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

Durbin Announces Nearly $2.3 Million in DOJ Funding to Protect Illinois Youth

[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 $2,299,205 to government agencies in Illinois for programs focused on protecting juveniles and promoting child Internet safety. "Today's funding will help combat juvenile delinquency in Illinois and strengthen and improve safeguards for our children against Internet predators," said Durbin. The following Illinois government offices and programs will receiv… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on S&P Downgrade of US Credit Rating

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the S&P downgraded the US credit rating from AAA to AA+: "S&P's decision to downgrade the US credit rating due to our ongoing debt crisis is unfortunate and underscores the need for a balanced, bipartisan and comprehensive solution to the problem. In the coming weeks, a Joint Committee of Congress will begin its work to reach just such an agreement. Their work will be incredibly important and mus… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Agreement to Extend FAA Authorization

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after an agreement to extend FAA authorization was announced by Senator Reid earlier today: "Extending FAA authorization will put an estimated 74,000 Americans back to work and help keep airports and air operations in Illinois and around the country safe. I support this extension. "Congress' failure to reach a deal to extend FAA authorization before going home this week is no way to run a government. W… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in Homeless Prevention Grants for Illinois Veterans

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded $1,159,122 in homeless prevention grants to two Illinois organizations that serve homeless and at-risk veteran families. The funding is provided through the new Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. "Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,000 homeless veterans were on the street," said Durbin. "We must ensure that when our brave men and women re… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $630,000 FEMA Grant to the Chicago Fire Department

[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 $639,383 in a grant for fire prevention to the Chicago Fire Department. The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) is the second largest fire department in the United States in terms of individual firefighters. "Chicago's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect millions of citizens," Durbin said. "As these bra… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Confirms Rock Island Resident To Fill Federal Judgeship In The Central District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that late last night the Senate unanimously approved Rock Island resident Sara Darrow for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. "For too long the Central District of Illinois was operating with only one active status judge in the district - Chief Judge Mike McCuskey - and three judgeships vacant. Now, with Sara Darrow's confirmation, we finally have a full complement of federal jud… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Budget Control Act

Madam President, this is an historic vote and it's one that has involved a lot of emotion and a lot of soul-searching and a lot of hard work. Our leaders are on the floor, Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate -- Senators Reid and McConnell. I want to salute both of them for working so hard to bring us to this moment where we have an opportunity to vote. The House has passed this legislation, so-called Budget Control Act. The Senate will take it up shortly. It is my belief that it will… Continue Reading