Press Releases
Durbin, Schakowsky Call for Increased Resources for Mental Health Services on College Campuses
CHICAGO - As students head back to school at colleges and universities across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) today discussed their legislation to improve mental health services on college campuses. The Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act would make federal help available for campuses to expand their mental health awareness, outreach, and direct support services. The bill was included as part of a bipartisan mental health reform … Continue Reading
September 01, 2016
Durbin Announces Funding to Support Independent Living for Seniors
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has selected the Center of Concern, located in Park Ridge, to receive up to $321,183 to support independent living among seniors living in suburban Cook County. Today's funding, provided through the CNCS' Senior Corps Senior Companion Program, will help partner volunteers age 55 and older with seniors and people with disabilities who have difficulties completing daily … Continue Reading
August 31, 2016
Durbin: Illinois Awarded $2,000,000 In Federal Funding To Combat Prescription Drug Overdose Epidemic
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced Illinois will receive $2,000,000 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Medication-Assisted Treatment Opioid Addiction Program and Opioid Overdose Prevention Program. The federal grant programs provide states like Illinois with resources and support to expand access to treatment services for persons with opioid use disorder and to reduce opioid overdose-related deaths. Today's announcement … Continue Reading
August 31, 2016
Durbin Welcomes NIH Director to Chicago to Highlight Need for Strong National Commitment to Medical Research Funding
CHICAGO - In an effort to preserve the United States' global competitiveness, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) welcomed National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, to Chicago today and called for strengthened federal funding for breakthrough scientific and biomedical research.? For several years, Durbin has championed increased federal investment to reverse years of cuts and flat funding for our nation's biomedical research agencies, including the NIH. After … Continue Reading
August 30, 2016
Durbin Announces $3.9 Million For Head Start In East Central Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded the East Central Illinois Community Action Agency $3,900,107 to support early education and comprehensive family support services in Ford, Iroquois, and Vermillion Counties. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to succeed from … Continue Reading
August 30, 2016
Durbin, Senators Raise Concerns About Mylan’s Epipen Price Hike & Expanded Patient Assistance Program
[CHICAGO, IL] - In a letter sent today to the CEO of pharmaceutical company Mylan, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined 19 senators in expressing their serious concerns about the company's recent significant price hikes for the life-saving EpiPen Auto-Injector. The senators raised questions about Mylan's decision to expand its patient assistance program, which allows the company to sharply increase prices while passing the cost of these increases onto insurance companies and ultimately to … Continue Reading
August 30, 2016
Durbin, Quigley, Schakowsky, Duckworth Announce $20 Million For Noise Mitigation For O’hare Area Homeowners
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-5), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-9), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL-8) today announced $20 million in federal funding for aircraft noise mitigation efforts near O'Hare International Airport. Today's funding, awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), will help soundproof residences with noise levels between 65 and 69 DNL. "This welcome investment by the FAA will improve the quality of life of O'Hare area … Continue Reading
August 29, 2016
Durbin Announces DOJ Awards To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $279,269 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase equipment and support personnel costs. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin. Under this announcement, the following … Continue Reading
August 25, 2016
Durbin Statement on Department of Education Actions Against ITT Tech
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced it would place additional restrictions on ITT Educational Services, Inc. (ITT Tech) to protect students and taxpayers. As part of today's announcement, ITT Tech will be banned from enrolling new students using federal financial aid, must notify current students that the institution is not in compliance with accreditor standards, and will be required to pay an … Continue Reading
August 24, 2016
Durbin Announces DOJ Funding To Support Law Enforcement In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $879,227 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts across Illinois. These investments, awarded though the Department of Justice, will be used to purchase vehicles and equipment, support personnel costs, and enhance existing programs. "Today's funding will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said Durbin. Under this … Continue Reading
August 23, 2016
Durbin Announces Federal Funding For Rural Development Projects In Illinois
SPRINGFIELD -U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $22,527,700 in federal funding, including $5,107,700 in grant awards, to support rural development projects across Illinois. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Development grant and loan programs, will support water and waste infrastructure projects, small business initiatives and local economic development. "This funding will help boost small and new businesses in Illinois," said … Continue Reading
August 19, 2016
Durbin Announces DOJ Award To Support Law Enforcement In Rock Island
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $29,003 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts in Rock Island County. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase Tasers and other security equipment. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said … Continue Reading
August 19, 2016
Durbin Announces More Than $14 Million To Safeguard Illinois Emergency Communications
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $ 14,025,250 in federal funding to relocate the Illinois Emergency Management Agency's communications from its current network to a nationwide public safety broadband network, ensuring emergency communications remain reliable and secure. This grant award, provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology, will help Illinois relocate and reprogram its public safety communications systems on … Continue Reading
August 19, 2016
Durbin Announces DOJ Award To Support Law Enforcement In Kankakee
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $18,382 in federal funding to support law enforcement efforts in the City of Kankakee. Today's funding, awarded though the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance, will be used to purchase and install mobile audio and video systems, laptops, Tasers, and GPS equipment. "This grant will help equip our law enforcement officers with the best, most up-to-date tools to do their jobs effectively and keep residents safe," said … Continue Reading
August 17, 2016
Durbin Announces More Than $2 Million To Improve Community Health In Suburban Cook County
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $2,232,726 in federal funding to support efforts by the Cook County Department of Public Health to improve community health and reduce the prevalence of chronic disease in thirty-three low-income communities across suburban Cook County. This grant award, provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH) program, will help promote tobacco-free recreational areas, improve … Continue Reading
August 16, 2016
Durbin, Kirk, Donnelly And Coats Call For Extending Comment Period For Proposed Rule On Metropolitan Planning Organizations
CHICAGO - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Dan Coats (R-IN) today urged the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to grant a 60-day extension of the comment period for a proposed rule that could affect the way neighboring metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) interact. In a letter to Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, the senators expressed concern that rather than improve coordination between Chicago and Northwest Indiana MPOs, the change … Continue Reading
August 16, 2016
Durbin Announces More Than $6 Million For Head Start And Early Head Start In Illinois
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families has awarded Illinois Head Start and Early Head Start providers grants totaling $6,321,724 to support early education and comprehensive family support services for low-income infants and children. "The Head Start program is the source of countless success stories in Illinois and around the country-it's a stepping stone children need to … Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
Durbin Statement on the Fourth Anniversary of the Implementation of DACA
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement marking the fourth anniversary of the implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which grants temporary reprieve from deportation to certain young undocumented immigrants. "Four years ago today, I was honored to address thousands of DREAMers who lined up to attend a DACA application workshop at Navy Pier in Chicago. The enthusiasm and determination of these young people was a sign of … Continue Reading
August 15, 2016
Durbin, Madigan Call for Improved Protections and Benefits for Student Loan Borrowers
CHICAGO - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan today called on the U.S. Department of Education to improve protections and benefits for student borrowers by strengthening student loan servicing. They also called for the passage legislation that would allow current federal borrowers to refinance their loans at lower interest rates and allows private borrowers to refinance into federal loans. Durbin and Madigan have long advocated for increased … Continue Reading
August 11, 2016
Durbin Announces Rural Development Grants for Southern Illinois
GRANITE CITY - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced $92,045 in federal funding to support rural development projects in southern Illinois. Today's funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Business Development grant program, will help the Illinois Solar Energy Association and the City of West Frankfort foster small business growth in the region. "This funding will help boost small and new businesses in southern Illinois," said Durbin. "This means new … Continue Reading