As Member of Conference Committee, Durbin Vows to Protect Illinois Jobs and Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he has been named by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to the joint Senate-House Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate (S.1813) version and House (H.R.4348) version of a national transportation funding bill. "As the road, rail and aviation hub of the country, Illinois depends on a robust federal investment in transportation projects to keep its economy moving," said Dur… Continue Reading

Durbin and Kirk Bill Would Bring Fairness to Federal Disaster Declaration Process

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced bipartisan legislation that would bring consistency and fairness to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s disaster declaration process. After devastating storms and tornadoes swept through Southern Illinois in late February, communities - including Harrisburg and Ridgway - were shocked when FEMA denied federal assistance. The Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act would ensure consis… Continue Reading

Durbin, Costello Meet With Army Assistant Secretary Regarding Metro East Levees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today held a meeting with Assistant Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers, Jo-Ellen Darcy, commander of the St. Louis District, Colonel Christopher Hall, and the head of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council, Les Sterman, to discuss streamlining the review process for the Metro East levee project. The Army Corps pledged their continued commitment to the project, and will nomi… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on GSA IG's Report and Agency's FY13 Budget Request

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee, Dick Durbin (D-IL), chaired a hearing today to review the report of the General Services Administration's (GSA) Inspector General report on the agency's 2010 Western Regions Conference which was marred by outrageous spending and mismanagement of taxpayer funds. The hearing, which was scheduled long before the Inspector General's report was issued, also … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds TD Bank's and Eastman Credit Union's Decision to Adopt Fee Disclosure Form

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the CEOs of TD Bank and Eastman Credit Union applauding their decision to voluntarily adopt a disclosure form designed to make checking account terms and fees transparent and easy for consumers to understand, as he has been urging. A copy of that letter is attached. "TD Bank's and Eastman Credit Union's decision to voluntarily adopt a simple and clear fee disclosure form will help their customers and shows that transparen… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Racial Profiling in America

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing on racial profiling in America - the first hearing on the issue in over a decade. The hearing explored immigration enforcement that subjects Hispanic Americans to heightened scrutiny, discriminatory law enforcement against African Americans, and anti-terrorism efforts that target American Muslims. T… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Nationwide Postal Workers Rally

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said the Postal Service which employs more than 30,000 people in Illinois must work with Congress and the American people to address its financial problems. Durbin, who worked to secure a five-month moratorium on postal facility closures, also noted that the U.S. Senate is expected to debate comprehensive reform legislation within the next few weeks. "The Postal Service faces serious financial challenges and it needs to work with C… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.1 Million Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $1,110,266 investment in six fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women… Continue Reading

Durbin to Chair Hearing on Racial Profiling in America

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a hearing on racial profiling in America to be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at 10:00am ET. The hearing will be held in room 226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington. The hearing - the first in the Senate since before 9/11 - will explore how profiling harms law enforcement and the diffe… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $700,000 in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $686,381 investment in six fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women p… Continue Reading

After Death of Young Girl, Durbin Calls for FDA to Investigate Energy Drinks That Contain Dangerously High Levels of Caffeine

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called for an investigation into energy drinks like 'Monster Energy', 'Rockstar' and 'Red Bull' which contain high levels of caffeine and potentially dangerous ingredients yet are marketed to young people. Durbin's call for an investigation comes after learning the story of a 14 year-old girl from Maryland, Anais Fournier, who died last December of a cardiac ar… Continue Reading

At Start of Baseball Season, Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin, Blumenthal Applaud MLB for Banning Tobacco Use

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Miami Marlins prepare to host the World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals on Major League Baseball's opening night, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) commended Major League Baseball (MLB) and the MLB Players Association for implementing restrictions on smokeless tobacco use both on and off the field. The collective bargaining agreement announced last November, which is still being drafted… Continue Reading

Durbin: Project Rebuild Act Would Help Turn Around Vacant Homes and Businesses

[Rockford, IL] - In an effort to stabilize neighborhoods, rehab vacant and foreclosed homes and businesses, and create jobs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) pushed for passage of the Project Rebuild Act while visiting Rockford today. The legislation would help rehab houses and businesses that have been abandoned through foreclosure by providing targeted assistance through formula funding and new competitive grants. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimates that Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Baha'i Resolution Passes in the U.S. Senate by Unanimous Consent

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The United States Senate last night unanimously approved a resolution sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) condemning the government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority. The resolution, S. Res. 80, demands the Government of Iran uphold the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha'i faith. A House companion, H. Res. 134, introduced by Representatives Robert Dold (R-IL), Dan Lipinski (D-IL) and Brad … Continue Reading

Durbin and Kirk Statement on Passage of Resolution Supporting NATO's Upcoming Chicago Summit

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate passed by voice vote a resolution supporting the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Chicago: "The upcoming Chicago Summit is an opportunity to showcase Illinois and this great city to the world," said Durbin. "Thousands of visitors will get the chance to experience our world-class city-the birthplace of the modern skyscraper and the elev… Continue Reading

"Student Debt Bomb" Alert: Durbin, Harkin, Introduce Bill to Ensure Students Are Not Misled on Loan Options

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Noting that two-thirds of private student loan borrowers were not aware of the dramatic difference between federal student loans and risky, higher-interest, private student loans, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced a bill that would require schools to counsel students before they sign on to expensive, even unnecessary, private student loan debt and inform them if they have any untapped federal loan eligibility. In many instances students … Continue Reading

Durbin and Franken Introduce Legislation to Reduce Tax Haven Abuse

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation today that would require Members of Congress and candidates for federal office to include in their financial disclosure filing an accounting of any financial interest in a country that is considered a tax haven. The bill would also apply to federal employees who are required to file financial disclosures and the spouses of Members of Congress or candidates. "Any individual who has or wants to hav… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Treasury Department Budget

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing today to review the FY2013 budget request for the Department of the Treasury and to discuss the impact of the foreclosure crisis and our nation's growing student loan debt on the economic recovery. President Obama's FY2013 budget request for the Treasury Department is $14.072 billion which includes funding for the Internal Revenue Service and the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Treasury… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks State Department to Update US-Mexico Extradition Treaty

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the State Department to work with its Mexican counterpart to modify two outdated provisions of the U.S.-Mexico Extradition Treaty to allow more international fugitives to be brought to justice in the United States. "Given that the original treaty was executed over 30 years ago and only one protocol has been executed since then, the time is well overdue for the U.S. and Mexico … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Temporary Protected Status for Syria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Obama Administration announced that temporary protected status (TPS) would be extended to Syrian nationals currently in the United States. Such a designation allows Syrians living in the United States to temporarily stay because violence in their home country poses a serious threat to their safety. Durbin, along with Senators Leahy (D-VT), Feinstein (D-CA), Menendez (D-NJ), Cardin (D-MD) and Casey… Continue Reading