Durbin Meets With Northwestern President To Discuss Funding For Biomedical, Scientific Breakthroughs

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro to discuss higher education issues and support for federally funded biomedical and science research. Durbin introduced two bills - the American Cures Act and the American Innovation Act - earlier this year to support the future of biomedical and basic science research. Major research universities like Northwestern - which has endorsed the legislation - have felt the impact of a decades-l… Continue Reading

Durbin, Murphy, Cartwright Introduce Legislation To Meet Demand For High-Quality Prosthetic Care For Veterans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) will join U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright today to introduce two bills to improve orthotics and prosthetics care for the nation's service members and veterans. The legislation would enhance research in best practices and support colleges and universities seeking to establish degree programs to train specialists. "Illinois is in the lead when it comes to prosthetic and orthotic training and research," Durbin said… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $674,000 In Federal Funding To Assist Homeless Veterans In Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that both the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have awarded a total of $674,639 in grants and vouchers to communities across Illinois that will be used to expand supportive services and housing for veterans in Illinois. "Last night, in Illinois alone, more than 1,200 homeless veterans were on the street. This country can do better-and must do better-for the brave men… Continue Reading

Durbin Cautions That Fair Competition In Arline Travel May Be At Risk

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the Secretaries of Transportation and State, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today cautioned that fair and open competition in the airline industry may be at risk if the three largest airlines of the Gulf States of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are receiving substantial government subsidies. Recent reports have indicated that these subsidies are distorting the market for air travel and giving airlines an unfair advantage over U.S. carriers. In to… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Illinois Fire Chiefs

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with the Illinois Fire Service Association today to discuss the importance of firefighter equipment grant programs, firefighter training, and crude-by-rail safety in communities where oil tank cars pass through. Photos of today's meeting are available here. "Firefighters and first-responders bravely protect Illinois' communities when emergencies happen," Durbin said. "It was great to see the men and women of the Illinois Fire Service Ass… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Director Of Air National Guard To Discuss The Future Of Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Lieutenant General Stanley Clarke who, as Director of the Air National Guard, oversees National Guard units across the country, including the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. During the meeting, Lieutenant General Clarke and Durbin - who serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees discretionary spending for our nation's military - discussed the long-term future of… Continue Reading

With More Youth Using E-Cigarettes Than Ever Before, Durbin Demands FDA Action

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today in response to findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey showing for the first time that more U.S. teenagers are using e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes. The data released today shows that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students has not only surpassed conventional tobacco use, but has also tripled in just one year - growing from approximately 660,000 to 2 million high schoo… Continue Reading

Durbin And Cicilline: Tobacco Farms Are No Place For Kids

[WASHINGTON, DC] - With the tobacco growing season beginning this month and as hundreds of children head to work on tobacco farms, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced legislation today to protect child workers from the dangers of exposure to tobacco plants, which can include acute nicotine poisoning and other long term health effects. The U.S. currently has no specific restrictions to protect children from nicotine poisoning or other health … Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Bill To Strengthen Youth Sports Concussion Safety

Endorsed by the NFL, NHL, NBA, MLB, & NCAA WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced the Protecting Student Athletes from Concussions Act, legislation that would strengthen K-12 schools' procedures for preventing, detecting, and treating student-athletes who suffer concussions while competing. The National Federation of State High School Associations estimates that about 140,000 students playing high school sports suffer concussions every year though many g… Continue Reading

Members Of Congress Say 'Enough Is Enough' When It Comes To Corporate Tax Dodging

Bill would ban federal contracts for companies that move their headquarters overseas to avoid paying their fair share of U.S. taxes [WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Al Franken (D-MN) joined U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sander Levin (D-MI) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) today in introducing legislation would ban federal contracts for companies that move their headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid p… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Importance Of New Transportation Bill To Illinois Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Congress preparing to consider a legislation to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx to discuss Illinois transportation priorities and receive at update on the status of the Highway Trust Fund, which is likely to dip below the critical $4 billion funding level this summer. Funding from the Highway Trust Fund and other federal transportation programs is critically impo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Time For Department To Pull Plus On Corinthian Once And For All

