Durbin Announces A More Than $143,000 Investment In Central 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 grants totaling $143,450 to two communities in Central 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

Durbin Announces More Than $1.7 Million For Improvements to Illinois Health Centers

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced a total of $1,703,777 in funding through the Affordable Care Act to support construction and renovation projects at community health centers in Chicago, Illinois and the Chicagoland area. This funding, provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was made available through the Patient Centered Medical Home Facility Improvement Grant program. "Community health centers serve an important purpose for fam… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Burger King Decision To Shift Tax Domicile To Canada

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after Burger King announced plans to merge with Ontario-based Tim Horton's Inc, and shift its tax domicile out of the United States. While Burger King's operational headquarters will remain in Florida, the move would reportedly cut the company's U.S. corporate tax bill significantly. "With every new corporate inversion, the tax burden increases on the rest of us to pay what these corporations don't. That burden is made … Continue Reading

Durbin Supports Helping Illinois Veterans Take Full Advantage Of Their Education Benefits

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow Illinois veterans to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits to pay for tuition, books and housing at the same time they are using state benefits for tuition. The State of Illinois has requested a waiver from current federal VA policy that requires state benefits to be applied before Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits forcing veteran students to spend down all state benefits before acc… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $166,000 Investment In Southern Illinois To Spur Economic Growth

[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 an Economic Development District Planning grant totaling $166,884 to South Central Illinois Regional Planning and Development Commission in Salem, Illinois to help create jobs and boost economic development in the region. "Today's funding will help Salem develop and implement a strategic plan for continued economic growth - … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $52,000 Investment In Northern Illinois To Spur Economic Growth

[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 an Economic Development District Planning grant totaling $51,628 to the Blackhawk Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council in Rock Falls, Illinois to help create jobs and boost economic development in the region. "Today's funding will help Rock Falls develop and implement a strategic plan for continued economic gr… Continue Reading

Durbin, Duckworth, Local Officials Announcement $432,000 Investment In Villa Park First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Villa Park Mayor Deborah Bullwinkel, State Senator Tom Cullerton and local officials announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $432,000 grant to the Villa Park, Illinois Fire Department for vehicle acquisition. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types… Continue Reading

Durbin, Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance Announce A More Than $23,000 Investment In Fire-Fighter Suicide Prevention Initiatives

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance, announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $23,750 grant to the Palatine, Illinois non-profit. Today's funding will help support the group's work in providing suicide awareness and prevention workshops for fire departments and firefighters in Illinois and around the country. "Firefighters and first-responders… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $296,000 Investment In Kankakee 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 $296,400 grant to the Kankakee Fire Department in Kankakee, Illinois for fire prevention initiatives. "This federal funding will support our nation's firefighters and first-responder's efforts to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities they bravely serve," Durbin said. "We m… Continue Reading

Durbin Convenes Meeting Between STB, Amtrak and Local Officials to Discuss Record Rail Delays

CHAMPAIGN, IL - Record levels of freight train interference and poor Amtrak on-time performance are threatening the success of passenger rail in Illinois, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at meeting between Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott, Amtrak Board of Directors member Tom Carper and local stakeholders. At Durbin's urging, Elliott is meeting with communities throughout Illinois to discuss the persistent Amtrak delays along routes operated by Canadian National… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls Together Local Mayors and Federal Transportation Officials to Discuss Rail Safety

CHICAGO - In response to safety concerns raised by the rapid increase of trains carrying crude oil and ethanol across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) convened a meeting with mayors from the Chicago metropolitan area, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Joe Szabo, and Surface Transportation Board (STB) Chairman Dan Elliott to hear their concerns about rail safety and an increase in rail delays."With one quarter of all U.S. freight traffic rolling through the Chicago a… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos Announce Hiring of Warden at Thomson Prison

[THOMSON, IL] - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has taken an essential step in the activation of Thomson Correctional Center by hiring a warden for the new federal prison, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) announced today at the facility in Thomson. They were joined at the community leaders update meeting by Charles Samuels, Jr., BOP Director, Donald Hudson, Thomson prison's new warden, and other senior BOP staff. Hudson has worked for BOP since 1… Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds USDA Rule To Implement More Stringent Safety Standards For Important Puppies

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's (APHIS) announcement of final regulations that will require that dogs imported to the United States meet stronger health and safety standards. The new rule - which is based on an amendment Durbin included in the 2008 Farm Bill - ensures that dogs imported for resale are vaccinated, in good health, and under six months of age. Buyers and veter… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Illinois-Based Hospira Not To Turn Its Back On America To Dodge Taxes

[CHICAGO, IL] - In a letter to the CEO of Lake Forest, Illinois-based Hospira, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged the company not to turn its back on American taxpayers and consumers by taking advantage of a tax loophole called "inversion" which allows a company to move its headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "Hospira's success, including second-quarter profits that more than doubled, depends on the educated workforce, transportation infras… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $29,000 Investment in Georgetown, 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 a $29,450 grant to the Georgetown Fire Protection District in the city of Georgetown, Illinois for operations and safety. 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 emerg… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $3.3 Million in Department of Labor Grants For Illinois Youth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $3,300,000 in grants to organizations throughout Illinois to support academic and occupational skills training programs for at-risk youth. The funding is made available through DOL's YouthBuild program, which assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Under this announcement, the followi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Kelly Applaud Opportunity To Discuss National Park Designation For Pullman

DURBIN, KIRK, KELLY APPLAUD OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS NATIONAL PARK DESIGNATION FOR PULLMAN Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will host public meeting on August 21 [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency will host a public meeting on August 21 to discuss possible options for including Chicago's Pullman neighborhood within the national park system, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL-2) announced today. T… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Greater Investment in Biomedical Research

[CHICAGO] - The United States will lose its position as the world leader in health innovation and discovery if the federal government does not make funding medical research a priority, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Medicine. Durbin met with a group of University of Chicago medical researchers to hear how cuts in federal funding may be affecting their work and career decisions. Earlier this year, Durbin introduced the American Cures A… Continue Reading

Dubrin Cautions Students Against For-Profit Colleges

SPRINGFIELD - Too many unscrupulous for-profit schools are taking advantage of students and federal taxpayers by taking enormous resources from the federal student loan program yet failing to provide quality education that leads to employment, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today at a roundtable discussion at Lincoln Land Community College. The for-profit college industry received more than $25 billion in federal dollars last year, which is enough funding to make it the ninth largest feder… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $100,000 Investment in Illinois Community And Law Enforcement Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded more than $100,000 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to the communities of Aurora, Naperville and Urbana to support local law enforcement officers. "Making sure our nation's law enforcement officers are equipped with the best tools to fulfill their duties safeguards the security of the communities they serve," Durbin said. The following Illinois comm… Continue Reading