Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Air National Guard Director To Discuss Illinois Air Guard Units
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Lieutenant General Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, to discuss the future of Illinois Air Guard units, including the 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. During the meeting, Durbin and Rice discussed the success of the 183rd's Centralized Repair Facility, which repairs F-16 engines, and the importance of maximizing the unit's potential. "The 183rd Fighter W… Continue Reading
09.14.16
Durbin Meets With Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland, Calls On Senate GOP To Do Their Job
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois native and Supreme Court nominee Chief Judge Merrick Garland about the status of his nomination and the need to give him a hearing and a vote in the Senate. Following the meeting, Durbin spoke on the Senate floor about Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of Garland's nomination and blasted them for failing to fulfill their constitutional duty to provide advice and consent on the president's nominees. Garland was nominated 18… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Durbin, Bustos Announce $6 Million For Rockford Airport
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced $6,012,390 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD). Today's investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration, will fund Phase II of a terminal building expansion that will allow the airport to meet increasing passenger demands. "Northern Illinois' economic growth depen… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Durbin Announces More Than $8.9 Million To Support Law Enforcement Efforts In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded Illinois law enforcement agencies and one non-profit organization grants totaling $8,981,832. Today's funding will support DNA analysis capacity enhancement, youth mental health services, and equipment and personnel costs. "This is an important investment in the safety and security of communities across our state," said Durbin. "These initiatives strengthen the Illinois justice system, an… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Durbin, Welch Statement On House Committee Passage Of Repeal Of Wall Street Reform
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) released the following statement regarding the Financial CHOICE Act, legislation by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) that would gut the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The bill was just narrowly passed by Hensarling's House Financial Services Committee, over bipartisan opposition. This bill's 500+ pages are stuffed full of goodies and giveaways for Wall Street bank… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Durbin, Emanuel Announce More Than $30.5 Million For Chicago Airports
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, has awarded O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport grants totaling $30,577,891. These allocations will help fund or reimburse airport improvement projects, noise mitigation efforts, and an environmental impact study. "This is good news for both residents and travelers flying in and out of Chic… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Durbin Meets With Mexican Ambassador To Discuss Immigration
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mexican Ambassador Carlos Manuel Sada Solana to discuss relations between the United States and Mexico, as well as immigration, the DREAM Act and the Supreme Court deadlock in the case of United States v. Texas, the partisan legal challenge to Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and the expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). During the meeting, Senator Durbin expressed his commitment to protecting DREAMe… Continue Reading
09.12.16
Durbin Statement On CFPB Action Against For-Profit Bridgepoint Education
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it would take action against Bridgepoint Education, Inc. for illegal student lending practices. The CFPB has ordered Bridgepoint to discharge all outstanding private student loans and refund students' payments on private loans borrowed from the school. Additionally, Bridgepoint must pay an $8 million penalty for deceiving students and will be required… Continue Reading
09.09.16
Durbin Urges Community Colleges to Assist Former ITT Tech Students
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged area community colleges to reach out to and assist students impacted by the sudden closing of all ITT Technical Institute campuses. After years of being one of the worst actors in for-profit education, ITT Tech announced this week it would close its campuses nationally. ITT Tech operated campuses in Arlington Heights, Oak Brook, Orland Park, and Springfield enrolling around 750 students with dozens more scheduled to begin this fall. Speaking… Continue Reading
09.09.16
Durbin Announces $3.2 Million To Prevent Youth Substance Abuse In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has awarded community coalitions in Illinois grants totaling $3,200,000 to prevent youth substance abuse. This funding, provided through ONDCP's Drug-Free Communities Support Program, was part of $85.9 million awarded nationwide. "By working alongside local coalitions, we can b… Continue Reading
09.09.16
Durbin, Senators Press Speaker Ryan For Vote On Zika Funding
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Bill Nelson (D-FL) today in sending a letter signed by 26 Senate colleagues to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) urging him to immediately bring the $1.1 billion Zika funding legislation passed by the Senate in May to the House floor for a vote. To date, there are more than 18,000 cases of Zika reported in the United States and its territories, including 60 cases in Illinois and over 1,750 cases in pregnant… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin Announces $5.88 Million 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 $5,885,332 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. "Our firefighters and first-responders put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This funding wi… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,483,234 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "The men and women in law enforcement put their lives on the line day and night to keep our communities safe," said Durbin. "This grant funding will help equip those officers with the best, most up-to-… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Durbin To Senate GOP: Do Your Job, Give Supreme Court Nominee A Hearing And A Vote
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the Senate floor about Senate Republicans' unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, Merrick Garland. 176 days after the President's nomination, Durbin once again called on Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional duty and give Judge Garland a hearing and a vote. "On September 26th, the Court will hold the first conference of its new term, still with only eight justices. The Senate has … Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin to Senate GOP: Do Your Job
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today blasted Senate Republican leaders for politicizing legislative efforts to address the growing Zika crisis. In a speech on the Senate floor, Durbin called on Republicans to stop endangering the health of pregnant women and babies and work with Democrats to pass bipartisan emergency funding legislation. "Seven months ago, the president asked Congress for $1.9 billion in emergency funding so that public health experts would have the resources the… Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin Announces More Than $1.71 Million for Illinois Community Colleges & Universities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a total of $1,710,303 in federal funding for community colleges and universities throughout Illinois. Today's funding will help increase the self-sufficiency of community colleges and universities and support efforts to better serve low-income students. "This funding is an investment in our workforce, our economy, and our country's future," Durbin said. "These colleges are uni… Continue Reading
09.07.16
Durbin Announces Over $1.43 In Federal Funding To Assist Victims Of Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence In Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $1,439,532 in federal funding to Illinois communities to support state coalitions and other organizations that provide essential services, civil and legal assistance programs, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. "Today's funding will help ensure that organizations assisting victims of sexual assault and domestic violence continue to ha… Continue Reading
09.06.16
Durbin Statement on Closure of ITT Tech
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after ITT Tech announced it will close. The company announced last week that it was no longer enrolling new students. "Every time I looked up at the ITT sign on the side of White Oaks Mall in Springfield I knew this day would come, and I knew that hundreds of innocent students, families, and ultimately the taxpayer would pay dearly for the exploitation by for-profit colleges that Congress and Washington fail to properl… Continue Reading
09.02.16
Durbin Announces More Than $9.5 Million to Prevent Homelessness Among Illinois Veterans
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has awarded Illinois organizations grants totaling $9,540,655 to prevent homelessness among veterans and their families. Today's funding will help pay for outreach, case management, and assistance related to VA benefits. More than $300 million were awarded nationwide today through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program. "Too often, our… Continue Reading
09.02.16
Durbin Asks Illinois Community Colleges to Assist Students Caught in Collapse of ITT Tech
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today wrote to community college presidents across Illinois to urge them to assist students whose futures are at risk from the expected financial collapse of ITT Tech, which announced on Tuesday that it has stopped enrolling new students. As part of new restrictions placed on ITT Tech, the Department of Education has required the company to enter into teach-out agreements with other schools. "As a result of its actions, ITT Tech has put the futures of … Continue Reading