Durbin: Canadian National's Record of Delays, Increased Traffic and Blocked Crossings Make Case For Longer Monitoring Period

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the oversight period for the Canadian National (CN) Railroad should be extended until January 23, 2017. In 2008, the Surface Transportation Board (STB) placed CN under an unprecedented monitoring period to ensure the company fully complies with the promises it made when it acquired the EJ&E rail corridor. In that time, CN has been fined for failure to report blockages along the corridor. The current oversight period is s… Continue Reading

Senators Urge Burger King CEO To Reverse Decision To Turn Its Back on America To Dodge Taxes

[WASHINGTON, DC] - In a letter to the CEO of Burger King, Daniel S. Schwartz, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Carl Levin (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today urged the company to reconsider its decision to turn its back on American taxpayers and consumers by taking advantage of a tax loophole called "inversion" which allows a company to move its headquarters overseas, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes. "Now, after profiting from… Continue Reading

Durbin, Illinois Department of Public Health Announce CDC Grant To Support Research At Lurie Children's Hospital

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck announced today that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago a $314,000 grant - and up to $1.57 million in funding over the next five years - to help expand the Illinois Violent Death Reporting System (IVDRS) statewide. Violence-related deaths and injuries cost the United States an estimated $… Continue Reading

Durbin, Schumer Introduce Legislation To Stem Recent Tide of Corporate Inversions By Limiting Earnind Stripping - Bill Would Curtail Major Incentive Causing U.S. Companies To Merge With Foreign Companies To Skirt U.S. Taxes

Legislation Would Limit Inverted Companies' Ability to Claim the Interest Expense Deduction and Avoid Millions in U.S. Taxes Senators: Curtailing Earning Stripping Should be Major Component of Legislation to End Corporate Inversion [WASHINGTON] - Today, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) unveiled the text of their new legislative proposal to address the recent wave of corporate inversions, specifically targeting the practice of earnings stripping. In earnings st… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $437,000 in Funding For Improvements at University of Illinois-Willard Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the University of Illinois-Willard Airport in Champaign, Illinois has received $ 437,532 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Airport Improvement Program for runway and taxiway rehabilitation. This grant will be used for runway upgrades and to widen the existing taxiway to improve traffic flow at the airport. "For years, I have worked to secure federal funding to improve Illinois' airports. Today'… Continue Reading

Durbin: Workers Should Be Judged On Their Work, Not Their Gender

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Speaking today at a press conference with U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and their colleagues, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called on the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would discourage gender-based discrimination in the workplace. The press conference followed a procedural vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, which gained the necessary number required to advance, but is likely to ultimately fail due to Republican obstruction when a final vote occurs.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $86,000 Investment In Swansea 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 an $86,180 grant to the Swansea Fire Department in the Village of Swansea, Illinois for operations and safety. "This federal funding will support the efforts of firefighters and first-responder's to prevent fires and other types of emergencies when they occur in the communities they bravely serve," Durbin said. "We m… Continue Reading

Durbin: EPA Renewable Fuel Standard "Seriously Missed The Mark"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - After meeting with members of the Illinois Farm Bureau, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today reiterated his serious concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposal to reduce the renewable volume obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, Durbin urged the agency to thoroughly review the proposal, and work toward a final rule that promotes investments in the next gene… Continue Reading

Durbin, Foster, Schakowsky Announce More Than $8.4 Million in Funding To Illinois Schools To Study Cutting Edge Clean Energy Technologies

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) and Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded grants totaling $8,435,000 to research centers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Today's funding will be used to study, research and develop cutting edge forms of clean energy. "With the support of federal funding, scientific discoveries are revolutionizing … Continue Reading

Durbin: Let's Call Corporate Inverters What They Really Are: Corporate Deserters

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to discuss a tactic called corporate inversions, a move many companies are considering. These companies move their headquarters overseas, but only on paper, to avoid U.S. taxes. Most recently, Burger King decided to renounce its American corporate citizenship by acquiring Canadian company Tim Horton's. Nearly 50 companies have inverted in the last 10 years, with another dozen companies - including three in Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin: Defense Department Needs Plan To Ensure Quality In Tuition Assistance Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today vowed to continue his efforts to stand up for members of America's Armed Forces by stopping the predatory tactics of for-profit colleges that are more interested in receiving federal funding than providing an education. At a June 12, 2013 hearing, Durbin raised serious concerns that the Defense Department's had little or no ability to effectively asses the quality of scho… Continue Reading

Durbin Chairs Senate Committee Hearing On Illinois Judicial Nominees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today chaired a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is a member, on President Obama's nominations of Jorge Alonso to fill a vacancy on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin introduced Judge Alonso, who was recommended by Durbin after he conducted extensive interviews with the finalists chosen by a bipartisan screening committee. A photo of Senator Durbin and Judge Alonso following today's hear… Continue Reading

Durbin: Champaign-Urbana To Recieve $15.7 Million Federal TIGER Grant Investment in Transportation Network

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin announced today that the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (CUMTD) has been awarded $15.7 million for the Champaign-Urbana Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project to revitalize the region's transportation network. The Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project will rehabilitate busy traffic corridors that connect the cities of Champaign and Urbana with the University of Illinois. It will also increase bus service and bike capacity while making side… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls For Senate Action on Student Loan Debt Crisis, Access To Affordable College Education

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) stood with Senate Democrats at a press conference today to call on the Senate to address student loan debt in America, and actions Congress could take to help ease the burden for working families and students. Durbin is a co-sponsor of the Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act, a bill that would allow those with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at the lower interest rates offered to new borrowers this past academic year. If… Continue Reading

Durbin: Constitutional Amendment Would Protect Rights of Millions Of Americans That Are Being Silenced By Corporate Wealth And Multimillionaires

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - On the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a Constitutional Amendment is needed to protect and restore the First Amendment which has been distorted by five activist, conservative Supreme Court Justices. The Senate is expected to hold a procedural vote tonight on a Constitutional Amendment giving Congress and states express authority to regulate and limit the raising and spending of money for political campaigns. "With decisions like Citizens Un… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $2 Million Investment in Illinois Community Safety Initiatives

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded a total of $2,049,506 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. "Today's funding represents an important investment in the Illinois justice system and victims' services programs." said Durbin. "These initiatives will help promote the fair and cost-effective administration of justice and will help provide vital assi… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks Hagel To Review, Reform Pentagon Programs That Transfer Military Equipment To State & Local Police Departments

CHICAGO-U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of both the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, raising several areas of concern about programs operated by the Department of Defense that provide excess military equipment to state and local law enforcement agencies. These programs received national attention following the Ferguson, Missouri, police depa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Announce Federal Disaster Declaration In Six Eastern Illinois Counties

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has declared six counties in Eastern Illinois federal disaster areas following severe hail storms on May 21st that damaged the region's strawberry crop. Today's declaration ensures that farmers in Vermilion, Champaign, Douglas, Edgar, Ford and Iroquois counties will be eligible to apply for loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), a division of the USDA. … Continue Reading

Durbin, Schneider Announce A More Than $89,000 Investment In Round Lake First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $89,100 grant to the Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District in the Village of Round Lake, Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensu… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces A More Than $177,000 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 grants totaling $177,416 to three communities in Illinois. Today's funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-… Continue Reading