Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Jobs and the Economy
Durbin Announces $3.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Rock Island Arsenal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Rock Island Arsenal will receive $3,276,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for three repair projects. "Rock Island Arsenal plays an essential role in the region's economy," said Durbin. "This Recovery Act funding will enhance that role by creating good paying jobs for Illinoisans at the arsenal. At the same time, much needed repairs to the buildings that support our … Continue Reading
April 28, 2009
Durbin Announces $1 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Wildlife
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,004,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for national wildlife refuges and hatcheries. The funding is part of a larger announcement by the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Services of $280 million for more than 830 projects nationwide to build visitors centers, improve infrastructure and bolster conservation. Projects that will receive … Continue Reading
April 28, 2009
Durbin Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Army Corps Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $300,190,000 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Army Corps of Engineers projects in Illinois. It is estimated that the funding will directly create 2,400 jobs and indirectly create 6,144 jobs. "This Recovery Act funding will allow the Army Corps to address a serious backlog of important infrastructure projects in Illinois while creating thousands of jobs," said Durbin. … Continue Reading
April 27, 2009
Durbin's Bankruptcy Amendment to help Homeowners in Foreclosure
Delivered on the floor of the United States Senate Madam President, later this week, the Senate is going to consider legislation that I have been working on for 2 years. Two years ago, it was apparent to me that we were facing a mortgage foreclosure crisis in America. It was a crisis which had just begun, but it was obvious there were many victims. I had no idea when I introduced this legislation that we would be standing here 2 years later and the state of the American economy … Continue Reading
April 24, 2009
Durbin Announces $1.2 Million in Recovery Act Funding for NIH Research in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $1,275,385 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for National Institutes of Health research programs. The following programs in Illinois will receive funding: • University of Illinois at Chicago: $196,250 in funding for research that may lead to the development of a novel therapy that could reduce the risk of post-operative cognitive deficits from … Continue Reading
April 20, 2009
Durbin Announces Illinois Approved for $1.4 Billion in Recovery Act Education Funding
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that $1.4 billion in Recovery Act funding is now available for Illinois to use to fill shortfalls in the state's education budget and to improve educational outcomes for Illinois students. "Investing in our children's future is an investment in our nation's future," said Durbin. "At a time when states face difficult choices about filling increasing budget gaps, today's funding will increase access to … Continue Reading
April 20, 2009
Illinois to Receive More Than $100 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Unemployment Insurance Modernization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $100,383,562 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for unemployment insurance modernization. The funds will allow the Illinois Department of Employment Security to pay unemployment benefits and to deliver employment services. "Recent job loss numbers underscore how urgently unemployment benefits are needed," Durbin said. "Putting money in the hands of unemployed … Continue Reading
April 17, 2009
Durbin Announces $49.4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for EJ&E Bridge
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $49.4 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Bridge on the Illinois River near Morris, Illinois. On March 12, 2009, Durbin sent a letter to the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard requesting that the EJ&E Bridge reconstruction project be considered for Recovery Act … Continue Reading
April 16, 2009
Durbin Announces Millions in Recovery Act Funding for Hazardous Waste Cleanup
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $10-25 million in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for hazardous waste clean-up at the Outboard Marine Corporation site located in the Waukegan Harbor area of the city of Waukegan. The funding, part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $600 million for the cleanup of Superfund sites across the nation, will be used for the … Continue Reading
April 16, 2009
Durbin: Midwest is Well Positioned to Utilize High Speed Rail Funding in President's Plan
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood for identifying the Chicago Hub Network as a potential recipient of federal funding under their new vision for high speed rail in America. Their strategic plan identifies $8 billion available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for high speed rail and an additional $1 billion per year for five years … Continue Reading
April 15, 2009
Durbin Announces $6.3 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Greater Peoria Regional Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $6.3 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to construct a new terminal facility at Greater Peoria Regional Airport. "Construction of a new terminal facility will put Illinoisans to work immediately on a project that will contribute to the long term ability of the Peoria Airport to serve travelers safely and … Continue Reading
April 15, 2009
Durbin Announces More Than $650,000 in Recovery Act Funding for Impact Aid in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $654,425 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for the repair and modernization of two Illinois school districts. Today's funding is part of an announcement by the Department of Education making $39.6 million in Impact Aid Construction grants available nationwide for communities with military bases, Indian reservations and other federal property that do not generate local tax … Continue Reading
April 09, 2009
Durbin Announces $82 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Children's Health Programs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $82,238,025 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for crucial health and human services programs that help to provide care for children and prevent disease. Today's funding is part of a $2.3 billion nationwide announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services to support child care for working families and ensure that more underserved Americans … Continue Reading
April 09, 2009
Durbin Announces $4.7 Million in Recovery Act Funding to Provide Emergency Food and Shelter
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $4,735,727 in funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to supplement and expand efforts to provide shelter, food and supportive services to the hungry, homeless and people in economic crisis. The funds will be distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program and used for supplemental food, … Continue Reading
April 09, 2009
Durbin and Illinois Delegation Ask DOT to Support Revival of Illinois Train Car Industry
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led the Illinois Congressional Delegation in asking the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, to support their effort to revive the passenger rail car manufacturing industry in Illinois. The Department of Transportation recently announced that $90.8 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has been committed to rehabilitating train cars in the United States and returning them to service - the … Continue Reading
April 08, 2009
Durbin Announces $7.4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Environmental Cleanup
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the state of Illinois will receive $7,402,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to assess and clean up underground storage tank petroleum leaks. Today's funding is part of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcement of $197 million nationwide for environmental cleanup which the EPA estimates will create or retain a significant number of jobs and contribute to at … Continue Reading
April 07, 2009
81st Annual Spring Dinner of the Economic Club of Chicago
Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Senator Richard J. Durbin Economic Club and "practical economics" Grace Barry sent me a copy of the Club's 75th anniversary book. I enjoyed reading the remarks of Mr. Melvin Traylor, president of the First National Bank of Chicago, who spoke at the very first meeting of this distinguished group, back in 1927. The topic of Mr. Traylor's remarks was, "[W]hy the hell another club in Chicago?" This is how he answered his own question: He said … Continue Reading
April 03, 2009
Durbin and Midwest Senators Urge President to Consider Recovery Act Funding for Midwest Rail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today led a group of Senators from Midwestern states in urging President Barack Obama to consider investing funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in rail corridors in the Midwest. The Recovery Act designates $8 billion to high speed passenger rail - a significant investment which is 17 times more funding than the federal government has invested over the last 10 years combined. "We believe the Midwest … Continue Reading
April 03, 2009
Durbin Announces Over $4 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Illinois Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded $4,238,655 in grants to Illinois airports. Today's funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create jobs in Illinois and strengthen the region's infrastructure to serve passengers safely and efficiently. • Springfield Airport Authority: $2,448,855 in funding to reconstruct a ramp at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. This project … Continue Reading
April 01, 2009
Durbin Announces Over $1.8 Billion in Recovery Act Funding Now Available for Illinois Schools
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that $1,871,685,355 in Recovery Act funding is now available for states and schools to lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save hundreds of teaching jobs around Illinois. "Investing in our children's future is an investment in our nation's future," said Durbin. "At a time when states face difficult choices about filling increasing budget gaps, today's funding will increase … Continue Reading