Durbin Announces A More Than $628,000 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 $628,628 in grants to fire departments and municipalities throughout Illinois. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tools possible to do th… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Support of Illinois Marriage Equality Bill in Letter to State Assembly Members

[Washington, D.C.] - Illinois' Senior Senator, Dick Durbin (D-IL), announced his support for a marriage equality bill in Illinois' General Assembly today in an open letter to members of that body. The legislation, legalizing same-sex marriage in Illinois, is being considered by the General Assembly and could come to a vote in the State Senate as soon as today. If approved, Illinois would become the 10th state to extend marriage equality to all its citizens. "I don't often write to express m… Continue Reading

Durbin Honors Retiring Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour on Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) yesterday paid tribute to Du Quoin Mayor John Rednour, who will soon be retiring after more than two decades in City Hall. "I would like to take a moment to wish Mayor John Rednour of Du Quoin, Illinois, a very happy 78th birthday and to thank him, as he prepares to retire, for his many years of public service to his town and our state," Durbin said. "As a labor leader, businessman, mayor, husband and father, John Rednour has contribut… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute to St. Clair County Sheriff Mearl Justus on Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today paid tribute to the life and career of Mearl Justus, a devoted public servant who served eight terms as St. Clair County's sheriff. Sheriff Justus passed away on Tuesday, just one week after his retirement as Sheriff of St. Clair County. "My home county of St. Clair, Illinois lost a dedicated public servant this week," Durbin said. "Sheriff Justus was a legend in St. Clair County. He was funny. He was an innovative and creative thi… Continue Reading

Durbin Pays Tribute to Retiring Illinois State Senator on U.S. Senate Floor

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today honored retiring Illinois State Senator Jeff Schoenberg of Evanston on his more than two decades of service in the Illinois General Assembly. Last year, Schoenberg announced that he will not seek re-election next year instead choosing to focus on improving the lives of children and families through an expanded role advising the J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation. "Jeff has been a dedicated public servant to his constituents in… Continue Reading

Durbin: No Special Exemptions for S.S. Badger

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today on the floor of the Senate criticized the operation of the coal-fired S.S. Badger which has dumped more than 35,400 tons of coal ash - enough to coat the entire floor of Lake Michigan in a 2.5 inch thick layer of ash - since it began running 1953. Earlier this week, Durbin spoke with the Region 5 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Susan Hedman, to urge the agency to deny a permit that would allow the S.S. Badger to con… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks Energy Secretary to Approve Next Phase of FutureGen 2.0 Project in Meredosia

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following a vote today by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) in favor of the power purchase agreement for the power that will be generated by the FutureGen plant in Meredosia, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) asked Energy Secretary Steven Chu to approve the next phase of the FutureGen 2.0 project which includes preliminary design, pre-construction and engineering. "The ICC's decision today solidifies the FutureGen plant's financial viability. I thank Governor Quinn … Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Rockford Airport Director to Discuss Support for Regional Transportation Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mike Dunn, Director of Chicago Rockford International Airport, to discuss regional transportation and infrastructure priorities. A photo of today's meeting is available here. Dunn has served as the airport director since January 2012. He previously served as an airport board member and board chairman. "As one of the busiest air cargo airports not just in Illinois, but in the entire country, Chicago Rockford International Airp… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Passing of Senator Daniel Inouye

[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the death of Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye: "The passing of Senator Dan Inouye marks the loss of a truly great American. Facing questions about his loyalty to this country, he volunteered his life serving in a Japanese -American unit in World War II. On the battlefield he demonstrated a level of courage which led to his being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. As a Congres… Continue Reading

Senate Approves Durkin Nomination for Illinois Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved the nomination of Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. "Tom Durkin has the qualifications, independence and integrity to serve with distinction on the federal bench. Throughout his career, Tom Durkin has demonstrated strong leadership in his community and a solid commitment to public service." said Durbin. … Continue Reading

Durbin Praises Sister Shelia Lyne for Making Chicago a Healthier, Better City

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised South Side of Chicago native Sister Sheila Lyne for her passionate devotion to health care and justice which has made Chicago a healthier and better city. Last week, Mercy Hospital and Medical Center announced that Sister Sheila Lyne would be retiring from her position as President and CEO as soon as a successor can be named. "If Chicago politics is not where you would expect to find a nun working, well, you have never met … Continue Reading

Durbin Announces an $849,164 Investment in Streamwood and Taylorville Firefighters

[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 $849,164 in grants to two fire departments for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Day after day, our nation's firefighters are called upon to protect communities in Illinois and around the country," Durbin said. "It's our job to ensure that these brave men and women who pu… Continue Reading

Durbin: Demolition of Rock Pinnacles Could Begin Next Week

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the news that a contract has been awarded for the demolition of rock pinnacles in the Mississippi River and the work could begin as early as next week. In a November 29 meeting with Durbin and five other Midwest Senators, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, agreed to expedite the demolition process in order to help navigation on the Mississippi River. "The Army Corps of Engineers has wasted no ti… Continue Reading

Durbin Holds Hearing on Ending the School-to-Prison Pipeline

[Washington, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, held a hearing today on the school-to-prison pipeline. The first-ever Congressional hearing on the matter investigated the troubling increase in the number of young people sent to the juvenile delinquency system as a result of relatively minor school discipline issues. "For many young people, our schools are increasingly a gatewa… Continue Reading

Durbin Meetins with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Director of Agriculture

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois Farm Bureau President Philip Nelson and Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Robert Flider to discuss the potential disruption of navigation on the Mississippi River due to historic low water levels, and steps that are being taken to minimize the impact this would have on Illinois farming communities. The Mississippi River is a critical transportation artery for essential commodities, such as corn, grain and oils… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $5.7 Million in Federal Funding for Agricultural Research at University of Illinois

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the National Science Foundation has awarded $5,733,824 in funding to University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign through the Plant Genome Research Project to identify and develop corn strains that are most resistant to elevated ozone levels brought on by air pollution and climate change. Tropospheric ozone is the most damaging air pollutant to crops, and has reduced potential corn yields by as much as 10 percent, costing mi… Continue Reading

Durbin: Army Corps Believes Their Efforts Will Maintain Traffic Along the Mississippi River Despite Low Water Levels

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will convene a meeting of stakeholders - including Senators from states bordering the Mississippi River, state and local officials and representatives from industries such as agriculture and shipping - for a briefing from the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss navigation on the Mississippi River through means other than releasing additional water from the Missouri River. Durbin also announced that the Army Corps ex… Continue Reading

Durbin, Blumenthal: FDA Taking Energy Drink Concerns Seriously

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After a meeting with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today said they are confident that the FDA is taking their concerns about energy drinks seriously. The Senators said: "At our meeting the FDA made it clear it is moving forward in a number of areas to protect vulnerable populations against high levels of caffeine in energy drinks. The energy drink makers are mis… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois State Legislators to Discuss Bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met with Illinois State Senators Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and Toi Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would level the playing field for small businesses by allowing local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. The legislation was introduced by Senators Durbin, Mike Enzi (R-WY), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and a bipartisan group of 7 other Senator… Continue Reading

Bi-State Delegation Announces that Senate Approves Provisions from their Bill to Increase Workload at Rock Island Arsenal

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced that major portions of their bill to help increase the workload and help ensure the long-term health of Rock Island Arsenal were included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013. The bill will now go to a House-Senate Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate version and House version of the defense authorizat… Continue Reading