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after the Department of Education fined Corinthian Colleges nearly $30 million for misrepresenting job placement rates and suspended enrollments at the company's Heald College locations. Durbin first asked the Department of Education to immediately prohibit Corinthian Colleges, Inc. from enrolling any new students in June 2014. "The Department's action against Corinthian's Heald brand campuses is a lon… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors President Abraham Lincoln On Senate Floor 150 Years After His Passing

[WASHINGTON. D.C.] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) honored the life and legacy of Illinois' own President Abraham Lincoln during a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Yesterday marked the 150th anniversary of the Ford's Theatre assassination attempt and today marks his death thereafter. Durbin praised President Lincoln's leadership throughout the Civil War and courage to tackle the divisive issues of his time. "150 years ago today Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, wa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal 'Troubled' By FDA Inaction On Mislabeled Supplements

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to investigate manufacturers of dietary supplements containing "acacia rigidula" which is often used on dietary supplement labels to mask the inclusion of BMPEA - a potentially dangerous synthetic stimulant - in their products. Today's letter follows the release of a study last week in which researchers found BMPEA, in 11 of 21 over-the-counter dietary supple… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Removal Of Cuba From List Of State Sponsors Of Terrorism

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after President Obama announced that the United States would remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism: "After careful review by the State Department, the removal of Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list is a welcome move regarding the relations between the US and Cuba. That Cuba is no longer involved in such activities is a positive step forward in normalizing relations between our two nations … Continue Reading

Durbin Speaks On Senate Floor Following Severe Storm Damage In Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As recovery efforts continue in response to deadly tornadoes that damaged communities in northern Illinois last week, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke on the United States Senate Floor to offer condolences to Illinois families impacted by the storms, and to commend the state and local response to the devastation. On Friday, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner declared DeKalb and Ogle Counties as state disaster areas. "My thoughts and prayers are with the families and … Continue Reading

Durbin Honors World War II Veteran with Service Medals

[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today presented Chicago resident Joe Hoppe, a World War II veteran, with five medals he earned for his service in the Navy at Autumn Green Senior Living Center. When Durbin met Hoppe at a seniors forum last year, he learned the veteran had had trouble obtaining the medals he had earned in combat. "Joe Hoppe is an American hero and it's an honor to present him with the medals he courageously earned but never received for his service in World War II," … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Severe Storms And Deadly Tornadoes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after a severe storm system produced deadly tornadoes that damaged communities in northern Illinois last night: "My thoughts are with the people and brave first responders in northern Illinois who were affected by last night's severe storms. I have spoken with IEMA Director James Joseph, Rochelle Mayor Chet Olsen, and DeKalb County Board Chairman Mark Pietrowski today who assured me that recovery efforts… Continue Reading

Mayor Emanuel, Senator Durbin, Senator Kirk, Representative Quigley, Amtrak And Metra Announce $7 Million Funding To Improve Train Service At Chicago's Union Station

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Mark Kirk, Representative Mike Quigley, Amtrak and Metra today announced an additional $7 million funding to develop infrastructure improvements and train operating strategies that will enhance passenger rail service at Chicago's Union Station. The funds will be used to conduct a Terminal Planning Study and create a Service Development Plan that will increase capacity at the 90-year-old station and on the railroads that lead to it. This builds on … Continue Reading

Durbin & Sessions Lead Bipartisan Group Of Senators In Calling For Investigation Into Abuses Within H-1B Visa Program

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) led a bipartisan group of ten United States Senators today in writing to three federal agencies - the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Labor - calling for an investigation into abuses within the H-1B visa program. This bipartisan group has different perspectives on immigration reform, but they are united in their belief that our immigration systems should not be exploited to faci… Continue Reading