Durbin, Quinn Announce Sale of Thomson Correctional Center to the Federal Government

[THOMSON, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the Obama administration and the Federal Bureau of Prisons will purchase the underutilized, state-of-the-art maximum security Thomson Correctional Center to house federal criminal offenders. More than 1,100 jobs are expected to be generated once the facility is fully operational. "At the direction of President Obama, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the federal Bureau of Prisons, file… Continue Reading

Durbin to the American Bankers Association: "A Defeat Is Not the Same as a Mistake"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to Frank Keating, President and CEO of the American Bankers Association (ABA), today to set the record straight about swipe fee reform. The letter was in response to a missive the ABA sent to congressional leaders last week calling swipe fee reform a "mistake." "Last week you sent a letter to the United States Congress in which you criticize the debit interchange reform law that Congress enacted as a 'mistake[],'… Continue Reading

Senators Work to Improve Lock and Dam Infrastructure Along Mississippi River

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to the Environment and Public Works Committee which just began work on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, to include funding and legislative language that would establish a long-term strategy to expedite construction and operation of critical lock and dam projects along the Mississippi River. "The system… Continue Reading

Senators to FTC: Investigate Companies That Use Deceptive Online Marketing to Recruit for For-Profit Colleges

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today asked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate third-party online marketing companies, so called "lead generators," that recruit for for-profit colleges often using deceptive practices. The Senators also urged the FTC to do more to protect consumers from deceptive lead generators by creating meaningful guidelines and strengthening their oversight. "Betwee… Continue Reading

Durbin: Next WRDA Bill Should Include Streamlined Levee Approval Process

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which just began work on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, to include legislative language to streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 approval process for communities making improvements to flood control infrastructure. According to Durbin, this change will recognize that communities willing to raise the funds to make repairs should be able to obta… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Levin, Casey Lead Effort to Restore Great Lakes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, today joined Senate Great Lakes Task Force co-chairs U.S. Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Carl Levin (D-MI) and Task Force member, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) to introduce the Great Lakes Ecosystem Protection Act, a bill to address the most significant challenges in the Great Lakes ecosystem. The legislation targets invasive species, nonpoint source and nutrient pollution, and will help remediate and r… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $567,000 in Funding to Enhance Programs Addressing Violence Against Women on College Campuses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $567,196 in grants through the Office of Violence Against Women to support programs at Illinois institutions of higher education aimed at preventing and combating violent crimes against women on campus. The funding is made available through the Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, and Stalking on Campus Program. Grants … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $13 Million in Federal Funding to Support Innovative Job Training Program at Harper College

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $12,939,459 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to expand William Rainey Harper College's Advanced Manufacturing Training Program to other community colleges throughout Illinois. Developed in close partnership with regional manufacturers, Harper's program helps workers develop the skills they need to find employm… Continue Reading

Durbin, Emanuel Announces $1.5 Million DOT Investment in Chicago Transit

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,500,000 in funding for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to continue work on a new bus service along the Western Avenue and Ashland Avenue. The Western and Ashland Corridors Bus Rapid Transit Project is expected to strengthen connections to CTA's and Metra's rail network while improving reliability, speed and convenience for commuters. … Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Hearing on Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, chaired a hearing today on hate crimes and the threat of domestic extremism. Today's hearing, which comes just a month after the mass shooting by a white supremacist at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, asked what the federal government is doing to prevent hate crimes from taking place and whether sufficient resources are being … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Announcement That Chicago Public Schools Will Resume Classes on Wednesday

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after learning that the Chicago Teachers Union voted to end the strike and resume classes at Chicago Public Schools tomorrow morning. "I am glad that both sides have found a path forward that will put 350,000 students back in the classroom tomorrow morning," said Durbin.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $4 Million in Funding to Enhance Illinois Justice Programs Focused on Addressing Violence Against Women

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $3,859,210 in grants through the Office of Violence Against Women to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assista… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $356,000 Award to Village of Palatine

[CHICAGO, IL] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) totaling $356,796 to the Village of Palatine. The grant will support efforts by non-profits and local government entities to provide support service, affordable housing and infrastructure projects in the Palatine area. "From counseling for abused children to rental housing assistance for seniors, this grant will h… Continue Reading

Durbin Joines Colleagues in Celebrating Senate Approval of Legislation for First DC Statue in U.S. Capitol

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman Financial Services and General Government Appropriations (FSGG), joined his House and Senate colleagues in celebrating the Senate approval, by unanimous consent, of H.R. 6336, a bill to move the District of Columbia's Frederick Douglass statue into the United States Capitol, marking the first time that the District, like the states, will have its own statue in the Capitol. The statue move was included in the fiscal year 2013 FSGG ap… Continue Reading

Durbin, City Announce a $12 Million Investment in O'Hare and Midway Airports

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Rosemarie S. Andolino, today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a total of $11,966,213 in funding to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. "Today's runway investment will help the City of Chicago reduce flight delays and improve efficiency for traveling and shipping throughout the country… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $5.6 Million in DOJ Funding to Enhance Illinois Justice Programs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $5,671,165 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assistance and support services. "Our nation's law enforcement officers are called upon day after d… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces His Support for Poland's Entry into the Visa Waiver Program While Chairing Hearing on Nominee for Ambassador to Poland

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing today on the nomination of Ambassador Stephen Mull to be the new U.S. Ambassador to Poland. During the question and answer portion of the hearing, Durbin announced that he will support legislation that would allow Poland to join the Visa Waiver Program. A photo from today's hearing is available here. "I have the distinct pleasure of representing Illinois, where Chicago is o… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Paralympic Athletes from Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for the record in the U.S. Senate honoring the individual accomplishments of the disabled athletes from Illinois who represented the United States at the 2012 Summer Paralympic Games. With many members of Team USA visiting Washington, DC this week, today Durbin welcomed Paralympians and Olympians from across the country to his office to discuss their success at London Games. Photos of that meeting are available here… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement Honoring Congressman Costello

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today submitted a statement for the record in the U.S. Senate honoring U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello who has represented the 12th Congressional District of Illinois for nearly 25 years and will be retiring at the end of the 112th Congress. "The 12th Congressional District in southern and southwest Illinois runs along the Mississippi River, from Alton south to Cairo. It is a mix of agricultural and industrial communities including East S… Continue Reading

Durbin: Amtrak Ridership Increase Is More Good News for Illinois Travelers and Businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the increase in Amtrak ridership over the last year is good news for travelers that looking for a safer, greener, more efficient transportation option and businesses that rely on the economic activity generated along the four Illinois-supported Amtrak routes. Earlier today, Amtrak announced that nationwide ridership has increased 3.4% over the first 11 months of Amtrak's fiscal year with September expected to be on pace to bre… Continue Reading