Confirmation of Elena Kagan to be a Supreme Court Justice

General Kagan, welcome to you, your family, and friends, and congratulations on your nomination. This isn't your first hearing on a Supreme Court Justice nominee. If my notes are correct, some seventeen years ago you were sitting at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Ruth Bader Ginsburg's nomination to serve on the Supreme Court. Your capacity was as a staff attorney for the chairman of the committee, Joe Biden. So you've seen this exercise as a staffer, and now in this revered… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Feinerman for Federal Judgeship in Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate has approved Gary Feinerman, by a vote of 80-0, to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois."Gary Feinerman would be a fine federal judge," said Durbin. "His extensive experience and distinguished record will be an asset to the Northern District of Illinois. It was an honor recommending his name to President Obama and voting on his nomination today."Feinerman… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on Chicago's Handgun Laws

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Supreme Court handed down its opinion in McDonald v. City of Chicago, a decision likely to result in the overturning of longstanding handgun laws in Chicago and Oak Park."Much will be made of the Supreme Court's finding today that Americans have the right to own a gun for self-defense anywhere they live. But the Court also found that the right to keep and bear arms is not an unlimited right. In… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Death of Senator Robert C. Byrd

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the death of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-WV):"Senator Byrd carried a copy of our Constitution close to his heart every day. It was a constant reminder of his life's mission to honor the values which gave us this great nation.No one in the history of the Senate could match Byrd's thunderous oratory; his sense of history; his determination to teach every President the limits of his p… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Immediate Action on Asian Carp; Asks President to Appoint Federal "Coordinated Response Commander" to Lead Fight

[CHICAGO, IL] - Following the discovery of a Bighead Asian Carp on the wrong side of the electric barrier six miles from Lake Michigan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) wrote to President Obama today asking him to immediately appoint a federal Coordinated Response Commander for Asian carp. By appointing a Coordinated Response Commander, the President would signal that the effort to prevent the Asian carp from establishing itself in Lake Michigan is a national priority and would put in place a si… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Federal Agencies to Accelerate Use of Effective Asian Carp Control Methods

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the discovery of a Bighead Asian Carp on the wrong side of the electric barrier six miles from Lake Michigan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged four federal agencies that have been coordinating the implementation of the Obama Administration's Asian Carp Control Framework to step up their efforts and use all methods available to fight this invasive species, including the immediate use of fish poison in the area where the live Asian carp was found.Durbin wr… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $520,000 in Funding for Pulaski Infrastructure Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Economic Development Administration (EDA) has invested $520,000 in the Village of Pulaski, Illinois' Industrial Park Infrastructure project. This investment will fund roadway and other infrastructure improvements to serve the SISCO Regional Industrial Park located in Pulaski. The funding is expected save 32 jobs, create an additional 167 jobs and an additional $2 million in private investments."Toda… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Decision to Award a Nearly $6 Million Grant to Support Businesses in Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Department of Commerce (DOC)'s decision to award a $5.9 million for a program administered by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater that will provide comprehensive entrepreneurial support to businesses in Northern Illinois in order to create jobs and spur economic development."This project brings together six counties across two states, four universities, three technical colleges and a number of non-profit and private sec… Continue Reading

Durbin: Quad City Airport to Receive Nearly $4 Million Grant for Runway Reconstruction

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $3,900,000 grant to Quad City International Airport for the reconstruction of runway 9/27. This funding will help continue the airport's efforts to completely reconstruct the 10,000-foot runway."Quad City International Airport is a critical transportation link for central Illinois," said Durbin. "This renewed runway will help put the airport in the stro… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves U.S. Attorney Nominee in Southern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, unanimously approved Stephen Wigginton to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "Throughout his years as a lawyer in Southern Illinois, Stephen Wigginton has shown integrity and independence that I am sure he will bring to the position of U.S. Attorney," said Durbin. "I wa… Continue Reading

Durbin Encourages Navistar to Open New Facility in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today encouraged the Chairman and CEO of Navistar International Corporation, Daniel Ustian, to locate the company's new facility in Illinois. Because the company's plans to open a new facility in Lisle, Illinois have recently been called into question, Durbin also requested a meeting with Ustain to discuss the ongoing partnership between Navistar and Illinois."I am requesting a meeting to see if there are ways that I or my office can be of as… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $105,000 in FEMA Grants for Central 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 2 grants totaling $106,875 to central Illinois fire departments for operations and safety. "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 resou… Continue Reading

Durbin Expresses Confidence in Coordinated Effort to Prevent Spread of Asian Carp

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after an announcement by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee that one Bighead Asian carp has been found in Lake Calumet along the Chicago Area Waterway System. "I am confident that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard are taking the threat of the Asian Carp to the health of the Great Lakes seriously. Today, the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $400,000 in Grant Funding for Peoria International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $400,000 grant to the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport. This funding will be used to install a 10-foot wildlife fence designed to increase safety and discourage animals from entering the airfield."The Peoria International Airport is a critical transportation link for central Illinois," said Durbin. "This funding will contribute to t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $550,000 in Grant Funding for Chicago Rockford International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $550,000 grant to the Chicago Rockford International Airport. This funding will be used to data collection and airport imagery acquisition. The data and imagery will be uploaded to the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Geographic Information System and contribute to the development of an electronic Airport Layout Plan.Chicago Rockford Internati… Continue Reading

Durbin Stresses Urgency of Federal Rail Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the Senate Banking Committee to work quickly in drafting rail safety legislation. Durbin pointed to two events that underscore the need for Congressional action: the tragic crash of a Red Line Metro train in Washington, D.C. one year ago today which cost the lives of nine people and the CTA Red Line train travelling in Chicago's subways that was enveloped in smoke on Sunday sending 19 passengers to area hospitals."These incidents … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Confirms Lewis to be U.S. Attorney in Central District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate unanimously approved James Lewis to serve as U.S. Attorney in the Central District of Illinois. "With over twenty years of experience in the office of U.S. Attorney in Central Illinois, James Lewis brings a strong background in the law to this position," said Durbin. "I was honored to recommend his name to President Obama, and am confident that he will bring a strong work ethic, independence, and … Continue Reading

Durbin, Quinn: DOJ Announces Plans to Fully Utilize Thomson Correctional Center

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn announced today that the Department of Justice (DOJ) intends to acquire the Thomson Correctional Center by the end of the year and fully utilize the entire facility. In a letter to Durbin, Quinn and Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL), a DOJ official explained that the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) plans to make modifications to the prison and hire and train a full complement of staff while the Defense D… Continue Reading

Durbin, Key House Conferees Reach Agreement on Interchange Fees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that an agreement has been reached with key conferees on the Wall Street reform bill regarding his amendment regulating interchange fees. The agreement makes minor, clarifying changes to the language which passed the Senate 64-33, and responds to concerns raised by state governments regarding their use of prepaid and debit cards distribution of government benefits. "I'm pleased that we were able to… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Lawmakers in Calling for Government Review of For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In light of recent press reports raising concerns about the for-profit education sector U.S. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) today joined other lawmakers in calling for a review of for-profit or "proprietary" institutions of higher education. Specifically, they asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to assess the quality of for-profit institutions, as well as how much of their revenue is comprised of Federal student aid and other Federal funding sources.… Continue Reading