Durbin Statement on Illinois Constiutents Stranded in Mexico Following Hurricane

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement on his efforts to coordinate with the State Department to ensure that Illinois families stranded in Los Cabos, Mexico following Hurricane Odile are remain safe and are able to travel home as soon as possible. "I have heard from dozens of Illinois constituents with friends and family that are among the thousands stranded in Los Cabos, Mexico following Hurricane Odile. I have been working closely with the … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $45,000 Investment in Rolling Meadows First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $45,600 grant to the Rolling Meadows Fire Department in the Rolling Meadows, Illinois for fire prevention initiatives. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities they bravely serve," Durbin sa… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $136,000 Grant For University of Illinois and Parkland College To Help Boost Economic Development in Champaign, Illinois

[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 $136,625 in funding to the University of Illinois and Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois to help communities overcome economic development challenges through applied research and technical assistance. "Today's funding will support U of I and Parkland College as they research and develop innovative ways to sustain economic gr… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $756,000 Investment in Illinois Justice Program To Protect Children From Internet Crimes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $756,553 in grants to Illinois agencies to help train officials to investigate and properly prosecute offenders of Internet crimes against children. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Invited Awards. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system," said Durbin. "This initiative will … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A More Than $119,000 Investment in Libertyville First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded an $119,114 grant to the Libertyville Fire Department in the Libertyville, Illinois for operations and safety. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responders to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Decision to Raise Current Pay Scale at VA Hospitals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald for approving an adjustment to the maximum rates of annual pay for physicians and dentists. Earlier this week, Durbin wrote to McDonald urging him to offer more competitive pay in order to improve recruitment and retention of the best and brightest health care professionals. The letter can be found HERE. "The Veterans Health Administration serves as a critical tr… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Major Investments in Illinois Justice System Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has made a major investment in support of important crime prevention research and the enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding represents an important investment in the Illinois justice system, research, and victims' services programs." said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice and will h… Continue Reading

Durbin, Enyart, Announce $3.25 Million Grant To Create Jobs and Boost Development in Mount Vernon, Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and Mount Vernon Mayor Mary Jane Chesley today announced that the U.S. Department of Commerce's (DOC) Economic Development Administration (EDA) has awarded $3,250,000 in funding to the City of Mount Vernon, Illinois to create jobs and aide the construction of critical infrastructure. The project is expected to create 500 local jobs. "Not only will this federal investment support local construction jobs, it w… Continue Reading

Durbin: CFPB Lawsuit Should Be The End Of The Road For Corinthian Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) - author of legislation that would improve coordination between federal agencies that oversee the for-profit college industry - once again called on the Department of Education to prohibit new enrollments at Corinthian Colleges, Inc. institutions as several states, including Illinois, have already done. Earlier today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) sued Corinthian Colleges, Inc. for its illegal predatory lending scheme allegi… Continue Reading

Durbin: College Students Are Being Sentenced to Debt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following Republican obstruction on the Senate Floor to once again block a vote on the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act - a bill that would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new borrowers this past academic year - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: "Life is about choices. Each of us have made a choice on education, like where we're going to go to school and what w… Continue Reading

Durbin, Risch Announce Senate National Laboratory Caucus During First Ever National Lab Day on Capitol Hill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jim Risch (R-ID) formally announced the launch of the Senate National Laboratory Caucus, which aims to highlight how the national labs help meet the innovation, economic growth, and security goals of the country-making them valuable to states even if they do not host a lab. In addition, the caucus will examine the policy and funding challenges that confront the lab system as a whole. The Senators joined Secretary of Energy Ernest M… Continue Reading

Durbin, Enyart Announce $3.2 MIllion in Federal Funding For New Terminal at Marion's Williamson County Regional Airport

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A new federally-funded terminal at Williamson County Regional Airport will ensure that residents of Southern Illinois continue to have access to safe, reliable air service, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) said today. Durbin and Enyart announced that the Williamson County Regional Airport (MWA) in Marion, Illinois has received $3,262,308 in funding to construct a new terminal building through the Federal Aviation Administration's (FA… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges VA to Raise Current Pay Scale For Health Care Professionals

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Robert McDonald, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), urging the department to raise the current pay scale for VA health care professionals in order to improve the recruitment and retention of medical personnel. Salaries for VA primary care doctors and nurses are often lower on average than those of their private sector counterparts. According to the Medical Group Management Association, primary care docto… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $225,000 in DOJ Funding For DuPage County Justice Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and DuPage County Board Chairman Dan Cronin today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $225,000 grant to the DuPage County Sheriff's Department in DuPage County, Illinois to improve the department's ability to utilize DNA technology. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program. "Today's funding is an investment in the safety and security of DuPage Co… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $233,000 in DOJ Funding For Kane County Drug Court Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Kane County Chairman Chris Lauzen today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a $233,570 grant to Kane County, Illinois to help enhance a variety of drug court services. Today's funding was made available through DOJ's FY14 Joint Adult Drug Court Solicitation to Enhance Services, Coordination, and Treatment program. "This funding will support programs in Kane County that transition nonviolent offenders b… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $3.4 Million Investment in Illinois Justice Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $3,414,644 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding is an important investment in the Illinois justice system," said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice, help justice agencies quickly analyze evidence and solve crimes, and … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1.6 Million in Funding For Cook County Parks, Outdoor Recreation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of the Interior, through the National Park Service, has issued grants totaling $1,654,000 in funding for two outdoor areas in Cook County, Illinois. Today's funding was made available through the National Park Service's Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. "Parks serve a variety of purposes: they are a place where parents can play with their children and people of all ages can exercise and l… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $11.7 Million for Illinois Health Centers To Expand Primary Care

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded a total of $11,744,246 in funding for community health centers throughout Illinois. Today's funding - made available through the Affordable Care Act - will be used to hire additional healthcare workers, hire new health care providers, and will allow these centers to stay open for longer hours. The grants will support 78,815 new patients and expand outreach and en… Continue Reading

Durbin, Mikulski, Cochran Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating 20th Anniversary of AmeriCorps National Service Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) today announced that they have introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since 1994, the community service organization has provided more than one billion service hours in communities across America. The anniversary is today. "For 20 years, the AmeriCorps National Service Program has provided valuable assistance and services to communities that nee… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on 13th Anniversary of 9/11 Terrorist Attacks

[WASHINGTON] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001: Today, we remember 9/11. The President, First Lady and Vice President led a moment of silence at the White House this morning. The anniversary was observed at the Pentagon, at ground zero in New York, and in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Across the country, we are connected by the sadness we all feel as we reflect on the lives lost, … Continue Reading