Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin and Illinois Delegation to Meet with Governor Quinn to Discuss Illinois Job Creation and Investment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation met with the Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn, to discuss ways in which the Delegation can work together to help create jobs and invest in Illinois. Prior to today's meeting with the Delegation, Durbin and Quinn met with the Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Joe Szabo, to discuss the progress of high speed rail in Illinois. Last month, after the Governor of Florida … Continue Reading
March 16, 2011
Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Groups to Discuss Agriculture Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau, the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Association to discuss agricultural priorities including improving the infrastructure along the Mississippi River which is the backbone of Illinois' waterway transportation system - transporting $12 billion worth of products each year, including over 1 billion bushels of grain to ports around the world. After today's meeting, Durbin, … Continue Reading
March 10, 2011
Durbin Meets With Quad Cities Chamber and Labor Leaders to Discuss Regional Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from the Quad Cities region who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss their priorities including Rock Island Arsenal, Amtrak service to the Quad Cities and economic recovery. Durbin asked for the group's help in opposing H.R.1 funding cuts that eliminate all unobligated funding for current and future high speed rail projects. "The Quad Cities region does a great job of coming together across … Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
House Republican Budget Cuts
Madam President, I wish to follow up on what was said by the majority leader. This exercise we are engaged in here, this conversation about how to finish this fiscal year which ends on October 1, is one that I think has gotten out of hand, and I will tell you why. I know the debt is a serious problem facing America. I know the deficit is something that threatens our economy and our way of living. I also know there are sensible, thoughtful ways to deal with it. One of them was addressed … Continue Reading
March 09, 2011
Durbin Meets With Champaign County First to Discuss Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Champaign County FIRST to discuss local priorities including transportation, local school improvements and high speed rail. Durbin asked for the group's help in opposing H.R.1 funding cuts that eliminate all unobligated funding for current and future high speed rail projects. The Champaign County FIRST committee serves as the unified voice of Champaign County to elected officials on the state and federal … Continue Reading
February 28, 2011
Durbin: House Cuts Stifle American Innovation
[ARGONNE, IL] - Drastic cuts to federal spending for important scientific research would jeopardize America's role as a global leader in research and innovation, as well as 1,450 high-paying jobs in Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today after meeting with lead researchers at Argonne National Laboratory. The federal spending bill for the current fiscal year (FY11), which was approved by the House of Representatives last Saturday morning, included a $1.1 billion cut to the … Continue Reading
February 28, 2011
Durbin and Quinn Statement on Announcement that Morgan County Will Host FutureGen 2.0
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today made the following statement after the FutureGen Alliance announced that Morgan County has been chosen to host the FutureGen 2.0 carbon dioxide (CO2) storage site, visitor center, research, and training facilities. The FutureGen 2.0 project and pipeline network is expected to bring 1,000 jobs to downstate Illinois and another 1,000 jobs for suppliers across the state. "Bringing together all the … Continue Reading
February 25, 2011
Durbin: Now is Not The Time to Cut Programs That Help Get People Back to Work
[WOODSTOCK, IL] - Displaced workers will lose access to job retraining, career counseling and job listings as the result of drastic federal spending cuts proposed by the House of Representatives to programs funded through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. WIA funds are substantially cut in the House of Representatives spending bill for the current fiscal year (FY11), which was approved along party lines by the House early Saturday morning. The … Continue Reading
February 23, 2011
Durbin Meets with Business Community to Discuss Efforts to Get America Back on Stable Financial Footing
[COLLINSVILLE, IL] - Main Street businesses in Metro East and across the country should no longer be at a disadvantage against companies that exclusively sell their products online, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) told area business owners and retailers today. Durbin met with members from the Southwest Leadership Council and other local chambers of commerce to discuss legislation he intends to introduce in the coming weeks called the Main Street Fairness Act which aims to level the playing … Continue Reading
February 18, 2011
Durbin Says House Cuts to Labs Would be Devastating; Vows to Continue Funding for Innovative Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent letters to Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Subcommittee, of which he is a member, warning that the funding cuts proposed by the House Republicans in their continuing resolution (H.R. 1) would have a devastating impact on our entire national laboratory system. Durbin vowed to work with the committee to ensure that labs - including Fermilab and Argonne National Laboratory which stand to … Continue Reading
