Press Releases
Durbin Meets with Naperville Chamber in Washington
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce to discuss the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation Durbin introduced earlier this year which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers to compete more effectively against out-of-state internet sellers. Attendees of today's meeting included Nicki Anderson, President and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, and others. A photo from today's meeting is available … Continue Reading
June 10, 2015
Durbin Meets with Leaders from McLean County in Washington
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce to discuss local transportation and economic development priorities. A photo from today's meeting is available here. "Last night, the House of Representatives passed a spending bill that slashed funding for critical transportation programs like the TIGER Grant Program. The business and community leaders I met with today from McLean County know firsthand how important that … Continue Reading
June 10, 2015
Durbin Meets with Members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce in Washington
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with members of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce to discuss local priorities including economic development, transportation improvements, and the Illinois Air National Guard's 183rd Fighter Wing in Springfield. Durbin met last week with Lieutenant General Stanley Clarke, Director of the Air National Guard, to continue discussions regarding the future of Springfield's 183rd Fighter Wing. A photo of today's meeting is available … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Durbin, Senate Ukraine Caucus Meet with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk to Discuss Russian Aggression, Increased Military Aid to Ukraine
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the bipartisan Senate Ukraine Caucus met today with Ukrainian Prime Minister Anseniy Yatsenyuk to discuss increased military aid to Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. Durbin is co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus with Senator Rob Portman (R-OH). Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ron Johnson (R-WI) also attended today's meeting. "Ukraine is at a critical moment in its history. As … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Durbin Meets with Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to Discuss Upcoming Legislation Reauthorizing Amtrak
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Congress preparing to consider a legislation to reauthorize Amtrak, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with representatives from the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission to discuss the continued growth of passenger rail service, and the importance of robust federal support for our national transportation network. "This year, Congress debates the future of our national transportation and infrastructure network, including Amtrak," Durbin said. "As … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Durbin: Defense Appropriations Bill Protects Illinois Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, announced today that the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which provides $575.9 billion in funding for the military and intelligence community, our national security requirements and the daily needs of over two million active duty and reserve servicemembers. "Illinois has long taken a … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Durbin, Bustos Announce Nearly $6.7 Million in Federal Funding for Rockford Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Today, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced $6,698,797 in federal funding that will go toward infrastructure improvements and upgrades at Chicago Rockford International Airport. The grant will be used to build a terminal building expansion that will help travelers move more efficiently through the gate holding area. This funding will go towards the first phase of construction on the project, including design and construction … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Durbin Introduces Legislation to Encourage Tracing of All Gun Crimes
[WASHINGTON, DC] - To help crack down on gun violence and gun trafficking, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation today that would encourage law enforcement agencies to take full advantage of federal crime gun tracing resources, one of the most powerful crime fighting tools available to target gun trafficking networks and solve violent crimes. Crime gun tracing can help generate leads in criminal investigations and reveal how guns are trafficked into criminals' hands. "One … Continue Reading
June 09, 2015
Summary: Department of Defense FY2016 Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON-The Department of Defense (DoD) Appropriations Act, 2016 provides $575.9 billion in base and Overseas Contingency Operation (OCO) funding, compared to $554.2 billion enacted in fiscal year 2015 and $577.9 billion in the President's budget request. The base budget appropriation is $489.1 billion with $86.9 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations of the Department of Defense, compared to $64 billion for DoD OCO enacted in fiscal year 2015. The Subcommittee's allocation … Continue Reading
June 08, 2015
Durbin: Monsanto's Corporate Inversion Would Cost U.S. Taxpayers Hundreds of Millions Each Year; Could Easily Be Stopped with Legislation
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after Syngenta AG released documents showing that Monsanto intends to move its corporate headquarters overseas as part of its proposed acquisition of Syngenta, but only on paper, in order to avoid paying U.S. taxes - a process known as "inversion". Durbin's Stop Corporate Inversions Act of 2015 would lower the 80% continuity of ownership test under Section 7874 of the tax code to 50%, effectively … Continue Reading
