Durbin Speaks On Senate Floor Following Severe Storm Damage In Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As recovery efforts continue in response to deadly tornadoes that damaged communities in northern Illinois last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the United States Senate Floor to offer condolences to Illinois families impacted by the storms, and to commend the state and local response to the devastation. On Friday, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner declared DeKalb and Ogle Counties as state disaster areas. "My thoughts and prayers are with the families and … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors World War II Veteran with Service Medals

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today presented Chicago resident Joe Hoppe, a World War II veteran, with five medals he earned for his service in the Navy at Autumn Green Senior Living Center. When Durbin met Hoppe at a seniors forum last year, he learned the veteran had had trouble obtaining the medals he had earned in combat. "Joe Hoppe is an American hero and it's an honor to present him with the medals he courageously earned but never received for his service in World War II," … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Severe Storms And Deadly Tornadoes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after a severe storm system produced deadly tornadoes that damaged communities in northern Illinois last night: "My thoughts are with the people and brave first responders in northern Illinois who were affected by last night's severe storms. I have spoken with IEMA Director James Joseph, Rochelle Mayor Chet Olsen, and DeKalb County Board Chairman Mark Pietrowski today who assured me that recovery efforts… Continue Reading

Mayor Emanuel, Senator Durbin, Senator Kirk, Representative Quigley, Amtrak And Metra Announce $7 Million Funding To Improve Train Service At Chicago's Union Station

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, Representative Mike Quigley, Amtrak and Metra today announced an additional $7 million funding to develop infrastructure improvements and train operating strategies that will enhance passenger rail service at Chicago's Union Station. The funds will be used to conduct a Terminal Planning Study and create a Service Development Plan that will increase capacity at the 90-year-old station and on the railroads that lead to it. This builds on … Continue Reading

Durbin & Sessions Lead Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Calling For Investigation Into Abuses Within H-1B Visa Program

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) led a bipartisan group of ten United States Senators today in writing to three federal agencies - the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Labor - calling for an investigation into abuses within the H-1B visa program. This bipartisan group has different perspectives on immigration reform, but they are united in their belief that our immigration systems should not be exploited to faci… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2 Million In Federal Funding For Springfield Rail Improvement Project

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced that the federal Department of Transportation has awarded the Illinois Department of Transportation a $2,000,000 grant for the construction of a railroad underpass at Ash Street in Springfield, Illinois - an important component of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project and the entire Chicago-to-St. Louis passenger rail corridor. "I am pleased to announce $2 million in federal funding to advance another critical component of the Spr… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Together Local Stakeholders to Discuss Rail Safety and Delays

[BARRINGTON] - In response to safety concerns raised by the rapid increase of trains carrying crude oil and ethanol across the country and continued blockages on the tracks running through town, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) convened a meeting with Barrington Village President Karen Darch and local stakeholders to hear their concerns about rail safety and the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway (EJ&E). "The recent derailment in Galena-and too many other towns-should send policymakers a clea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Two Year Extension of Rock Island Arsenal's Humvee Ambulance Line

[ROCK ISLAND] - The Rock Island Arsenal's Humvee ambulance production line will be extended another two years as a result of $60 million which U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos added to the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill, the Congressmen announced today during a visit to the Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC). The Army intends to use that funding to extend the existing line through August 2017, producing an additional 658 Humvee … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Iran Nuclear Talks

BERLIN-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding today's announcement on international negotiations to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: I'm encouraged to hear that negotiators have agreed to a framework-a major step toward achieving a final deal. Our shared goal in the United States is clear: to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The stakes couldn't be higher and I commend Secretary Kerry and our entire negotiating team for their commitment to finding a d… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Senator Robert Menendez

BERLIN-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ): The issues before Senator Menendez are now legal ones and can only be resolved in a court of law, where all Americans are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. I believe it was the right decision for Senator Menendez to step aside from his committee leadership post until the matter is resolved. -30-… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.1 Million To Preserve Illinois Historical Sites

