US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke Announces $1.6 Million in Recovery Act Grant

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a $1,592,627 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the city of Canton, Ill., to help build roadways and sewer service for a new bio-medical business park. The project, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is expected to create additional jobs and generate private investment in the region. "A new bio-medical facility will enhance Canton's ability to attract ne… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $12.2 Million in Byrne Grants Funding for Illinois Communities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the state of Illinois has been awarded $12,212,026 in funding for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants. Byrne grants are often used by state and local governments for programs dealing with drug prevention and enforcement, law enforcement information sharing, and combating gangs. The Byrne grant program, administered by Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, allows states and local governments … Continue Reading

Durbin Commends FAA and Controllers for Reaching Contract Agreement

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) for reaching a tentative contract agreement earlier today. The contract must still be ratified by the NATCA membership. "When President Obama took office, he signaled his commitment to bringing about an agreement between FAA and NATCA," said Durbin. "Less than eight months later, there is now an agreemen… Continue Reading

Employees with Disabilities--An Untapped Resource

Prepared for delivery by Senator Richard Durbin I want to thank Dr. Richard Wilson for that generous introduction and for his outstanding leadership as president of this great institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is one of the real jewels of our state. Thanks to the university for hosting us today and to Carl Teichman for inviting me to join you. I also want to acknowledge my friend Mike Matejka with the Great Plains Laborers District Council, his wife, Kari Sandhaas and … Continue Reading

Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges and US Marshal to White House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House to consider when filling positions for the U.S. District Court and U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacancies to be filled on the U.S. District Court and one position of U.S. Marshal for the Northern District; Durbin has already recommended that current U.S. Attorney for the Northern District, Patrick Fitzgerald retain his post. Based on recommen… Continue Reading

Durbin, Coburn Continue to Press Tech Companies on Human Rights Code Of Conduct

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) sent a letter today to 26 tech companies, urging them to join a voluntary code of conduct known as the Global Network Initiative (GNI). Recent crackdowns in China and Iran have made the code of conduct, which regulates the actions of technology firms operating in countries that restrict freedom of expression, even more important to the protection of human rights. Durbin and Coburn, Chairman a… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Senate Approval of Legislation to Extend Hydroelectric Project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the United States Senate approved legislation to authorize the Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC) to extend the license for the proposed hydroelectric power project at Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, IL. The legislation, sponsored by Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) and passed in the House of Representatives last month, will now go to President Obama for his signature. "This project b… Continue Reading

Durbin Introduces Legislation to Ensure Anesthesia and Surgical Services in Rural Areas are Covered

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation late last night that would allow services provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to be reimbursed by Medicare. The Rural Access to Nurse Anesthesia Services Act would close existing loopholes to guarantee anesthesiology cost reimbursement for Critical Access Hospitals and enable these hospitals to continue to provide surgical services to residents in rural areas. "In my state … Continue Reading

Durbin Launches Bipartisan Midwest High Speed Rail Caucus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that formation of a bipartisan, bicameral Midwest Congressional High Speed Rail Caucus to advance the Midwest's plan for high speed rail. The Caucus will also provide an avenue to keep members of Congress and staff educated and engaged on the Midwest's effort by hosting briefings on relevant issues such as reviving the domestic rolling stock manufacturing industry and expanding Amtrak service to new cities a… Continue Reading

Durbin Works with FEMA to Clarify Disaster Assistance Policy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced FEMA's clarification of a controversial disaster assistance policy that was changed earlier this year. The clarification, which Senator Durbin worked closely with FEMA to accomplish, restores FEMA's previous practice of funding repairs to levees and other flood control works, including the removal of debris and the placement and removal of flood fighting measures. "For the past few months, I have been wo… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Confirmation of Judge Sonya Sotomayor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Senate voted to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor as an Associate Justice on the United States Supreme Court: "When the doors of the Supreme Court open for Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the doors of opportunity open wider in America." "In the history of the United States, 110 Supreme Court Justices have served under our Constitution; 106 of them have been white males. We've ha… Continue Reading

Durbin: Mail Processing Operation to Remain in Quincy

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Postmaster General Jack Potter announced the termination of the Area Mail Processing study that was under way concerning the possible consolidation of operations of the mail processing and distribution center in Quincy, Illinois. Potter also assured Durbin that no positions will be eliminated at the facility due to the study. "This announcement is good news for the employees of the mail processing center… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves Nearly $8.5 Million for Illinois Agriculture Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Senate has approved $8,478,000 for Illinois projects with the US Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Fiscal Year 2010 appropriations bill for Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA includes funding for the following Illinois projects and programs: • Biotechnology Research Development Corporation (BRDC), Peoria. $3,500,000 in funding to facilitate the devel… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Senate Committee Approval of $7 Million for Campus Safety

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $7 million in funding for colleges and universities to support their emergency management and campus safety efforts. The money will be used for a program passed into law last year and based on Durbin's legislation, the Campus Law Enforcement Emergency Response Act, which will help ensure that all colleges and universities develop emergency response procedures and c… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves Over $27 Million in Transportation and Economic Development Funding for Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved $27,004,744 in federal funding for Illinois transportation and economic development projects. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects: Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration: … Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Committee Approves $5.2 Million in Health and Education Projects for Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $5.2 million in federal funding for health and education projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 appropriations bill for the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations includes funding for the following projects: • Alivio Medical Center, Cicero: $500,000 in funding for a … Continue Reading

Durbin Bill to Provide Financial Security to Families of Federal Judges Passes House, Sent to President Obama for Signature

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan bill to provide the surviving family members of Federal judges with financial and health benefits, unanimously passed the US House of Representatives late yesterday, sending it to the president for his signature. The bill will provide for a limited 6-month open season for Federal judges to opt into the Judicial Survivors' Annuities System (JSAS). Earlier this month the Senate unanimously passed the legislation which is sponsored by Assistant Senate Majority Lead… Continue Reading

Durbin Extends Impact Aid Funding Formula for Schools Serving the Great Lakes Naval Base

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Impact Aid Coalition, today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved a Durbin authored amendment that will extend the practice of allowing the five public schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. This amendment - added to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services and Educat… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $37 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Community Health Centers in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 36 community health centers in Illinois will receive $ 37,435,380 in grant funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Capital Improvement Grants (CIP) grants, allocated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), will support the construction, repair and renovation of health centers nationwide as well as allow health centers to purchase new health information technolo… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Approves More Than $111 Million for Illinois Projects

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Senate has approved $111,037,000 for energy- and water-related projects in Illinois. The Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations bill includes funding for the following projects: Army Corps of Engineers: • Carlyle Lake, Carlyle. $5,171,000 in funding for operations and maintenance at Carlyle Lake, the largest man-made lake in Illinois, with over 26,000 acres of water and 11,000 acres of pub… Continue Reading