Senators Durbin, Lautenberg, Harkin, and Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Stop Tobacco Smuggling, Close Tobacco Tax Loopholes, and Increase Federal Tobacco Taxes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the "Tobacco Tax and Enforcement Reform Act," legislation that would reduce illegal tobacco trafficking, eliminate tax disparities between different tobacco products, and increase the federal excise tax rate on tobacco products. The legislation lays out a comprehensive set of reforms that would help the federal government and states collect billions … Continue Reading

Durbin: Stricter Requirements, Harsher Penalties & More Transparency Needed in S.S. Badger Deal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In comments filed with the Department of Justice, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the consent decree formally lodged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last month should specify larger reductions of coal ash discharges - a 40% reduction in 2013 and a 60 % reduction in 2014 - and include stricter penalties if the S.S. Badger does not meet those requirements. Durbin also called for an explicit agreement that no more extensions will be granted to the … Continue Reading

Senators Call on FDA to Restrict the Sale, Distribution, and Marketing of E-Cigarettes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Calling e-cigarettes a possible pathway to traditional cigarettes and other tobacco products, five U.S. Senators today called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue "deeming regulations" asserting regulatory authority over tobacco products, such as electronic cigarettes, and to restrict the sale, distribution and marketing of e-cigarettes and other nicotine products to children and young adults. Though the number of U.S. adults who have tried e-cigarettes has do… Continue Reading

Durbin Reflects on Tragedy in Boston on the Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the United States Senate Floor today regarding the tragic events that occurred yesterday during the Boston Marathon. "Our nation is saddened by what happened yesterday in Boston," Durbin said. "It is a moment of grave concern across America, expressed well by the President last night. We wait for information and details to build a case for those who are responsible. I don't want to rush to judgment until we have the facts, but the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Bipartisan Screening Committee to Consider Applications for Federal Judiciary in the Southern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Southern District of Illinois. It has been announced that a judicial vacancy will open up in the Southern District in December, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies. The screening committee will be comprised… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Urban Prep Students to Discuss Overcoming Influence of Gangs, Gun Violence

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited Urban Prep Academy's West campus to meet with students and hear how they overcame difficult circumstances while growing up in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. The students shared stories of how, despite growing up in high-crime communities, they have opted to avoid street violence and instead enroll at Urban Prep, a high-performing network of charter schools in the city. "Guns and gangs can be an enticing draw for young men gr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Boozman, and Coons Introduce Bill to Increase U.S. Exports to Africa

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Boozman (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced legislation today that will help create American jobs by dramatically increasing the number of U.S. exports to Africa. The bill also aims to improve America's competiveness throughout the continent by forcing better coordination between U.S. government agencies and departments, establishing comprehensive strategic goals, and marshaling private investments to improve U.S.-Africa business a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Markey, Blumenthal: Energy Drinks Report Shows Labeling, Marketingf, Ingredients Create Questionable Concoction for Consumers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Three Democratic lawmakers today released a report entitled, What's all the Buzz about?, that shows inconsistencies in the labeling and classification of energy drinks, extensive marketing to adolescents and young adults through social media and events, and high caffeine levels that exceed the level considered safe in soda by the Food and Drug Administration. The report was compiled using responses from fourteen energy drink companies received by Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sens… Continue Reading

Senate Democrats Crack Down on Excessive Interest Rates and Fees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA), introduced the Protecting Consumers from Unreasonable Credit Rates Act today, a bill to eliminate the excessive rates and fees that some consumers are charged for payday loans, car title loans and other types of credit. The bill would create an interest rate and fee cap of 36% for all consumer credit transact… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Peoria Law Enforcement Leaders to Discuss "Don't Shoot" Program

[PEORIA, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with local law enforcement leaders and elected officials to hear how the City of Peoria is using the Don't Shoot program to fight violent crime. Peoria's crime rate has fallen in the first three months of 2013 and city law enforcement estimates the number of gun-related emergency calls has dropped fifteen to thirty percent. "Gun violence is plaguing many Illinois communities from Chicago to East St. Louis," Durbin said. "Peoria's lea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce Nearly One Million in Funding for Waukegan Harbor Dredging

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $990,000 in funding for dredging in Waukegan Harbor to clean up shoaling caused by Hurricane Sandy and allow the Harbor to reopen to navigation. The funding was awarded as part of the $821 million approved for the Army Corps of Engineers in the supplemental appropriations bill to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy and to rebuild the areas t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.6 Million in Disaster Relief Funds for Harrisburg

[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 $1,645,200 in Disaster Relief funding to the City of Harrisburg, Illinois which suffered severe damage from flooding in 2011 and further devastation from a major tornado in 2012. Today's investment will be used to construct improvements to the Harrisburg's waste water treatment plant, support local industries and protect agai… Continue Reading

Durbin, Waxman Urge Poison Control Centers to Share Data on Dietary Supplements with the FDA at No Extra Cost to Taxpayers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - While recognizing that both the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are providing important services under serious budgetary constraints, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) today called on the AAPCC to share dietary supplement data with the FDA at no additional cost to taxpayers. While poison control center data may help detect harmful products and identify safety conce… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Law Enforcement Leaders to Discuss Gun Violence in East St. Louis

[EAST ST. LOUIS] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with state, county and regional law enforcement leaders from the Metro East area to learn about the challenges they face in their jurisdiction related to gun violence and gun trafficking and, in turn, brief them on the gun violence legislation the U.S. Senate is expected to debate next month. "Over the last few months, as Congress has begun to debate legislation to reduce gun violence, I have met with law enforcement leaders across… Continue Reading

Senators Urge FDA to Act Quickly to Develop New Tobacco Warning Labels

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging quick action to develop new graphic warning labels for cigarette packages and advertising. Earlier this week, the FDA and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced they would not appeal a decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that vacated an earlier … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on EPA Agreement with S.S. Badger Operators

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today made the following statement in reaction to the announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that they have formally lodged a consent decree requiring the S.S. Badger to stop dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan by the end of the 2014 season. "The S.S. Badger, the filthiest ship on the Great Lakes, has been given two more years to dump hundreds of tons of dangerous coal ash into Lake Michigan. The millions of people who… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a differen… Continue Reading

Durbin: Marketplace Fairness Act Receives Overwhelming Bipartisan Support in Senate Vote

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 75 U.S. Senators showed their support for the Marketplace Fairness Act of 2013 which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. An amendment summarizing the bill - which was introduced in February - was added to the FY2014 Budget Resolution which is currently being debated on the Senate floor. "Today's vote proves that an overwhelming majority of Sen… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Fire Fighters, Announces a Nearly $462,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded $461,778 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. Today, Durbin also met with the Illinois Association of Fire Fighters, led by Springfield Fire Captain Tom Roate, to discuss the importance of these grants and the group's priorities for the upcoming year. "Our nation's firefighters a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Gillibrand Introduce Bill to Protect Medicare Card Holders from Identity Theft

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) today introduced legislation to require the federal government to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare identification cards and communications to Medicare beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers the Medicare program, has fallen behind most other public and private organizations in recognizing the danger of displaying Social Security numbers. The S… Continue Reading