Durbin Meets With Transportation Secretary to Discuss Illinois Transportation Issues

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with the Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the importance of a robust investment in Illinois transportation as part of any new transportation bill. The current transportation bill - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) - expires on October 1, 2014. They also discussed both freight and passenger rail safety. "Secretary Foxx and I discussed the importance of Illinois' airports, highways, … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2.67 Million Federal Training Grant for Chicago Education and Manufacturing Coalition

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Manufacturing Careers & College Connect (MCCC) Program in Chicago, Illinois - led by Manufacturing Renaissance, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Daley College, and local employers - has received a $2,670,909 federal grant through the Department of Labor's Youth CareerConnect Program. "This federal funding is a direct investment in our students, our schools, and… Continue Reading

Senators Call on FTC and FDA to Protect Consumers from False Advertising Claims by E-Cigarette Makers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the heads of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today, urging the agencies to take enforcement action against e-cigarette manufacturers who make unsubstantiated or false claims in their advertising, including unproven assertions that their products help smokers of conventional ciga… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on New Job Openings for Thomson Prison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning that the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons has begun the process of finding staff for Thomson prison. "I am glad to see that the Bureau of Prisons' operations in Thomson, Illinois are getting underway so soon after Congress appropriated funding for the project," said Durbin. "I will continue working with Congresswoman Bustos to ensure that the Obama Administration remains com… Continue Reading

Durbin to EPA: Make this the Last Season for the Dirtiest Ship on Lake Michigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator, Susan Hedman, to enforce the consent decree and ensure that this is the last sailing season for the S.S. Badger - the only coal-fired ferry still operating in the U.S. The S.S. Badger's final season is scheduled to begin on May 16, 2014. Durbin wrote: "The SS Badger has had more than six years to develop a credible plan to upgrade its boiler and stop dumping tons … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Regulation of E-Cigarettes Following CDC Report on Liquid Nicotine Poisonings

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following a report released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found a dramatic increase in calls to poison control centers as a result of e-cigarette and liquid nicotine poisonings, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) to promptly complete its review of a proposed rule from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which would expand the FDA's regulatory authority over tobacco prod… Continue Reading

Durbin, Harkin, Cummings: More Coordination Needed in Federal Oversight of For-Profit College Industry

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today introduced legislation that would improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry. Through the establishment of an interagency oversight committee, the Proprietary Education Oversight Coordination Improvement Act - which will be introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD), … Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Lucheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the seventh bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 113th Congress. Photos of today's luncheon will be available shortly here. The luncheon today was attended by ten members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation: Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL), Representative T… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Judiciary Committee Approves Yandle for Southern District Judgeship

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, has approved Staci Yandle for a federal judgeship on the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Illinois. Her nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. Upon confirmation, she will serve in the Benton Federal Courthouse. "Ms. Yandle's nomination is not only historic, it is well deserved," said Durbin. "Our bipartisan screening committee… Continue Reading

Durbin Recognizes Importance of World Autism Awareness Day

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a statement for the Senate record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today recognized the importance of World Autism Awareness Day. Approximately one million individuals in the United States have autism and according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control released last week, 1 in every 68 children have autism in the United States, making it the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the United States. In Illinois, nearly 26,000 families live with autism.… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Supreme Court Striking Down Limit to Campaign Contributions

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court's decision to strike down limits to individual campaign contributions: "The Supreme Court once again has sold American elections to highest bidder. This decision may be more good news for American oligarchs, but it is bad news for voters," Durbin said. "We have to move away from the wild west of deep corporate pockets and special interest war chests and focus on creatin… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on General McDew's Senate Confirmation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement congratulating General Darren McDew on the confirmation of his appointment to the rank of General, from Lieutenant General, and for his assignment as Commander of Air Mobility Command, located at Scott Air Force Base. "General McDew's service with the 18th Air Force and understanding of the importance of Scott's mission and community make him well qualified for this position," said Durbin. "I want t… Continue Reading

Durbin to Tech Giants: Uphold Your Commitment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Washington, D.C. -Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to nine of the nation's top tech firms, asking them to renew their commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform and to reject efforts to pass stand-alone legislation increasing the H-1B visa cap. Today's letter comes on the opening day for filing H-1B visa petitions. "I write to ask you to renew your commitment to passing comprehensive immigration reform legislation and to pledge that you will not support st… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Illinois to Receive $22 Million for School Improvement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the State of Illinois will receive $22,060,358 in funding through the Department of Education's School Improvement Grant program. A total of more than $85 million was awarded to five states that are continuing efforts to turn around their persistently lowest-achieving schools. "We must ensure that each and every child has the opportunity to learn and thrive no matter where they live and no matter what school they att… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Senate Passage of Ukraine Aid Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Senate's 98 to 2 vote to approve a bill that would send aid to Ukraine and place more sanctions on Russia for its acts of aggression in Crimea. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a similar bill today and the legislation is expected to be sent to the President shortly for his signature. "The United States took a serious step forward today to show the people of Ukraine that we stand with them as they work toward a mo… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends House Members for Joining Effort to Protect Children from E-Cigarettes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended six members of the House of Representatives, including U.S. Representatives Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), for introducing the Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act to prohibit the marketing of e-cigarettes to children and teens. Durbin joined U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) introducing a companion measure in th… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Following Senate Hearing on Student Loans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the federal student loan program and the growing student loan debt crisis which has, for the first time in history, surpassed the total amount of credit card debt in America. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, this growing pile of debt threatens current and future economic growth. Before 2009, young people with stude… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Ask for Meeting with BP Following Oil Spill in Lake Michigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today asked for a meeting with BP after oil from BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana spilled into Lake Michigan earlier this week. Specifically, the Illinois members asked for a report about the cause of the spill, an analysis of the impact of the Whiting Refinery's production increase on Lake Michigan and information on what is being done to prevent future spills. "Any unanticipated spill is cause for concern, but give… Continue Reading

Durbin to Introduce Legislation to Coordinate Oversight of For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a speech on the floor of the Senate today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that, next week, he will be joining with U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, to introduce legislation that will ensure that federal agencies are working together to oversee the for-profit college industry. According to Durbin, for-profit colleges are part of the problem when it comes to the growing student loan de… Continue Reading

Durbin and Silicon Valley Leaders Meet to Discuss Support for American Innovation & Discovery

[WASHINGTON, DC] Today, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin met with members of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, including Mountain View, California Mayor Chris Clark, to discuss efforts to maintain America's global leadership and economic competitiveness through scientific research. Earlier this month, Durbin introduced the American Cures Act, which would support the future of scientific research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Depart… Continue Reading