Durbin Applauds Administration Response To GOP Obstruction of Not My Boss's Business Act, Introduces Bill Requiring Employer Notification of Contraception Coverage For Current, Prospective Employees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Administration's announcement that the Department of Labor will require certain employers to notify current employees if they plan to eliminate coverage for contraception in their health insurance plans based on the Supreme Court's recent Hobby Lobby decision. Durbin also announced the introduction of legislation, the Preventive Care Coverage Notification Act, that will ensure that job applicants at for-profit corporation… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Use Of Human Shields By Hamas in Gaza

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement regarding reports that Hamas routinely launches rockets from dense civilian areas in Gaza and instructs Palestinian residents to ignore Israeli warnings to leave areas facing likely military action: "I am deeply troubled by Hamas' continued rocket fire against Israeli civilians and its refusal to accept an Egyptian cease fire proposal. I am further shocked by Hamas' barbaric use of its own civilians as huma… Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Appropriations Bill Makes Critical Investments in Illinois Priorities

[Washington, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the FY15 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which provides $549.3 billion in funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. This legislation fully funds the one percent pay raise for mili… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $123,000 Investment in Oglesby 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 a $123,500 grant to the City of Oglesby, in LaSalle County, Illinois. Today's funding will help support vehicle acquisition at the Oglesby Ambulance Service. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders have acces… Continue Reading

Durbin's FY15 Defense Bill Passed By Senate Appropriations Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate's Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded the committee's bipartisan approval of the $549.3 billion spending bill for the Department of Defense, intelligence community, and Overseas Contingency Operations, including the war in Afghanistan and other military operations worldwide. The bill prioritizes the support of our Armed Forces, veterans and their families, invests in innovation to main… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A Nearly a $230,000 Investment in Gurnee First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $229,469 grant to the Gurnee, Illinois Fire Department. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers

DURBIN MEETS WITH ILLINOIS CORN GROWERS [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association to discuss implementation of the Farm Bill and other agricultural priorities. The group also discussed the recently passed Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014, which aims to improve America's waterway infrastructure - a critical issue to Illinois farming communities. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Earl… Continue Reading

Durbin: Child Refugee Crisis at the Southern Border is a Human Tradgedy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a speech on the U.S. Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the child refugee crisis at the Southern border and urged the Senate to pass the administration's supplemental budget request of $3.7 billion to deal with the crisis. Durbin spoke of visiting a group of refugee children being housed in Chicago on Monday. The children are under the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Heartland Alliance, an Illinois-based social service… Continue Reading

Durbin: Pentagon Must Act to Reduce Risks of Tobacco Related Illness Among Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today called on Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to implement a measure included in the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill that eliminates the military's price discount for tobacco products. Almost one-quarter of U.S. servicemembers smoke, and more than one in three military smokers began doing so after enlisting. "Smoking rates among servicemembers are 20 percent higher than t… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With VA Nominee Robert McDonald

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Robert McDonald, who is nominated to serve as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to discuss his nomination and the importance of at VA facilities in Illinois and across the country. McDonald was raised and went to high school in Arlington Heights, Illinois, before attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "Today I met with Robert McDonald, Presi… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute To Former Congressman From Southern Illinois Kenny Gray

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a statement for the Congressional Record, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored Kenny Gray, who served as the U.S. Representative for Southern Illinois from 1954 to 1989 and passed away last week at the age of 89. A World War II veteran and native of West Frankfort, Illinois, Representative Gray was elected to 10 consecutive terms in Congress and helped write the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act, which created America's interstate highway system. "You could never … Continue Reading

Senator Durbin, Governor Quinn, Mayor Emanuel, and Cook County Board President Preckwinkle Announce More Than $31 Million in HUD Disaster Recovery Funding For Chicago Area

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced that the Chicago area has been awarded a total of $31.475 million in funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs' (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program. This funding was made available through the FY2013 Sandy Supplemental Appropriations Bill, passed by Congress last year, and … Continue Reading

Durbin Visits Child Refugees, Urges Congressional Approval of President's Emergency Funding Request

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited child refugees who are being temporarily housed in the Chicagoland area under the care of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Heartland Alliance. The refugee children, the majority of whom are from Central America, have crossed the Mexico border into the United States unaccompanied. "The child refugee crisis on the border is a human tragedy. Thousands of children are fleeing their homes, largely from areas ridden with vi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Walsh, Stabenow, and Pryor Introduce Bill That Closes Corporate Tax Loophole and Brings Jobs Back to America

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), along with Senators John Walsh (D-MT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Mark Pryor (D-AR) introduced today that the Bring Jobs Home Act to close the tax loophole for corporations that ship jobs overseas and extend tax credits to those companies that return jobs back to America The bill would close a tax loophole that encourages companies to ship jobs overseas and establish a tax credit for costs associated with relocating their operations to the U.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $1.8 Million Investment In Illinois 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 $1,831,128 in grants to seven 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 an… Continue Reading

Lawmakers Want Safety Caps On Liquid Nicotine For E-Cigarettes

[WASHINGON, D.C.] The stuff is called Cotton Candy, Fruity Loops and even Gummi Bear. But this particular stuff is not a pack of bubble gum or bag of fruit chews you might see as you check out at your local convenience store. It is, in fact, a highly toxic and still-unregulated form of concentrated liquid nicotine for use in vapor devices including so-called e-cigarettes. And it's hitting the marketplace nationwide in easy-to-open vials and small eye-dropper bottles available for purchas… Continue Reading

Senators: Corporations Must Give Workers and Retirees Fair Treatment In Bankruptcy

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced legislation today to curb abuses that deprive employees and retirees of their earnings and retirement savings when businesses collapse. The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers' interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy. A companio… Continue Reading

Durbin Hosts Illinois Members At Delegation Luncheon Honoring Alan Dixon

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation at the ninth Illinois Congressional Delegation Luncheon of the 113th Congress. Today's luncheon was held in honor of former U.S. Senator from Illinois Alan Dixon, who helped found the tradition of the Delegation Luncheon over 25 years ago. Today's luncheon carries on the tradition of cooperation and camaraderie that has long existed between Illinois members of Congress, and that was… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kelly Announce A More Than $184,000 Investment In Markham First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), awarded a $184,042 grant to the City of Markham, Illinois. This funding will support and improve the capability of the Markham Fire Department's first-responders to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "We must ensure our nation's fire fighters and first-responders are equ… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A Critical Investment In North Chicago First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), awarded a $175,500 grant to the North Chicago Fire Department. This funding will support and improve the capability of North Chicago's first-responders to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "We must ensure our nation's fire fighters and first-responders are equipped w… Continue Reading