Press Releases
Durbin Meets With Democratic Senators-Elect
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Democratic Senators-elect Tammy Duckworth (IL), Maggie Hassan (NH), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Kamala Harris (CA), and Chris Van Hollen (MD) to congratulate them and discuss their goals for the 115th Congress. "It's an honor to welcome these newly-elected Senators to Washington. They each bring a unique experience in public work and new energy to our efforts to address the issues facing our nation. The arrival of four new women … Continue Reading
November 14, 2016
Durbin Announces $16.8 Million For Rural Development Projects In Illinois
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $789,299 in federal funding across Illinois to assist agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the process or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value Added Producer Grants, will provide assistance to benefit businesses in four counties: Bond, Boone, DeKalb, and Stephenson. "This funding will help boost small agricultural … Continue Reading
November 09, 2016
Durbin Statement on Outcome of 2016 Election
CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement: I now know the range of human emotions-in six days to go from the heights of the Cubs' victory in the World Series to last night's election. But the bedrock principle of America is that we select our leaders and then come together as a country to find common ground and move forward. I congratulate both Secretary Clinton and President-elect Trump on a hard-fought campaign. While the Administration will change in January, … Continue Reading
November 04, 2016
Durbin Urges U.S. Attorney General To Investigate Unprocessed Absentee Ballot Requests In Rock Island County
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter urging U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to look into reports that a third party organization failed to deliver more than 1,500 vote-by-mail applications to the Rock Island County Clerk's Office. The ballot requests were discovered in a Rock Island post office box last week after voters began contacting the clerk's office to inquire about the status of their applications. "Voting is, as the Supreme Court has said, a right … Continue Reading
November 02, 2016
Durbin Announces Over $13 Million In Federal Funding To Help Expand Access To Primary Health Care Across Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $13,429,032.80 in federal funding across Illinois to build the state's primary care workforce and support students to reduce their educational debt in exchange for their service in underserved communities. This funding, provided through the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) National Health Service Corps (NHSC), will help remove financial barriers for health professionals interested in practicing a primary care … Continue Reading
November 01, 2016
Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Agricultural Value-Added Producer Grants
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $789,299 in federal funding across Illinois to assist agricultural producers enter into value-added activities related to the process or marketing of bio-based, value-added products. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Value Added Producer Grants, will provide assistance to benefit businesses in four counties: Bond, Boone, DeKalb, and Stephenson. "This funding will help boost small agricultural … Continue Reading
November 01, 2016
Durbin Announces Bill To Strengthen Servicemember Employment And Reemployment Protections
PEORIA-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) in introducing legislation to better protect military personnel and veterans from potentially unfair employment disadvantages caused by any extended absence from work while on active duty. Passage of the USERRA Improvement Act, as well as the Justice for Servicemembers Act, are especially critical after a federal court ruled this month that a Navy reservist … Continue Reading
November 01, 2016
Durbin, Senators Have New Questions For Mylan About Epipen Price Hike, Pricing Strategy
PEORIA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined a group of 17 senators requesting additional information from the CEO of pharmaceutical company Mylan about the recent EpiPen Auto-Injector (EpiPen) price increases and how Mylan's pricing strategy affects consumers, taxpayers, and insurance premiums. The letter follows a previous request for information made in August about the EpiPen price hike. Today's letter was also signed by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), … Continue Reading
October 28, 2016
Durbin: New Borrower Defense Regulations Empower Students To Hold For-Profit Colleges Accountable
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced its final "borrower defense" rules to protect students and taxpayers from deceptive and illegal practices in higher education. The final regulations, announced today after a period of public comment, help clarify the process for defrauded students to discharge their loans, and ban schools from requiring students to sign pre-dispute arbitration agreements waiving their … Continue Reading
October 28, 2016
Durbin, Markey Call On DEA, Justice Dept To Explain Reduction Of Enforcement Efforts Against Wholesale Opioid Distributors
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) were joined by a group of senators today in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) querying both agencies about enforcement efforts against wholesale opioid distributors that are violating DEA rules intended to prevent legal controlled substances from entering the illicit market. A recent story in the Washington Post ("The DEA slowed enforcement while the opioid … Continue Reading
October 27, 2016
