Durbin, Menendez Urge EPA to Toughen Lead Hazard Standards

WASHINGTON - With reports of children exposed to dangerous levels of lead on the rise across the country, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) today called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update its lead hazard standards in an effort to protect children from dangerous lead exposure. In a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, the senators expressed concern that current standards are outdated and do not adequately protect children from lead poisoning, which… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on GMO Labeling Bill

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on legislation that prohibits states from mandating labels on foods that contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and exempts many foods from being labeled as genetically modified: The idea that people would need to walk around the grocery store scanning product codes just to find out what's in the food they're buying is ridiculous and unfair. Food companies should not be able to hide behind confusing coded label… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Resignation of Anti-LGBT Dominican Cardinal

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement on reports of the resignation of Cardinal Nicolás de Jesús López Rodríguez of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Last December, Senator Durbin sent a letter to Pope Francis regarding hostile, anti-LGBT statements made by Cardinal López against U.S. Ambassador Wally Brewster, who is openly gay. "Intolerance and bigotry have no place in the modern world, and the… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Announcement of Scheduled Flights to Cuba

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded a proposal by Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to select eight U.S. airlines to begin scheduled flights between ten cities in the United States and Cuba. "Reopening travel relations with Cuba is about more than just restoring the freedom to travel there for all Americans-it's about opening Cuba to new ideas, new values, and improved human rights that our 50 year old policy of isolation could not achieve," said Durbin. "This i… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members at Bipartisan Delegation Luncheon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the bipartisan Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon. Started by the late U.S. Senator Alan J. Dixon, the Illinois Delegation Luncheon has been held regularly in Washington, DC at no expense to the federal taxpayer for more than 25 years. A photo of today's luncheon is available here. The luncheon today was attended by seven members of the Illinois Congressional Delegati… Continue Reading

Durbin, Murphy, Shaheen, Boxer, Kaine Urge President to Make U.S. Support for Ukraine a Focus of Upcoming NATO Summit

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Tim Kaine (D-VA) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama, urging him to carry a message to world leaders at the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Warsaw, Poland: success in Ukraine and resistance to Russian aggression are in the best interest of all NATO member counties. "You have been a strong champion of ensuring Ukraine's future as a democrati… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Abner Mikva on Senate Floor

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate floor today honoring former Illinois Congressman and Chief Judge for the U.S Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Abner Mikva, who passed away on Monday at the age of 90. "I'm very proud to join the many other people who have stood up and acknowledged the amazing contributions that have been made by Abner Mikva. I am particularly honored to have counted him as a friend. So many times, he would give me a call of e… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges DEA Administrator to Improve Opioid Quota Setting

WASHINGTON - U.S Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg to talk about the agency's role in the fight against opioid addiction. The DEA is responsible for establishing annual quotas determining the exact amount of each opioid drug that is permitted to be produced in the United States each year. During the meeting, Senator Durbin urged the DEA to use their existing authority to reduce the amount of opioid pills allowed t… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Vote This Week on Clean Emergency Funding Bill to Combat Zika Virus

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with maternal fetal medicine, infectious disease, and public health specialists to discuss the growing threat posed by the Zika virus. More than four months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested emergency funding to develop a vaccine and fight the spread of the deadly virus, but after months of delay from Congressional Republicans, not one dollar of additional funding has… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $16.7 Million for Head Start & Early Head Start

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start providers grants totaling $16,791,209 to support early education and comprehensive services for low-income children and families. In June, Senator Durbin announced more than $58 million for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success s… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Push to Attach Airport Security Measures to FAA Reauthorization Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a group of Democratic senators in urging House and Senate members negotiating the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization bill to include a provision to enhance U.S. airport and mass transit security. The senators sent a letter to the leaders of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who are currently negotiating the FAA… Continue Reading

Durbin Critical of Army Corps Decision Not to Use a Project Labor Agreement for the Wood River Levee, a Part of the Metro East Levee Projects

CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today criticized a decision by the Army Corps of Engineers not to select a contract with a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the Wood River Levee in Wood River, Illinois. Both Durbin and the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council had urged the Army Corps to use a PLA. "This decision is baffling to a community that made it abundantly clear that this project contain a PLA. PLAs serve as a basis for a partnership between the local workfo… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $107 Million for Emergency Preparedeness in Illinois During FY2016

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced more than $107 million in federal funding to improve emergency preparedness across Illinois. In fiscal year 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded state and local authorities, transportation agencies, and port facility operators in Illinois preparedness grants totaling $107,952,308 to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism and other hazards. "The recent string of horrific terror attacks around the world has und… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Lifting of Ban on Transgender People Serving in U.S. Military

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the lifting of the ban on transgender individuals serving openly in the United States military: Today's announcement perfects the bedrock principle of our all-volunteer military, which is to evaluate every individual on the basis of their willingness and ability to serve. Transgender service members serve our nation honorably right now. Secretary Carter's decision permits th… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $37.8 Million for Head Start & Early Head Start

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start providers grants totaling $37,874,534 to support early education and comprehensive services for low-income children and families. Today's funding, in addition to more than $20.5 million earlier this month, total more than $58 million for the month of June. "The Head Start program is the sourc… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Call for Vote on Export-Import Bank Nominee

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a group of 41 other senators today - on the one year anniversary of the Export-Import Bank being unable to fully function - in calling on the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee to hold a vote on the nominee to the Export-Import Bank Board. In a letter to Senate Banking Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-AL), the senators reinforced the negative impact the lack of a committee vote on the nominee, Mark McWatters, on the Export… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.5 Million to Detect & Defend Against Radioactive Threats

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $3.5 million in federal funding to build the Chicago Fire Department's capabilities to identify and protect against nuclear and other radioactive threats. Today's funding was made available through the Department of Homeland Security's Securing the Cities Program, under which CFD stands to receive up to $30 million over five years. "Chicago is a world-class city that attracts millions of visitors each year - to our lakefront, Magnific… Continue Reading

Edwardsville Farmer Mike Campbell Joins Durbin for Senate Rural Summit

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was joined by Edwardsville, IL farmer Mike Campbell for the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee's Rural Summit. At Senator Durbin's invitation, Campbell is in Washington, D.C., to discuss the economic challenges and opportunities facing rural communities in Illinois and across the country. Campbell currently sits on the board of the Madison County Farm Bureau, and he previously served in the USDA's Office of Advocacy and Outreach Small a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senate Leaders Call for New Round of Talks on Zika to Produce Bipartisan Bill Free of Ideological Poison Pills Riders

WASHINGTON-Ahead of today's scheduled Senate vote on the Military Construction Veterans Affairs and Zika Appropriations conference report, Senate Democratic leadership released a new letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan labeling the report as both extreme and insufficient and calling for an immediate new round of talks to produce a bipartisan bill free of ideological poison pill riders. The letter, which was signed by Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Dick Durbi… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $20.5 Million for Head Start and Early Head Start

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced more than $20.5 million in federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Illinois. Since the beginning of June, the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded Illinois providers grants totaling $20,501,838 for early education and comprehensive services for low-income children and families. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illino… Continue Reading