Durbin Joins Senators in Urging Justice Department, FDA to Appeal Ruling that Bars Implementation of New Tobacco Warning Labels

[WASHINGTON, D.C] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging an immediate appeal of a U.S. District Court decision that halts the implementation of the FDA's new graphic warning labels on cigarette packages. The labels were set to take effect next fall. … Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Federal and Local Law Enforcement Officials to Develop Action Plan to Apprehend International Fugitives

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Prompted by a Chicago Tribune investigation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on federal and local law enforcement officials to develop an action plan to apprehend international fugitives wanted for committing serious crimes in Illinois. While noting a shared concern over the growing problem, Durbin asked for a meeting between federal, state and local law enforcement officials to make sure that all efforts are coordinated in order to bring these dangerous fugiti… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls on Illinois Banks and Credit Unions to Adopt Fee Disclosure Form

[CHICAGO, IL] - While recent reforms have helped bring transparency to the system of debit card swipe fees, more has to be done in order to stop hidden fees and make sure consumers understand what they are getting when it comes to banking services, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin called on Illinois' financial institutions to voluntarily adopt a bank account fee disclosure form designed to make checking account terms and fees transparent and easy to understand. Today, Du… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for STB to Investigate Canadian National Train Derailment

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the second derailment of a Canadian National train near Elgin this year, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to open an investigation to determine if Canadian National is properly maintaining and upgrading the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) railway to handle hazardous materials and prevent derailments. The train which was reportedly carrying three hazardous material chemicals - sodium hydroxide, ferrous sulf… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Bill Would Undermine Most Comprehensive Reforms of Food Safety System in 70 Years

[GRANITE CITY, IL] - A recent outbreak of E. coli in the St. Louis region highlights the critical importance of the Food and Drug Administration's ability to ensure the safety of our nation's food supply and demonstrates the danger of spending cuts approved by the House of Representatives, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The House funding cuts, which passed in June, would halt or delay key reforms that were part of the Durbin-authored FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA), which w… Continue Reading

Durbin, Reed to Call on Banks to Adopt Fee Disclosure Form

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) today called on the nation's financial institutions to voluntarily adopt a bank account fee disclosure form designed to make checking account terms and fees transparent and easy for consumers to understand. Following the sensible decision by Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other banking giants to roll back or cancel planned debit card usage fees, consumers are now at risk from new, hidden fees being issued in their place… Continue Reading

Letter to Acting Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Raj Date

TO: Mr. Raj Date Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 1801 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 Dear Mr. Date: We write to urge the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to move swiftly to require financial institutions to post on their websites a standardized, concise and consumer-friendly disclosure form that lists the fees and key terms associated with checking accounts. In recent weeks, American consumers have made clear their… Continue Reading

Durbin Presses Gambian Government on Chief Manneh Case

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter today to the Gambian Attorney General, Edward Gomez, requesting information about Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist who has been missing for more than five years. According to recent comments by Attorney General Gomez, Manneh, who many worried had died while in Gambian custody, is alive. "I am writing to request immediate information regarding Chief Ebrima Manneh, a Gambian journalist with the Dail… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Manzullo Stress Importance of Keeping USPS Jobs in Illinois During Meeting with Postmaster General

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Representative Don Manzullo (R-IL) stressed the importance of keeping good-paying U.S. Postal Service (USPS) jobs in Illinois communities in a meeting with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. The Illinois members requested the meeting after learning of the Postal Service's plan to review its mail processing network in the hopes of reducing costs and increasing efficiencies. Of the nearly 250 facilities being stud… Continue Reading

Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Justice, Others Protects Several Illinois Priorities

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved a bill to fund several federal agencies for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funding that will enhance programs and create jobs in Illinois. Many of these priorities were included in President Obama's 2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail On September 21, Durbin - a Co-Chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High- Speed & Intercity Passenger R… Continue Reading

Durbin: Republican "Jobs" Bill Guts Regulations, But Comes Up Empty on Job Creation

