Bipartisan Group of U.S. Senate and House Lawmakers Join More Than One Hundred 9/11 First Responders & Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart to Push for Permanent Extension of James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With the 9/11 Health and Compensation programs set to begin expiring at the end of September, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY), more than 100 first responders and survivors, and former Daily Show host Jon Stewart to push Congress to pass a full and permanent extension … Continue Reading

Durbin, Shaheen Meet with USAID Nominee Gayle Smith, Call on GOP to Stop Blocking Her Confirmation

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today met with Gayle Smith, whose nomination to head the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is currently being blocked from consideration on the floor of the Senate. "USAID is charged with coordinating America's response to humanitarian crises around the world, and the catastrophic civil war in Syria is the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time," said Durbin. "Senate Republicans are hamstringing… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins Members of Congress in Introducing Bill to Restore Pell Grant Eligibility for Students

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) in introducing the Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015. They were also joined by U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), U.S. Representatives Maxine Waters (CA-43) and Janice Hahn (CA-44) and 42 other members of Congress. "In spite of the warning signs, the federal government did not step in soon enough to prev… Continue Reading

Durbin: We Should be Prepared to Accept 100,000 Syrian Refugees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a speech on the U.S. Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for a drastic increase in the number of Syrian refugees who are resettled in the United States. Durbin also spoke of his meeting last week with Syrian families who have recently resettled in the Chicago area. "We have a history of responding to humanitarian crises. We need to do it again. What the Administration has posed is modest: 10,000. Too modest, as far as I am concerned. I believe … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $20.5 Million for Illinois Community Health Organizations

[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 $20,516,234 in funding for community health centers throughout Illinois. Today's funding - made available through the Affordable Care Act - will increase access to health care services for thousands of new patients in Illinois. "Community health centers are an invaluable resources for families in Illinois, particularly in rural and urban medicall… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce $1.67 Million Investment in Peoria International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced $1,676,309 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Peoria, Illinois. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration, and will be used to help rehabilitate the airport's apron. "Airports and reliable air service are crucial to the economic succ… Continue Reading

Durbin: Repeating Votes in Hopes of a Different Outcome a Colossal Waste of Time

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted again to not advance a resolution of disapproval of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The Senate took the same vote on Thursday night. Last Thursday, the Senate voted to not advance a resolution of disapproval of the Iran Nuclear Agreement-the culmination of eight weeks of thorough review, briefings, and reflection by Senate Dem… Continue Reading

Detergent PACS Act Cosponsors Commend Efforts to Increase Safety of Liquid Detergent Packets

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) joined cosponsors of the Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety (PACS) Act - U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-FL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) - in commending new standards to reduce the safety hazards associated with liquid detergent packets. The standards are expected to be finalized tomorrow by the American Society for Testing and Materials - a nonprofit multi-s… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel, Quigley Announce $6.6 Million Federal Investment in O'Hare and Midway Airports

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation has awarded a total of $6,625,292 in funding to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. "Airports and reliable air service are crucial to the economic success of our state," said Durbin. "If we are going to be a great leader in the world economy, we need an infrastructure to… Continue Reading

Durbin to Host Sister Philip Neri Crawford for Pope Francis' Address to Joint Meeting of Congress

[SPRINGFIELD] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that he has invited Sister Philip Neri Crawford, a sister from the Dominican Order in Springfield as his sole guest to His Holiness Pope Francis' address to the Joint Meeting of Congress on September 24, 2015. Pope Francis will be the first Pope to ever address a joint meeting of Congress. "Sister Philip is a good friend who has given her life to the Dominican order," Durbin said. "Her order taught our kids at Sacred Heart Aca… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announced $2.1 Million Investment in Quad City International Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced $2,142,944 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Quad City International Airport. The grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration. "Airports and reliable air service are crucial to the economic success of Illinois communities large and small," said Durbin. "If we are going to be a great leader i… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.16 Million Investment in Central Illinois Regional Airport

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $1,163,954 in federal funding for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration. "Airports and reliable air service are crucial to the economic success of Illinois communities large and small," said Durbin. "If we are going to be a great leader in the worl… Continue Reading

Durbin Joins DeLauro, Levin, Reed, Doggett, Whitehouse, Warren in Urging Treasury Secretary to Take Action on Inversions

[WASHINGTON, DC]-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) in writing to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew today, in the wake of three corporate inversions in just the last month, urging him to publish an annual list of inverted companies and use executive authority to crack down on these tax … Continue Reading

Durbin: Illinois to Join New Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a meeting with the Illinois Farm Bureau, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has named Illinois a finalist to receive funding through the new Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). Through this program, the USDA is making up to $100 million available in grants to states like Illinois that are testing innovative ways to distribute higher blends of renewable fuel. Durbin and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) w… Continue Reading

CTA Awarded $1.25 Million in Federal Funding to Continue Improvements to Red & Purple Line

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today announced that the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will receive $1.25 million in funding through the Federal Transit Authority (FTA)'s Transit-Oriented Development Pilot Planning Program. This funding was made available through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), a transportation bill passed by C… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $450,000 in Federal Funding to Assist Victims of Sexual Assault in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a $459,058 grant to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to support rape crisis centers and other nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations that provide essential services, direct intervention, and related assistance to victims of sexual assault. These organizations play a vital role in assisting sexual assault victims through the healing process, as well as a… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Vote in Favor of Iran Nuclear Agreement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after voting to not advance a resolution of disapproval of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran: "Make no mistake, the reason Iran came to the negotiating table was the sanctions regime imposed by the United States and our allies around the world. We put pressure on them and said if you're going to continue to pursue the development of a nuclear … Continue Reading

Durbin & Kirk: White House Nominates Gilmore to Be U.S. Marshal in Illinois’ Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that President Obama has nominated Edward Gilmore to serve as U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. "Edward Gilmore will bring a wealth of law enforcement and managerial experience to the position of U.S. Marshal," said Durbin. "His knowledge and experience will be a great asset to the Northern District. It was an honor to recommend Edward's name to President Obama and I lo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Support for Iran Nuclear Agreement Builds in Senate

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Senate begins debate on the Iran Nuclear Agreement, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Assistant Democratic Leader, spoke on the Senate Floor today to discuss the deal to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran negotiated by the United States, our allies, and Iran earlier this year. Over the past seven weeks, Durbin has led the effort to build support for the deal in the Senate, convening meetings between Senators and nuclear experts, Administration officials, and ambassadors … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $753,000 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 $753,310 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. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters a… Continue Reading