Durbin, Others Urge SEC to Implement Conflict Minerals Rule After it is Upheld by District Court

Washington, D.C. - In a letter to the Security and Exchange Commission Chair, Mary Jo White, Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a group of other Member of Congress urged the financial oversight agency to implement the rule requiring due diligence and reporting requirements on the sourcing of conflict minerals in the May 31, 2014 report. "This SEC rule was drafted in a balanced and thoughtful way that followed Congressional intent in trying to provide greater transparency in the… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Nearly $655,000 in Farm Bill Funding To Support Illinois Agriculture

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded the Illinois Department of Agriculture a $654,970 grant through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBG). Today's funding will be used to support Illinois agriculture projects that enhance food safety programs, expand access to specialty crops in underserved communities, establish local and regional fresh food systems, and promote local crop production. "The federal f… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $404,000 Investment in 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 $404,538 in grants to five fire departments throughout Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and firs… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Simon Join Secretary of the Air Force at Scott Air Force Base

[SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Simon today joined newly confirmed Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James in a visit to Scott Air Force Base. Durbin is the chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees discretionary spending for our nation's military, including bases. "Scott Air Force Base is a crucial part of the region's economy and our nation's defense. Every time I vis… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on U.S. District Court of Appeals Decision Regarding Conflict Minerals

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld most of the key provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission's conflict minerals regulations. The regulations would require companies that use key minerals mined in Congo to disclose such usage as part of their Securities and Exchange Commission filings, as well as what measures, if any, they are taking to ens… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Congress to Raise Federal Minimum Wage to $10.10 an Hour

[COLLINSVILLE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage by passing the Minimum Wage Fairness Act. The legislation raises the federal minimum to $10.10 an hour, raises the minimum wage for tipped employees to nearly 70 percent of that rate, and indexes yearly wage minimums to inflation. The wage increases provided for in the bill would be phased in gradually over a two year period. "People want to do what it takes to support themselves and… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces FutureGen 2.0 Labor Agreement

[JACKSONVILLE] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced an agreement between the FutureGen Alliance and local labor unions which gives the local unions primary responsibility for hiring the workers needed to build the FutureGen 2.0 project. "In addition to producing affordable, reliable electricity in an environmentally-friendly way, FutureGen will also create hundreds of high-skilled construction jobs," Durbin said. "The agreement announced today allows the project to move forwar… Continue Reading

Durbin, Waxman, Harkin, Rockefeller & Members of Congress: Report Shows E-Cigarette Marketing Campaigns Lighting Up Among Young Users

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Eleven Democratic lawmakers from the Senate and the House of Representatives today released a report that shows a dramatic recent increase in the marketing of electronic cigarettes - or e-cigarettes - with extensive resources being dedicated to social media, sponsorship of youth-oriented events, and television and radio advertisements that reach substantial youth audiences. The report, "Gateway to Addiction? A Survey of Popular Electronic Cigarette Manufacturers and Marketing … Continue Reading

Durbin, McCain to NATO Secretary General: NATO Must Protect Legal International Borders

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter yesterday to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen regarding the continued Russian aggression toward Ukraine. "We write to express grave concern over Russian actions in and around Ukraine. Such aggressive military and intelligence operations aimed at destabilizing other sovereign nations threaten decades of European security and are an affront to the values of NATO, the United States, the Europe… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Baltic and Polish Ambassadors To Discuss Ukraine and Russia

Washington, D.C. -Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) met with Lithuanian Ambassador Žygimantas Pavilionis, Estonian Chargé Tanel Sepp, and Polish Ambassador Ryszard Schnepf to discuss the latest Russian-instigated unrest in eastern Ukraine. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "The Ambassadors expressed their concerns with the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and we agree that the Russian escalation of violence and lawlessness in eastern U… Continue Reading

Durbin Charis Hearing on Defense Department's Health Programs

Washington, D.C. - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) chaired a hearing of the Senate's Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense today on the Department of Defense's health programs. Following last week's shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, and President Obama's visit to the base today, the hearing focused heavily on the Department's funding for mental health programs and medical research to aid psychological health and rehabilitation. During the hearing, Durbin questioned Lieutenant General P… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks For IG Investigation into Federal Agency's Oversight of Trucking Companies With a History of Violations

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the U.S. Department of Transportation's Inspector General (IG) to audit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's investigative practices. A Chicago Tribune report found a troubling example of FMCSA ordering, but never actually launching, an investigation into an Illinois motor carrier with a long history of violating safety rules. "The January crash in Illinois took the life of a tollway worker and severely injured a … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on General Selva's Senate Confirmation

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement congratulating General Paul Selva on his confirmation as the next commander of the U.S. Transportation Command, located at Scott Air Force Base. A photo of Durbin's meeting with Selva in Washington on March 14, 2014 can be accessed HERE. "With his experience at Air Mobility Command, General Selva is well prepared to take on this critical new assignment at Scott Air Force Base. Beyond his qualificati… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Champaign County Officials To Discuss Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with delegates from Champaign County First who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in. Durbin and the group discussed transportation priorities, including job-creating high speed rail and road construction projects. A photo from today's meeting with Champaign County First is available here. "Champaign County First serves as an important local voice within its community," Durbin said. "I was happy to meet with the group mem… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Will County Officials To Discuss Local Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Will County Board who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in. Durbin and the group discussed local economic development, transportation improvements and manufacturing partnerships. A photo of today's meeting is available here. "The Will County Board serves as an important local voice for the business and community interests of the entire region," Durbin said. "I was happy to meet with them to discuss … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets With Transportation Secretary to Discuss Illinois Transportation Issues

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a meeting with the Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) discussed the importance of a robust investment in Illinois transportation as part of any new transportation bill. The current transportation bill - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) - expires on October 1, 2014. They also discussed both freight and passenger rail safety. "Secretary Foxx and I discussed the importance of Illinois' airports, highways, … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $2.67 Million Federal Training Grant for Chicago Education and Manufacturing Coalition

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Manufacturing Careers & College Connect (MCCC) Program in Chicago, Illinois - led by Manufacturing Renaissance, in partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Daley College, and local employers - has received a $2,670,909 federal grant through the Department of Labor's Youth CareerConnect Program. "This federal funding is a direct investment in our students, our schools, and… Continue Reading

Senators Call on FTC and FDA to Protect Consumers from False Advertising Claims by E-Cigarette Makers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) wrote to the heads of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today, urging the agencies to take enforcement action against e-cigarette manufacturers who make unsubstantiated or false claims in their advertising, including unproven assertions that their products help smokers of conventional ciga… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on New Job Openings for Thomson Prison

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning that the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons has begun the process of finding staff for Thomson prison. "I am glad to see that the Bureau of Prisons' operations in Thomson, Illinois are getting underway so soon after Congress appropriated funding for the project," said Durbin. "I will continue working with Congresswoman Bustos to ensure that the Obama Administration remains com… Continue Reading

Durbin to EPA: Make this the Last Season for the Dirtiest Ship on Lake Michigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 Administrator, Susan Hedman, to enforce the consent decree and ensure that this is the last sailing season for the S.S. Badger - the only coal-fired ferry still operating in the U.S. The S.S. Badger's final season is scheduled to begin on May 16, 2014. Durbin wrote: "The SS Badger has had more than six years to develop a credible plan to upgrade its boiler and stop dumping tons … Continue Reading