Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in School-based Health Center Grants to Help Illinois Children

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that 17 school-based health centers in Illinois will receive $4,516,733 in grant funding through the Affordable Care Act. The funding will help school-based health centers to establish new sites or upgrade their current facilities to better serve Illinois children. School-based health centers offer health screenings, health promotion programs, and disease prevention activities and they help children with… Continue Reading

Durbin Discusses Consumer Protection with Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Attorney General Lisa Madigan who was in Washington, DC to testify before a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on a scam that involves unauthorized third-party charges on telephone bills - commonly known as "cramming". Durbin commended Madigan for her effort to strength protections for consumers when it comes to fraudulent phone charges and on other issues such as the effort to end the deceptive marketing and recruiting practice… Continue Reading

Durbin Asks Committee to Include Federal Taxpayer Protections in Next Surface Transportation Bill

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) to include his Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act in their bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Also included in today's letter was a list of Illinois priorities that Durbin would like to see incorporated in the EPW committee's legislation including: funding formulas that ensure a more equitable share of federal highway dollars for Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in FEMA Grants for Illinois Fire Prevention and Research

[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 two grants totaling $1,013,069 to two organizations in Illinois for Research and Fire Prevention. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and women put themselves in harm's way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best tool… Continue Reading

Durbin Meets with Illinois Farm Bureau to Discuss Agricultural Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today hosted a meeting with Illinois Farm Bureau President Phillip Nelson to discuss several issues regarding the upcoming Farm Bill, pending trade agreements, and the agricultural impact of the deficit negotiations. "It is important that the current deficit negations still focus on a Farm Bill that will keep American farm land among the most productive in the world," said Durbin. "Bringing groups like the Illinois Farm Bureau to the table… Continue Reading

Durbin, Bennet, Religious Leaders Announce DREAM Act Sabbath

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and more than a dozen religious leaders representing a broad variety of faith traditions, today announced a DREAM Act Sabbath - an initiative enlisting churches, synagogues, and mosques around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act. The nationwide event will talk place this fall on September 23rd, September 24th, and Septe… Continue Reading

Durbin Brings Together Federal, State, and Local Stakeholders to Discuss Path Forward for Springfield Rail Consolidation

[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - In an effort to expedite the process that he hopes will identify the Springfield rail consolidation alternative that best promotes public safety, enhances the quality of life of residents, and boosts the local economy, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) brought together key federal, state, and local stakeholders today. Durbin opened the meeting by stating his goals for the day: to clear up confusion about cost estimates in Hanson Engineering's Springfield Rail Corridor Study… Continue Reading

Illinois Lawmakers Ask Army Corps to Expedite Permit Process Ahead of Metro East Levees Meeting

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following yesterday's meeting with the head of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council, Les Sterman, Illinois lawmakers today asked Assistant Secretary Jo-Ellen Darcy of the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the approval process for upgrades to the Metro East levees system and ensure that the repairs are done quickly and cost-effectively. Over the last few weeks, Sterman and others have alerted the members of potential delays in the approval process. … Continue Reading

Durbin and Kirk Announce $50 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Runway Construction

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $50 million grant to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for runway construction. This announcement comes after the $1.17 billion agreement in March of this year between the City of Chicago and American and United Airlines that allowed the O'Hare Modernization Program to move forward. "The O'Hare Modernization Program is a project of national e… Continue Reading

Durbin Forwards Recommendations for Federal Judges in the Northern District to White House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Based on recommendations made by a bipartisan screening committee, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today forwarded a list of names to the White House for consideration when filling vacant judgeships on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Durbin forwarded the names of the following four individuals to President Obama for consideration: Julie Bauer, Edward Feldman, John Lee and Sheldon Zenner. "Making recommendations to the White House on federa… Continue Reading

Durbin: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves More Than $146 Million for Military Construction Projects in Illinois

[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved $146,742,000 in federal funding for military construction projects in Illinois. These projects were included in President Obama's FY2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. The Fiscal Year 2012 Appropriations Bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs includes funding for the following Illinois projects: Great Lakes Naval Station, Illin… Continue Reading

Durbin, Kirk, Costello, Shimkus Request Meeting with Army Corps of Engineers to Discuss Plans for Metro East Levee Upgrade

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Congressmen Jerry Costello (D-IL) and John Shimkus (R-IL) today requested a meeting with the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, to discuss a plan to upgrade the levee systems in Metro East, Illinois and concerns from the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council about securing approval from the Army Corps of Engineers. The Illinois Members wrote: "While we want to ensure … Continue Reading

Durbin and Blumenthal Introduce Legislation Designed to Protect Consumers of Dietary Supplements

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today introduced legislation that would ensure that consumers have the information they need to distinguish between products that are safe and others that contain potentially dangerous ingredients which haven't been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Dietary Supplement Labeling Act would improve the information available to consumers, and to curb the prevalence of drinks and foods that are ma… Continue Reading

Durbin Announces a More Than $650,000 FEMA Grant to Lincolnshire Firefighters

[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 a $658,294 grant to the Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, in Lincolnshire, Illinois, for recruitment initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and wom… Continue Reading

Durbin Commends Introduction of Bill to Protect Taxpayer Investment in House

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today commended Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and others for introducing companion legislation to Durbin's Protecting Taxpayers in Transportation Asset Transfers Act. Both bills aim to protect taxpayer investment and require increased transparency and public involvement before local and state governments can lease or sell major transportation projects such as roads, airports and other facilities. "The strong support that has been expressed … Continue Reading

Durbin Statement on the Final Federal Reserve Rules on Interchange Fees

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today on the Federal Reserve's announcement of their final rules reforming the debit interchange system: "The rules announced by the Federal Reserve today will finally make swipe fee reform a reality and help bring fairness, transparency and competition to a debit card system that for years has operated without them. The rules, which will take effect on October 1st, will give small b… Continue Reading

Highland Park Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Highland Park resident Joey Berk will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings … Continue Reading

Lincoln Park Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Chicago resident Courtney Lang will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings of… Continue Reading

Annandale Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Annandale resident Jeremy Thompson will spend seven weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-working… Continue Reading

Evanston Student Interns in Durbin's Senate Office

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Evanston resident Catherine Rolfe will spend eight weeks interning for U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), working behind the scenes in the Senator's Capitol Hill office. Each year, close to 50 students intern in Durbin's Washington, D.C. office. Interns process constituent requests, help with legislative duties and lead Capitol tours for Illinois residents visiting Washington. During that time, they gain firsthand knowledge of the legislative process, learn about the inner-workings… Continue Reading