June 08, 2015
Durbin and Blumenthal Statement on Department of Education's Announcement on Federal Debt Relief for Former Corinthian Students
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today released the following statement after being briefed on the Department of Education's announcement related to federal student loan debt relief to former students of Corinthian Colleges, Inc. "Thousands of students who attended Heald Colleges and those whose Corinthian campuses closed will see relief under today's announcement. Secretary Duncan deserves great credit for today's good news. We look … Continue Reading
June 08, 2015
Durbin, Dart: Law Enforcement Agencies Should Trace All Crime Guns
[CHICAGO] - To help crack down on gun violence and gun trafficking, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart today called on law enforcement agencies to take full advantage of federal crime gun tracing resources, one of the most powerful crime fighting tools available to target gun trafficking networks and solve violent crimes. They discussed legislation that Durbin is introducing in the Senate and a first-of-its-kind training initiative to prepare police departments to … Continue Reading
June 06, 2015
Durbin: Cal-Sag Trail's Western Section Now Open for Southland Residents to Enjoy
[PALOS HEIGHTS, IL] -- Residents of the Chicago Southland can now enjoy 13 miles of scenic trails and riverfront accessibility, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the western portion of the Cal-Sag Trail on National Trails Day. The completed, 26-mile trail will stretch from Lemont eastward near the Indiana border, turning an underutilized riverfront into an inviting recreational area. Durbin has supported the trail since its early stages, helping … Continue Reading
June 04, 2015
Durbin Joins More Than 30 Senators to Urge Consumer Agency to Issue "Strongest Possible Rules" to Stop Predatory Payday Lending
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) considers new rules to rein in predatory practices in payday and similar types of lending, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and more than 30 other Senators expressed their support today for the initial steps the agency has taken and urged the agency to issue the strongest possible rules to combat the "cascade of devastating financial consequences" that these high-priced loans often have on consumers. In a letter to … Continue Reading
June 04, 2015
Durbin Responds to ITT Tech's Claims
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent the following letter in response to Chief Executive Officer at ITT Educational Services, Inc., Kevin Modany's claims about the for-profit college's operations in a letter he sent to Durbin last week. Modany's letter was in response to a May 28, 2015 letter Durbin sent calling out ITT Tech for complaining that its "day in court [is] long overdue" while in its enrollment documents, the company prohibits students from filing … Continue Reading
May 29, 2015
Durbin Calls for Additional Safety Measures to Strengthen Tank Cars and Prevent Derailment
COLLINSVILLE - In response to safety concerns raised by the rapid increase of trains carrying volatile crude oil and ethanol across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today stood with local mayors and first responders to call for stronger safety measures to strengthen tank cars and prevent derailment. He discussed two bills he's cosponsoring in the Senate that impose safety measures that expand on the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)'s final tank car rules released earlier … Continue Reading
May 28, 2015
Durbin to ITT Tech: Stop the Hypocrisy & Give Student Their "Day in Court"
WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called out the for-profit college chain ITT Technical Institute for complaining that its "day in court [is] long overdue" while in its enrollment documents, the company prohibits students from filing suit in a court of law against the company either as an individual or as part of a class action - essentially denying students their own "day in court". "Students are forced into arbitration proceedings that deny them the precedents … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015
Durbin Statement on Trade Vote in Senate
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the Senate voted 62-38 to advance Trade Promotion Authority legislation: The debate over free trade agreements is an important one with compelling arguments on both sides. My first priority as a senator from Illinois, however, is keeping and growing jobs in our state, and too often these trade deals end up luring American jobs overseas. The truth is, we can and should expand trade, but we must … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015
Senators Urge President to Allow More Syrian Refugees to Resettle in U.S.
WASHINGTON-U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today led a group of fourteen senators in calling on President Barack Obama to significantly increase the number of Syrian refugees allowed to resettle in the United States. The Syrian conflict has led to the world's worst ongoing humanitarian crisis and the worst refugee crisis since World War II. "Our nation's founders came to our shores to escape religious persecution and the United States has a long tradition of … Continue Reading
May 21, 2015
As EPA Finalizes Renewable Fuel Standard, Durbin Meets with EPA Administrator McCarthy to Call for Quick Action & a Strong Rule
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) works toward finalizing its proposed rule on biofuels volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined seven of his Senate colleagues today to meet with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. Today the Senators - who represent a diverse group of states and stakeholders - reiterated their concerns regarding the uncertainty and delays of the RFS rule, and urged McCarthy to set strong … Continue Reading