Durbin Statement on Vote in Favor of Iran Nuclear Agreement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after voting to not advance a resolution of disapproval of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: "Make no mistake, the reason Iran came to the negotiating table was the sanctions regime imposed by the United States and our allies around the world. We put pressure on them and said if you're going to continue to pursue the development of a nuclear … Continue Reading

Durbin & Kirk: White House Nominates Gilmore to Be U.S. Marshal in Illinois’ Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Edward Gilmore to serve as U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. "Edward Gilmore will bring a wealth of law enforcement and managerial experience to the position of U.S. Marshal," said Durbin. "His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the Northern District. It was an honor to recommend Edward's name to President Obama and I lo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Support for Iran Nuclear Agreement Builds in Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Senate begins debate on the Iran Nuclear Agreement, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Assistant Democratic Leader, spoke on the Senate Floor today to discuss the deal to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran negotiated by the United States, our allies, and Iran earlier this year. Over the past seven weeks, Durbin has led the effort to build support for the deal in the Senate, convening meetings between Senators and nuclear experts, Administration officials, and ambassadors … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $753,000 in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - 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 grants totaling $753,310 to communities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk: SBA Makes Federal Relief Available for Illinois Small Businesses Impacted by Severe Summer Storms

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that President Obama has issued a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Grundy and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes earlier this summer to receive SBA loans. The President's action will ensure that eligible homeowners, renters, and businesses have access to loans to help repair or… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.8 Million in Federal Funding to Support Illinois Justice Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded a total of $3,801,900 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system, and in the safety and security of communities throughout our state," said Durbin. "These initiatives will provide vital assistance to those who have been the victims of crimes … Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Awarded $917,000 in Federal Funding to Strike Back at Prescription Drug Overdose Epidemic

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Illinois Department of Human Services has received $917,661 in federal funding through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Program. The new program provides states like Illinois with resources and support to advance comprehensive state-level interventions for preventing prescription drug overuse, misuse, abuse, and overdose. More information about the program is availabl… Continue Reading

Durbin Warns Prospective Students About Deceptive For-Profit Colleges

[CHICAGO] - As a new school year begins, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today warned prospective students about the perils of for-profit colleges and called on the U.S. Department of Education to use its full authority to end abusive practices and improve student outcomes. While for-profit colleges enroll only about 10% of all college students, they take in 20% of the Department of Education's federal student aid funds and account for a disproportionate 44% of student loan defaults. "The col… Continue Reading

Following Senators’ Urging, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Announces Additional Action to Protect Consumers from the Dangers of Deadly Powdered Caffeine

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following calls from a group of United States Senators to ban the retail sale of powdered caffeine and require better product labels, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today issued warning letters to five powdered caffeine distributors, requiring them to revise their labels to clarify serving sizes, potency, and risks associated with the use of powdered caffeine. After a New York Times report detailed the prevalent use of caffeine inhalers to deliver powdered… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schakowsky, U.S. Army Corps, MWRD, and Other Local Officials Cut Ribbon on Levee 37

[MOUNT PROSPECT, IL] - Hundreds of homes and businesses along the Des Plaines River will be better protected from flooding with the completion of Levee 37 construction, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and other local officials announced today at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the project. Levee 37 will provide protect… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $14,000 in Federal Funding to Support Community Policing Efforts in Adams County

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $14,409 in funding through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program to support law enforcement efforts and improve community policing in Adams County and Quincy, Illinois. The City of Quincy will use their share of the grant to purchase body worn cameras for their police officers. Adams County will use their portion of the funding to purchase radio equipmen… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Federal Investment in Health Care Services in Quincy

QUINCY, IL - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that many seniors and low-income families in and around Quincy will soon see expanded access to health care services as the result of a federal investment of $650,000 from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH). The grant will help PFH, a federally qualified health care center (FQHC), create a community health center in Quincy, providing a much-needed medical home to medically-unde… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Lead Illinois Delegation Call for Federal Relief for Small Businesses Impacted By Severe Summer Storms

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) were joined by the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation today sending a letter to President Obama asking him to issue a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Declaration for Grundy and Iroquois Counties, which will allow residents and businesses in the region severely impacted by severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes earlier this summer to receive SBA loans. These loans provide assistance to homeowners, r… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Coalition Pressing FDA to Tackle Toxics in E-Cigarettes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in calling for clear product standards and good manufacturing processes to combat the health risks of toxic substances in e-cigarettes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finalizes its first regulations of the aerosol-producing products. The number of e-cigarette… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Kraft Heinz Company to Reconsider Plan to Eliminate 700 Jobs in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the CEO of The Kraft Heinz Company to reconsider its decision to eliminate 700 jobs in Illinois. Earlier today, the company announced that it will eliminate 2,500 jobs in the U.S. and Canada. In the event that the decision is not reversed, Durbin urged the company to do more for displaced workers: "This corporate decision creates tremendous social and economic pain for these workers, their families, and the greater North… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $217,000 Investment in East Joliet First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $216,667 grant to the East Joliet Fire Protection District for operations and safety. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our … Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk: U.S. Department of Agriculture Issues Disaster Declaration & Makes Federal Relief Available for Illinois Farmers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack has issued a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for Illinois counties impacted by heavy rainfall earlier this year. The Secretary's action ensures that farmers in all eligible counties will be able to apply for emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), a division of the USDA. "Today's federal disaster declaration will give a helping… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois Company to Keep Tax Address in U.S.

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the President and CEO of Deerfield, Illinois-based CF Industries, Tony Will, to keep the company's corporate tax headquarters in the U.S. rather than move it overseas - but only on paper - in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes - a process known as "inversion". "After benefitting from investments by U.S. taxpayers that helped make your business what it is today, CF Industries' plans to invert and move its tax address outside th… Continue Reading

Durbin, Agricultural Leaders Discuss Great Potential for Trade with Cuba

[NORMAL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), joined by Ben Barron with the State Department's Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs and Alexis Taylor with Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, met with local agricultural leaders today to discuss changes made by the Obama administration between the U.S. and Cuba and the potential benefits of lifting the Cuban trade embargo. Since President Obama's announcement late last year on the normalization of relations with C… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate's Long-Term Transportation Bill Provides Certainty Needed to Create Jobs and Improve Infrastructure

[DECATUR] - Businesses and state governments would have the certainty they need to plan critical infrastructure projects if the long-term bi-partisan transportation bill passed by the U.S. Senate becomes law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today following a tour of the Midwest Inland Port in Decatur. Since 2009, Congress has passed 34 stop-gap measures to keep the country's major transportation and infrastructure programs from shutting down, with the most recent vote in late July- the thir… Continue Reading