioeconomy consortium will use this funding to create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to … Continue Reading

Illinois Delegation Members Call For Investigation into Air Traffic Control Facility Sabotage

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Bill Foster (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Dan Lipinski (D-IL) today asked the Department of Transportation Inspector General to conduct an immediate investigation into the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s emergency protocol and mitigation measures at Chicago air traffic control facilities. The request comes after a fire broke out last week in the air traffic control c… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $500,000 Investment To Expand Airline Service at Quad City International Airport

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Quad City International Airport in Moline, Illinois a $500,000 grant to grow new air service between the Northwest Illinois and Washington, DC. The funding was awarded through DOT's Small Community Air Service Development Program, which was established by Congress in 2002 to help small, underserved airports around the country improve their air service. The Quad City Int… Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Department Misses Opportunity To Make Armed Forces More Diverse and Inclusive

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Department of Defense's decision to permit military enlistment of immigrant students known as Dreamers only in very limited circumstances is a missed opportunity. The Defense Department announced today that it will allow Dreamers who qualify for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to enlist in the Armed Forces, but only through the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) pilot program. At best a h… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights today made the following statement after President Obama announced the resignation of Attorney General Eric Holder. "Eric Holder has been a valuable ally for our state and a strong leader for our country's top law enforcement agency. He has been an important partner in working to address gun violence in Chicago and East St. Louis, increasing… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $15.2 Million Investment in Illinois Health Care Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a total of $15,271,282 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several health care programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois public health system, in the health research done at our hospitals and universities, and in the primary care programs that keep our citizens healthy," said Durbin. "These prog… Continue Reading