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the National Park Service (NPS) will award $1,143,967 in grant funding to help preserve Illinois' historical sites. The funding was made possible through NPS's Historical Preservation Fund and will be used to support programs that safeguard Illinois' 56 historical sites. "Illinois is blessed to have so many areas rich with history," Durbin said. "These sites provide an important glimpse into our state's past and we must support… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $250,000 Investment In Chicago Clean Energy Sector To Spur Innovation And Development

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded a $250,000 grant to the Clean Energy Trust (CET) in Chicago, Illinois to help spur entrepreneurship and boost economic development. In 2014, Durbin wrote a letter to the EDA urging the agency to consider CET's application for the DOC's Regional Innovation Grant program. A copy of that letter is available here. "Today's funding … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Retirement Announcement Of Senator Harry Reid

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding the announcement that U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will not seek reelection in 2016: Harry Reid is one of the ablest leaders of the Senate Democratic caucus in modern history-he has served our country and the people of Nevada with a tenacity and passion rarely seen. The former boxer from Searchlight never forgot his roots and never went down without a fight. He and Landra have… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed Applaud New Initiative To Strike Back At Growing Heroin Epidemic

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-IL) welcomed today's announcement of a new targeted initiative through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address the heroin epidemic. In December, Durbin and Reed led a group of twenty-one Senators in calling on HHS to prioritize programs that reduce heroin and other opioid overdose deaths in its national strategy to curb prescription drug abuse. Both Senators have been active in highlighting the need for exp… Continue Reading

Durbin Seeks Assistance For Granite City Steel Workers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling Granite City Works "a source of pride" for its employees and the Metro East, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked U.S. Steel CEO Mario Longhi to work with local labor leaders and the community to minimize the impact of U.S. Steel's decision to idle operations at Granite City Works and to re-open the steel plant as soon as possible. Durbin also wrote to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez seeking federal resources for displaced steel workers from Granite City Works… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On White House, CFPB Effort To Crack Down On Predatory Lending Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced plans for stronger regulations on payday lenders. President Obama is expected to address the issue in a speech later today. "For some unfortunate Americans, including our military families, payday lenders offer a quick way to make ends meet, but often with devastating consequences," said Durbin. "The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau… Continue Reading

Illinois Members Renew Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort To Bring Fairness To FEMA Disaster Declaration Process

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced with U.S. Representatives Rodney Davis (R-IL), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), Mike Bost (R-IL) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) the introduction of the Fairness in Federal Disaster Declarations Act to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) disaster declaration process and bring fairness to our small communities in larger states like Illinois. Durbin and Kirk first introduced the bill… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Amendment To Preserve American Leadership In Biomedical And Scientific Research

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With a decline in federal biomedical and scientific research threatening our global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced an amendment to the FY2016 budget to preserve America's standing as a leader in discovery and innovation. During a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Durbin noted that federal funding for research and development has been on a downward trend for the past several decades. He urged his colleagues to not cut back on research that i… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With BNSF Chairman To Discuss Railway's Crude Oil By Rail Operations Following Galena Train Derailment

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the derailment of a BNSF Railway train carrying crude oil near Galena, Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with BNSF Railway Executive Chairman Matt Rose to receive an update on the accident and to discuss the rail company's crude oil by rail operations. BNSF is the largest shipper of crude oil in North America. A photo of today's meeting will be available shortly here. "In the days following the train derailment in Galena, Illinois, BNSF offici… Continue Reading

Durbin: Great Work At Lovell Should Be Applied To Other Healthcare Facilities Serving Servicemembers And Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a hearing today on the Defense Health Program Budget, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, pointed to the success of Lovell Federal Health Care Facility in North Chicago, Illinois as a model for healthcare facilities elsewhere. During the hearing, Durbin acknowledged the challenges confronting Department of Defense healthcare facilities and commended the work being done at Lovell to streamline services fo… Continue Reading