Durbin Meets with Belleville-native Crew Member of Final Space Shuttle Mission

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with NASA Flight STA-135 Mission Specialist and Belleville, Illinois-native Dr. Sandy Magnus and Commander Chris Ferguson yesterday to discuss the International Space Station and continuing space exploration and research. The mission, which carried supplies and spare parts to the Space Station, landed on July 21, 2011, marking the end of America's 30-year Space Shuttle Program. "The Space Program is a part of our nation's past, present… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announces $38 Million Investment to Improve Transit In Chicago

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $38,000,000 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to Chicago C… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on South Korea, Panama and Columbia Free Trade Agreements

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement tonight after he voted in favor of the free trade agreements with South Korea and Panama and against the free trade agreement with Colombia: "Exports can strengthen our manufacturing and agriculture sectors and create good paying jobs across Illinois. In order to help our economy grow, we need to be able to access new markets and eliminate trade barriers for U.S. exporters." "We must ensure that we eng… Continue Reading

Durbin: Federal Investment Will Help Metra Reduce Emissions

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a $5,288,000 investment from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program will help Metra reduce emissions and improve air quality in and around their trains. "Reducing the cloud of smoke from METRA locomotives will save fuel and help limit exposure to harmful air pollution," said Durbin. "This $5.2 million investment will help pay for this important clean-up." In February, Durbin met wi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $51 Million DOT Investment to Improve Transit in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $51,657,400 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to cities throughout Illinois, improves the… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois University Presidents

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Presidents of Southern Illinois University (SIU), former Illinois Representative Glenn Poshard, and Illinois State University (ISU), Dr. Al Bowman, to discuss higher education issues, federal research programs and efforts to strengthen student aid programs including Pell Grants. Durbin served in the U.S. House of Representatives with Poshard, who represented portions of southern Illinois, for 8 years. Poshard was named Presi… Continue Reading

Durbin: Jobs Act Will Help Illinois Small Businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the floor of the Senate to encourage the passage of President Obama's American Jobs Act which is scheduled for a vote in the Senate later today. Durbin also used the experience of Peoria-based A. Lucas and Sons to illustrate how Congress can help small businesses better leverage resources, strengthen their outlook and create jobs. "As I traveled up and down my State of Illinois, I visited some days with those who are unemployed, d… Continue Reading

Environmental Law & Policy Center Benefit

I want to thank Dan Levin for that generous introduction. Dan and his wife, Ambassador Fay Levin, are good friends. I am a big admirer of the Environmental Law & Policy Center and all it does to protect our natural treasures in Chicago and throughout the Midwest. I want to recognize the center's chairman, Nancy Loeb. I also want to thank ELPC President Howard Learner. On every big environmental challenge we have faced for 20 years - from reducing the mercury in our air, to protecting Lak… Continue Reading

Durbin Attends White House Celebration of 1985 Superbowl Champion Chicago Bears

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) will join President Barack Obama in welcoming the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears to the White House to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their Super Bowl victory. "No one from Illinois will ever forget the day when the Monsters of the Midway triumphed over the New England Patriots by a score of 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. Nearly undefeated, they marched fearlessly to the National Championship, but they did it with a sense of style, g… Continue Reading

Letter to the Illinois Bankers Association, Illinois Credit Union League and the Community Bankers Association of Illinois

TO: Linda Koch President and CEO Illinois Bankers Association Dan Plauda President and CEO Illinois Credit Union League Robert Wingert President Community Bankers Association of Illinois Dear Ms. Koch, Mr. Plauda and Mr. Wingert: As you know, several of the largest banks have recently announced they will charge consumers for debit card usage. In response, many consumers in Illinois and across the country are looking to move their deposit accounts from these banks to sm… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Costello Decision not to Seek Reelection in 2012

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning the Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) will not be seeking reelection next year. "Jerry Costello is without question the most effective advocate for his district that I have worked with in Congress. As one example, his energy and skill did more to save Scott Air Force Base from being closed by the BRAC process than any other factor. I will personally miss his leadership and his counsel… Continue Reading

Durbin to Bank of America: Choose Between Your Customers and Excessive Profits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) blasted Bank of America's new debit card fee in a speech on the Senate floor and in a letter to Brian Moynihan, CEO of the nation's largest bank. Last week, Bank of America announced it would begin charging a $5 monthly fee for use of a debit card. Durbin wrote: "[Y]our bank has decided to impose a significant new fee on loyal customers who simply want to access their own deposited money through a card that your bank gave them… Continue Reading

Letter to Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan

TO: Brian T. Moynihan, Chief Executive Officer Bank of America Corporation 100 N. Tryon St. Charlotte, NC 28255 Dear Mr. Moynihan: On September 29 it was reported that Bank of America would begin charging its customers a $5 monthly fee for the use of a debit card. In other words, your bank has decided to impose a significant new fee on loyal customers who simply want to access their own deposited money through a card that your bank gave them and encouraged them to rely on. I challe… Continue Reading

Bank of America's Outrageous New Fees

Mr. President, I wish to take those who are following this debate on a little trip through the world of plastic. I am talking about the world of credit cards--in this case, specifically about debit cards--because something happened over the weekend which has changed that world dramatically, and it is important for consumers, retailers, and voters across America to understand what happened. On October 1--on Saturday--the rules on how much a credit card company and a bank that issues a debi… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on New Swipe Fee Reforms Taking Effect

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today regarding new regulations which finally bring fairness, transparency and competition to the debit swipe fee system: "Today, swipe fee reforms take effect and will finally help bring fairness, transparency and competition to a debit card system that for years has operated without them." "These rules will give small businesses some relief from the unreasonably high fees that the Visa and MasterC… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Bank of America Fee Announcement

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Bank of America announced it would begin charging debit card users a monthly fee for the use of their cards: "It seems that old habits die hard for Bank of America. After years of raking in excess profits off an unfair and anti-competitive interchange system, Bank of America is trying to find new ways to pad their profits by sticking it to its customers. It's overt, unfair and I hope their custome… Continue Reading

Durbin: $1.2 Million SBA Investment Will Help Illinois Small Businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has recently awarded a $1,265,477 grant to help small businesses in Illinois. Today's funding was awarded as a part of the State Trade and Export Promotion Program (STEP) which is designed to help increase the number of small businesses that are exporting and also to raise the value of exports for small businesses that are already exporting. "Small businesses are the econo… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Community Stakeholders to Discuss Economic Impact of Amtrak Service to Western Illinois

[QUINCY, IL] - Rail service throughout Illinois - including the route between Chicago and Quincy - is at serious risk of being eliminated if the transportation spending bill proposed by House Republicans becomes law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The funding bill for the 2012 fiscal year released last week by the House Transportation Appropriation Subcommittee prohibits Amtrak from helping states pay for state-sponsored routes, which will effectively eliminate all state-support… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Passage of Bill that would Modernize Schools and Prevent Teacher Layoffs

[MORTON GROVE, IL] - With schools across Illinois struggling to upgrade their facilities and prevent teacher layoffs, passage of legislation to invest in school modernization and help keep teachers is critically important, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said this morning after meeting with administrators and teachers at Golf Middle School in Morton Grove. At Golf Middle School, Durbin met with the district superintendent, principals of the middle and elementary schools and the president of … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Faith Leaders for Holding DREAM Sabbath

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) commended religious leaders from a broad variety of faith traditions today for celebrating the DREAM Sabbath - an initiative enlisting churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act. The nationwide event began this weekend, and will continue into the fall. The DREAM Sabbath was created to build on the broad grassroots support for th… Continue Reading