Durbin Statement On The Passing Of Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning of the death of Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka. "The Illinois political scene lost its Polka Queen last night and I lost a friend. Judy Barr Topinka was one of a kind," said Durbin. "In a political world of cocker spaniels she could be a bulldog taking a bite out of both Democrats and right-wing Republicans without missing a beat. She was a blue-collar, immigrants' kid who lit u… Continue Reading

Summary: Defense Portion of FY15 Omnibus

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Defense portion of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Omnibus, or Cromnibus in some circles) provides $554.2 billion in base and overseas contingency operation funding, compared to $572 billion enacted in fiscal year 2014 and $554.3 billion in the President's budget request. The base budget appropriation is $490.2 billion with $64 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) of the Departments of Defense and State, compared to $85.2 b… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bustos: Omnibus Approriations Bill & National Defense Authorization Act Invest In The Future Of Rock Island Arsenal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2015 - which was introduced in the House of Representatives today - and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - which was passed by the House last week - include multiple provisions that will help solidify the future of Rock Island Arsenal and ensure its long-term health. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill must now be voted on … Continue Reading

Durrbin, Bustos: Continued Funding For Prison Activation In Omnibus Appropriations Bill is More Good News For Jobs, Economic Development in Northern Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) today announced that the Omnibus Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2015, which was introduced in the House today, includes continued funding for the activation of the Thomson correctional facility in Thomson, Illinois. The bill must now be voted on in both chambers and signed into law by President Obama. Though today's bill does not detail how this funding will be spent, Durbin and Bustos expres… Continue Reading

Durbin: "We Have More Work To Do"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During his final hearing as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said that, though we have come a long way, there is still a problem with racism in America and we have more work to do. Today's hearing - entitled "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States" - examined the status of key civil and human rights issues, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, and … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Release Of Senate Intelligence Committee Report on CIA Interrogation Practices

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement on the report by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence detailing the Central Intelligence Agency's interrogation practices following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001: "In a democracy, where the people govern, this kind of honest report must not be concealed. The interrogation practices detailed in this report are troubling. That our own intelligence agencies refused to disclose the truth eve… Continue Reading

Bill To Honor Lane Evans By Renaming Galesburg VA Clinic Heads To President Obama

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced that the House of Representatives unanimously passed their bill to rename the veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." The legislation was passed by the Senate last week and is now headed to President Obama to be signed into law. Evans - who represented Illinois' 17th Congressional District for more than 20 yea… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Davis: Bipartisan Legislation To Honor James R. Burgess, Jr. Heads To The President's Desk

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL), and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today celebrated Congressional approval of their bipartisan legislation to designate the U.S. Postal Service facility at 302 East Green Street in Champaign, as the "James R. Burgess Jr. Post Office Building." The bill - which was passed by the Senate unanimously last night - now heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. "Naming a post office in Champaign is… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Witnesses For Hearing On State of Civil & Human Rights In The United States

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights , today announced witnesses for his upcoming hearing entitled, "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States." The hearing will be held on Tuesday, December 9th, and will examine the status of key civil and human rights issues, including police-community relations, criminal justice reform, and voting rights. Panel I The Honorab… Continue Reading

Durbin-Corker Water For The World Act Clears Committee

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today unanimously advanced The Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2014, bipartisan legislation to significantly improve access to clean water and sanitation around the world. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bob Corker (R-TN), cosponsored by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), and led by Representatives Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Ted Poe (R-TX) in the House of Representatives. "Inadequa… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On Illinois Delegation Reception With Governor-Elect Rauner

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended an Illinois Congressional Delegation reception with Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner. A photo of today's meeting is available HERE. Earlier today, Durbin met with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "When it comes to Illinois, Democrats and Republicans in Congress have always come together to tackle the toughest issues. I am confident that tradition will continue next year in the new Congress, which will see the introduction of two new … Continue Reading

Durbin Applauds Chicago Nurse Treating Ebola Patients In Liberia Durbin Holiday Season

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - During a speech on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) applauded Chicago nurse Janet Teasley, who has volunteered to spend her holiday season in Liberia treating patients with the Ebola virus. Teasley - who was featured in a Chicago Tribune article earlier this week - is part of a growing number of health care workers who are being recruited to help stop the spread of the disease in West Africa. She has been a nurse for 17 years, working in emergency care and i… Continue Reading

Senate Approves Bipartisan Legislation To Name VA Clinic After Lane Evans

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced that the Senate unanimously approved legislation that would name a veterans facility in Galesburg, Illinois the "Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic." U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) has led the effort in the House of Representatives to honor the legacy and public service achievements of the former Congressman from Western Illinois. The bipartisan legislation is supported by the entire Ill… Continue Reading

Durbin Provision To Reduce Risks Of Tobacco Related Illness Among Servicemembers Included in Defense Authorization Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today applauded the inclusion of a provision in the compromise National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that eliminates the military's price discount for tobacco products. Durbin authored a similar provision in the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill, which was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee earlier this year. Almost one-quarter of U.S. servicemembers smoke, and m… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Attorney General Nominee Loretta Lynch

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with President Obama's nominee for Attorney General, Loretta Lynch, to discuss her nomination and issues facing the Justice Department. Lynch currently serves as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, a position she has held since 2010. "I was pleased to meet today with Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, who has a distinguished record as a federal prosecutor," Durbin said. "We spoke about issues of importance t… Continue Reading

Durbin To Hold Hearing On State of Civil & Human Rights In The United States

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On Tuesday, December 9th, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, will hold a hearing entitled "The State of Civil and Human Rights in the United States." The hearing will examine the status of key civil and human rights issues, including criminal justice reform, voting rights, and police-community relations. Following enactment of legislation like the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010, bi… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed Lead 40 U.S. Senators In Backing DOD Plan To Better Protect Military Families From Abusive Financial Practices

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and today led a group of 40 Senate colleagues in supporting the Department of Defense's (DOD) plan to update the Military Lending Act (MLA) and close existing loopholes in order to better protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices. The letter, sent to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, expresses strong support for the proposed new rule to help prevent lenders from charging excessive fe… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement On FAA Review Of Security And Emergency Response Protocols At Air Traffic Control Center Facilities

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced the results of a review of security and emergency response times at air traffic control facilities following the sabotage of at the air traffic control facility in Aurora, Illinois earlier this year. At the request of Durbin and other members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, the Department of Transportation Inspector General is also currently c… Continue Reading

Durbin and Kirk Recommend Three Finalists For Next U.S. Marshal For Illinois' Northern District

[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today recommended three candidates for the position of United States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois to President Obama for consideration. The three finalists are, in alphabetical order: Edward Gilmore, Joel Kirch, and Russell Laine. "Today we are pleased to recommend three exceptional candidates to be the next U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois," Durbin and Kirk said. "Each brings a wealth of l… Continue Reading

Durbin Releases Statement On EPA Decision Not To Move Forward With Renewable Fuel Standard Proposal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would not be finalizing the volume standards under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program before the end of 2014. Since the EPA announced the proposed rule more than a year ago, Durbin has worked with members of Illinois' agriculture community and biofuels industry to evaluate the potential impact of the proposed waiver. The EPA announc… Continue Reading