Durbin Announces $2 Million For Head Start In South Eastern Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation $2,068,302 to support Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Christian, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, Montgomery, Moultrie, and Shelby Counties. "We know that a child's first years are the most crucial in their brain development. Early Head Start and Head Start programs ensure children have … Continue Reading
October 27, 2016
Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Rural Renewable Energy Development Across Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $490,000 in federal funding across Illinois to assist farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses in developing renewable energy systems, and in making energy-efficiency improvements to their operations. This funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program, will provide assistance to benefit businesses in eight counties: Clinton, Crawford, Douglas, Henry, Jo Daviess, Montgomery, … Continue Reading
October 26, 2016
Durbin, Brown Announce Friendly Wager On The World Series Matchup Between Chicago Cubs And Cleveland Indians
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Cubs) and Sherrod Brown (D-Indians) made a bet today on the outcome of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. If the Cubs win, Brown will bring beer from Cleveland's Platform Brewing Company to Durbin's office. If the Indians prevail, Durbin will deliver beer from Chicago's Goose Island Brewery to Brown's office. "No team in sports has had a more storied journey to a championship series than the Chicago Cubs," said … Continue Reading
October 24, 2016
Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Rural Community Development In North Central Illinois
CARBONDALE - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $151,500 in federal funding for the North Central Illinois Council of Governments to support rural community development projects. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Community Development Initiative Grant, will provide assistance to benefit 27 lower-income communities located in six surrounding counties: Bureau, Grundy, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Putnam, and Stark. This assistance will … Continue Reading
October 21, 2016
Durbin Announces More Than $12 Million In Federal Funding To Provide Job Training Services To Unemployed, Low-Income Seniors
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has awarded $12,219,480 to Chicago non-profit organizations to provide critical job training and employment services through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The SCSEP fosters economic self-sufficiency for older, low-income adults by providing tangible job skills training through community service assignments at non-profit and public facilities. Participants are unemployed, … Continue Reading
October 20, 2016
Durbin Joins Bipartisan Senators Urging Dot To Help Implement Maritime Strategy
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined a bipartisan group of senators urging the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to take a leadership role in the implementation of a first-ever regional strategy for the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence maritime transportation system (MTS). The strategy was developed by the Conference of Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers (CGLSGP) in collaboration with industry, environmental groups, representatives from U.S. and Canadian … Continue Reading
October 17, 2016
Durbin Calls for Increased Resources for Mental Health Services of College Campuses
URBANA - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today visited the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to discuss legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act, which Durbin introduced earlier this year, would make federal help available for campuses to expand their mental health awareness, outreach, and direct counseling services. The bill was included as part of a bipartisan mental health reform package that could be considered … Continue Reading
October 14, 2016
Durbin Commends Treasury Actions To Limit Corporate Inversions And Earnings Stripping
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued final regulations to limit corporate tax inversions and curb earnings stripping, a tactic that has allowed American companies to avoid U.S. taxes by shifting their profits overseas. "When corporations avoid paying their fair share of taxes, it hurts all Americans. It keeps us from making critical investments in our nation's infrastructure, schools, and military," said … Continue Reading
October 13, 2016
Durbin Statement On Education Department Action Against Devry University
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it reached an agreement with DeVry University regarding the for-profit college's failure to produce student-specific records to substantiate its job placement claims. Today's agreement will immediately place DeVry on provisional certification to participate in Title IV programs for five years; require disclosures related to the agreement to students via its website; and … Continue Reading
October 13, 2016
Durbin, Schakowsky Call For Congressional Action on Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Costs
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today discussed new efforts to combat the skyrocketing costs of certain prescription drugs and the need for congressional action. They recently introduced legislation to require drug companies to provide 30 days' notice and justification for any price increase over 10 percent. The bipartisan and bicameral Fair Accountability and Innovative Research (FAIR) Drug Pricing Act would require drug manufacturers … Continue Reading