Durbin, Blumenthal Once Again Ask FDA to Address Their Energy Drink Concerns

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today asked the Food and Drug Administration to respond to their specific concerns regarding the interaction of ingredients in energy drinks and the effect that the caffeine in energy drinks has on children and adolescents. In April, Durbin sent a similar letter to the FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg; however, both Senators felt that the FDA's response did not fully address the specific concerns that were laid… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau and Illinois Farmers Union

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau and the Illinois Farmers Union, who presented him with the Golden Triangle Award for his commitment to family farms and rural America, his leadership in promoting the use and production of renewable fuels, and his support for a strong Farm Bill reauthorization. With both groups, Durbin discussed the critical need for the House of Representatives to pass a full five-year Farm Bill. In J… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.8 Million Investment for Improvements at Quad Cities Airport

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1,800,000 grant to the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County for improvements at Quad City International Airport. This funding will be used to will modify the existing terminal building to construct a Federal Inspection Services Facility, which is needed to meet existing demands for the clearance of international cargo, passengers, and flight crews. "Qu… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Chicago Public Schools Teachers Strike

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commented on the decision by the Chicago teachers union to go on strike today, after negotiations over a new contract stalled. "While most kids in the country were heading off to school this morning, 400,000 students in Chicago stayed home because there is no agreement on a new contract," said Durbin. "Instead of getting an education, these kids are being put in the middle of a fight between adults. I've reached out to Chicago Teac… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in DOJ Funding to Enhance Illinois' Justice System

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recently awarded a total of $1,089,638 in grants to support the establishment or enhancement of several justice system programs in Illinois. These programs provide support and services to a number of Illinois communities through research and education initiatives, as well as legal assistance and support services. The following Illinois entities and programs will receive funding:… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.5 million in funding to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago District 299 for noise mitigation measures at Farnsworth Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This grant will fund construction on sound proofing efforts including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision, an… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Additional Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded five grants totaling in $5,127,556 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and others. … Continue Reading

Durbin to Students and Parents: Beware Dramatic Differences Between Student Loan Options

[CHICAGO] - Students preparing to begin college this month should take care to exhaust every federal financial aid option available to them before turning to private student loans, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today while calling for passage of the Know Before You Owe Act of 2012, a bill he introduced earlier this year which would ensure students understand the full range of their available loan options before borrowing. Durbin noted that two-thirds of student loan borrowers were not aw… Continue Reading

Durbin Encourages Post-9/11 Vets Families to Apply for Family Caregiver Program

[DECATUR, IL] - Over the past year, thousands of families who have taken on the enormous task of caring for America's most seriously wounded veterans have received financial assistance through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Family Caregiver Program, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Family Caregiver Program, which began one year ago, provides technical, financial and practical support to family caregivers of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seriously injured in the line of duty.… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $580,000 FEMA Grant to Hoffman Estates Firefighters

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $581,565 grant to the Hoffman Estates Fire Department in Hoffman Estates, Illinois 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… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $12,000 Investment in Pittsfield First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $12,825 investment in the Pittsfield Fire Rescue Department and Fire District in Pittsfield, Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens,"… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Over $27,000 Investment in First-Responder Capabilities in Normal and Elgin

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $27,051 investment in two Illinois fire departments. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put t… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $94,000 in DOJ Funding for Ford County Judiciary Program

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has awarded Ford County a grant of $94,598 to support efforts to provide representation for potentially wrongly convicted defendants and offer better services through drug treatment courts. This funding was made available through the DOJ's Adult Drug Court Discretionary Grant Program, which is designed to develop and implement drug treatment courts for jurisdictions to incorporate subst… Continue Reading

New Immigration Policy for Dreamers Represents Economic and Humanitarian Victory, Durbin Says

[CHICAGO] - By allowing young undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children a chance to earn the ability to live and work in the United States, President Barack Obama has boosted the country's economic outlook, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin said the talented youth he has long fought to help through the DREAM Act will finally have the opportunity to take their place as valuable, productive members of American society. "This is a historic humanitarian moment a… Continue Reading

Durbin: Secretary of Agriculture Declares Entire State of Illinois Eligible for Drought Relief

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, for declaring the remaining Illinois counties and their surrounding areas eligible for emergency USDA assistance. Last month, Durbin joined Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) and eighteen members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation in supporting Governor Pat Quinn's request for the entire state to receive this designation. "This designation will help Illinois farmers… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces $1.25 Million Investment to Grow New Air Service at Central Illinois Airports

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that airports in Bloomington-Normal, Springfield and Champaign-Urbana have received a total of $1,250,000 in grants to grow new air service between these Central Illinois airports and the East Coast. Today's grants were awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s Small Community Air Service Development Program which was established by Congress in 2002 to help small, underserved airports around the country impro… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces Another Bipartisan Screening Committee for Federal Judges in the Northern District

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today announced the formation of a bipartisan screening committee to assist in selecting Federal District Court Judges for the Northern District of Illinois. There are currently three vacant judgeships in the Northern District, and the immediate task of the screening committee is to review applications and make recommendations to Durbin for filling current and future vacancies. The screening committee will be comprised of 13 distinguished Illinoisa… Continue Reading

Durbin, Senators Urge President Obama to Create Drought Task Force

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and a bipartisan group of 14 Senators called for the creation of an Interagency Drought Task Force to meet the wide ranging impacts and diverse needs arising from the ongoing drought. In a letter sent earlier today, the Senators asked President Obama to direct the task force to report on the severity of the drought, the impacts to all sectors of the economy, the options available to address drought and fiscally-responsible recommendations for… Continue Reading

Senate Judiciary Committee 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 Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Thomas Durkin to fill a pending vacancy on the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. His nomination will now proceed to a vote by the full Senate. "I am pleased the Judiciary Committee has approved this consensus, bipartisan nominee," said Durbin. "Tom Durkin has the ability, experience and integrity to… Continue Reading

Durbin Urges Support for Main Street Businesses at Hearing on Bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged his colleagues to support a bill that would level the playing field for small businesses by allowing localbrick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-stateinternet sellers. Durbin's remarks were made in his testimony at a SenateCommerce Committee hearing examining the bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act,a bill which he introduced earlier this year with U.S. Senators Mike Enzi(R-IL) and Lamar Alexander (R-… Continue Reading