As Student Loan Debt Tops $1 Trillion, Senators Pushes For Improved Protections For Student Borrowers

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Al Franken (D-MN) today announced the introduction of the Know Before You Owe Private Education Loan Act of 2016 to restore transparency, fairness, and common sense to the student loan process. According to the Federal Reserve, total student loan debt in America is now $1.36 trillion Institute for College Access and Success reports that the volume of private education loans taken out by students has grown by $2.6 billion from 20… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Passes Legislation Investing In Water Resource Projects Across Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 by a wide bipartisan margin of 95-3. This legislation provides critical funding for projects that will help Illinois and the nation mitigate flood hazards as well as prepare for and respond to weather emergencies. Additionally, the Water Resources Development Act makes substantial investments in the nation's water infrastructure system. "The passage o… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Introducing Bill To Reauthorize Leasing Authority At Arsenals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in introducing the bipartisan Arsenal Installation Reutilization Authority to reauthorize the leasing authority at Department of Defense arsenals for unused office space to outside tenants. This legislation would allow the Rock Island Arsenal to resume their leasing authority, which expired in 2012, and would authorize the Ars… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Air National Guard Director To Discuss Illinois Air Guard Units

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Lieutenant General Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, to discuss the future of Illinois Air Guard units, including the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. During the meeting, Durbin and Rice discussed the success of the 183rd's Centralized Repair Facility, which repairs F-16 engines, and the importance of maximizing the unit's potential. "The 183rd Fighter W… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland, Calls On Senate GOP To Do Their Job

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois native and Supreme Court nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland about the status of his nomination and the need to give him a hearing and a vote in the Senate. Following the meeting, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of Garland's nomination and blasted them for failing to fulfill their constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on the president's nominees. Garland was nominated 18… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce $6 Million For Rockford Airport

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced $6,012,390 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD). Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration, will fund Phase II of a terminal building expansion that will allow the airport to meet increasing passenger demands. "Northern Illinois' economic growth depen… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $8.9 Million To Support Law Enforcement Efforts In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Illinois law enforcement agencies and one non-profit organization grants totaling $8,981,832. Today's funding will support DNA analysis capacity enhancement, youth mental health services, and equipment and personnel costs. "This is an important investment in the safety and security of communities across our state," said Durbin. "These initiatives strengthen the Illinois justice system, an… Continue Reading

Durbin, Welch Statement On House Committee Passage Of Repeal Of Wall Street Reform

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) that would gut the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The bill was just narrowly passed by Hensarling's House Financial Services Committee, over bipartisan opposition. This bill's 500+ pages are stuffed full of goodies and giveaways for Wall Street bank… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announce More Than $30.5 Million For Chicago Airports

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has awarded O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport grants totaling $30,577,891. These allocations will help fund or reimburse airport improvement projects, noise mitigation efforts, and an environmental impact study. "This is good news for both residents and travelers flying in and out of Chic… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Mexican Ambassador To Discuss Immigration

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mexican Ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana to discuss relations between the United States and Mexico, as well as immigration, the DREAM Act and the Supreme Court deadlock in the case of United States v. Texas, the partisan legal challenge to Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During the meeting, Senator Durbin expressed his commitment to protecting DREAMe… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On CFPB Action Against For-Profit Bridgepoint Education

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it would take action against Bridgepoint Education, Inc. for illegal student lending practices. The CFPB has ordered Bridgepoint to discharge all outstanding private student loans and refund students' payments on private loans borrowed from the school. Additionally, Bridgepoint must pay an $8 million penalty for deceiving students and will be required… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Community Colleges to Assist Former ITT Tech Students

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged area community colleges to reach out to and assist students impacted by the sudden closing of all ITT Technical Institute campuses. After years of being one of the worst actors in for-profit education, ITT Tech announced this week it would close its campuses nationally. ITT Tech operated campuses in Arlington Heights, Oak Brook, Orland Park, and Springfield enrolling around 750 students with dozens more scheduled to begin this fall. Speaking… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.2 Million To Prevent Youth Substance Abuse In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has awarded community coalitions in Illinois grants totaling $3,200,000 to prevent youth substance abuse. This funding, provided through ONDCP's Drug-Free Communities Support Program, was part of $85.9 million awarded nationwide. "By working alongside local coalitions, we can b… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Press Speaker Ryan For Vote On Zika Funding

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) today in sending a letter signed by 26 Senate colleagues to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) urging him to immediately bring the $1.1 billion Zika funding legislation passed by the Senate in May to the House floor for a vote. To date, there are more than 18,000 cases of Zika reported in the United States and its territories, including 60 cases in Illinois and over 1,750 cases in pregnant… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $5.88 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois First-Responders

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 grants totaling $5,885,332 to communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our firefighters and first-responders put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This funding wi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,483,234 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "The men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line day and night to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This grant funding will help equip those officers with the best, most up-to-… Continue Reading

Durbin To Senate GOP: Do Your Job, Give Supreme Court Nominee A Hearing And A Vote

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about Senate Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. 176 days after the President's nomination, Durbin once again called on Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional duty and give Judge Garland a hearing and a vote. "On September 26th, the Court will hold the first conference of its new term, still with only eight justices. The Senate has … Continue Reading

Durbin to Senate GOP: Do Your Job

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Senate Republican leaders for politicizing legislative efforts to address the growing Zika crisis. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called on Republicans to stop endangering the health of pregnant women and babies and work with Democrats to pass bipartisan emergency funding legislation. "Seven months ago, the president asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funding so that public health experts would have the resources the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.71 Million for Illinois Community Colleges & Universities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $1,710,303 in federal funding for community colleges and universities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will help increase the self-sufficiency of community colleges and universities and support efforts to better serve low-income students. "This funding is an investment in our workforce, our economy, and our country's future," Durbin said. "These colleges are uni… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.43 In Federal Funding To Assist Victims Of Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence In Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $1,439,532 in federal funding to Illinois communities to support state coalitions and other organizations that provide essential services, civil and legal assistance programs, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. "Today's funding will help ensure that organizations assisting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence continue to ha… Continue Reading