Durbin: Senate Approves Funding for Keith Creek Feasibility Study

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations has approved $526,000 to continue and complete a feasibility study of the work needed to provide reliable flood protection along Keith Creek. The Keith Creek feasibility study will determine what steps need to be taken by the Army Corps of Engineers and the City of Rockford to prevent future flood damage to homes and businesses. Durbin has worked closely with Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) on this … Continue Reading

Durbin, Cochran Introduce Legislation to Help Organ Transplant Patients

[Washington, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) today introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the quality of life for people with kidney disease. The Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Transplant Patients Act would assist thousands of Americans under the age of 65 who are being cut off from Medicare payments for drug therapy after 36 months by extending coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney transplant recipients.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Congress Approves Legislation Allowing Reservists Who Are Federal Employees to Receive Full Salary

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With the passage of the Omnibus Appropriations Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Congress' approval of his provision to help federal employees in the National Guard and Reserves avoid a loss of income when they are called to active military duty. Durbin first introduced legislation in 2001 - the Reservist Pay Security Act - to ensure that our brave men and women are paid the equivalent of their full civilian salary while they have been called to active mil… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Distribution of More Than $83 Million in Byrne Grants for Illinois Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the distribution of $83,663,470 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to seven Illinois communities and the state of Illinois. These funds are part of the $2 billion in funding available nationwide under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Byrne grants are often used by state and local governments for programs dealing with drug prevention and enforcement, law enforcement information sharing, and combating g… Continue Reading

Durbin and Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Legislation to Provide Support to Families of Severely Disabled Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation to provide essential support services to family caregivers of severely disabled veterans. The Veteran and Servicemember Family Caregiver Support Act of 2009 establishes a program to provide technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of veterans or members of the Armed Forces seriously injured in the line of duty since September 11, 2001. Durbin introduced … Continue Reading

Statement of Sen. Dick Durbin Regarding IRS Decision Not to Renew Contracts with Private Debt Collectors

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Senate's Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) tonight issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the IRS that they will not continue the program to outsource tax debt collection: "The collection of federal taxes is a core government function. Until private debt collectors can prove they can do the job better, do it more efficiently and do it at a lower cost than the IRS, there is no reason we should continue this program. "The bottom lin… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $467 Million in DOT Grants for Illinois Transit

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has made $467,537,681 in grants available to the state of Illinois under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today's funding is part of the $7.4 billion in DOT grants for transit projects nationwide. Additionally, Illinois will be eligible to compete for $100 million in grants will be available to public transit agencies nationwide for capital investments to help reduce the… Continue Reading

Durbin Welcomes Benedictine University President as Special Guest to the Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today welcomed the President of Benedictine University, William Carroll, as his guest to an address given by the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown to a special joint session of Congress. Before attending the joint session, Durbin and Carroll discussed how the recent increase in Pell Grants included in the Economic Recovery Act that will help more students in Illinois and around the country afford a college education. Durbin also welcomed tw… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Springfield / Sangamon County Community Partnership

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Springfield / Sangamon County Community Partnership group which included Springfield Mayor Tim Davlin, Illinois Air National Guard Commander Brigadier General Jay Sheedy, members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Springfield Fire Fighters and several other labor and local governments leaders. They discussed the region's federal priorities and moving forward with their effort to find a new flyin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Gregg, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Comprehensive Bill to Reform FDA's Food Safety Systems

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judd Gregg (R-NH), Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) today introduced bipartisan legislation that will dramatically improve the way the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protects the safety of the nation's food supply. The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act will give the FDA new authorities, tools and resources to comprehensively reform the nation's food safety systems. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT), Lam… Continue Reading

Reunification of Cyprus

Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate. Madam President, in the last few decades we have seen historic changes around the world--the end of apartheid in South Africa, the peaceful collapse of the Soviet Union, the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, a wave of democratization across Eastern Europe and Latin America. My mother's homeland, her land of birth, the country of Lithuania, was once occupied by Nazis and then the Soviets. Today, it is a free, prosperous, democratic … Continue Reading

Durbin: President Obama's Budget Restores Responsibility and Invests in the Future

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the budget President Obama delivered to Congress today is an important break past policies and responsibly invests in the future of the country. "We've inherited a mess - the result of mistaken policies, misplaced priorities and an era of profound irresponsibility," Durbin said. "This irresponsibility ends right now. The President's budget is up-front and honest about the challenges we face and makes the tough choices necessary to get… Continue Reading

Durbin, Klobuchar Introduce Bill to Combat Organized Retail Crime

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced legislation that would crack down on organized retail crime (ORC). The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act confronts the growing problem of organized criminal activity involving stolen and resold retail goods by creating stricter penalties for those found guilty of organized retail crime and by facilitating the identification and prosecution of those who participate in it. "In the midst of the dee… Continue Reading

Durbin, Lowey Introduce Legislation to Address Nationwide Nursing Shortage

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Citing a report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services that predicts the United States will face a shortage of more than one million nurses by 2020, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation in the Senate - Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) will introduce companion legislation in the House next week - to address one of the major causes of the nationwide nursing shortage - an insufficient number of nurse educators. Last year, nursing colleges… Continue Reading

Durbin: Legislation to Name Rockford Courthouse After Judge Roszkowski Passes Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced today's the passage of legislation to name the United States District Courthouse in Rockford, Illinois after Stanley J. Roszkowski, former Federal Judge in the Northern District of Illinois. Roszkowski, who served in combat as a member of a bomber crew in World War II, played an integral role in bringing a new federal courthouse to Rockford. The bill must now pass the House of Representatives. "I am proud that my colleagues have approve… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill to Crack Down on Excessive Interest Rates and Fees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act today - a bill to eliminate the excessive rates and fees that some consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans and other types of credit. "Within blocks of my home in Springfield, Illinois, there are payday lenders charging interest rates of two and three hundred percent of the value of the loan," Durbin said. "These excessive rates are often hidden and can ha… Continue Reading

Durbin and Wicker Introduce Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act

Bill to Name Springfield Post Office After Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. Headed to President's Desk

[WASHINGTON, DC] - The House of Representatives today gave final passage to legislation introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Phil Hare (D-IL) to name the post office located at 2105 East Cook Street in Springfield after Colonel John H. Wilson, Jr. The bill now heads to the President's desk. "Colonel Wilson was a true American hero who served our country during World War II and served my hometown of Springfield for 57 years as an employee of the U.S. Postal Service," said … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President Obama's Address to Joint Session of Congress

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement following President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress. "Tonight's speech, focused on the important things people care about across America and certainly across Illinois." "President Obama talked about jobs, and that's something we're all worried about. Millions of people have lost their jobs across the country and Congress passed an economic recovery bill that will get people back to work a… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Two Illinois Soldiers for Today's Presidential Address

[WASHINGTON, DC] - TODAY, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) hosted two wounded Illinois soldiers as his guests for the President Barack Obama's Address to a Joint Session of Congress. In what has become an annual tradition, two soldiers who served in Iraq, Sergeant Ralph McCallum II of Springfield, Illinois and Sergeant Rafael Delgado of Chicago, Illinois joined Durbin as his guests at the Joint Session of Congress and the Secretary of the Senate's dinner immediately preceding the President's … Continue Reading