February 17, 2011
Durbin, Reed, Brown Introduce Bill to Ensure Long-Term Stability of Unemployment Insurance
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - To prevent a tax increase on small businesses and to ensure that cash-strapped states are able to continue providing a critical lifeline to struggling families as they search for work, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today introduced legislation to revamp the unemployment insurance program and ensure its long-term solvency. The Unemployment Insurance Solvency Act - which will likely be … Continue Reading
February 17, 2011
Durbin Stands With Wisconsin Workers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, standing with Wisconsin's workers as they fight budget cuts and an effort to strip them of their collective bargaining rights by Governor Scott Walker: "When Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker decided to refuse federal high speed rail money, I said I would welcome it with open arms in Illinois. Tonight, I say the same to the members of the Wisconsin State Senate who are fighting … Continue Reading
February 16, 2011
Durbin Asks DOT to Send Unused Federal Rail Money to Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, asking him to consider the Chicago Hub Network if he chooses to redistribute the high speed rail funding that the Governor of Florida rejected earlier today. Durbin wrote: "Almost one year ago, the entire Illinois Congressional delegation wrote to you communicating our belief that Illinois provides the best opportunity to invest in high speed rail. Since then, the … Continue Reading
February 15, 2011
Durbin Expresses Support For Cape Air
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today expressed his support for Cape Air's application to provide long-term service at Quincy Regional Airport that would likely lead to the airline moving maintenance and other associated work to the region - a prospect that could add good paying jobs to Western Illinois. Late last week, the City of Quincy Aeronautics Committee voted unanimously to support Cape Air's proposal and the Mayor of Quincy, John Spring, relayed that support … Continue Reading
February 13, 2011
Durbin Announces New Legislation to Ensure Long-Term Viability of Unemployment Insurance Program
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - To ensure that Illinois and other cash-strapped states are able to continue providing a critical lifeline to struggling families as they search for work, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he will introduce legislation in the Senate this week to revamp the unemployment insurance program and ensure its long-term solvency. The Unemployment Insurance Solvency Act will solidify the program's finances while giving states greater flexibility in managing … Continue Reading
February 10, 2011
Durbin and Kirk Statement on Five-Day Delay of O'Hare Lawsuit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today released a statement following an announcement that a five-day delay has been approved in the lawsuit that United Airlines and American Airlines against the City of Chicago. The agreement to ask for a delay was reached during meetings between representatives of the airlines and city officials. "Today's agreement on a temporary delay of the lawsuit is a positive development in the negotiations between the City … Continue Reading
February 09, 2011
Durbin Announces More Than $600,000 in FEMA Grant Funding to Illinois Fire Departments
[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 six grants totaling $638,587 to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools … Continue Reading
February 09, 2011
Durbin Announces $840,000 in USDA Funding to Create Jobs in Mattoon
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded $100,000 in grant and $740,000 in loan funding to the Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative, located in Mattoon, Illinois, through the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program. The Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative intends to use today's funding for the modernization and renovation of the Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center hospital, … Continue Reading
February 07, 2011
Durbin, Kirk to DOT Secretary: Compromise on O'Hare Modernization is Essential
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After learning that the Department of Transportation is planning to host a meeting this week in Washington between the City of Chicago and both United Airlines and American Airlines, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (DOT), Ray LaHood, to stress the importance of finding a compromise on the O'Hare Modernization Program. "Secretary LaHood shares our commitment to moving … Continue Reading
February 07, 2011
Durbin, Kirk, Manzullo and Roskam Tell Chinese Government to Uphold Their Agreements with Illinois Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Members of the Illinois Congressional delegation, led by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), have sent a bipartisan letter to the Chinese Ambassador asking for him to intervene in the case of an Illinois business that has been locked out of its own plant and had its intellectual property stolen by its onetime Chinese business partner. "We are writing to request your intervention in an ongoing business dispute brought to our attention by Fellowes, Inc., a business … Continue Reading