Durbin to Chair Hearing Examining New State Voting Laws that Threaten to Suppress Turnout Nationwide

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, today announced a hearing examining a rash of new state voting laws that threaten to suppress turnout across the country. These new laws significantly reduce the number of early voting days, require voters to show restrictive forms of photo identification before voting, and make it harder for volunteer organizations to register new voters. Supporters of t… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk and Delegation Call on President to Provide Federal Relief for Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation today in requesting that President Obama issue a major disaster declaration for the State of Illinois and to provide relief to three Illinois counties - Carroll, Jo Daviess and Stephenson - affected by severe storms and flooding that occurred in late July. A Presidential disaster declaration would allow cities and counties to apply for federal reimbursements to… Continue Reading

Durbin: Peoria International Airport to Receive a Nearly $3.5 Million Grant for Improvements

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $3,489,278 grant to the Greater Peoria Airport Authority for several safety and improvement projects at the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. This funding will be used to improve the airport's aircraft rescue and fire fighting building as well as for the rehabilitation of two runways and a taxiway. "Peoria International Airport … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $8.3 Million in Funding to Fight and Prevent Substance Abuse

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded Illinois $8,324,317 to help fight and prevent substance abuse. The funds will be used by communities throughout Illinois to provide more comprehensive screening, prevention, and early intervention programs as well as referrals to treatment for people at high risk for substance abuse. Today's grant is part of roughly $137 million awarded na… Continue Reading

Chicago to Participate in National 9/11 Moment of Remembrance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today in announcing that Chicago will join the growing list of cities committed to participating in a national Moment of Remembrance on 9/11. The city will be encouraging local residents to memorialize the September 11th terrorist attacks with one minute of reflection, marked by the ringing of bells, sounding of sirens and other actions to remember the lives lost that day. "We … Continue Reading

Illinois Officials Announce Silver Cross Victory for Area Vets

[JOLIET, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL-13th) today were joined by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-11th) in celebrating a long-anticipated agreement to transform the emergency room facility at Joliet's Silver Cross Hospital into a 60,000 square foot outpatient mega-clinic for area veterans. Lawmakers began lobbying for the project three years ago after Silver Cross announced it would be moving its current operations to New Le… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $16.3 Million in Illinois Airport Infrastructure

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois airports have received a total of $16,328,409 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for infrastructure improvements and upgrades. "Today's grants will allow airports in Illinois to make needed improvements and upgrades to help them serve travelers more safely and efficiently," said Durbin. The following investments in Illinois' transportation infrastructure were made under this … Continue Reading

Durbin Lauds Obama Administration Announcement on Dream Act Deportation Cases

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, in a letter to Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and 21 other Senators, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced that the Administration has established a new process for handling the deportation cases of DREAM Act students and other sympathetic individuals. If fully implemented, the new process should stop virtually all DREAM Act deportations. "The Obama Administration has made the right decision in changing the way they hand… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $5.7 Million in USDA Funding for Rural Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a total of $5,709,200 in Community Facility Grants and Loans and Water and Waste Disposal Grants and Loans to local organizations in Illinois. "Community facilities and services are an important part of everyday life for millions of rural Illinoisans," said Durbin "This funding makes a significant investment in the continued operation an… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $2.5 Million FEMA Grant to Springfield Firefighters

[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 a $2,496,262 grant to the Springfield Fire Department, in Springfield, Illinois, for recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "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… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.6 Million in CDC Funding to Strengthen Public Health Infrastructure

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has awarded a total of $1,662,129 in funding to two Illinois state and local government offices. "We have a national responsibility to improve the anticipation, detection, and treatment of preventable infections," said Durbin. "Today's funding will help meet that goal as it makes it easier for health de… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $9.5 Million in DOJ Funding to Enhance Community and Law Enforcement Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $9,593,477 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to support Illinois law enforcement officers. "Our nation's law enforcement officers 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 possible to do their j… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Oak Forest and Metra to Receive DOT Funding for Station Project

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the Illinois Department of Transportation a $1,304,400 grant for the modernization of the Oak Forest Metra Rail Station. "Today's funding for the Oak Forest Metra Station will increase the appeal of public transit as an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly alternative to car travel," said Durbin. "Bringing these changes to the station will spur economic development… Continue Reading

Durbin: Mayor's Decision to Enforce 1 A.M. Cutoff for Liquor Sales is Step In Right Direction, but More Still Needs to be Done

[EAST ST. LOUIS, IL] - The East St. Louis Mayor's decision to enforce the 1 a.m. cutoff for liquor store sales is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to reduce the violence that is plaguing the area, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), an East St. Louis native, said today. On Wednesday, Durbin talked to Mayor Alvin Parks by phone following a meeting with residents of the John DeShields Housing Development and the Working Against Violent Elements (WAVE) Task Force, a collab… Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Food Bank, Says Programs Keeping Families Above Water Must be Protected in Deficit Reduction Negotiations

[URBANA, IL] - With the economic recovery lagging and more than half of American families living paycheck to paycheck, preserving social safety net programs - like food assistance, unemployment benefits and job re-training programs - is more critical than ever, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the Eastern Illinois Foodbank. "The struggling economy has put a strain on family budgets throughout Illinois, and more and more people are turning to their local food pantry to put meals … Continue Reading

Senator Durbin and Senator Murray Call on VA to Provide Answers About Privacy, Safety, and Security of Homeless Female Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a joint letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki expressing their concern about the placement of homeless female veterans in unsecure housing in Chicago, which jeopardized their safety. The Senators' letter asks the VA for assurances that homeless female veterans across the country who are being cared for by the Department are h… Continue Reading

At Durbin's Urging, Federal Agencies Devote Additional Resources to Combat Violent Crime in East St. Louis

[EAST ST. LOUIS, IL] - Federal law enforcement agencies have begun committing greater attention and resources to the violent crime problem in East St. Louis, which is among the worst in the nation, but more needs to be done to reduce the violence, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today after meeting with the Working Against Violent Elements (WAVE) Task Force. The task force is a collaboration of federal, state and local agencies which works to combat violent crime in the East St. Louis area… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds DOT Commitment to Common Sense Farm Transportation Guidance

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) has released new guidance on agriculture transportation. "The decision of the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration to release common sense guidelines, with input from Illinois stakeholders, resolves issues faced by farmers and will allow them to go about business without facing burdensome new requirements," Durbin said. … Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Workforce Center, Discusses Need for Critical Support Services

[ELGIN, IL] - With the economic recovery lagging and unemployment still high, access for displaced workers to job retraining and career counseling is more critical than ever, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the Elgin workNet Center. Although the national unemployment rate dipped slightly during the month of July - down to 9.1 percent - there are still five job-seekers for every job in America. In addition, 6.5 million American workers have been unemployed for six months or long… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks How System That Falsely Reports Deaths of Living Illinoisans Can Be Improved

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prompted by an August 7 Chicago Sun-Times report, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael Astrue, to urge improvement of the Administration's Death Master File which has erroneously reported thousands of Illinoisans dead. Nationwide, 14,000 of these errors - which can cause problems with credit agencies, with lenders and with potential employers - are made each year. "I understand that out of the 2… Continue Reading