Durbin Applauds Oblibation of $1 Billion in Recovery Act Funding for FutureGen 2.0 in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the announcement by the Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, that the Department of Energy has signed final cooperative agreements with the FutureGen Industrial Alliance and Ameren Energy Resources. These agreements formally commit $1 billion in Recovery Act funding to build FutureGen 2.0 in Illinois. The FutureGen 2.0 project will help to position the United States as a leader in innovative technologies for reducing carbon emission… Continue Reading

Durbin Pushes for Extension of Program that Funds "Put Illinois to Work"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the United States Senate to approve a fully paid-for extension of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Emergency Contingency Fund - created as part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - which provides funding for the "Put Illinois to Work Program". Senate Republicans immediately rejected the measure which supports nearly 250,000 jobs in 37 states, including 26,000 jobs in Illinois. The TANF program is… Continue Reading

New Law Will Give Small Businesses Better Access to Credit and Spur Job Creation

[CHICAGO] - Illinois small businesses will receive a much-needed lifeline that will improve their access to credit and jumpstart job creation following passage of the Small Business Jobs Act, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Melissa Bean said today. The legislation, which President Obama will sign into law on Monday, provides incentives for community banks to extend small businesses the capital they need to grow their businesses and hire additional workers, as well as $12 … Continue Reading

Congress Passes Durbin-Holt Bill Awarding Yunus Gold Medal for Microfinance Work

(Washington, D.C.) - The United States Congress has passed a bill introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) in the Senate and U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12) in the House of Representatives to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Muhammad Yunus in recognition of his contributions to the fight against global poverty and to promote economic and social change. The bill passed the Senate unanimously last year, the House of Representatives last night, and will now be sent to Pr… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Provisions of Health Care Reform Going into Effect Today

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that new protections to prevent health insurance companies from denying Illinois families coverage when they need it most are going into effect today, six months after the health care reform legislation's enactment. "We will now see the tangible benefits from the groundbreaking healthcare reform bill we passed earlier this year. As a result of the new law, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny children coverage be… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a Nearly $190,000 FEMA Grant to the Calumet City Fire Department

[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 $187,849 grant to the Calumet City Fire Department in Calumet City, Illinois, for operations and safety. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $1.4 Million in DOJ Funding for Illinois Public Safety and Domestic Violence Prevention Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $1,384,845 to four Illinois entities for public safety as well as domestic violence prevention and support programs. The following entities will receive funding: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Chicago:$685,121 in funding to provide safety services and programs for persons with Alzheimer's and their families, as well as law enforcement agencies. … Continue Reading

Durbin-Corker Water for the World Act Passes Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Water for the World Act, introduced by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), passed the Senate today and was sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. The Water for the World Act places water in the forefront of America's development priorities, seeking to reach 100 million people around the world with sustainable access to clean water and sanitation over the next six years. "Access to safe drinking water… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.8 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Green Housing in Rockford

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded two grants totaling $3,800,000 to the Rockford Housing Authority through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants will be used to help increase energy efficiency and decrease environmental impact of Rockford's public housing properties. "Today's funding will help the Rockford Housing Authority increase energy efficiency… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Provisions of Healthcare Reform Going into Effect

[SPRINGFIELD] - New protections to prevent health insurance companies from denying Illinois families coverage when they need it most will go into effect this week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Seven provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will go into effect on September 23, six months after the healthcare reform legislation's enactment. "We're now starting to see tangible benefits from the groundbreaking healthcare reform bill we passed earlier this year.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $1.4 Million in Funding to Illinois for Law Enforcement Activities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that $1.4 million in funding has been awarded by the Department of Justice for law enforcement activities in Illinois. The following entities will receive funding: Salvation Army Metropolitan Division, Chicago: $450,000 in funding to support a comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking by 1) conducting proactive, victim-centered trafficking investigations; 2) offering a comprehensive array of restorative servic… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Appointment of Elizabeth Warren as Special Advisor for the Creation of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama named Elizabeth Warren as Assistant to the President and Special Adviser to the Treasury Secretary tasked with overseeing the launch of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Durbin authored the original bill to create an agency charged with protecting consumers form the tricks and traps of Wall Street. That bill was included as part of the Wall Street … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $4 Million DOT Grant for St. Louis Downtown Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $4,148,800 grant to the St. Louis Downtown Airport in Cahokia, Illinois. This funding will be used to widen a runway and install high intensity runway lights and cable.… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Apropriations Committee Approves $63.4 Million in Defense Funding for Projects in Illinois

[Washington, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $63,400,000 in federal funding to assist defense related facilities and projects across Illinois. The bill has been reported by the Committee and now awaits consideration by the full Senate. The Fiscal Year 2011 defense spending bill includes funding for the following projects: Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicag… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Effort to Bring Embry-Riddle to Rockford

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, John Johnson, to select Rockford, Illinois as the location for the university's new campus. Durbin also invited Johnson to meet with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in Washington, D.C. in order to further discuss the potential for this partnership. "Rockford is the best place for you to expand your presence in the Midwest," Durbin wrote. "Rockford is home… Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois Prosecutors and Public Defenders Eligible for More Than $350,000 in Student Loan Assistance

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive $365,309 through the Department of Justice's John R. Justice student loan repayment program. The funding, administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, will be used to help prosecutor and public defender offices retain and attract talented attorneys by providing student loan repayment assistance to state and federal public defenders and state prosecutors who ag… Continue Reading

Durbin Talks DREAM Act with Harvard University President Drew Faust and DREAM Act Student Eric Balderas

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Harvard University President Drew Faust and Eric Balderas, a Harvard University student, about the DREAM Act - a narrowly tailored, bipartisan bill which will give a select group of undocumented students a chance to earn legal status provided they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. The bill cou… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Subcommittee Passage of Legislation to Restore Fairness in Student Lending

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law for approving a bill that will restore fairness in student lending by treating privately issued student loans in bankruptcy the same as other types of private debt. Earlier this year Durbin introduced identical legislation in the Senate - the Fairness for Struggling Students Act (S. 3219) - with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN). U.S. Repre… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Senate Committee on Central District Judicial Nominees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the nominations of Sue Myerscough and James Shadid - two individuals nominated by President Obama to fill vacancies on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. Both nominees are expected to receive a vote in the committee within the next few weeks. If approved, they will receive a vote by the full Senate. Durbin established three biparti… Continue Reading

Durbin: Metro East Flood Maps Not Scheduled to Take Effect Until December 2011

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will delay the implementation of the new flood maps for the St. Louis region until December 2011. Durbin also stressed the importance of the delay in allowing more time for property owners to understand their flood risk and for legislative action to prevent residents and businesses from facing dramatic increases in flood insurance rates. "Delaying the … Continue Reading