[CHICAGO, IL] - Legislation proposed by Congressional Republicans to delay, roll-back, or eliminate basic pollution standards will weaken our ability to ensure clean air and water, and a healthy environment for our families across the nation, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the UIC Medical Center. By gutting the Clean Air Act and severely limiting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) ability to regulate toxic pollutants emitted by coal-fired… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on Administration's Efforts to Help Students Manage Loan Debt

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after President Obama announced new steps to make college more affordable and make it easier for students to repay their federal student loans: "Today's announcement by President Obama is welcome news for the millions of students and recent graduates who are struggling to pay off their student loans. Plans to cap monthly payments, provide greater access to loan repayment programs, aid in the consolidati… Continue Reading

Durbin: House Transportation Bill Wrong Approach to Amtrak Funding

[ST. LOUIS, MO] - A House transportation funding proposal would dismantle Amtrak service and stunt high-speed rail growth in spite of record ridership numbers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "St. Louis is one of the most important hubs in the nation's passenger rail network and Gateway Station is the anchor of that network. Residents of the St. Louis region on both sides of the river … Continue Reading

Durbin Voices Concerns Over Continued Violence in Syria

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Majority Leader, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a letter to UN Ambassador Susan Rice today, urging continued US pressure on the Syrian regime in the face of continued violence and serious human rights concerns. Durbin also asked Ambassador Rice to push the UN Security Council to further investigate reports of murder, torture, summary executions and disappearances and refer credible allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court. Senator… Continue Reading

Durbin Calls for Passage of Key Provisions from American Jobs Act

[DECATUR, IL] - In order to give the lagging economic recovery a boost, Congress needs to pass critical elements of the American Jobs Act that would invest in school, infrastructure, and transit modernizations while putting people back to work, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said at Johns Hill Magnet School in Decatur, Illinois. While passage of the American Jobs Act was blocked earlier this month by a Republican-led filibuster, Democrats in the U.S. Senate will try to pass individual eleme… Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on President's Announcement of Troop Withdrawal from Iraq

[CHICAGO, IL] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today, after President Obama announced his decision to remove all American troops from Iraq by the end of this year: "During the President's announcement today, he stated what most Americans feel: we are so proud of what our troops have done." "We have made great sacrifices for the country of Iraq: $1 trillion has been spent on the war there, 4,400 American lives have been lost there, and… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk Extend Impact Aid Funding Formula For Schools Serving The Great Lakes Naval Base

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced that the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has approved a bill that will extend the practice of allowing the five public schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Base to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. The legislation also allows North Chicago to remain eligible for heavily impacted status for the next five years. "W… Continue Reading

Durbin: Prairie State Energy Shows Job Creation Doesn't Have to Come at the Expense of Clean Air

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the President and CEO of Prairie State Energy Campus, Peter DeQuattro, who has been working closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the last several years to ensure that their new coal-fueled generation plant in southwestern Illinois meets all required emissions standards. "Prairie State Energy Campus is a clean coal success story that proves job creation doesn't have to come at the expense of clean… Continue Reading

Durbin: Over 2 Million Illinois Social Security Recipients Will See Relief in 2012

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the announcement by the Social Security Administration that a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be issued in 2012. For over two million Illinois residents who receive Social Security, their average benefit will grow by $516. Social Security beneficiaries haven't received a COLA increase since 2009. "Seniors have been hit particularly hard during this economic downturn and social security has been the key to keepi… Continue Reading

Letter to Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf

TO: John G. Stumpf Chairman, President and CEO Wells Fargo & Company 420 Montgomery St. San Francisco, CA 94163 Dear Mr. Stumpf: On October 14, your bank reportedly began charging your customers a $3 monthly fee to access their own deposited money using a Wells Fargo debit card. This $3 monthly fee is being imposed on your customers in five states: Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. It is certainly surprising that your bank would pursue this fee strategy in… Continue Reading