Press Releases
Health Care Reform
Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Mr. President, the issues before the Senate are sometimes weighty and complex, historic. I don't think there is any greater challenge this Senate has faced in modern times than our current debate over health care. This is such a major part of not only the American economy but of our everyday lives that it is hard to think of another issue we have tackled which will be so far-reaching. The American people understand the need for ch… Continue Reading
07.08.09
Durbin Unveils 2010 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, today unveiled the subcommittee's appropriations package for fiscal year 2010. The bill covers $46.4 billion in overall spending for a number of agencies within the Executive Branch; the Federal Courts; District of Columbia; and independent agencies including the nation's financial services regulators. "White-collar crooks … Continue Reading
07.08.09
Durbin Statement on Lisa Madigan's Plans to Run for Re-Election
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced that she will run for re-election: "Lisa Madigan made the right decision for our state and her family. She has been an incredibly capable and effective Attorney General. I look forward to working together with her for the people of Illinois."… Continue Reading
07.07.09
Durbin Announces $675,000 in DOT Funding for Springfield Airport
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a $675,379 grant to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. The grant will provide funding for the following five projects at the airport: • Rehabilitation of the terminal building lighting. The existing lighting is past its useful life and inefficient. The new lighting will be more efficient and reliable; • Acquisition of … Continue Reading
07.06.09
Durbin Forwards Recommendations for US Attorneys and US Marshals to White House
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House to consider when filling four positions for U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals in Central and Southern Illinois. Based on recommendations made by bipartisan screening committees in the state, Durbin has forwarded the names of the following ten individuals to the President for consideration: For U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois: Gregory Harris and James Lewis For U.S.… Continue Reading
07.06.09
Durbin Announces $28 Million in HUD Funding for Illinois Communities and Housing Agencies
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois communities and housing agencies will receive $28,377,761 in grant funding through four programs administered by Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Community Development Block Grants The Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program provides annual grants to states and local governments to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable li… Continue Reading
07.02.09
Durbin: FAA Should Follow Recommendations to Mitigate Air Traffic Controller Fatigue
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) urged the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement the recommendations found in a Department of Transportation, Inspector General Report on air traffic controller fatigue released earlier today. Citing a December 2007 GAO Report which pointed to controller fatigue as a key issue affecting runway safety at the nation's busiest airports, Durbin requested this investigation into conditions at three Chicago air traffi… Continue Reading
06.29.09
Durbin: President Names Callahan and Giamanco for USDA Positions in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that President Obama has officially named Colleen Callahan Burns of Kickapoo, Illinois for State Director of Rural Development and Scherrie V. Giamanco of Mt. Vernon, Illinois for State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Neither appointment requires Senate confirmation and both are expected to assume their new duties in early July. "Colleen Callahan Burns has been a respected voice for … Continue Reading
06.26.09
Lovell Health Center Legislation Approved by Senate Committee
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined with the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Congresswoman Melissa Bean (D-IL) in applauding the inclusion of language needed to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier today. Earlier this week, Durbin and Akaka introduced legislation to give authority to the Navy … Continue Reading
06.26.09
Durbin to Travel to Bosnia, Lithuania, and Belarus This Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) will travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lithuania and Belarus this week as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation which will attend the 18th Annual Session of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly. Durbin will depart Friday, traveling first to Bosnia-Herzegovina, then on to Lithuania and Belarus. Stops in Sarajevo, Vilnius and Minsk are currently planned. Due to security… Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin Statement on FutureGen Alliance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement in regards to the changes to the FutureGen Alliance that were announced today: "A few weeks ago the FutureGen Alliance overwhelmingly voted to enter into an agreement with the US Department of Energy to build the first large-scale, integrated carbon capture and sequestration plant," said Durbin. "That commitment remains firm today. Since the Bush Administration cancelled the project … Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin: Senate Committee Approves $3.45 Million for Illinois Projects
[Washington, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $3.45 million for projects in the state of Illinois in the Commerce, Justice and Science spending bill. The Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Bill includes funding for the following projects in Illinois: Department of Justice • Ceasefire at the University of Illinois, Chicago. $500,000 in funding for the Chicago Project for Violence… Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves $1.2 Million for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, has approved $1.2 million for Illinois projects. The Fiscal Year 2010 Appropriations Bill for the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service and Environmental Protection Agency includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Environmental Protection Agency, State and Tribal Assistance Grants • Decatur Water Infrastructure Improvements, … Continue Reading
06.25.09
Durbin Announces $94 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $94,222,481 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. "The Recovery Act funding announced today will create good paying jobs in Illinois and increase the appeal of public transit as an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly alternative to car travel," said Durbin. Last week, Metra was awarded a $46.6 million grant for bridge rehab… Continue Reading
06.24.09
Durbin, Leahy, and Feingold Introduce Legislation Making Crimes Against Humanity a Violation of US Law
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, Dick Durbin (D-IL), introduced the Crimes Against Humanity Act today - legislation that would make it a violation of U.S. law to commit a crime against humanity. This legislation is needed to ensure that perpetrators of the worst human rights violations do not find safe haven in our country. "The United States led the first prosecutions for crimes against humanity in … Continue Reading
06.23.09
Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Boost Program That Helps Law Enforcement Quickly Find Missing Persons
WASHINGTON - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Mel Martinez (R-FL), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and 10 other Senators in introducing legislation (S. 1301) that would make a federal investment in an effective program that assists law enforcement efforts to locating missing persons quickly. They are seeking $5 million per year for six years for the non-profit organization A Chi… Continue Reading
06.23.09
Durbin, Akaka, Bean: Lovell Health Center One Step Closer to Completion
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was joined today by the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, Daniel Akaka (D-HI) in introducing legislation needed to complete the James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center. The legislation - which Durbin has asked the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider for inclusion in the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act later this week - gives authority to the Navy and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to jointly operate th… Continue Reading
06.19.09
Durbin Announces $46 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $46,603,124 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's funding will be used for bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction specifically on the Electric District and the Union Pacific North Line. The funding will also be used for the replacement of fiber optic cable on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe commuter rail line. "Today's funding … Continue Reading
06.17.09
Durbin Statement on Plans for Financial Regulatory Reform
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced a plan for comprehensive financial regulatory reform: "For the past two years, we have been dealing with the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. The current crisis has many causes, but perhaps the most significant, was the breakdown of our financial regulatory system which left consumers and our markets unprotected." "It's… Continue Reading
06.17.09
Durbin Discusses Travel Promotion Bill That Will Support Illinois Tourism
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today discussed the Travel Promotion Act of 2009 on the floor of the United States Senate. The legislation will promote tourism to the U.S. while streamlining the process visitors go through to enter the county. More than that, the bill advances Chicago's interest in being awarded the 2016 Olympic Games by setting up stronger entities to promote internationally the benefits of visiting America. "In Illinois, tourism add… Continue Reading